Dead Man's Grip by Peter James

Synopsis :

Carly Chase is still traumatized ten days after being in a fatal traffic accident that kills a teenage American student from Brighton University. Then she receives news that turns her entire world into a living nightmare. The drivers of the other two vehicles involved have been found tortured and murdered. Now Detective Superintendent Roy Grace of the Sussex Police Force issues a stark and urgent warning to Carly: She could be next. 

The student had deadly connections. Connections that stretch across the Atlantic to America and an organized crime group. Someone has sworn revenge and won't rest until the final person involved in that fateful accident is dead. The police advise Carly her only option is to go into hiding and change her identity. The terrified woman disagrees. She knows these people have ways of hunting you down anywhere. If the police are unable to stop them, she has to find a way to do it herself. But already the killer is one step ahead of her, watching, waiting, and ready.


This is what I say :

This is book  #7 in the universe that features Detective Roy Grace.  The first book in the universe that I read was the first book Dead Simple.  I do not have the titles in between.  However, it seems to be quite alright to skip the middle five titles and I enjoyed Dead Man's Grip just as much. 

In fact, it is better than the first title.  I think the characters have matured and have developed themselves and they are aware of their place in this universe.  It wasn't all good as one of them are  current separated from his family and there are now members to the team but i don't feel like I miss much, which is good.

This story itself is stand alone which is quite easy to relate to and the author didn't give them much time to mop around but straight boom bang into a new plot we all crash in

I enjoy Dead Man's Grip.  I have the following title, Not Dead Yet.  That would be coming up next.

Selamat Hari Raya 2020

I took this image online. Credit to the creator

Wishing all those celebrating, 

Selamat Hari Raya Adilfitri 2020

Stay Safe during this season

Dead Simple by Peter James

Synopsis :

Michael Harrison had it all: good looks, charm, natural leadership, a wicked sense of humor, and now, Ashley, his fiancée. While out celebrating with a group of friends a few nights before the wedding, Michael suddenly and unexpectedly finds himself enclosed in a coffin equipped only with a flashlight, a dirty magazine, a walkie-talkie, and a tiny breathing tube. It's all in good fun — payback for the grief his mates suffered due to his own penchant for tomfoolery — that is until the four are killed in a drunk driving accident just moments after leaving Michael completely alone and buried alive.

Detective Superintendent Grace—himself dealing with the pain of losing his wife—is brought on to the case when Ashley reports Michael missing. Suspicions are raised when Michael's only friend not at the bachelor party refuses to cooperate, and Ashley's faithfulness—not to mention her increasingly mysterious past—are suddenly thrown in to question. As Superintendent Grace soon discovers, one man's disaster is another man's fortune.


This is what I say :

I have never heard of Peter James let along read his book. However, since I inherited a few copies not too long ago, I thought I give it a try.  I was ready to be disappointed.  I was not disappointed.  Dead Simple is simply good.

I like it that the writing was entertaining and I was especially surprised to find elements of supernatural in the book as in the good detective actually consulted mediums to assist him in his case.  This wasn't blown into a huge story or step but was rather subtle in it's introduction and that made it different from other thriller.

The author also has a way of writing that is rather captivating.  I felt myself being in the coffin with Michael from the way he writes and I can felt Michael's panic being real through the words and pages.

All in all, it was a good discovery of this author.  I found 2 more of hims books among what I inherited so I shall be going through them real soon.  Let me go and see if there's more.

The Governor's Wife by Mark Gimenez

Photo from my instastory

Synopsis :

Bode Bonner is the Republican governor of Texas. He has everything he ever wanted: money, power, influence. But something isn't right in his life -- everything feels too settled and easy. He longs for one more moment of excitement, one more challenge.

Lindsay Bonner is Bode's wife, and she's bored too. Bored of Bode's womanizing, bored of the endless cocktail parties and receptions. She is desperate to break free of her bland, wealthy Texan lifestyle. And that moment comes when she saves a poor Hispanic boy's life.

