Book Blog – Page 2 – nigeladamsbookworm

All the Colours of the Dark. Chris Whitaker

If ever the word epic was appropriate for a story, it’s for this book

At 580 pages it’s a tomb of a book but not one word is wasted.

Spread over three decades, and full of unpredictable but realistic twist, this is one hell of a story.

Two young misfit kids find themselves attracted to each other because they are almost outcast from the other children their age.

Patch, a one eyed boy who lives his childhood as a pirate, and Saint the geeky late developing girl.

A childhood friendship built on being two outsiders.

When Patch goes missing protecting a young girl from attack the police investigation soon peters out.

He’s alive and being kept in a dark cellar, but he’s not alone. There’s a young girl with him. A girl he can’t see in the dark, a girl that asks him to imagine her features by touching her face. She talks in strange quotes and try’s to educate him with her cryptic stories.

Her name is Grace.

Saint never gives up on Patch and through her amateur, childish investigations finally thinks she’s found him.

In the commotion that follows the Saint and the Police find Patch but there’s no sign of the girl he says was in the cellar with him.

Over the next three decades Patch devotes his life to finding Grace.

Over the same three decades Saint, who joins Law Enforcement tries to keep Patch out of trouble, and independently looks for Grace for her own reasons.

There’s no real spoilers in what I’ve written above. Patch’s abduction and his release happen fairly early in the book, the real story is what follows.

The characters in the book weave in and out of the plot around Patch and Saint.

The relationship between Patch and Saint is never really a “will they, won’t they” get together, it’s more the story of two best friends who love each other unconditionally but more as brother and sister.

It’s all about what each of them will do to prove that Grace existed. Patch because he thinks he loves her, and Saint because she is on the trail of a long dead killer.

This is my first Chris Whitaker book but, coincidentally, whilst I was reading it he was recommending to me by a fellow book worm.

She was talking about a book I’d read, a gothic fantasy novel, and I had said the second in that series was the same story as the first. We both love crime fiction and she said to me, aren’t all crime stories basically the same.

Many of them are, but this one definitely isn’t like any I’ve read before.

She’d found it and pointed me in Chris Whitakers direction.

Now I’m looking at his back catalogue.

Pages 580. Publisher Orion. Audiobook length 14 hours 37 minutes Narrator Edoardo Ballerini

Little Children Angela Marsons

In one of my very first book blogs I said I didn’t like authors that published a book every 6 months or so. Well this series by Angela Marsons is the proof that I was very wrong to say that.

This series is the one I look forward to reading as soon as the book is available to me.

22 books in and this one is so original that I had no idea that this type of crime existed, but now that I’ve read about it I’m sure that was down to my own naivety.

In this book Stone and her team are seconded to another force, overtly to help with the search for a missing boy, covertly to hunt out bad practices, and a bad apple, in the major investigation team.

The investigation into the missing boy has been run badly and Stone and her team start to identify major issues within the other force.

The clash of personalities isn’t just based on the policing methods and it’s a fascinating read to see how the influence of one or two people can affect a whole team.

That alone as a story would have been brilliant, but throw in the actual crime they are there to investigate and you have one of the best crime books I’ve read for a long time.

Boys going missing around the country. Some of them are a bit rough around the edges and not unknown to the Police, but just because they’ve got a history, and have “run away from home” before, shouldn’t mean they should be treated flippantly.

When Stones team uncover a link it almost unthinkable about what these boys are going through.

The hard part for the team is proving it, and then finding out not only who is responsible, but where they are keeping the boys.

When it becomes evident that at least one of the boys has died, in a horrible manner, the investigation becomes even more highly charged.

And with the investigation getting off to a bad start in the other force Stone is playing catch up from the start.

There are not many books that sit this far into a crime series that I would recommend as a standalone story, but this one is a must read and can be read as a one off.

If anybody hasn’t read any of the others in the series, but picks this one up I’m sure they’ll go back to the beginning and start from book one. I’m almost jealous of the fact I can’t start over and read them all for the first time again.

