Book #56 Good Me, Bad Me

Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read an ebook of Good Me, Bad Me.

This is a debut novel. Hard to believe. Ali Land has written a stunning psychological thriller with a rather unique twist. It is recounted through the eyes of a teenage girl, Annie, whose mother is a serial killer. Annie reports her mother's horrendous crimes to the police. As the plot unfolds we see Annie with a new identity - 'Milly' - fostered with a couple, Mike and Saskia and their teenage daughter Phoebe, a spiteful girl who shows her intense dislike of 'Milly' and the attention she gets from her father, who is a psychologist. Phoebe is not aware of Milly's disturbing past and sees her as a threat to her own comfortable existence. But how long can it remain a secret, as the plot unravels, waiting for the forthcoming trial at which 'Milly' has to give evidence against her own mother.

The pace is relentless, often staccato in rhythm, which adds to the tension. Where is this going? Will we see 'Milly' as the teenager given a fresh start or might Annie, the serial killer's daughter come to the fore?

A great read with a satisfying, if not entirely unexpected, ending!

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Book #42 Last Breath

Last Breath by Robert Bryndza
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's Wimbledon fortnight. So what on earth was I doing starting to read the latest DCI Erika Foster? Last Breath? I nearly took mine! How can Robert Bryndza keep getting better? A short while ago I read Dark Water - Foster #3. Robert sure as hell knows how to rack up the tension. But Last Breath truly had me gasping. Until 2:15am in the early hours of yesterday morning. I don't do that! Well, you try putting this down! Those chapters that get shorter and shorter. As DCI Erika Foster chases down a monster - a serial killer who exhibits the most despicable traits as the mutilated bodies turn up.

I am not giving away any of the plot; it's darned clever, there are blind alleys, there are heart-stopping moments when you do catch your breath. You have to carry on. You know who the killer is, one of the most despicable individuals you will encounter in a serial killer, thriller. And Last Breath has thrills galore! I was completely sucked in with the almost unbearable tension.

And completely forgot about Wimbledon. No mean feat. If you haven't read Last Breath, get a copy. And be prepared to stay awake nights. It doesn't get any better!

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Book #72 The Girl In The Ice

The Girl In The Ice by Robert Bryndza
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So pleased that other Goodreaders recommended this. Wow! Helen Grace has a rival in DCI Erika Foster. There are similarities in their background. Both have suffered trauma in their earlier careers with the police. Both take on the establishment, despise internal politics and at times evince a level of insubordination against superiors. I am left to wonder how Chief Superintendent Marsh ever achieved such a high level of rank given his propensity to often ignore the obvious.

Erika will fight her corner to follow the evidence in a case of alarming developments. Her team love her and will do everything to support her in this cracking serial killer thriller. It has everything; short chapters when required to rack up the tension, great dialogue, believable characters and locations. And the feisty DCI Erika Foster.

I loved this debut novel in the series by Robert Bryndza. Raced through it, couldn't put it down.

Highly recommended.

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