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Her Husband's Grave
A hint of gold glistened in the sand. It was a watch, no doubt about it. A watch… attached to a body.
Criminal psychologist Robyn Adams is at breaking point after a previous case resulted in an attempt on her own life. But as she sits in the car about to head home, her phone rings. It’s Robyn’s cousin, Vicky Carter, who she hasn’t seen or heard from in years.
Vicky’s voice cracks down the phone. Her husband, Simon, has been found buried on Golden Sands beach. Desperate to help and determined not to let her last case get the better of her, Robyn returns to the coastal village where she spent summers with Vicky as a child.
Robyn knows that she has let Vicky down in the past and is set on making up for lost time. Throwing herself into the case, she combs through evidence, intent on discovering a lead that will help the local police.
But there is clearly someone who wants Robyn gone. She is convinced someone is watching her and when she begins to receive threatening notes, Robyn knows that she could be risking her life…
But Robyn won’t leave again – she owes it to Vicky to stay.
Criminal psychologist Robyn Adams is at breaking point after a previous case resulted in an attempt on her own life. But as she sits in the car about to head home, her phone rings. It’s Robyn’s cousin, Vicky Carter, who she hasn’t seen or heard from in years.
Vicky’s voice cracks down the phone. Her husband, Simon, has been found buried on Golden Sands beach. Desperate to help and determined not to let her last case get the better of her, Robyn returns to the coastal village where she spent summers with Vicky as a child.
Robyn knows that she has let Vicky down in the past and is set on making up for lost time. Throwing herself into the case, she combs through evidence, intent on discovering a lead that will help the local police.
But there is clearly someone who wants Robyn gone. She is convinced someone is watching her and when she begins to receive threatening notes, Robyn knows that she could be risking her life…
But Robyn won’t leave again – she owes it to Vicky to stay.
326 pages, Paperback
First published June 26, 2020
96 people are currently reading
774 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
June 16, 2020
Criminal psychologist Robyn Adams is at breaking point after her last case resulted in an attempt on her own life. But as she sits in the car about to head home, her phone rings. It’s Robyn’s cousin, Vicky Carter, who she hasn’t seen or heard from in years.
Vicky's husband, Simon, has been found buried on Golden Sands beach and she wants Robyn by her side as she is the only family she has left. Robyn returns to the coastal village and in desperation to help Vicky to make up for the past, she begins to investigate Simon's murder.
But as she starts investigating and collecting clues, she faces local police resistance and begins getting threatening notes and soon she realizes that someone wants her gone.
I haven't read the previous book featuring Robyn Adams but that did not affect much. This book can be read as a standalone thriller.
I was attracted to the book because of its cover and premise and hence, was excited to read it. But, as went on reading it wasn't as exciting as I had hoped it would be. The story was slow and it didn't grip my attention much.
Overall, it was good in parts and the climax was good enough!
Thank You to NetGalley and HQ Digital for this ARC!!
Vicky's husband, Simon, has been found buried on Golden Sands beach and she wants Robyn by her side as she is the only family she has left. Robyn returns to the coastal village and in desperation to help Vicky to make up for the past, she begins to investigate Simon's murder.
But as she starts investigating and collecting clues, she faces local police resistance and begins getting threatening notes and soon she realizes that someone wants her gone.
I haven't read the previous book featuring Robyn Adams but that did not affect much. This book can be read as a standalone thriller.
I was attracted to the book because of its cover and premise and hence, was excited to read it. But, as went on reading it wasn't as exciting as I had hoped it would be. The story was slow and it didn't grip my attention much.
Overall, it was good in parts and the climax was good enough!
Thank You to NetGalley and HQ Digital for this ARC!!
January 25, 2022
I found this incredibly slow and expected more of a build up/dramatic ending.
I found the way it was written incredibly annoying with the trailed off sentences, everyone always interrupting each other or just stop/starting what they were saying. Nobody talks like that constantly. Very off-putting and almost caused me to DNF.
I found the way it was written incredibly annoying with the trailed off sentences, everyone always interrupting each other or just stop/starting what they were saying. Nobody talks like that constantly. Very off-putting and almost caused me to DNF.
June 25, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ Digital for an advance copy of Her Husband’s Grave, a stand-alone psychological thriller featuring police psychologist Dr Robyn Adams, set in the fictional Yorkshire town of Golden Sands.
Robyn is still trying to recover from serious injuries she received in her previous case when her cousin Vicky Carter calls asking for help, her husband, Simon, has been murdered and the Police aren’t telling her anything.
I found Her Husband’s Grave to be a mixed bag. Initially I found it quite compulsive with a writing style that drew me in and an interesting plot premise - who would want to strangle family man Simon and bury his body in the sand? Why is there a strange dynamic between Vicky and Robyn? Even Robyn’s recent history, which is explained early on, hints at an exciting read. Unfortunately it doesn’t last as the novel is more interested in the psychology of the characters than the criminal investigation. This really doesn’t interest me and I started to find the novel boring. Robyn and Vicky seem to get into a fight every day and as the novel shifts from voice to voice we get both their reactions. Then there are the passages in italics of someone watching two teenage girls. There are developments in the investigation as the novel progresses but they are few and far between and lost in the morass of emotional turmoil.
