Below Ground by Michael Wood

 When I think this series can't get better, I read the next book and am proven wrong once again. Now that I've caught up with the series, I must wait until October 25, 2024, when Last One Left Alive comes out. And I'm not a patient person!

DS Scott Andrews is found on the floor of Matilda Darke's house, bleeding from a stab wound, and Matilda is nowhere to be seen. Wanting to keep her kidnapping from the press and with few clues, the team tries to find her - their only clue: serial killer Steve Harrison may again be pulling strings from behind bars. Meanwhile, a skeletonized body is found in the woods, and then another, and another. The team is at odds trying to solve these old murders while still looking for Matilda. As time passes without clues, the possibility of not finding Matilda alive looms.

This is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat read. Even though Matilda is the main protagonist, Wood's penchant for killing off characters left me wondering if she would survive her ordeal. Some surprises and twists kept me reading this dark police procedural.

 5/5 stars.

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A Death in Cornwall by Daniel Silva

It's hard to believe this is the 24th book in Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series. Assuming he published one Allon book a year, I've been reading this series for 24 years. I suddenly feel old - not that, at my age, it isn't true!

Gabriel Allon, a retired spy who now works full-time as an art restorer, is in London for an unveiling of one of his restored paintings when he is contacted by Timothy Peel, whom Allon befriended many years ago. Peel is now a detective sergeant based in Cornwall, where a serial murderer is on the loose and may have claimed a renowned painting provenance researcher. Peel asks for Allon's help in finding her killer. Allon enlists the help of two old friends to uncover the thefts and murders tied to a stolen Picasso painting. They find a web of conspiracies and financial art transactions that could bring down government and financial leaders.

As with all of Silva's books, the plot of A Death in Cornwall is timely and plausible. It is a fast-paced read that I couldn't put down; it is well-researched and atmospheric and, as the body count mounted, an excellent action-packed murder mystery. My only complaint is how Gabriel solved who the serial killer was —that felt rushed and a bit contrived. 

4/5 stars. 

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The Man in Black: And Other Stories by Elly Griffiths

 

I'm not usually a fan of short stories - right when I get into them, they end - but I am a fan of Elly Griffiths, and I was delighted with this collection.

There is something for everyone in this collection - cozy mysteries, ghost stories, and, of course, murder mysteries. Being a fan of Griffiths's Ruth Galloway series, I was pleased to see her featured in some stories. The character Harbinder Kaur even makes an appearance! I also liked how the characters featured in one story appear in passing in another. Stories written from the vantage point of an animal do not appeal to me, but Griffiths won me over with a story told by Ruth's cat, Flint. Overall, I was very pleased with this collection. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Mariner Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is October 15, 2024.

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No One Will Know by Rose Carlyle

I liked Rose Carlyle's debut novel, The Girl in the Mirror, but this second book, No One Will Know, is even better. The prose is smoother, the action more intense, and the twists believable.

Eve Sylvester has found the man of her dreams, but when he is killed in a car crash, she finds herself penniless, homeless, and pregnant. Enter the mysterious Zelde Finch with an offer that will solve her problems: become the nanny for the wealthy Hygate family and raise her child with theirs. It appears idyllic: living in luxury on a remote island in Tasmania and giving her child advantages Eve could never afford. Eve accepts the Hygate's unusual offer, but it's not long before she has second thoughts based on unusual conditions tied to her employment. Why must no one know she is there until her child is born? What's happening with the mysterious yacht that sometimes comes in the night? These and many more questions give her pause.

The moral dilemma that Eve faces drives the plot: to what extent is she willing to go for the welfare of her child? This twisty, suspenseful story is entertaining and kept me guessing. The characters are interesting, and I rooted for Eve to overcome life's obstacles. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is October 1, 2024.

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Kill Sequence by Steve Griffiths

 

I'm always in the mood for a good techno-thriller, and Kill Sequence is good. It's got great characters and an engaging plot that sucked me right in.

Shawn is a grieving widower holed up in his remote English farm when a stranger at his door tells him someone is coming to kill him. Upon questioning, the stranger, a dandy replete with a posh accent, pinstriped suit, and umbrella, impresses upon Shawn the need to act quickly or be killed. The stranger, Michael, wasn't lying. Not a killer himself, Shawn confronts his "fight or flight" instincts and goes on the offense when a man with a gun shows up on his doorstep.

Thus begins what is a rollicking good story, as Shawn is both the hunter and the hunted in this fast-paced thriller. Shawn is a sympathetic character who is caught up in international intrigue as he tries to find out what happened when his wife was murdered. Although the plot revolves around advanced computer technology and programming, one doesn't have to be a computer guru to enjoy the story. Shawn and Michael make a good team, and Griffiths leaves the door open for future books pairing these two. 

4/5 stars.

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The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave

 I liked Dave's last book, The Last Thing He Told Me. It was a tightly plotted suspense thriller that kept me turning pages. I expected more of the same with The Night We Lost Him, but while it is a good story, it isn't nearly as suspenseful nor a thriller. It's more of a family drama.

We know that Liam Noone was thrown off a cliff, but the police ruled it an accidental death. His son Sam and Sam's step-sister Nora decide to look into the death - what they find are family secrets and lies spanning decades. The more they dig, the more they discover that they never really knew their father, and they even begin to question past and present relationships.

I was expecting a different book - something more suspenseful than what I got. Dave does an excellent job of slowly revealing Liam's secrets. Unfortunately, it is a little too slow, and the action sometimes dragged. I was surprised at the ending and thought it was a good twist. I recommend this book; just be aware that, in my opinion, it is not a thriller. 

3.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and S&S/Marysue Rucci Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is September 17, 2024.

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Silent Victim by Michael Wood

 I love this murder mystery series. Michael Wood does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life with dark, twisty plots that grip the reader. Each book builds on previous events and characters, so I feel like I'm with old friends each time I pick up a new book.

Matilda was brought back after her team was disbanded, and she was made redundant in a scandal-laden case involving child abuse. This time, she is after a serial killer who rapes and kills his victims. One victim survived, however, but she had life-changing injuries and can no longer speak. It is now up to Matilda and her team to hunt a killer who leaves no trace evidence. Leads are sparse, and political pressure is high to catch the killer before he strikes again.

This fast-paced police procedural has Matilda stumped with no clues to the killer's identity; she and her team grasp at straws. It's interesting to see how the meager clues eventually identify the killer and the lengths Matilda goes to capture him. I'm looking forward to book #11 in the series. 

5/5 stars.

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