The Confession by M A Hunter / #Review @BoldwoodBooks @AnAutieAuthor

How far would you go to keep your secrets buried?

Everyone has secrets they would prefer to keep buried, but that’s what makes me so good at what I do. I’ve always been able to sense when people are lying, be it through their body language or the way they speak. As a criminologist, I’ve made it my life’s mission to help those who’ve suffered miscarriages of justice appeal their wrongful convictions.

Thirty years ago, my 13-year-old sister was murdered and it felt like a part of me died with her. I wasn’t there when she needed me most, and I will never forgive myself. That’s what motivates me to help those who can’t help themselves.

But now someone is messing with me. They’re threatening to expose me if I don’t confess to my greatest secret. They want to ruin my reputation, but they don’t realise I won’t give up without a fight… or how far I will go to keep the truth hidden.

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Review

A quarrel between two teenage sisters — nothing unusual, really. It happens all the time and usually blows over quickly without any lasting consequences. But sometimes… things go terribly wrong.

That’s exactly what happens with Abbey and her two–years–younger sister Faith. One storms off in anger, the other is too furious to follow — and then the unthinkable happens. Faith is found murdered.

Now, thirty years later, Abbey still carries the burden of guilt for what happened that day, but at least she’s been able to keep her secret hidden. Or so she thought. Someone now seems determined to change that. The million–dollar question is: who?

I completely understand Abbey’s feelings — it’s the kind of thing you can never truly make right. To ease her conscience, she’s devoted her life to helping people who’ve been wrongly imprisoned, offering her services for free. She’s very successful in her work and takes pride in her ability to separate truth from lies.

But is she willing to expose her own secret to save someone else? As the story progresses, Abbey is pushed further and further into a corner until she’s left with no way out — and realizes she may have placed her trust in the wrong person.

I thought the premise was refreshingly original, and as always, the author’s engaging writing style pulled me right in. A few of the twists genuinely surprised me — and that only made me appreciate the story even more.

And then there’s the ending. I’m honestly still not sure how I feel about it. Could it be leaving the door open for something more? I hope the answer is yes, because that would be fascinating.

Since I love it when all the loose ends are neatly tied up and everything makes sense in the end, I’m giving this book a solid 4.5 stars.

Thank you

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About the author

M. A. Hunter is the alter ego of Stephen Edger, the bestselling author of psychological and crime thrillers, including the Kate Matthews series.

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Author Links

X: @AnAutieAuthor

https://www.anautieauthor.com/m-a-hunter

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Book Link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Confession-M-Hunter-ebook/dp/B0F4W1RH6Q/

 

The Tenants by M A Hunter / #Review @BoldwoodBooks @AnAutieAuthor

If walls could talk…

Looking after and tending to the needs of my tenants is what gives me purpose. Every day I go out of my way to watch over them and keep them safe. They’re more than just paying guests, they’re my neighbours, and I will do whatever it takes to ensure they’re happy.

But when one of them is found dead in their apartment, everything I thought I knew is thrown into chaos. I always thought that danger only lived in the outside world, it’s why I’ve not stepped foot outside this building for 5 years. But I’m quickly realising that there is more to fear inside these walls.

When I inherited this building from my dad I had no idea about its sordid history. But as far as I’m concerned, no good comes from digging up the past. But with the police asking probing questions – about them, about me – and with my tenants holding secret meetings, I must uncover the truth before anyone else comes to harm, even if it means risking everything I’ve carefully built.

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Review

You often hear stories about landlords who only care about collecting the rent and don’t pay much attention to their tenants. Ideally, they want to have as little to do with them as possible because that means less work and easier money for them.
Fortunately, there are still people like Eve, who do care about the tenants and seem to have a sixth sense for fulfilling their wishes even before they’ve been spoken. That’s wonderful, of course, and she would do anything to make them happy. But the question is: can the way she gathers all that information really be justified?

If walls could talk, a lot would come to light, and you’d often be unpleasantly surprised by the way people talk about you. You often think you know someone, but you can be so very wrong.
I found that this rental house housed a colorful collection of interesting characters. People who had strong bonds, but also people who didn’t get along so well. People who kept things hidden, and others who didn’t hesitate to speak their minds.

Our main character is Eve. My heart broke for her because of what she goes through and the lack of understanding she’s met with. To many people it might seem silly, but I can imagine how terrible it must feel to be in her situation. I understand that she wanted to make everyone happy and create a strong bond between the residents, but her methods were borderline stalkerish.
The author did a fantastic job of making me doubt everything I believed at the start and shaking my trust.

I had one person in mind as the main suspect — but of course, I was completely wrong.
The twists were all brilliant, but the final one was truly jaw-dropping.
For me, this was a fantastic book that I thoroughly enjoyed. It had me hooked from beginning to end. 5 stars.

Thank you

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About the author

M.A. Hunter is the author of psychological and crime thrillers, including The Boat Party, One Wrong Turn, and Every Step You Take. Born in the north-east of England, he now lives in Southampton where many of his stories are set, allowing him to use his insider knowledge to deliver realistic and unsettling suspense on every page.

Away from writing, M.A. loves to read anything that will keep him awake at night. He’s also a passionate advocate for contemporary cinema and binge-watching the latest offerings from streaming services. He is married with a son and a daughter, and two dogs.

M.A. also writes under the name Stephen Edger.

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Author Links

X: @AnAutieAuthor

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Book Link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tenants-M-Hunter-ebook/dp/B0F1QTCK8F/

 

Every Step You Take M A Hunter / #Review @BoldwoodBooks @AnAutieAuthor

Run for your life…

This morning I woke up to flowers – they should be well wishes for my big race but I know they’re not.

They’re from him.

He shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t even be in the country. Last I heard he was behind bars for all he did to me.

But he says he’s going to be at the marathon today, watching me.

I have 26 miles to figure out what he wants. Or if it’s even him. Or I could lose more than just the race.

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Review

I had never read a book by this author before and I deeply regret this. I was intrigued from the very beginning until the last full stop. Every chapter was as thrilling as the next and I utterly enjoyed this story. 

The structure of the book is also one a really like. Taking me back to the past and catapult me back into the present is something I always am attracted to. 

I admired the pizzaz, stamina and determination Molly had in her and I felt for her as well because she really had a battle on her hands. One she seems to have to fight on her own…

A book that kept me glued to my seat. Looking forward to reading more books by this author’s hand. 5 stars

Thank you

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About the author

M. A. Hunter is the alter ego of Stephen Edger, the bestselling author of psychological and crime thrillers, including the Kate Matthews series.

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Author Links

X: @AnAutieAuthor

Website: stephenedger.com

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Book Link

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CP3D1BJR/