Mortlock by Jon Mayhew

The Blurb On The Back:

Every now and then, a gentle scratching made Josie flinch and pull the bedclothes closer around her.

‘I can come in whenever I want to,’ the noise seemed to gloat. ‘You may think you’re safe, but I can come in. Whenever I want.’

Josie is a knife thrower in a magician’s stage act.

Alfie is an undertaker’s assistant.

They are both orphans and they have never met, but they are about to be given a clue to the secret of their shared past.

A past which has come to seek them out.

And while they flee for their lives, they must unravel the burning mysteries surrounding the legacy that threatens to consume them.

Morsel by morsel.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

A dark, thrilling historical fantasy this story has a likeable and resourceful hero and heroine, plenty of magic and some great set-pieces. It is a dark story and the Aunts (while my favourite characters) may be a little too dark for younger readers although I thought that it was a great read and a lot of fun.

Vicious Circle by Mike Carey

The Blurb On The Back:

Felix Castor knows how to deal with the dead. It’s the living who piss him off ...

Castor has reluctantly returned to exorcism after the case of the Bonnington Archive ghost convinced him that he really can do some good with his abilities (“good”, of course, being a relative term when dealing with the undead). But his friend, Rafi, is still possessed; the succubus, Ajulutsikael (Juliet to her friends), still technically has a contract on him, and he’s still – let’s not beat around the bush – dirt poor.

Doing some consulting for the local constabulary helps pay the bills, but Castor needs a big, private job to really fill the hole in his overdraft. That’s what he needs. What he gets, good fortune and Castor not being on speaking terms, is a seemingly insignificant ‘missing ghost’ case that inexorably drags himself and his loved ones into the middle of a horrific plot to raise one of Hell’s fiercest demons.

And when Satanists, sacrifice farms, stolen spirits and possessed churches all appear on the same police report, the name of Felix Castor can’t be too far behind ...

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

A brilliant sequel to THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, this is a complex story with multiple plot strands that come together in a breathtaking finale that leaves a great set-up for the next book. Carey is an incredible writer and this is urban fantasy at its very best.

Crawlers by Sam Enthoven

The Blurb On The Back:

Four boys and four girls are on a trip to the theatre.

Little do they know that they will never see the play.

They’re about to be plunged into a nightmare.

Beneath the theatre lies a secret.

And now she has been released ...

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

This is a fast-paced YA horror novel with plenty of chills and frights and which makes great use of the dynamics between the teens in trouble. I wasn’t struck on the ending, which felt like a cop-out given everything that happened before, but it’s still worth a look – especially if you’re interested in horror as there are plenty of nods to some horror greats.