Committed
By Chris Merritt

I’ve long enjoyed the themes of Chris Merritt’s books and his writing style. Committed is his eighth novel and today I am joining the blog tour with a blurb and my review, then a bit about the author, do take a look below…
Thanks to Chris Merritt for inviting me to the blog tour in-exchange of an honest review.

Six days to stop a deadly attack. And no one else believes it’s real.

‘Very well done – tight action and a smart central character.’ Anthony Horowitz

‘A propulsive nail-biter of a thriller that will keep your heart in your throat all the way through’ Lisa Regan

‘A blistering, heart-pounding, edge-of-the-seat, adrenaline rush of a read. Absolutely outstanding and without doubt the best book I have read this year.’ Carol Wyer

‘Heart-pounding suspense until the very last page. I absolutely loved it!’ Ava Glass

Former CIA undercover operative Ellen McGinley is battling to overcome PTSD when she stumbles upon a domestic terror plot. The deadly attack is due to take place in six days and will strike at the very heart of her homeland.

For Ellen, it’s a chance to find redemption for her greatest mistake – one she will never allow herself to forget.

But no sooner than she alerts the authorities, she finds herself diagnosed as delusional and locked in a psychiatric ward. No one believes her story.

She’s the only one who thinks the danger is real, which means she’s the only one who can stop it.

Ellen must draw on all her old skills to escape, stay alive, protect her family, and find those responsible – before all hell breaks loose.

Committed is the propulsive thriller you won’t want to miss this summer. Perfect for fans of Lee Child, David Baldacci, JB Turner and Robert Dugoni.

Review

Ellen McGinley is a wonderfully written complex character as the main protagonist. On one hand she has a very unexpected important job to do, on another, she has her personal mental health battles to overcome.

It is a gripping and is mostly set in Pennsylvania. Ellen McGinley is a former CIA Officer and is grappling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which in itself makes for interesting reading, and then she becomes aware of domestic terror occurring.

Ellen finds herself being committed into a psychiatric ward. It’s supposed to be secure, but instead she finds herself in mortal danger. The writing is darkly tense and from here on in, it becomes even more of a page-turner. Ellen knows what she saw and wholly believes and knows the implications if a terrorist attack occurs. She has a major problem, apart from being diagnosed as being delusional and can’t leave the hospital, no one believes her. There is then, no one she can trust. She must use all her experience and willpower to keep going to save lives against terror as readers are led down a dark twisty path at speed, with edge of your seat tension.

The calibre of plotting and writing is of high quality and won’t leave you disappointed. It will leave its mark, (in a positive light) and leave you wanting more from this author, or reading from the back catalogue, if you haven’t already done so. He uses all his knowledge and experiences and skilfully fictionalises them into books you can’t put down.

About the Author
Chris Merritt is a clinical psychologist and former diplomat. As a member of the British foreign service, he completed postings in Jerusalem and Iraq. He has also lived and worked in the US. Committed is his eighth novel.

Bury Them Deep
By James Oswald
Rated: 5 Stars *****

It is now publication day for Bury Them Deep. It was some time ago, since I reviewed, so I thought I would share it again, now people can actually buy it. I must say that James Oswald has outdone himself with Bury Them Deep. Absolute congratulations to him for reaching his 10th Inspector McLean novel. There is a lot of high quality writing here. There is plenty to hook people into this book and once hooked, that’s it, so leave plenty of time to read because there is so much readers will want to try to discover.

About the Author

JAMES OSWALD is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling Inspector McLean series of detective mysteries, as well as the new DC Constance Fairchild series. James’s first two
books, NATURAL CAUSES and THE BOOK OF SOULS, were both short-listed for the prestigious CWA Debut Dagger Award. BURY THEM DEEP is the tenth book in the Inspector Mclean Series.
James farms Highland cows and Romney sheep by day, writes disturbing fiction by night.

Blurb

The tenth book in the Sunday Times-bestselling Inspector McLean series, from one of Scotland’s most celebrated crime writers.

When a member of the Police Scotland team fails to clock-in for work, concern for her
whereabouts is immediate… and the discovery of her burnt-out car in remote woodland
to the south of Edinburgh sets off a desperate search for the missing woman.
Meanwhile, DCI Tony McLean and the team are preparing for a major anti-corruption
operation – one which may raise the ire of more than a few powerful people in the city. Is
Anya Reynolds’ disappearance a co-incidence or related to the case?
McLean’s investigations suggest that perhaps that Anya isn’t the first woman to have
mysteriously vanished in these ancient hills. Once again, McLean can’t shake the feeling
that there is a far greater evil at work here…
The truth far more chilling than a simple cold case…

Review

Bury Them Deep gets off to an excellent start that instantly adds intrigue as to who hates herself and why?

Enter readers, into the streets of Edinburgh and to Operation Caterwaul, something that those on the force with clearance are working on, but there’s an issue. Anya Renfrew, who was working on the operation has mysteriously not turned up for work and so little actually seems to be known about her, as her life is pieced together. It leaves MacLean trying to pour over notes and question suspects and trying to find out as much information as possible, no matter how uncomfortable it becomes, from the doctor treating Norman Bale and even wondering what people on the force know. There is also the question of where she actually spent most of her time residing and what, if anything, a gardener knew.

I think it is ingenious that the more that is attempted to be found out about Anya, the less information there seems to be and the more questions there are. She is quite the enigma! This keeps me utterly intrigued to know who this woman is, what’s happened to her and why has she gone missing with no real trace. It keeps me turning the pages, desperately and hungrily wanting to know more as I find myself buried deep within the 450 pages, totally engrossed and involved with a need to discover what exactly is going to happen next and more about Anya.

There is also money laundering and subsequent fact-finding accountancy raids in Ayr and Aberdeen, jittery Americans, public service cuts and McLean wasn’t on the top clearance list for the operation.

I like the characterisation and the different voices and the build up of suspicion amongst everyone.

Forensics are soon on the case as there are human remains found in the investigative work, but from more than one person and it is questionable whether any belong to Anya Renfrew or not.

The atmosphere of the sometimes slight eeriness and uneasiness is a terrific combination with the intrigue and tension that builds as the story takes some twists and turns that are deftly written. From beginning to end, this book is gripping.

This is James Oswald’s 10th Inspector McLean novel and here’s to another 10.

*With thanks to James Oswald for a thoughtful signed copy of the book.

*My review is unbiased.