Heaven Calling by Matt Shaw

This is the story of Holly and Josh. They haven't been married long when Josh is involved in a fatal car accident. Holly is left suddenly on her own....but then the phone calls start. Is Josh calling from 'the beyond' or is she going mad with grief? All she knows is she misses him desperately....

This was a huge departure for Matt. For his first foray into the supernatural romance this was a more than decent effort. The characters were true to life, and the story flowed well. I liked the going back and forth between past and present as it gave me a chance to get to know the characters properly. I loved the story, and I am unashamed to admit that I had tears rolling down my cheeks come the end. It's nice to see Matt DOES have a softer side and it would be nice if he brought it out more often!

Lurker by Gary Fry

This is the story of Meg and Harry. Meg has had a breakdown following the loss of their baby. They have moved to the coast to get away from all the memories and to allow Meg to recuperate. Harry still commutes to work and often leaves Meg alone for extended periods of time. Things start to get creepy, and Meg begins to see things. Handprints on the house, bad nightmares and something lurking in the cliffs all play on Meg's fragile psyche.

I liked this, but I didn't love it as much as others of Gary's I have read. It was ultimately a sad story and was quite stark in places. I enjoyed the build up to the end, and the tension crackled in the second half of the book. I truly felt for Meg being left alone so soon after her tragedy, and how fragile her mind seemed to become. Somehow though this just didn't seem to flow as well as others I have read, that being said it was an enjoyable story that I would still recommend.   

Shattered by C. S. Kane

This is the story of Stacey and Liam.They are forced to move into a tiny apartment in a rough area of the city due to Liam's new job and financial constraints. Almost as soon as they move in things start to go wrong. Stacey begins to have terrible nightmares and alarming visions in the house. As her university work and relationships suffer, she needs to find out what is wrong with the house, and what does the mysterious neighbour next door know about it?

This was creepy and scary, and I found myself totally unable to put it down. I was totally drawn into Stacey's terror as things escalated, and her life started to fall apart around her. The descriptions were vivid, and the tension was palpable and kept me glued to my Kindle. The ending was literally explosive, and (pardon the pun) blew me away. I loved it, and I think fans of haunted house stories will love it too!  

Mr Midnight by Allan Leverone

This is the story of Caitlyn Connelly. All her life she has experienced visions, she calls them Flickers. Given up for adoption soon after birth, she has always wanted to find out about her birth family. Armed with the knowledge of the whereabouts of her birth mother, she sets off to try and find out her family history. The truth she so desperately seeks though may not be what she want so hear, and what is her link to a prolific serial killer known only as Mr Midnight?

This was a belter! I have long been a fan of Allan's work and this one is in my favourite genre of serial killer thriller. The story started off with two distinct threads, and as the story shot to it's startling conclusion they begin to merge into one. The characters were solid, and the story packed a giant punch. Allan certainly knows how to wring out the emotions of a reader, and ramp up the tension! Apart from a couple of squeamish moments, this relied very much on show don't tell. I recommend this totally for fans of the genre, Allan Leverone and Darkfuse.

Harvest of the Dead by Ian Woodhead and Christine Sutton

This is the story of Greendale Falls, a small town in the US, it has been hit with the zombie virus from the UK. The local school principle is head of 'The Enforcers', a band of townsfolk tasked with killing zombies on sight. It is also his job to ensure the town is kept safe from the shambling hordes. Something has happened to him though and is not the man he used to be...

I loved this. It was a great idea to get Christine on board and take the apocalypse to the US, it added a whole new dimension to the series. The characters were brilliant, and their backstories made them seem real.  There was even the obligatory bad guy everyone loves to hate! The pace was relentless, and the ending left the way clear for more. This was another great addition to Ian's Zombie Armageddon series, and with Christine Sutton on board there is a wealth of new content to come hopefully.