WINNER and Runner-Up of the Mystery Thriller 2015 Book Award

The 2015 Mystery Thriller Golden Rose Book award went to

Rose Edmunds and her book Concealment

Meet Rose

Rose Edmunds lives in Brighton with her husband David. She gained a degree in mathematics at the University of Sussex and a PhD from Cardiff University, before qualifying as a chartered accountant and embarking on a successful career advising entrepreneurial businesses together with their owners. In 2007, after more than 20 years working for leading accountancy firms, she jumped off the corporate hamster wheel and now writes financial thrillers with a strong ethical theme. Her writing draws heavily on her considerable insight into the business world and in particular the uncomfortable conflict between individual and corporate objectives. Rose is also a trustee of Brightside, a charity helping young people to access career and education opportunities they might not have believed were available to them.

Catch up with Rose on Twitter @RoseEdmunds

Book Description

Amy is at the top of her game as a finance professional despite a traumatic childhood. But the higher she climbs, the greater her fear of falling.
Her new boss Ed sniffs out insecurity like a shark smelling blood. He’s trashed dozens of careers on a whim and has Amy lined up as his next victim.
When a young colleague is murdered, Amy’s fragile equilibrium is shattered. A client’s fraud may be linked to the killing, but no one seems to care.
Caught in a tangle of business and personal connections, and fighting for her sanity, can Amy find the moral courage to uncover the truth?

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

The Silver Award went to

Robert Leigh and his book Any Man Joe

Meet Robert

After bartending his way around Spain and the West End of London, Robert Leigh returned to his home city of Liverpool and began writing. Leigh’s works include The Retribution Trilogy (third book currently in production) and From Lime Street to Yirgacheffe (a true story, of sorts…).

Find Robert on Twitter @ScreamingMagpie

Book Description

Before Shaun, there was Joe.
DI Edwards was called to the scene of a shooting. Four of the deceased were well known to him. The fifth man remained a mystery.
Until he woke up.
His name was Joe, a misfit shelf stacker living on the Forest Estate. As the investigation continues, DI Edwards finds himself being drawn deeper into Joe’s world of vigilante revenge. But will the truth of Joe’s actions ever fully be revealed?

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Final congratulations to all the Mystery thriller nominees.

Geoffrey West and The Jack Lockwood Diaries

Noelle Granger with Death In A Dacron Sail

Rob Sinclair with Rise Of The Enemy

Faith Mortimer with A Deadly Learning

 

 

 

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Karen reviews A Deadly Learning by @FaithMortimer

Today’s team review comes form Karen, she blogs at https://mytrainofthoughtson.wordpress.com/

Karen chose to read and review A Deadly Learning by Faith Mortimer

My Opinion

This book and/or an invitation by her friend Wendy takes Diana and her husband to Portugal and – right into some mysterious events. As a reader, I automatically tried to solve this strange case. I will not tell you more about the story than shown in the Goodreads plot description. This would spoil the fun of reading this book yourself.

With A Deadly Learning, Faith Mortimer has created a thrilling suspense story with local flair. The story comprises a broad variety of believable characters with sufficient depth, nicely woven situations and interesting interactions to solve a set of crimes. I had a great time reading A Deadly Learning – it is a very intriguing read. I was drawn into the story right away, thrilled to solve the mystery alongside Diana. This is for you if you like female sleuths, crime writers, suspense with twists and local flair.

A suspenseful book and/or series to read again. I’m eagerly waiting for the opportunity to read the previous volumes of the series.

Recommended.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Liz reviews A Deadly Learning by Faith Mortimer

Today we have a review from Liz, she blogs at https://lizannelloyd.wordpress.com/

Liz chose to read and review A Deadly Learning by Faith Mortimer

A Deadly Learning by Faith Mortimer

A Diana Rivers Mystery

 

This is the sixth book in the series of mysteries solved by “author” Diana Rivers, but as the real author, Faith Mortimer, says each one can be read in isolation.

 

Diana Rivers and her husband Steve have decided to take a break from their home in Cyprus by going to stay with their old friend, Wendy, who is assistant head at Lagos International School and College in Portugal. She has asked them to come to help celebrate the twenty first birthday of her god-daughter, Louise.

 

But their relaxing holiday is soon interrupted by a gruesome discovery, buried behind a wall in the cellar of the science block which is being renovated. The remains of the body have been there for three years and while Steve has to travel to Lisbon and London, Diana applies her detecting abilities to solving this murder. She questions students and staff, putting herself in severe danger. Many of them are involved in illegal and unpleasant activities which they wish to remain secret, whether or not there is a connection to the body.

 

Louise is a worry to both Diana and Wendy, as she has become involved with a fellow student who is a particularly unpleasant young man, affecting both her studies and her behaviour. The staff are a disparate group of men and women, young and mature, who also have their own problems and no-one can be excluded from the investigation, especially after another death occurs.

 

There are a large cast of characters in this story but they are clearly described with well-defined characteristics and the reader feels that Diana is a safe pair of hands, even if she is rather fool-hardy. The mystery is maintained almost to the last page, in a very complex plot.

 

I read this while staying in the Algarve, which I know well, and although I could imagine the rather different environment of a college I didn’t feel a strong sense of place beyond the scenes on the beach.

 

I will certainly read another “Diana Rivers” mystery even though she is so annoyingly perfect, as Faith Mortimer writes fluent enjoyable prose keeping me guessing up to the last minute.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com