Another new author to me but an excellent read.

In many ways Adam is the ideal boyfriend. Attentive, aware of all Laura's likes and dislikes, buys her flowers, cooks , cleans but Laura has never met Adam. Laura is in a bad place in life generally and has never gotten over the car crash that killed her family. So is further disturbed when strange occurrences happen leaving her feeling more vulnerable. 
The police won't listen to Laura's concerns so she is forced to fight back on her own. 

This is quite a disturbing novel in someways but an interesting read. Adam Bourne is a serial killer who murders women and cuts off their lips. The story is told by going back and forwards to incidents in Adams life and things become clearer to why he is the way he is. A creepy novel that is probably not best read when alone.


I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Flowers for the Dead was a did not finish book for me. The synopsis sounded intriguing but I did not like the writing style. I thought it wooden, short sentences, no emotion. Shame because this book has some crazy good reviews!

DNF - is an automated three stars from me.

3.5

“Some people are just born twisted… and some people are made that way.”

Adam is a real gentleman. All he has ever wanted is to find his true love, to make her happy, to take care of her and tend to her every need. He longs to find someone he can really be with.
Therefore, he is looking for damsels in distress. They are so unhappy and that is why he chooses them. They need someone to look after them. He just wants to make them happy.
No matter what it takes.

Because sometimes bad things happen even when you have the best of intentions.

They say if you love someone, set them free. That is what Adam does. 

Her body has been laid out, eyes closed, with her arms across her chest. She looks so at peace. She should be because she is dead. A bunch of daffodils are placed on her and around her body. Her face is bloody. Her lips are gone.

She is not the first victim and she is not going to be the last.

Thanks to the author, Bookouture and the NetGalley for providing me with a copy.

I have read one book before by this author and I was a big fan. This one is another OMG book that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was just brilliant.

Children are influenced by so many people when they are growing up. The most important ones are the parents and they are often responsible for their offspring's mental health. When something goes wrong that's when the 'fun' starts. Well, what  some call fun, means a nightmare for others.

Sometimes you hate the killer. Sometimes you feel for them. This time my heart broke...

The author takes us to the past to fill us in on the background story of the killer and to explain why he does what he does. At the same time we are on the front row in the present witnessing every single action. 

I loved it and can't wait for a new book by this writer. 5 stars? Of course!!

Thank you, Barbara Copperthwaite and Bookouture

Laura is unable to stop obsessing over the night her parents and brother died in a car accident. Survivor's guilt and loneliness do not help her situation.

Then we have Adam, a victim of child abuse and loneliness, himself. He is constantly searching for a woman who is "The One". However, is Adam a serial killer? After one strange kill, he  stalks Laura with flowers (his favorite calling card). And more...

Perhaps this time Adam may have chosen the wrong person to be his next "The One"...

A gripping thriller.

Many Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a suspenseful and different kind of read.

A car accident wipes out Laura's family and she is struggling with every day life.Unknown to laura she is in the sights of a dangerous stalker called Adam who believes she is the woman of his dreams.5*

While I did enjoy this book I was confused as well.  The story started off so great and had me tingling with anticipation just found that the anticipation didn't carry over to the full story for me.

I do believe that this has to do with the fact I had wanted to read this for so long.

This is a great example of the genre: dark, twisty, and gripping.

Adam is almost impossible not to like, akin to Kepnes' Joe, from You/Hidden Bodies.  he is articulate, caring (in his own very bizarre way) and has a backstory that illicits, if not sympathy, understanding.

The reality is, he was by far my favourite character. Laura I found to be very two-dimensional and dull. The reality is I couldn't bring myself to care whether she got away from Adam or not.  I don't know if you should ever find yourself cheering for the bad guy!

Other than that, I have to commend the idea, the research and the way it was pulled together.  A bit slower than I'd like though, but that's me being an impatient reader probably.

Ummm, why did I like Adam? Is there something wrong with me. Maybe it’s not like. But I felt sorry for him. It reminded me of You by Caroline Kepnes in some ways — for the Joe/Adam reason. 

Having said that, the author is a genius. Her mind is dark and twisted, but genius. A bit frightening!

I really enjoyed it, though in some parts I felt it dragged and was drawn out too long.

This was an interesting read which had me hooked from the start. Serial killer stories are not unique but this guys MO was totally different to the normal stories I read and was very exciting. If you end up on this guys radar watch out. Although the home help is useful the end result is always the same and not pretty. In this book it’s very hard for the police to even understand what is going on after they find a body with her lips missing and then when a young girl reports someone is breaking into her flat and doing her washing up they are quick to dismiss her. Maybe they should be taking her fears more seriously.

This is the story of a woman outsmarting her stalker. There is no suspense or mystery as both sides of the story are told in the same chapter. The pace is quite slow and the police get to work things out only very late. The narrative feels repetitive. The last 10% of the book is good. I could not connect with this book. I don't like to post negative reviews as any author would have put in a lot of effort into their book. Sorry to the author and the publisher. 2.5 stars

This book is a twisted love story.  An unassuming female and her insistent paramour, the issue is she doesn’t know him.  Read this thriller that takes obsession to another level.

Laura is struggling with a devastating loss, a car accident that killed her family. She’s having a hard time coping with day to day life and has no idea that she has become the object of a dangerous stalker’s affections. Adam is sure that Laura is the woman of his dreams, and he’s sure he’s the man to make all her dreams come true. Shades of You in this creepy story of obsession, with a bit of a feminist twist

This book was quite the thriller! It was suspenseful and kept me on my toes. It is a bit graphic and terrifying but engaging and intriguing,

Fantastic book. It was Unputdownable.. Loved the characters and the way the story was laid out. 

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for am early release of this book.

Adam is a serial killer who has his eyes set on Laura. Laura is his perfect woman and he wants her. Laura is gentle but survival is her goal after her family were wiped out. Can she beat Adam so she can live? 
I loved this book and the characters were fantastic.

#FlowersfortheDead #NetGalley
Fantastic, gripping, page turning. Drew you in and kept you there until the very end. Highly recommended. 
Julie Louise Clayton, thirty-two used to live in 
Dragonfly Lane. Now her body is found by a dog walker. Detective Sergeant Michael Bishop is here for the case but it's confirmed that this case is not as simple as it seems. Detective Chief Inspector Simon Phillips is here too to investigate. 
Dr Samantha Holliday, the pathologist confirms that the killer knew where to exert pressure so that there would be no chance of the victim's survival. The killer had removed her lips. 
The opening scene of the story started with Adam watching Laura. He loved her very much. He wanted her very much. But here comes the twist. Laura doesn't know who Adam is. Or does she? 
Why Adam killed her?  
Laura was also watching him. The story ends with a sucker of a punch. Adam and Laura's characters were twisted. They would force you to think who's telling the truth. 
Laura was seeing her GP and that would make it clear that she had problem of some kind. 
I loved Dr Samantha Holliday the most. She's the true pathologist I've ever read in a story. Then I loved Adam and Laura. However DS and DCI were good in their roles but Samantha steals the show for me. 
Narration of the story is brilliant. The authoress has done a wonderful research in forensic investigation. I loved the way she wrote her every word.
Publication date of this book is 6/9 so I'm very excited to share my review with my fellow Authors Bloggers Followers Friends and Family. 
Really looking forward for the release of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an advance copy of this awesome psychological thriller.