The Assassins Village by Faith Mortimer

About the book:
The Assassin's Village by Faith Mortimer
Format: Kindle
Lending: Enabled


Synopsis:
Bound and gagged, the shocked and terrified victim recognises his assailant. Days later, another body is discovered. How many assassins stalk the village?

In a picturesque Cypriot village an expatriate theatrical group gather to discuss their next play; but when the curtain rises it’ll be murder.
A blackmailer stalks the cast – a group riven with jealousies, rivalry, sexual tension and illicit affairs.

Unbeknownst to each other they all attempt to find solutions to their problems. Some believe it lies in murder. Can they find the blackmailer? And can they find that all important ‘little black book’ – the chronicle of their misdeeds.

When a body is discovered, Diana, a cast member, turns detective to draw up a suspects list. After the police get involved one of the suspects is found hanged - another murder or the suicide of a guilty person?

A visit to a villager’s home uncovers an ancient assassin’s weapon. Could this be the murder weapon? Is it possible that an assassin lives at the heart of this formerly peaceful and idyllic village?

Love, hate, murder and high drama all feature in this classic historical detective story. With a long list of suspects, some dramatic twists and the odd red herring, the reader is left guessing until the final curtain falls.


My Thoughts:
The Assassin's Village begins with a very thrilling and frightening scene. When I read it, I thought of the hunter is now caught by the hunted. The scene was captivating and left me wanting to read more. The rest of the book did not disappoint. It seems that throughout the book I kept wondering and guessing 'who did it. Is it this person, I bet it's that person.' It seemed there was always a reason why anyone of the characters would or could have been the killer but the story was never predictable. By the end of each chapter I was almost convinced the killer was the person focused on the most in that chapter but then the realization hit that I will not know who the killer is until I finish the book.

The author wrote a well developed story with wonderful imagery and well developed characters. I especially enjoyed each quote from Macbeth at the beginning of each chapter. This story was a fascinating story and I hope to be able to read more by this author.

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DISCLAIMER: I was in no way compensated to review this book. These are my opinions of a book in which I purchased on my own.

Twenty-five Years Ago Today... by Stacy Juba

Author: Stacy Juba

Publisher: Mainly Murder Pres

Format: Paperback, 262 Pages

Author's Site: http://www.stacyjuba.com/blog

Synopsis from Goodreads

Kris Langley has always been obsessed with murder. She blames herself for the violent death of her cousin when they were kids and has let guilt invade every corner of her existence.
Now an editorial assistant and obit writer for a Massachusetts newspaper, Kris stumbles across an unsolved murder while compiling "25 Years Ago Today" items from the microfilm. She grows fascinated with the case of a young cocktail waitress who was bludgeoned to death and dumped in the woods.
Determined to solve the case and atone for the death of her cousin, Kris immerses herself in the mystery of what happened to Diana Ferguson, a talented artist who expressed herself through haunting paintings of Greek mythology.
Not only does Kris face resistance from her family and her managing editor, she also clashes with Diana's suspicious nephew, Eric Soares - until neither she nor Eric can deny the chemistry flaring between them.
Kris soon learns that old news never leaves the morgue and that yesterday's headline is tomorrow's danger, for finding out the truth about that night twenty-five years ago may shatter Kris's present, costing her love, her career, and ultimately, her life.

My Thoughts
Twenty-five Years Ago Today was intriguing, captivating and realistic. The story about an unsolved murder being investigated by fresh pair of eyes 25 years after it happened is such a realistic story it grabbed my attention from the first sentence. The story is filled with drama, suspense, deception and romance. What I liked about the story was that it was not predictable. There was enough twists in the plot to leave the me asking 'well if he didn't do it, then who?'
Twenty-five Years Ago Today is a well written story with a well written plot and wonderful imagery. Stacy Juba was able to write a fascinating story that was easy to fall into and become consumed with.

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DISCLAIMER: I was in no way compensated to review this book. These are my opinions of a book in which was offered to me by the author for a honest review.

Last To Die - Kate Brady

About the book: A ruthless killer hides in plain sight, someone no one believes is capable of murder. Within a week, six women will be murdered, all punished for their dark pasts. Detective Dani Cole is determined to track down this serial killer whose victims include a young woman she pulled out of a life of crime. Her investigation leads her to a photography foundation and the renowned photographer Mitch Sheridan, a man she fell in love with years ago but has tried to forget. Dani and Mitch are instantly attracted to each other again, though their troubled pasts keep them from getting too close. Together, through the course of the investigation, they unearth a dark chain of deception that leads to a killer who is closer than they think.

About the Author: Kate Brady has won or been a finalist in many writing contests, including the Golden Heart, the Maggies, and the Suzannah.