Pages 371. Publisher Bookouture Audiobook length 8 hours 16 minutes. Narrator Jan Cramer

Good People. Patmeena Sabit

I think a better title for this book would have been Perspectives

Ultimately that is what this book is all about.

The story unfolds in a series of statements from numerous people who have known the Sharaf Family, or have been part of the investigation into a crime that centres around the family.

There is no narrative to string the statements together, the whole book is a story told through observations, thoughts, and hypotheses of the general community, an investigative journalist, and various professionals such as teachers, and attorneys. All looking back, with hindsight, into events leading up to…….I can’t really say without including a book spoiling, spoiler.

The “occurrence” doesn’t happen until about halfway through the book. But even then not everything is as it first appears.

So what can I tell you without spoiling the book.

The story centres around an Afghan family who escaped the violence of their country by moving to America

The father arrives in America with nothing but ambition and eventually works his way up to becoming a very successful business owner.

His family, two elder children, a son and a daughter, and two younger children are not just the apple of his eye, but also his status symbol of what he wants to achieve.

He tries everything to get them into the best schools and colleges, no matter what their ability.

In the Afghan community he is seen to be a normal parent with high ambitions for his children, outside of that community he is seen to be a pushy parent.

The eldest daughter Zorah is the fulcrum for the different opinions. To her friends she is the girl trying her hardest to live a normal life as an American teenage girl.

To the Afghan community she is a wild child that her father should reign in.

As the story continues people on both sides of that argument seem to change their perspectives on Zorah.

She is the catalyst for the events at the centre of the story.

Her “rebellion” against the aspirations her father has for her.

Her bucking of the traditions of the Afghan community.

Her families reactions

The opinion of her friends.

The opinion of the Afghan community, many of whom have never met her.

Opinions turn to reactions, as the chronological accounts reach the event the book centres around.

Throughout the book I was waiting for a narrator, somebody to stitch all of the personal accounts together. But the lack of the narrative is what held me, and kept me reading.

As far as books go this is as close as I’ve ever read to a voyeuristic experience.

I felt like I was in a room full of people gossiping.

It’s the fact that it’s written in hindsight, with everybody giving their thoughts having known what has happened, and all the time I was the only one in the room who didn’t know.

I have never read a book written in this manner before.

At first I found it frustrating, and dare I say amateurish.

But I was hooked from very early on.

I think Patmeena Sabit hit on a great, and to me original, way to hook the reader.

FOMO, fear of missing out, it’s that thing we all have lurking in our psyche. The fact I was the only one in the room listening to the gossip but having no idea hat people were on about.

In my working life I have dealt with similar situations. Parents living their life vicariously through their children.

Immigrants working hard for every hour they can to give their families the best life. Only to see their children become westernised, and ditch the beliefs and work ethos of their parents.

It’s a matter of opinion whether this is right or wrong.

Like I wrote at the beginning of this review it’s a matter of perspectives.

I think different people will get different things out of this book, depending on their perspective.

What I will say is that it’s a really good, thought provoking book.

Pages: 464. Publisher: Virago. Publishing Date: 12 February 2026

A Court Of Thrones And Roses. Sarah J Maas

I’m not the demographic for this book, but this genre is becoming my “dirty secret”

And of the few books I’ve read in this genre, this one is by far the best.

A great story, with characters it’s easy to engage with.

At times it’s Steven King dark, reminiscent of scenes from It.

At times it’s spicy, but not too graphic.

But over all it’s the story that grabbed me.

I can’t put my finger on what kept me gripped, but I really did read this in as few a sittings as my everyday life would allow.

And the first thing I did when I finished it, was click the link to download the next.

An island divided into eight kingdoms, the southern most of which is occupied by mortal humans. The upper kingdoms named after the four seasons, dawn, day and night are ruled by immortal High Faes.

