The Criminal Mind by Duncan Harding

The Criminal Mind by Duncan Harding
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 400

Publisher - Penguin

Source - RAK

Blurb from Goodreads

‘A penetrating insight into the darkest corners of the human mind. The most moving, surprising and compelling book you’ll read this year’ M.J. ARLIDGE, bestselling author of Eeny Meeny

- A likeable young girl who’s burnt her family home to the ground

- A man with no memory of the night he killed his wife

- A teenager whose visions and voices have had murderous effect

One question binds these and others from the casebook of Britain’s leading forensic Why?

What drives a person to commit seemingly inexplicable crimes? Dr. Duncan Harding is the person the police and the courts turn to for answers.

An expert witness, he must try to establish a defendant’s mental state and motivation. And their fitness to stand trial.

Growing up in a broken, violent home, Harding became a doctor because he wanted to be good and kind. It led him on a journey that has brought him face to face with psychopaths, taken him to the limits of his compassion and to the darkest corners of his own troubled past.

But he’s never turned away nor given up hope. Mesmerizing, insightful and redemptive, The Criminal Mind is his unforgettable story.



My Review

So I read and watch a love of true crime, work stories from different professionals and this is the first book by this author but not my first foray into forensics/psychiatry. If you are familiar with the genre there is a lot of discussion by the professionals about the things they have seen, cases and incidents from their work life.

So this one was quite different from the others I have read. Some tend to focus more on the impact of the work on the author, some focus more or completely on the patients/inmates they have come across. This one is a perfect balance of both, not too central around the author with little about the actual forensic psychiatry but not just all about the patients/individuals he is asked to evaluate. The author takes us through how he got to his chosen field, the people he worked with both other professionals and the individuals under care or being examined in preparation for court appearances.

We see different environments, his choices to go from adult care to children and the why behind it. The processes undertook when evaluating an individual to give his expert opinion on if something was done because of a disorder or mental health or if the individual(s) were of sound mind when they did what they did.

The book covers some very dark encounters, the things people can do to themselves and or others because of their mental health conditions/deterioration. I have read loads of true crime/horror and honestly sometimes the most scary stuff comes from humans. This book covers some of the most scary examples of when mental health deteriorates, the darker side of humanity like some people are thought to be pure evil and sometimes it can stem from things(abuse/crimes) that where done to them when they were children themselves and how that shapes and impacts them. The importance of early intervention, appropriate care and management and why he ended up focusing more on younger patients with this type of history.

It is such an interesting but harrowing read, the author himself has an interesting and sad backstory and unique health history too. The book was really well done infusing his personal life, work life and the sad and harrowing cases that he comes across professionally. This is the only book he had written, I really hope he writes more, 4.5/5 for me.

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The Omen by David Seltzer

The Omen by David Seltzer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 220

Source - Amazon

Publisher - Mass Market Paperback

Blurb from Goodreads

Jeremy Thorn, United States Ambassador to England, and his wife Katherine become the parents of a beautiful boy whose destiny is to fulfill the most horrible prophecy ever made. Reprint. (A 20th Century Fox film, written by Dan McDermott, directed by John Moore, releasing June 2006, starring Liev Schreiber, Julia Stiles, Mia Farrow, & David Thewlis) (Horror)


My Review

So I have seen the movie a million times when I was younger, I didn't know it was a book and I wanted to read something spooky on Halloween so this was the winner. If you have seen the movie this is pretty close to it or as much as I read in this I remember from the movie so I think it was quite similar.

Jeremy Thorn and his wife have their much longed for baby, born on the 6/6/6 - significance oh yes. Now this is a really dark book, Satanic, good vs evil, the murder of an innocent baby which is described and then switched with another. Wifey doesn't know and Jeremy is sold a story so you don't really know there is any issue. When the wean hits four things really kick off. Things start to go strange round Damien, and slowly his mum notices things, his nanny is super creepy/bossy, Damien's reaction to some places (Church) and reactions to him (animals, not the big scary demon dog though).

