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A Black Widow's Web
Estate agent Lawrence Hennessey has his eyes firmly on the prize, a future away from the mother of his daughter and a multi-million-pound property deal to fund his new life.
His dreams are shot to pieces though when he is arrested for the most heinous sexual crimes against his seemingly embittered ex, Summer, and their seven-year-old daughter, April.
He claims his absolute innocence, but the evidence is so strong that his world quickly turns against him. Having breached his bail conditions, he is sent to prison awaiting a trial that, with his life now in constant danger, may never come. Only one person stands with him; his sister Grace.
Desperate to break the allegiance between mother and daughter, Grace vows to leave no stone unturned in her quest to clear her brother’s name before it is too late.
She unearths a web of vicious deceit in Summer’s turbulent past but nothing to prove her brother’s innocence. She is convinced though that if she keeps digging she’ll unearth something much bigger about her brother’s accuser to weaken the validity of her claims.
But as the evidence against Lawrence gets more sinister, his alcoholism, blackouts and activity on the Dark Web paint a much different story to the one her brother is telling.
His dreams are shot to pieces though when he is arrested for the most heinous sexual crimes against his seemingly embittered ex, Summer, and their seven-year-old daughter, April.
He claims his absolute innocence, but the evidence is so strong that his world quickly turns against him. Having breached his bail conditions, he is sent to prison awaiting a trial that, with his life now in constant danger, may never come. Only one person stands with him; his sister Grace.
Desperate to break the allegiance between mother and daughter, Grace vows to leave no stone unturned in her quest to clear her brother’s name before it is too late.
She unearths a web of vicious deceit in Summer’s turbulent past but nothing to prove her brother’s innocence. She is convinced though that if she keeps digging she’ll unearth something much bigger about her brother’s accuser to weaken the validity of her claims.
But as the evidence against Lawrence gets more sinister, his alcoholism, blackouts and activity on the Dark Web paint a much different story to the one her brother is telling.
- GenresThriller
558 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2021
2 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Phil Martin
51 books35 followersI grew up in the creative cauldron of nineties Manchester when Madchester rocked the charts and the Hacienda ruled clubland. The city has shaped me as a writer. I write thrillers and crime based on the fine folk of Manchester and Salford. The Little Girl Lost trilogy has however developed into an international thriller taking in Manchester, Morocco, London, Barcelona, Monza, Zurich, Moscow, Chechnya, Batumi and... Milton Keynes.
my books are available at Amazon
The Amy Walker series
The One They Couldn't Steal (Book 1)
http://amzn.to/xsDmpa
The One They Couldn't Silence (Book 2)
http://amzn.to/Wh5BST
The One They Couldn't Bury (Book 3)
http://amzn.to/14mypK3
THE ATTACHED http://amzn.to/xjsKgp
KILLING DOVES http://amzn.to/ysy4ip
STRIPPED BARE http://amzn.to/wbfoYn
my books are available at Amazon
The Amy Walker series
The One They Couldn't Steal (Book 1)
http://amzn.to/xsDmpa
The One They Couldn't Silence (Book 2)
http://amzn.to/Wh5BST
The One They Couldn't Bury (Book 3)
http://amzn.to/14mypK3
THE ATTACHED http://amzn.to/xjsKgp
KILLING DOVES http://amzn.to/ysy4ip
STRIPPED BARE http://amzn.to/wbfoYn
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 23, 2021
5☆ A Twisted Web of Deceit, Lies, Mind Games and Secrets.
OMG Where Do I even start with this book!! It has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster.
This book will not be for everyone, it's graphic and has very sensitive subjects, but oh my did it get under my skin.
It took me a few days to read A Black Widow’s Web, as it's a fairly long read, but it also took time to process what's going on.
Just when I thought I might of sussed out something, it flipped me on my head!
Oh and that beginning had me shuddering.
The sensitive subjects are, rape, child abuse, alcoholism, mental health, prison abuse, drug abuse but it all ties in to this twisted mind games story.
The Characters were so complex and to be honest not at all likeable, and when you read it you will completely understand what I mean!
But they were so well written, and the fact I loathed and felt sorry for them was a big credit to the Author.
A BLACK WIDOW'S WEB is a Domestic Psychological Thriller, that is Gritty, Dark, A Twisted Web of Deceit, Lies, Mind Games, Violence and Secrets and the title Sums this book up Superbly!
