Smile of Deceit by Keith Newman - [Book Review]

Summary:

When two teenage girls disappear exactly sixteen years apart, police are convinced that the cases must be connected. One suspect was present on both occasions and now he has checked out of his hotel early and cannot be found.

But nothing is straightforward and it becomes clear that police involved in the original investigation have secrets of their own. When the cold case is reopened new evidence about both girls is established quickly, and there is a strong suspicion that the police are being manipulated.

Ruby Delacourt, the partner of the main suspect, is convinced that he is innocent and she uses her skill as a reporter to do her own digging. But she helps to uncover a much darker side to his character and an unexpected link between the two cases.

This is the turning point and the race is on to catch the real killer – a race which begins in the mountains of the French Alps and ends in a ski lodge just north of Lake Bled.

Information about the Book

Title: Smile of Deceit

Author: Keith Newman

Genre: Thriller

Publication Date: 20th October 2020

Page Count: 478

Publisher: Clink Street Publishing

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55648700-smile-of-deceit 

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smile-Deceit-Keith-Newman/dp/1913568172 

My Review:

Smile of Deceit is an investigation thriller. Two teenage girls disappear suddenly within 16 years apart and one person is present in both the places raising the suspicion if he is responsible for their disappearance.

What I liked about the book?

The storyline is unique. 2 disappearances with one person present in both places. I loved the characterization and narrative too. Characters have many layers and it is interesting to read about their thoughts and their secrets revealing gradually as the story progresses.

The narrative is cool and friendly. The suspense is maintained until the end of the book.

What might have been better?

I loved the story , but I felt, it became too descriptive and boring at some points. Editing and proofreading might have fixed a few minor typos.

No other negative points.

I would recommend this to people who love investigation and crime thrillers.

My Rating: 4/5

PS: I have received this book from Authoright for free in exchange for my review and this is my honest opinion on the book.

Author Information

My name is Keith Newman and I have two things in common with Rodney, the character in ‘Only Fools and Horses’ – we are both tall and slim (well at least I was when I was his age) and we both have one ‘O’ level.  Perhaps the similarity ends there.

My full-time formal education stopped when I was 15 in 1957 so I am getting on a bit.  Lewes Secondary Modern School for Boys was good for us in many ways – we had to behave ourselves, were taught to work hard or else, and not be too interested in the girls from the school next door.

My first job was as office boy at the local council offices.  It wasn’t long before I knew what everyone was doing in their own little rooms and I probably knew more about the people working there than the boss did.  I moved about quite a bit in the same department, but was always able to select the best manager to work with based on my insight into the various power struggles.  I paid invoices, moved trampolines from one school to another (only losing one in the process) and helped to organise the 11+ examination.  Then I ended up in Personnel (HR as it’s now called).  We had 36,000 employees working in about 300 sites and I got to visit every one.  It was my dream job and I ended up managing the whole team.  We certainly had a variety of problems.

But now in my retirement I’ve started to write fiction and I can for the first time in my life be creative.  My first book, ‘Smile of Deceit’ is a crime thriller and I am already planning the next one.

Tour Schedule

Monday 19th October

Stuck in the Book

Tuesday 20th October

Bookish Blue

Wednesday 21st October

Fantastic Feathers

Thursday 22nd October

Alex’s Books

Friday 23rd October

Jazzy Book Reviews

Monday 26th October

Turn the Page Blog

Tuesday 27th October

Jera’s Jamboree

Wednesday 28th October

Orchard Book Club

Thursday 29th October

Georgia Books

Friday 30th October

TanyCandleCo

Until next time,

A minute to death by Ganga Bharani - [Book Review]

Book Details:

Title : A minute to death part 1 & Part 2
Author : Ganga Bharani
Genre :thriller
Length of the book : 105 pages(part 1), 104 pages (part 2)
Source : A free copy that I won in some giveaway

Blurb:

Young, vivacious and an aspiring writer, Riya wants nothing more from her longtime crush/boyfriend than to let her in on one of his exciting investigations. After all, what better source material for a book than a real-life tragedy? 

A no-nonsense veteran cop, Rohan picks a case of probable suicide to satisfy Riya’s needs. Little does he know that there is more to this case than meets the eye. 

What made the victim hang herself at the break of dawn? What is the secret that her group of friends is hiding? Will Riya be able to salvage a workable plot for her upcoming novel out of this case of seemingly simple suicide?

Purchase Link:
Amazon

My Review :

This is a thrilling investigation story of 2 suicides in the town by a cop Rohan and his girlfriend Riya. The story is interesting with twists,  turns and clues leading to the cause of death. 

What I liked?
The thrill factor is great. The clues and deductions are good and make us analyze and think about the case. The characters are cool. Rohan as a handsome and smart cop and Riya as a bubbly writer are interesting. The story flows smoothly and the mystery is maintained till the end. I loved the plot so much that I purchased the part 2 of the kindle copy immediately after finishing the first part. 

