Amazing. Original. Astonishing. Compelling. Shocking. Disturbing. And I don't know what to write to do this book justice. I loved it, the best book I've read this year, last year, for many years.
The blurb gives the outline. Nine people arrive one night on Chelsea Bridge. They’ve never met. But at the same time, they run, and leap to their deaths. Each of them received a letter in the post that morning, a pre-written suicide note, and a page containing only four words: Nothing important happened today.
That is how they knew they had been chosen to become a part of the People Of Choice: A mysterious suicide cult whose members have no knowledge of one another.
Thirty-two people on that train witness the event. Two of them will be next. By the morning, People Of Choice are appearing around the globe; it becomes a movement. A social media page that has lain dormant for four years suddenly has thousands of followers. The police are under pressure to find a link between the cult members, to locate a leader that does not seem to exist.
How do you stop a cult when nobody knows they are a member?
And so the story unfolds. It is written in the 3rd person AND the collective 1st person. It is in part an instruction maual on how to be the best serial killer ever, by killing the most people and not getting caught. There are details about previous serial killers like Bundy and Shipman, all very well researched. But the manual is spliced and diced with details about those who are about to/have just committed suicide. All of them have a number and some of them have a title like Doctor, Fighter, Nobody. They remain anonymous and yet the author very cleverly makes them real so that the reader cares about them, so that their deaths are heartbreaking. Especially when we realise that they take their own live and yet THEY DON'T WANT TO DIE!!
The writing is caustic and brutal and stark. 'You can feel it. When somebody jumps off a building and hits the floor, you can feel it.
It's the noise. You don't expect the noise.'
'They killed 256 people!
It should have been so many fucking more.'
The author has created a chilling serial killer, who's manual is not only informative, 'The real trick to being the biggest serial killer in history is to learn from all the other fuck-ups. No accomplice. No dependents. No mistakes.' But also highlights the issues of this modern society. 'We are so connected that we have become disconnected.' The killer had many points to make about society and the reasons why he was killing and calling people Nobodies but the book is so cleverly written that the Nobodies, the numbers, the suicides become real and you want to understand their lives and why they didn't want to die, because none of them did.
We do have a hero, an unlikely hero who manages to dodge death. I can't say too much without giving it away, but the ending is pure genius. 'The guy is a goddamned Nobody.'
The whole book is utter genius. It should be made into a film.

Written from the first person point of view, which is Joe who runs a bookstore and when aspiring author Becks walks in he is obsessed - yes obsessed with her. Joe talks about Becks almost as a running dialogue of what's going on in his head and he refers to Beck as 'you', so the reader has the impression that he's talking to you, making for a very creepy and claustrophobic read, giving me a mouse in my house!!
Joe is a deranged stalker who uses social media to find out about Beck and the people she hangs out with. He very carefully manipulates situations and removes all obstacles that in his mind are in the way of him having a perfect life with Becks. He will go to any lengths to achieve what he wants and he can always find a good excuse for doing what he does.
It isn't normal. Being in Joe's head is scary because yes you feel his passion but with it his insanity, yes you get his humour and charm but also his dark disturbing thoughts, yes you get his oh so funny sense of humour that had me laughing out loud many times but you know it's twisted. He's charming but demented but addictive and you almost wish he was in your life.
And he appears so normal to those around him, not just normal but likeable and clever and witty which is why he gets away with what he does. What would I do if I met someone like Joe? That's a disturbing thought because I'm pretty sure I'd be swept away by his intelligence, humour, good looks and who doesn't want someone who's devoted to you and the sex! Bring it on. But Joe's idea of love is not love, it is a sickness that I only want to experience through reading, that's enough, but what a read.
The writing is excellent, beautifully crafted with constant references to great books and songs from great films, all very cleverly done and making this a unique, compelling and brilliant book.