I woulda had holy water next to me reading this but we were on holiday so we went off and I got a bracelet with a wee cross, religious books absolutely creep me out! Lots of dark themes, the devil, Satanism, child harm, death, suicide, animal harm/death so go into it prepared, 3.5/5 for me.

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The Perfect Life by Nuala Ellwood

The Perfect Life by Nuala Ellwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over 2 days

Pages - 400

Publisher -

Source - From Hayley

Blurb from Goodreads

HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO BE SOMEONE ELSE?

Vanessa has always found it easy to pretend to be somebody different, somebody better. When things get tough in her real life, all she has to do is throw on some nicer clothes, adopt a new accent and she can escape.

That's how it started: looking round houses she couldn't possibly afford. Harmless fun really. Until it wasn't.

Because a man who lived in one of those houses is dead.

And everyone thinks Vanessa killed him...


My Review

This was a bit of a weird one, Vanessa has a bit of a unique way of coping with stress, gal gets dressed up, becomes a totally different person and goes and checks out houses for sale. Weird but whatever floats your boat, anyway one of the gaffs she goes to belongs to a famous author, an author whose books she loved, grew up on, helped her through her grief. Well he is found deed, murdered and not only was Vanessa there but she was seen & the more she tries to get round it the further in she digs the hole. The police have her in their sight, Vanessa isn't sure what she did or didn't do but she was definitely there AND she has been a bit off lately, unhinged, losing time and not feeling great, could Vanessa have done this? How do you defend yourself when you don't even trust your own mind?

Again check your triggers if things trigger you, this one has a lot, different kinds of abuse, shady behaviours, health issues, control, loss, manipulation to name but a few. There is no denying Vanessa has been through and still processing a lot, then thrown into a murder investigation. Her coping mechanisms are about to be exposed which makes her look unhinged, ooft it is a bumpy ride.

Lots of characters to dislike, not trust, even have a bit of rage for. It keeps you hooked and turning page after page because it is all so unhinged and I had no idea where it was going, 4/5 for me this time.

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The Dark Side of the Mind by Kerry Daynes

The Dark Side of the Mind: True Stories from My Life as a Forensic Psychologist by Kerry Daynes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over 3 days

Pages - 250

Publisher -

Source - RAK

Blurb from Goodreads

Welcome to the world of the forensic psychologist, where the people you meet are wildly unpredictable and often frightening.

The job: to delve into the psyche of convicted men and women to try to understand what lies behind their often brutal actions.

Follow in the footsteps of Kerry Daynes, one of the most sought-after forensic psychologists in the business and consultant on major police investigations.

Kerry's job has taken her to the cells of maximum-security prisons, police interview rooms, the wards of secure hospitals and the witness box of the court room.

Her work has helped solve a cold case, convict the guilty and prevent a vicious attack.

Spending every moment of your life staring into the darker side of life comes with a price. Kerry's frank memoir gives an unforgettable insight into the personal and professional dangers in store for a female psychologist working with some of the most disturbing men and women.



My Review

I do like reading these types of books, getting to see how the other side(s) live. This one is a wee bit different from the others I have read. Often the book is filled to bursting with stories of the work place, whilst this one does have stories from her work a lot of the focus is on her experiences, feelings, exposures and dangers she has been through.

We see the different directions her career has taken, men, women, different conditions, helping out profiling, big cases and a pretty shocking case of stalking that left me uneasy. Not just how it came about and what she went through but the very little help she had especially considering what they did and the potentials that could have happened. Really really uneasy and also how the law and policies have changed and been shaped over the years.

If you enjoy reading these types of books but want something a little different that isn't just chalka with patients stories then this is the one for you. Just be prepared and aware of your own triggers, some really triggering incidents and people in this one, 3.5/5 for me this time.

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One Last Scare by Bill Wood

One Last Scare by Bill Wood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in & out over 3 days

Pages -

Publisher -

Source - review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

The past comes back to kill —when a haunted theme park reopens and true crime turns deadly in the final, blood-soaked mystery of the Let’s Split Up trilogy.
The gang thought they were done with murder.

