Member Reviews
I’m enjoying this series. Good reads with an interesting premise. Quick easy reads with some humour thrown in. Good storyline with likeable characters. Enjoyed the series so far.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion
Well that was unexpected! Having read the first book in the series, I was expecting another cosy crime mystery and looking forward to learning a bit more about Millie, but I think what Kerry Wilkinson has written is much more than that. After 15 years of estrangement, Millie is reunited with her childhood friend Nicola and together they investigate a peculiar incident from their teenage years when Nicola was attacked by an unknown assailant who cut her hair and handcuffed her to a tree overnight. Why are Nicola’s trainers and phone that were taken by her attacker long ago returned now?
As with the first book, Kerry develops the characters superbly and, for me, the solving of the mystery is of secondary importance as the author explores the characters’ relationships. This book is all about friendships and memory and I enjoyed it immensely. I am also thankful to have the third book available to read immediately as this book finished on quite a cliffhanger!
The characters in this series just blow me away. They are told in such a way that you feel like you know them. Millie is so likeable. Guy sounds like a friend I would like to have. Again the action is limited but the plot and characters make that not relevant. This was a great read another whodunit. I love how the characters grow and develop. I love how there are a few things going on throughout to keep it interesting.
Another must read
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was a decent follow up to the first book in this series by Kerry Wilkinson. I think I liked this one a little more than the first book actually.
This is the second book in the ‘Whitecliff Bay’ mystery series by author Kerry Wilkinson. Following on from the first book ‘The One that Fell’ we meet the same characters again. The author continues to develop the characters which makes the series a more enjoyable read.
Teenage friend Nicola and Millie were hoping to have fun in the local park but that is spoilt by the disappearance of Nicola. Once Millie realises that Nicola is missing she begins the search for her friend only to find her tied to a tree with one of her shoes missing and her long hair scattered on the ground. Nicola swears she doesn’t know what has happened and begs for Millie not to speak of it again.
Fifteen years later and Millie and Nicola have not spoken in over a decade, but now Nicola has found her missing shoe strung up in her garden. Why now after fifteen years is this happening and is her attacker sending a message? Millie is once again on a case and is asking questions of their old school friends, hoping that one of them has information that can help. The problem is Nicola’s kidnapper is still on the scene, meaning that she doesn’t know who she can trust.
I enjoyed this one a lot more the the first. A more interesting plot and being more familiar with the characters helped.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This is book two in the Whitecliff Bay Mystery series. You won’t believe who the culprit is🤔. We learn a lot more about Millie in this read & I’m looking forward to continue the series.
Millie Westlake volunteers at her local nursing home and has recently begun helping a retired reporter with stories for his blog. Her marriage is over and people blame her 100% for the divorce. She barely sees her son as a result and people in town think she killed her parents. Her life’s a train wreck.
When a surprise call comes in from a school mate that Millie has been estranged from for years, she’s surprised to say the least. Nicola needs Millie’s help; a secret from their past has come back to light and Millie is the only one who knows the truth.
As Millie investigates, she brings in her mentor, Guy, to help. They uncover some leads that bring Millie in contact with others from their peer group. Could someone else know what happened? Everyone has secrets. What will Millie discover?
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The One Who Was Taken, the second novel to feature Millie Westlake, set in the fictional English seaside town of Whitecliff.
When Millie and her best friend, Nicola, were seventeen Millie found Nicola tied to a tree with her hair shorn and her shoes and phone missing. She can’t remember what happened and doesn’t want to talk about it. Millie and Nicola haven’t talked for over a decade, but now Nic needs Millie’s help - her shoes have turned up, tied to her washing line.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Who Was Taken, which is a warm, cosy tale of friendship and loss. There isn’t a real present day crime in the novel, it’s more a stroll back into Millie and Nic’s teenage years to solve a puzzle.
The novel is told entirely from Millie’s point of view and that works well in this kind of novel as the reader is able to enter into her feelings on a variety of topics and see things through her eyes. Millie is a woman of mystery. Her affair with an MP got her on the front pages of the tabloids and cost her her marriage and custody of her son, but why she had the affair is known only to her and the reader. Then her locally famous parents died in a suicide pact and the rumours are still swirling a year later that she killed them. She’s saying nothing on the subject, leaving the reader to speculate and, boy, have I speculated. It’s the best part of the novel.
