Welcome back, my bookish pals!I hope you’ve had your fill of comfort reads since Feb because this month’s pick isa heart-stopping rollercoaster ride of a book.

​

I consumed Pheasants Nest by Louise Milligan in a mere 4 hours and not because I’m an introverted homebody (although it helps), but because this thriller had me in an airtight grip of anxiety. The book opens with Kate who has been brutally assaulted and abducted with little to no chance of being found. Her professional background in journalism and covering horrific crimes such as this gives her, and us, a sickening realisation of how unlikely it is that she will survive. Adding to this are the interweaving narratives of her boyfriend, Liam and the police who are desperately trying to piece together her disappearance. Experience, and personal bias, tells the detective on this case that the boyfriend did it while the real criminal, aptly referred to as just ‘the guy’ or ‘dickhead’ gets further and further away.

The mounting fear and frustration these dual storylines create leading to a dramatic climax is a testament to Louise Milligan’s superb skills as a writer. I’m not a huge fan of crime fiction (when things get too dicey, I tend to close the book and reach for an old favourite) but the likability of Kate, her tenacity and humour in a situation as dire as this make Pheasants Nest unputdownable.

​

An unquestionable five out of five – and consider me signed up for all books coming out by this author for life.