Desolation by Derek Landy

It's hard not to feel sorry for Amber, she really is put through the ringer in this book. For someone who can change into a humongous demon she sure does get beaten up a lot.

Of course that might have something to do with the high amount of serial killers that are chasing her now. Ever since she outsmarted the Shining Demon in the last book every killer who is looking for a demonic boost is after her.

For me the highlight of this trilogy is still the relationship between Miles and Amber. He is a man of secrets and a volatile past, but he truly cares about her. Amber literally has no one left to rely on or trust for that matter.

Her parents want to eat her and they have already eaten her older siblings.That is what I call bad parenting. No wonder she has trust issues.

I didn't understand the need to mess with the recipe of book 1. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Milo has retreated into the background, there are too many new characters that play a main role and have chapters written about their storyline in the their POV, and there seemed to be a fixation on having pain inflicted upon Amber.

Kelly and company weren't in the first book. I assume their quest to get rid of killers will be featured in the third book.They are chasing them and Amber is being hunted by the killers they are chasing. I still think Milo and Amber would have been fine by themselves without any newbies. The violence seems to be escalating, so Landy needs to keep a certain balance to stay in the YA lane.

Buy Desolation (Demon Road Trilogy Book 2) at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

Read Demon Road here.

That Night by Chevy Stevens

Toni hasn't had the luxury of building a career or a life. She and her boyfriend have been stuck behind bars for over 15 years for the vicious murder of her younger sister.

After the two of them are released Ryan decides he wants revenge, which ruffles quite a few feathers. Suddenly every crime in town is being laid at their feet.

Ryan and Toni have a target on their backs yet again. Knowing the truth about what happened isn't the same as being able to prove it.

One of the things that really annoyed me was the reaction of the parents. No compassion for Toni at all. Not an inkling of doubt about the fact she has become a vicious killer overnight.

I'm sure there are quite a few readers who have grown up in a situation where the youngest daughter is treated like a 'butter wouldn't melt' princess.

Fact is Toni tried to warn her parents, especially her mother, but she wouldn't listen. It's easier to presume the guilt of the elder daughter than question that of the supposedly innocent younger daughter.

The other issue was the way Toni reacted to them being in her house and her room. Seriously? Come on now. They would have been flying out backwards if it had been me, and the sister would have experienced my wrath. Don't ever mess with the inner sanctum.

The plot is fine, a bit predicable perhaps, but the writing is a bit on the amateur side. Way too she said, he said.

Buy That Night at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

The Gessami Residence by Jane L. Gibson

The one thing I thought was very bold and yet completely honest was the way Gibson portrayed her middle-aged (mid 30's to mid 40's) group of female characters.

None of them are interested in seeing the sights, visiting museums or learning about the foreign country they are in. They are there to have fun, let loose and party.

Regardless of whether some people deem it inappropriate because they aren't in their 20's any more, this is quite the norm nowadays. A bunch of friends leaving behind the kids, the husband, the cat and the white picket fence for a week or two of innocent fun. Then again innocent might be the wrong word for it.

Jenny and her friends don't really conform to the image some readers may have, but I know my friends and I often joke about getting away for a weekend. Tequila body shots off half naked men, Ole! At this rate I am more likely to swig an exciting lemonade off the cover of my next read.

Hidden in all the jokes and fun stuff is a huge mountain for Jenny to overcome. Getting back on the bike and into the dating scene is no simple feat when you have spent most of your life with just the one man. Your body is no longer that of a nubile goddess, spanks are in order instead of Victoria's Secret and that's before we get to any of the intimate stuff.

Gibson needs to let her emotions flow into her characters, which will give them more depth and allow readers to connect on a deeper level. When that happens her stories will perhaps go from quick summer read to something more memorable.

Buy The Gessami Residence at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

Not if I see You First by Eric Lindstrom

Now and again I felt like giving this book a hug. In the midst of all the teen drama there were some deeply emotional, eye-opening and heartfelt moments.

Lindstrom really is inside Parker's head. The anger, the sarcasm, the huge defensive wall all around her, and the internal dialogue.

Parker is completely oblivious to her own selfishness. Her demanding nature threatens to swallow everyone around her whole. It takes quite a while for her to realise just how supportive everyone has been.

