patsy's reviews
104 reviews

Every Mother's Son by Alex Smith

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

If you suspend all belief you’ll enjoy this series. It’s bonkers but in a good way.  

Stone Cold Dead by Alex Smith

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This wasn’t my favourite of the series so far. I do like the characters, (except for Billie, she brings nothing to the story) the banter and the writing style but the plot 🙄 I can’t roll my eyes hard enough. It was so improbable as to be farcical. And the Hateful thing? Please, very lazy writing 😐

Saying all that, I have the seventh locked and loaded 😀

Run Rabbit Run by Alex Smith

adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I’m thoroughly enjoying this series. It all seems a bit improbable but I’m loving it none the les. 

Whip Crack by Alex Smith

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Another cracker of a story. Still far fetched but addictive reading. The ending was ominous so I’ve got the next and fifth instalment all lined up 🙂

Three Little Pigs by Alex Smith

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

As much as I enjoyed the third instalment of this series, the plot was bordering on the ridiculous. Had I rolled my head any harder they’d have rolled right out of my head 🙄

The detective in this is rogue, he’s had more battering and beating and yet he’s still standing. I strongly believe if this character was a real serving copper we’d all be doomed 😄

Saying all that I’m going to start Whip Crack, the fourth in the series next. 

Bad Dog by Alex Smith

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The second instalment continues six weeks after the Paper Girls. Enjoying this series so far. Fast, easy reads with dark crimes and humour thrown in for good measure. 

Paper Girls by Alex Smith

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I haven’t read a police procedural for a while so dived back in and loved it 🙂 

You do have to suspend belief here and there but the humour gets you past that. 

I’ve already downloaded the next two in the series. 
If you fancy a fast paced, easy to read story with humour thrown in. I recommend this one ✨

Life inside: The hard reality of prison and what it takes to survive by Linda Calvey

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

4.0

Linda seems like a lovely lady. Shocking miscarriage of justice. 
Interesting read and got me out of a reading slump. 

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This started off well but quickly went downhill. Too many names/characters to remember, present day then flashbacks. I just didn’t enjoy it. By the time the reveal came I was just glad it was over 🤷🏼‍♀️

Still Standing: The Savage Years by Paul O'Grady

emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

No rating as it’s a memoir. 

Didn’t enjoy this as much as his previous books. He can tell a good story. The thing I didn’t like was about 80% in it goes from the 80s straight back to 2012 😲
Worth a read.