Cover Image: Close to the Bone

Close to the Bone

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

The book follows 2 stories which come together really well.
It is very fast paced and feels so true to life.
It does lack some tension at times

Was this review helpful?

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Was this review helpful?

A good thriller and I enjoyed the characters. Some good twists to keep you guessing about the culprit and an interesting subplot with the people smuggling angle.

Was this review helpful?

Once again I come into a series already started and although I enjoyed this read, I have far too many series on my list to keep up with. lol But it was still a good solid read which I did enjoy. I am behind on a few reviews so excuse my slapdash efforts with this in my attempt to keep up.

Detective Megan Thomas's sister Debbie has been brought in for questioning with regards to the murder of Greg Porter, one of her contract cleaning jobs. As she found his body, she is thus under suspicion. Naturally, Megan tried to find out what exactly is going on but her team are convinced they already had their murderer. Believing her sister is innocent, Megan could see there was more to the case than meets the eye. But what could she do? She is off the case.

And then a second body is found. And a whole series of events begin to unravel bringing to her attention police corruption, human trafficking and organised crime.

As Megan finds herself drawn into a people smuggling ring, she is faced with the horrors confronting her and slowly she pieces together the two enquiries linking them together.

CLOSE TO THE BONE is a well written police procedural with a crime thriller aspect that I do enjoy. The setting in Devon is a delight and the characters are well developed. The plot is a little predictable in parts but that never spoils it for me if it is written well. There were some good twists throughout and the plot certainly keeps the reader on their toes.

Best of all are the short snappy chapters which keep the pace moving along nicely, told from Megan's perspective made it easy reading. There was certainly a lot going on in this solid thriller but it was an enjoyable read overall.

I would like to thank #SusanWilkins, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #CloseToTheBone in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Was this review helpful?

This is the second book in this series and I enjoyed it every bit as much as the first one.
Megan is still living with her sister and family in Devon, recovering from her former uncover role.
Everything changes when a local business man is brutally murdered and Megan’s sister Debbie is the number one suspect.
The book flowed really well and there was plenty of suspense to keep the readers guessing.
I’m really looking forward to the next installment.

Was this review helpful?

Now I need to go back and read Buried Deep, the first installment in this Detective Megan Thomas series as soon as possible. Why? Cos this one was a great read and I know I’ve found a new favorite detective. Megan is doing a geographical cure and staying with her sister Debbie after a particularly harrowing case. With a bad case of PTSD Megan has to face her past in more ways than one when Debbie is the central character in a murder investigation. We know she can’t be guilty (don’t we.?) so we anxiously follow Megan on her parallel investigation and cross our fingers for a third installment.

Was this review helpful?

Close to the Bone is the second book in the Detective Megan Thomas series. Megan's move to Devon is going well until her sister, Debbie, becomes a suspect in the murder of her boss. I enjoyed this story just as much as the first and look forward to seeing where Megan's job takes her next. Thanks to NetGalley for my digital copy of Susan Wilkins latest book.

Was this review helpful?

I gave this one 3.5 rounded up to 4. I did enjoy it and the case was gripping. I just found some parts of it a bit long winded and my attention wavered. I also struggled with Debbie. Her character seemed completely different to the character we got to know in book 1. However, there are some great characters, especially Megan. The case was full of suspense with lots of twists and turns and I had no idea where it was going. I didn’t guess the bad guy. There’s also a touch of romance which definitely lifts the mood.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

A brilliant, gripping read.
A plot that is full of suspense, tension and twists and turns right until the very end. The characters are believable and realistic, and the way in which the author tells the story is truly unique.
Perfectly paced and an ending i didn't see coming, this was a fantastic read.

Was this review helpful?

Detective Megan Thomas investigates the murder of a business man found in his office having massive head wounds. She's already making a list of people to question, when she's called into her super's office. She's being taken off the investigation ... not for anything she's done wrong ... but her sister is the prime suspect for the man's murder.

Instead, she's given the task of working with a colleague who has been gone for many months due receiving care for cancer. He's also old school .. and really doesn't have much use for women in the workplace, especially if they outrank him.