It might have been a more interesting read if the characters had been more likeable. Vickie is well drawn in a standard picture of grief, too much drinking and lashing out as a function of not being able to comprehend her loss. It’s good but not something that interests me. I don’t even want to talk about Robyn as I dislike her so much. She’s an emotional mess with a painkiller addiction and impulse control issues. There is no sign of the smarts and intellectual rigour you would assume accompanies her vaunted ability. There are reasons for this, but, frankly, who cares in a crime novel?
Her Husband’s Grave is well enough done in its own way but it’s not my kind of reading.
Robyn is still trying to recover from serious injuries she received in her previous case when her cousin Vicky Carter calls asking for help, her husband, Simon, has been murdered and the Police aren’t telling her anything.
I found Her Husband’s Grave to be a mixed bag. Initially I found it quite compulsive with a writing style that drew me in and an interesting plot premise - who would want to strangle family man Simon and bury his body in the sand? Why is there a strange dynamic between Vicky and Robyn? Even Robyn’s recent history, which is explained early on, hints at an exciting read. Unfortunately it doesn’t last as the novel is more interested in the psychology of the characters than the criminal investigation. This really doesn’t interest me and I started to find the novel boring. Robyn and Vicky seem to get into a fight every day and as the novel shifts from voice to voice we get both their reactions. Then there are the passages in italics of someone watching two teenage girls. There are developments in the investigation as the novel progresses but they are few and far between and lost in the morass of emotional turmoil.
It might have been a more interesting read if the characters had been more likeable. Vickie is well drawn in a standard picture of grief, too much drinking and lashing out as a function of not being able to comprehend her loss. It’s good but not something that interests me. I don’t even want to talk about Robyn as I dislike her so much. She’s an emotional mess with a painkiller addiction and impulse control issues. There is no sign of the smarts and intellectual rigour you would assume accompanies her vaunted ability. There are reasons for this, but, frankly, who cares in a crime novel?
Her Husband’s Grave is well enough done in its own way but it’s not my kind of reading.
Read
August 2, 2020Simon was found dead on the beach, and it was up to Robyn, the criminal psychologist, to find the elusive thread which would lead the cops to the killer. A good murder mystery by author P L Kane.
The premise was exciting, and writing kept Robyn in focus. The interpersonal relationships that she developed with her cousin and niece touched my heart. The investigation was sporadic in the first half with Robyn getting rebuffed at her every attempt to help the cops. The threatening noted were a nice touch.
The niggles hit me; suspense was minimal, and the plot concentrated on family more than crime. But the story soon marched ahead when the need to unmask the killer built up. The ending was a pleasant surprise.
A sedate murder mystery.
The premise was exciting, and writing kept Robyn in focus. The interpersonal relationships that she developed with her cousin and niece touched my heart. The investigation was sporadic in the first half with Robyn getting rebuffed at her every attempt to help the cops. The threatening noted were a nice touch.
The niggles hit me; suspense was minimal, and the plot concentrated on family more than crime. But the story soon marched ahead when the need to unmask the killer built up. The ending was a pleasant surprise.
A sedate murder mystery.
June 17, 2020
In this thriller we follow Dr Robyn Adams a criminal psychologist who receives a phone call out of the blue from her cousin Vicky with the news that her husband has been found dead.
Unfortunately I really wasn't a fan of this one. I found Robyn really unlikeable and couldn't really connect with any of the characters
The writing style made it difficult for me to really get into it, I really wasn't a fan of the stop and start, stuttery dialogue between characters. What I love most about thrillers is the plot twist/ending and this was really underwhelming, we had all this build up and not really enough of a shock factor. It felt like it was very rushed and there wasn't much development in the end.
I did enjoy the relationship blossoming between Robyn and Detective Watts but would have liked to have seen more. I loved Mia as a character I thought she was a nice addition to cut through the tension.
But overall this didn't really grip me like thrillers usually do.
Unfortunately I really wasn't a fan of this one. I found Robyn really unlikeable and couldn't really connect with any of the characters
The writing style made it difficult for me to really get into it, I really wasn't a fan of the stop and start, stuttery dialogue between characters. What I love most about thrillers is the plot twist/ending and this was really underwhelming, we had all this build up and not really enough of a shock factor. It felt like it was very rushed and there wasn't much development in the end.
I did enjoy the relationship blossoming between Robyn and Detective Watts but would have liked to have seen more. I loved Mia as a character I thought she was a nice addition to cut through the tension.
But overall this didn't really grip me like thrillers usually do.
January 9, 2022
DNF at page 144 (45%)
Content Warnings
Characters - 1/10
All of the characters feel quite bland, nothing is making them likeable (or unlikeable) to me.
Atmoshpere - 0/10
There is no atmosphere, from the blurb it seems like the book should be dark, mysterious and tense but I'm not getting that from this.
Writing Style - 1/10
Plot - 1/10
Intrigue - 0/10
Nothing is making me want to read on. I put the book down and a day later I couldn't even remember what had happened!
Logic - 1/10
Enjoyment - 0/10
Overall - 0.5 / 10 (0.5⭐ [rounded up])
Content Warnings
Characters - 1/10
All of the characters feel quite bland, nothing is making them likeable (or unlikeable) to me.
Atmoshpere - 0/10
There is no atmosphere, from the blurb it seems like the book should be dark, mysterious and tense but I'm not getting that from this.
Writing Style - 1/10
Plot - 1/10
Intrigue - 0/10
Nothing is making me want to read on. I put the book down and a day later I couldn't even remember what had happened!
