Showing posts with label Rob Parker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rob Parker. Show all posts

Tuesday 23 February 2021

Cover Reveal: Blackstoke by Rob Parker

It's another cover reveal day and I'm mega excited to be part of the cover reveal for Blackstoke, by the awesome Rob Parker, author of the Audible number 1 bestseller Far From The Tree. A huge thank you to Meggy at Red Dog Press for the sneak preview.

Here's what Blackstoke is all about...

WEALTH. SECURITY. PROSPERITY. NONE OF IT MATTERS IN THE DARK. 

In a quiet cul-de-sac on the newly-opened, much sought-after Blackstoke housing development, the first handful of families are moving in. These neighbours, thrown together for the first time, are looking forward to settling into their bright new lives—with varying degrees of enthusiasm. The estate couldn’t be nicer, but it’s a big change for everyone. 

Then things start to happen. Bad things. As if something doesn't want them there. 

As the new residents try to make sense of events, the buried history of the area makes itself suddenly, deeply apparent—with a series of shocking, violent escalations. 

Soon, no one is safe, as the original powers of Blackstoke return to reclaim their territory and birth right in a final night of dark revelations, gore and bloodshed. 

Are you ready for the cover reveal? Drumroll, please...


How awesome is this? This lands on 23rd March 2021, and you can preorder here.

Roxie

@RoxieAdelleKey



About the author


Rob Parker is a married father of three, who lives in Warrington, UK. The author of the Ben Bracken thrillers, Crook’s Hollow and the #1 Audible bestseller Far From The Tree, he enjoys a rural life, writing horrible things between school runs. Rob writes full time, attends various author events across the UK, and boxes regularly for charity. He spends a lot of time in schools across the North, encouraging literacy, story-telling and creative-writing, and somehow squeezes in time to co-host the For Your Reconsideration film podcast, appear regularly on The Blood Brothers crime podcast, and is a member of the Northern Crime Syndicate.


Thursday 31 December 2020

My Top 10 of 2020

This year has been... well. Do I even need to say? From discovering Schitt's Creek to signing with David Higham Associates, from doing a reading at Virtual Noir at the Bar to growing vegetables (badly), 2020 was definitely a mixed bag. I'll skip over the heartbreak and focus on the positive. BOOKS.

I read so many amazing books! I'm sure I missed some absolute gems, but these are the 10 that I just can't forget.

The Cutting Place by Jane Casey

When human remains wash up on the shore of the Thames, DS Maeve Kerrigan traces it to a journalist who has been digging around for information on a gentlemen's club that's drenched in dark secrets and cover-ups. Maeve becomes knee-deep in the world of rich, male privilege, and as one crime exposes another, the case builds and builds to its climactic, unpredictable end. This intense thriller has an unbelievably believable plot, splashes of unexpected emotion and characters that'll stay with you long after you begrudgingly turn over that last page. 

How to Disappear by Gillian McAllister (audiobook)


This gripping psychological-suspense thriller is told from the viewpoints of four characters, a family torn apart by the ripple effect of an awful crime, separated by the witness protection programme. The plot is unpredictable, twisting and turning all over the place. I found myself listening to this at every opportunity. I was completely and utterly addicted. This is not only the best book Gillian has ever written, but it's one of the best psychological thrillers I've ever read. It's tense, chilling and beautifully-written - all the ingredients required for a compelling, keep-you-up-at-night thriller.

Far from the Tree by Rob Parker (audiobook)


Nine hours of pure edge-of-your-seat, keep-you-up-at-night drama. A pacey, twisty police procedural with an immense hook from the very first chapter: 27 bodies discovered in a mass grave. When the case gets a little to close to home, Brendan Foley throws himself full-pelt at it, doing everything he can to get to the bottom of it at all costs. Full of different threads that are woven together with masterful plotting. Prepare to be taken to some very dark places indeed, and brace yourself for shocking reveals you could never imagine. 

Firewatching by Russ Thomas


A dark and twisty police procedural introducing DS Adam Tyler, a cold case reviewer with a troubled past. When the skeleton of a corrupt businessman is discovered bricked-up in the cellar of the Old Vicarage, Adam lands himself this high-profile murder investigation, only to find himself in hot water. As fires spring up all over Castledene, it's clear that a pyromaniac is on the loose, dead set on watching the world burn. Scorches with a tangle of threads that I challenge even the most seasoned of thriller readers to tie together before the incredible, unpredictable ending. 

