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30 Days in June - Chris Westlake

Blog Tour stop for this perfect mix of Thriller, crime and mystery, tension packed that kept me guessing right till the end

#30DaysinJune @ChrisWestlake2 @damppebbles #damppebblesblogtours





"After 30 years is he back?.... "

Synopsis


On the 1st day of June 1988, the residents of south Wales were thrown into a state of panic when a married couple were brutally murdered in their own home.


The killer, nicknamed Spartacus by the media, did not flee the scene immediately; instead, he stayed to carve Roman Numerals onto his victims' chests. This was the beginning of a month-long killing spree, each murder taking a step closer to home.


Seventeen-year-old Jeffrey Allen was to be the final victim, on the final day of the month. Instead, he became the only survivor, and the only real witness. The killings ended as suddenly as they began.


Jeffrey relocated to London, changing his name, and his identity, to Marcus Clancy. His past life became merely a dark secret.


On 1st June 2018, 30 years to the day since the first killing, a mysterious figure refers to Marcus by his old name, through closing lift doors. Is Spartacus back? If so, has he returned to finish what he failed to do thirty years ago?


And so begins 30 days of terror for Marcus Clancy, culminating in dramatic fashion on the final day of June.


30 DAYS IN JUNE is Chris Westlake's third novel, and his first crime thriller. He is currently writing his second crime thriller and is on schedule to have it completed in 2020.





My Review


I am honnored to be closing out the #BlogTour for this book, From the very first chapter this story grips you and draws you in to this compelling, gritty and tension filled story.


The read stars as a flashback 30 long years ago a couple were brutely murdered in there own home, this was the start of this killer's month long murderous spree. As the muders continued the Media nicknamed him Spartacus.


We meet Jeffery Allen, obsessed with the killings as the are happening around his home town, but his life changes when he becomes the last victim but the only one to survive his attack. and Spartucus disappers.


So here we are in the present day 30 years have passed Spartacus was never found and Jeffery is now Marcus living under a newidentity to protect himself.


The last 30 years have been good in the most part for Marcus he has had to live with the fear of Spartcus and the effects of attack that hang over his life like a black cloud but he married had a daughter, he is now separated from his wife after she had an affair, but has a new relationship on the go and a sucessful job.


Then everything changes one day a mysterious figure refers to Marcus by his old name, through closing lift doors. though Marcus barrells down the stairs to confront the person he misses them. who was it? how did they know? Marcus feels that Spartacus is back? and If so, has he returned to finish what he failed to do thirty years ago?


So starts the books title, 30 days in June, 30 days of fear and terror for Marcus as he fights for the truth, but did Marcus really say everything that happened all those years ago? Is this really Spartacus or a copy-cat? or is Marcus losing it?


This whole read felt very raw and gritty the characters were fantastic and while I rooted for Jeffery/Marcus you could almost feel that there was more to his story than what was told, the element written around his therapy and its effects were very well done.


A perfect mix of Thriller, crime and mystery, tension packed that kept me guessing right till the end and some brilliant twists that knocked me sideways.





Author Bio



After completing a Creative Writing course in 2010, Chris Westlake's short story, Welsh Lessons, was awarded 1st place in the Global Short Story Award (not bad for the first writing competition he had entered).


He followed this up with 1st place in the Stringybark Erotic Fiction Award and 2nd place in the HASSRA Literary Award.


Chris has written three novels. 30 DAYS IN JUNE is his first crime thriller.


He is currently writing his second thriller, on schedule to be completed in 2020.


He is determined to write many, many more - his main regret is that he didn't start writing earlier.


Chris considers himself to be a developing author. He is always looking to improve, to make his next novel even better than the last.


He is continuously experimenting with different styles, different genres.


You can contact Chris at chriswestlakeauthor@hotmail.co.uk . He would love to hear from you.




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Thank you to the Publisher and Author for sending me an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel and for the opportunity to review these works.

All reviews are my own unbiased opinion.

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