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Once Upon a Thyme by Jane Lovering #Review

  It is a pleasure to feature Jane Lovering's  Once Upon a Thyme which was published by Boldwood Books on June 24th.   All her life, Natalie Fisher has been taught not to ask questions. Why risk uncovering uncomfortable truths, when you can stay in the safety of blissful denial? Since taking over the family herb farm, Natalie has stuck with what she knows, rarely venturing much further than the nearby village where her invalid mother now lives. But then, one day, everything changes with the arrival of unexpected visitors. First comes Zeb, employed by Natalie’s mother to help with the business but soon hinting at other motives. Then comes Simon with the famous band he manages, wanting to film in Natalie’s beautiful garden. The band causes chaos and the attitude of one particular member throws Natalie’s ordered life into confusion. Over one magical summer of revelations and of uncovering secrets, Natalie starts to blossom and by the time autumn arrives she knows n...

Nothing Stays Buried by P J Tracy ** Blog Tour Review**

I am delighted to be taking part in the Blog Tour to celebrate the publication of Nothing Stays Buried by P J Tracy. This is the 8th book in the Monkeewrench series but can be read as a standalone. 

 If you’re looking for nonstop action, this clever, electrifying read will have you on the edge of your seat.

There's a search for a missing girl, and another for a serial killer: death holds all the cards . . .


When Marla Gustafson vanishes on her way to her father's farm, her car left empty on the side of an isolated country road, even Grace MacBride and her eccentric team of analysts are stumped. Meanwhile in Minneapolis, homicide detectives Gino and Magozzi have a serial killer on their hands - two women murdered in cruelly similar fashion, with playing cards left on the bodies. But one card is an ace, the other is a four - it seems the killer is already two murders ahead. With both teams stumped, it slowly becomes clear the evidence is inexplicably entangled. And they have little time to unravel the threads: a twisted killer is intent on playing out the deck . . .


My Thoughts

I do enjoy a fast paced thriller and this book certainly delivers on that front.  Once I'd started reading, the pages kept turning as the plot evolved and the clues started piling up. Written with great confidence, you feel in safe hands and the pacing is spot on.

    I particularly enjoyed the shifts in perspective, especially the few times you were given an insight into the murderer's mind, unsettling as it was. Despite the mounting body count, there is no gratuitous violence and the emphasis is always on solving the mystery.  There several story lines which gradually come together and the setting of Minnesota is always present. As the plot lines intertwine, the pace quickens inexorably and even the weather plays a part as the book reaches its climax.

    I haven't read any of the previous books in the series but it didn't detract from the story for me. I'm sure that if you had, the main characters' backstories would be there in your mind as they are so well established. I found Walt, the father of the missing girl, to be very affecting.  Without sounding too mysterious, I loved the lion- you have to read the book to the end to get that reference, I'm afraid.  

In short: an exciting and involving thriller with an emotional heart. 

About the authors 

 P.J. Tracy was the pseudonym for the mother-and-daughter writing team of P.J. and Traci Lambrecht. Together PJ and Traci were authors of best-selling thrillers Want to Play? (Richard and Judy Book Club pick), Live Bait, Dead Run, Snow Blind, Play to Kill, Two Evils and Cold Kill. Tragically, co-author P.J passed away in December 2016. Traci will continue to write under the name in honour of her mother’s legacy.

Find out more here at PJTracy.com 


Thanks to Jenny Platt and Penguin Random House for a copy of the book and a place on the Blog Tour.

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