𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵 by Deon Meyer

My affair with crime books is unhealthy. I'll just own it. So when I was sent a copy of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵 to review, it was the equivalent of giving an addict a key of cocaine. 

 * I assure you, you will find no spoilers here!

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵 is an English translation of the Afrikaans  bestseller, Die Prooi.  I dug in and surfaced for air occasionally when the world needed my attention, and after finishing this in the weehours of this morning, I don't doubt  that this edition will also be up on those bestseller lists!

Our inimitable hero, Benny, and his trusted partner, Vaughn, are given a 'new' cold case, and all the headaches that come with it; dodgy paperwork, crooked agents, fictious witnesses, and pressure from the top echelons of the force.

They'd love to solve this quickly, but soon realise that the case has more turns than a Grand Prix circuit. Deon Meyer gives us some international flavor with clandestine meetings set in the beautiful French city of Bordeaux. He thrusts us into current affairs and politics with state capture and an assassination plot!

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵, is everything you want in a crime novel...it is fast paced, has Russian spies, a hitman, a detective on a banting diet and a possible proposal!

it's a full 5* 

Review: Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

Wow. Wow. I said it again.

Who does this? Who comes back after 20 years, and rocks your world? Stephen Chbosky that's who!

Same author. Same writing. Different genre.

This is me not giving you spoilers. You're welcome.

Christopher and his mother move to a small town to escape an abusive  relationship.

Everything is going well. Obviosly too well
...then one day Christopher disappears. He's goes missing but returns after 6, physically unharmed, but that doesn't mean he's not changed.

He  starts to tell the townspeople, things he shouldn't really know, and when asked who told him these secrets, he replies."My imaginary friend".

But that's not all it's has told him...if Christopher doesn't do what he's been asked, his mother and the town folk will pay the price!

So there...the barest bones have been spilled to you. This should be read over a weekend, food and sleep optional - kinda like binge watching any good tv series! For fans of Stephen King.

Review: Take It Back by Kia Abdullah

Wow.

Kia Abdullah has done something important here.

Zara Kaleel, ex barrister, now working as a volunteer at Artemis House, a sexual assault referral centre to support rape victims, is handed the case of Jodie Wolf, a disfigured white teen accusing four Muslim boys of the unthinkable. Rape.

The case gets to trial and soon becomes the cause of racial tensions. You as the reader vascilate between Jodie and the accused, as well as get immersed in Zara's sub-plot.

Without giving away spoilers, Kia Abdullah lights a fuse, which sputters and just when you think it has been snuffed out, you get suckered by the lethal explosion.

There are various themes running throughout. On a deeper level, and as a brown woman reading this I understand what Kia is trying to say with this novel.

This a firm 5 ⭐

Review: Past Tense by Jack Reacher

Book 23!

Jack Reacher, as usual, is on the road and stops in the town where his father was born. In true Jack style, he's got nowhere to go and decides to find out more about his ancestry.

Not far away, a young couple with car trouble come across a  motel and stop to ask for some assistance.

Little do they all (Jack and this naive Canadian couple) realise that their paths will converge.

Without going any further and being a douchebag with the spoilers, all I'll say is that, if you're a fan, you will not be disappointed!

Review: The Binding by Bridget Collins

Oh dear...

I would love to epically spoil this entire book for you - but I won't!

Emmett, a young man, born and raised on a farm, thinks that's where he belongs. 

Until one day, after working tirelessly on his family farm, he goes back to the farm house only to discover that he's been summoned to the nearby bookbinder's home to start an apprenticeship as a bookbinder. His family is distraught but knows that there is no other choice but for him go.

Books have been banned and bookbinders have been feared as long as he can remember but that hasn't stopped his fascination with books.

When he begins his apprenticeship from Seredith, he doesn't know what to expect. He grows to learn to love the craft until he realizes what exactly book binding entails, when he finds a book in her vault with his name on it....

And that, as they say, is where the fun begins.

This is surely to be one of the best books this year. Do not be put off by it's genre if it isn't something you don't usually read.

Give it a go, you will thank me.

Dying Truth (#8) by Angela Marsons

If you've picked up this book and it's your first ever Angela Marsons novel, gently put it aside until you've read all the other Kim Stone books in chronological order first!
Each book is a standalone, but the charachter development is the arc.

By the time you get to the end of this book, number 8 in the series, you would have grown to know each of these characters.

This has been both the best and worst (in a good way) book for me in the series. Kim and Dawson are called out to a private school for a young girl standing at the beginning of a building. But when they arrive there they realise that they are tragically late. Upon early investigation they realise that the girl was murdered and didn't commit suicide.

This revelation leads to more murders and more mystery. All of Kim's team become embroiled in this case which threatens the reputation of the school.

As they uncover and piece together the case, they find that it spans generations of the school fraternity.

It all reaches a tense climax with a  shocking outcome.

To say I loved it is a tame statement. To become emotionally involved in this series, you should read them all, in order!!

She has become one of my favorite authors of all time, right up there with Karin Slaughter and Gillian Flynn!

One in a Million by Lindsey Kelk

A rom com with more com than room!

I loved this light hearted hilarious read. I also loved that the male love interest was a long lanky guy with a grizzly beard and that the heroine was a lazy, untidy mess! It's so real life. Had they both been gorgeous, I would have chucked that book across the room and would have been damned by the Book God's forever!

There are laugh out loud moments throughout, but especially when Annie can't help herself and accepts an almost impossible bet...have we not all done this? Then sanity comes marching in and it's too late to extricate your foot from your mouth! The odds against Annie soon stack up, which has her tackle her task with the more zeal!

