Every Word

Every #2

by Ellie Marney

Rachel is still getting used to the idea of Mycroft being her boyfriend when he disappears to London with Professor Walsh. They're investigating the carjacking death of the rare books conservator, which appears to be linked to the theft of a Shakespeare First Folio from the Bodleian Library. Worried about similarities between the conservator's accident and the death of Mycroft's own parents, Rachel follows Mycroft to London ... and straight into a whole storm of trouble.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Romance, Contemporary, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Thriller

271 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2014

About the author

Ellie Marney is a multi-award-winning, bestselling author of thrillers for teens and adults. Her titles include the New York Times bestseller None Shall Sleep, the Kirkus-starred sequel, Some Shall Break, and the electrifying finale All Shall Mourn. Ellie's other titles include ARA Historical Novel Prize-nominated The Killing Code and Australian library favorite Every Breath. Her debut adult thriller No One Is Safe is arriving 10th February 2026.

Ellie has spent a lifetime researching in mortuaries, talking to autopsy specialists, and asking former spies how to make explosives from household items - now she lives quite sedately in south-eastern Australia with her family. Find sign-ups for her newsletter, The Black Hand, at her website, and catch her @elliemarney or @elliemarneyauthor on socials.

Reviews

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darn it! I do not know there's a fan-bloody-tastic CLIFFHANGER in this book!!!!!!

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

In Every Word, James Mycroft and Rachel Watts are back for more Sherlock Holmesesque sleuthing. We’re eight weeks in time past the first book. Mycroft and Rachel are young and in love with Rachel settling more into Melborne, and Mycroft working at a forensic pathology lab. When news comes through of a carjacking/murder with similarities to his parent’s accident in England, Mycroft flees in the night with just a short text message to Rachel saying ‘Going to UK with Walsh. Don’t’ be mad. Will stay in touch.’

Rachel is understandably panicked because Mycroft has been known to go off the rails when anything comes up about the death of his parents. She knows he’s haunted and obsessed with conspiracy theories and determined to get to the bottom of their murder. Rachel’s also very hurt that he would just up and leave without breathing a word to her beforehand. It’s a punch to the gut, and I couldn’t help but feel her pain. In a spur of the moment decision, Rachel hops on a plane and journeys to the UK knowing full well Mycroft probably won’t be happy to see her. Tough, she’s going to be there to support him no matter what.

I was ticked at Mycroft at first, but as you get his side and see how the memories just gut him, it was hard to be mad. Thankfully, their strong bond carries them through some tough times. Even with everything going on, their romance was hotter than ever! Their chemistry would spark and ignite with just a touch or a glance!

Ellie Marney has a beautiful way of writing, talented in making you feel her characters love, lust, pain, and despair profoundly. There was a surprising amount of emotion and depth considering this was an action/mystery/suspense novel, but it made the characters come alive for me.

I adored the relationship Rachel had with Mike, her brother. He’s supportive, sweet, and protective. I’m happy to see how his relationship is developing with Alicia. I’m again a little put off by Rachel’s mother, although, I guess I shouldn’t be too judgmental, because I’d probably be pretty upset if I were in her shoes. But hey, after everything that happened I’d like to think I couldn’t hold a grudge like that.

Every Word was more than Every Breath in so many ways. In a good way, Rachel and Mycroft’s relationship became more intense and, by the end, rooted. But it was also more heart wrenching, raw, and brutal in parts! Man these two were put through the ringer, and I know they’ll have a tough time dealing with the fallout. I’m looking forward to finding out (hopefully soon) how it all plays out in Every Move.

A copy was kindly provided by Tundra Books in exchange for an honest review.

[ReadLikeWildFire ReadLikeWildFire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my friken god.

This was bloody amazing. This was everything I wanted it to be and more and oh my god I am dying right now because this was so good and Ellie marney is God and James Mycroft is everything and someone dear lord help me because I have lost it and this is definitely going to be one of my favourite series ever and I really didnt know it would be this good and what are even sentences mate.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I am true blue, hand-over-heart in love with a book, I draaaaag my feet through the pages. I don’t want it to end. I read 30 or 40 page doses to feed and tease my imagination. I want to stay in the words, mood, and world as long as possible. *sigh* And boy-o-boy did I dawdle here with Mycroft and Watts.

