Review: Two Can Keep a Secret

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really looking forward to the TV-series - if it happens. And have already pre-ordered her second book in the "One of us is lying"-series.
Standalone. Recommended, but not as good as One of Us Is Lying, sorry to say.
Was in the mood for this after the long winded The Likeness, so I bought it and began reading it the same day.
A little good use of social media and tech ( Skype, facetime, instagram ), but not as much as in "One of us is lying", sadly.

Lots of twists, up to the last sentence.
Why only 4 stars? The police had information which was crucial to solving the case. At least a team effort, but not enough for me for 5 stars, sorry to say. And no love-interest for Ezra and only a hint of one for Mia and it was not entirely clear to me if she was out of the closet or not.
Still recommended, fast read with short, interchanging POV-chapters, clearly dated and marked who was narrating. Page-turner.

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Review: Two Can Keep a Secret

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really looking forward to the TV-series - if it happens. And have already pre-ordered her second book in the "One of us is lying"-series.
Standalone. Recommended, but not as good as One of Us Is Lying, sorry to say.
Was in the mood for this after the long winded The Likeness, so I bought it and began reading it the same day.

Lots of twists, up to the last sentence.
Why only 4 stars? The police had information which was crucial to solving the case. At least a team effort, but not enough for me for 5 stars, sorry to say. And no love-interest for Ezra and only a hint of one for Mia and it was not entirely clear to me if she was out of the closet or not.
Still recommended, fast read with short, interchanging POV-chapters, clearly dated and marked who was narrating. Page-turner.

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Review: The Likeness

The Likeness by Tana French
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Low price, bought this as the first book in the series and this one are filmed as a limited event series for TV according to this article . Already own the first book.

Like the first book not very suspenseful. Interesting idea, but the hype about Tana French fails to convince me. Took me too long to read, and while I own #05 and #06 (due to their low price or a promo), I am reluctant to read more.
Recommended for fans of Ireland. No page-turner. 3.5 stars rounded down to 3, as this is no debut nor a first in a series, rather more of the same and while interesting not really a crime but more a slow burning mystery.
If the other books also get filmed - the limited TV-Series with 8 episodes is based on the first two books in the Dublin Murder Squad series -, I might change my mind and buy and read more, but for now I shelf that under "ok, but not my cup-a-tea".

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Review: The Likeness

The Likeness by Tana French
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Low price, bought this as the first book in the series and this one are filmed as a limited event series for TV according to this article . Already own the first book.

Like the first book not very suspenseful. Interesting idea, but the hype about Tana French fails to convince me. Took me too long to read, and while I own #05 and #06 (due to their low price or a promo), I am reluctant to read more.
Recommended for fans of Ireland. No page-turner. 3.5 stars rounded down to 3, as this is ni debut nor a first in a series, rather more of the same and while interesting not really a crime but more a slow burning mystery.
If the other books also get filmed - the limited TV-Series with 8 episodes is based on the first two books in the Dublin Murder Squad series -, I might change my mind and buy and read more, but for now I shelf that under "ok, but not my cup-a-tea".

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Review: And She Was

And She Was by Alison Gaylin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Trigger warning: vanished children and teenagers, but no abuse, no torture.
Some killing and violence against adults, a little over the top.
Female MC, currently single, really like her. Story takes place in the USA.

If you watched the "Unforgettable" TV-Show, then you know about the affliction. To call it an illness may be wrong, but it is certainly not really wantable: a different wired brain, where a person does recall every memory in great detail.
In the book the MC Brenna Spector is a PI who can remember everything. Up to a certain point this is interesting and well integrated, but the story gets brocken with memories which do nothing for the cases nor the story nor for me. While it is not too distracting, at least 10% could have been left out without changing the story - boring!

The main case is a cold case about a missing little girl, which may be related to another, older case about the MC's sister going missing.

Quite a few twists, and I guessed none. The case is complicated, and what I really liked was no vigilantism, while the "going places without telling someone" did happen, it was not totally obvious that it would be dangerous. And most of time the MC told someone where she was going. The "no cell phone service"-problem was logical in that context and well explained.

Bought this one and the next one for a low price (less than 3 Eur each for the ebooks, but not sure, wether is the normal price or I was just lucky).

Recommended 3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 for first book in the series, may get better with next one, here is hoping!



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Review: Vow of Silence

Vow of Silence by Chris Patchell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lent this with a free Kindle Unlimited trial.
Solid 3 stars, could have been better. If you liked the first book, you may like this one.
Not too fond of vigilantism, but the end is more or less satisfying, even for me.
Technical up-to-date with computers, mobile phones, instagram etc., but could have had more in depth scenes and technical stuff for me, it was real, but barely scratched the surface.
OK read, but no recommendation, except to get closure to the Jill Shannon story.
Not enough twists or suspense, but the final decision by her was great.

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Review: The Lying Room

The Lying Room by Nicci French
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 rounded up to 4 for good MC. Not enough suspense for full 4 or even 5 stars and some scenes where just too long. And I would have put the daughter (Mable) out far earlier, she should have tried living on her own.
Good twists, I could not even guess the killer. Not entirely my stile, did not really like the books from the Frida Klein series I tried (one I will still read, to conclude one of the cases).
Still recommended.

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Review: The Lying Room

The Lying Room by Nicci French
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

3.5 rounded up to 4 for good MC. Not enough suspense for full 4 or even 5 stars and some scenes where just too long. And I would have put the daughter (Mable) out far earlier, she should have tried living on her own.
Good twists, I could not even guess the killer. Not entirely my stile, did not really like the books from the Frida Klein series I tried (one I will still read, to conclude one of the cases).
Still recommended.

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Review: The Body Keeper

The Body Keeper by Anne Frasier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lent this with a free Kindle Unlimited trial.
Good solid work, but most of the twists I saw coming and the "going places alone, even if it might be dangerous" happens, which I really cannot stand if it is not well explained. In this book it well integrated and while not justified at least believably written and softened as the MC lets someone know where she is going.
Only very little social media integration this time (Instagram and Facebook mentioned, but not used, a little Youtube), mostly due to the time the crimes where beginning.

On a different day I might have given 4 stars, these 5 feel a little much, more like rounded up from 4.5 stars.
Recommended, but the 2nd one was the best from the (so far) three books.
Still, this is a series I will try to keep reading if more books are published.