Without a Trace by Mari Hannah


DCI Kate Daniels hurtles towards London after the news that a transatlantic flight has dropped out of the sky... and the love of her life, Jo Soulsby, was on that flight. Kate blags her way onto the investigation and embarks upon a mission to disprove that Jo was on that flight... because she couldn't have been... could she? An unimaginable rollercoaster of twists and turns that I couldn't have predicted transformed me into a page-turning maniac. It's tense. It's dramatic. It's emotional. A perfectly-executed and riveting piece of crime fiction.

Whispers in the Dark by Chris McDonald


Drug dealer, Marcus Stone and DCI Clive Burston had never met until one night in August. By the end of that night, both had been shot dead in a small bedroom in the heart of gang territory. DI Erika Piper is called to the scene but is at a loss to explain what’s happened. How did these two even meet, let alone end up dead in what appears to be a strange murder-suicide? A powerful and thrilling novel that packs a punch from page one, from the sinister prologue to the shocking ending. A tense, twisted and superbly-plotted thriller that is as terrifying as it is heartbreaking. 

All That is Buried by Robert Scragg


When 7-year-old Libby Hallforth goes missing at a funfair without even a sniff of evidence or a single witness, DI Jake Porter and DS Nick Styles are left with more questions than they have answers. The case goes cold, and all hope of finding Libby is lost, until human remains are discovered several months later. And like with all good crime novels, it's just the start of a race against time to stop a killer in their tracks. This is a fast-paced, thrilling read that is packed not only with action, but the emotion that is often left out of this kind of book. I absolutely loved it.

The Stolen Sisters by Louise Jensen


A psychological thriller that tells the heartbreaking tale of four sisters who were kidnapped twenty years ago. The mystery is not about how they manage to escape, because what happens after is so much worse. As the twentieth anniversary of the kidnapping looms closer, a catastrophic chain of events sends the reader rocketing towards a series of twists and turns that are as unpredictable as they are clever. Louise is the master of foreshadowing, leaving you hanging on by a fingertip as she ends each chapter. She sends you hurtling down one road, only to whip the carpet from beneath your feet.

Too Close to Breathe by Olivia Kiernan


When Eleanor Costello is found hanging in her Dublin home, all signs point to suicide. Enter DCS Frankie Sheehan, a detective with a sharp eye, a potty mouth and an innate ability to climb inside the heads of the victims. Suffering from PTSD driven by a vicious attack during a previous investigation, Frankie soon learns that the lines between killer and victim are becoming increasingly blurred. An atmospheric, immersive and skillfully-plotted police procedural that will blow you away. So compelling and incredibly absorbing.

The Storm by Amanda Jennings


A twisty psychological thriller set in a Cornish fishing port, following the story of Hannah and Nathan Cardew, and their picture-perfect marriage... or so it seems. As the past threatens to catch up with her, the dark secrets of Hannah's past soon begin to unravel. There's more than one storm brewing in this compelling story... just you wait until the thunder cracks. Amanda's gripping style of writing draws you in like a fishing reel, only to fling you back into the storm with a big reveal that'll leave your mind whirling.

What were your top 10 2020 reads? Share in the comments!

Roxie

@RoxieAdelleKey

Monday 12 October 2020

Audiobook Review and Author Q&A: Far from the Tree by Rob Parker

Brendan Foley has worked to balance the responsibilities of a demanding job and a troublesome family. He’s managed to keep these two worlds separate, until the discovery of a mass grave sends them into a headlong collision. When one of the dead turns out to be a familiar face, he’s taken off the case. 

Iona Madison keeps everything under control. She works hard as a detective sergeant and trains harder as a boxer. But when her superior, DI Foley, is removed from the case, her certainties are tested like never before. 

With stories of the Warrington 27 plastered over the news, they set out to solve the crime before anyone else. The local constabulary is small and under-funded – Brendan knows they can’t crack this case alone, and he’s not letting a rival force take over. Not with the secrets he fears are lurking. Their investigations lead them into the murky underworlds of Manchester and Liverpool, where one more murder means little to drug-dealing gangs, desperate to control their power bases. 

But as Madison steps into the ring for the fight of her life, the criminals come to them. It’s no coincidence that the corpses have been buried in Foley’s hometown. The question is, why? Foley might not like the answer…


Readers, I'm so, so excited to share this audiobook with you today. This is actually the first audiobook I've ever listened to and now I'm wondering how I ever lived without them. I knew it was a good one when I realised I'd barely listened to music since starting this. 

