The Mistake I Made by Paula Daly

Roz is a single parent to her 9 year old son George since splitting up from her husband Winston. She works full time as a physiotherapist to try and make ends meet and clear some debts. When her financial situation worsens, she is forced to take up an offer. A married man she knows wants her to spend the night with him for money, no strings attached. She has never done anything like this before but can see no other quick alternative to keeping a roof over her and George's heads. Obviously this doesn't turn out to be as simple as she'd hoped and soon her life is getting out of control.

This is the third of Paula Daly's novels I've read, they're all excellent but I think this one is her best yet. It's a real page turner so please don't start reading this on a day you have plans, they won't come to fruition until you've finished this book.

Thanks to Transworld Publishers & Netgalley for my copy.

Rating: 5 out of 5

 

Publication date: 27th August 2015

My reviews of other Paula Daly novels:

Just What Kind of Mother Are You? 

Keep Your Friends Close 

 

 

Book Beginnings on Fridays - The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader and as she says the idea of this meme is for you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name. There's a linky list on the website and you can use #BookBeginnings on Twitter.

 

My book beginning this week is The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer.

 

I dream about Carmel often. In my dreams she's always walking backwards.

 

  

 

Book Description:

 

She is the missing girl. But she doesn't know she's lost.
 

Carmel Wakeford becomes separated from her mother at a local children's festival, and is found by a man who claims to be her estranged grandfather. He tells her that her mother has had an accident and that she is to live with him for now. As days become weeks with her new family, 8-year-old Carmel realises that this man believes she has a special gift...
While her mother desperately tries to find her, Carmel embarks on an extraordinary journey, one that will make her question who she is - and who she might become.

  

The Summer of Secrets by Sarah Jasmon

 

Sixteen year old Helen doesn't have any friends from school to spend the summer holidays with. Her parents have split up, her Mum moved away and Helen lives with just her Dad who is busy working on his boat. When the Dover family move in next door they seem exciting to Helen and provide a welcome distraction from her loneliness. But something happens during that summer, something that changes everything.

This is a very impressive debut novel and I loved all the characters. The story is mainly set during 1983 with a few chapters in the present day.

Thank you to Transworld Publishers Netgalley for my review copy.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Publication date: 13th August 2015

 

 

 

 

Book Description:

 

One day she was there . . .

and the next day, the day after the fire, she was gone.

In the summer of 1983, when Helen is sixteen, Victoria Dover and her eccentric family move in next door, at once making her lonely world a more thrilling place. But the summer ends with a terrible tragedy, and everyone involved – her father and the entire Dover family – simply disappears.

Then one day, thirty years later, Victoria comes back.

A suspenseful, spell-binding coming-of-age story about young friendship, damaged families and how one simple action on a long, sultry summer can echo through the years. Perfect for fans of Louise Doughty's Apple Tree Yard, Liane Moriarty's The Husband's Secret and Helen Dunmore's The Lie.  

Mailbox Monday

 

 

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It was created by Marcia @ A Girl and Her Books but now has a permanent home here

 

Three for me this week, all review books:

 

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware 

 

Nora hasn’t seen Clare for ten years. Not since Nora walked out of school one day and never went back.
In a dark, dark wood there was a dark, dark house
Until, out of the blue, an invitation to Clare’s hen do arrives. Is this a chance for Nora to finally put her past behind her?
And in the dark, dark house there was a dark, dark room
But something goes wrong. Very wrong.
And in the dark, dark room…
Some things can’t stay secret for ever.

 

The Summer of Secrets by Sarah Jasmon 

 

One day she was there . . .

and the next day, the day after the fire, she was gone.

In the summer of 1983, when Helen is sixteen, Victoria Dover and her eccentric family move in next door, at once making her lonely world a more thrilling place. But the summer ends with a terrible tragedy, and everyone involved – her father and the entire Dover family – simply disappears.
Then one day, thirty years later, Victoria comes back.

The Mistake I Made by Paula Daly

 

The Mistake I Made is the latest page-turner from one of the England’s most captivating new thriller writers. In her provocative and riveting third novel, Paula Daly focuses her masterful eye for psychological suspense and family drama on an indecent proposal that has fatal repercussions.

Single mother Roz has reached breaking-point. After the dissolution of her marriage, Roz’s business has gone under, debts are racking up, the rent is late (again), and she's struggling to provide for her nine-year-old son, who is starting to misbehave in school. Roz is in trouble. Real trouble.