Book two in Ellie Marney’s Every series takes our genius Sherlock & Watson like detective couple, James Mycroft and Rachel Watts, off to London on a dangerous journey and case with possible links to the loss of Mycroft’s family. Mystery, murder, theft, kidnapping, and more! We have it all! Mycroft is back on his old London stomping ground. But is he home? The pains of his past threaten to consume his heart and head. And mine! He…*deep breath* his struggle with the death of his parents is so heartbreakingly realistic and raw. It reminds us all that moving on is easier said than done. Sometimes the pain is too heavy. But if we are lucky, someone comes along who can show us how to live again. Can Rachel keep James safe and focused on the present though? Can Mycroft find the truth and maybe, maybe begin to heal? These two have to stay alive first and foremost though. And the way they both tend to throw themselves into danger is stupendously idiotic and insane! Haha…Trouble always finds them. Or do they find trouble? Jump in and find out.

Once again I have to shout out huge props to Ms. Marney for her words and descriptions. London came alive on the page with smells, weather, food, pubs and people. I loved it! But the true star of the show for me was the emotion. Suspense, fear, pain, and passion! The emotions captured in this story are HUGE and intense. Mycroft and Rachel vibrate with intelligence and attraction. Raw and honest. They spark off each other! Inspire, push and pull at one another. Their banter and touches and time on the page together can be fun one minute, sexy the next, and BOOM! heartbreaking all in a blink! You have to pay attention to them. Watch every move. Listen to every word. At times, I was so locked into their intensity and electric blue-eyed pools of swoon that I *jumped* out of my skin when someone stepped into my reading bubble to inch by me on the train or say hello. Marney can describe a city, sky, room, and touch in a way that makes you feel a part of the action. I was there with them in the misty rain, fear, or memory. I could see and almost feel the soft chocolate curls blow in the breeze. Those curls!!! :)

“My hands fill up with the feel of Mycroft, the softness of his curls. I catch his taste on my tongue, inhale his scent. The room is vibrating with the heater’s buzzing breath and the murmur of our wanting sounds, until it’s just one complete sound.”

Just one of my favorite parts of this series is how the many jagged points and complexities of love and life are on full display. Marney does not shy away from violence or passion. Death, survival, hurt, and forgiveness are not easy, cut and dry issues. Hurt simmers. Forgiveness doesn’t come right away. And somehow, someway guilt and death are wrapped up together in life. So many questions are left unanswered. Others are…well…you’ll see. I LOVED one development. MORIARTY!!! Gah!

Anyway….I’m off to re-read some of my favorite Mycroft and Watts moments and wait. Wait, wait, and WAIT for book three. For some reason, getting your hands on Aussie releases is hard in the States. Someone in the book world needs to change that right now.

Highly recommended series. Go find it!


My blink away tears moment:

“Making him understand the tongue-tied helplessness I’ve had since I came back is hard. ‘It’s like…I used to be able to talk to Mum and Dad. Explain things. And they’d get it. They’d get me. But I don’t know if that’s true anymore…’

I wonder if I’m losing the easy vocabulary I had when I was a child that explained things to my parents. Maybe I’ve changed so much that I’ve got a whole new set of words my parents don’t understand.”


My favorite description:

”home-smelling and warm”

[h o l l i s · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I had loved these characters in book one, book two is where Wattscroft took it upon themselves to m u r d e r me. Also, yes, I'm going to thief from my original review a bit, which I didn't do for the first instalment, because it pretty much sums up my feels to this day.

EVERY WORD is everything that EVERY BREATH was but turned up to eleven. The stakes, the action, the mystery, the scorching heat, the violence, the heartbreak.. everything.

Swoony hearts in eyes expression aside, this book definitely went a bit dark and my stomach fell to my feet multiple times. Not just because of Rachel and Mycroft but because Marney does not pull any punches. The vividness of the autopsy scene, the startling savagery of torture, the isolation; it was just as awful and as real as when our two heroes are stumbling along to understand each other, navigating both their relationship and the horror of Mycroft's past. And how Marney handled this was just.. fantastic. There were so many things I think I appreciated more this second time around with how she unravelled Mycroft and his processing -- or lack thereof. That turning point, once we finally get it, was just (chefs kiss). And the strangeness of how Rachel feels, knowing he has something new, and scarier, to fixate is just.. yeah, really well done.

Knowing what extremes and dangers these two faced, and that not having been the ultimate confrontation, I can only imagine what's to come next.

---

This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.

[Jeann (Happy Indulgence) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sexy, snappy and filled with mystery and crime, I adored Every Word just as much as the first book. There's just so much chemistry and sexual tension between Mycroft and Rachel, and I love how their personalities balance each other out so well! Mycroft is a teenage genius but he's also impulsive and rash, while Rachel brings forward an intelligent, calming nature about her. I love how both of them aren't afraid to shy away from murder investigations and autopsy scenes.