Logic - 1/10
Enjoyment - 0/10
Overall - 0.5 / 10 (0.5⭐ [rounded up])
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for the arc of Her Husband's Grave written by P.L Kane.
Thanks to P.L Kane for writing this utterly gripping book.
This follows Robyn Adams who is a criminal psychologist, she is seriously at breaking point as the last case she was on.. it resulted in her attempted to end her own life. She's in the car on the way home and she gets a phone call in which is from her cousin Vicky she tells Robyn that her husband has unfortunately have died...😔😔😔
Robyn has not heard from her cousin Vicky for many years until now.. Vicky's Husband was found on Golden Sands Beach, Robyn is determined and vigilant that she wants to help her cousin so she heads to the coastal place she spent with Vicky as a child during there summers. As she has let Vicky down in the past she won't let her down when she is in a time of need. She is on the case and goes through all the evidence which leads to finding a lead which may help the police solve the case,..... but a twist in the fact that someone wants Robyn gone and would do anything... She thinks and feels someone is watching her and she begins to receive threatening notes from someone but Robyn's life could be in grave danger.... but she is certain and definitely know she is gonna stay for Vicky as she owes it to her.
I loved this book for all the twists, turns and mysteries.. it had me hooked from page 1 right to the end. It was thrilling, gripping, hooking.
Definitely recommend
5 Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks to P.L Kane for writing this utterly gripping book.
This follows Robyn Adams who is a criminal psychologist, she is seriously at breaking point as the last case she was on.. it resulted in her attempted to end her own life. She's in the car on the way home and she gets a phone call in which is from her cousin Vicky she tells Robyn that her husband has unfortunately have died...😔😔😔
Robyn has not heard from her cousin Vicky for many years until now.. Vicky's Husband was found on Golden Sands Beach, Robyn is determined and vigilant that she wants to help her cousin so she heads to the coastal place she spent with Vicky as a child during there summers. As she has let Vicky down in the past she won't let her down when she is in a time of need. She is on the case and goes through all the evidence which leads to finding a lead which may help the police solve the case,..... but a twist in the fact that someone wants Robyn gone and would do anything... She thinks and feels someone is watching her and she begins to receive threatening notes from someone but Robyn's life could be in grave danger.... but she is certain and definitely know she is gonna stay for Vicky as she owes it to her.
I loved this book for all the twists, turns and mysteries.. it had me hooked from page 1 right to the end. It was thrilling, gripping, hooking.
Definitely recommend
5 Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
December 12, 2020
I found this crime book really interesting I'm not sure if its in a series but it read like it was. The main protagonist Robyn is called by her cousin Vicki and informed Vicki's husband has died and she needs her Robyn is a doctor of psychology and she has worked with the police on serial killer cases in the past and is still recovering from her last investigation
The book is really well written we flip between past and present and the past really adds to the present storyline. Robyn isn't wanted on the case by the local police but she pulls strings to get involved she somehow ends up completely tangled up within the investigation
Viki is a broken women and her grief is written really well She is trying to find ways to manage her grief aswell as raise her child mia at the same time. She is completely jealous of Robyns hot shot life yet Robyn is equally as jealous of Vicki's life.
A great story about love hurt betrayal commitment and family aswell as trying to find out who the murderer was. I felt like there were so many suspects I was changing my mind every few chapters. The book really kept me on my toes. I must say it got a bit wierd nearer the end but it felt like a natural progression of the craziness of the story.
Good crime book. Recommend and happy yo give 4 stars.
Thanks to netgalley the author and publisher for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my fair and honest review
The book is really well written we flip between past and present and the past really adds to the present storyline. Robyn isn't wanted on the case by the local police but she pulls strings to get involved she somehow ends up completely tangled up within the investigation
Viki is a broken women and her grief is written really well She is trying to find ways to manage her grief aswell as raise her child mia at the same time. She is completely jealous of Robyns hot shot life yet Robyn is equally as jealous of Vicki's life.
A great story about love hurt betrayal commitment and family aswell as trying to find out who the murderer was. I felt like there were so many suspects I was changing my mind every few chapters. The book really kept me on my toes. I must say it got a bit wierd nearer the end but it felt like a natural progression of the craziness of the story.
Good crime book. Recommend and happy yo give 4 stars.
Thanks to netgalley the author and publisher for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my fair and honest review
December 8, 2022
I'm not having a particularly good run of choices. This, like the last novel I read (an Allana Knight), maybe was intended for a female audience, not me. Also like the last novel I read, it was turgid, lacked any real intigue in the plot, and felt poorly written.
Here Robyn, a criminal psychologist, travels to her childhood village after her cousin's husband is found dead. There then follows three hundred pages of female characters endlessly blethering to themselves and other people about whether they do or do not fancy male characters, making stupid snap decisions, going to health spas, blah blah blah.. possible affair, consulting fucking psychics, unnecessary descriptions about clothes and stuff - and a threadbare plot that basically happened to the characters, whilst they were wasting everyone's time (me included) doing the above.
I did not like the pathetic characters. Irritatingly they were poorly delineated or just too similarly named - hence I kept having to check whether Vicky or Tracy or Bella or Lisa was the mother or the cop or the bit on the side or what. The whole plot (the little that actually happened) ended up feeling cobbled together unconvincingly - I just didn't buy that some random psychologist would be permitted to turn up, take police files home, and Nancy Drew the mystery to a conclusion.