When Roz returns home from work one day and finds an eviction notice, she knows that it’s time for action—she has two weeks to find a solution otherwise they will be kicked out of their home. Increasingly desperate, Roz doesn’t know where to turn. Then the perfect opportunity presents itself. At her sister’s fortieth birthday party, Roz meets Scott Elias—wealthy, powerful, and very married. But the impression Roz leaves on him is indelible. He tracks her down and makes Roz an offer to spend the night with him—for money. He wants no-strings-attached intimacy and can guarantee total discretion. Could it be as simple as it sounds? With that kind of cash, Roz could clear her debts and get her life back on track. But as the situation spirals out of her control, Roz is forced to do things she never thought herself capable of. Can she ever set things right again?


 

 

 

 

Book Beginnings on Fridays - The Summer of Secrets by Sarah Jasmon

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader and as she says the idea of this meme is for you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name. There's a linky list on the website and you can use #BookBeginnings on Twitter.

 

This week my book beginning is The Summer of Secrets by Sarah Jasmon. It's her debut novel and is published on 13th August in paperback by Black Swan and ebook/kindle by Transworld.

 

So much blue. From where she sat at the very back of the ferry, this was all Alice could see. The island had changed from a place to a shape to the faintest blur and now it was gone, without leaving a trace. She wanted to take off, to dive into the sea and make her way back. Jakob was out there.

 

 

Book Description:

 

One day she was there . . .

and the next day, the day after the fire, she was gone.

In the summer of 1983, when Helen is sixteen, Victoria Dover and her eccentric family move in next door, at once making her lonely world a more thrilling place. But the summer ends with a terrible tragedy, and everyone involved – her father and the entire Dover family – simply disappears.

Then one day, thirty years later, Victoria comes back.

A suspenseful, spell-binding coming-of-age story about young friendship, damaged families and how one simple action on a long, sultry summer can echo through the years. Perfect for fans of Louise Doughty's Apple Tree Yard, Liane Moriarty's The Husband's Secret and Helen Dunmore's The Lie.  

 

 

Book Beginnings on Fridays - Mockingbird Songs by R.J. Ellory

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader and as she says the idea of this meme is for you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name. There's a linky list on the website and you can use #BookBeginnings on Twitter.

 

This week my book beginning is Mockingbird Songs by R.J. Ellory. He's one of my favourite authors and this is his latest novel. I started it last night so have only read the first chapter but can already tell I'm going to enjoy it.

 

 

"A clear conscience is nothing more than a bad memory."

For what it was worth, this was the last flawed pearl of wisdom offered by Evan Riggs on the day that Henry Quinn was released from Reeves County Farm Prison.  

 

 

 

Book Description:

 

 Prison changes a man. Sometimes in ways you can see. Usually in ways you can't. The only reason Henry Quinn survived three years inside was because of Evan Riggs, a one-time country singer, one-time killer, now serving a life sentence. No parole. On the day he gets out, Henry promises Evan he will find his daughter, the daughter he never met, and deliver a letter. A free man, Henry heads to the small Texan town where Evan grew up and where his brother Carson now resides as sheriff. There's no sign of the girl and her uncle claims to know nothing of her whereabouts. But Henry isn't about to give up. He made a promise and, no matter what, he's going to find Evan's daughter. As Carson's behaviour towards him becomes ever more threatening, Henry realises that there are dark secrets buried at the heart of this quiet town. What terrible thing drove the brothers apart and what happened to the missing girl?  

First One Missing by Tammy Cohen

First One Missing is a dark psychological thriller that starts with the murder of young girl Poppy Glover. She's the fourth victim of the Kenwood Killer, named  by the press due to the fact all four of the girls bodies were found on Hampstead Heath near Kenwood House.

Leanne Miller is the liaison officer sent to let Emma Reid, the mother of another victim Tilly, know the latest developments. The parents of the girls have started a group and regularly meet up to help support each other through their grief.

The novel not only looks into the police hunt for the killer but also the emotional impact that such a horrific event has on a family and how they struggle to cope with everyday life afterwards.

At no point did I guess correctly what was going to happen. This is a gripping psychological thriller with an ending that will make you gasp out loud.

Thank you to Transworld & Netgalley for a copy.

Publication date: 2nd July

 

My review of the author's previous novel Dying For Christmas is here

Waiting on Wednesday - Way Down Dark

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to be published.