After surviving one too many mysteries, they’re finally ready for a normal summer —until Chillshore reopens. Once a beloved island theme park, it shut down after a tragedy no one ever fully explained. Now it’s back and rebranded as a spooky attraction that leans hard into its dark past, complete with a creepy mascot known as the Groundskeeper and a guest list that includes horror influencers, true crime celebrities, and supernatural thrill-seekers.
Then a storm hits. No boats. No phones. No escape.
When guests start dying one by one, it becomes terrifyingly clear that the murders aren’t random. Each death exposes a piece of Chillshore’s buried history.
As paranoia spreads and the Groundskeeper stalks the island, the gang must untangle a web of lies, cover-ups, and long-suppressed guilt before the killer strikes again. Because this time, the mystery isn’t just about who is doing the killing — it’s about why the truth was buried in the first place.

Dark, twisty, and relentless, Bill Wood’s final installment in the Let’s Split Up trilogy delivers a blood-soaked locked-room mystery that confronts the cost of turning real tragedy into entertainment and proves some stories will always come back to haunt you.


My Review

So this is book three, I hadn't realised and haven't read the previous two, I don't think I missed out as it reads fine as a standalone. I will be checking the previous books out as I did enjoy this one but I will wait a while as the book does give spoilers/discussion on what has passed before this one, who the baddies were etc.

Chillshore is going to be popular, it is an isolated island and theme park that was shut down after something bad happened years ago. Now bought over by someone with big bucks, no expense has been spared to create this all immersive experience, it isn't going to just be visiting attractions, you will be creeped out from the moment you arrive until you leave. What better way to get the word out and hype going than inviting a select few, the teens who are not only famous but solved the murders in their own wee town, influencers, ghost hunters, true crime folks et al. They will all be paid handsomely and get to give feedback before the island is officially opened to Joe Public. The island has the Groundskeeper, their own masked mascot peppered around the island, themes, has a back story and ever threatening presence. However as the groups are deposited and ready to immerse things start to go wrong, the Groundskeeper isn't just an ominous presence and soon the visitors are fighting for their lives and trying to figure out who and why are they being hunted. With no way off the island and no way to call for help, mistrusting each other and death at every turn, who will actually survive to tell the tale?

So this very much gave me echoes of a few of my fave old movies/books, a wee hint of Urban Legend and I know what you did last summer in that we don't see the identify of the baddy but they are masked right in front of you as you leg it and try to survive. Noone is safe, mistrust quickly builds, people are dying left right and centre and everyone is forced to pitch together to try and survive the violent weapon wielded masked maniac.

Some of the characters are annoying, some invoke your sympathy but each has you questioning could they be the baddie? Who is next? And the all important why? I felt a bit Murder She Wrote and suspecting almost everyone lol. Short chapters and you are engrossed quite quickly, 4/5 for me this time.

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Cat Society Claws and Disorder by Ray Sadri

Cat Society: Claws and Disorder by Ray Sadri
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - In and out as able over 3 days

Pages - 279

Publisher - The Book Guild

Source - ARC

Blurb from Goodreads


The cats are back running Britain – madder than ever and very much in charge.

Douglas Schnitty is Prime Minister, loved up and determined to end homelessness for the nation’s slum cats. But he must contend with a Chancellor in meltdown over the public finances, a predecessor-turned-eco-activist blocking his housing plans, and a nemesis returning from exile to launch a populist party.

As chaos mounts and his love life unravels, can Schnitty save the slum cats, his premiership, and himself?

“Mad, funny, surreal, and completely unique. Sadri does it again with a book that curls up in your lap before you notice the claws.”


My Review

So this is book two, book one is Cat Society, you can absolutely read this as a standalone. That being said, book one gives you more insight into the characters in this book, their relationships and bad blood with each other. The place is Britain, the characters are cats, all cats, hoomans are no longer around, Douglas Schnitty is running the show, the now prime minister and tackling the big issue of homelessness amongst his people, his fellow cats.