As a genius teenager hell bent on solving his parent's car accident, Mycroft flies over to London to investigate a similar accident - and stumbles upon a theft of Shakepeare's Folio. While Mycroft can be ever so frustrating with the way he can drop everything on a hunch, I liked how Rachel jumped in to support him, even though not telling her family would get her in deep trouble. This was a painful book - the two fall into danger and even get hurt, there's a lot of big baddies, but they also make a lot of headway with their investigation.

Their relationship is written so well - they are friends before they're a couple, and they support each other. They have raging sexual tension that does come up every once in a while, although sometimes at the most inopportune times - like in the middle of an autopsy and while they're hiding from baddies. I also loved the relationship between Rachel and her brother Mike - he's someone that looks after his little sister but she can also confide in him, even though he knows their parents won't agree with her actions.

I love how this series is grounded in its Australian roots without being too "outback" - even though most of the book is set in London, Rachel often laments about what she's learnt from living in the country and her observations when it comes to living in Melbourne.

Looking forward to the last book in the series! Check out Happy Indulgence Books for more reviews.

[Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday)]

Wow -- loved this. During the first half of the book I was pretty worried that this felt like the standard YA middle book in which the love interest pushes the protagonist away for her own good, yada yada. There was some of that, but Rachel wasn't about to be let herself pushed away.

I also loved that this features a very interesting and very well-crafted mystery that ties in Mycroft's past, lets Rachel be a full participant and not just a Watsonian sidekick, and involves a puzzle that can be solved by a reader with attention to detail. (I did put the final piece together before the very end, but not that much before.)

While I'm a huge fan of books set in Australia, I loved that the action moved to London and surrounding area and that the Sherlock Holmes museum played a small part.

I'm still on the fence about book three. I do want to see how everything works out but I'm afraid of this interloper guy I'm hearing about...

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't always read mysteries, but when I do I read Ellie Marney. Every Word is a great young adult mystery. I love that its possible to guess at some of the resolutions, but there are not so many hints that the answer is obvious. There is a good balance of logic and mystery and nothing feels out of the blue. I did prefer the previous book more however due to Watts' recklessness, which I found to be annoying.

Recklessness is never attractive in a main character for me, you can't keep referring to someone as brilliant and yet have that same person never think ahead. On the other hand these characters are young so I'll let it slide. Some people may find their behavior realistic. To be honest the only truly unrealistic thing about the book was the fact that no ones parents ever get called! Other than my minor qualms I found this to be a fun and engaging read. 3.5/5

Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Borrow

Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so, so good.

[Tehani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this. Read it even though I was super tired and went to bed early but then couldn't put it down to actually go to sleep. It's action-packed and tensely suspenseful. I didn't find a SINGLE THING about the plot believable, not one bit (even though it's very well written and APPEARS believable) BUT I DIDN'T CARE because the relationships in this book make everything else irrelevant. Mycroft and Watts are utterly gorgeous and the way Marney writes the chemistry between them is perfect. And it's not just them. The friendships Rachel has with her brother and also Alicia (and their own relationship too -- so sweet!) are also completely real and leap off the page. So the fact I don't think a 17 year old could book a flight to London at four hours notice and the fact it's unlikely the situation they go to London in would actually ever exist mean nothing to me -- I was still white-knuckled with anticipation at the twists of the plot and I am so in love with these characters that I don't care.

It's awesome. Go read it.

[lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I AM SO

WHAT EVEN IS THIS BOOK

AND THE SEXUAL TENSION (!!!!)

DHSJDNDFKBDKFLBMD

.
.
.
.

aite that's as coherent as I could get.

Reread: June 2017

Mycroft in a towel coming out of the shower scene is still Iconic af.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

How good is that Marney? I love her and her words and I'm keeping both. You can't stop me. <3 Xxx :-D

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Every series is grittier and much harder to read at times as Mycroft delves deeper into the mysterious deaths of his parents through a new murder case in London. But Mycroft's emotions and his complicated relationship with Rachel were so nuanced and real that it was worth it! This series is my favorite discovery this year by far.

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: death, car accident, autopsy scene, torture, blood, explosions, murder, violence.

20/5/2019
I love this book a truly frightening amount and I love these characters even more.

