The headless body of a wealthy widow is discovered decomposing in Chelling Forest. Then a second victim is found. Detective Inspector Lorne Simpkins and her partner, DS Pete Childs are assigned the case. Before they can discover the identity of the killer they must make a connection between the two victims.

After a third murder, Lorne receives a grisly surprise. Clearly, a vicious serial killer is on a rampage…and Lorne has become the killer’s fixation.

Lorne can’t allow her failing marriage or her new boss–a man with whom she shares a sensuous secret–keep her from focusing on her job. She must catch the macabre murderer, or risk becoming the next victim.

review by my guest reviewer mel brown

Well what can I say about this book, I loved it I was gripped from beginning to end, the suspense was killing me and I couldn’t put the book down. I ended up reading it in 5hrs straight. The author has done a fantastic job in writing this. It was well scripted. The storyline kept me enthralled and entertained throughout

 

 

Will You Love Me? by Cathy Glass

Lucy was born to a single mother who had been abused and neglected for most of her own childhood. Right from the beginning Lucy’s mother couldn’t cope, but it wasn’t until Lucy reached eight years old that she was finally taken into permanent foster care.

By the time Lucy is brought to live with Cathy she is eleven years old and severely distressed after being moved from one foster home to another. Withdrawn, refusing to eat and three years behind in her schooling, it is thought that the damage Lucy has suffered is irreversible.

But Cathy and her two children bond with Lucy quickly, and break through to Lucy in a way no-one else has been able to, finally showing her the loving home she never believed existed. Cathy and Lucy believe they were always destined to be mother and daughter – it just took them a little while to find each other.

Review

What a lovely story and a very nice end for Cathy and Lucy was so pleased Lucy got what she wanted and she was settled parts made me cry as I felt so sorry for Lucy keep being moved but glad it got a happy ending

The Prodigal by Nicky Black

The Prodigal is the first in a series of gritty crime novels set in the fictional housing estate of Valley Park in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Exiled from his beloved Newcastle sixteen years ago, Detective Sergeant Lee Jamieson is returning home in search of the teenage daughter he’s never met. With a good promotion under his belt and his parents gone, he’s ready to return to his roots and the warm Geordie spirit he has missed so much.

Much to his surprise, his first assignment is in Valley Park, a forgotten sink estate and home to some of the worst social deprivation in the country – the estate where he grew up, and where Nicola Kelly, the wife of a renowned local villain, calls home.

As Lee and Nicola’s lives become entwined through a series of dramatic events, they fall in love and embark on a dangerous affair that will change both of their lives forever. Nicola’s husband, Micky, has few scruples, and, as he feels her slipping away, tightens his grip on her affections.

In order for Lee and Nicola to be together, Nicola must make a decision that will determine her future. Loving wife, or filthy grass.

The Prodigal is a romance / love story at its heart. It examines a range of issues that faced poor communities back in the 90s – issues still faced by those communities today: racism, domestic abuse, drugs, crime, child neglect, mental health, poverty and a sense of hopelessness.

Nicky Black is a collaboration between two friends, Nicky and Julie, who have known each other for around 20 years. We both had careers in urban regeneration back in the 90s, working at the heart of disadvantaged communities in the North East of England. During that time we experienced the real grit and struggle of peoples’ every-day lives, as well as their humour and determination to lead a happy existence, whatever that meant to them.

Our mutual love of writing brought together two key ingredients: whilst Nicky loves to write vivid descriptions and narrative, Julie excels in writing dialogue. Together they’ve created a winning formula. The Prodigal is our first novel, and the second is under way.

Nicky was born and brought up in Alnwick in Northumberland, settling in Newcastle upon Tyne for 12 years before moving south for career reasons. Julie is a born and bred Geordie and still lives in the Toon.

Review 
This book was a hard to put down and I loved how it was written – this book was full of believable events that  can happen to anyone, this is a must read.