An incredible piece of writing. I've read The Dry and loved it, but I have to say, I think this is Jane's best book yet.
The writing is, as usual, exquisite. The author draws you into the pages of the book and transports you to the scorching harsh world of the outback and what a fascinating place that is. So alien to me but brought to life so vividly because of the descriptive writing, that I really felt I was there.
'The headstone threw a small shadow. It was the only shade in sight and its blackness was slippery, swelling and shrinking as it ticked around like a sundial. The man had crawled, then dragged himself around as it moved. He had squeezed into that shade, contorting his body into desperate shapes, kicking and scuffing the ground as fear and thirst took hold.
He had a brief respite as night fell, before the sun rose and the terrible rotation started again. It didn’t last as long on the second day, as the sun moved higher in the sky. The man tried though. He chased the shade until he couldn’t anymore.
The circle in the dust fell just short of one full revolution. Just short of twenty-four hours. And then, at last, the stockman finally had company, as the earth turned and the shadow moved on alone, and the man lay still in the centre of a dusty grave under a monstrous sky.'
How beautiful is that? And the book is chock full of descriptions that make you stop, re-read them and close your eyes, and you're in the Australian outback, you can feel that sun beating down.
In the story, we have three brothers and their extended family. Just enough characters to keep it interesting and for everyone to come to life. It is the elder brother Nathan, that tells the story, through his eyes, and what a wonderful, soulful, lonely character he is. I wanted to jump into the book just to hug him.
The plot is full of intrigue and mystery and the addition of the Stockman's Grave just gave the whole book an extra edge of ghostly suspense. The plot is very believable with the lies and secrets that surround this family and this is one of the things I really loved about the story, it is totally believable. Nathan tries to unravel the mystery of his brother's death and the reader follows him, also trying to make sense of what happened.
This is a captivating, emotional, amazing book and I hope they make this one into a film. The best book I've read this year so far, I loved it.

THE SIXTH WICKED CHILD BY J.D. BARKER

This is the last in the 4MK trilogy and I am oh so sad to be saying goodbye to the brilliant cast of characters, especially Porter but mainly Ansom Bishop.
I tried to read this slowly, not wanting it to end, knowing that the author leaves clues scattered around that are so easily missed, but once I started I couldn't stop. A number of nights I had to keep reading into the wee hours and I didn't sleep well after reading this book.
The good news is, I can go back and re-read them all, this time with a different perspective because I know that unpredictable, amazing ending that I could never have guessed. I can try and find all the hidden clues and basically, I'm not ready to say goodbye so I'm not going to.
You must start these books in order, start with The Fourth Monkey and end with The Sixth Wicked Child. I won't talk about the brilliant plot with all its incredible twists and turns, I'm afraid I might give something away. Start this knowing nothing, you'll be blown away. The author's writing is special too, this is not just a plot-driven book, it has deep, believable characters and beautiful writing.
I will add that sprinkled throughout the books are excerpts from Bishops diary's and these, I believe, are a touch of genius. They add an extra depth to an already outstanding novel.
These books are complex, scary, thrilling and totally absorbing. A must-read, I can't stress that enough.
And I cried at the end and not just because I'd finished the book.

A serial killer who burns people alive! He leaves no clues for the police and draws Washinton Poe into the investigation by carving his name on a victims chest.
I loved Poe who has a dark side and a great sense of humour with an instinct to fight for injustice. This is how he befriends the enigmatic genius that is Tilly Bradshaw. Tilly is on the autistic spectrum, making her childlike innocence an easy target for bullies, but she also has a gritty determination. You can't help but love her.
The murders are full of grisly detail but when the motive for them becomes clear, it is also very emotional and moving.
A great cast of characters, well written and a great plot that keeps you guessing. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

I haven't read Adrian Mckinty before, but after enjoying this so much I'm going to read his Sean Duffy series next and I can't wait.
This was a great concept well executed. Normal people are manipulated and drawn into a dark, criminal world which is frightening and violent and they never really get to leave because someone knows what they do and where they are. For parents everywhere it is utterly compelling. Just how far would you go to protect your child. Pay a ransom when the child is kidnapped? - Yes, but then kidnap someone else's child and keep them hidden until that family has completed their part of the chain? Could you? Really?
I loved all the characters, especially Rachael and Pete, loaded with problems and flaws that just added to the suspense and conflict. Then the villans, OMG terrifyingly good.
I could not put this book down, it will make a brilliant film that I will also go and see. Would definitely recommend.

Oh I did love this. I wanted to watch the tv show, but I haven't seen it yet, so I consoled myself with Book 1, and I'm glad I did because it's brilliant.
Dexter has a unique, funny voice for a serial killer. His childhood trauma is hinted at throughout the book and revealed at the end. It has left him with a hunger to kill and a strange relationship with blood. Despite this, or because of it, he becomes a blood splatter analyst for the Miami police, helping to find killers. But Dexter has his own way of dealing with those who he believes have committed serious crimes.
He was adpoted as a child and his father Harry, knew exactly what his son was and tried to steer him away from killing the innocent and only killing the guilty. Like a vigilante, Dexter uses Harry's code as his conscience, otherwise he'd kill just for the hell of it.
Dexter often says he has no feelings, and yet he doesn't want to disappoint Harry, who is now dead, and he loves children. Probably because he has a child like quality himself. He know's he's not normal and has taught himself to blend in. Most humans are fooled by his mimickery of normal, but dogs can sniff him out instantly!
In this book, another serial killer gets his attention. He is supposed to help the police and his sister Deb, a cop, catch this serial killer, but Dexter secretly admires his work and when he is given coded messages by the suspect, he loves the challenge and is not convinced he wants to catch the killer.
I loved the writing style and the plot and the characters, especially the crazy, funny monster that I should at least fear but I can't help wanting him to win.
I can''t wait to read book 2.