I heard great reviews about this book before starting the book itself and thus my expectations are high. This book met all my expectations. 

The only downside is the mistakes/ spelling errors. This book might have been reviewed before publishing.

One more thing that I didn't like is that the intelligent Riya might not have chosen that path for fame. Her decision doesn't match to her personality and there would have been some justification about this in the book, which is not there. I cannot talk more as I don't want to reveal anything for new readers.

My Rating : 4.5/5

I would recommend this book to all readers who like short thrillers/ fast-paced reads.

About the Author:

Ganga Bharani Vasudevan is the author of 'Just you, me and a secret', and Plot Engine, among many others. 
Her short films 'Tiny Steps' and 'Candles' won the Best Film Award and Special Mention Award in an international film festival. She was awarded 'Best Urban Chennai Blogger Award'. 
She is now writing a script for an Indian Feature film that will be released in the year 2017.

Website: http://gangabharani.com/ 

Until next time, 

The Forgotten Room by Lincoln Child - [Book review]

Book Details: 

Book Title: The Forgotten Room

Author: Lincoln Child

Genre: Thriller, mystery, suspense

Publisher: Anchor

Length of the book: 306 pages

Source: A copy picked from local library

Blurb:

A LONG-LOST EXPERIMENT OF UNGUESSABLE INTENT
A SECRET ROOM, INGENIOUSLY HIDDEN INSIDE A VAST SEACOAST MANSION

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR LINCOLN CHILD AT HIS RIVETING BEST

Professor Jeremy Logan (the quirky and charismatic “enigmalogist” who specializes in solving problems of the strange or seemingly supernatural variety) receives an urgent summons from the director of Lux, one of the oldest and most respected think tanks in America. An unexplainable tragedy has taken place in the sprawling compound located on the coastline of Newport, Rhode Island. One of Lux’s most distinguished doctors, overcome by erratic behavior, violently attacked his assistant before meeting with a gruesome self-inflicted end. Deeply shaken by the incident and the bizarre evidence left behind from the doctor’s final project—as well as recent troubling behavior among several of the think tank’s other scientists—Lux fears there is something more sinister occurring within its walls and looks to Jeremy Logan to investigate.
Logan quickly makes a surprising discovery. In a long-dormant wing of the estate, he uncovers an ingeniously hidden secret room, unknown and untouched for decades. The room is essentially a time capsule, filled with eerie machinery and obscure references to a top-secret experiment known as “Project S.” As Logan attempts to unravel its meaning, he begins to discern what transpired in that room—and why the frightening project was suddenly abandoned and sealed off many years before. As his work draws him ever deeper into harm’s way, Logan soon unleashes a series of catastrophic events upon the rest of Lux .. . and himself.

One of Lincoln Child’s most thrilling novels to date, The Forgotten Room is replete with exhilarating action, veiled history, and mesmerizing science—making for a truly intelligent page-turner.

My Review:

I have been reading a lot of review copies from authors these days, but this month I decided to choose one from our library. This is my first book of Lincoln child. As I love thrillers, the blurb immediately caught my attention and 'large print' by Random house is pleasing to the eyes. 

The story is about Jeremy, an Enigmologist investigating the death of a scientist 'Will' in a private think tank in Newport called 'Lux'. Enigmologist is a new term I read for the first time, which means an expert in supernatural things and the one who solves mysterious or strange problems. While Jeremy is investigating the death of a scientist, he finds an old hidden room and details about an abandoned science project which is harmful to mankind if not properly used. Is there any link between the death and strange behaviors of other scientists and this old project? Is someone restarting the abandoned project? These questions will be solved by the end of the book.

What did I like?

For any thriller, it is the narration and pace which attracts the reader first.I loved the pace of the story except for the last part where I felt like it is dragging too much. The narration is very good and all scenes blend naturally when the story flows between chapters revealing secrets one after the other. I like Jeremy - he is cool, balanced and a person of action more than talk. Pamela and Kim's characters are great too. I wanted to know more about Roger Carbon and the reason behind his behavior but there is not much covered in the book. Laura Benedict is convincing. The cover of the book is apt and attracts readers. 

What's not so great?

I didn't like the last part where Jeremy escapes from Lux for his life. I felt it is too descriptive and boring. I actually flipped through the pages. I also felt the title of the book is not very apt. After reading the story, I thought it is more about the abandoned project or the mystery behind strange behaviors than the hidden room. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It's a perfect thriller and I would recommend this to suspense lovers.

PS: I have received this book from the local library and this is my honest opinion on the book.

My Rating: 4/5

Purchase Link:

Amazon

About the Author:

Lincoln Child is the co-author, with Douglas Preston, of a number of bestselling thrillers including Relic, Riptide and The Ice Limit. Utopia is Lincoln Child's first solo novel: he is currently at work on his second. He lives with his wife and daughter in Morristown, New Jersey.

Until next time,