Here Robyn, a criminal psychologist, travels to her childhood village after her cousin's husband is found dead. There then follows three hundred pages of female characters endlessly blethering to themselves and other people about whether they do or do not fancy male characters, making stupid snap decisions, going to health spas, blah blah blah.. possible affair, consulting fucking psychics, unnecessary descriptions about clothes and stuff - and a threadbare plot that basically happened to the characters, whilst they were wasting everyone's time (me included) doing the above.
I did not like the pathetic characters. Irritatingly they were poorly delineated or just too similarly named - hence I kept having to check whether Vicky or Tracy or Bella or Lisa was the mother or the cop or the bit on the side or what. The whole plot (the little that actually happened) ended up feeling cobbled together unconvincingly - I just didn't buy that some random psychologist would be permitted to turn up, take police files home, and Nancy Drew the mystery to a conclusion.
April 7, 2022
’m not gonna lie I was slightly worried about how much I’d enjoy this book to begin with and it took me a little while to get into it, but it was a pretty good read for me right now it’s a slow burner and it was ideal to pick up and read at the end of a long day but I didn’t find myself getting lost in it and usually would only read a couple of chapters as they’re quite short.
I loved how we got a insight of the characters personal thoughts it really helped to piece the story together! Even with this the end still took me completely by surprise I was not expecting that!! I did struggle with parts of the book being quite triggering and hard to read and I don’t really understand why some of them were included and it didn’t seem to advance the storyline!
I loved how we got a insight of the characters personal thoughts it really helped to piece the story together! Even with this the end still took me completely by surprise I was not expecting that!! I did struggle with parts of the book being quite triggering and hard to read and I don’t really understand why some of them were included and it didn’t seem to advance the storyline!
March 14, 2023
Oh dear - where will I start?
I trudged through the 307 pages so you don’t have to.
What a mismatch of a story. 3 different storylines (none of which have anything to do with a grave) which plod along; with increasing amounts of repetition; but have really no relevance to each other & they certainly don’t tie up well in the end - weird.
This book very nearly ended up on my unfinished shelf but I kept reading with the vain hope it would get better - it didn’t
I trudged through the 307 pages so you don’t have to.
What a mismatch of a story. 3 different storylines (none of which have anything to do with a grave) which plod along; with increasing amounts of repetition; but have really no relevance to each other & they certainly don’t tie up well in the end - weird.
This book very nearly ended up on my unfinished shelf but I kept reading with the vain hope it would get better - it didn’t
December 30, 2022
Not very likeable characters. Very distracting dialogue where sentences are left incomplete and lots of ……..
Not a strong story line and didn’t hold my attention
Not a strong story line and didn’t hold my attention
April 21, 2024
I was surprised to read that the author has written a number of books. This has the feel of an amateur, self-published novel, one that needed a decent edit before publishing - but didn’t get one. The writing style isn’t great, the dialogue is tired and clichéd, and the characters aren’t particularly likeable. I hate to DNF, but I wanted to on a number of occasions and ended up skim reading a lot of the later chapters, just to get it finished as quickly as possible.
July 4, 2024
I really disliked this book. There was zero suspense and it was just really boring
October 3, 2021
The first part of the book was really compelling and I enjoyed the writing style. The character of Robyn is damaged but really interesting and the book is intersected with parts of her past which really make the character dynamic. The character of Vicky is well written as a grieving widow who is coming to terms with her husbands passing and what that means however other characters are less interesting. O’Brien is written as a thuggish bully and doesn’t really have any dimension at all.
The plot is good until about 3/4 of the way through when the story suddenly changes. Reading it I felt that there was resolution to the crimes but then realised I had 100 pages left. The remainder of the story was a clunky ending which tried to bring various parts of the story together and didn’t do so very well.
Moreover the book loses steam pretty quickly. The first part of the book is well paced but it quickly becomes dull and nothing of note happens. In fact there is a second crime which is pointless to the story and doesn’t add anything. I also found the part of the plot including the threatening notes to be unnecessary and an attempt to add suspense without achieving it. Note this part of the plot is never properly explained.
Overall I wouldn’t recommend this book and don’t think it’s worthwhile, the only reason it gets 2 stars and not one is because some of the characters are interesting and the beginning of the book is good.
The plot is good until about 3/4 of the way through when the story suddenly changes. Reading it I felt that there was resolution to the crimes but then realised I had 100 pages left. The remainder of the story was a clunky ending which tried to bring various parts of the story together and didn’t do so very well.
Moreover the book loses steam pretty quickly. The first part of the book is well paced but it quickly becomes dull and nothing of note happens. In fact there is a second crime which is pointless to the story and doesn’t add anything. I also found the part of the plot including the threatening notes to be unnecessary and an attempt to add suspense without achieving it. Note this part of the plot is never properly explained.
Overall I wouldn’t recommend this book and don’t think it’s worthwhile, the only reason it gets 2 stars and not one is because some of the characters are interesting and the beginning of the book is good.
February 25, 2022
This book starts when a metal detectorist finds a body. Robyn Adams is a psychologist who has worked with Police on some high profile cases and achieved some great results. However, this time its personal as the dead man is the husband of her cousin, Vicki. Robyn hopes to support Vicki but also help Police find the killer.