I haven't read a book quiet this gripping in a long time.
This is my first encounter with Author
Phil Martin and I'm looking forward to reading more!
Would I recommend reading this book? Most Definitely, but do proceed with caution as I said before this book is not for everyone!
Thank you to Damppebbles Tours for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/0...
OMG Where Do I even start with this book!! It has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster.
This book will not be for everyone, it's graphic and has very sensitive subjects, but oh my did it get under my skin.
It took me a few days to read A Black Widow’s Web, as it's a fairly long read, but it also took time to process what's going on.
Just when I thought I might of sussed out something, it flipped me on my head!
Oh and that beginning had me shuddering.
The sensitive subjects are, rape, child abuse, alcoholism, mental health, prison abuse, drug abuse but it all ties in to this twisted mind games story.
The Characters were so complex and to be honest not at all likeable, and when you read it you will completely understand what I mean!
But they were so well written, and the fact I loathed and felt sorry for them was a big credit to the Author.
A BLACK WIDOW'S WEB is a Domestic Psychological Thriller, that is Gritty, Dark, A Twisted Web of Deceit, Lies, Mind Games, Violence and Secrets and the title Sums this book up Superbly!
I haven't read a book quiet this gripping in a long time.
This is my first encounter with Author
Phil Martin and I'm looking forward to reading more!
Would I recommend reading this book? Most Definitely, but do proceed with caution as I said before this book is not for everyone!
Thank you to Damppebbles Tours for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/0...
April 24, 2021
5 Thrilling Stars
Lawrence Hennessey's world is about to disintegrate in front of him.
He wants out, out of the sham of the relationship, out of the arguments, a chance to start a new life with his girlfriend Zara and his daughter April.
He loved April. He loved her with all his heart. He loved her as much as he hated Summer.
But his partner Summer has other ideas and she will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
And what she wants is to destroy Lawrence.
With the evidence stacked up against him, it takes his sister Grace to start doing her own investigating, she knows her brother is innocent but she needs to prove it and fast.
As she delves deeper into Summers past life she is blown away by the web of deceit that she starts to untangle. But Grace needs to be careful, is she being watched, listened to? and could her life be in danger.
As more details come to light could Lawrence actually be guilty of these terrible crimes?
I’ve been waiting over seven years for Phil Martin to write another book and this one did not disappoint.
It was thrilling, a real page turner, that was so compelling. I was holding my breath just watching Lawrence’s life fall apart.
Each chapter was fast paced, with a great plot, that left me still thinking about the book long after I'd finished it.
Welcome back Mr Martin
Lawrence Hennessey's world is about to disintegrate in front of him.
He wants out, out of the sham of the relationship, out of the arguments, a chance to start a new life with his girlfriend Zara and his daughter April.
He loved April. He loved her with all his heart. He loved her as much as he hated Summer.
But his partner Summer has other ideas and she will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
And what she wants is to destroy Lawrence.
With the evidence stacked up against him, it takes his sister Grace to start doing her own investigating, she knows her brother is innocent but she needs to prove it and fast.
As she delves deeper into Summers past life she is blown away by the web of deceit that she starts to untangle. But Grace needs to be careful, is she being watched, listened to? and could her life be in danger.
As more details come to light could Lawrence actually be guilty of these terrible crimes?
I’ve been waiting over seven years for Phil Martin to write another book and this one did not disappoint.
It was thrilling, a real page turner, that was so compelling. I was holding my breath just watching Lawrence’s life fall apart.
Each chapter was fast paced, with a great plot, that left me still thinking about the book long after I'd finished it.
Welcome back Mr Martin
April 25, 2021
What a rollercoaster ride that was!
I actually don't know what I expected when I picked up this book but I can tell you that I got a hell of a lot more than I bargained for!
This story initially follows Laurence, a man in an unhappy relationship with a sociopathic woman. They have a lot of arguments, its all very unhealthy but he stays with her for the sake of his 7 year old daughter April.
Laurence has been having an affair with a teacher from April's school. He knows it is wrong but these things happen I suppose! He intends on leaving his home and moving in with this other woman but that very day things go terribly wrong and Laurence's life is changed forever.
His girlfriend Summer has reported him to the police for raping both her and his child. The evidence is strong enough that the police are happy to charge him there and then!
