December may have flown by but it was a great month for reading. I managed to read 6 books because I didn't move for about 4 days. I've broken my monthly roundup into 2 posts so it isn't horrendously long.
It was definitely a mixed bag with some amazing books and some not so great. I was particularly disappointed by the one that has been so hyped and claimed to be the best thriller of 2019.
When Josie's friend/colleague confesses to the murder of a young student Josie isn’t convinced she is actually guilty. But, if she didn’t do it why would a police officer confess to a crime she didn’t commit? To add to Josie’s stress a young couple is found murdered in their home. As Josie digs into Gretchen's life she realises she barely knows her friend and her past is full of devastating secrets.
This is book 4 in the Josie Quinn series and I honestly couldn’t pick a favourite. Even my dad who doesn’t read much is completely hooked on this series and has been begging to get his hands on this latest one. They do work as stand alones but you get so much more out of the story if you read them in order.
I absolutely adore Josie as well as the other characters. They are all so well written. I also love that we get to see Josie outside of work and see how her personal life is progressing.
With regards to the plot, I was a bit confused as I started the book as it switches between the past and present. At first, the past scenes don’t really make sense with regards to what is happening in the present day. However, it is soon all explained and the penny finally dropped. There seems to be 3 unrelated plots going on at the same time but by the end, everything is bought together and tied up in a way I never expected. Lisa Regan really knows how to keep you guessing. Her Final Confession is fast-paced, gripping and everything I look for in a book.
If you are looking for a new crime series I highly recommend you get started on the Josie Quinn series asap. You can check out my review of the first 3 here and here.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides* - 2/5
Alicia shoots her beloved husband several times and then never speaks again. Forensic Psychotherapist Theo is convinced he can treat her.
This book is so hyped and I was so excited to read it but it was a bit of a letdown. It is such a slow starter that I nearly gave up a few times. Honestly probably about 75% of the book was mediocre and struggled to hold my interest. I wasn’t really expecting the twist, however, it wasn’t a massive shock and it did give me more questions than answers.
The book is written from Theos POV with some chapters from Alicia's diary. I really struggled with the characters as none of them were particularly likeable and they were just a bit flat. Theos self-importance and obsession started to grate on me as well.
I definitely wouldn’t say it’s the best thriller out there.
For Reasons Unknown by Michael Wood (Book 1) - 4.5/5
I accidentally read the fourth book in this series fist and as soon as I finished it I knew I had to go back and get the others (Review here). Michael Wood has definitely made it into my favourites of 2018.
Matilda Darke is back at work after 9 months leave due to a kidnap case going wrong and a personal tragedy. To ease her back in she’s given a cold case with limited evidence. The brutal murder of Miranda and Stefan Harkness was witnessed by their 11-year-old son who never spoke a word about the trauma of that night. As Darke is trying to piece everything together another body is found. When the body links back to the cold case tensions rise between Darke and her temporary replacement, Ben Hale.
Matilda Darke is one of my favourite leads. She’s likeable and human but gets the job done. I also love the fact that we get to know the different characters of the team. Adele is probably one of my favourites and their friendship is just so heartwarming.
I did work out who had done it but it really didn’t take anything away from the book and I was still desperate to find out all the pieces.
The only reason I’m giving this a 4.5 instead of a 5 is some parts were a tad predictable. However, it is still a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Check out part 2 for the second Matilda Darke book and The Bone Collector series
Beth...x
* I was sent a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. However, it does not affect my views and the opinions expressed in this post are independent and my own
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