I enjoyed this book initially. There is a lot of information about a case Robyn worked on previously which made me think this book is a sequel to another - with some exploration though this doesn't appear to be the case. This book is stand alone and the first about Robyn Adams. About half way through I lost interest and by the end, I didn't really care what had happened. Robyn isn't a very likable character and for a psychologist she seems to have made a complete mess of her own life. We don't really see any skill from her - just interst in the case and a high level of nosiness. Ultimately I think this book is such a disappointment because the story being told in this book doesn't seem half as interesting as the past cases we are told Robyn has worked on. I have no idea why the author would focus on this story when the back story is likely to be far more interesting!
I enjoyed this book initially. There is a lot of information about a case Robyn worked on previously which made me think this book is a sequel to another - with some exploration though this doesn't appear to be the case. This book is stand alone and the first about Robyn Adams. About half way through I lost interest and by the end, I didn't really care what had happened. Robyn isn't a very likable character and for a psychologist she seems to have made a complete mess of her own life. We don't really see any skill from her - just interst in the case and a high level of nosiness. Ultimately I think this book is such a disappointment because the story being told in this book doesn't seem half as interesting as the past cases we are told Robyn has worked on. I have no idea why the author would focus on this story when the back story is likely to be far more interesting!
April 18, 2021
If the option for half stars was available I would have given this 2.5 but as it isn’t I have rounded up to three.
I didn’t feel the urge to stay up late to finish this or rush home to pick up my book. The storyline was okay and plodding along but I felt that (what I thought was the ending after 3/4) was then replaced by something else which felt a bit random and a let down.
I definitely wouldn’t rush to read another of this authors books and sadly wouldn’t recommend.
I don’t like giving more negative than positive reviews but in my opinion this book wasn’t great.
I didn’t feel the urge to stay up late to finish this or rush home to pick up my book. The storyline was okay and plodding along but I felt that (what I thought was the ending after 3/4) was then replaced by something else which felt a bit random and a let down.
I definitely wouldn’t rush to read another of this authors books and sadly wouldn’t recommend.
I don’t like giving more negative than positive reviews but in my opinion this book wasn’t great.
September 12, 2020
A dead man found buried in the sand prompts somewhat famed psychologist to look into the investigation at her cousin's request. A bit predictable with some red herrings thrown in. Not very energetic as mysteries and thrillers go.
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley
December 16, 2021
Boring
Please look at the reviews wish I had paid more attention to them and not bothered.
Boring, slow and not new or interesting.
Please look at the reviews wish I had paid more attention to them and not bothered.
Boring, slow and not new or interesting.
March 11, 2023
2.5
Pros
- there was a good idea, it just wasn't well executed
- it was short
Cons:
- certain phrases were repeated so frequently throughout the book, but they didn't really have any relevance to the book, which was annoying on both counts
- it was all a bit far fetched
- 'build up' was basically non existent
- the book really only got going in the last 30 pages
Comments:
It wasn't the worst book I've ever read, but I didn't look forward to reading it. The idea was quite a good one but I felt the book skimmed quickly over white big topics such as rape, abuse against women, family history, affairs etc, and this made it felt as though it was written by a man (not sure if P L Kane is a man or not, but there wasn't really any emotion in the book, which made it feel very 2 dimensional)
It felt like an inferior attempt at writing the next M J Arlidge series, but it wasn't good. Overall, wouldn't recommend.
MY BOOK RATING SCALE
I try to keep all of my book ratings on par with one another, and therefore have set the parameters below, bearing in mind that I do not DNF books:
1) Wished I could DNF, with no or very few redeeming features.
2) Poor, but had more redeeming features than the first category (perhaps a moral behind the story, or true life experience). Wouldn't recommend these books.
3) most books should fall into this category, as average books. Not outstanding in any particular way, but was an acceptable version of the genre and story. Often these books have potential to be much better, but the concept or characters are not developed enough.
4) these books are great versions of their genre, but not outstanding enough that I would recommend to people who aren't interested in the genre/reading in general. They are excellent examples of certain parts of the books, with few faults, although there were some parts that could have been strengthened.
5) excellent books. Should be very rare! Little to no room for improvement, and recommendable to anyone, regardless of their interest in reading or genre preference.
Pros
- there was a good idea, it just wasn't well executed
- it was short
Cons:
- certain phrases were repeated so frequently throughout the book, but they didn't really have any relevance to the book, which was annoying on both counts
- it was all a bit far fetched
- 'build up' was basically non existent
- the book really only got going in the last 30 pages
Comments:
It wasn't the worst book I've ever read, but I didn't look forward to reading it. The idea was quite a good one but I felt the book skimmed quickly over white big topics such as rape, abuse against women, family history, affairs etc, and this made it felt as though it was written by a man (not sure if P L Kane is a man or not, but there wasn't really any emotion in the book, which made it feel very 2 dimensional)
It felt like an inferior attempt at writing the next M J Arlidge series, but it wasn't good. Overall, wouldn't recommend.
MY BOOK RATING SCALE
I try to keep all of my book ratings on par with one another, and therefore have set the parameters below, bearing in mind that I do not DNF books:
1) Wished I could DNF, with no or very few redeeming features.
2) Poor, but had more redeeming features than the first category (perhaps a moral behind the story, or true life experience). Wouldn't recommend these books.
3) most books should fall into this category, as average books. Not outstanding in any particular way, but was an acceptable version of the genre and story. Often these books have potential to be much better, but the concept or characters are not developed enough.