A woman has been sighted on the beach .. she speaks little English . .but makes it clear that her young son is missing. What starts at looking for the boy, it becomes apparent that she has been the victim of people who took a lot of money to get them to where she is. But somehow her son didn't make it.

And when the two major cases start dovetailing, Megan finds herself caught between family ... and the truth.

This is a well-written follow up to the first in this series. Easily read as a stand alone, I recommend reading them in order. The characters are deftly drawn and the backstories are intriguing. There's plenty of action .. plenty of suspects. Throw in a bit of suspense, a well thought out plot, and a little bit of romance and it's a winner.

Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Was this review helpful?

Another superb read. I've loved catching up with some of my TBR pile. Christmas has been my time to read read and read some more, I'm so glad I chose to read this book. It certainly kept my interest throughout.
This is book 2 in the Detective Megan Thomas series. Having previously worked undercover in the London, Megan has moved to Devon and a new force.. Megan is trying to get herself back on track after things went wrong for her.
Its a new start and a time to get things going better. That is until Megans sister is taken in for questioning regarding the death of her employer.
Reading this book will certainly keep you on your toes. As you think you may have figured things out, you soon find that you are wrong as there are a few twists thrown into this.
Thinking Devon would give Megan a slower pace to life was wrong. Its as hectic as it would be in London.
This book touches on the subject of PTSD as Megan is suffering from this, it was well done and highlights that it can affect anyone.
A brilliant read and I really do look forward to more of Megan in the future,

Was this review helpful?

This is the second book in the series featuring Detective Megan Thomas, I hadn’t read the previous book but found this book read really well as a stand-alone. Megan has left the Met in London and moved to a small seaside town in Devon. Her marriage has broken up and she is now living with her sister, Debbie and her family. Megan is called out to the murder of a local businessman and is shocked to discover that it was her sister who had found the body as she was one of his employees. Debbie quickly becomes the main suspect. Megan is not allowed to investigate the case with her sister being involved and is asked to work with the National Crime Agency. They are investigating human trafficking but Megan is worried that the gangsters in the case she that she had been working on with the Met were also involved in the people smuggling, She is also struggling with her own demons and is suffering from PTSD from when she was working undercover. This was a brilliant read, a book that I couldn’t put down. It was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. I can’t wait for book numbers three in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Was this review helpful?

Another cracking read in a great series! The storyline had you guessing throughout with a great twist! I loved the fact that the main character's personal life was also part of the story and continued from the first book. Great series, looking forward to the next one!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc of this book by Susan Wilkins.

This was a 4 star read for me, this was definitely a edge of your seat, chilling and suspense book, like wow this was a great book i was enthralled and enjoyed it a lot, it really had me on edge most of the time, i throughly recommend to anyone to read as i really enjoyed this.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Was this review helpful?

What a page turner. Had me guessing until the end who the killer was and I was not right and was definitely thrown for a loop. Had me captivated from beginning to end. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

D.S Morgan Thomas has moved from the met after her undercover job went bad. She now lives in Devon with her sister and family.
When a business man is found bludgeon to death Megan's sister who works as a cleaner for him is arrested and brought in for questioning.
Megan is also asked to work with the N.C.A !looking for people smugglers
When someone comes forward to say they killed him.and Megan's sister's alibi is proved she is released .
Then another body turns up .
While Megan is helping the N.C.A a body is washed up. The body is of a young boy.
Are these cases connected ?
A great read
Thanks NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

I am really enjoying this series, great storyline which had me gripped from the start. I. Looking forward to reading the next book

Was this review helpful?

Another brilliant tense gripping thriller by susan wilkins . I love the main character megan thomas she is such a diverse individual that i can relate to . I also love the way susan wilkins writes it draws you in amd make all the characters realistic and you can actually visualise the scenes . I have read a lot of susan wilkins books and none of them have let me down

Was this review helpful?

This was engaging and gripping right from the start. A rollercoaster of twists and turns kept me hooked.

Was this review helpful?

DNR due to severe post-covid asthenia. Cause still being researched. Will review when possible. Sorry for this delay.

Was this review helpful?