 

I'm looking forward to Way Down Dark by James Smythe. I've loved all his novels so far and this is the first in a YA trilogy. It's published by Hodder & Stoughton on 2nd July.

 

There's one truth on Australia: You fight or you die. Usually both.
Seventeen-year-old Chan's ancestors left a dying Earth hundreds of years ago, in search of a new home. They never found one.
The only life that Chan's ever known is one of violence, of fighting. Of trying to survive.
But there might be a way to escape. In order to find it, Chan must head way down into the darkness - a place of buried secrets, long-forgotten lies, and the abandoned bodies of the dead.
Seventeen-year-old Chan, fiercely independent and self-sufficient, keeps her head down and lives quietly, careful not to draw attention to herself amidst the violence and disorder. Until the day she makes an extraordinary discovery - a way to return the Australia to Earth. But doing so would bring her to the attention of the fanatics and the murderers who control life aboard the ship, putting her and everyone she loves in terrible danger.

And a safe return to Earth is by no means certain. 

Mailbox Monday

 

 

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It was created by Marcia @ A Girl and Her Books but now has a permanent home here

 

This week I got & read Finders Keepers by Stephen King. He's my favourite author and I started reading the book an hour after the postman had delivered it.

 

“Wake up, genius.” So begins King’s instantly riveting story about a vengeful reader. The genius is John Rothstein, a Salinger-like icon who created a famous character, Jimmy Gold, but who hasn’t published a book for decades. Morris Bellamy is livid, not just because Rothstein has stopped providing books, but because the nonconformist Jimmy Gold has sold out for a career in advertising. Morris kills Rothstein and empties his safe of cash, yes, but the real treasure is a trove of notebooks containing at least one more Gold novel.
Morris hides the money and the notebooks, and then he is locked away for another crime. Decades later, a boy named Pete Sauberg finds the treasure, and now it is Pete and his family that Bill Hodges, Holly Gibney, and Jerome Robinson must rescue from the ever-more deranged and vengeful Morris when he’s released from prison after thirty-five years. 

A Thorn Among the Lilies by Michael Hiebert

This is the author's third novel in the Leah Teal detective series set in the small town of Alvin. I loved the first two so was delighted to get a review copy through Netgalley.

 

In this story Leah has the murder of a young woman to solve. The victim was shot dead and rather disturbingly had her eyelids sewn shut while she was still alive. When Leah discovers that a very similar murder occurred a few months previously in another town she realises there is a serial killer on the loose.

 

These novels are so easy to read and I love the likeability of the Teal family. We once again find out what is happening in the lives of Leah's daughter Carry, son Abe and his amusing friend Dewey. The ending felt a little rushed but I am hoping that I'll get to meet these characters again soon.

Rating: 3.5 out of 4

Published by Kensington Books on 30th June

 

Here are my reviews of the other two novels in the series:

Dream With Little Angels

Close to the Broken Hearted

May Roundup

Here are the books I read in May:

 

Before the Fall by Juliet West - review

 

The Shore by Sara Taylor

 

The Woods by Harlan Coben

 

Take Me With You by Catherine Ryan Hyde - review

 

A Robot in the Garden by Deborah Install

 

The Followers by Rebecca Wait

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It was created by Marcia @ A Girl and Her Books but now has a permanent home here

Only one for me this week, A Thorn Among the Lilies by Michael Hiebert. I'm reading it now, I've enjoyed the author's previous two novels in the Detective Leah Teal series so was pleased to get the latest from Netgalley. It's published by Kensington on 30th June.

Detective Leah Teal is privy to most of the secrets in her hometown of Alvin, but there are always surprises to be had. Like the day she agrees to take her daughter, Caroline, to see a psychic for a reading. The psychic hones in on Leah instead, hinting at a string of gruesome killings and insisting that she intervene to prevent more deaths.

When you go looking for trouble, you never know how much you'll find. Sure enough, the psychic's scant clues lead Leah to a cold case from six years ago, when a young woman was found shot to death, her eyelids sewn shut. As Leah digs deeper into old files, a second unsolved case surfaces with the same grisly pattern. While her shrewd young son, Abe, observes from the sidelines, Leah races to prevent another horrific murder, unaware of just how deep the roots of evil can go.

Taut, suspenseful, and rich in Southern atmosphere, A Thorn Among the Lilies is a mesmerizing novel of loss and vengeance, and the lengths some will go to out of loyalty and love.