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Review: Verfolgung

Verfolgung by David Lagercrantz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just saw, looking for the next book in the series that I have not read this yet and the price sank, so I bought it. The next book is even as an ebook rather expensive and I will that for that to sink to 10 Eur or less, like with this book (I guess it was on publishing the same ridiculous high price).

Read this in German translation, as that is my first language and english would have been also a translation (do not read Swedish).

Writing is ok, but at the scenes with hacking (like in the prison office) felt not as real as with Larsson, as often with people who do not know their stuff. While it did not go into details, it felt embellished as to the capabilities of both Lisbeth and other hackers, this may be also due to the POV in the prison office scene of the person looking at the hacking, so not too sure about that.

What was really disturbing, was the ever changing POVs and then commenting on it like an outsider. And also no visual distinction when POV changes - in some books this is chapter wise, or marked somehow, so it is clear, who is now narrating, which I think is rather better and more readable, and also here in this book there are a few too many POVs.

But most even non-significant side infos / stories get integrated into the main story at some point, so, ok, 4 stars it is.

Also, as this is a series, I was surprised, how much of the 4 books before that I had forgotten, although the most necessary parts are retold, adding to the length of the story. For me this a fast page-turner, just the right length, but I can understand if others see this differently.
Not really wether I have changed, or the writing is not as good as it has been, but I found this lacking without something to put my finger on, even with the 4 stars I gave it (and thought about giving 5!), should re-read the other books again, but there are just so many books on TBR-bought list ....

So, still highly recommended, but keep in mind, that I read the German translation, and this does not say all about the english translation.

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Review: In the Darkness

In the Darkness by Mike Omer
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Lent this with a free Kindle Unlimited trial. Did not like the first book in the series, my 1 * review.

So why did I read this one? First, I considered it an easy DNF, so I was surprised that I read/FF (fast-forward) through it, and although it was very straight, again, by-the-numbers-serial-killer-book, I knew what to skip, and the case was way better.
Even so, this could have been read in a day or on a rainy weekend, but it was just not interesting enough to read this faster.

Do not like the MC, nor her sidekick, straight story, little sex happening of page, little romance, too many sidestories which did nothing for the suspense of which again, there was too little.

No good twists, ending ok. Good integration of social media (streaming of video, Instagram, Youtube), which was interesting and without mistakes, so 3 stars, if you want to read it, it is ok, but
again not recommended by me.
Better than the first one, but will never read something by this author or in this series again.

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Review: One of Us Is Lying

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Had this on my TBR for some time, and with this article - warning lots of ads - sorry - stating that it may be filmed, and my choice of books rather bad (A Killer's Mind, The Lying Kind), I wanted to read something fast and entertaining.

This one, wow, gripped me right from the start. Up-to-date use of social media (tumblr, 4chan, etc.). Safety precautions mentioned, hacking mentioned but not really en-detail so as not to give a blueprint for would-be-hackers.

Told with short parts consisting of one POV from one of the 4 people in the room when Simon died than changing to the next POV, each clearly labeled.
Each with at least one secret that gets revealed, be it from Simons App "About That" or through normal leaks and gossip. Only a few have multiple secrets.

And a lot of twists, most I did not guess, even the reveal surprised me, that is always a good thing.

Highly recommended standalone, as it is concluded and even a few pages about what happens after the conclusion (like with Swipe Right for Murder which I also recommend), high-octane-page-turner, I nearly regret reading that during 3 days.

Really looking forward to the TV-series - if it happens. And will certainly look for other books from this author!

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Review: One of Us Is Lying

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Had this on my TBR for some time, and with this article - warning lots of ads - sorry - stating that it may be filmed, and my choice of books rather bad (A Killer's Mind, The Lying Kind), I wanted to read something fast and entertaining.

This one, wow, gripped me right from the start. Up-to-date use of social media (tumblr, 4chan, etc.). Safety precautions mentioned, hacking mentioned but not really en-detail so as not to give a blueprint for would-be-hackers.

Told with short parts consisting of one POV from one of the 4 people in the room when Simon died than changing to the next POV, each clearly labed.
Each with at least one secret that gets revealed, be it from Simons App "About That" or through normal leaks and gossip. Only a few have multiple secrets.

And a lot of twists, most I did not guess, even the reveal surprised me, that is always a good thing.

Highly recommended standalone, as it is concluded and even a few pages about what happens after the conclusion (like with Swipe Right for Murder which I also recommend), high-octane-page-turner, I nearly regret reading that during 3 days.

Really looking forward to the TV-series - if it happens. And will certainly look for other books from this author!

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Review: One of Us Is Lying

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Had this on my TBR for some time, and with this article - warning lots of ads - sorry - stating that it may be filmed, and my choice of books rather bad (A Killer's Mind, The Lying Kind), I wanted to read something fast and entertaining.

This one, wow, gripped me right from the start. Up-to-date use of social media (tumblr, 4chan, etc.). Safety precautions mentioned, hacking mentioned but not really en-detail so as not to give a blueprint for would-be-hackers.

Told with short parts consisting of one POV from one of the 4 people in the room when Simon died.
Each with at least one secret that gets revealed, be it from Simons App "About That" or through normal leaks and gossip. Only a few have multiple secrets.

And a lot of twists, most I did not guess, even the reveal surprised me, that is always a good thing.

Highly recommended standalone, as it is concluded and even a few pages about what happens after the conclusion (like with Swipe Right for Murder which I also recommend), high-octane-page-turner, I nearly regret reading that during 3 days.

Really looking forward to the TV-series - if it happens. And will certainly look for other books from this author!

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Review: One of Us Is Lying

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Had this on my TBR for some time, and with this article stating that it may be filmed, and my choice of books rather bad (A Killer's Mind, The Lying Kind), I wanted to read something fast and entertaining.

This one, wow, gripped me right from the start. Up-to-date use of social media (tumblr, 4chan, etc.). Safety precautions mentioned, hacking mentioned but not really en-detail so as not to give a blueprint for would-be-hackers.

Told with short parts consisting of one POV from one of the 4 people in the room when Simon died.
Each with at least one secret that gets revealed, be it from Simons App "About That" or through normal leaks and gossip. Only a few have multiple secrets.

And a lot of twists, most I did not guess, even the reveal surprised me, that is always a good thing.