From that moment on, nothing will be the same for Bode and Lindsay Bonner. Their lives are about to change in ways they could never have predicted...

Filled with dramatic and ingenious twists and turns, this is an addictively readable novel that delves deep into the dark heart of Texas. 


This is what I say :

I have always enjoyed what Mark Gimenez wrote ever since I read his first book The Colour of Law many years ago.  Since then, I have read quite a lot of what he wrote and The Governor's Wife being the latest.

My review of his other titles are here, here and here.

I really enjoyed his books as they are well written and thrilling without being overly descriptive.  I believe I read the Abduction twice and I actually would not mind reading it again as I really like it.

Having said that, I don't quite like this latest book that I just read.  The Governor's Wife is rather lacking for me in quite a lot of areas.  It just wasn't captivating especially since I have read some rather good titles from this author.  Perhaps if this was my first introduction to Mark's work, then I might like it better.

Nevertheless, it is a good title and I am glad I read this.

My (Not So) Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

Synopsis :

Everywhere Katie Brenner looks, someone else is living the life she longs for, particularly her boss, Demeter Farlowe. Demeter is brilliant and creative, lives with her perfect family in a posh townhouse, and wears the coolest clothes. Katie's life, meanwhile, is a daily struggle--from her dismal rental to her oddball flatmates to the tense office politics she's trying to negotiate. No wonder Katie takes refuge in not-quite-true Instagram posts, especially as she's desperate to make her dad proud.

Then, just as she's finding her feet--not to mention a possible new romance--the worst happens. Demeter fires Katie. Shattered but determined to stay positive, Katie retreats to her family's farm in Somerset to help them set up a vacation business. London has never seemed so far away--until Demeter unexpectedly turns up as a guest. Secrets are spilled and relationships rejiggered, and as the stakes for Katie's future get higher, she must question her own assumptions about what makes for a truly meaningful life.

Sophie Kinsella is celebrated for her vibrant, relatable characters and her great storytelling gifts. Now she returns with all of the wit, warmth, and wisdom that are the hallmarks of her bestsellers to spin this fresh, modern story about presenting the perfect life when the reality is far from the truth. 


This is what I say :

Sophie Kinsella is one of my all times favourite chic lite author.  I have read almost all of her books and like many other Becky Bloomwood is an extremely endearing character that I love.

However, My (Not So) Perfect Life is not about Becky. It's a new character named Katie and Katie is rather endearing too.  However, she's so innocently nice and eager to please that I was quite frustrated with her.  She adores her boss Demeter which I though was borderline idolizing which to me is extremely unhealthy.

However, like all other books bo Sophie Kinsella, this book is extremely brainless and easy and fun to read and especially when Katie got back at Demeter through some 'ancient yoga thingy' - priceless!  Made me laugh out loud.

I read this as an e-book. Otherwise, I will certainly re-read this years down the road as it's super funny.

Mercy by Jussi Adler-Olsen

Synopsis :

Carl Mørck used to be a good homicide detective. One of Copenhagen's best, in fact. Then a bullet almost took his life. Two of his colleagues weren't so lucky, and Carl, because he didn't draw his gun, blames himself. Now his erratic behaviour is going to cost him his job. It's just a matter of time.

So promotion is the last thing he expects. Newly created Department Q deals with 'cases of special focus'. His former colleagues think it's a joke - a home for hopeless cases. Carl, leading it, will fit right in. Except that his first case is that of missing politician Merete Lynggaard. She vanished five years ago. Everyone assumes she's dead. Everyone assumes it's a waste of time.


This is what I say :

This is the first title on the series which features homicide detective Carl Morck.  However, it's the third book that I read.

Let me get straight to it. I don't quite like this book.  There's parts that I like but there's part that I just skip over.  The story alternates between current investigation which was year 2007 and past incidents (when the lady first vanished) and readers were able to accompany the victim throughout her captivity.  

I still have a couple of titles by this author. I can't decide if I want to continue reading it.