Category: Mystery

‘The Nothing Man’ – Catherine Ryan Howard

Thank you Catherine Ryan Howard for giving me such a read for my final book of 2022. A book about a serial killer might seem an unusual choice to rate so highly, but this was clever…and once I’d started I really didn’t want to put it down.

The story focuses on a decades-old series of crimes committed by the killer dubbed the Nothing Man. Though he seems to have got away with his crimes, Eve Black survived the attack on her family. She was twelve when The Nothing Man broke into her home, killed her younger sister, raped her mother and left her father dead at the bottom of the stairs. Eve has taken years to feel comfortable talking about her experience, and has now written a book that examines what happened.

Eve’s book has become something of a runaway hit, and it has everyone in Cork talking about this killer. No traces of him were ever found at the scenes of his crimes, and nobody linked to the attacks is seemingly able to offer any details that could help to catch him. But Eve maintains that her book will help in the ongoing pursuit of this killer.

Alongside the fictional book that has generated such interest, we are given the character of Jim. Never has a title felt more fitting as Jim was – is – The Nothing Man. Now in his early sixties, and a security guard in a local shopping centre, Jim’s viewpoint focuses on him learning about the book and his desperate attempts to find out exactly what Eve recalls of that night…and how he can stop her before she reveals what she knows.

From start to finish this was a compelling read. While the details given about the crimes were sparse, enough was given to help us understand the horror of such scenes. I was strangely absorbed by the character of Jim and the insight into his mind, though the real hit was the decision to let the story unfold through the pages of this fictional book.

A clever read, which was paced perfectly, and which I’m surprised not to have heard more about. It’s certainly one that I’d recommend.

 

‘The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels’ – Janice Hallett

It’s fitting that at around the same time last year I was reading The Twyford Code, since ending the year’s reading with the latest offering from Janice Hallett could quite easily become a part of my Christmas routine. Another great example of a story where nothing is quite as it seems, where the characters know a lot more than they realise and where we are privy to the secrets before we quite understand their significance.

With the mention of a key to a safety deposit box holding the only copies of research by author Amanda Bailey at the start, I was immediately intrigued. The research was focused on the case of the Alperton Angels and Amanda’s quest to find the right angle to hinge her upcoming book on.

While the premise of the book drew me in, it took a while for me to fully engage with the intricacies of the story. The relationship between Amanda and her former associate Oliver was a puzzling one, and the vast array of characters and material being discussed made it quite tricky to keep track of the key events. Certain anomalies in the story stuck out, but were not drawn attention to…at least, that is how it seemed.

Everything centres on the case of the Alperton Angels, a group of people who believed they were angels on earth. Three of the group were found in a deserted basement, their throats cut and evidence of satanic rituals. The purported leader of the group is in prison for the murder of a young restaurant worker, and many believe him to be responsible for the other deaths. A young girl and boy were rescued at the scene, and the baby at the centre of the case was adopted afterwards and their current identity is unknown. Almost eighteen years after the event interest is high, and Amanda is keen to learn the identity of the baby and hopes to discover exactly what happened.

Unfortunately, anyone who has investigated this case has a nasty habit of meeting an untimely death. Supernatural forces at play, or a more mundane attempt by those involved to cover up the truth of what happened? As Amanda and Oliver race to find their truth, each gets drawn into the story in ways they could not have foreseen. Shadowy figures and things that are not recalled clearly by witnesses make this a frustrating case to examine…but once we know the truth (or what seems to be the truth) it’s hard not to be impressed by what Hallett offers.

Again, thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication, and thanks to Viper books for spotting another great story.

‘All the Dangerous Things’ – Stacy Willingham

I’m pleased to report to have been wildly off the mark with my guesses about what happened here, and that really is testimony to the plotting and execution of the story.

