REVIEW: The Doll Maker by Richard Montanari
Publication date: April 28, 2015

Detectives Byrne and Balzano return to the streets of Philadelphia to put an end to a macabre succession of murders.

A quiet Philadelphia suburb. A woman cycles past a train depot with her young daughter. There she finds a murdered girl posed on a newly painted bench. Beside her is a formal invitation to a tea dance in a week’s time.

Seven days later, two more young victims are discovered in an abandoned house, posed on painted swings. At the scene is an identical invitation. This time, though, there is something extra waiting for Detectives Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balzano: a delicate porcelain doll.

It’s a message. And a threat. With the killers at large, Detectives Byrne and Balzano have just seven more days to find the link between the murders before another innocent child is snatched from the streets. 

I found this novel to be very intriguing. Throughout the entire story the reader is piecing clues together to try to solve the murders along with Officer Brynes. The author did a great job at making the reader feel involved with story.

The dynamics of Annabelle and Mr. Marseille's relationship is so complex and mysterious that [SPOILER] I found myself, at times, rooting for them to get away- which I found to be really odd because, hello, they're serial killers! 

The only reason that I am not giving "The Doll Maker" five stars is because of the ending. It really leaves you open mouthed wondering "Is that really it?!" However, I'm sure that Montanari wanted to leave the readers like that as the ending is a great surprise.

I rate "The Doll Maker" 4.5/5 stars.

Link(s) to purchase:
Amazon: The Doll Maker

REVIEW: The Lie by C. L. Taylor
Publication date: April 23, 2015

I know your name’s not really Jane Hughes . . .
Jane Hughes has a loving partner, a job in an animal sanctuary and a tiny cottage in rural Wales. She’s happier than she’s ever been but her life is a lie. Jane Hughes does not really exist.

Five years earlier Jane and her then best friends went on holiday but what should have been the trip of a lifetime rapidly descended into a nightmare that claimed the lives of two of the women.

Jane has tried to put the past behind her but someone knows the truth about what happened. Someone who won’t stop until they’ve destroyed Jane and everything she loves . . .

*Okay, so it might be hard for me to get my opinion across without spoilers so when there's a possible spoiler in a paragraph I'll put [SPOILER] before the start of the paragraph and you can choose to read or skip the paragraph*

I expected this novel to be mysterious and suspenseful, however, I did not expect it to be as creepy as it tuned out to be! Every page was a new twist, some expected and some not. C. L. Taylor did a great job at keeping the reader on their toes throughout the entire novel!

The girls went on the trip, originally, to help "save" Al but it turns out, they all needed a little saving. The Lie showed just how toxic holding your feelings in can be.

[SPOILERS] I was blown away by how quickly Daisy turned on Emma once they got to the "resort." The bonds of friendship and jealousy were excellently played between the four girls. How quickly rumors and things taken out of context can turn the world against you is so true and Taylor showed it brilliantly with the dynamic foursome of Daisy, Emma, Al and Leanne.

The flashbacks between Jane and her life as Emma were done in a way that leaves you gasping for more from both sides. They were placed in all the right places to make you feel Jane's fear of the truth coming out. 

I can't really discuss the resort without giving anything away so I'll just say this, if you like to be on the edge of your seat anxiously waiting for the next page, read this novel.

I rate The Lie 4/5 stars.