The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell

Another chapter in the Scarpetta life story, and yet again, a riveting one. This story takes us through abduction, identity theft, untrustworthy employee's, dangerous temptation and of course, murder. 

After Scarpetta receives an email containing the only evidence to a missing person's case in Canada her concerns are raised as to why was it sent to her? When Lucy discovers that the email was sent using the iPhone of the paleontologist that went missing 9 months ago from as close to her own location as the local airport Scarpetta gets a familiar sense of dread. With no definitive leads to follow Scarpetta is forced to concentrate on what lies ahead, a court appearance she deems ridiculous and unnecessary and a call in of a body that has been found attached to an endangered turtle caught up in fishing ropes in the harbor. As the next few days unfold Scarpetta discovers that maybe all these seemingly unconnected cases have a common link after all, and can she find out the truth in time to save anyone else?  Meanwhile Benton has to come clean about another woman when Scarpetta comes face to face with her and Marino has some dangerous secrets of his own.

This is once again full of personal drama and the twisted plot of a cruel killer all combined into one spectacular story! 

Bones Are Forever by Kathy Reichs

I am an avid fan Kathy Reich's Temp Brennan series and therefore possibly a little biased in opinion when I say that once again, Kathy Reich's does not disappoint. Temp's latest case takes her on an emotional journey after  infant corpse's are found stuffed in closets and cupboards of a young woman's home after the hospital report of an Amy Roberts discharging herself showing sign's of having recently given birth. To discover the truth of this woman's motives Temp and Detective Andrew Ryan must follow the evidence, and this takes them into tight knit native american territory where there lies a dark secret in among the drugs and prostitution they encounter there; where they find who they believe are their prime suspects and have to work alongside Sergeant Ollie Hasty of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who much to Ryan's distaste is something of an attractive old fling from Temp's past. All the while their personal lives and worries are colliding when Temp gets a call from Katy and Ryan confides in Temp about his own daughter's latest troubles.   

This is a great read, keeps you guessing at every turn and pulls on your emotions as you make the discoveries along with Temp. It also has that undeniable simmering chemistry between Temp and Ryan where the reader is just dying for something to pull them close once again. With it's plot turn's and surprising twists and connections it's another novel that proves Reich's is still on top of her game. I'm still hooked, can't wait for the next one. 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

SPOILER! I have read them all and I will blurt, so if you have yet to read them do not continue past this point!

Firstly, I saw the movie before I read the books, and I even dragged my feet about that in the 'not fussed' kind of way. After seeing the film (when I got around to it) it became a case "WHY HAVE I NOT SEEN THIS BEFORE!" and therefore I got hold of the books (eventually) and I began to read.... 

Now I loved the movie, but the book, unsurprisingly  blows it out of the water. The in depth first person account is just unreachable in terms of visualization, and the sheer horror, gruesomeness and heartbreak just hasn't been pulled out of the hat in the film. Her relationship with Peeta and Gale is much more complex and they just haven't touched on this enough, it's almost become a Twilight's Jacob vs Edward, which it isn't in the novels. They have glossed over the psychological torment of the mutt dogs in the arena and just haven't given the terror and hopelessness enough gusto. This is a horrendous, gut wrenching, miserable situation to be put in by a president so warped and despicable that it's beyond comprehension. A ruler through the sheer terror, fear, and extreme lengths he'll go to to create misery. I am disappointed that they haven't made a bigger deal of the Avox slaves that Katniss and Peeta encounter while in the Capitol, as later in the series they are quite a big part of the action, and probably most confusing and disappointing of all is the fact that Katniss gets her Mockingjay pin from The Hob in the movie and yet it is given to her as a gift from her friend Madge - the mayors daughter - in the book, which again, later in the series becomes something of huge significance.

If you aren't familiar with the plot, it's set in futuristic existence, where although the human race has advanced it's knowledge of technology, medicine and beauty, it has also digressed to the point of executions and lashings being the norm in poorer districts as punishment for breaking laws that have been introduced by a power hungry tyrant. People all over the districts starve to death or die from minor injuries due to a lack of money and medicine that can only be obtained by the wealthy in the Capitol - The main city where a population of blissfully misinformed 'Rich' live their lives in excess of everything, having no insight into a world beyond their cities walls. Due to a rebellion 74 years ago, a law was in-forced as a 'reminder' to all of those who surged against the Capitol, that each year two children between the ages of 12 and 18 will be chosen at random from each District, (1 - 12) and will be entered into a live televised fight to the death in a man made arena filled with booby traps, genetic mutations and each other. Imagine 'I'm a Celebrity' with a very nasty twist. Our leading lady Katniss Everdeen is thrown into this after she volunteers herself to take the place of Prim, her 12 year old sister who is chosen at the official reaping. 

This trilogy is utterly heartbreaking, you can't not get dragged into this with all your emotions hammering you full force as you read; but along with the stomach churning, breath holding and the anger, there are some brilliant comedy moments throughout as relationships blossom and friendships between unlikely allies sparkle through. There are moments I think my heart stopped, and there have been times I have had to physically force myself to put the book down at the end of a chapter. I began Mockingjay at 2.30pm one afternoon and read right through to 11pm when I finally ripped the book from my own hands in a bid to get some sleep. It keeps you ticking over throughout your day. It has been literally all I have thought about for the entire 4 days I've been reading them. 

There are so many favorite parts of the story to chose from, I love the ending (pre-epilogue) - it's spot on. I love some the personal snapshots with Finnick and my heart broke during her several intimate moments with Peeta. I love the blossoming relationship they have with Hamitch, despite all his faults and lies. The most distressing thing for me, is a moment, or rather, the panicky seconds where the group of rebels are inside the underground sewer of the capitol and she can hear the mutts whispering "Katniss" in what I imagined to be a sadistic sing song voice, and she suddenly realizes that Peeta is next to her joining in with them after his torture at the hands of President Snow. I think my own heart was in my throat. It has played on my mind since, that eerie horrid realization of being in a dark hole next to someone you care about who has been programmed against you and realizing he has started whispering your name along with the mutts descending upon you. Urgh!
Believe me this is one to read, I am literally Obsessed with it! *****

The Dark Garden by Eden Bradley

This is another BDSM novel but unlike it's counterparts it is more about the individuals and the lifestyle and not naive girl meets wealthy businessman. At first I struggled with it, mainly due to her overuse of the word 'soaked' early on in the story, which I find such an off putting description. However the story line itself is quite good and at least gives the reader and accurate and erotic version of the lifestyle in which some of us know little about. It does pull on the 'damaged' individual chain again though very much like 50 Shades, the past demons affecting the choices in the present, which I found a little irritating as again, it almost attempts to make the connection that people with difficult or damaged sexual backgrounds are the 'type' that gravitate towards the BDSM lifestyle, which is wholly inaccurate. The story does have a good plot line though and instead of the reader only following one relationship we follow two with this, which is a refreshing change, and once the author thought of some more words for describing female arousal it was a good read. 

Fire Bed & Bone by Henrietta Branford

I came across this book on amazon and thought it sounded intriguing. It is set in 1381 and has been written from the dogs perspective as a revolt is rolling over the country. We witness the outcome first hand through her eyes and follow her as she leads us through the punishments and hardships of the time. It's a lovely little read and something a bit different form the norm, which I really feel makes it special and worth while picking up for a bed time read during the winter.