Highly recommended standalone, as it is concluded and even a few pages about what happens after the conclusion (like with Swipe Right for Murder which I also recommend), high-octane-page-turner, I nearly regret reading that during 3 days.

Really looking forward to the TV-series - if it happens. And will certainly look for other books from this author!

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Review: A Killer's Mind

A Killer's Mind by Mike Omer
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Lent this with a free Kindle Unlimited trial.
Got till 30%, boring. Read the last two chapter, might look into the next book, but this was no page-turner. This is a by-the-numbers-serial-killer-book, but it nothing new, no suspense in that 30%.
Also again to much background/sidestory for the MC.

Pro:
Michigan / Chicago!
No swearing, so far no romance/love.
Nice cliff-hanger into the next book.

But also no regrets that I can give it back to Kindle Unlimited and borrow another book. And being that is my third (!) free KU trial, I did not even pay for that!

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Review: Tiamat's Wrath

Tiamat's Wrath by James S.A. Corey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Took a little break and started reading this again July 31st, 2019, changed that here on Goodreads accordingly.

As I did not want to part with the series, as the next book is still to be published, and that will be the last, as far as planned, I read other books in between.

While still following a strict formula with a few differing (chapter-wise) POV, this was a nice conclusion to the conflict with Laconia.

Highly recommended, but you should have read the entire series. While it will be sad to see the series go with the next book (and a collection of Short-Stories/Novellas), I hope for an epic conclusion.
Still have not watched the TV-Series.

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Review: The Lying Kind

The Lying Kind by Alison James
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Author EMail recommended Caitlyn Lynch, price was just right and blurb read interesting.
From the beginning it looks like a 3star book to me, it drags on.
While most is standard police work, there is just too much personal stuff here.

And then her dumb partner, aptly named Brickall, as he is as thick as brick in regard to women, makes an unforgivable mistake which has nothing to do with the case. The MC, Rachel Prince, tries to get her partner back, as he is supposed to be such a great help and good policeman - of which I only have her word, nothing I read so far (70%) in this book proves that - the scene at page 186 / 67 % got me so angry, I will give 1 star less, depending on how this finally plays out. Not to spoil anything I will not go into details.
Just saying I would like to have a thriller - which this is certainly not, lacking the pager-turner-quality I expect from a good thriller - where police is working within their rule-book of laws.

The investigation so far stays within that rules, so it is even more unacceptable that Brickall breaks the rules, although warned by the victim and the MC about it. And so far the consequences are as expected, but I would like to see him gone, I do not like him, he does nothing for the story and has no place in a police-force. He displays for me the typical male behaviour, that even I, myself a man, cannot stand "I am the greatest gift to women and can get any woman I want". Which would have been wrong, even if he was a great police-man, of which I have yet to see proof, he does not deserve this job, with that kind of thinking. Later in the books he helps with a certain crucial fact at one time, but that is his only bigger positive contribution I can remember.

As it is his, currently this looks more like a 2 star book, and I might never read anything from this author again.
One of the only good points is, that it plays in the UK and some other European places, these parts are good, and also the international connections feel real.

Now having finished, I cannot decide wether 3 or 2 stars are warranted.
While 2 might be bit harsh, I think, it was way to slow, after a few nice twists ending as expected, at a certain point it was obvious.
As also one storyline was not solved in a to me satisfying way, I will not look for other books from this author and certainly not the sequel of this one.

So, yes, 2.5 stars it is, rounded down to 2 stars. Not recommended, sorry to say, others may differ, and maybe I would be more positive if I finished this faster, but there was no reason, not enough suspense, not enough twists, not enough surprises for me.

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Review: Swipe Right for Murder

Swipe Right for Murder by Derek Milman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review to follow soon, I hope.
Highly recommended YA-crime-page-turner with a gay teen coming into his own.

So, before I forget everything about this book...
This was quite good gay thriller, with the MC using a tinder-like-gay app on his iPhone to hookup.
While certainly sex did happen, it was off page, and the scenes did not creep me (hetero) out.
But that was only the underlying frame for a story about a cult-like-Terrorgroup, targeting homophobe groups and people, killing both and also innocents and targeting more.
The technology described feels real, not SF or near-future-like, and is abused, with deadly consequences.
The MC has sympathies for the goals of the Gay-Terror-Group, being gay himself and falls for them, helped by being duped from both the FBI and the charismatic leader of the Terror-Group. He thinks at one point that killing anti-gay fanatics (true-birthers, christians, anti-abortionists etc.) is ok, but balks from the killing of innocents. He changes his mind a few times and the issues get muddled, and sometimes quite brutal, resulting in several action-scenes where he has to save himself and others, some are unbelievable way-over-the-top-X-Men-like-Superhero-stuff, but fun to read,
and as described, even just this side of realistic.
Also, after the case is closed, you get what others would build into a series or at least a second book, or simply leave unsolved: the aftermath of it, what happens next, both to the FBI-Agents and to the Hero/MC? You get a short overview of how his live goes on, nice touch.

For a debut, and a book a little out of my normal comfort zone, a 5star recommendation, an author I will watch for more books to read.

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Review: Swipe Right for Murder

Swipe Right for Murder by Derek Milman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review to follow soon, I hope.
Highly recommended YA-crime-page-turner with a gay teen coming into his own.

So, before I forget everything about this book...
This was quite good gay thriller, with the MC using a tinder-like-gay app on his iPhone to hookup.
While certainly sex did happen, it was off page, and the scenes did not creep me (hetero) out.
But that was only the underlying frame for a story about a cult-like-Terrorgroup, targeting homophobe groups and people, killing both and also innocents and targeting more.
The technology described feels real, not SF or near-future-like, and is abused, with deadly consequences.
The MC has sympathies for the goals of the Gay-Terror-Group, being gay himself and falls for them, helped by being duped from both the FBI and the charismatic leader of the Terror-Group. He thinks at one point that killing ani-gay fanatics (true-birthers, christians, anti-abortionists etc.) is ok, but balks from the killing of innocents. He changes his mind a few times and the issues get muddled, and sometimes quite brutal, resulting in several action-scenes where he has to save himself and others, some are unbelievable way-over-the-top-X-Men-like-Superhero-stuff, but fun to read,
and as described, even just this side of realistic.
Also, after the case is closed, you get what others would build into a series or at least a second book, or simply leave unsolved: the aftermath of it, what happens next, both to the FBI-Agents and to the Hero/MC? You get a short overview of how his live goes on, nice touch.

