Member Reviews

Two bad things happened that summer; a stranger arrived and the first girl disappeared. In the wake of the crime that rocked her community, Felicity fled, knowing more than she let on. But sixteen years later, her new life is shattered by the news that a second girl has gone missing in her hometown. Now Felicity must go back, to face the truth about what happened all those years ago. Only she holds the answers – and they’re more shocking than anyone could imagine.

I am a big fan of Diamond's books and was looking forward to reading this however if I am honest, I was a little disappointed. We follow Felicity as she leaves her family in the Lake District and travels south to where she grew up. Her reason for travelling is another missing girl. I did think the book gets off to a bad start as Felicity is not fleshed out and we just follow this mysterious character as she leaves her family behind. I think a little more background was needed.

Then we begin the investigation as Felicity tries to find out the truth about the present day and what happened all those years ago. This is told in the present day and flashback chapters from the perspective of Jasmine. The whole way through Diamond builds a very good atmosphere and I knew something was going to happen and dark secrets would be revealed. However, this was missing some of Diamond's usual magic, there was just an element missing that meant it was not as thrilling as it could have been. This does have some very shocking twists and I truly did not see the ending unfolding the way it does which made for an enthralling ending. However, this read did feel too short to me and I think part of the problem was events were raced through and there was no time to build tension.

Personally I did not think Felicity was ever developed properly and I never quite got to know her enough. The other characters are just there and not really people who are given proper time to. Jasmine was the character I felt most connected to and the one I was rooting for the whole way through which in a way is strange, as you will find out from reading this.

'The Heatwave' is an intense read with a shocking twist. However it suffers from a lack of development and being too rushed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Katerina Diamond is quite simply one of my favourite authors and I was very excited to see that she had a new book coming out soon and I was thrilled to be approved for it.

This book was really different to her others but just as enjoyable. The book kept me guessing throughout and I was never sure of where the story was going. When everything was revealed, my mind was blown!

This is a fantastic book. I highly recommend this book as well as her other books.

Was this review helpful?

Katerina did it again with this stand alone. It was slow to start from what I’m used to from her but the suspense was there. The twist and turns were there. The plot twist was everything. I thought I knew who kidnapped Hannah and then Mandy but every time I did then boom another twist. This was definitely a well written book that I would recommend. I did not see that plot twist coming at all.

Was this review helpful?

This is the new standalone novel from Katerina Diamond, more commonly known for her Grey and Miles series which I love. The Heatwave takes place in two different timelines, Felicity as a grown mother of two and Felicity and Jasmine as 16 year old best friends. Jasmine narrates the "then" section of the story from her point of view. Felicity narrates the "now" section. Jasmine's charitable parent's invite the mysterious Tim to be their new lodger cum handyman. Her parent's are clearly taken with Tim but he makes Jasmine uncomfortable and suspicious. In the present storyline, Felicity has seen a news broadcast that a teenage girl has gone missing from her old home town. For reasons that aren't made clear to the reader, Felicity feels that only she can find her. She tells her confused husband and kids that she's going on a short break and will be back in a few days. She arrives to her home town and starts her own investigation. I found this an easy read but I didn't love this book. It was farfetched in the extreme in parts. I also figured out the big twist about halfway through. Thank you to Netgalley for my advance copy.

Was this review helpful?

I have been reading a series by Kat Diamond over the last couple years and have absolutely loved it, so when I saw she had a new book due out later this year and was a lucky enough to receive a copy early I was excited but still unsure as it was a departure from the characters I have to grown to love in her other books.

Have no fear all of you Diamond fans because when the first big plot twist hits it is like a tornado that grabs you and won’t let go until the very last word of the book! It is one of the best crime thrillers I have read and I have read a ton of them and Diamonds creativity is brilliant!

Was this review helpful?

Oh wow! I had no idea I was going to love this book as much as I have!! It’s been impossible to put down! Filled with so many twists and turns, it’s definitely a book that keeps you guessing.
I have really enjoyed this one, even been thinking about it whilst not reading. Definitely one I’d recommend! I can’t wait to read more by this author ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Was this review helpful?

Many thanks to netgalley and Avon for sending me this ARC. Unfortunately this book didn't do anything for me. Cant say that it's the books fault though, as the premise of the book is one I am not a fan of. It wasn't particularly an original story and went into way to much detail at times, I just found it a bit boring!

Was this review helpful?

I was looking forward to reading this as I absolutely love the Miles and Grey series, every single one of them has been a five star read for me.

A positive is that I did read the book very quickly so that I could find out what was happening, and I liked the descriptions on the town.