From that point onwards we follow Laurence's sister Grace as she tries to clear her brother's name and get him out of prison before he is killed!
Grace has been convinced from the moment she met Summer that she is not only a sociopath but a psychopath, schizophrenic as well as a series of other mental disorders.
Grace is a professional in her field and knows what's she's talking about. Her investigation into Summer and her past is so intriguing but what makes this book so good is that despite the fact you want to believe that Laurence really is innocent of his crimes you find yourself doubting it all the way through to the end.
00
I don't know what else I can say without spoiling the plot so I will leave it at that.
It is very clever, very well written and very very exciting! I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrillers that will keep you guessing!
I actually don't know what I expected when I picked up this book but I can tell you that I got a hell of a lot more than I bargained for!
This story initially follows Laurence, a man in an unhappy relationship with a sociopathic woman. They have a lot of arguments, its all very unhealthy but he stays with her for the sake of his 7 year old daughter April.
Laurence has been having an affair with a teacher from April's school. He knows it is wrong but these things happen I suppose! He intends on leaving his home and moving in with this other woman but that very day things go terribly wrong and Laurence's life is changed forever.
His girlfriend Summer has reported him to the police for raping both her and his child. The evidence is strong enough that the police are happy to charge him there and then!
From that point onwards we follow Laurence's sister Grace as she tries to clear her brother's name and get him out of prison before he is killed!
Grace has been convinced from the moment she met Summer that she is not only a sociopath but a psychopath, schizophrenic as well as a series of other mental disorders.
Grace is a professional in her field and knows what's she's talking about. Her investigation into Summer and her past is so intriguing but what makes this book so good is that despite the fact you want to believe that Laurence really is innocent of his crimes you find yourself doubting it all the way through to the end.
00
I don't know what else I can say without spoiling the plot so I will leave it at that.
It is very clever, very well written and very very exciting! I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrillers that will keep you guessing!
April 24, 2021
If you are anything like me, then you will love discovering new authors. Phil Martin is certainly a new author for me. I read the synopsis for ‘A Black Widow’s Web’ and it certainly sounded like an intriguing story. I couldn’t wait to start reading and so I dived straight in. Oh my word, ‘A Black Widow’s Web’ is certainly one hell of a story and then some. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘A Black Widow’s Web’ but more about that in a bit.
I wasn’t quite sure what to make of Lawrence Hennessey at the start and I found that I kept changing my opinion of him as I worked my way through the book. When the story starts, he is in a relationship that has almost completely broken down and he is the father of a young girl. Something happens which threatens to change his life for ever and not in a good way. In a way Lawrence and his behaviour made me feel as though I wanted to shake him by the shoulders at times. Given what he is accused of, he shouldn’t be doing half of the things that he does and he inevitably ends up in trouble or ends up making things worse for himself.
I have to be honest and say straightaway that ‘A Black Widow’s Web’ is not the easiest of reads. I don’t mean that in a negative sense or to sound critical about the way in which the book is written. Some of the subject matter in the story is particularly graphic and horrific. I didn’t let that put me off though. I am a huge fan of all things crime and particularly a huge fan of ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ so I treated reading this book as I would watching an episode of the aforementioned series. I hope that makes sense.
It didn’t take me long at all to get into this story. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first dozen or so pages, I knew that I would find it nigh on impossible to put the book down. I had my own theories as to what was going to happen and I had to keep reading to see if I was anywhere near the truth or I had the wrong end of the stick entirely. The pages turned over at a rate of knots as I worked my way through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘A Black Widow’s Web’. I found ‘A Black Widow’s Web’ to be an unputdownable, gripping and tense read which certainly kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘A Black Widow’s Web’ is extremely well written. As I mention above, there are some pretty shocking themes in the book but the author has written about them sensitively and with compassion. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Reading ‘A Black Widow’s Web’ felt like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘A Black Widow’s Web’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Phil’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I wasn’t quite sure what to make of Lawrence Hennessey at the start and I found that I kept changing my opinion of him as I worked my way through the book. When the story starts, he is in a relationship that has almost completely broken down and he is the father of a young girl. Something happens which threatens to change his life for ever and not in a good way. In a way Lawrence and his behaviour made me feel as though I wanted to shake him by the shoulders at times. Given what he is accused of, he shouldn’t be doing half of the things that he does and he inevitably ends up in trouble or ends up making things worse for himself.