For a debut, and a book a little out of my normal comfort zone, a 5star recommendation, an author I will watch for more books to read.

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Review: Tasteful

Tasteful by Celina Grace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Received an ARC from the author for an honest review. Must admit, the series has too much romance for my taste, and the heroine in the books I have read seems weak to me. But I will read on for free books, cheapskate that I am.
As this a Novella, it felt better, than the last books I read from the series, a little romance, but thankfully not too much - as there was probable not enough room for it, although I still tink, Kate would be more interesting as a single, this for me is the 1 missing star.
While I took my time reading this with starting a completely different book in between ( if interested: YA Fantasy Thief of Lies ) as I read a few police procedurals lately, may be a bit much.

Liked this Novella more than the last books in the series, for the short reading time quite a few twists, which I really liked. Can probably be read whole on a rainy afternoon, which just feels about right.

Recommended, even if you do not know other books from the series. Great teaser for the next book, I think.

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Review: Tasteful

Tasteful by Celina Grace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Received an ARC from the author for an honest review. Must admit, the series has too much romance for my taste, and the heroine in the books I have read seems weak to me. But I will read on for free books, cheapskate that I am.
As this a Novella, it felt better, than the last books I read from the series, a little romance, but thankfully not too much - as there was probable not enough room for it, although I still tink, Kate would be more interesting as a single.
While I took my time reading this with starting a completely different book in between ( if interested: YA Fantasy Thief of Lies ) as I read a few police procedurals lately, may be a bit much.

Liked this Novella more than the last books in the series, for the short reading time quite a few twists, which I really liked. Can probably be read whole on a rainy afternoon, which just feels about right.
Recommended, even if you do not know other books from the series. Great teaser for the next book, I think.

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Review: Splinter in the Blood

Splinter in the Blood by Ashley Dyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Read the second book in the series first, not planned, and that was great, so I wanted to know what happened before en détail.
Here my review of the second book in the series - will not repeat this here, as most also relates to this book, except (sadly), not as much use of social media, but the use of smartphones, computer, internet etc. is up-to-date, very real and you get the feeling the author knows her way with these tech and devices.

Wow! And what a beginning. Not wanting to spoil it, read the blurb, and so far it looks like the second book: a fast moving plot, leading to a probable 5star page-turner, short chapters, with changing POV, vivid bad dreams and memories from Carver with his medical problems. And is it one case (the Thorn Killer) or two (then what happened to Carver)?
Even just 10% into the book, one twist is answered, but lots of questions remain.
Setting is Liverpool, UK. So not London, which has been used too often for my taste, like it.

Breathtaking beginning, you do not know what happened, the first clues you get at 30%, and then that later that gets turned 90° or even 180°, nice twists.

So, 5stars for this book, during some part the investigation lacks suspense (middle or 60% into the book imho) and drags a little, but the twists are well done and I did not guess the killer till the revelation, very well done. Changing POV's, Carver, Lake, Killer. Some secrets stay buried and what I really liked, that for all the mistakes they (Carver and Lake) make: no vigilant heroism, and when they go places alone, they leave word where they are going (well most times).

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Review: Splinter in the Blood

Splinter in the Blood by Ashley Dyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Read the second book in the series first, not planned, and that was great, so I wanted to know what happened before en détail.
Here my review of the second book in the series - will not repeat this here, as most also relates to this book, except (sadly), not as much use of social media, but the use of smartphones, computer, internet etc. is up-to-date, very real and you get the feeling the author knows her way with these tech and devices.

Wow! And what a beginning. Not wanting to spoil it, read the blurb, and so far it looks like the second book: a fast moving plot, leading to a probable 5star page-turner, short chapters, with changing POV, vivid bad dreams and memories from Carver with his medical problems. And is it one case (the Thorn Killer) or two (then what happened to Carver)?
Even just 10% into the book, one twist is answered, but lots of questions remain.
Setting is Liverpool, UK. So not London, which has been used too often for my taste, like it.

Breathtaking beginning, you do not know what happened, the first clues you get at 30%, and then that later that gets turned 90° or even 180°, nice twists.

So, 5stars for this book, during some part the investigation lacks suspense (middle or 60% into the book imho) and drags a little, but the twists are well done and I did not guess the killer till the revelation, very well done. Changing POV's, Carver, Lake, Killer. Some secrets stay buried and what I really liked, that for all the mistakes they (Carver and Lake) make, no vigilant heroism, and when they go places alone, they leave word where they are going (well most times).

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Review: Expire

Expire by Danielle Girard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As the book before #3 ended with a cliffhanger, I was really looking forward to reading this book and started it soon after it was delivered to my Kindle.
Currently looking good, 4 or 5 stars, I guess. Also looks like a fast read, page-turner, which suits me currently. On the third day of reading I am a third into the book.
My only fears are that it may be too short and again ending with a cliffhanger and then the waiting time for the next book?!
Starting with a twist.
OK, so maybe 5 stars is a bit much. But I liked how the multiple POV and short chapters came together. Ending was bit too sweet, but ok. No vigilante killing, so that was a plus and the problems with investigating something alone while trying to do your normal police job was VERY well balanced. Also no "going places alone, stumble into an obvious trap and no-one knows where you are (or even misses you)". So that's a plus. The scene in the WASP/Aryan-Nation country played out well, with Hal (being black) doing everything right, even though it irked him.

Everything played out logically and while at times it was a bit repetitive, it was a good page-turner, helped by the changing POV and again the short chapters.

Not for all, others might think this is a 3 star book, and might question my 5 stars. These are more 4.5 rounded up and together with the last book - which ended in a cliffhanger.

Recommended, like the whole series so far.

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Review: The Initial Fold: A first contact space opera adventure

The Initial Fold: A first contact space opera adventure by Nick Adams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lent this with a free Kindle Unlimited trial.
Good beginning for the series, but not sure, wether I will read the next books, 3.5 stars rounded down to 3 - due to the language, which was unnecessarily juvenile-jokingly, even in serious situations and when it was dangerous due to possible miss-understandings (sarcasm not understood by some races etc.).
The main story with two first-contact scenarios happening, was fast moving and without the language this could easily have been a 4star book, but the sexual innuendos and the language seemed out of place, without it this could have been an easy fast rainy-weekend-YA-read, so while not really NA, it felt off for me. With real sex scenes this might have worked, but as it was written this was somehow feeling like a different story added to the book, and did not work for me.
The persons where ok written, but some got on my nerves, with their quirks and ticks.