Unfortunately I wasn't particularly impressed with the outcome. I had my suspicions about the identity of the main character and I just don't buy it. It may have been 16 years but I can't get on board with the idea that people she went to school with wouldn't recognise her. It's been 12 years since I left school myself and I'm pretty certain I would cotton on if one of the people I went to school with pretended to be someone else!

I suppose if you can suspend reality a lot then this was an ok read, but it wasn't for me. I would still read any follow ups by the author based on how much I enjoyed her previous series.

Was this review helpful?

The book starts with the kidnapping of Mandy; and Felicity, who hears about the kidnapping on the news back in her hometown that she escaped from 16 years ago. When she hears about the kidnapping she knows she has to return as it feels like history is about to repeat itself.
It then concentrates on Jasmine 16 years ago; her and her parents have just moved into their new house and have taken a lodger in, in the guest house at the end of the garden. Instantly Jasmine is wary of the lodger Tim.
After all main characters have been introduced it jumps from the present day with Felicity trying to work out whether Mandy going missing is in any way connected to a girl called Hannah that went missing 16 years ago and then back 16 years ago to Jasmine and Felicity living out their summer holidays. Things happen during that summer which affects all people involved.
There are a few twists and turns which makes Felicity realise there is definitely some connection between what happened 16 years ago and what is happening in the present day. She knows to unveil the truth she has to go back to where all her lies began.
As usual I absolutely loved this book. There is not one of Katerina's books that I haven't loved! I didn't see the twist at the end coming and couldn't have guessed what Tim was up to.
I already cant wait for her next book!

Was this review helpful?

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. This is a stand alone title from Katerina Diamond, having read her Miles and Grey series of books I wasn't sure what this one would be like, but it was brilliant, very cleverly written to keep you guessing and lots of twists along the way. Another definite best seller.

Was this review helpful?

I’m a huge fan of the Miles and Grey series that Katerina Diamond writes so I was worried that I would struggle with a stand-alone that didn’t include some of my favourite characters.
I couldn’t have been more wrong! Fast paced and keeps you guessing all the way through. Although I managed to guess one of the twists, there were still others that snuck up on me!

Was this review helpful?

This was an incredible thriller that drew me in and never let go. I felt emotionally invested in the characters’ lives and couldn’t stop reading.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley for this preview. I really enjoyed the pace of this book & the way in which it flipped from the present time to when the main character was a teenager. It was a great read & very well written

Was this review helpful?

Felicity hears on the news that a young girl has gone missing in her hometown and she knows she has to go back. Her husband Chris does not really understand but he agrees. She heads back, stays in a local hotel and starts to ask questions. What does she know? Why is this her first time back? She moves back through her own past and retraces the footsteps of herself and her friend Jasmines summer when another girl Hannah disappeared during a heatwave.
I really enjoyed this book. It jumps between the present and the past, the summer of the heatwave. There are a number of characters in the past that don't seem to be in her life now. What happened then? Why is Felicity so wrapped up in the girls disappearance now? All these questions are eventually answered and I loved the journey to the conclusion.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for my ARC in exchange for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

The Heatwave is a novel about teenage passion and friendship, whose effects last a lifetime. When a girl goes missing in Felicity’s hometown, she returns for the first time in 15 years, certain she holds the key to finding the girl alive. To do so Felicity must revisit her most painful memories and unearth truths that have lain hidden since she left.
A fast paced, intense book. Definitely recommend.

Was this review helpful?

Excellent book. Katerina Diamond does it again. This is an intense psychological thriller....a must read!
Thank you Netgalley, publisher, and author for the opportunity to read this advanced reading copy.

Was this review helpful?

Another fantastic story from Katerina Diamond. I love her writing. Intelligent and always incredible. A brilliant whodunnit story with an incredible twist x

Was this review helpful?

a great read by katerina diamond as always .very good storyline lots of twists and turns .one for the sunlounger i think.

Was this review helpful?

#TheHeatwave #NetGalley
Katerina knows how to engage the reader in the book. A good read.
Jasmine and Felicity are two best friends, although they both have different lives and goals, one thing is common between them and that's Tim, a boy who arrived at Jasmine's house to help them in everything. But Tim is not what he's saying he's and Jasmine's parents are hiding a secret from Jasmine.
Told from two POV's of present and past. I can't reveal who's narrating the present because its the twist but Jasmine is narrating the past.
Katerina's writing is good. Although the final ending didn't surprise me but still its a good read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for giving me an advance copy of this thriller.

Was this review helpful?

Felicity and Jasmine are teen friends wading through life, boys and alcohol. Their lives are very different but best friends there for each other. Years later a teenage girl has gone missing and Felicity is the only one who can save her so she returns to her seaside home so she can lay the ghosts of her past to rest.
This was the first book I have read by Katerina and it won’t be my last. She builds a tense story which leads to a very exciting end.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?