I have to be honest and say straightaway that ‘A Black Widow’s Web’ is not the easiest of reads. I don’t mean that in a negative sense or to sound critical about the way in which the book is written. Some of the subject matter in the story is particularly graphic and horrific. I didn’t let that put me off though. I am a huge fan of all things crime and particularly a huge fan of ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ so I treated reading this book as I would watching an episode of the aforementioned series. I hope that makes sense.
It didn’t take me long at all to get into this story. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first dozen or so pages, I knew that I would find it nigh on impossible to put the book down. I had my own theories as to what was going to happen and I had to keep reading to see if I was anywhere near the truth or I had the wrong end of the stick entirely. The pages turned over at a rate of knots as I worked my way through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘A Black Widow’s Web’. I found ‘A Black Widow’s Web’ to be an unputdownable, gripping and tense read which certainly kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘A Black Widow’s Web’ is extremely well written. As I mention above, there are some pretty shocking themes in the book but the author has written about them sensitively and with compassion. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Reading ‘A Black Widow’s Web’ felt like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘A Black Widow’s Web’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Phil’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
April 30, 2021
'A Black Widows Web' by Phil Martin is a crime thriller and one that makes me wonder why I have never read his work previously.
Estate agent Lawrence Hennessey has his eyes firmly on the prize, a future away from the mother of his daughter and a multi-million-pound property deal to fund his new life.
His dreams are shot to pieces though when he is arrested for the most heinous sexual crimes against his seemingly embittered ex, Summer, and their seven-year-old daughter, April.
He claims his absolute innocence, but the evidence is so strong that his world quickly turns against him. Having breached his bail conditions, he is sent to prison awaiting a trial that, with his life now in constant danger, may never come. Only one person stands with him; his sister Grace. She is the one who will leave no stone unturned to prove his innocence. The further she digs the more she discovers about her brother...and it doesn't look good.
A story that deals with one of the crimes you can commit, I must state that there are scenes of sexual abuse and coersion which may not be for everyone. It is a book that you just have to keep reading. As the story develops we see the absolute train wreck that is Lawrences' life and wonder just how much worse could it get? You will have to read the book to find out.
The author really does put his characters through the mill as you will see. He has created a book that has twists, drama plenty of suspense and the plot, along with the characters are excellent. The fact that I actually sat and wanted to finish this book when it became very uncomfortable reading does say a lot of his abilities as a writer.
In conclusion 'A Black Widows Web' is not a light and easy read but this book is well worth the unease that arises, highly recommended.
Thanks to Emma at Damp Pebbles Blog Tours and Phil Martin for my copy of the book
Estate agent Lawrence Hennessey has his eyes firmly on the prize, a future away from the mother of his daughter and a multi-million-pound property deal to fund his new life.
His dreams are shot to pieces though when he is arrested for the most heinous sexual crimes against his seemingly embittered ex, Summer, and their seven-year-old daughter, April.
He claims his absolute innocence, but the evidence is so strong that his world quickly turns against him. Having breached his bail conditions, he is sent to prison awaiting a trial that, with his life now in constant danger, may never come. Only one person stands with him; his sister Grace. She is the one who will leave no stone unturned to prove his innocence. The further she digs the more she discovers about her brother...and it doesn't look good.
A story that deals with one of the crimes you can commit, I must state that there are scenes of sexual abuse and coersion which may not be for everyone. It is a book that you just have to keep reading. As the story develops we see the absolute train wreck that is Lawrences' life and wonder just how much worse could it get? You will have to read the book to find out.
The author really does put his characters through the mill as you will see. He has created a book that has twists, drama plenty of suspense and the plot, along with the characters are excellent. The fact that I actually sat and wanted to finish this book when it became very uncomfortable reading does say a lot of his abilities as a writer.
In conclusion 'A Black Widows Web' is not a light and easy read but this book is well worth the unease that arises, highly recommended.
Thanks to Emma at Damp Pebbles Blog Tours and Phil Martin for my copy of the book
April 23, 2021
The word "unputdownable" was made for this book.
Before I start an ebook, especially before a blog tour, I tend to look up how many pages it is so I have a rough idea of how long it will take me to read it. When I saw 557 for this one, I thought "that's a chunky one!" and gave myself a good week. I didn't need it at all. I completely devoured this book and had read the majority in 24 hours.
