Blog tour - The House by Simon Lelic

Available here from Amazon.co.uk

Londoners Jack and Syd moved into the house a year ago. It seemed like their dream home: tons of space, the perfect location, and a friendly owner who wanted a young couple to have it.

So when they made a grisly discovery in the attic, Jack and Syd chose to ignore it. That was a mistake.

Because someone has just been murdered outside their back door.

AND NOW THE POLICE ARE WATCHING THEM.

Firstly, The House is incredibly difficult to review as I'm so conscious of dropping any spoilers! But I'll try...

This book is narrated by couple, Jack and Sydney who have bought their dream house (a character in itself) after years of saving. The house initially seems perfect, but unfortunately comes with contents from the previous owner and they are left with what to do with it. Something they can ignore until Jack makes a macabre find in the loft - and there is a murder right outside their back door.

The House is an utterly creepy, complex and sinister read. The perfect choice for this time of year - but don't say I didn't warn you when you're sleeping with the lights on! Initially I was thinking, is this a crime thriller, or a ghost story? and it took a while to become clear.

It's extremely well written with he said/she said joint narration, but I did find it slightly confusing at times. Could be down to how fast I was turning the pages and my resting heart rate at the time! It does help give an insight into the couple's relationship but I was weary of an unreliable narrator which stopped me trusting entirely in each character. For me personally I find it detracts a little from the story, but it really is just my preference and don't let it put you off and it's well worth the read!

The ending was very well played and Lelic showed he really is one to watch in this genre.

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Annie Hollands.

5* Review - Cold Blood by Robert Bryndza

Buy HERE from Amazon.co.uk

She fell in love with a killer, now she’s one too.

The suitcase was badly rusted, and took Erika several attempts, but it yielded and sagged open as she unzipped it. Nothing could prepare her for what she would find inside…

When a battered suitcase containing the dismembered body of a young man washes up on the shore of the river Thames, Detective Erika Foster is shocked. She’s worked on some terrifying cases but never seen anything like this before. 

As Erika and her team set to work, she makes the link with another victim – the body of a young woman dumped in an identical suitcase two weeks ago. 

Erika quickly realises she’s on the trail of a serial killer who’s already made their next move. Yet just as Erika starts to make headway with the investigation, she is the victim of a brutal attack. 

But nothing will stop Erika. As the body count rises, the twin daughters of her colleague Commander Marsh are abducted, and the stakes are higher than ever before. Can Erika save the lives of two innocent children before it’s too late? She’s running out of time and about to make a disturbing discovery…there’s more than one killer. 

I LOVE Robert Bryndza and his Erika Foster crime series, they are all totally addictive and in my opinion just get better as they go along. 

Cold Blood is particularly chilling and gruesome, when a body washes up on the banks of the Thames in a suitcase, and Erika puts two and two together she realises that it's linked to another body which has been discovered in similar circumstances, and quickly it seems they're on the hunt for another serial killer.

I loved the Nina and Max chapters and was fascinated by this macabre and controlling relationship, desperate for Nina to find her strength and rise up against Max. 

I love how in the DCI Foster series we get to know the team and their relationships, I was however very disappointed in Peterson and expect him to behave far better in the next book! 

A definite must read for crime fans, it is a series but totally possible as a standalone, it will leave you wanting to go back in the series though!

Many thanks to Bookouture for providing an advanced copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review