9/2/2016
I stand by everything I said last time. This book is wonderful, I ship it like whoa, there were some niggling "this wouldn't happen in reality but I'm willing to forgive that because it's necessary to the plot" issues but they in no way impacted on my enjoyment of the story. Basically, it's great. And you should read it. Because I said so.

6/1/2015
OH. MY. GOD.

Okay, I thought I loved Every Breath, but I loved this so much more. And I'm going to do a pro/con list again, because I'm not sure my thoughts will be coherent otherwise.

Pros
- LONDON. And much like the brilliant way Marney depicts Melbourne and its character and diversity, the same thing happens with the way she depicts London. The bustle, the ability to get a curry at any time of night, the nature of particular neighbourhoods, the diversity of the population is all really well done.
- On the subject of diversity, just because we're on the other side of the world doesn't mean that we lose the diversity of characters that we had in Every Breath. Instead of Mai and Gus, we've gone Alicia by Rachel's side, and she's fabulous. The main police detective at Scotland Yard is Indian, there are West Indian school kids wandering around, and a Serbian villain.
- Mike and Alicia. They're adorable and they made me squee.
- Speaking of couples, WATTSCROFT OH MY GOD. I love them both so much. I stand by what I said last time - Rachel reminds me a lot of Ellie Linton from Tomorrow, When the War Began. She's a fighter and she doesn't give up, no matter how bad things get. Mycroft is so broken and in need of a hug. And they complement each other perfectly. Add in a large amount of steam/swoon at regular intervals, and you've got perfection. Especially when they Use Their Words. And they actually feel seventeen, despite the fact that they're investigating a murder on the other side of the world. Their relationship always feels authentic, and there's narry a love triangle to be seen.
- The writing was fabulous.
- ROLLER DERBY. I used to work with a couple of derby girls up in Canberra, and let me tell you, derby girls are seriously badass. While I didn't entirely buy Rachel going from total newbie to star jammer in the space of a couple of months, I didn't really care because it was fabulous. Especially when some guy is trying to knock her out, and she's all "LOL, you suck, I've been hit harder than that at derby training." Because that is totally what derby girls are like. And then they'll show you their bruises.
- The actual crime. There were some nice red herrings, especially if you've read/seen any version of Sherlock Holmes, and in some ways it felt like it was setting up the Big Bad villain for the final book of the trilogy, but it worked a LOT better for me than the crime in the first one, where the big ending was given away in the blurb and it was pretty obvious from the get-go who the murderer was because they were randomly introduced to the plot for very little reason. This crime kept me guessing all the way through, and took a few turns that I wasn't expecting.
- Mycroft being all "Doesn't everyone know how to make a flash bomb out of toilet cleaner?!?!?!?!". Uh, no.
- Getting more of Mycroft's backstory. FEELS.
- LIBRARIES AND CONSERVATORS AND GENERAL BOOK-RELATED AMAZINGNESS.

Cons
- The fact that Rachel can get a return flight to London for $1700 like four hours before the plane leaves Melbourne. I just?!?!?!?! I WANT THAT. Honestly, 90% of the reason why this is on the cons list is that I want it. My flight to London cost $2100, and that was ON SALE and booked four months in advance. I want to live in this world where you can basically turn up at the airport and get a return flight to London for $1700. Sigh.
- Occasional moments of "Okay, but now is REALLY not an appropriate time to be making out, you should probably stop." Not really a con, because the making out was totally hot. But seriously, Wattscroft really need to work on their timing.
- Rachel leaving the country without telling her parents. I mean, I get why she did it. But I just loved her relationship with her parents so much in the first book, so it was a little hard to see that suffer here. Still, it's a niggling thing.

In short, it was amazing and I'm going to go and create a daily countdown calendar until Every Move is released. And yes, I've already preordered it, because I need it like I need air.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things have been going well between Rachel and Mycroft. That is until a murder investigation brings Mycroft to London. Rachel is worried for him - this new case has suspicious similarities to the crash which killed his parents all those years ago. Not wanting him to have to face his demons alone, Rachel does something crazy and impulsive in the name of friendship - she packs a bag and boards the next flight to Heathrow.

Once there things go from bad to worse. A simple carjacking turns out to be something a lot more sinister. Rachel and Mycroft find themselves in danger which they may not be able to make their way out of alive...

This book has everything I love about Every Breath and more. Rachel and Mycroft are back with a vengeance. Their relationship has evolved from friendship to something more with Rachel is trying to navigate just how to deal with the changes. Caught between being a girlfriend and a friend, there are times when she doesn't know what to do. This new level of their relationship is both exciting and realistic. Their interactions are at times romantic and beautiful and also times when they are awkward and uncomfortable - both were fantastic to read. The emotions and physicality of this new stage in their relationship is lovely.