Far From The Tree by Rob Parker is nine hours of pure edge-of-your-seat, keep-you-up-at-night drama. A pacey, twisty police procedural with an immense hook from the very first chapter: 27 bodies discovered in a mass grave.

For me, character is the most important element of a book. Without those complex, leap-off-the-page characters you can really connect with, who really cares what happens to them? But I really cared about Detective Inspector Brendan Foley and Detective Sergeant Iona Madison. 

Brendan is the kind of man I'd want on my side. He's brave and determined, and a huge risk-taker who will do anything for those he loves. When the case gets a little to close to home, he throws himself full-pelt at it, doing everything he can to get to the bottom of it at all costs.

Iona on the other hand, is the kind of woman I want to be. She is such a strong character with so much passion and drive. She's bloody fantastic at her job as well as the boxing that she competes in - an element of her story that I adore. In fact, I can't stop thinking about her, and I really hope she features in the rest of the series. Massive applause to Rob for writing such a brilliant female character

Set in Rob's hometown of Warrington, Lancashire, his superbly vivid prose was brought to life by Warrington-born Warren Brown, who was the perfect choice of narrator. The energy and passion he brought to the performance made it so enjoyable and absorbing, and made it feel terrifyingly real. 

Far From The Tree is full of different threads that are woven together with masterful plotting. Prepare to be taken to some very dark places indeed, and brace yourself for shocking reveals you could never imagine. I loved the structure, which swings like a pendulum between a handful of characters, divulging nuggets of information to build the puzzle, layer by layer, from different angles. It worked so well. 

I must admit, I was so emotionally invested in the story and characters that I found myself gasping and shouting out loud in the car (you'll know the bit I'm talking about when you get to it) and crying my eyes out when it was over. 

Guys, if that's not enough for you, check out the below video for a Q&A with the author himself, where we discuss all sorts including THAT ending, writing awesome female characters, Yorkshire dinosaur hunters and the opinions of mums.

This tense, gritty thriller is out now on Audible, with the paperback release coming July 2021, waiting patiently for your pre-order. 

Roxie

@RoxieAdelleKey

About the author
Rob Parker is a married father of three, who lives in Warrington, UK. The author of the Ben Bracken thrillers, Crook’s Hollow and the #1 Audible bestseller Far From The Tree, he enjoys a rural life, writing horrible things between school runs. Rob writes full time, attends various author events across the UK, and boxes regularly for charity. He spends a lot of time in schools across the North, encouraging literacy, story-telling and creative-writing, and somehow squeezes in time to co-host the For Your Reconsideration film podcast, appear regularly on The Blood Brothers crime podcast, and is a member of the Northern Crime Syndicate.

Tuesday 1 September 2020

Book Review: A Wanted Man by Rob Parker

Readers, it's happened again. You know what I mean. I've fallen in love with a series. A Wanted Man by Rob Parker is the first in the Ben Bracken series, and I was well and truly hooked from page one. 

Ben Bracken, an ex-soldier, has engineered his own escape from prison, on a mission to seek revenge on the man who put him there. It soon becomes clear that Bracken is one of the good guys, and I found myself rooting for him immediately. Bracken is side-tracked by an old friend Jack, who desperately needs his help following the murder of his father. Before long, he is tangled up with the biggest crime mob in Manchester: the Berg. 

This pacey, action-packed thriller will lead you through the streets of Manchester (one of my favourite places, might I add!), lure you into the murky world of organised crime and leave you on the edge of your seat. The explosive action scenes were particularly well-written and full of the drama you crave from this kind of book. I have to say, I could totally see this playing out at a film. Reader, I challenge you to try and put this book down!

With an expertly-crafted plot, perfectly-flawed characters, plenty of twists and turns and a brilliant ending that I didn't see coming, I wholeheartedly recommend A Wanted Man if you like your thrillers gritty, dark and packed full of action. 

Now, excuse me while I order the entire Ben Bracken collection...

Roxie

@RoxieAdelleKey

About the author
Rob Parker is a married father of three, who lives in Warrington, UK. The author of the Ben Bracken thrillers, Crook’s Hollow and the #1 Audible bestseller Far From The Tree, he enjoys a rural life, writing horrible things between school runs. Rob writes full time, attends various author events across the UK, and boxes regularly for charity. He spends a lot of time in schools across the North, encouraging literacy, story-telling and creative-writing, and somehow squeezes in time to co-host the For Your Reconsideration film podcast, appear regularly on The Blood Brothers crime podcast, and is a member of the Northern Crime Syndicate.