Breadcrumbs and Blindsides

"A Noise Downstairs", follows Paul Davis, a college professor whose world is turned upside down after witnessing a shocking crime committed by a colleague, which colleague also voraciously struck him with a spade to the head. As he recovers from the trauma, strange occurrences plague him, including the unsettling sounds of a vintage typewriter typing on its own. With his sanity questioned and a mysterious connection to the typewriter emerging, Paul delves into a nightmarish investigation that blurs the lines between reality and paranoia. An excellent psychological thriller with a very well hidden whodunnit. Barclay really knows how to mess with your mind. 5/5

In the third novel in the series, set in Leningrad in 1953, Senior Militia detective Revol Rossel attends a hit and run where a man and woman were killed. Shortly thereafter a Cornel from the MGB arrives and instructs the Melitia record the hit and run as an accident, but Rossel soon learns it was no accident and that the deceased holds a huge secret. An extremely well written and detailed historical murder mystery. Beautifully and brutally descriptive. 5/5

Recently married DS Roy Grace is finally ready to move on from the disappearance of his wife and start a new family in a new house. However, his plans are disrupted when a series of brutal attacks begin resembling a cold case from years ago - the unsolved "Shoe Man" attacks. As more women are assaulted, Grace is forced to confront the past and delves back into the original investigation. The key to catching the current perpetrator might lie in what happened all those years ago. Playing out in two eras, James times the incidents like a time-hpping dance, whilst retaining a eerie atmosphere throughout which carries both the suspense and tempo of the novel. The whodunnit is also well developed with an unexpected unfold. 4/5

Will surprises Sara with a secluded mountain honeymoon at the luxurious McAlpine Lodge. However, their romantic getaway takes a dark turn when a violent murder of one of the McAlpines shatters the tranquility. Stranded by a storm and with a cast of suspicious guests and even more suspicious hosts Will and Sara, must navigate a web of secrets and lies to find the killer before another victim dies. A very dark and disturbing whodunnit, featuring Karen Slaughter's signature visceral style loaded with unexpected twists and turns. 4/5

Claire has a wealthy loving dad and a romantic husband who only has eyes for her. Her perfect life led her to obsess about the one missing bit, i.e., having a baby, something which has so far proved impossible. But suddenly Claire learns a fact about her husband which sends her off the edge. A fast moving psychological whodunnit with some truly unique twists and turns. 4/5

The novel explores the dark side of filmmaking and the legacy of a mysterious, lost horror film. The story follows the attempted reboot of a notorious cult classic from the 1990s, only three scenes of which were ever released. As the production gears up, strange occurrences begin to plague those involved, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. Tremblay used a central character of the original film as an (almost) extra in the reboot and as such very intentionally jumps between the two time periods through first person storytelling. "Horror Movie" delves deep into the psychological impact on the remainder of the principal cast (and esp the main protagonist) where one of their ilk accidentally dies during filming leading to the canning of the film and protracted court proceedings.  One might add that the plot of the original film would have made a very compelling slasher film.  An excellent read. 5/5

Devil's Rock plunges you into the chilling aftermath of a 13 year old boy's disappearance after he ventured into the woods of Borderlands State Park with his friends. His mother, Elizabeth, descends into a spiral of grief and worry, further tormented by strange occurrences. She believes she sees a ghostly image of Tommy, and unsettling pages from his journal start appearing around the house. As the search for Tommy continues, the lines between reality and the supernatural blur, forcing Elizabeth and those around her to confront their deepest fears and grapple with the unknown. Tremblay's talent for writing a supernatural psychological whodunnit is masterfully demonstrated in this novel. A claustrophobic and emotional novel marred with mental uncertainty and a myriad of twists and turns. 5/5

Happily married librarian, Martha Ratliff, stumbles upon a suspicious stain on one of her salesman husband, Alan's, shirts after one of his business trip. This ignites a spark of doubt, leading Martha to investigate Alan's past visits. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a disturbing pattern in the cities he's traveled to - a series of unsolved murders. Consumed by fear and suspicion, Martha wonders if she's married a serial killer. To find the truth, she seeks help from an old friend, and together they delve into a dangerous web of secrets. The third novel in the "Lilly" series builds ever so slightly on the previous novels, but this despite, the odd twist and turn plays out against a very decent pace. The unfold could have been a bit less straightforward, but the final reveal provided some solace for the lack of a whodunnit. Unfortunately, as is often the case, character development to further the series took over much of the novelm. This let mor...

