Hot Scandi crime you'll love

Snow White Trilogy - Salla Simukka
As Red as Blood (Bk1) As White as Snow (Bk2) As Black as Ebony (Bk3)
Final instalment available from September 2015

I can honestly say that I absolutely adored this entire series, Lumikki as a protagonist is smart, strong, unique and sensual. She's the kind of girl you want to be best friends with even if it brings you a world of trouble because you know that whatever you faced, you could handle it with her by your side (God, girl crush much? sorry). The series has been expertly translated from its original Finnish and is set in Tampere, Finland with book 2 making a summer sojourn to Prague. Honestly its the kind of book that will have you researching the poetry she reads because its just so dark and beautiful or listening to the music she loves just to get a sense of her mood. Salla's sophisticated and emotive writing shines through beautifully, you can’t help being swept away... 

Over the three novels Lumikki faces three separate dangers making each book a conclusive story in itself while throughout the series there is an undercurrent of her own troubled formative years and an investigation into her shadowy past. Add to that a killer love story with a twist and you have a moody scandi crime trilogy that will have your heart racing as you burn through the pages, the only downside? they are all so small! Avid readers will have this series dusted off in a day!

Trust me, this one is worth trying and great news! I have just spied that book 1 is currently on super special at Booktopia, check it out: http://www.booktopia.com.au/as-red-as-blood-salla-simukka/prod9781471402463.html

               

The genre-mongrel I came to love

Skin Deep - Gary Kemble
Available - July 2015

A brilliant journalistic political thriller with a supernatural twist.

What do tattoos, politicians, ex SAS soldiers and Dreadnot bikies have in common?... Quite a lot, it turns out and the way the pieces of this puzzle are put together are certainly unconventional yet balanced with a suspense that keeps you guessing!

Harry Hendrick is a man without a mission, falling through life like a re-occurring dream, no ambitions or even semi-defined goals. While my initial emotional response was "come on Harry, you're better than this" perhaps what follows just goes to show that just being happy with your lot is a much safer way to exist!

In my humble opinion its the authenticity with which newcomer Gary Kemble writes that makes this book so unputtdownable (yes its a word). Harry as a character is believable and Gary describes Brisbane so perfectly that you can clearly hold it in your mind, you are there - immersed in the story, time and place so that when the weird starts to happen its still relateable and you find yourself swept up in the impossibility of it all. 

This is Australian writing at its best, its familiar,engaging and clever with just a tiny hint of Bogan.  

Contemporary Irish Teen Thriller

Shiver the Whole Night Through - Darragh McManus
Available - November 2014


Originally found on the slush pile at Hot Key HQ, truly making it a Diamond in the Rough!


While this is Darragh's debut in teen fiction this Irish author brings all of the finesse of his previous adult Crime novels paired with a unique younger voice creating a thrilling murder mystery with a supernatural edge….

Aidan as a main character is intelligent, witty and relatable, there is an obvious change in him throughout the novel and its interesting to see how that change effects the characters around him.There are some pretty heavy themes of suicide, bullying and hooking up or 'Shifting' (a term used in Irish slang that can mean anything from kissing to full carnal knowledge. I love it!) not to mention he pretty much chain smokes throughout the entire book. But its these darker aspects that make it real and compelling, I mean don't we all want to read about someone with grit, integrity and a bit of familiarity? Besides these 'themes' are sadly just a part of life and reading about a character who overcomes his fears and limitations can only help the rest of us right?

There is also a fantastic exploration of history, where the whole town has a grim backstory, a sordid past that when examined closely is just down right scary, giving a glimpse of the mythical Ireland I love most. Darragh links the past and the present with an ancient evil that Aidan must confront or risk loosing the entire town to its frigid clutches.

As a stand alone novel it works perfectly well but thats not to say that I don't want more because I do - I think theres a lot more to come in Aidan and Sláine's story. 

You don't have to be GOOD to be PERFECT

The Perfectionists - Sara Shepard
Available - October 2014

Sara Shepard, the author of the bestselling series Pretty Little Liars, has written a new YA thriller series that's sure to grab some excitement. Guest Blogging today is my Cousin Jemmima, she's my go to girl for a second opinion and all reading related goss…heres what she thinks (keeping in mind I forgot to tell her it was a series, oops!)

'The Perfectionists' is a new novel following five girls - Ava, Julie, Caitlin, Parker and Mackenzie - and their hate for the same rich, arrogant bully, Nolan Hotchkiss, who's put them all through hell. After being put together for a class assignment, the  girls discover their mutual hate for Nolan and talk about the ways that they would kill him. Of course they're only kidding, but then... Nolan turns up dead exactly how the girls would have done it. The girls realise they need to find Nolan's real killer - before they get charged for his murder themselves.

This is one of those intriguing YA books that makes you curious from the very beginning. It was interesting getting to know the girls via their back-stories - although at  first it was a little difficult trying to keep up with who was who. Overall the book was a great read that kept me hanging on wanting to know what was next, however there are a few parts that if not dealt with in a sequel, would have become completely useless and irrelevant. I like the idea of there being a sequel, just to be able to prolong the story a bit more. Another thought was that it's already quite similar to Pretty Little Liars, which I can deal with for two books but no more. I think it would be so disappointing if Shepard tries to drag this series on for too long without resolving any of the story lines just like PLL.

Well looks like it will be a sure hit with PLL fans and I have heard mention that it has already been scooped up for a TV adaptation! Lets just hope that Sara can pull off something that is still unique and exciting in its own right. Thanks Mima!