For KU this was one of the better books, so I recommend it, it may also be that the next books in the series get better, but to state it again, I am not sure wether I will read them.

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Review: Portraits of the Dead

Portraits of the Dead by John Nicholl
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Lent this with a free Kindle Unlimited trial.
DNF at 9% percent, wow, what a drivel. Skimmed the ending, that did not help.
Another bad KU choice, where I fell for the blurb.
Not recommended, what others see in this boring writing I will never understand.
Have to change my way to decide which book to get, I am doing something wrong, my last choices where too often really bad.

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Review: The Cutting Room

The Cutting Room by Ashley Dyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Let's see if this book can hold my interest.
Short intro in the 2 mc's then they are lured to the remains of the next victim of a serial killer.
With the setting being in UK, and for once not London, instead Liverpool, this might just be my kind of book.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Up-to-date internet social media-use, with facebook, twitter, tumblr, instagram, live-streaming, VPN, email and short-messages (SMS and chat). Very well done, without embellishing or any mistakes I could spot. Also without hacking, sadly, but as that is often wrong or over-the-top, achieving too much, the fact that it is not used makes it more real for me.
In other books the police (or the investigating people) have a go-to-Hacker (often male) who is like a magician, making things happen that (without explanation) are very expensive, very hard to do in a short time frame or simply impossible.

The POV was mainly from three different persons, the female detective (DS Ruth Lake, which for me is the main character), the male detective (DCI Greg Carver) and the Killer. This was one of the things which did not sit too well with me, but the chapters where short, and the story connecting Art, Performances, Streaming, Graffiti, Exhibition, Tattoos and even crowd-manipulation, was well written, and delved into ethics, asking "what is allowed in Art" and "what is Art" without giving a certain answer - you have to think about the book, probably even after you have finished it.
As I am an interested observer who likes Giger, I know some of the images which are in that style described in The Cutting Room - see the linked book Biomechanics.
Page-turner, with short-chapters, so you can try to take a break after finishing another chapter - if you really want to...

The personal problems of Lake & Carver played a certain role in this book, very well integrated into the story, but a bit much, will be interesting to see how this will grow or develop in the next book (there will be a next book, I hope?!). Will try to get the first book in the series cheap, or borrow it, if possible (just checked, it is not that expensive, might buy it after reading something different).

Highly recommended UK Serial Killer case with excellent Internet integration in the story.

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Review: Trouble is a Friend of Mine

Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This beginning of the "Trouble is a friend of mine"-Trilogy was pitched to me as a Veronica Mars alike read. In some ways it is, but the main driver of the story is not the female heroine ( Zoe ), but the waky-over-the-top male MC ( Digby ).
As such, this is my main gripe with the story, while it is from the POV of Zoe, she comes acros as a meek, sometimes submissive femaile. So not like Veronica Mars and definetly so not my kind of female heroine: Zoe is not very strong, and certainly not independent.
Then again, the book is well writen and has good, real dialogue and no errors I noticed.

So 3 solid stars for totally twisty crime, well written and rounded high-school drama, with certain outstanding scene. As an example, Bill, a female minor character has a very real scary scene later in the book. From her and some others I would have liked to read more, but the unlikely pairing of Digby and Zoe just does not interest me too much.

Still, would recommend the book, but am not too sure, wether it was logical to buy the next 2 books, even though they where cheap, not sure, if and when I will be in the mood to read them.
This one could be read on a rainy weekend and that just feels about right. Oh, and also, there is kind of an unsolved crime still open in the end, serving as cliffhanger.

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Review: The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pre-ordered this October 25th, 2016, was recommended by quite a few blogs I read, and probably persons, received it on Kindle when it was published (EU, Germany, but in English), February 28th, 2017 (more than 2 years ago) - also bought the Audible as a Whispersync deal cheap in December 2017.
One of the reasons to buy this, that it is a current story of the "black-lives-matter", the other that what was then supposed to be filmed to be a movie, and it was. That one I also pre-ordered on iTunes, and I will be able to watch it on or after June 27th, 2019, Friday next week (as of today).
At that time I want to have finished the book.

As a white straight male, I chose to read some books which are diverse, even though I am not that much into race wars or LGBT+. Being German we have homegrown Nazis here, with a fallen-off-the-cliff-far-out-right-wing political party (AFD), and I learned that being disabled gets you in their crosshairs as much as being a jew or black. Some members of the Police-force are supporting Nazis and protecting them being found out. Currently it looks not as bad here as it does in the USA, but we are getting there.
So this one of the more serious books I read this year. And given my bad choice of books these past months, so far probably it looks to be one of the better reads, well written and engaging.

So, 5stars it is, maybe a little much, as the main story is obvious, no twists, but sadly very real, as we saw a few black youth killed, unarmed, posing no threat by a police officer.

Highly recommended, well written, should be read by young white people, to get educated.
Cannot wait to see movie soon.

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Review: Remote Access

Remote Access by Barry Finlay
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lent this with a free Kindle Unlimited trial.
Skipped/skimmed the also lent second Marcie Kane book, as the first was just so bad.

This should be more interesting: a PotUS-Trump-alike, with doing things without counsel, Hacking, China, Trade relations, so and begins ok. Also it is nearly a Roman à clef to current events (China trade, Huawei, PotUS), which should make it interesting.

But again, it has too much information which does nothing to the story for me, about 30% of the personal issues, descriptions, places etc. could be cut without changing the main events in the story. It feels like a by the numbers story, no surprises so far, and I skip parts regularly.

Also, the main character in the first book, Marcie gets a Fiancé and is planning her wedding, and he is now the main MC for the good guys, something I really do not need, I wanted a strong, single, independent woman, not some boring romance, nor a male MC.