Isabelle Drake is a woman struggling. One year ago her toddler son disappeared from his bedroom. There has been no trace of him, and Isabelle is convinced that in some corners she is blamed for what happened. Her marriage has broken up and she is having difficulty sleeping. After talking at a true crime convention Isabelle meets with someone involved in a podcast. She wants to tell her story, though she fears telling it might incriminate her in some way.

As we become more immersed in Isabelle’s story we learn details of her past that lead us to believe she might have been involved. She has memories of events in her past that strongly implicate her.

From the moment we start to learn more about Isabelle and her history, it was hard to gauge where this was going. There were snippets that would hint at the story going one way, and then we’d shift into an alternate place. It was genuinely hard to pinpoint quite which details were pertinent and how we were being manipulated.

I’m grateful to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this prior to publication (scheduled for January 2023). A truly satisfying thriller.

 

 

‘The Kind Worth Killing’ – Peter Swanson

I only wish I’d found this sooner…such a good read!

When Ted meets Lily as he’s waiting for his plane he is struck by her beauty. Over a couple of drinks they get talking, and during the flight play a bizarre game of truth. Ted admits that he thinks his wife is having an affair and he discusses killing her.

A seemingly crazy scheme is hatched and we get caught up in a series of events that appear to have been set in motion many years previously. Neither Lily nor Ted is quite what they claim to be, so then to factor in Ted’s wife and her scheming I really did half think they deserved each other!

This was a book that had to be read carefully to ensure links were not missed. The machinations unfolding in front of us made me very worried for the human race but thankful that some of the best villains can be painted in words.
By the time we got to the end a small part of me really wanted them to get their come-uppance, while also applauding the ingenuity that allowed them to get away with what they did.

I understand there is a second in the series and wonder what will happen. Definitely one to try and get my hands on!

 

‘Deacon King Kong’ – James McBride

Set in 1969, the book begins in dramatic fashion with the shooting of a young drug dealer by the elderly man who used to teach him to play baseball. Known as Sportcoat, though he commits a crime in front of many witnesses, people seem to look after their own and nobody says anything. The dealer, Deems, survives but it marks the onset of a curious turn of events.

While the opening was immediately captivating, it took me a while to settle into the rhythm of the book. I found myself wondering exactly what I was reading as we’re introduced to a colourful cast of characters that I found it hard to warm to.

At times I found myself laughing at the darkly comic way in which McBride writes about their tribulations, then I wondered if this was insensitive. Was I missing something? I’m still not sure.

As we follow the events that ripple out from the shooting of Deems it was clear that we were being given the opportunity to see a community in transition. The growing issue of drug abuse and the threat it poses to the previously manageable way of life was interesting. The stories interlinking the characters felt a little contrived on occasion, but believable in this context.

Deacon King Kong is not a book that I would necessarily have chosen to read if it weren’t for the 2022 Pop Sugar Challenge. It is certainly a book I would read again, and an author I would be keen to try more of.

 

‘The second Stranger’ – Martin Griffin

The Second Stranger takes us on an increasingly audacious journey, set in a remote location and featuring a small cast of characters that all seem to be hiding something.

Our main character Remie is the sole worker at the McKinnon Hotel on its last night before winter closing. There are only two guests, and she is counting down the hours until she can leave the next day. Unfortunately, things don’t go quite to plan.

The Hotel is close to a high security prison. With a storm approaching, the news of a disturbance doesn’t bode well. When Remie hears police officer Gaines at the door asking for assistance she lets him in. Though the situation is tense, it ramps up in drama when a second man arrives at the hotel claiming to be Gaines.
Suddenly we have a very different situation. One of the men is Gaines, but which one? And how can Remie work it out?

From start to finish we are placed centre-stage in an increasingly tense scenario. There was a sense of disconnect throughout, which is linked to Remie’s secret, and though this seems rather implausible once we’re given all the details it made for a rather satisfying diversion.

 

‘Friends Like These’ – Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

For fans of Karen McManus and anyone who likes twists in their tales, Friends Like These is a story where you can never wholly trust the characters who are sharing their story.