I have to admit when I found out this book was going to be primarily set in London I was a little worried. One of the things I liked most about Every Breath was the way Ellie incorporated a distinct Melbourne vibe into the book. But I shouldn't have been concerned. Every Word is amazing. The European setting worked perfectly and was a great background to Rachel and Mycroft's London adventure.

The supporting cast is another plus in this novel. From Rachel's brother to her travel companion Alicia, evil doers and police forensics - they all add and extra something to Rachel and Mycroft's story. The danger in this book is scary in the way in unfolds and the fear that something bad is going to happen to Rachel and Mycroft is real.

Full of suspense, drama and a dash of romance, Every Word is a sensational follow-up in Ellie Marney's Every trilogy. Brilliant characters, intriguing plot and a setting which could not have been more perfect for the story, this book has been one of my favourite reads of 2014.

Thanks to Allen and Unwin for the review copy

[Nara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like this was better than Every Breath, but there was still that element of unbelievability (is that a word?) that stops me from giving these books the full five stars.

Ratings
Overall: 8/10
Plot: 3.5/5
Romance: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 1/5

[Cathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! I wish it didn't end after 3 books.

[Kayla Silverss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this installment. We have fantastic charcaters who have great chemistry and their stories are very interesting.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first one.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buying this book then reading it cover to cover in a single afternoon? Guilty as charged, right over here.

Ellie Marney has absolutely upped the ante in her thrilling sequel to Every Breath, with Every Word knocking its predecessor (which was already an extremely high degree of awesomeness) out of the ballpark.

I loved Every Breath when I read it last year, and I've been waiting since September for the sequel to hit the shelves.Every Word was absolutely worth every second of that wait, and I was stunned by how much better than Every Breath it was, which, as I've already said, was absolutely fantastic in itself. In retrospect, Every Word made Every Breath look like a cute little local mystery at the zoo. This book was huge by comparision - on an international scale - but Ellie Marney completely pulled it off. The mystery was so much more complex and unpredictable, and I was hooked from page one.

My favourite part of the first book was the relationship between Rachel and Mycroft, and I loved that it was further expanded in the sequel. It was also particularly pleasing that it didn't fall into the 'breaking-up-so-there's-a-lot-of-dramatic-tension-but-obviously-they're-going-to-get-back-together cliché - their relationship had obstacles and problems, as any would in this situation, but I felt the portrayal was very realistic, and more importantly, loyal to the characters' personalities. The tension between them was positively electric, and whilst the description 'sexy' gets bantered about pretty often in the descriptions of YA books, in this case, it was a very apt description. That said, the romance was also there in the right balance; it didn't overwhelm the plot, nor was it just chucked in to make sure the novel had romance. It was wonderfully woven into the story, and it just worked so well on so many levels. Rachel and Mycroft are one of my favourite YA couples, simply because this romance is so superbly written.

Character development can often be what makes or breaks a book for me, and reading Every Word was definitely one of those golden moments where the author knows their characters by heart, and is able to add such wonderful depth and complexity to the novel. Mycroft could have so easily been a copy-paste version of Sherlock Holmes, but he has a life of his own, and he is rather more human and relatable than the famous detective. There are the elements that make him Sherlock Holmes-esque - he is smart, arrogant and a whiz at solving crimes - however beyond this he has a past and layers that make him a truly fascinating character to read about. He isn't idealised or made into the flawless, crush-worthy hero; he has suffered trauma in the past, and it severely affects him in ways that are realistic, and often hard to bear. I wish I could describe the character development in a way that does it justice, but there really isn't much to say except that James Mycroft is so much more than a Sherlock Holmes stereotype, and I love that he is so flawed and irrational as a character, because it makes the novel so much more interesting and compelling to read.

Considering I've spent a paragraph singing Mycroft's praises, I feel like I should devote another to proclaiming my total admiration for Rachel as a protagonist. She is just as well-rounded a character as Mycroft, and the author has done a beautiful job of ensuring that she doesn't fall into the 'strong-female-character' cliché. Rachel is tough, capable and can hold her own, but there are reasons for this - it feels like the characters' pasts have been used to define them excellently. She's a bit more balanced than Mycroft, and it definitely feels like she'd the one looking after him. It doesn't feel like the author's making her forcibly different or an outsider, instead Rachel feels like someone you would meet and probably get along with, but still with a personality and voice that is very much her own, and very Australian in its portrayal.

