Monty's Book Reviews

Dragons and Stuff Simon Carr 4 Stars Pages: 332 Genre: Fantasy, Humour Published: 27 May 2022 Publisher's Blurb In a place unknown. In a time nobody is sure of. Stuff happened, and there were Dragons. Epic dobadoobries unfold at an incredible pace around Prince Jasper and his man-servent, page, the guy who goes with him, Roulart. Can they stop the evil Queen from taking over Prince Jaspers's kingdom, and why should you care? Well, you should care! It will be a really rubbish story if you don't, put some effort in! Review Prince Jasper, yep you read that right, Jasper! I know, who’s called Jasper these days. Well this isn’t set in ‘these days’ it takes place a long time ago in a galaxy fa….sorry got my genres muddled for a minute. It’s a fantasy book, but you should’ve worked that out from the title to be fair. Anyway, Prince Jasper, remember him? You do, good. Sent away by his father to learn the infinite arts of magic and qualify as a wizard in order to protect his homelan

Shearwater Point Denise Beddows 4 Stars Pages: 277 Genre: Detective, Mystery, Thriller Published: 9 January 2022 Publisher: PublishNation Publisher's Blurb Boston lawyer Dom Caffrey arrives in Northern Ireland to seek his biological parents, but soon finds himself arrested on suspicion of murder. MI5 intelligence analyst Carole Murray also comes to the province to bury her murdered uncle. Events lead them to Shearwater Point, a stunning spot on the County Down coast. However, the breath-taking beauty of the location hides a dark history of cruelty, human exploitation and murder. Meanwhile, nearby, a sinister, ultra-right group is plotting a major terror attack. Review Dom Caffrey heads to Ulster to trace the parents who gave him up for adoption to America at birth. He certainly doesn’t expect to get arrested for murder, nor does he think he’d get embroiled in an historic case of human cruelty perpetrated by the nuns at the maternity home at Shearwater Point. An excellent plot, well

The Wantland Files Wantland Files Book 1 Lara Bernhardt 5 Stars Pages: 288 Genre: Ghost, Paranormal, Supernatural, Mystery Published: 19 November 2019 Publisher:  Admission Press Publisher's Blurb Psychic Kimberly Wantland investigates paranormal disturbances. Her television show,  The Wantland Files , catapulted her from private paranormal investigator to media sensation. She receives thousands of requests for help every day, but during her latest investigation at a young mother's house, Kimberly senses something different. And disturbing. Review For the series finale of her paranormal investigation TV show ‘The Wantland Files’ Kimberley has taken on the case of a family haunted by a spooky cat manifestation. To add some spice to the mix Kimberley’s producer has invited celebrated sceptic Sterling Wakefield to join the fun as a one-off co-presenter. News which Ms Wantland is not pleased to hear. What follows is a well written, character driven story that pitches Kimberley into

Singapore 52 Ash Carter Thriller Book 1 Murray Bailey 5 Stars Pages: 412 Genre: Crime, Thriller, Mystery Published: 1 Sept 2017 Publisher: Heritage Books Publisher's Blurb "Think Jack Reacher with a dash of James Bond, set in Singapore. Thrilling!" - Maggie Pagano, journalist, The Times "Simply gripping! Perfect for an on-screen thriller" Alex Morgan, journalist, Sky News "Intelligent and atmospheric" - Writers Workshop "Intriguing characters and a suspenseful storyline" - CCRMagazine Chinese New Year 1952 Ash Carter had to leave the Middle East in a hurry. But when he arrives in Singapore he finds himself in the middle of a much bigger problem. No one knows where, or when, or who but someone is planning an attack. Carter is told to make sure it doesn’t happen. With pressure from politicians and the army and with Chinese Secret Societies watching his every move, he has other plans. He is more interested in finding out who killed his friend. R

  Dead Ringer V.P.Morris 4 Stars Pages: 285 Genre: Psychological Thriller Published: 7 April 2022 Publisher: Black Rose Writing Publisher's Blurb Small-time criminal, Taylor Callahan, dreams of starting her life over. When she inadvertently causes the death of a teenage girl who looks just like her, she does the only thing she can do: she takes over the dead girl's life. Now, twenty-one-year-old Taylor must navigate the ins and outs of living with the MacKenzies, the safe and loving suburban family of the dead teen girl. By using her street-smarts, fast-thinking, and the help of her best friend and partner in crime, Ivan, she works to keep her true identity a secret while fighting the demons of her past. Just as Taylor thinks she has made a new life for herself with the MacKenzies, she learns that this wholesome family hides a twisted and deadly secret. Dead Ringer  is a dark coming of age story perfect for fans of FX's  Cruel Summer  or lovers of psychological thrillers wi

  The House on Infinity Loop Bonnie K.T. Dillabough The Dimensional Alliance Book 1 4 Stars Pages: 396 Genre: Fantasy Published: 31 Jan 2021 Publisher: The Infinite Publishing Alliance Publisher's Blurb Jenny is a professional ghost-writer in Los Angeles. She inherits a house, a cat and a key from an aunt she has only met twice in her life. Neither the house, the cat or the key are what they appear to be. Science and myth are turned upside down when Jenny is thrust into a conflict that goes far beyond any boundaries or limits she could ever imagine. Review Completely out of the blue, Jenny inherits a house, a cat and a key from a mysterious old aunt she barely knew. Jenny’s life will never be the same again. What follows is an eye opening, fantastical initiation into a whole new world that plunges Jenny into a fight for her life. Interesting characters combine with a great story-telling style to give a plot that speeds along and features plenty of twists and turns to keep the reade

Modern Gothic Short Stories : a reflection of the human condition Christine Verdu 3.5 Stars Pages: 130 Genre: Short Stories, Tragic Drama Published: April 15 2022 Publisher: Gothic Publishing Publisher's Blurb Let your guard down, shed your inhibitions and explore characters who reveal their deepest fears, sorrows and secrets. Somewhere in this book, you will find one character you can relate to, perhaps more. Tales of love, hatred, indifference, lust, envy, greed, death and more await you. Are any of your own secrets exposed in this book? You might find yourself among the pages. Review Modern Gothic Short Stories: A reflection on the human condition by Christine Verdu is an interesting collection of mostly unrelated tales that target the darker side of life.   Like all collections of short stories this is a mixture of the great, the good and the occasional one that misses its mark. This is to be expected when you gather together a collection of yarns utilising various situation