The dialogue between the best friends reminded me of me and mine. Witty, blunt and Uber sarcastic.

I have never read Lindsey Kelk before so looked up her other books, picked one of the I Heart series and I must confess that it didn't grab me, so much so that the title escapes me *facepalm*

That being said...this was great and fans of the genre will be in for a treat!

Grist Mill Road by Christopher J Yates

Hmmm...this is my first read of Chris Yates.

Patch's part was not fun, but I waded through anyway hoping for more

Hannah's was marginally better, only just.

I thoroughly enjoyed Matthew's parts. It was a little rough around the edges but very reminiscent of Gillian Flynn's writing, of whom I am a huge fan.

I didn't dislike this novel but neither was it riveting. Usually a good book keeps me from sleep and food, and I've kept myself well fed and well rested throughout it's entirety!

That being said, I am going to hunt down a copy of  Black Chalk and give it a go. Judging from reviews, I am hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter

*MINOR SPOILER ALERT*

We all think we know our mothers, as did Andy. Until one morning at a diner, when her mother,Laura,  saves her life by taking another.

Shocked and appalled, Andy realises she doesn't know anything about her mother.

After a series of frightening events, Andy sets out to find out who her mother really is , who she was and why this is happening.

In her absolute naivety, she uncovers things about her mother that are shocking, as well  as things about herself.

I gave this four stars, and not five as it was not as gripping as 'The Good Daughter' and because I hate loose ends...both Laura and Gordon, the step father, speak about the event  that kicked off this story as if they know why it happened. This loose end is just dangling there, a thread I'm hoping Karin Slaughter weaves into another delightfully macabre read...

Review: Manage Your Money Like F*cking Grownup

Sam Beckbessinger, gives you the low down straight off the bat!

She gives you information in an accessable form which is easy to understand and absorb.

Her numbers are backed by research and studies published.

She lightly delves into our social history to explain the ramifications on our past economic and current history.

My most important takeaway from this marvellous book is that money is emotional. Read it, and you'll understand!

Her content is information everyone needs to know. She knows what she is talking about. Humour makes it an easy read.

Every young South African needs to read this, especially if youre a woman of colour!

5* rating!!!

Review: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Here is a review by Kash: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2355609845

Review: Dead Souls

Dead Souls by Angela Marsons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bones from a few bodies are 'found' in one grave by Dr A and where there are bodies, you will inevitably find DI Kim Stone. However this particular site has an unclear jurisdictional border, so she is forced to work with Detective Travis in a joint investigation and her team is left to fend for themselves.

Kim and Travis uncover a strange agreement between the landlord and tenant of the grave site. Further events connecting both parties brings to light sinister events.

You get to know a few characters a little better than you did in previous novels. I Dr A features a bit more and I love the dynamic of Travis and Kim and the slow resolve of their relationship. You are taken to previous a time in Kim's life not seen before.

This novel also tackles the social injustice of racism. Angela Marsons deals with it in a forthright manner and pushes to you think of the extreme results of racism.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. @writeangie is fast on the heels of my idol @slaughterkarin with this installment of her Kim Stone series.

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The Avengers Infinity War trailer dropped!

OMG! Cannot wait for this movie!

Go see the trailer, and be wowed by the awesomeness that is Marvel!

Review: The City of Brass by SJ Chakraborty

This was awesome! I need more!!! I read this ages ago and am publishing this now because I'm about to begin book 2 in this series: The Kingdom of Copper

I absolutely love these characters, each one so well developed and executed. I am in awe of S.J.

As she does with her characters, her talent in setting a scene and creating an  ambience is phenomenal. You feel as if you're there, being chased by ifrit (that's not a spoiler - just saying!)

Nahri is a kick ass heroine and she's found herself in weird circumstances with an even stranger companion on her journey.

Her journey is both a physical and a metaphorical one.

Thrilling and intriguing, this is sure to draw you in.

Keep an eye out for the next review.

Review: The Word Is Murder

The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Horowitz wove his true life experiences as a writer into a plausible fictional story - at least I think the case is fictional...

I was quite lukewarm with the plot and style but found the actual writing not bad.



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Review: The Midnight Line

The Midnight Line by Lee Child
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am such a Lee Child fan.

Just a one line review: No lies, this is entertaining reading.

BTW, does anyone else think that Jack Reacher is a better looking Chuck Norris with a high IQ?



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Review: Origin

Origin by Dan Brown
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read these because I am a Tom Hanks fan more than a Dan Brown fan. That being said, you get what you expect. Predictability.

If you're looking for a read that is not challenging, then this is it. Sit back and just be entertained.


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Review: Don't Let Go

Don't Let Go by Harlan Coben
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had been anxiously waiting this release and all I can say is that Harlan Coben does it again ladies and gentlemen!

The lead, Nap Dumas, deals with loss, real emotion and mystery to uncover the real truth of what happened to his twin fifteen years ago. Harlan Coben draws out the suspense and puts you in the midst of this small town tragedy. Even though I suspected the ending about 3/4 of the way in, I enjoyed reading how it unfolded. I was thrilled with the cameo of our much loved Myron.

I am never disappointed with this master of his craft!

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Review: The Snowman

The Snowman by Jo Nesbø
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this so that I could slag the movie....KIDDING!

I did want to read it before the movie release. I enjoyed it but couldn't picture Michael Fassbender (swoon!) as Harry Hole and that is the main reason i might enjoy the movie more!

It did lack the urgency of other serial killer novels but that is not a bad thing. I suspect this is a more realistic pace of an actual investigation. I look forward to reading more from Jo Nesbo.

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#kashinmorocco