As a contrast and forcing me to read this till the end, the political issues and the hacking descriptions and actions are spot on. There is also some action, everything believable.
So where fails the book for me? TMI - too much information which is not needed. The usual drunk problem with one of the characters, well written, but all taking too long, also a lot is explained in too much details, maybe necessary for the unwashed masses? Just an example: SWATTING, sending a SWAT-team to an innocent person as a prank or revenge or whatever.
All valid and realistic story points, but somehow the added story is not suspenseful. As if on purpose.

Will try to finish the book today, as I want to give it back for a different and hopefully better Kindle-Unlimited book.
Pending some major good twist or a surprise ending or whatever, this barely rates 3 stars, more like 2.5 rounded up for a good idea. Would have liked to read this idea from way better author. And shorter. Maybe still recommended, but I suggest reading it faster than me - 8 days is too much, showing how much interest I did not have in the book!

Ending one of the main story with the ballroom scene was ok, but would have liked a full success, not this failure. The other one was as expected, but well done. Would have liked another and more story about the assassin, not about Marcie & Nathan. Their ending was way boring. As in certain stories no main so-called-good-people die, I am tired of this, would have killed some main characters unexpectedly.

So, the ending of the the main story saving it a little, it is now a full 3 stars, not rounded up from 2.5 stars, but as it is I fail to recommend it. The current reality was well mirrored in the book though, so if you manage to read this on a rainy weekend, it may hold a little more interest than a fluffy romance for some.
Oh, and just to be sure, I will most probably not read a book by this author again. While I could not detect any errors, the style was just not suspenseful enough.

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Review: Uncommon Stock: Version 1.0

Uncommon Stock: Version 1.0 by Eliot Peper
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lent this with a free Kindle Unlimited trial.
Beginning takes too long for me to hold my interest, even though the blurb sounded very good, right up my alley.
Currently leaning to DNF.
Will skim reviews and decide what to do.
Ok, was interesting enough to read to the end, but I skimmed some passages.
My problem with the book is, I wanted more hacking, more from James, more suspense and/or crime.
This ebook is a good collection of how to built a startup, how to raise money (which is the main theme in the book). Having read a book by Frank Thelen, his so called Autobiography, I am somewhat interested. Frank Thelen is or was one of the jurors/advisors of the German version of Sharktank (called translated to english "In the lions den" - "In der Höhle der Löwen"), where groups and people can pitch their ideas and get advice and sometimes money.

Such a scene is also in the book.

The book focuses on the female MC, and her ideas, personal problem and sports. A lot of time is wasted and for me also suspense with scenes which do nothing for me, there is a lot of hiking and running, some climbing, and the descriptions are detailed enough that I think, the author has personal experience.
Then again, a lot is told, not shown, not a style I like too much.

Nearing the end, suspense suddenly rises, the book ending in a cliffhanger. But I am not sure, wether I really want to read the next books, then again, it might get better. As all books are currently on Kindle Unlimited, at least I would not have to pay for it, but my KU-trial runs out in little more than a month, and so far my choice of books from KU just confirmed that it ok for free, but not, if I have to pay for it. Just checked the price of this book, and the only reason to buy the Kindle version would be to get the audiobook with audible cheap with it, if you want to, so there is that, but I still think, it is too expensive, this for me is a typical 99ct read.

This review feels little like the breakup apology "... it is not you, it is me".
So, from my description, you should know what you are getting into, wether this book is for you or not.

Recommended, still, but only 3 stars for being too long, too much tell and not enough suspense.
Just read the blurb again, and think, drug cartels are not playing a great role in the book, so some of the blurb is way off.

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Review: The Vanishing Wife

The Vanishing Wife by Barry Finlay
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Lent this with a free Kindle Unlimited trial.
For some reason I also lent the next few books (with the third being from the title "Remote Access" my main interest), but will probably skim reviews and blurb and might return them back to KU unread.
Currently at 9% percent and since the beginning it looks like DNF to me.
No action, little suspense, a lot of information I do not care about.
From here on I will FF, only skim passages.
Does not get more interesting, at 25%, most skimmed, I think is book is not about a crime, but a crime itself. Nearly bored me to death.
Skimmed the last few chapters to see how it ends, as usual no important person killed (some hurt a little). Big yawn.

Read blurb from next book and gave that back to KU unread.
The third might be more for me, being about some state taking over your computer, but I will try to decide fast wether it is worth reading.

DNF. Not recommended, what others see in this boring writing I will never understand.
Have to change my way to decide which book to get, I am doing something wrong, my last choices where too often really bad.

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Review: ÜBERWACHT: Warum die NSA-Aktivitäten nur die Spitze des Eisbergs sind und was Sie als Bürger, Konsument und Arbeitnehmer jetzt wissen müssen

ÜBERWACHT: Warum die NSA-Aktivitäten nur die Spitze des Eisbergs sind und was Sie als Bürger, Konsument und Arbeitnehmer jetzt wissen müssen by Markus Stolpmann
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Review in German, as no translation available.

Veraltet. Als es rauskam, war es vielleicht aktuell und hat denen genützt, die von den Sachen nichts mitbekommen haben (?). Mit Kindle Unlimited geliehen, aber als jemand der seit 1986 online ist und aus der Branche (IT Helpdesk) kommt, bin ich wohl auch nicht die Zielgruppe.
Ausserdem sehr allgemein gehalten.
Habe die ersten Kapitel gelesen, dann einige überflogen und dann DNF.

Der zweite Stern dafür, daß es bei Erscheinen wohl aktueller war. Für mich Fehlgriff.
Lest netzpolitik.org oder Sachen von Schaar (ehem. Bundes-Datenschutzbeauftragter), Beckedahl (netzpolitik.org) und dem CCC.

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Review: Nightworld Academy: Term One

Nightworld Academy: Term One by L.J. Swallow
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lent this with a free Kindle Unlimited trial.
Clean YA, no sex, no swearing.
Could have been a little more suspenseful.
Worldbuilding integrated in what the MC (Meave, the heroine) learns. Mostly.
Most chapters are from her POV, but some are from the POV of others (Jamie, Ash etc.), so if you do not like that, you have been warned.

OK read, but think, YA books could generally do with sex, regarding how old the people in this book are (17-20?), this does not strike me as realistic.

While the inner conflicts of the main people are well thought out, they are also not very interesting, and Meave as the heroine looks like she is interested and conflicted about 3 different guys, so more like a pesky love-square than a pesky love-triangle.