4) these books are great versions of their genre, but not outstanding enough that I would recommend to people who aren't interested in the genre/reading in general. They are excellent examples of certain parts of the books, with few faults, although there were some parts that could have been strengthened.
5) excellent books. Should be very rare! Little to no room for improvement, and recommendable to anyone, regardless of their interest in reading or genre preference.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2020
My thoughts about this cleverly written tensed gripping thriller, was outstanding P L Kane’s My Husband’s Grave is truly unbelievable masterpiece. What I liked about the story was it gave me goosebumps while reading this when it was revealed who killed vicky’s husband, was just fantastic.Author P l Kane’s writing,is truly unbelievable, loved how he has written a powerful story that is not just outstanding but it is brilliantly written, a nail biting ending, that surely packs a punch, the characters, I loved the most in this gripping tale, was Criminal psychologist Robyn Adams, was fantastic, loved how she goes out and investigates the murder of her cousin Vicky’s husband, and to reveal who killed her was fantastic. a powerful dark and twisted thriller that is truly remarkable, highly recommended. I would like to say thank you to HQ Stories and Netgalley and author P L Kane, for giving me a chance to read and review this outstanding thriller. 💥💥💥💥⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 8, 2020
This isn’t your typical fast paced thriller, this is more an in depth view in the psychology that comes with crime. With the main character Dr Robyn Adam, being a consultant psychologist who has previously worked on high profile cases, she seems the perfect person for her cousin Vicky to contact when her husband Simon is found dead. Unfortunately Robyn’s meddling is not wanted by the local police or by the person sending her threatening notes. Very Scooby Doo.
This book opens with a heart attack, a watch and a body so as soon as I started reading I was sucked in. I was then given Robyn’s harrowing back story and the fallout she is dealing with from previous cases.
A small coastal village with connections to Robyn’s past was the perfect setting as what comes with that is often a small village mentality that is not accepting of non locals interfering.
With the use of regular thriller tropes to keep the story flowing it still had me guessing as to who was behind it all. However for me personally I would have preferred less viewpoints as it did get a bit confusing at times and I became a bit sidetracked.
Oh and as a little side note, authors please stop writing female characters with alcohol or drug dependency issues. Some of us women can deal with hard knocks and be devilishly smart without the need of substances as an emotional crutch. Please make your women mentally and physically strong and capable. I promise you won’t regret it and many female readers will applaud you for it.
This book opens with a heart attack, a watch and a body so as soon as I started reading I was sucked in. I was then given Robyn’s harrowing back story and the fallout she is dealing with from previous cases.
A small coastal village with connections to Robyn’s past was the perfect setting as what comes with that is often a small village mentality that is not accepting of non locals interfering.
With the use of regular thriller tropes to keep the story flowing it still had me guessing as to who was behind it all. However for me personally I would have preferred less viewpoints as it did get a bit confusing at times and I became a bit sidetracked.
Oh and as a little side note, authors please stop writing female characters with alcohol or drug dependency issues. Some of us women can deal with hard knocks and be devilishly smart without the need of substances as an emotional crutch. Please make your women mentally and physically strong and capable. I promise you won’t regret it and many female readers will applaud you for it.
June 26, 2024
I love a page turning whodunit but sadly the grant reveal was lacklustre. It was an easy read though so I’ll give it that.
June 19, 2020
Even if I liked the style of writing I found the story hard to follow and didn't liked the characters.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
December 18, 2021
I didn't find this read particularly gripping. I found that I also wasn't invested in the identity of the killer and when it was revealed who it was, it was a bit underwhelming.
The story, I felt, was more revolved around family relationships and the murder was more in the background. I found myself drifting off and having to re-read paragraphs. So it didn't really have me hooked.
It's not the worst book I've read this year, but I've definitely read better.
The story, I felt, was more revolved around family relationships and the murder was more in the background. I found myself drifting off and having to re-read paragraphs. So it didn't really have me hooked.
It's not the worst book I've read this year, but I've definitely read better.
October 31, 2023
The best characters were the dead ones
August 25, 2020
Robyn is surprised to receive a call from her cousin Vicky, someone she hasn’t spoken to for years, asking for help. She jumps in her car and returns to Golden Sands to find that her cousins Husband has been found murdered, buried on the beach; and she agrees to help. But she has to try and get in with the police first…..
As she delves into the investigation, other secrets are uncovered, and Robyn finds herself hitting an all time low. But despite her own problems, she promised Mia (her cousin’s little girl), that she would find the killer; and she is determined. But the more she investigates, the more danger she finds herself in. And as secrets she’s been trying to hide come out, can her newly found relationship with her cousin survive?
There were some bits I really enjoyed about this book and others that I wasn’t so sure about. Starting with the characters, Robyn isn’t the warmest person and I found her quite hard to like. Although she has her own issues going on, as well as an addiction to painkillers, as a psychologist I would have thought she’d have her head screwed on a bit more. But then from what she appears to have gone through recently (in the previous book?), and her past I can see why she is messed up. However, that doesn’t excuse the things she does, and the things that have happened in her past.
Vicky again, isn’t a particularly nice character. She’s obviously in a bad place because she’s just lost her Husband, but her attitude and the way she goes about things is definitely questionable. Although I wasn’t a massive fan of Robyn, I did feel for her. Vicky asked for her to come and then treats her terribly.
Saying that though, there were a couple of characters I really liked. Watts was brilliant. Poor guy though; he needs to realise he’s far to good for Robyn and go find himself a nice girl!! And Mia was cute, wise and funny – a fantastic little character.
