Blog Tour: Case Files – Rachel Amphlett

*I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author and Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

Blurb: Discover twelve dark and twisted mysteries from USA Today bestselling author Rachel Amphlett.

This page-turning collection features The Man Cave, in which Darren regains consciousness in a dank basement where escape turns out to be the least of his worries; in All Night Long Zoe soon wishes she wasn’t working the late shift; and in Nowhere to Run a rookie detective encounters her first serial killer… but will she survive?

Case Files Short Crime Stories Volume 1:

The Reckoning
A Grave Mistake
The Beachcomber
The Man Cave
A Dirty Business
The Last Super
Something in the Air
Special Delivery
A Pain in the Neck
The Last Days of Tony MacBride
The Moment Before
Nowhere to Run

Case Files: short crime fiction stories that will have you on the edge of your seat.

This collection of crime stories features some short stories, some very short stories and some slightly longer short stories, all on the theme of murderers and/or the people who (try to) catch them.

Every story is very well-written and thoroughly readable. The very short ones, like A Grave Mistake or The Man Cave reminded me of the ‘twist-in-the tale’ style stories that you often find in magazines and which I have an infinite appetite for!

My favourite here had to be Nowhere to Run though, which is a longer story offering a sample of detective Kay Hunter’s investigative work. The slightly longer form allowed for more immersion and even some character development among Kay and her colleagues which definitely whet my appetite for more. Which is lucky as there is a whole series (twelve so far) of these police-procedural thrillers!

In fact, this whole collection forms an excellent introduction to the short-form, noir crime tale in general and to Rachel Amphlett’s writing in particular, which will entertain new and established fans equally. Expect murder and violence, but nothing too graphic, in these dark and atmospheric slices of (fictional) criminal activity.

The morning before the murder, a late autumn sky laden with rain clung to the rolling hills surrounding the town, the outlook oppressive and grey.
– Rachel Amphlett, ‘The Reckoning’ in Case Files

About the Author

Before turning to writing, USA Today bestselling crime author Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio, and worked in publishing as an editorial assistant.

She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction with over 30 novels and short stories featuring spies, detectives, vigilantes, and assassins.

Rachel’s stories are available in eBook, print and audiobook formats from libraries and retailers as well as her own shop.