Carnal Acts by Sam Alexander.

"Sam Alexander is a pseudonym for an acclaimed British crime writer. His identity will be unveiled if and when the time is right ..."

When I found out this book was written by a pseudonym it captured my interest straight away, I love a good mystery.  Whilst I love reading crime books I am by no means an expert on them, so despite reading it, I still have no idea who 'really' wrote Carnal Acts.

This is a brilliant work of crime fiction which opens with a mystery that keeps running throughout the book and isn't revealed until the very end - it kept me guessing the whole way through.

The main detective in the book, Joni, is such an unusual character, so strong and determined to break the case, but could be seen to use a little bit too much force sometimes to find her answers.  Her mother is a zany character who seemed to me to be a white witch - always at one with nature and cooking up some very strange home brews.  I really liked the other main detective, Heck, who despite being old in service with illness holding him back, had enough fire in his belly to tackle some of the most dangerous criminals.

There were many strands to the crimes being committed, with lots of offenders encompassing many different groups.  I had to concentrate in places to keep up with the action as the book is so fast paced that the crimes and their investigation race by; but this just made it a thoroughly interesting read.

All in all I found it a gripping story, it felt a little bit more quirky than some other crime novels - it had something sassy about it that made it stand out from the crowd.  And if you think you know who Sam Alexander is then please let me know!!

The back page blurb:
A stunning crime fiction novel featuring a pair of detectives in the northern English borderlands. DI Joni Pax, a London homicide detective wounded in a disastrous raid, has been transferred to the newly formed Police Force of North East England. Her boss, DCI Hector Heck Rutherford, is recently back at work after cancer treatment. Between them they are responsible for major crime in rural Northumberland and County Durham. Joni, the daughter of a black American and a white hippy, is a loner struggling to regain her self confidence. Heck is happily married, but his illness has left him fearful. Based in Corham, a town with Roman, medieval and industrial heritage, Paz and Rutherford investigate a murder at a brothel run by the Albanian mafia. In a series of breathtaking plot twists, the author demonstrates the corruption that underpins the beautiful northern English countryside as well as hinting at a mysterious world beyond the horizon. Carnal Acts explores abuse of many kinds sexual, psychological, economic taking the police procedural to places it has never been before.

Title: Carnal Acts
Author: Sam Alexander
Buy Carnal Acts Here
#WhoIsSamAlexander?

Zenith Hotel by Oscar Coop-Phane.

This is a short snappy book telling the story of a street prostitute working in France.  Rather than it being a deep and meaningful book looking at her history, and how it made her turn to prostitution, instead the book focuses on just one day in her life and tells the story of the clients she meets that day.

I felt like this book was full of mystery.  I was intrigued to learn more about Nanou and the life she leads, yet the majority of the book explains the lives of the men she meets.  Each man's story was so interesting and what I wondered as reading was whether it was the true story of their lives, or just Nanou's interpretation as to what their circumstances could be based on her interaction with them.

This is quite a dark story, which was really interesting and totally captured my imagination.  A definite if you're looking for a quick read which is a bit different from the usual books on your shelf.

The back page blurb:
I'm a street prostitute. Not a call girl or anything. No, a real street whore, with stiletto heels and menthol cigarettes. Narrator Nanou gives a detailed account of her day, from the moment she wakes up with a foul taste in her mouth, in her sordid rented room, until the minute she crawls back into her bed at night to sleep. Interwoven with her story are portraits of her clients. Oscar Coop-Phane invents an astonishing cast of original and deeply human characters losers, defeated by the world around them who seek solace in Nanou s arms. Original and moving, this short book deftly paints a world of solitude and sadness, illuminated by precious moments of tenderness and acts of kindness.

Title: Zenith Hotel
Author: Oscar Coop-Phane