As I said, I felt story-wise there was some wonderful improvement on Every Breath shown here. The plot was much tighter, felt very well-researched (enough so that it made me nostalgic for my own trip to London last year. I remember Boots the pharmacy) and there were fewer leaps of faith that the reader had to make concerning Rachel and Mycroft's access to crime scenes and evidence. It continued on with being a homage to Sherlock Holmes rather than a modernisation, I guess you'd say, and I thought it was very clever the incorporation of references, both implied and blatant. Irina Addington, just saying. I'm calling that now!

Absolutely fantastic. Can't wait for book 3!

[Frannie Pan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

HOLYCOW THE FEELS.
Okay.
Uhm.. I'm not okay.

Every Word is the 2nd book in the Every series but, just like it happened with Jackaby, I don't think you have to read Every breath in order to get to this one. The characters are the same, but each book stars a different crime to solve, therefore they're kind of independent. But c'mob, why wouldn't you read the 1st book when they are so freaking good? I know, right? Stupid questions. But I have to warn you that the bomb dropped at the end of this instalment makes it fundamental in case you wanted to read the 3rd book, so.. let me sum it up for you: read all books in this series and you'll thank me for it :3

In Every Word, an Australian who worked at the Oxford library dies in a car accident; he was a suspect in the theft of the Folio, a manuscript containing all Shakespearean plays. His death doesn't go unnoticed by Mycroft, due to its cause: car accident. It resembles too much the carjacking in which Mycroft's parents were killed and he cannot pass up the opportunity to shine a light in the tragedy that keeps haunting and that he is never able to solve. So, without telling Rachel, he flies off to London to investigate the murder. What can Rachel do if not following him? She might be pissed off and hurt that he left without saying goodbye or confiding in her but she's his best friend more than anything else and he needs her support to get through this.

This book hurt. It freaking hurt. The pain in Mycroft's eyes and words when he was forced to remember the accident, when he struggled trying to talk about it and express his feelings and just get it all out.. at times it was hard to bear, so raw and real and touching. It completely put me off balance with its power and heaviness. I shed tears more than a couple of times and my heart was aching for him as well as for Rachel, who was watching a guy she loves more than anything torn to pieces by ghosts of his past, broken and submissive instead of brilliant and smart and witty as always.
The growth and character development they both go through was incredible, it left me speechless. It changes them in a radical way and, even though they're always the same, in the end they're not really. Something huge happens that turns their lives upside down forever and they must deal with it and find the strength in each other because their bond is as strong as ever and they can make it out together. Seriously, it gave me the chills.

I must say Every breath was definitely more character driven than plot driven. The first instalment was more fast-paced and action packed and focused on the mystery, while in this case the author's focus shifted towards Mycroft and Rachel's fears and thoughts and their relationship. And when I say relationship, I actually mean friendship. Don't worry, there are some pretty hot steamy scenes that OMG COULD YOU TWO JUST GO LOCK YOURSELF IN A BEDROOM ALREADY but the reason why Rachel follows Mycroft and stays close to him is she's her friend and he needs her. Their friendship is more important than their romantic relationship which was fantastic and awesome and so so so so so so good!
I might have missed a bit of the "omg too much is happening I can't even breath" pace of the book (which was more present in the second half) but, after all, the title was "Every word" and not "Every breath", right? Plus, I'm glad the author sacrificed it a bit to properly focus on Mycroft because his dealing and coming to terms with what happened.. that deserved attention and care and time.

Needless to say, I can't wait to read the 3rd and last book in the series!
Hope Tundra Books will publish the 3rd hardcover soon CUZ I NEED IT u.u

[Reading Bifrost · Rating 4 out of 5]

“‘You’re in the center, Watts. Right here.’ He touches his chest, over his heart, with his other hand. ‘You’re always in the center.’”

In this second installment of the Every series, Mycroft has been an apprentice to the forensic scientist, Professor Walsh, while Rachel has taken up roller derby. It picks up not long after the events of Every Breath with Rachel and Mycroft still on lockdown by Rachel’s parents. It is a nice change of pace in a YA book to have parents that actually monitor their own kids.

James Mycroft survived the traumatic experience from the first book with a few physical reminders, but his character seems even more determined in his forensic studies. A carjacking accident in London hits too close to home from him, reminding him of his dark past with his parents, and in this book we really get a chance to see just how broken Mycroft is.