In terms of the plot, I enjoyed the storyline behind the murder and the things that the investigations uncovers. There are bits throughout the book where the chapter is told by an unknown source, and refers back in time. It becomes clear what this is later but I was slightly confused by this at first. I felt at the times that the plot focussed a lot of the family issues, rather than the crime; but this just added an extra layer to the story for me.
The pace of the novel was pretty good, although I felt that it suddenly ended. There was a lot of suspense building up to the conclusions, but I felt that the ending came quite quickly and would have liked a bit more detail. I felt like some of the things were wrapped up in a sentence or two.
Although the storyline involves murder and some other darker subjects, I found this to be quite a light read, and found that the writing style was quite light hearted. The narrative between the characters is quite stuttery, and at first this put me off my flow a bit, but I actually came to quite enjoy this later as it made it feel more real.
Overall I did enjoy this, and would definitely read more from this author again. Although there were a few areas that niggled me, it didn’t put me off the story. And even though I don’t particularly like Robyn, I’d still be interested to see what happens to her next. Hopefully she sorts herself out!!
As she delves into the investigation, other secrets are uncovered, and Robyn finds herself hitting an all time low. But despite her own problems, she promised Mia (her cousin’s little girl), that she would find the killer; and she is determined. But the more she investigates, the more danger she finds herself in. And as secrets she’s been trying to hide come out, can her newly found relationship with her cousin survive?
There were some bits I really enjoyed about this book and others that I wasn’t so sure about. Starting with the characters, Robyn isn’t the warmest person and I found her quite hard to like. Although she has her own issues going on, as well as an addiction to painkillers, as a psychologist I would have thought she’d have her head screwed on a bit more. But then from what she appears to have gone through recently (in the previous book?), and her past I can see why she is messed up. However, that doesn’t excuse the things she does, and the things that have happened in her past.
Vicky again, isn’t a particularly nice character. She’s obviously in a bad place because she’s just lost her Husband, but her attitude and the way she goes about things is definitely questionable. Although I wasn’t a massive fan of Robyn, I did feel for her. Vicky asked for her to come and then treats her terribly.
Saying that though, there were a couple of characters I really liked. Watts was brilliant. Poor guy though; he needs to realise he’s far to good for Robyn and go find himself a nice girl!! And Mia was cute, wise and funny – a fantastic little character.
In terms of the plot, I enjoyed the storyline behind the murder and the things that the investigations uncovers. There are bits throughout the book where the chapter is told by an unknown source, and refers back in time. It becomes clear what this is later but I was slightly confused by this at first. I felt at the times that the plot focussed a lot of the family issues, rather than the crime; but this just added an extra layer to the story for me.
The pace of the novel was pretty good, although I felt that it suddenly ended. There was a lot of suspense building up to the conclusions, but I felt that the ending came quite quickly and would have liked a bit more detail. I felt like some of the things were wrapped up in a sentence or two.
Although the storyline involves murder and some other darker subjects, I found this to be quite a light read, and found that the writing style was quite light hearted. The narrative between the characters is quite stuttery, and at first this put me off my flow a bit, but I actually came to quite enjoy this later as it made it feel more real.
Overall I did enjoy this, and would definitely read more from this author again. Although there were a few areas that niggled me, it didn’t put me off the story. And even though I don’t particularly like Robyn, I’d still be interested to see what happens to her next. Hopefully she sorts herself out!!
August 6, 2020
Oooh, I do love a good psychological thriller and this was one very good psychological thriller indeed! There are certain ingredients in a good thriller. The plot line has to grip you very early on. As do the characters, love or hate them you have to want to find out what happens to them. What makes them tick and, of course, what secrets they hold. These boxes are all ticked here!
Robyn is quite a complex character. She assists the police in tracking down and convicting serial killers. Something that has put her in grave danger in the past. She’s seen evil head on and after she has helped bring it in, she then has to try and live with the experience. She is certainly damaged and dealing with her own demons and perhaps the chase is merely a distraction for what is at work in her own head.
When her cousin’s husband is found dead, she is pulled back to the coastal village where she spent many summers growing up. A place with many memories and not all of them good. Her cousin Vicky has called for her help but Robyn feels a deep sense of unease upon returning. Someone doesn’t want her there and they certainly don’t want her digging around in police matters. But just what lengths will they go to to stop her? Past secrets come back to haunt her and again her life is on the line and this time she could quite possibly lose everything.
Paul has written a great many books and he certainly knows what he is doing, this novel still managed to maintain a freshness and a sense of not knowing how it will turn out. It kept me guessing and the twists and turns had me turning those pages. It is an entertaining and exciting thriller, thoroughly enjoyable and gripping. I wonder if we might see more of Doctor Robyn Adams? I certainly hope so!
Robyn is quite a complex character. She assists the police in tracking down and convicting serial killers. Something that has put her in grave danger in the past. She’s seen evil head on and after she has helped bring it in, she then has to try and live with the experience. She is certainly damaged and dealing with her own demons and perhaps the chase is merely a distraction for what is at work in her own head.
When her cousin’s husband is found dead, she is pulled back to the coastal village where she spent many summers growing up. A place with many memories and not all of them good. Her cousin Vicky has called for her help but Robyn feels a deep sense of unease upon returning. Someone doesn’t want her there and they certainly don’t want her digging around in police matters. But just what lengths will they go to to stop her? Past secrets come back to haunt her and again her life is on the line and this time she could quite possibly lose everything.
