Into The Mist by Lee Murray

5*

I was unexpectedly taken by this original creature feature story, which would do well made into a film.
The New Zealand/Maori setting and culture added a nice authenticity to the plot which roared through jungle territory, under the guise of a government expedition but ended with more than they bargained for.
 A dash of mysticism, in the form of Temera, explained things that the story itself could not and the character of Taine was likeable and well described.
The supporting characters were strong and again likeable, my favourite being Trigger, who was tough as nails and the plot was fast paced and solid, very enjoyable.
Highly recommended.

I Invited Her In by Adele Parks

3*

When Mel hears from a long-lost friend in need of help, she doesn’t hesitate to invite her to stay. Mel and Abi were best friends back in the day, sharing the highs and lows of student life, until Mel’s unplanned pregnancy made her drop out of her studies.

Now, seventeen years later, Mel and Abi’s lives couldn’t be more different. Mel is happily married, having raised her son on her own before meeting her husband, Ben. Now they share gorgeous girls and have a chaotic but happy family home, with three children.

Abi, meanwhile, followed her lover to LA for a glamorous life of parties, celebrity and indulgence. Everything was perfect, until she discovered her partner had been cheating on her. Seventeen years wasted, and nothing to show for it. So what Abi needs now is a true friend to lean on, to share her grief over a glass of wine, and to have some time to heal. And what better place than Mel’s house, with her lovely kids, and supportive husband…

I’m a bit on the fence with this book.
The plot was great and the everyday setting made things seem more real and normal, however both the characters of Abi and Mel were really unlikeable.
Mel was annoying and almost spineless, simpering in the glamorous light that is Abi and to heck with her family, I mean who would allow an ex friend who hadn’t been in contact for 17 years practically move in and take over?
Abi was horrible, you could see how conniving she was at the start and despite a few twists, the storyline was predictable, though I was disappointed in Liam and the drama that ensued, he was one of my favourite characters until it all kicked off.
All in all I would say it’s worth a read.

The Winters by Lisa Gabriele

4*

After a whirlwind romance, a young woman returns to the opulent, secluded mansion of her new fiancé Max Winter - a wealthy senator and recent widower - and a life of luxury she’s never known. But all is not as it appears at the Asherley estate. The house is steeped in the memory of Max’s beautiful first wife Rebekah, who haunts the young woman’s imagination and feeds her uncertainties, while his very alive teenage daughter Dani makes her life a living hell.

As the soon-to-be second Mrs. Winter grows more in love with Max, and more afraid of Dani, she is drawn deeper into the family’s dark secrets - the kind of secrets that could kill her, too

A haunting tale in a haunting setting, The Winters was very suspenseful.
At first it seems that the bride to be has hit it lucky and will live happy ever after in a rich home with a rich man, but all is not what it seems and disturbing things begin to come to light, including Max’s difficult, troubled daughter Dani.
The characters were interesting, though I can’t say I warmed to any of them, except maybe Dani, eventually, pity was a big emotion here as she was obviously unhinged and grief stricken.
The plot was full of suspense and unease, the atmosphere charged with foreboding, well written and evenly paced, I enjoyed this psychological thriller and will read more from this Author.

The Broken Girls by Simone St James

4*

1950 - At the crumbling Idlewild Hall school for unwanted girls, four room-mates begin to bond over dark secrets and whispered fears - until one of them mysteriously disappears . . .

2014 - Journalist Fiona Sheridan can't get over the murder of her sister twenty years ago, near the ruins of Idlewild. And when another body is found during renovations of the school, she begins to uncover horrors that were meant to remain hidden - and a voice that won't be silenced.

A solid story set in an eerie old school, which many times is extremely atmospheric and so spooky you can actually feel the uneasiness eminating from the page.
The different timelines are well written and not confusing in the least, you always know what’s going on in regards to the past and present and it blends well, within each year.

The characters were nicely described and likeable, I especially liked the 1950 girls as they were so full of attitude and strength despite the harrowing ordeals they suffered.

All in all, a spooky story, with a decent pace and an interesting plot, well worth a read.

Into The Silent Sea by Claire Stibbe

4*

Dangerous is one thing. Deadly is something else.

When Clodagh Shepherd’s curiosity gives way to obsession, her thoughts turn to revenge.

In the wake of her husband’s affair and subsequent disappearance, Clo makes an impulsive decision to befriend the beautiful stranger who has stolen her life. Answering an ad for a home help, she moves into the home of her husband’s mistress and is immediately drawn into the chilling reality behind the idyllic façade of Hamptons Life. Central to her terrifying nightmare is a deadly secret—a secret someone will kill to keep.

In this dark and twisting thriller, Clo proves the adage ‘hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’ with shocking consequences.

This was a very original book that I couldn’t put down, I’m still wondering whether I loved it or was totally confused by it!
Dark and tense throughout, the plot is full of twists and surprising confessions all the while set mainly on the beach, in what most people consider a cheerful place, completely at odds with the claustrophobic emotions in the house.
Clodagh is also a weird one, I’m not sure if I liked or disliked her, she seemed very cold but full of hidden depths and strength, I wondered if she really was the killer she thought she was, and why did she care so much for her horrible Husband?
An totally addictive storyline however, highly recommended if you want something out of the ordinary.

The Siren and the Spectre by Jonathan Janz

4*

When David Caine, a celebrated skeptic of the supernatural, is invited by an old friend to spend a month in “the most haunted house in Virginia,” he believes the case will be like any other. But the Alexander House is different. Built by a 1700s land baron to contain the madness and depravity of his eldest son, the house is plagued by shadows of the past and the lingering taint of bloodshed. David is haunted, as well. For twenty-two years ago, he turned away the woman he loved, and she took her life in sorrow. And David suspects she’s followed him to the Alexander House

I quite enjoyed this novel about a guy that is trying to debunk another “haunted” house but gets way more than he bargained for, with his past rising to meet the present.
The setting in the house was eerie and descriptive, David’s feelings real and yet his disbelief continued even when he saw things.
There was a lot going on in the book, Judson’s evil spirit, a siren and an abusive, sick family, but the pace never slowed and made for an interesting read.
I wasn’t wholly sold on the Sirens involvement, at first i didn’t understand what her appearance added to the plot but it did become clear eventually that she mattered, especially to David’s conscience.
Some things in the story are shocking to read but it all adds to the element of just how depraved Judson was, I would happily read another book by this author.

Now You See Her by Heidi Perks

5*

NOW YOU SEE HER
She’s playing at the school fete with your children. You pull out your phone, scroll through Facebook, and look up again.
NOW YOU DON'T

Charlotte is looking after her best friend’s daughter the day she disappears. She thought the little girl was playing with her own children. She swears she only took her eyes off them for a second.

Now, Charlotte must do the unthinkable, tell her best friend Harriet that her only child is missing. The child she was meant to be watching.

Devastated, Harriet can no longer bear to see Charlotte. No one could expect her to trust her friend again.

Only now she needs to. Because two weeks later Harriet and Charlotte are both being questioned separately by the police. And secrets are about to surface.

Someone is hiding the truth about what really happened to Alice.

Wow, this book though!
Gripping and tense throughout, this book was fast paced and kept me guessing right until the huge twist at the end.
It shows how easy it is to pin blame on people and how hard it is to live with yourself after such a terrible event, involving a child.
The atmosphere is claustrophobic and so real it almost feels like you’re in the story, the characters are descriptive and emotional, again so real.
Charlotte battles with both guilt at losing her friends child and relief at having her own, this shows at every turn and there is an inevitable confrontation it’s surprising results, I did not see the ending coming!
A well written, solid story by an author I will read more of.