Lawrence Hennessey has a seven year old daughter called April with partner Summer Wilson. He is having an affair with Zara Williams, a teacher from April's school. Summer seems a bit psychotic and as much as I don't root for cheaters, you understand why he is pulling away from Summer.
Just before a secret trip away with Zara to Monte Carlo, Lawrence is arrested for allegedly raping his daughter. I have a daughter who is almost seven so this was a tough one to read. What follows next is just horrific. His life starts falling apart.
Lawrence obviously protests his innocence but there seems to be a lot of evidence stacked against him. The only person who believes him is his sister Grace. Whilst imprisoned, Lawrence is attacked a few times due to the nature of his "crimes" and Grace vows to uncover the truth. But Summer is always a step ahead.
I genuinely did not want to put this book down because I was desperate to see what was going to happen next. With novels like this, I worry about plausibility but everything was tied up nicely and made complete sense.
Grace is trying to show that Summer has coaxed April into lying to the police but the police aren't buying any of it. She delves into Summer's past, going back decades, and this is very cleverly written. You really feel Grace's frustrations when no one is listening to her.
A Black Widow's Web is clearly planned well and gets your heart racing.
Before I start an ebook, especially before a blog tour, I tend to look up how many pages it is so I have a rough idea of how long it will take me to read it. When I saw 557 for this one, I thought "that's a chunky one!" and gave myself a good week. I didn't need it at all. I completely devoured this book and had read the majority in 24 hours.
Lawrence Hennessey has a seven year old daughter called April with partner Summer Wilson. He is having an affair with Zara Williams, a teacher from April's school. Summer seems a bit psychotic and as much as I don't root for cheaters, you understand why he is pulling away from Summer.
Just before a secret trip away with Zara to Monte Carlo, Lawrence is arrested for allegedly raping his daughter. I have a daughter who is almost seven so this was a tough one to read. What follows next is just horrific. His life starts falling apart.
Lawrence obviously protests his innocence but there seems to be a lot of evidence stacked against him. The only person who believes him is his sister Grace. Whilst imprisoned, Lawrence is attacked a few times due to the nature of his "crimes" and Grace vows to uncover the truth. But Summer is always a step ahead.
I genuinely did not want to put this book down because I was desperate to see what was going to happen next. With novels like this, I worry about plausibility but everything was tied up nicely and made complete sense.
Grace is trying to show that Summer has coaxed April into lying to the police but the police aren't buying any of it. She delves into Summer's past, going back decades, and this is very cleverly written. You really feel Grace's frustrations when no one is listening to her.
A Black Widow's Web is clearly planned well and gets your heart racing.
April 17, 2021
I've read all his books, so I'm aware that Phil Martin doesn't shy away from disturbing storylines. This one, however, takes it to another level, occasionally making it difficult to read but even more difficult to put down. It's brave to take on the subject of child sexual abuse by a parent, and I thought the author was also brave in the treatment of some of his characters - you can't accuse him of playing to the expectations of the reader. This book has the story, the twists and intrigue, the characters and plot, but it's Martin's ability to drag the reader, often reluctantly, into some of the darkest corners of human existence that set this book apart from anybody's usual read. It's worth the discomfort - it's a five star read.
April 19, 2021
I feel that certain warnings need to come with this book. It contains quite graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse and coercive behaviour which is not to everyone’s taste. I would also have liked to see more depth and description of the characters. Having got all the negatives out of the way it is an incredibly clever plot, which did not need to be quite so complex and a fast moving storyline. Watching the car crash that Lawrence’s life becomes is addictive reading. How much worse can things get? The answer is quite a lot.
February 21, 2021
Unputdownable
Wonderful story about a twisted, sadistic woman who ruins the life of everyone around her, including her seven-year-old daughter. Frightening.
Wonderful story about a twisted, sadistic woman who ruins the life of everyone around her, including her seven-year-old daughter. Frightening.
May 2, 2022
Couldn’t put it down
Fantastic book! Read it in 2 days, the writer has a great way of keeping you hooked on finding out more, few minor spelling mistakes through the book but I really really enjoyed reading it and look forward to reading more by this author
Fantastic book! Read it in 2 days, the writer has a great way of keeping you hooked on finding out more, few minor spelling mistakes through the book but I really really enjoyed reading it and look forward to reading more by this author
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews