I love this authors Matilda Darke series but was intrigued to see where his writing would take a stand alone thriller-and I’m thrilled to say that he delivered a highly successful and addictive crime thriller that gripped me from start to finish. This is a tale of 2 halves where in the first part we have the first person narrative from Dawn who finds out that her father is a well known and locally loathed serial killer. The second half takes the reader on more of a police procedural journey leading to some shocking twists. I loved the character of Dawn but also found other characters to be relatable especially when it came to the themes that ran through this novel of grief, revenge and acceptance. I’m hoping that we get more stand alone novels from Michael Wood as I adore his characters and how he creates interesting stories around them.

I love Michael’s Matilda Darke series and while this didn’t have the same pace and tension as the books in that series, I still really enjoyed it.
I’m from Newcastle and it was great reading a book set in my home town and reading about familiar places….but, one little gripe…no one calls their mother ‘mum’ in Newcastle, ‘mam’ all the way!

A good read. Dawn has never known who her father is, until a convicted child killer is coming up for release from prison after 20 years. Her mother tells her that he was her father, which is a shock. Dawn is starting out as a paralegal after a happy childhood brought up by her single mother and grandparents. She starts to look into the case and meets up with Dominic, her father, the parents of the girl who was killed and Dominic's father. There is some uncertainty about the crime and an anti-depressant drug which Dominic was using at the time of the crime.
I liked the characterizations in this book. Part 1 is setting the scene and describing the crime(s) and Dawn is getting to know the people involved. Part 2 is a roller-coaster, very twisty and fairly unexpected plot outcomes. Well written and well thought out.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Having seen this book recommended by people in the online book club I’m in, and was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to read in on NetGalley, I read it in a day.. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I love Michael Wood’s Matilda Darke series so was looking forward to reading this standalone novel.
20 years ago, 13 year old Stephanie was murdered in Northumberland.. Her murderer has been in prison since then and is soon to be released. Dawn Shephard has grown up not knowing who her father is but as the news breaks about the release of Stephanie’s murderer Dawn discovers this is her birth father.
The novel is divided into two sections, the first is from Stephanie’s point of view, following her journey as she reexamines the case against her father in the hope of proving his innocence. The second half of the novel is more of a police procedural set after the release of Dawn’s father from prison.
It took me a while to get into the novel but once I did I found it to be a gripping and compelling read. The two halves work well and I felt immersed in Dawn’s journey as the reader is drawn into her dilemma about whether her birth father is guilty or innocent. The police procedural aspect worked well and there were plenty of twists and red herrings in this section.
An enjoyable thriller.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Michael Wood’s new stand alone book doesn’t disappoint!
A 13 year old girl is abducted and murdered and her body cut into pieces.
A man is charged and convicted of her murder and is released after twenty years .
A young woman called Dawn suddenly finds out that this convicted murderer is her biological father , growing up without a father this obviously comes as a shock .
Dawn is in turmoil should she see her father ?
His release stirs up a lot of mixed feelings from the local community especially the dead girls parents .
Dawn wants to find out if her father is really the murderer after his constant denials .
This story has plenty of twists and turns and a fantastic set of characters .
A great thriller and I was gripped until the last page .
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter.

A 13 year old was abducted and murdered. A man was charged with the crime and served his time. He is being released and his only daughter Dawn just finds out that he is her father. Dawn is set on trying to find out if her father is guilty or a drug he was prescribed is to blame.

This book mainly flows Dawn, but also follows Terry, a detective. The beginning of the book is prior to Dawn’s father’s release and follows his progress back into society. And it includes a twist I definitely didn’t see coming.

Thank you to Michael Wood, HarperCollins UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this new standalone book by Michael Wood, it had a host of interesting characters as well as a storyline with a great hook, did he really do it and will Dawn be able to uncover the truth?
The pacing of this story was just right for me to have to keep turning the pages trying to discover along with Dawn what had happened 20 years ago and the truth of her father’s involvement.
This was also an interesting look into the life of those people who are raised, live and die in the same place, where everyone knows everyone and most of their secrets too! I is through this pool of knowledge that Dawn will figure out the truth and decide what to do with that.
This was a fascinating story which I have thoroughly enjoyed reading, thanks to the author for the escapism within these pages.

I've read several of Michael Wood's novels and i didn't find this one of his best. The storyline is good.- A.murderer in prison and a woman discovering he is her father and seemingly wanting to find out what really happened all those years ago. There were a few red herrings, which I always like, such as suggesting maybe police corruption was involved. The ending was a little disjointed if not a little unbelievable but it was still a fairly good read.

Michael Wood’s “Vengeance is Mine” is an exciting thriller that held me from start to finish. I read in the authors notes at the back of the book that this novel was written 20 years, rejected and each year since Michael Wood has gone back to it and tried to rework. Well it was well worth the perseverance because it was easily one of the best novels I have read recently.

The novel starts with the haunting disappearance of a young girl from a quiet Northumberland street twenty years ago, which sets up the story in present day.

Dawn Shephard has never known her father and was told by her Mother she was the result of a one night stand. So imagine her shock when her mother reveals that the man about to be released from prison for murder is her father. This distressing news makes Dawn want to know more and begins a dangerous investigation into her father’s past, as she seeks to uncover the truth about a crime that shattered the neighbourhood twenty years ago.

Whatever changes Michael Wood made to this novel worked ten fold, well written with great characters and tons of suspense. The pacing is spot on and little by little we find out more information that builds up the suspense even more. Dawn’s investigations reveal that her father was maybe not the person others see, and she is left wandering if he is actually the person depicted in the headlines.

The suspense builds up to a shocking climax as Dawn confronts the truths she has uncovered and makes peace with her past. “Vengeance is Mine” is an exciting read that I can recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre.

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

A new standalone from a fantastic writer. Dawn Shepherd has never known her father, but one day her mother reveals he is Dominic Griffiths, a child killer and about to be released from prison after serving twenty years. Despite always maintaining his innocence, no one believes Dominic is anything but guilty. Dawn decides to investigate the case herself, talking to Domenic’sdadandafriendofthemurderedschoolgirl. Dawnunearthsmoredetailsthanthe original police investigation and getting close to the truth can be a dangerous thing.
A fast paced, twisty thriller that any Michael Wood fan will love. A brilliant read and you won’t be disappointed with. With questions over morality and vengeance, this is will keep you on the edge of your seat.
5 stars.

Vengeance Is Mine is a gripping standalone book from Michael Wood that had me completely hooked from page 1.

I don't like giving spoilers, so suffice to say, if you like a book filled with suspense, surprises and superb characters, then this is for you! 4*

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review

Dawn’s mother has a big secret to tell her about the father she didn’t know existed. This secret will rock her world off its axis and her life will never be the same. Is it nature or nurture. This a a very good read and a complex tale about family and family loyalty on the back of a horrific murder of a 13 year old schoolgirl. This book will keep you guessing to almost the last page . Read and enjoy 5 stars

I love Michael Wood's DCI Matilda Darke series but this is a standalone thriller from him which is equally as good.

Once again, Mr Wood deals with difficult issues; the murder of a young teenager and the impact this has on not only the victims family but also the family of the perpetrator which increases in intensity when the murderer is released.

With excellent characters, a riveting plot and written at a good pace using a style and language that really draws you in, grabs you by the throat, flings you around and doesn't let go until the end.

I would definitely recommend this book and others by Michael Wood; I haven't been disappointed yet and my thanks must go to the author, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of yet another cracker from Michael Wood.

I have read many of Michael Wood and they never disappoint.

We meet main character Dawn, brought up by a single mother and never knowing who her father was. Dawns mum confesses to her one day that her actual father is the incarcerated Dominic Griffith. who apparently killed a young girl. Dawn is obviously shocked and surprised to find out this detail of her birth-right and even more so when she realises that he is being released soon from jail.

Dominic always has proclaimed his innocence and Dawn is quite curious about who her father is and strikes up a relationship with him. I don't want to give much away, but a tragedy really spurs Dawn on to discover the truth of the killing and she is set out on a thrilling and twisty adventure.

Really good characters, great story by a fabulous author.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A girl was taken from the streets on her 13th birthday and brutally murdered. Twenty years later, the killer is due to be released from prison which prompts his ex-lover to confess to her daughter that her father is a murderer.
Dawn is shocked to discover the truth, but launches herself into learning as much as she can about her newly discovered father.

Vengeance is Mine is a book that had me gripped right from the first chapter. Michael Wood has the most wonderful way of writing that draws you in and doesn't let you go until you've finished reading; this was the kind of book that makes me read 'just one more chapter'.

The characters were expertly written and I became immersed into their world, needing to know all the details of what had happened.

This is the second book I have read recently by Michael Wood and I will certainly be looking to read more of his books and they have both been excellent.

My thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.

A standalone read from one of my favourite authors. Well written, compulsive reading.Gripping from the first page to the last

It’s Publication Day for @michaelwoodbooks amazing new thriller, #VengeanceIsMine and just as the title suggests revenge is at the core of this story!

If you’ve never read a book by this author, you really should change that. This book has everything I want in a thriller. It is fast-paced, oozing with tension and kept me guessing along the way.

However, as per usual, I was lulled into a false sense of security and Michael Wood yanked the rug from under me with a fantastic OMFG kinda twist that blind-sided me.

As an ex-Probation Officer, I was so pleased to see how the author was authentic in his delivery of aspects in the criminal justice system - I almost felt like I was reading a true crime story. It was that good!

Chilling, twisty AF and absolutely unputdownable - a must read for fans of this genre!

#crimebookjunkie #thrillerbookrecs #bookreview #readerrecommendations #bookcommunity #readercommunity #crimethriller #mustreadbooks

After growing up with a single mother, Dawn Shepard has always wanted a dad. When she finds out the identity of hers, her whole life is changed. He is being released from prison after serving twenty years of a life sentence for the murder of a teenage girl Stephanie White.
Dawn has mixed feelings about whether she wants to get to know him or not. She starts to dig into the case when she finds out he has always denied the murder. Will she like what she finds?

The premise of this book is so good. I love the way the plot unfolds as Dawn investigates the murder to find out if her dad is guilty or not. I kept switching between believing he was innocent and guilty. For Dawn’s sake you want to believe he is innocent.

The characters are relatable and I loved the ending which I didn’t see coming.

This was a gripping thriller following Dawn as she finds out a horrible secret in her family's history. Her mum has been keeping it from her for years, but her hand has now been forced and she has to come clean with her daughter. This sets Dawn on a path of discovery that will change her life forever.

Dark and disturbing in places, this was a pretty fast-paces read with a great character in Dawn and plenty of twists and shocks along the way!