The actual mystery of who attacked Nic and why it’s resurfacing now after so many years has a very interesting and unusual solution. I didn’t guess it, but I liked it as it seems to fit the evolution of Millie Westlake. Her route to the solution involves talking to all her old friends from that time, and what a surprise, most of them have a motive. I enjoyed her stroll down memory lane, even if it’s not her memories (she’s a bit of a blank canvas in that regard).
Above all this is a series about Millie’s reintegration into society. She felt shunned after all the gossip about her, but she’s starting to build a support network and acquire friends.
The One Who Was Taken is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
I enjoyed the first book in this series so was looking forward to reading this one. I enjoyed this book just as much. A great storyline with likeable characters, the writing was so easy to get into I didn’t want to put it down. I also liked the little bits of humour thrown in. Can’t wait to read the next book, I have already downloaded onto my kindle ready. Hope there’s a follow up book number 4
Unfortunately, I didn't finish the first of the series, so didn't read this book as looking at other reviews its very much in the same style, sorry
I read this straight after the first one and it followed on beautifully. Though it works too as a standalone novel. Millie's life feels easier now that she has another friend. Then her one time best friend who she hasn't spoken to for fifteen years - despite living in the same town - contacts her out of the blue. Can they sort things out between them, while Millie is busy with other stuff going on around her or should she just ignore her?
Really good book. Enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion
Strong characters but I found the ending rather tame. Millie is a likeable character. The concept that different people in a group of teenagers see things from a different perspective after time has passed is very interesting and thought-provoking.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.
Out of the blue Millie gets a text from her old friend Nicola. Somebody knows her secret and is trying to taunt her. Can Millie and Guy solve the mystery? And is it connected to a battle of the bands contest when they were teens?
This is book 2 of this series and I really enjoyed it. More so than book 1. I really feel invested in the characters. I need to see Millie’s ex Alex and his new partner Rachel get their comeuppance! This mystery had lots of other stories woven through, but they all come back to that one night.
Great read.
A fantastic read with many twists which had ne guessing until the last page.
I look forward to reading more in this series
I'm not sure I'd classify this as a mystery -- it's more of an ongoing small town drama. I did enjoy the touches of humor, particularly from the dog's point of view, I laughed several times about the dog's perspective. I also appreciated the normalness (is that a word?) of Millie, the main character.
I would probably read another in the series. I was entertained throughout.
I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Loved, loved, loved!! Such a perfect follow up to the 1st book. I loved that you have the reoccurring characters and this new storyline had me hooked! I'm just obsessed with this series and can't get enough of them, fingers crossed there will be books 4+ in the future. The writing flowed so easily and I was desperate to see how this one would end after such a unique hook.... and I wasn't disappointed. Can't wait to get stuck into the next book
Thanks to netgalley and bookouture for letting me review an early copy of this book. I'm really enjoying this series.
Millie and nicola were best friends at school, but something has happened but what is it that they havnt spoken to each other for 15 years?????? Incidents start happening to nicola and she turns to millie for help...... can they get their close friendship back? Millie and guy join forces once again. This is the second book in this series, cant wait to read book 3. Highley recommend
After a night out, 17 year old Millie is devastated to find that her friend Nicola is missing. Then she finds her tied to a tree with her hair cut and her shoes missing. Fifteen years later, Millie and Nicola have drifted apart, but Millie gets contacted by Nicola to say that her shoes have turned up all these years later. Why now, after all this time? Can Millie help find out what happened all those years ago?
A great second entry to the series, loved seeing Millie, Guy, Jack etc returning. A great mystery that keeps you guessing. Can't wait to read the next one!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.
Millie is at it again, solving the small town mysteries along with her friend Guy.
When Millie was a teenager, her friend, Nicola, the hot girl at school, went missing, and Millie got an sms to tell her where Nicola was. She rescues Nic, but they never speak of the kidnapping again.
Fifteen years later, Nic finds her sneakers hung over the washing line, and calls Millie, frantic that her kidnapper is after her again.
I enjoyed this second book in the series, it was a quick read and getting to know the characters.... some that are extremely unlikeable, and others that are growing on me.
I do recommend and am fortunate enough to be reading the next in the series!!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Loved every page, great follow up to Book 1.
We continue the story with Millie in what appeared to be a very sad life. In this book her life has expanded and it feels like we are going to finally find out what happened with her parents.
Am desperate to get to Book 3.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy.
A huge 5 stars from me.
Another cozy mystery that I enjoyed.
A great read. Would recommend it if you enjoy cozy mystery books
4****