The Ice Twins by S. K. Tremayne

Blurb from www.goodreads.com:

"A year after one of their identical twin daughters, Lydia, dies in an accident, Angus and Sarah Moorcraft move to the tiny Scottish island Angus inherited from his grandmother, hoping to put together the pieces of their shattered lives.

But when their surviving daughter, Kirstie, claims they have mistaken her identity – that she, in fact, is Lydia – their world comes crashing down once again.

As winter encroaches, Angus is forced to travel away from the island for work, Sarah is feeling isolated, and Kirstie (or is it Lydia?) is growing more disturbed. When a violent storm leaves Sarah and her daughter stranded, Sarah finds herself tortured by the past – what really happened on that fateful day one of her daughters died?"

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I am in two minds about this one.

What I liked:

The premise of the book was excellent; who could resist a creepy story about identical twins? This was a psychological thriller with twists and turns throughout which kept me guessing about what happened from the beginning to the end. The surviving twin - is it Lydia or Kirstie? - is the best and most likeable character in the book and one I really felt for throughout and what she was experiencing touched me, I just wanted to give her a cuddle. The pace of the book was good and the way the story was told from the two different perspectives helped to increase the confusion as you are never quite sure who is telling the truth or recalling events as they actually happened.

What I didn’t like:

I found some of the dialogue was unnatural and a bit stilted and although I thought the description of the island and the weather really helped to bring atmosphere to the story, there were times when it was a little over-descriptive . For example when the author described someone having “ginger Jewish hair” … what? Is the ginger hair Jewish and what difference does this make? I also found the 2 main characters, Angus and Sarah, not particularly likeable and therefore found it hard to have any sympathy with either of them however, I wonder if that was the author’s intention.

Overall though, there was more that I liked than didn’t like and I kept going back for more primarily because I wanted to find out how the twin had died and which one it was - all became clear at the end. I haven’t quite worked out whether I liked the ending or not, the jury is still out on that one but I would like to thank the publisher, HarperCollins UK/HarperFiction/Blue Door and Netgalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.

Adrift - intense, thrilling and full of suspense

Adrift

by K.R. Griffiths

For artist Dan Bellamy and his new bride Elaine, a trip on the world's biggest, newest cruise ship represents more than just the honeymoon of a lifetime: it is also a celebration of the progress Dan has made toward beating the agoraphobia that has plagued him since he suffered a horrific knife attack two years earlier.

The ship is a perfect floating paradise, but when Dan spots what he thinks is a body being thrown overboard, he begins to suspect that not everybody aboard the Oceanus is there for a vacation.

Soon, Dan will discover that there are some things worse than murder, and the body he saw is just the beginning. Because something is coming for the passengers on the Oceanus.

Something that isn't supposed to exist...

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I received a copy of this book direct from the author in return for an honest review and I want to thank him for this.

This is the second book I have read by K R Griffiths author, the first one being “Survivor” (http://haziegaze.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/my-review-of-survivor-horror-thriller.html), and the second one by him that I have thoroughly enjoyed.

What a story from start to finish … intense, thrilling, full of suspense, great characters, excellent twist on the “monsters” and an imaginative setting. The main character, Dan, was developed in such a way that I was really rooting for him. He had the perfect mix of vulnerability and bravery going from unsuspecting victim to unsuspecting hero. The supporting cast were equally interesting and enhanced the whole thing.

I can see this story being developed into a series and if it is written half as well as this one, it will be just as good.

If you like a good horror/thriller, then give K R Griffiths a try ... you won't be disappointed.

An OK Début: The Boathouse by R.J. Harries

Book description:

A criminologist seeks revenge for his journalist girlfriend’s murder.
A property tycoon’s wife is kidnapped for an ever-increasing ransom.
Sean Archer must find the Boathouse to solve these seemingly unrelated cases.
But the Boathouse is an off-grid torture facility operated by black-ops mercenaries.

Sean Archer is a self-taught criminologist and profiler who has been obsessed with crime since his parents were found dead when he was fourteen. A computer savant who has developed digital profiling tools that the police have come to depend on, Sean has acquired a reputation for being able to solve crimes that no one else can. But when his own girlfriend, Alex, is brutally murdered while researching an off-grid torture facility called The Boathouse, his brilliant inventions are of no use. Alex has left little for Sean to go on – only a list of names. Then Peter Sinclair, a property billionaire, contacts Sean for help. His wife, Becky, has been kidnapped and will be killed if he goes to the police or doesn’t follow instructions. Sean agrees to help. Not because he wants the case, but because Peter Sinclair was on Alex’s list. When Sean tracks Becky down, she leads him right where he wants to go. Or so he thinks. As he climbs over the wall of the Boathouse, he’s sure he’s just one step from finding Alex’s killers. But Sean is utterly unprepared for this crime and this place. The Boathouse is more heinous, more sinister than anything Sean has ever imagined.

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Pretty good storyline with an interesting cast of characters. Good pace and flow throughout but particularly towards the end.

Lots of detail and description which, at the beginning, seemed a bit too much but was something that was appreciated as the story went on as it put you right at the heart of the action and enabled vivid pictures to grow and develop as you read on.

I would have liked to have been given more background into the main characters, especially Archer. This would have been helpful and would have enhanced my reading experience but as it was, I felt like I'd been thrown into the action without much information or "meat on the bones". To me, this made it come across as though it was the second book in a series and I actually had to check to make sure it wasn't.

Overall though an OK début and opener to a series - if that is the intention - and I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a book with action and tension but be prepared to be a little lost at times.

Thank you to www.netgalley.com and Troubador Publishing Ltd for the copy in return for an honest review.

Stay Alive by Simon Kernick - enjoyable and engrossing with guaranteed action

ONE WITNESS

You’re on a trip with your family, miles from anywhere. A shot rings out – and your whole life changes in an instant.

ONE SECRET

A woman is racing towards you, chased by three gunmen. Although you don’t know it, she harbours a deadly secret. She’s in terrible danger. And now you are too.

NO ESCAPE

You’re running, terrified, desperate to find safety.

You know that the men hunting you have killed before.

And if they catch you, you’ll be next …

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I must admit that I am a huge Simon Kernick fan. I discovered him by accident when browsing at my local library and he fast became one of my favourite authors. I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book from the publisher via www.netgalley.com in return for an honest and unbiased review.

To those who have read other novels by this author, Stay Alive sees a return of some familiar characters. For those who haven’t, where have you been? Stay Alive sends you on a roller-coaster ride of twists and turns, murder and mayhem from the very start and although the plot is not as complex as some of Simon’s other novels, it keeps you on your toes and provides you with those “doh” moments when you realise the clues have been drip-fed throughout the story but only come together at the end.

Some reviews I have read say that it is unbelievable - it’s not a non-fiction book people, it doesn't necessarily have to be believable to make it an enjoyable and engrossing read with guaranteed action delivered at breakneck speed.