The wall separating the humans from the Faes runs between their land and the Spring Court. The wall is supposed to keep the humans out of Spring, and magical beings away from the humans

So when Freyer, a young woman, kills a wolf whilst out hunting the last thing she thinks is that she has killed an immortal.

Unfortunately for her she must repay its life by sacrificing her own.

The choice, die a horrific and painful death, or live the rest of her life in the autumn court.

Choosing to live she is taken to a mansion that is lived in by Tamlin, and to her surprise it’s not as bad as she thought……..at first.

She is soon caught up in a war that rages between most of the immortals.

Amaranath is a cold killer. She has control over all of the Faes and their ruling families and seeks the love of Tamlin.

Her hold over him is about to become complete after she allowed him decades to break her curse, a curse that has removed most of his magic, along with that of many of the immortals.

All he had to do was fall in love with a mortal who had killed an immortal, and have her say she loved him.

Freyer missed her opportunity and when it’s too late has to find a way to rectify the matter, but it will be a fight to the death.

I mentioned Stephen Kings It at the start of the review. At times this book is just as dark, and for very similar reasons.

It’s easy to compare fantasy books with the works of J K Rowling, but in this case the comparison is valid. Except Maas book is much more adult.

The psychological intensity is breathtaking.

The murder and mayhem scenes are both graphic and intense.

The spice, and yes there is some, is needed in the context of the story, and although not as graphic as some books I’ve read in this genre, it is full on.

I can’t wait to read the next book.

Pages 429. Publisher Bloomsbury. Series length Book 1 of 5 Audiobook length 16 hours 7 minutes. Narrator Jennifer Ikeda

The Girl In Cell A. Vaseem Khan

To start this review I have to say that I really enjoyed this book, up until the last two or three chapters.

So to start with the plot is brilliant.

Orianna, the girl in cell A, has been in prison for 18 years. She was convicted of killing a member of the family that founded Eden Falls. A family that still lords it over the town.

The man she killed was, like the rest of the family, a law onto himself.

She maintains her innocence and claims to have no memory of the attack.

Annie Leddit is a Forensic Psychologist who is part of the prison team that is looking at the potential release of Orianna. But to be released she has to show remorse, and to show remorse she must first admit guilt.

It is Annie’s job to unlock the memories and let Orianna have to opportunity to show remorse.

The book is written from two first hand points of view, in two different times.

The present is written from Orianna’s point of view as she returns to Eden Falls four years after her release. She has gone back to confront the family of her victim, to find the truth and clear her name.

The past is written from Annie’s point of view as she conducts her interviews with Orianna, and tries to pick the locks which hold her memories repressed.

Both are brilliantly written. The story flies along and its one of those books where you have to read the next chapter, I found it really hard to put it down.

Until the last three chapters.

The book for me should have ended before those chapters.

There is an unexpected twist, its good, and it’s in context but…….

It left me with the feeling that the author had two endings in mind, and decided to add the alternative right at the end.

Did it spoil the book for me?

No, I just didn’t get see the point.

Would I recommend it?

YES.

Pages: 592. Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks

Hidden Daughters. Patricia Gibney

I used to worry about long series losing there impact or running out of ideas. The Lottie Parker series by Patricia Gibney is one I really don’t have to worry about

Every new addition to the series jut seems to get better, and the bar was high from the start.

I read this book as a recent story about the discovery of a lot of human remains, those of young children, was found in an old school in Ireland, run by the church for unmarried women and their babies

This not only brought a credibility to an already brilliant book, but somehow underlined everything about the story.

When two, seemingly unrelated murders take place, both involving young women with sad stories that include attending the Sisters of Forgiveness Convent Lottie Parker can’t help but get involved but the emotional attachment to this casenearly unhinges her.

Emotionally she has always struggled to keep her family, and partner, separated from her work. Although that’s hard when you’re in a relationship with another Officer.

But the one has always been a refuse from the other.

This case seems like its make or break for her career and her relationships

Lottie will do anything to get justice, and in this case get news of the women’s demise to any family that they might have.