In this book, Rachel Watts has found an adrenaline high from being with Mycroft and uses roller derby as an outlet from the emotional trauma of Every Breath. Rachel isn’t as interested in crime solving as Mycroft. She doesn’t ever act interested in solving the murder, but when she finds a clue she runs with it full force. She even makes a few deductions of her own that helps the investigators. When Mycroft leaves for London she doesn’t follow him as his girlfriend, but as a best friend. I really like that aspect of her personality; she doesn’t have to be ‘with’ Mycroft to be there for him.

Mike is a character that was really shinning for me in this book. Mike is Rachel’s older brother and though he doesn’t have much presence in the story he plays a major part. I wouldn’t mind if Mike decided to tag along with Rachel and Mycroft in the next book.

Alicia is Mike’s girlfriend and Rachel’s ticket to London. Adding Alicia really helped the plot because Rachel had no idea where anything was or how to travel in London and Alicia was a key character to get her settled. I’ve read books where the characters just magically know where to go and how to get there even if they’ve never been in the city, and it just doesn’t work well. Plus, Alicia and Mike make a very cute couple!

The plot, of course, is highly improbable (teens at crime scenes). BUT, it’s not bad in the sense that the author tried to make up excuses on why her characters were getting special treatment. It’s a YA Sherlockian book, so I went into the book knowing the plot was going to be a bit unbelievable. That aside, I loved the mystery in this book. There’s so much going on at once and became way bigger than I originally thought. And again, there’s a slight hint that we may have a Moriarty character coming soon!

Mycroft goes though the story not only solving the crime, but also trying to solve the mystery of his parents’ death, figuring out how to fix himself of his brokenness, and figuring out what part Rachel should play in his life. We also get to see more of his past as he becomes more open with Rachel.

The romance seems a little less romantic and a lot more teenage lust-a-thon. Don’t get me wrong, there are still sweet moments, but come on guys! There’s a proper time for a snog and and not-so-proper time. Layman terms: Don’t snog when your life is in danger!

Overall, Every Word is a strong sequel and every bit as entertaining as its predecessor. I recommend to readers who like YA crime/mystery with romance thrown in or for anyone that just plain out loves Sherlockian re-writes.

[Brit McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting not so patiently for this book ever since I finished reading my prize ARC of Every Breath last year. Ellie Marney was – is – a fantastic new voice in Australian YA fiction. Her books have it all: murder, mystery, suspense, great characters and a little bit of romance, which in Every Word has become a LOT of romance. Oh, the tension between Watts and Mycroft has intensified! They are absolutely sizzling.

Every Word brings us back to Summoner Street, Melbourne where after the lionpen incident eight weeks ago, Rachel is on house arrest and seeing her neighbour Mycroft through his bedroom window (not in a creepy way!). They have barely had a moment alone, so their burgeoning romance has been put on the backburner. Cue: oodles and oodles of sexual tension. Mycroft has himself a new job, working with Professor Walsh, a forensic pathologist, which is right up Mycroft's alley. But when news of a carjacking in London that sounds suspiciously similar to the accident that causes his own parent's death reaches Mycroft, he can't let it go and talks Professor Walsh into taking him to London when the Professor is requested to help with the investigation. And off Mycroft flies in the middle of the night, leaving only a text message behind for Rachel. Hours later, she has jumped on a plane with her brother Mike's girlfriend and is following him halfway across the world - 'for support'.

I know how extremely unlikely this is. I know that the last thing we should do is encourage teenage girls to follow their boyfriends to the ends of the Earth. But there is something kind of noble about ditching everything to help someone who you know needs you, even when they're not quite ready to admit it. Mycroft may think he can handle anything, but Watts knows he can't. It's not like the trip is without its repercussions either, as we find at the end of the book, which I felt was realistic. When you're seventeen and you fly halfway across the world without telling your parents, they are going to be pissed! You really can't expect anything else.

Aside from that one little factor, Rachel following James to London, the whole novel feels real. The characters are real, their dialogue is very Australian, not in the over-exaggerated way that tourists think we speak but in the real way we do speak. The forensics is awesome to read and I loved the murder mystery. I loved the way that London developed before my eyes. My wanderlust awakened once again (is it ever really dormant?), I saw London as Rachel did and of course, I want to go! The book also has, as well as steamy scenes between Rachel and Mycroft, the grittiness of a true crime story - the criminals do not hold back. Add to that the genius of Mycroft, Rachel's courage and her ability to put up one hell of a fight, and you are in for a great read.

Can't wait for Every Move!

