Book Review : Dead and Buried by Anne Cassidy

So the end is now.

It's been five years since Rose's mother Kathy went missing and, after recent events, all Rose wants to do is get on with her life. Which means taking a break from her complicated stepbrother, Joshua.

Then police officer Henry Thompson comes calling with bad news: a body has been found buried in the garden of Rose's old house. A body that has lain undiscovered for five years. The body of a missing teenage girl.

With Kathy and Brendan implicated in her death, Rose and Joshua have one last chance to clear their parents' names. But if they fail, the consequences will be deadly . . .

This is the first series where I should be able to say I review all the books but I never did get around to reviewing the first one. Here the reviews of the other two: Dead Rachel and Butterfly Grave. As always I only promise to be spoiler free for the book but there might be spoilers for the rest of the series so you should check out the reviews of them if you haven't read it.

I think the character were least likable state in this book. Joshua and Rose are just dicks to each other, Joshua peaks though due the danger he ignores. Due to the events of the last book you should feel all sorry for them but you know it would have been more interesting if Joshua had died. The romance part of this book is awkward and don't think it adds anything to the story except here a romance we always need a romance when the main character is girl. ALWAYS. Strong friendship or say SIBlING relationship would have been enough for the plot. Frankly, time is never given to the romance so doesn't feel like it belongs. If you delete the scenes that involved it then it would the story would read the same.

There is the magical wrap up where everything is peachy except for the emotional trauma. As for the rest of the plot, the mystery this time is cold case so it involves Rose getting away with interviewing adults and Joshua just randomly knocking on doors.

Overall, I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars for running from the mob. Whilst I enjoyed this story the characterisation was a bit lacking and not that satisfying considering its the last book in a four part series.

Book Review: Butterfly Grave by Anne Cassidy

What a beautifully title...There's a reason this blog has weirdness in the title.

Death is circling ever closer round Rose and Joshua...

It almost christmas time when Joshua's uncle, Stu, has a near fatal accident, leaving him in hospital with head injuries. Determined to help, Rose and Joshua head to Newcastle to visit.

But even Joshua's uncle has a dark past touched by murder and it looks as though his injuries are anything but accidental. As Rose becomes increasingly preoccupied with the deaths she has witnessed, and Joshua more and more paranoid about who might be watching them, a brutal killing occurs. Somebody really does not want Rose and Joshua to find their parents. But who? And why?

Okay, to start with this the third in the Murder Notebook series so I'm assuming if reading this that you've read the other two books ( if not I did do a review on the second one Killing Rachel). So let start the actual review.

In the last book we had issues from Rose's past and now it Joshua turn. So we in New Castle where Josh lived with his uncle till the whole going down to London for uni.

It follows the format of the other books with two crimes having happened with Rose and Joshua trying to find out what actually happened. In terms of the Murder Notebooks, there was development but I feel like we don't learn anything new. Though, there is a reveal in this book and I think it meant to a bigger deal than it is to me. You already knew it and book seems slightly filler on that front.

I'm not emotionally happy with this book because of spoilery things. It probably intended to show how things have got more serious and how life is not fair. It just seem unnecessary to me. There is romantic developments for those who care.

Overall, I give this book  4 out of 5 stars for Angels of the North. It was slightly better than the last one for me. I'm three books in already, so even if this had been terrible I would have still read the next one but I'm looking forward to reading it.

Book Review: Killing Rachel by Anne Cassidy

I'm kinda late with this book, as I got my hands on an Arc ebook, but I was distracted by Clockwork Prince. It was really weird reading this since my best friend is named Rose and I'm obviously called Rachel. Oh, and don't even start with the Killing Rachel jokes. My sib got there first.

Rose's mother and Joshua's father have disappeared. Police inquiries have gone nowhere and the case, it seems, is closed: Rose and Joshua have been told that the police believe their parents are dead. But Rose and Joshua still hold out hope that they are alive. Joshua is determined to follow up his own inquiries, which includes working out the meaning of the cryptic notebooks - the murder notebooks - they have discovered. Then Rose is distracted by odd, desperate messages she receives from Rachel, a former best friend from her school, followed by the terrible news that Rachel is dead. But perhaps Rachel's death will provide one more piece of the puzzle about what has happened to Rose and Joshua's parents . . .

 Okay, this the second in the Murder Notebooks series. Do you need to read the first. No, probably should.    

Basically, Rose once again struggles to solve a mystery single handed while her step bro Joshua focus on trying to find out what happened to their parents. That's the big overwhelming fault with Joshua, all he really cares about is finding his dad. All this over stuff is going on, he knows Rose dealing with issues from her past, possibly putting herself in danger (that more from the last book) but just stoves Rose's stuff out the way while he goes on wild goose chase.

To be honest, I don't buy he's that good. Joshua and his geeky friend Skeggsie always end up on the right path. They've never been wrong, they've never hit a dead end. Its a bit boring and unrealistic. Though, if you have have too many wrong roads you just want to hit someone.

The Mystery of Rachel, is slightly more satisfying. There is a proper twist and suspects. It could have gone several ways and still have been believable. The "Reveal" is probably the most interesting in terms of the book and goes with all the stuff Rose is feeling about Rachel.

There is tiny bit of Romance in this, which for the most part I ignored. In my head Rose has already declared her undying love for Skeggsie and I won't hear more on the matter. Mainly Romance bores me, no matter how complicated. I think the plot is good without it and the book really doesn't need it.

In terms of character, there isn't really much development. For some reason I really like Skeggsie, not sure why. I just do, he wasn't in this much.

 In the terms of the series, I don't much really happen the whole overall goal finding out what happen to the parents. More of confirming things.

Overall, I gave this 3 stars out of 5. It was aright, I wasn't thrilled by it.

Disclaimer: I got this book off NetGallary. So for free. Don't worry I'm honest and kinda of bitch. Just asked my Best Friend.