So you know I am not a fan of politics in general and I absolutely love cats this is a no brainer for me, I also read book one enjoyed it, all the dramas of the political nonsense that goes on but craftily shaped into issues if the people were kitties. Douglas had his own battles getting to where he is now, his big focus is ending homelessness for slum cats. Of course other cats are up in arms and want to save the trees. Tackling issues that affect the economy and taxes, again for me boring subjects but centre it around a world inhabited by cats only with human traits/issues absolute yes!

We have romance but of course the job gets in the way, the general public loving or hating you because hello you are the prime minister. Your enemies who want to dethrone you, take over, throw mud on your good name but all done with catty attitude and spiciness, absolutely yes.

In a world where there are cats ruling the world (no humans) and we still have politicians, number 10 downing street, shady reporters, folk clapping you on the back whilst equally sticking the claws in (see what I did there?) lol, funny, silly but still having modern day relative issues but just presented in a world of cats, absolutely yes. Will everyone love this, no, it is a political world inhabited purely by cats, humour, silly, shady, backstabbing, dairy loving paws with some real life issues we face in reality but just sculpted into a feline world. 4/5 for me this time, as I said it is book two and I hope they keep going with the series, if you enjoy politics, satire, cats and a world that blends fantastical fiction with some genuine issues - this is absolutely the series for you! Plus, hello it has cats, loads and loads of cats (all characters are cats, in a world run by and purely/solely occupied, by cats!), nuff said!

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The Haunting of Rookward House by Darcy Coates

The Haunting of Rookward House by Darcy Coates
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 298

Publisher - Poisoned Pen Press

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

She's always watching...
When Guy finds the deeds to a house in his mother’s attic, it seems like an incredible stroke of luck. Sure, the building hasn’t been inhabited in forty years and vines strangle the age-stained walls, but Guy is convinced he can clean it up and sell it. He’d be crazy to turn down free money. Right?

The house is hours from any other habitation, and Guy can't get phone reception in the old building. He decides to camp there while he does repairs. Surely nothing too bad can happen in the space of a week.

But there’s a reason no one lives in Rookward House, and the dilapidated rooms aren’t as empty as they seem…

A deranged woman tormented a family in Rookward forty years before. Now her ghost clings to the building like rot. She’s bitter, obsessive, and jealous… and once Guy has moved into her house, she has no intention of ever letting him leave.


My Review

Ooooh who doesn't love a haunted house and a mad obsessive ghost! So Guy is our main character, he is a bit of a whiney whoa is me type of dude. Whilst sorting stuff at his mums he finds out they have a property that has been abandoned for years, he figures he will go, do the diy it likely needs and then punt it, solving all his money worries and issues. What Guy doesn't know and isn't prepared for is Amy, the ghost that haunts the house, the spirit that did some untold evil and madness, who is obsessive and won't be letting Guy go anywhere.

It really is creepy, things slowly start to get creepy and then pulls you right in as Guy finds out that actually maybe he isn't alone and things are about to get really dodgy and scary, dun dun dun. The book is mostly set in present day with Guy but we did flip back to 1965 and with Thomas, the object of Amy's obsession and who lived in the house, the last people to live in the house before it was left empty for decades til Guy came into it.

I would have loved more of the past and heard about Amy, how the before/obsession really got going (we do get some details of it to be fair) and the aftermath of what happened to Amy. It would be good if the author decided to give them their own story because I reckon it would be popular even though we get the jist of it in this one, I think it has enough weight to carry it's own book, less spirt though cos it would have been when Amy was a human and creepy stalker.

Guy has a lot of issues, not the same level as Amy to be fair but yeah he is carrying a lot around him which makes me wonder if he is more susceptible to the haunting because of that or if Amy would have claimed anyone who lived in Rookward House. Some of the book gave me 1408 vibes (Stephen King book, John Cussack movie) and another couple of movies/books, creepy house, scary ghost well actually maybe she is a poltergeist. Creepy, scary, building up tension, perfect for an October spooky themed read, I think this was my first time reading this author, it won't be my last, 4/5.

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