This review is also posted at Crash My Book Party. More reviews there!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I Thought: Every Word is the sequel to Every Breath, and picks up 8 weeks later. Mycroft has been following a case of the theft of Shakespeare's Folio - a book worth six million pounds. This leads to the discovery of a dead librarian in a carjacking similar to that of his parents, causing him to travel to London alongside Professor Walsh to investigate. Rachel, being worried about her new boyfriend's past, decides to jump on a plane and follow him. This, of course, leads to plenty of drama and action and a rather terrifying situation, again.

I don't even understand how Mycroft and Watts end up in these situations, and even though I find it quite realistic, I enjoyed almost every second reading these stories. Ellie Marney has given us a fantastic YA version of Shelock Holmes and somehow, with her tremendous writing, she manages to pull it off astoundingly well. Mycroft opens up to Watts about his past, his parents and his problems and Rachel has to figure out how exactly to tread these newfound waters. Plus, they are a couple now, and are thinking sexy couple things which certainly brings new heat to the story.

Every Word was an amazing sequel, with a killer ending that left me desperate for the final book, Every Move. BRING ON MARCH 2015!!
So if you haven't read Every Word yet, make sure you do, because this one may (definitely) leave you a bit breathless.

The Good: Things heat up to whole new levels between Mycroft and Watts, and it's freaking awesome.

The Bad: While I love the way these stories go, I can't help but read them with with this constant niggling feeling that likes to remind me how unrealistic some of the situations actually are. Like, shut up brain, who cares right.

Rating: 4 stars

[Cally73 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Bookworld for getting this out to me so quick! I was expecting to have to wait until next week.

Enjoyed this second book in the trilogy and can't wait until the third book. I really like Rachel as a character - an ordinary person caught up in extraordinary events. Liked the addition of Alicia, and think her professional skills are going to be useful in the future. Wish I had an older brother like Mike (but my little brother Mike isn't too bad). Like Every Breath I pretty much read this in one go - hard for me to put down, even though there were some parts that were hard to read (from an emotional point of view). Loved Rachel's thoughts about Abu Dhabi airport - it's certainly different and sticks in my mind despite being a few years since being there, and the Arab men stood out to me too. Oh my gosh - Oxford and all the bikes! That's probably the first thing I think of and then all the fabulous architecture. Good to see more development into the deaths of Mycroft's parents and am anticipating we'll get the why in the final book.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends, I LOVED the first book in the Every series by Ellie Marney, EVERY BREATH, which introduced the world to James Mycroft and Rachel Watts. In an attempt to avoid spoiling too many things, I’ll give you all a basic rundown: Mycroft and Watts are bffs, but also a little more than that because FEELINGS. Mycroft lives in Melbourne, but was born and grew up in London with his parents until their deaths. As a genius socially awkward human, Mycroft has all kinds of theories about it, and while he and Watts try to puzzle out other murders, he obsesses over learning the truth about his parents. It’s all pretty much the best ever.

Check out the rest of this review here at Tripping Over Books!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this and only wish I’d gotten to it sooner. Every Word delivered a smasing sequel, making it my favourite instalment thus far. Amazingly well-written; from the London setting that jumps off the page, you can tell the amount of research that went into writing it. As soon as Rachel decides to jet off on a place, I felt her trepidation and energy, as if it was my own. As soon as she arrives in London, I felt as if I was back there myself. My last trip to the UK was in 2014, so it was lovely being transported back there in book form, so vividly. I seriously felt like I was there, which again is all down to Ellie Marney's wonderful writing. Spoiler alert: the sexual tension is a killer. That's the true murderer of this story. Regardless, if I wasn’t already sold, I’m now a fan and reader for life. Keep writing, Ellie Marney, and I’ll keep reading.

[Namera [The Literary Invertebrate] · Rating 4 out of 5]

ONE LINE REVIEW

Mycroft and Rachel really come into their own here, and their relationship is a beautiful thing to see.

[Blog] - [Bookstagram]

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back again with more goodness from Mycroft and Watts and boy does Ellie Marney knows how to turn up the tension! After Mycroft hares off to London as a 'consultant' in a carjacking case, Watts follows close behind to make sure Mycroft doesn't get lost in what could be an emotionally trying case. And then BAD STUFF happens and...and...so very good. I'm still a mess over it all, frankly.

And now, I want EVERY MOVE.


**Anybody else picture The Colonel as Teddy KGB from 'Rounders?' The tracksuit, the accent...I can't stop picturing it!