In the Darkness, That's Where I'll Know You: The Complete Black Room story by Luke Smitherd

Originally released as a 4-part series, this is the complete story of the Dark Room.

Charlie wakes up naked in a dark room after having been on a bender. A screen showing a film flickers in front of him. As he tries to wrap his head around what happened, things become even more surreal. It seems that Charlie has woken up in someone's mind! Questioning his sanity, Charlie has to prove to himself that he is definitely real and still alive, and convince the girl whose head he is in that she is not crazy. How will he get back to his body or is this all just a crazy bender side-effect?

This story really messes with your mind - literally. The more you try to envisage the mind swap, the more crazy your own thoughts get. I liked the development of Charlie and Minnie's characters from the nowhere places they were, to the people they become. Having all four books together made it much easier to read; I think if I'd had to stop and start there would have been even more confusion than I was experiencing at the time. A very interesting idea which takes some concentration to maintain as you watch the mad journey. The author has a wonderful writing style, rich in descriptions and easy to read. A completely crazy but well written story, with an ending that leaves you thinking.

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review the book.  

Trust No-one by Clare Donoghue

This is a psychological thriller featuring characters from previous Donoghue books.

Richard and his ex-wife divorced amicably. Their two children seem to be coping flitting between the two households, well, as well as can be expected. The children stay over for dinner one night, and the next morning Richard's body is found in his bed; his death seemingly peaceful. DS Jane Bennett and DI Mike Lockyer are called in to see whether or not suspicious circumstances are attached to the death. As they delve deeper into family and friends, hidden secrets are uncovered and illusions of normality shattered.

I really enjoyed this book. Definite twists and turns all the way through as you guess the killer's identity, only to change your mind. The weaving in of chapters every now and then from the killer's perspective creates an interesting angle. The characters are well thought out; and not too many to complicate the story either. The author managed to portray many quirks of their personalities which are so true to real life. A great flowing writing style which is comfortable to read and a pace suited to the content of the story. A great psychological thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review the book.

The Shepherd's Crown by Terry Pratchett

This is a fantasy novel and the last written by an extremely popular author before his passing.

Tiffany Aching has always felt the pull of the Chalk but never as strongly as this. Thrust into a situation she feels she is not ready for, she needs to learn to ask others for help. So with the aid of Geoffrey, who wants to be a witch, and his goat, as well as a hodge podge of local witches (even those who thought they had given up on witching), she and her army must fight against the elves who want to cause mayhem in her land. Tiffany has some big boots to fill - is she ready for the challenge again?

As I was reading the book very different voices came through-it was as though the book was a collaboration and didn't quite gel. Having read the afterword where the author's process is described, and realising that the book was never tweaked and edited to his satisfaction before his death, now makes sense. Many old faces make themselves known again and I enjoyed the underlying theme of humanity and friendship as well as being true to yourself. With some of the more adult themes that crop up in this book, I still find it strange to be categorised as a children's book, and unfortunately the kindle edition I received had terrible formatting errors with words and sentences broken up in strange places.

While I didn't love the novel as it didn't feel like a full Pratchett, I say thank you to him for leaving such a genius and witty legacy of stories rich in colourful characters and classic storylines for all to enjoy. A book for the fans to tip their hats to.

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review the book.

Divergent Chill: Battle of Nesma by Brian Fontenot

This is a fantasy novel that I would recommend for mature young adults and up.

The poisonous plants are the least of Alden's problems as he enters the sacred forest to capture the Rageborne  Shank, who has committed murder most foul. What worries Alden is the possibility of encountering a Divergent. Always female and rumoured to be god-born, they look like small children yet have exceptional speed and strength and will think nothing  of tearing a human apart and eating them. Alden enters the forest with a tracker, a priest, an assassin and a knight, and to his horror finds a Divergent ensnared in the trap meant for Shank. Faced with the decision of freeing her or leaving her there to die, Alden enters into a conversation with her and instinct tells him that she is not as feral as most Divergents are reported to be. She might even be one of the chosen ones called by the god Sitar to work in the Empire. Listening to an inner sense Alden frees her and takes her back to the Empire. Unfortunately since nothing is meant to be removed from the sacred forest by man, he is imprisoned and placed on death row. In order to save him, the Divergent is forced to take command of an army in order to conquer and annexe a nearby mining town. This leads to an epic battle and a test of loyalty and bonds.

This is simply an amazing book. The characters are well fleshed out and their personalities and emotions believable. As a reader you experience all their ups and downs with them and physically feel the ache of betrayal. Being the first book in the series it has a complex storyline of its own and is not merely a set up for the next book. From the first meeting of the Divergent to the climactic battle and ultimate betrayal, the book kept me enthralled.

A few editing mistakes don't detract from the story, and the violence, while quite graphic, is not gratuitous and is explained for its place in the story. A highly recommended book and I'll definitely be reaching for the next one in the series.

Breakdown by Jonathan Kellerman

This is a mystery/suspense/crime novel with a psychological undertone.

A number of years previously Dr. Alex Delaware treated the son of an actress who was herself being treated by a psychiatrist for mental instability. Fast forward and Alex is called in as a reference for the actress as she is found terrorising people in their own gardens during manic episodes. She is found to be homeless and placed in a shelter. She escapes from this haven and her body is found in a swanky Bel-Air house. Her son is missing and even though her death should be an open and shut case Alex feels as though something is not right. Along with Det. Sturgis, Alex digs deeper and finds himself immersed in a world of poison and a decades old feud of jealousy and revenge.

I do enjoy Kellerman's writing as his characters are well developed and the storyline logical and detailed. Sometimes the story does get a little too involved and due to his clinical style of writing I found my mind wandering at times since some of the deductions were a bit stretched. I tend to relate to characters that show a bit more emotion. The book was very good though-a solid chapter in his series.

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review the book.