All the time the threat of another murder hangs over her and her team.

This is a timely and very suspenseful story, told by one of the best crime fiction writers on the shelves at the moment

It’s also one of those books I would only pick up if you’ve got nothing else to do for a couple of days because once you start it you are not going to want to put it down.

Pages: 464. Publisher: Bookouture. Audiobook length: 13.25. Narrator Michele Moran

What The Dark Whispers. M.J Lee

The DI Ridpath books are right up there in my favourite reads, and are always the next-to-read, as soon as they are available to me.

Ridpath is a brilliantly conceived character. Employed by Greater Manchester Police, and posted within the MIT, he has, from the start of the series, been on secondment to the Coroners Office, allowing him a greater range of deaths to investigate.

His secondment was intended to give him an easy ride back to work following a battle with cancer, but over the years he has been involved in some serious murder investigations. He has become a single parent who is struggling to bring up his now teenage daughter, and balance his home life with work. A typical cop his work often comes first.

Now, with GMP under increasing scrutiny , and with staff shortages being exacerbated by increased crime levels the Police want more and more of Ridpath’s time.

So when he is called in by his boss (police) to look at a serious crime that another DI and his team have already wound up Ridpath is put into conflict with one of his peers.

The crime, a young girl accused of killing her mother, a seemingly open and shut case following the girls confession. But she is a minor, and the interview was not carried out well.

Did she really killer mother.

In a separate case Ridpath is tasked by the coroner to look into the death of a man who set himself on fire on a petrol station forecourt.

Suicide? Everything points to it.

But why did both victims, who died hours apart, say the same thing insinuating they are dying in order to save others.

As the investigations continue more similarities are uncovered.

Add to this another team investigating the murder of a family of four, which in isolation seems unrelated. And that’s the problem if these crimes were looked at in isolation nobody would ever get caught.

Can the connections be made.

Are there more deaths to come.

The pace of the book is none stop. M.J Lee’s cadence in his writing just keeps me hooked every time I pick one of his books up.

This one, in my opinion, is one of the best in the series.

Could it be read as a standalone, yes, there is enough mention of previous happenings to leave new readers with no doubt as to how Ridpath, and his family, have got to where they are.

Nicely, for those of us that have read the previous books there’s not too much rehashing and it certainly doesn’t detract from the story, it more reminds us of what has gone before.

But, if I was to be asked, I’d say read the series in order. It really is that good.

Pages: 351. Publisher: Canelo Crime. Release date: 03/07/2025

The Secrets Of Forest Lane. Sian Morgan

The first few chapters of this book are scene setters so please don’t think you’ve stumbled across an urban romance, because that’s the last thing this book is.

This is a psychological thriller, and it’s a very good one.

Based around three families living in close proximity to each other this story could be happening on any street in the U.K.

Lily is a single mom to a young girl. Only 22 herself she is wondering what happened to her dream of a successful career and a university degree.

When her little sister Jasmin, 18, goes missing after a night out her mother spins into a panic.

Meanwhile two outwardly happy couples, both with children in the same nursery class as Lily’s girl are hiding troubled relationships.

Katherine and her controlling husband are in a destructive relationship. He’s controlling and increasingly heavy handed with her, she wants to go back to work and have her own life.

Tom and Carol appear to be the ideal couple, she’s a successful doctor and he’s a stay at home dad. So when he goes out after an argument and gets drunk and stoned it is out of character. So is the fact that he had drunken sex with an 18 year old girl in the toilet of the pub.

The problem is the girl he had sex with turns out to be the missing girl Jasmin, and he appears to be the last one to see her.

The story revolves around these three families and particularly Lily trying to find out what happened to her sister.

All the women like Tom and he’s that central overlapping part of the Venn Diagram made up of the sexual relationships between the three families.

This is a cracking story.

I can almost guarantee that you will never look at families doing the school run the same again. Yet as shocking as the murder is, the relationships and the characters are very, very believable.

