In the Blood by Ruth Mancini
A new voice in crime fiction published by Head of Zeus
A new mother is accused of poisoning her own child, and leaving him to die. But though Ellie is a difficult person, after a troubled upbringing, is she capable of murder? Well, is she?
Sarah Kellerman, a criminal defence lawyer with her own child – one who is disabled, sets out to answer this question. But strangely, her own child becomes unwell. So what exactly is Kellerman caught up in?
This is not unlike a Wire in the Blood I caught up with last night, which I had to watch between my fingers. I find fiction of any sort involving the harming of children not my thing, but others on the team enjoyed this novel and declared it a page turner. So, here we have a page turner from an author who ‘knows of which she speaks’ for Ruth Mancin is a criminal defence lawyer, with a disabled son. Good luck to her as her writing career progresses.
In the Blood. Ruth Mancini. pub Head of Zeus. pb £8.99
Twisted Prey by John Sandford.
I more than enjoyed this latest in the Prey series. Lucas Davenport – such an engrossing lead character, so human – confronts an old nemesis, now a powerful U.S. senator. They’ve met before, oh yes, indeed. Taryn Grant is a psychopath who slots effortlessly in to the Senate, (well a psychopath would into the political world) and Lucas expects another murder from her, to add to the three he is convinced she has already committed.
And, readers, there is… Roll of drums.
I long – as I review crime novels – to find an author as richly erudite as Reginald Hill (Dalziel and Pascoe), and as amusing, and quirky, who creates characters so real you know them. And do you know, I am increasingly feeling with John Sandford I might have found one. I sank into it, turned the pages, grinned, turned a page and needed to turn the next one – quick as the tension built. Read it – I insist.
Twisted Prey by John Sandford. pub Simon and Schuster UK
Cradle by James Jackson
An historical crime set back in America, Virginia, in 1608.
An intriguing novel, as Intelligencer Christian Hardy protects this new possession on behalf of Prince Henry, heir to the English throne.
But he faces not only the natives, but internal sabotage, and the forces of King James 1 and his spymaster Robert Cecil, desperate to prevent war with Spain.
Add to all this, the starvation the settlement is having to endure, then you have a live or die battle on your hands.
This area of conflict seems popular at the moment, and Cradle not only has a great jacket, but historical knowledge and a whacking pace. Enjoy.
Cradle by James Jackson. pub Zaffre. pb £7.99
Full Wolf Moon by Lincoln Child
This New York Times bestselling author is back with a new thriller, which finds Jeremy Logan, the renowned investigator of the supernatural and fantastic on the trail of a killer, who cannot exist.
The first question is, do werewolves exist as a mauled body is found on Desolation Mountain when Jeremy Logan joins a writers’ retreat to finally get to grips with his book? But he has to get to grip instead, with a real life mystery. Well, that’s procrastination for you.
With the discovery of the body, the question is posed – has the savagery proved that the legend has been made manifest – that werewolves abound?
Child packs in action, tension, interesting locales, controversial science so strap on your seat belt as the roller coaster of a ride takes off. Not a dull moment. Give it a go.
Full Wolf Moon by Lincoln Child. pub Corsair. £8.99
Milly Adams, writing Annie Clarke has a new novel Girls on the Home Front pub by Arrow out on 30th May.