Paul has written a great many books and he certainly knows what he is doing, this novel still managed to maintain a freshness and a sense of not knowing how it will turn out. It kept me guessing and the twists and turns had me turning those pages. It is an entertaining and exciting thriller, thoroughly enjoyable and gripping. I wonder if we might see more of Doctor Robyn Adams? I certainly hope so!
August 9, 2020
‘Her Husband’s Grave’ was a tightly plotted thriller based around a psychologist Robyn who has returned to her ‘summer home’ of Golden Sands at the bequest of her cousin Vicky. Vicky’s husband has been found murdered and buried on the beach. There are a lot of twists and turns in this book and once the author had set the scene, they just kept on coming right to the very end. I really enjoyed the final twist at the story’s conclusion.
A lot of crime fiction nowadays has a protagonist who is damaged in some way. However, Robyn still came across as approachable and empathetic whilst still being completely messed up. I think that because a lot of her mental health problems revolves around a previous case you can understand why she would act they way she does. I think there is a lot more hiding under her surface though and could easily see this becoming a series. Is this going to happen Paul??
I really enjoyed the plot and there are a few stand out scenes for me! I loved the library scene and the one where Robyn is a peeping tom! They both made me laugh. They were good counter-balances to some of the darker scenes in the book. I can’t say too much as I don’t want to spoil the plot for you guys.
I don’t know why but the setting of Golden Sands made me think of Scarborough. It’s the right location and some things like the castle, the funfair, and pubs being taken over by chains just made me think of my home town.
If you are looking for a great thriller to spend a sunny day reading then this is the book for you! It’s compelling from the opening scene, the pace ramps up in the second half of the book and it’s just a great thriller. I could spin platitudes aplenty but why make it complicated. Basically, it’s a 4⭐️ read.
A lot of crime fiction nowadays has a protagonist who is damaged in some way. However, Robyn still came across as approachable and empathetic whilst still being completely messed up. I think that because a lot of her mental health problems revolves around a previous case you can understand why she would act they way she does. I think there is a lot more hiding under her surface though and could easily see this becoming a series. Is this going to happen Paul??
I really enjoyed the plot and there are a few stand out scenes for me! I loved the library scene and the one where Robyn is a peeping tom! They both made me laugh. They were good counter-balances to some of the darker scenes in the book. I can’t say too much as I don’t want to spoil the plot for you guys.
I don’t know why but the setting of Golden Sands made me think of Scarborough. It’s the right location and some things like the castle, the funfair, and pubs being taken over by chains just made me think of my home town.
If you are looking for a great thriller to spend a sunny day reading then this is the book for you! It’s compelling from the opening scene, the pace ramps up in the second half of the book and it’s just a great thriller. I could spin platitudes aplenty but why make it complicated. Basically, it’s a 4⭐️ read.
June 27, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for this advance reader copy of Her Husband's Grave by P L Kane.
This was a very standard, yet enjoyable thriller. There were the traditional elements of a thriller, protaganist with a troubled past, murder in the small town that the protaganist if from, and local cops who aren't interested in help from big ciy hotshots. There were also twists and turns that I didn't predict, which made this an enjoyable read, even if you read thrillers like it's your job.
The protaganist, Robyn, is a psychologist who has tangled with serial killers in her recent past, and Robyn's cousin Vicky, the wife of the murder victim and the reason that Robyn comes to Golden Sands to help solve the murder. We also meet Mia, Vicky's young daughter and Aunty Rob's biggest fan. Robyn's relationship with her family is strained after a long absence, creating mistrust in Vicky and a determination by Robyn to solve this case and get back in her cousin's good graces.
For thriller fans, this will not disappoint. My chief complaints were small, such as the use of obvious thriller tropes that were easy to spot and the author's decision to have some chapters come from the perspective of secondary characters, instead of focusing on the narratives of the two main characters, Robyn and Vicky. I wanted to hear more from them and the chapters that focused on thoughts and observations of other characters felt like wasted space in an otherwise intriguing book. I would definitely read another P L Kane thriller but I probably wouldn't seek it out on purpose.
This was a very standard, yet enjoyable thriller. There were the traditional elements of a thriller, protaganist with a troubled past, murder in the small town that the protaganist if from, and local cops who aren't interested in help from big ciy hotshots. There were also twists and turns that I didn't predict, which made this an enjoyable read, even if you read thrillers like it's your job.
The protaganist, Robyn, is a psychologist who has tangled with serial killers in her recent past, and Robyn's cousin Vicky, the wife of the murder victim and the reason that Robyn comes to Golden Sands to help solve the murder. We also meet Mia, Vicky's young daughter and Aunty Rob's biggest fan. Robyn's relationship with her family is strained after a long absence, creating mistrust in Vicky and a determination by Robyn to solve this case and get back in her cousin's good graces.
For thriller fans, this will not disappoint. My chief complaints were small, such as the use of obvious thriller tropes that were easy to spot and the author's decision to have some chapters come from the perspective of secondary characters, instead of focusing on the narratives of the two main characters, Robyn and Vicky. I wanted to hear more from them and the chapters that focused on thoughts and observations of other characters felt like wasted space in an otherwise intriguing book. I would definitely read another P L Kane thriller but I probably wouldn't seek it out on purpose.
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