Our main focus is rich girl Tegan, former friend of Jessica and ex of Jessica’s boyfriend, Jake. Her parties are synonymous with excess, but her end of summer party becomes known for all the wrong reasons.

It’s not giving anything away to say that this group of classmates have a long and complicated history. Things come to a head on the night of Tegan’s party when she kisses her ex and ends up having sex with him…but the whole thing is filmed and shared with their classmates downstairs (including Jake’s girlfriend). When Tegan goes missing the night after the party, people are quick to judge.

Before we know it, bodies are found in the sea. There’s a lot of background to this story, that seems a little distracting but is actually crucial to our understanding of what happened. We learn that a number of people are lying about their involvement in the evening’s events, and once things are wrapped up it made me very pleased to not be a teen today.

 

‘The Weight of Blood’ – Tiffany D. Jackson

Carrie for the modern era, and what a read!

Maddy is a biracial teenager who has lived her life following the rules of her deeply religious father. She passes as white, but when she is caught in a storm during cross-country, her peers learn the truth about her identity. This shouldn’t be a big deal, but in their town it is.

The ingrained racism was tough to read about. This was a town where students were educated together, but any attempts to challenge racial stereotyping are ignored and separate events are held for teens of different backgrounds. While Maddy’s secret caused a fuss, it’s the bigger secret that she’s kept from everyone that is going to cause more of a scene.

Those familiar with Carrie will know the plot. Those who aren’t, may have to suspend their disbelief for the paranormal elements…but this was a solid retelling of a much-loved story.

 

‘Belladonna’ – Adalyn Grace

Belladonna is a story which works perfectly well on its own, though I’m intrigued by the prospect of a sequel.

The story opens with us being introduced to Signa, a young girl who has the ability to see Death. Throughout her early years she finds herself in increasingly difficult situations, facing death but never being taken. Guardian after guardian dies, leaving Signa in a vulnerable position, and though people fear her we are not sure why.

When another guardian dies, Signa is taken to live with the family of an aunt. She finds herself communing with Death, and trying to investigate the death of her aunt Lillian with the help of the mysterious Sylas. Happy to finally be somewhere she feels welcomed, Signa does what she can to work out who was responsible and who might want her cousin Blythe dead.

A strange relationship between Signa and Death, and I liked the way that Signa was given the opportunity to escape some of the expectations for a young woman in her position.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this prior to publication in exchange for my honest review, and now to find out when part two can be expected.

‘Nothing More to Tell’ – Karen McManus

Another McManus hit in the making, with many of the features fans will recognise and love…and definite potential for a very interesting follow-up.

This time round we’re focusing on a crime that took place some years ago. The body of Mr Will Larkin, a popular teacher at St Ambrose School, was found by three students. Popular belief is that the crime was random, but many still believe there’s more to the story than has been shared.

Our prime character is Brynn, an ex-student who has to return to the school she left four years earlier. She was friends with Tripp, one of the three students who found the body, and she is convinced that there’s more to the story. While her curiosity is understandable, she’s helped hugely here in her investigations by the fact that she has an internship at Motive, a true-crime show, and has access to police reports and details that your average teenager wouldn’t.

Much of the story focuses on Brynn’s attempts to uncover the truth. Of course, people are hiding things and the story behind Larkin’s murder is definitely not what people thought. The truth is almost crazier than anything you could dream up, but it does make sense.

Our narration is split between Brynn and Tripp. We also shift perspectives to the time of the crime, and this is well-constructed to keep us dangling. If I’m being honest, the ending felt rather rushed and the least credible of the strands we’d been given but to leave us with the teaser hinting at more to come from Brynn was a definite hit.

I’m grateful to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this prior to publication, and I can’t wait to get my hands on my pre-ordered physical copy…and to see how students react once they’ve had the chance to read it.