Psychotherapist, Frieda Klein, re-investigates a case where 13 years ago, a young woman named Hannah Docherty was convicted of brutally murdering her entire family. The case seemed clear-cut, but when Frieda is asked to assess Hannah, she's struck by something unsettling. Hannah appears broken and haunted, and Frieda can't shake the feeling that there's more to the story. As Frieda delves deeper, she questions the evidence and confronts those involved in the original investigation. The suspense builds as Frieda races to uncover the truth, all while facing a potential stalker from a previous case. The husband and wife team known as Nicci French usually delivers an excellent whodunnit. This time around, the characters were either a bit cold or easily dislikeable, and unfortunately this impacted negatively on the manner in which the novel subjectively played out. The pace was also rather odd and given the huge and slow build-up, the final act is a humdinger of u...

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley is a mystery thriller set at a luxurious new age hotel. The story unfolds over a hot midsummer weekend  culminating on Summer Solstice.  As the secrets and tensions simmer along with the summer heat, a dark past comes back to haunt the new owner, and by Sunday morning, there's a fire, a dead body, and a police investigation. The novel explores the hidden motives and past connections of some of the guests as the mystery of the murder unfolds.  Foley truly has an expert and effortless ability to take the reader to the unique space where her whodunnits unfold. The novel is almost impossible to put down; with Foley weaving us through bombshells, pace changes and cliffhangers.  A must read. 5/5

A psychological thriller about Quinn, a woman who seeks refuge at a seemingly ordinary motel, the Baxter Motel. However, the motel harbors a dark past. As Quinn spends the night, she becomes increasingly aware of a strange presence and a disturbing figure watching her from a nearby house. The suspense builds as Quinn must survive the night, facing the secrets of the motel and the danger that lurks within. A very well-written whodunit with a number of unexpected twists and turns. 4.5/5

DS Roy Grace is called out to the scene of the discovery of a teenager's body dredged from the seabed and missing vital organs. Soon thereafter, two more bodies without organs are found. Meanwhile, a desperate mother is faced with a teenage daughter in urgent need of a liver transplant, and the official channels seem unable to provide it in time. As the suspense builds, Roy Grace investigates the recovered bodies, leading him down a dark path that uncovers a human trafficking ring. A fast-paced thriller with a strong human story. Well written and extremely compelling. 4/5

Tom Bryce, is a man who becomes a witness to a murder after finding a mysterious CD on a train and watching the snuff film contained on it. When he tries to do the right thing and approach the police, he puts himself and his family in danger. DS Roy Grace, who is battling his own personal demons, is tasked with solving the murder and protecting Tom Bryce from the ruthless killers. Obviously, the killers go after Bryce's wife and not Bryce, thus leading to a much more complex situation. This novel is a tour de force in mystery crime writing. Everything is just perfect. 5/5

DS Roy Grace investigates an apparent cold case that resurfaced with the discovery of skeletal remains in Brighton. The investigation takes a surprising turn when the timeline links back to the terror attack on the US on 9/11. Meanwhile, a young woman finds herself hunted through the streets of Brighton by an apparently angry ex-boyfriend. Roy must race against time to solve the cold case and connect the dots to the present danger. Another well-developed faced-paced thriller by James. The novel however totally moves away from being a whodunnit, which is a bit of a personal bugbear for me. 4/5

"Elevator Pitch", begins with a horrifying accident in a Manhattan skyscraper - an elevator malfunctions, sending its four passengers plummeting to their deaths. However shortly thereafter another elevator "malfunctions" and the similarities between the two incidents quickly leads to the conclusion that someone is using elevators to execute terror attacks on Manhattan. As the risk of more elevator attacks becomes clear, two seasoned detectives and a tenacious journalist join forces to find the perpetrator(s). A high adrenaline race against time to uncover the cause of these attacks then ensues. The investigation leads them down a dark path, filled with cryptic clues, personal links, and a mysterious fingerless body. Barclay is a master at penning tangible tension and continually amplifying that tension. The unique instruments of terror (elevators) really work very well. The unfold is also very fast paced and unpredictable. It is really a novel which ...

DS Roy Grace investigates, what appears to be, an obvious case of spousal murder. However, the husband has an alibi as he appears to have been miles away at the time of the murder. Grace is thus forced to confront the possibility of a stolen identity or a very finely timed alibi. Add to that a credible sighting of Grace's, (now almost ten year) missing wife, which throws his personal life into turmoil. Grace is thinly spread in this double pursuit of truth. Naturally, it is also at this point where the "body count"starts to pick up and the powers that be starts to bay for results. An action-packed whodunnit, with James' trade-mark multiple salvos of twists and turns. Unfortunately, the reveal is a bit obvious. That is however a minor bugbear. 4/5