Not really sure, wether this will hold my interest enough for reading a second book, also depends on wether I can read that cheap (included in Kindle Unlimited?) - paying full price for it, even 3 Eur is too much. As it is not yet published and my free KU-trial end in July, I have to see wether I can squeeze it in ca. End of June, it is supposed to be published June 26th, 2019.

Recommended for a rainy weekend, if the things I said about the book do not bother you.
Then again, there should be better books in this genre.

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Review: Invisible

Invisible by James Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was cheap when I wanted to buy the second book and I like to start series at the beginning.
Knowing that Patterson is not one of my favourite authors, writing too much and everything built a certain way, I am still a bit miffed at the main character, she is boring and too much of the story is about her past.
Also while the story progresses, it began very slow, without too much suspense. Differing POV between the main character (name forgotten) and the serial killer. While the idea with the serial killer narrating a pod-cast-like recording, it is mostly not very interesting at times.
Looks currently at little more than 50% like a 3 star review, with no sure recommendation by me.
May stray into DNF territory.
Not sure, wether I still want to read the next book, which is currently also too expensive.
Started a totally different book in between Nightworld Academy: Term One, but will also try to finish this one fast.
Suspense was so-so, not too great, with a few obvious twists and a red herring signaled I saw coming. Ending also as expected from the get go, nothing new here.
The good things: no vigilante killing, and the final scene in the safe-house was well built and ok for me.

Could have been more entertaining, also for a change I would have killed the really bad heroine in the middle of the book and exchanged against a new character. THAT would have been my kind of book. Also I rather like it when the main person follows the rulebook, but again, no, she does not.
Should have been fired from the get-go, but manages to blackmail her bullying superior into keeping her on the case.
Not really recommended, but if you like this author, pick it up. At least for me it was cheap. Not sure wether I will read the next book.

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Review: No Exit

No Exit by Taylor Adams
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Lent this with a free Kindle Unlimited trial, and felt like DNFin it during
the first chapter. Fell for the blurb (again...).
No suspense, no likeable persons, DNF shortly after skimming a few 2 star reviews. Not even interested how it ends.
Not recommended.

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Review: You

You by Caroline Kepnes
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

At 30%: Nearing DNF - does not grip me...
Two of my friends / people I follow said it very well:
Chelsea Humphrey's 3 star-review
and
this 2star review from Ari.

The cover my edition shows is for the Netflix TV-series. That series, and the blurb is what made me buy this book, I wanted a stalker, but would have liked the roles reversed (female stalker, male victim).
But given that this book is rather long, I already started another one, which is a sure hint towards DNF for me. Will try to watch more episodes (currently only the first seen) of the TV-show and then decide wether to abandon this or not.
The first episode was imho 1:1 like the part of the book, but maybe it is not such a waste of time to watch that in contrast to grudgingly and reluctantly reading it?

Oh, and the book I started? Pre-ordered, and just published, short and suspenseful:

Keep This to Yourself! So far highly recommended.

Back to "You", DNF at 30%, jumped to 80% then skimmed or FF till the end.
Worst book I picked so far, and now I even dread watching more Episodes from the TV series,
although I might still watch 2 more to decide wether it is worth finishing it.

As this is a book about a stalker this should have been my kind of book, but I did not look all (!) characters and even though I could relate to some of the books and most of the movies (Pitch Perfect), this bored me out of my mind. Would have liked a female stalker more.

No Suspense, no good writing, will never pick up a book from this author again!

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Review: Somewhere Only We Know

Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Recommendation from Epic Reads 2019 TBR.
Pre-ordered this December 1st, 2018, and read it in-between the soon to be DNF'ed You.
Earnest YA-romance with two teens growing up on a special day in Hongkong.
Swoon-worthy! Listened to K-Pop during reading (sometimes, mostly Blackpink / Red Velvet, as I am not so much into Boygroups).
Lots of eating in the book, which made it feel very real - one of my pet-peeves, when people during a story don't eat or sleep without an obvious reason (Dan Brown, I'm looking at you!).
Also very inspiring and uplifting book about how to realise your dreams.
Highly recommended fast read. Would like to see this filmed as a limited TV-series (1 Season).

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Review: Keep This to Yourself

Keep This to Yourself by Tom Ryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great read, both a book about a serial killer and a coming of age book of a gay teen.
Could not guess most twists, and was kept guessing till the end who the killer was.
One suspect later in the book gets a short, very well built up to the suspicion and a typical situation of the lone detective walking into danger. Liked that scene a lot!
Fast read, very suspenseful and highly recommended. Way better than the book a will probably DNF which I took a break from for this, You (also a TV-series on Netflix)

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Review: Delta-v

Delta-v by Daniel Suarez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Like this author a lot, and had this pre-ordered for a price well above my usual 10 Eur price limit.
Was it worth it? Just about, as I was in the mood of reading a good SF book, so, ok, but my guess is, you could wait for the price to drop, it will be SF for a few years to come and not be surpassed by real life events, even though some are currently being prepared to become reality.

Hard near-future-SF, sometimes gritty, very well thought out and detailed in its realism and world-building.
In parts not very suspenseful and also some things that happen are obvious and foreseeable, some twists though I did not guess.
Not to spoil the plot, but I was thinking at least one of the crew would be a traitor and try to sabotage the mission - well there was not.
Would have given 4 stars, but it was well rounded and had a "further reading"
section, so I gave 4.5 stars rounded to 5.
Recommended although it took too long for my liking and could have been more suspenseful.

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Review: Shadow Moon

Shadow Moon by Alexandra Sokoloff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Short chapters with alternating POV of the main characters. also jumping in time but clearly marked, so you do not have to guess. Some nice twists. Ending is ok, but for me a low point, although I like it that there was not too much of a vigilante-killing-spree and a few things went according to law.
Great scenery in this book.
Reasonably fast read, it took my longer as I paused to binge Vampire Diaries on Netflix - starting at S01E01, as I could not get into the S03 where stopped seeing it years ago.
As most of the books from this series felt like it could have been the end to the series, I will not guess wether there will be more, but hope so. Also there seem to be talks or even solid plans for a TV-series, yeah!
Not as much a mirror image for the current (2018/2019) USofA like the last book, at least not for me, but I am not so much into Militia and Conspiracy-Theories, so I may be wrong.
Some good use of internet and current technology, I will not spoil it, only to say there was a nice decision from one of the minor characters.