I had to wipe away my tears reading this book because Wendy is so amazing. Her struggle with early onset Alzheimers is emotional and hard, the very essence who she has always been is disappearing. However, she has learnt to live a different life, to adapt her way of living so she can live with the disease and not be defeated by it. She has a constant battle to hold onto the skills she once had. Part of her journey has been to educate others, including healthcare professionals, about what it means to live with Alzheimers. It has been an eye-opener for me and I have a much better understanding now of how this affects people. For anyone who knows someone battling with this then this book is an essential read but it makes for an inspirational read for anyone. Very highly recommend this.

Stella is a radio show host. She loves her job and you can tell because she is so good at it, speaking to her listeners as if addressing each person personally. However, she is leaving and tonight is her last show. She has decided that the theme of her last show will be secrets. If you tell her yours, she'll tell you some of hers.
And she does have secrets to tell, which she slowly reveals throughout her show and the reader gets to understand the complexities of Stella. She has a boyfriend Tom and a relationship that is complicated and fascinating, her mother who has returned into her life after being absent for fourteen years and a father she has never known.
Then someone calls the station and they tell Stella they have information on who killed Victoria. Victoria was pregnant and brutally murdered in an alley by the station, just three weeks ago and the police are still hunting for the killer.
The tension is so creepy, especially when we know that Stella is all alone in the station and it is late at night and a killer is out there. Wonderful plotting.
Stella is a great character, when you understand the trauma she has suffered in the past you really do relate to her.
The writing is, as always with Louise Beech, beautiful and moving. The plot is scary, full of tension and conflict and twists and turns. The ending is completely unexpected and shocking.
Although it is a psychological thriller, it is also a very moving, very sad story about abandonment and love.
Brilliant reading that I recommend to everyone.

A stand out 5 stars for this one.

Two strangers turn up at an isolated farmhouse and slaughter the Cooper family. Little Nell, however, escapes and runs. Meanwhile, Valerie Hart is on the trail of the serial killers and that trail eventually leads to Nell.

I wasn't sure I could keep reading this book when I started it. It is full on gruesome and dark and scared the hell out of me. I especially don't like it when children are hurt, so if you don't like that either, you may want to give this a miss. I persevered, and I'm glad I did.
The writing is excellent. I loved the flawed character Valerie. Yes I know, another flawed cop, but she was so good, her own story so heartbreaking and beautifully done. I wanted her to succeed and not just in finding the killers.
The writing also takes the reader into the mind of the killers. You get to feel and see what they do and why they do it. It will make you squirm and probably feel sick but also compelled to read on.
I did think the ending was drawn out, like a blockbuster film where the villain cannot be killed even when faced with experienced, gun-wielding cops. But it does stretch the conflict and suspense until it's almost unbearable, and it would make a brilliant film.
Altogether a very disturbing but so well written book.
I'm still recovering.

The Immortal City by Amy Kuivalainen

In the heart of Venice, a woman is sacrificed to a forgotten god, sparking a mystery lost for thousands of years.

Dr. Penelope Bryne is ridiculed by the academic community for her quest to find the remnants of Atlantis, but when an ancient and mysterious script is found at a murder site, she flies to Venice determined to help the police before the killer strikes again.

Penelope has spent her entire life trying to ignore the unexplainable and magical history of Atlantis, but when she meets the enigmatic Alexis Donato, everything she believes will be challenged. Little does she know, Alexis has spent the last three years doing his best to sabotage Penelope’s career so doesn’t learn the truth—Atlantis had seven magicians who survived, and who he has a duty to protect.

As Alexis draws her into the darkly, seductive world of magic and history, Penelope will have to use her heart as well as her head if she is to find the answers she seeks. 

With the new MOSE system due to come online, and Carnivale exploding around them, Penelope and Alexis will have to work together to stop the killer and prevent dark magic from pulling Venice into the sea. 

This book is definitely a piece of escapism and made a welcome change to the books I generally read.

It has its dark and grisly moments but also a sprinkling of romance with very interesting magicians.

The historical aspect is fascinating and very thorough and rich in detail.

The plot is fast and well developed, I was gripped from start to finish.

The characters are generally well developed, the romance between the hero and heroine perhaps a bit cliched but still a lot of fun.

A lot of work has obviously gone into this book and it brought back wonderful memories of Venice which is such a magical city it is the perfect setting for this book.

I would recommend as a book to get lost in, and aren't they the best?