My Thoughts: Last to Die was a good mix of suspense, mystery and romance. Although Dani seemed like such an independent, stone-faced cop, seeming to not "need" anyone, she was very quick to lend a helping hand to others. The book was a fast and easy read. While reading the story, I felt like I was a fly on the wall in each scene and could visually experience what was happening. This is the first time I'm reading a book by Kate Brady. I was very impressed with the writing and the story. The flow was very smooth, even with the memories the characters had, it didn't feel like I was ever lost between past memories, conversations people had in their heads or the present. Kate Brady will be a new author added to my list.

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DISCLAIMER: I was in no way compensated to review this book. These are my opinions of a book given to me by Hachette Group. These opinions are my own without any influences.

Fragile by Lisa Unger



About the book: Everybody knows everybody in The Hollows, a quaint, charming town outside of New York City. It’s a place where neighbors keep an eye on one another’s kids, where people say hello in the grocery store, and where high school cliques and antics are never quite forgotten. As a child, Maggie found living under the microscope of small-town life stifling. But as a wife and mother, she has happily returned to The Hollows’s insular embrace. As a psychologist, her knowledge of family histories provides powerful insights into her patients’ lives. So when the girlfriend of her teenage son, Rick, disappears, Maggie’s intuitive gift proves useful to the case—and also dangerous. 

Eerie parallels soon emerge between Charlene’s disappearance and the abduction of another local girl that shook the community years ago when Maggie was a teenager. The investigation has her husband, Jones, the lead detective on the case, acting strangely.  Rick, already a brooding teenager, becomes even more withdrawn.  In a town where the past is always present, nobody is above suspicion, not even a son in the eyes of his father.  

“I know how a moment can spiral out of control,” Jones says to a shocked Maggie as he searches Rick’s room for incriminating evidence. “How the consequences of one careless action can cost you everything.”

As she tries to reassure him that Rick embodies his father in all of the important ways, Maggie realizes this might be exactly what Jones fears most. Determined to uncover the truth, Maggie pursues her own leads into Charlene’s disappearance and exposes a long-buried town secret—one that could destroy everything she holds dear. This thrilling novel about one community’s intricate yet fragile bonds will leave readers asking, How well do I know the people I love? and How far would I go to protect them?

My Thoughts: Fragile brings to readers a story where a young girl goes missing for a 24 – 28 hour period. During this time, the past seems to be coming back to haunt a few of the people in the small town of Hollows.

The story begins with the town’s “hero” detective dumping something. Throughout the story when the young girl, Charlene, is abducted, we find out that over 20 years ago another young girl, Sarah was abducted and found dead 24 hours later. The Hollows is a small town, and Charlene’s abduction has cropped up memories for everyone, especially Melody, Charlene’s mom, Travis Crosby and Jones Cooper. Why would those three people seem affected more than anyone else, well because they somehow played a part in Sarah’s abduction and death years ago.

The inter-weaving story line between the present and the past was spectacularly written. There were no gaps and there was never a time where I felt like I missed something. The characters were very well developed. The author took their actions and personalities from the present and was able to show the audience, how and why they may have become the person they are now.

This is my first time reading this author and I must say I think I will have to add more of her books on my TBR list.

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DISCLAIMER: I was in no way compensated to review this book. These are my opinions of a book given to me by Booksparks PR. These opinions are my own without any influences.

I LOVE A GOOD MYSTERY

Review: Spoilt – Joanne Ellis

Book Description:

Synopsis

Passion turns to envy. Love to murder. One way or another, everyone is spoilt.

A sadistic killer is stalking the streets, carving his hatred into the bodies of beautiful, young women.

The murders are stirring up bad memories for Detective Lucas Hudson, as he struggles to remain focused - juggling the horrors of today with horrors from the past.

When Chelsea Summerville's best friend goes missing, she's unwillingly dragged into the race to stop the killer.

As Lucas and Chelsea find happiness together, Chelsea becomes the hunted rather than the hunter.

Can Lucas shake off his demons and save the woman he loves, or will everything he holds dear be spoilt?

About the author: 

Joanne Ellis is a prolific Australian writer who won the Night Reading / Publishing 'First Chapter of the Month' in May-June 2010 with her first chapter of 'Spoilt'.

Other novels written by Joanne include: 'Fire Starter', 'Womaniser', 'The Rookie', 'Charlottesville', 'Control' and 'The Mystic Garden'.

My Thoughts:  I love a good mystery. Spoilt began with a big “bang” and I loved it. It instantly captured my attention and I did not want to stop reading. The romance between Lucas and Chelsea was so intense that it made me want to believe in love at first sight. The way Lucas was so intent on protecting Chelsea was very endearing. Without, ruining the end of the story for everyone I just wanted to say that by the end of the book, I became scared for Chelsea, angry at Lucas, felt the pain and heartache they were both feeling and wanted to hurt the maniac serial killer.

Spoilt was a well written story that flowed through the chapters like melted butter. From the beginning when the murders are being investigated, to when Lucas and Chelsea initially met and then when they fell in love, the story was easy to follow. I didn’t have to go back a few pages to see if I missed anything.

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DISCLAIMER: I was in no way compensated to review this book. These are my opinions of a book in which I was given by Night Publishing.