The Merciless IV: Last Rites
Author: Danielle Vega
Published: June 12, 2018
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
The fourth book of the scream-worthy cult series The Merciless combines Stephen King level terror with true crime stories like the Amanda Knox case.
The ropes tighten on Berkley Hubbard’s wrists. Blood drips down her fingers and lands with a smack on the cold floor of the church basement. She’s trapped, bound, and petrified by fear. A knife punctures her fragile skin as Berkley’s captors search for the mark of the devil on her body. They say they want to save her–drive the devil away and cleanse her soul–but will she make it out alive?
When Berkley arrived in Italy a week ago, the last thing she expected was that she’d end up fighting for her life. After spending six months at the Institute, confined to a room with the dangerous-yet-alluring Sofia Flores, Berkley was certain that a vacation in Italy with her two best friends would be the perfect getaway. But Berkley is hiding a terrible secret, one that threatens to undo everything. As she’s forced to face her wicked past, she learns that the devil is always watching, and no one is coming to save her.
**Kim’s review for the first three books in the Merciless series is here.
Kim’s Review:
This was such a great ending to a great series! The first 3 books got a little repetitive and predictable, so having a few weeks between reading them and the release of the 4th book was a good thing. But the 4th book was also different enough to stave off predictability. I liked how the story was resolved and more info was given about the demon moving from person to person. Plus, I just got back from Italy so I was feeling very nostalgic! 😉
There was a little drama that got annoying, but by the end of the story, I understood why it was included. The people that I was most fascinated by were the Italians! Europeans are usually more traditional and old school anyway, so superstition kind of goes hand in hand with that. Plus, the timeline goes between Berkley’s time in a mental institute and her vacation in Italy with her friends . . . how could it possibly get any better?? There is language, some adult themes, a lot of creepy, so probably not a good idea to give this book to younger readers. But if you love scary, creepy reads, this series is perfect!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Blog Tour: Chilling Tales of the Unexpected
Today I am one of three stops on this final day of the blog tour for Chilling Tales of the Unexpected by Ann Girdharry. It is a collection of four short stories that will chill you!
Book Description:
Four twisty, short reads.
Addictive works of suspense,
That will leave you breathless and give you goose bumps…
Trading with Death
What sacrifice might we make for those we love? In the face of death, will we be selfish or selfless?
Tell Me a Secret
Deceit, lies and secrets – how well do we know those close to us?
Sweet Justice
We follow Tess as she confronts the dark side…
Written on the Apple Tree
A moment from a past life, a possession, or a simple meeting between strangers?
Chilling Tales of the Unexpected
Author: Ann Girdharry
Published: May 21, 2018
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: June 1-6, 2018
Jessica’s Rating: 3.5 stars
Jessica’s Review:
These are four short stories that add up to quick reading. Each story offers insights into sacrifice, lust, and regret among other feelings. If you like dark short stories then you should pick this one up. Being these are short stories it is hard to say much without giving anything away, but I will give ‘mini-reviews’ on each short story:
Trading with Death
There isn’t much to say other than what the description says. This was a good one!
Tell Me a Secret
This one was also good! I didn’t know where it was heading had no idea how it was going to end! I loved it.
Sweet Justice
This one disturbed me on several levels. Wow…..
Written on the Apple Tree
I enjoyed this one immensely. I would really like for Girdharry to expand it!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
**More purchase links available via Goodreads
About the Author:
Born and educated in the UK, Ann Girdharry is a trained psychotherapist and has worked as a manager in the not-for-profit sector for many years.
Today she lives in Montpellier, France with her husband and two children.
She writes suspense and thrillers, is a book reviewer and occasionally blogs for the Huffington Post UK. Her crime thriller novel, GOOD GIRL BAD GIRL, was an Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist 2017. Two of her thrillers are READERS’ FAVOURITE Five Star Books.
Contact Ann:
Facebook
Twitter @GirdharryAnn
Goodreads
Bookbub
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The House of Small Shadows
Author: Adam Nevill
Published: July 21, 2015
384 pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 3 stars
Book Description:
Catherine’s last job ended badly. Corporate bullying at a top TV network saw her fired and forced to leave London, but she was determined to get her life back. A new job and a few therapists later, things look much brighter. Especially when a challenging new project presents itself ― to catalogue the late M. H. Mason’s wildly eccentric cache of antique dolls and puppets. Rarest of all, she’ll get to examine his elaborate displays of posed, costumed and preserved animals, depicting bloody scenes from the Great War. Catherine can’t believe her luck when Mason’s elderly niece invites her to stay at Red House itself, where she maintains the collection until his niece exposes her to the dark message behind her uncle’s “Art.” Catherine tries to concentrate on the job, but Mason’s damaged visions begin to raise dark shadows from her own past. Shadows she’d hoped therapy had finally erased. Soon the barriers between reality, sanity and memory start to merge and some truths seem too terrible to be real… in The House of Small Shadows by Adam Nevill.
Kim’s Review:
The description and cover of this book drew me in. I’m all about some historical houses filled with all kinds of old stuff! My inner history nerd got all worked up! But unfortunately, this book was disappointing. I found Catherine to be weak and whiny. I get that people have traumatizing events in their pasts that can cause some problems later in life, but come on. I didn’t get the sense that her problems matched her past “trauma.” Her friend was taken, but she wasn’t, so . . . that doesn’t seem like as big of a problem as she’s making it. The bullying makes a little more sense, but I’ve been laughed at on the playground, I know many people who were abused by their parents and families and we’ve all come out without letting all that shut our lives down completely.
I know I’m not very sympathetic, but I just didn’t get why Catherine let her past keep her from living her life. She uses everything as an excuse for her life instead of getting over it and becoming successful. And she lost her job because she made the choice to attack a coworker, and she never seems to take responsibility for that. The story itself had so much potential, but it just never came together for me. There was no real connection between the taxidermist and the kidnapper, the puppets and the kids. I just didn’t understand all the details. There were some scary parts that had me turning all the lights in the house on, but other than that, I wasn’t really thrilled with this read. I would only recommend this book to certain people, ones who are incredibly detail oriented AND enjoy a good scare.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