Solid 5 star, highly recommended, would not consider this a standalone, too much background story would be missing, strongly suggest reading all the books in the series in order. One of my favourite series, hands-down-ever. For more Info read my reviews of the other 5 books in the series.

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Review: Geliebtes Opfer: Sex & Crime 6

Geliebtes Opfer: Sex & Crime 6 by Harry Hold
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Good case, a little complicated romance, less sex than in the other books (if any, not sure for this book). Private live was ok with a nice twist.
Rather short like the other books, like a Novella. Got this for free as I was informed by lesen.net email, which was also the case for first books from this series I read. Normal price a just a bit too high (2,49 for a few short hours reading time, a rainy afternoons worth).
Recommended.

German, imho no translation to English.

Deshalb hier die deutsche Kritik:
Guter Fall, ein wenig komplizierte Romanze, weniger Sex als in den anderen Büchern (wenn überhaupt, nicht mehr sicher ob in diesem Buch überhaupt welcher war). Privatleben war ok mit einem netten Twist.
Wie die anderen Bücher sehr kurz, eher eine Novella. Habe dies hier kostenlos bekommen, nachdem ich eine Infomail von lesen.net dazu erhalten hatte, das war damals auch der Fall, als ich die ersten Bücher der Serie aufgrund der Mail fand. Den normalen Preis finde ich etwas hoch (2,49 Eur für wenige Stunden Lesezeit, für einen verregneten Nachmittag).
Empfehlung von mir.

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Review: The Stranger You Seek

The Stranger You Seek by Amanda Kyle Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It was good, but not quite 5 star, too many little things happening beside, some could have been cut and the story been more straight and suspenseful.
Then again very good twists, some 180 degrees, some going sideways. Most I did not guess.
Recommended, have the next two books and will read them when I feel like it, each just under 5 Eur (ebook) and there will be no more, as the author is dead, which is one of the reasons I like to read her - sometimes I read too many books from one author, reading a few back2back and ending up getting too much even from a good author. Cannot happen here, with just 3 books.

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Review: Persepolis Rising

Persepolis Rising by James S.A. Corey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Waited for this to get cheaper than Eur 10 (Us$ 11) as an ebook, and it finally did.
And also waited for the next book (which was delayed a few months) to be published, as I saw mentioned in some comment, that #07 is not really ending, instead it is seamlessly moving into the next book and you will be left thinking what will happen.

After finishing this, I beg to differ. For me this is a concluded story with an ending, so it could even be read as a standalone, theoretically, although you will miss parts of the story, so I advise against it. The war and a possible uprising will be ongoing, so no real surprise there, and imho it is not even a cliffhanger.

The book poses some serious questions to your morals, ethics and conscience - namely how to govern a multi-billion-people fast empire spanning 1300 habitable worlds.
As always, the (former earth-mars) technology is very well extrapolated into the future, and even little things like hacking feel very real in their descriptions.

But this is about people, and in the end, as before, quite a few are dead. It is war, after all.
While the series had some very formulaic writing before, this book was for me one of the best.
Highly recommended, and also highly recommended series, even the short stories and novellas (although I think, some are too expansive).
Hard SF with great world-building and an epic story-arc.
Still have not managed to watch the SyFy/Amazon Prime TV-Series, but plan to.

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Review: Call Me by Your Name

Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Saw the movie, rented for 99ct. with Amazon Prime Video, most of it in FastForward, not my thing, so did not even start the book, waste of money. No rating as I did not even glanced into it.
Experiencing love and sex with a girl and a grown man, but dull coming of age story set in a past and in a setting which means nothing to me.
Should have investigated more. Do not understand the hype about this.

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Review: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 to 4 stars, rounded to 4, for a start in a new series.
Could have been more suspenseful.
World-building excellent, buta bit much, with all the different sexes and species.
So it took me a few books in between to get through this, but I still recommend it.

Tragedy and forced actions happens later in the book which change everything, and after that the captain has to answer to a committee of the GC (Galactic Coalition?) of non-human species, where he chose to speak freely, starting a chain reaction with political consequences. It will be interesting to see how the conflict develops in the next book(s).

Diverse, good ideas and conflict, romance in strange ways. Exploring themes which may be relevant to us soon (AI, interspecies sex, gender), all in a way which I consider very well written, better even than in Not Your Sidekick. So I have to say, THIS book deserves the 4 star even more, which I also rated the "Not your sidekick".
Will certainly read the next book sometime, not sure what I am in the mood for now.

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Review: Heist Society

Heist Society by Ally Carter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Bought this on a whim, price was ok (ebook).
Wanted to read about a heist, so basically should have been what I wanted.
Not enough suspense or action. A lot twists, but not everything was solved (or I did not get it).
Took me a little too long to read, would have expected to read something fast, but while it did not drag, it did not really manage to keep me turning-pages either.
No sex, no death, a little romance which did not really interest me, a little bit of love-triangle, but not solved. Not sure to call the open threads cliffhanger, more like a reason to buy the next book, but it is all not enough for me to invest in this series.

Ok read for rainy day, but will most probably not read the other books in the series.
Still have a few other things from this author (free preview, short story etc.), will try to read them to make sure wether this is an author for me - I think, maybe not. Not recommended.

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Review: The Restless Dead:

The Restless Dead: by Simon Beckett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My sister mentioned she just bought the 6th David Hunter book, so I thought it was time to read this ...

As she mentioned, it was ok, but not too great, way too much infodump, even in the end to bring all together, while well written, it was not too suspenseful. A lot of twists, most I did not see coming, so for some this might be enough for a higher rating, but think, all in all there where too many twists and too many intertwined stories, could have cut 20-30% to make for a more suspenseful book.
For that it is for me 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 for the infodumps and being too long.

As I have been burned recently by reading 2 or more of one author back2back, I will wait for the price to sink for #06 and read it later this year or next.

Still recommended, if you do not know the author yet, the crimes and descriptions are grissly and very real. The author has (like a few others) visited the (first) Body Farm, in Tennessee in Knoxville, USA. There are a few (older) standalone novels he wrote, which I thought where really bad, the writing style for the David Hunter series is much better.

If you like this I suggest Jefferson Bass a duo of Jon Jefferson, an author and journalist, and anthropologist Dr. William Bass, who invented and built the original, first Body Farm.

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