30 Days in June – review (AD)
I was kindly given an advanced electronic copy of 30 Days in June in exchange for an honest review*.
30 Days in June book blurb
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 overall thoughts of 30 Days in June
From the opening chapter the story is very compelling and draws you in.
We start with a flashback thirty years ago and the mystery starts to hook you in with a couple murdered in their own home which kick-starts a month long killing spree.
Impressionable seventeen-year-old Jeffrey Allen becomes obsesses with Spartacus as the killings move closer to his home town. Jeffrey was to be the final victim, on the final day of the month but instead, he became the only survivor, and the only real witness.
Fast forward to the present day and Jeffrey has assumed a new identity – Marcus. He’s separated from his wife, is a father, has a new relationship and successful job. Everything is going pretty swimmingly for Marcus until June 1 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.
Who is this serial killer nicknamed Spartacus?
Is he really after Marcus a second time round, is it a copy-cat or is he simply losing his mind?
Marcus is hiding more than just his real identity and this is drip fed throughout the book.
As the book progresses the tension and mystery build and there is a very tense standoff situation at the end.
I really enjoyed this thriller and would recommend it.
About author Chris Westlake
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.
Social media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWestlake2
Website: www.chriswestlakeauthor.co.uk
Purchase links
Publishing information
Published in paperback and digital formats on 15th December 2019.
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*Disclaimer
This review has been written with 100% honesty.
I was not financially compensated for this post. I was given an advance copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this post are completely my own based on my own experience.
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Sounds like a good one! I’m always looking for thriller to read.