Pages: 352 (paperback) Publisher: Mind Brief Publishing

The Seventh Floor. David McCloskey.

This is the third book in a stated series of four, with the fourth due to be published later this year (2025)

This story is about finding a mole somewhere in the higher ranks of the CIA.

With Artemis Procter still sitting at a desk in the diminished Moscow Station in Langley her patience is running out.

When one of her agents gets snatched in Singapore, whilst meeting with a Russian asset, she starts to suspect things are not right.

The fact that a highly placed asset had recently committed suicide on his return to Moscow only heightens her suspicions.

So when she is sacked by the people she once thought friends she has no choice but to go rogue, and try to out the person she suspects as the traitor, no matter how highly they are positioned.

Meanwhile in Russia two factions are fighting. One wants to act on every piece of information given by the mole in the CIA, one wants to take it more cautiously for fear of tipping their hand.

What follows are struggles in both America and Russia.

At times it’s hard to unwind the twisting plot, and that is where this book is not as good as the first two in the series.

There is too much rambling, too much unnecessary padding with side stories that don’t really add to the main story.

Some bit part characters carry too much detail, with their back stories taking up pages of unnecessary text.

If I awarded star markings both the previous books in the series would have been easy five stars. This one would be a three because of the unnecessary content.

Had this been the first book in the series I doubt I would have finished it, I definitely would not have read any others, but I’m invested and hope that the final book will throw some type of meaning, or give context to some of this story.

Moscow X David McCloskey

Espionage fiction at its best.

When a high ranking KSB Official sends one of his thugs to steal gold from the bank of one of the new rich it tips the first domino in a long and twisting line.

The gold is allegedly being taken back for the people, but why is it this one family is being targeted above the other newly rich and elite making a fortune since the end of the soviet era.

Anna is the daughter who can see her family fortune being taken and has to do something about it., as her father is arrested and jailed.

Vadim is her husband, from the Russian elite and in reality a husband in name only. The wedding was arranged. He’s riding on the success of Anna’s father and is heavily involved in Rushfarm, a stable in the wilds where Anna’s dad runs his empire. He is a violent, greedy egotistical thug.

When Anna starts to follow the trail of the missing gold she finds a lawyer, working in England is helping create off shore accounts where the gold, which has been converted to cash, ends up.

Sia Fox is the Lawyer, and a low level operative for the CIA who are also keeping tracks on the off shore accounts.

When Artemis Proctor, a CIA Station Chief who is serving time in the “penalty box” posting of Moscow X gets a sniff of what is happening she sees an opening to destabilise the Russian Government, and more importantly its President.

But utilising Sia, and another low level operative, the Mexican Max, to create chaos in Russia is a risky plan.

But risk it she does, and so the dominoes continue to tumble.

This book has one main thread it has been knitted into one hell of a plot.

The second book of four in the series it is equally as good, if not better, than the first, Damascus Station.

The only character shared between the two books is almost a bit part player in both books, Artemis Proctor, so this book could easily be read as a stand alone.

Set in modern day Russia I think Anna may be typical of some of the Russian society. She is used to the freedoms previously not associated with the country. She’s independently wealthy and hard working. She’s aware of the anti Russian feeling following the invasion of Ukraine. But she doesn’t want to destabilise the government, yes she doesn’t like the president but she does want him disposed of.

All she wants is to be treated fairly. She doesn’t seem to mind how her father made his money , she just wants revenge on the man who is targeting him.

What will happen if Proctors plan works. Can the world live with a Russia that is unstable.

Will Sia and Max be able to come out of this in one piece.

The one thing I’m learning about David McCloskey’s writing is rule nothing out. He doesn’t mind hurting his characters, he doesn’t mind things going badly wrong, and just like in real life, no matter how careful you think you’ve been, things never quite go as planned.

Bring on book 3 The Seventh Floor.

Pages: 460. Publisher: Swift Press. Available now. Audiobook length: 14.38 hours. Narrator: Andrew B Wehrlen