One of the things that does become abundantly clear is how many of us take the freedom of sight for granted. The way Lindstrom describes her running towards the end of the book gives an extraordinary insight into just how much of a barrier the darkness is.

Trust plays an enormous role in this book. Trust, observation and relying on someone other than yourself to scope out your environment and the actions of others. The betrayal of that trust can seem like an epic intrusion and unforgivable act, especially if you're young and more vulnerable than others. A simple mistake can seem like so much more.

This story has the usual portion of overly dramatic teeny YA moments, which is why younger readers will probably enjoy this, however I do believe the more poignant moments outweigh the flightier ones.

I really enjoyed it, perhaps because Parker is such a realistic character. or maybe because Lindstrom just happened to hit the right notes. It is definitely a read I would recommend.

Buy Not if I see You First at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

The Photographer's Wife by Suzanne Joinson

This book has an English Patient feel to it. The smell of colonialism is spread like a thin layer of sweat upon the story, especially the early years of Prudence.

The British as the invaders, the foreigner attempting to control the fate of another country, as usual.

The title is a little misleading, because the photographer's wife is really just an afterthought. Prudence is the main focus throughout the story. As a child, then as a teen and as an adult.

I liked the subtle parallels between Prudence and Skip, and Prudence and her father. Whether she realises it or not she actually treats her child with the same level of contempt and neglect.

I have to say I am not sure why the rape scene was necessary. It was superfluous to the story, and there was no follow-up whatsoever, so what was the point? Just a shock factor or was it to show the carelessness of Ashton? Surely her witnessing the violence by Lofty was sufficient enough to make the same point. The way she slips into an abusive relationship and her erratic behaviour can be explained by both the neglect and the traumatic events she experiences.

In the end this is a story about politics, betrayal, spies and morality. It's about the lines people cross in the name of war and political skirmishes. For me it didn't come together as well as it could have.

Buy The Photographer's Wife at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight

I'm not sure Cassie is what I would call a good friend or a friend at all for that matter. Do friends dump you to become part of the popular group in school? Do friends abandon you in your hour of need, and most importantly do they put you in a dangerous situation to make their own lives easier?

Cassie seems to be quite a selfish young lady, who likes to embrace trouble and the wild side of life. Trying to coerce your friends to join you in the middle of nowhere, not to tell anyone and put themselves in danger. All those choices lack common sense.

Jasper doesn't appear to live up to all the bad reputation that trails behind him. In fact a lot of the stories seem to be flavoured by the input of others. More specifically by Cassie. Begs the question, why would she want Wylie to think the worst of her boyfriend?

As soon as they reach the camp everything becomes a little far-fetched. Who sent which messages to whom was especially confusing.

The plot goes from a friend in need and possibly mixed up with drugs to a whole different ball game.Wylie and her friends are suddenly a commodity.Then she is part of an elite group of gifted individuals. The goal posts keep changing during the story.

It wasn't necessarily the change in the storyline that made this seem a bit chaotic. It was as if the author changed her mind about the plot and made the end of it fit in with the rest. With more clarity and direction this could be an interesting series.

Buy The Outliers at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

Die of Shame by Mark Billingham

This is a stand-alone novel by Billingham. It has Billingham's usual deep knowledge of the mind-frame of a killer. So much so that his books can often be so realistic they are disturbing.

A Monday night therapy group is down one member. In the beginning it isn't entirely clear which one, as the reader gets to know all the individuals first.

Each one of them has a different or variety of addictions. Gambling, drugs, alcohol, food and so on. Even the therapist has overcome his addictions to help others in his situation.

Saying that, Tony isn't exactly kosher, despite all his attempts at appearing above reproach and taking the moral high ground. Is he as squeaky clean as he makes out to be? Is his wife paranoid or is it gut instinct?

Which one of the group members could have been driven to desperate measures? Who is playing a deadly game with the lives of vulnerable people?

Billingham mixes a tense atmosphere with the emotional and sometimes chaotic nature of a therapy group. Souls are bared and trust is betrayed, which means the whole purpose of the therapy group is null and void.

The ending is unexpected. Of course it is, it's Billingham.  The insidious nature of the killer has seeped into the fabric of the group and certainly left its mark. I wonder what the repercussions will be in the long run? Why? Well the story is left open-ended with an option for a sequel.

Buy Die of Shame at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.