Hello and welcome to my stop of the The Lucky Eight blog tour! A huge thanks to Kelly Lacey for inviting me to be part of this blog tour. I admit that I was sold as soon as I read the blurb. I mean, a plane crash angle AND more than one murder to solve?! That sounds like a recipe for an excellent thriller, and this book definitely hit the mark for me. Want to know why? Please join me while I share my thoughts…

Title: The Lucky Eight
Author: Sheila Bugler
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
First published: July 22nd 2021
Publisher: Canelo Crime
Finished reading: June 10th 2021
Pages: 277

“This case was going to be messy and complex and drawn out. All of it conducted beneath the unforgiving glare of the tabloid press.”

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***

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!! Happy publication day !!

I knew that I wanted to read The Lucky Eight as soon as I first read the blurb. The promise of a plane crash angle as well as more than one murder to solve sounded like a perfect recipe for an engaging thriller… And I most definitely liked what I found. I literally read The Lucky Eight in one sitting and until the early hours, unable to stop reading until my suspicions were confirmed and the final plot twists and secrets were revealed. Oh yes, this book definitely hit the mark for me!

The story starts with a bang as it describes the horrific plane crash that happened five years ago, and it quickly sets the tone for the rest of the story which is set in the present. The story is told with the help of a dual POV structure, where we switch between plane crash survivor Clodagh Kinsella and detective Rachel Lewis. This way, we get to see both the enormous impact of the plane crash on the lives of those who survived as well as being offered a front seat to the investigation into the murders in the present. The perfect balance of psychological and crime thriller!

Clodagh Kinsella is probably your typical unreliable narrator as she suffers from brain damage after the plane crash and both lost her memories of the events leading up to the crash and still struggles with her memories in the present. While slightly cliche, I did like what her character brought to the story and it was interesting to see both the other plane crash survivors and the unfolding investigation through her eyes. As she slowly start to remember more about her vacation on Crete, plot twists and secrets related to those memories are revealed, and while I did guess the truth early it didn’t really impact the entertainment factor of this story.

Detective Rachel Lewis represents the detective angle and crime thriller part of this story as she investigates the murders. I enjoyed getting to know her and I liked her investigation style; this POV definitely brings some action and suspense into the story and I liked how it was contrasted with Clodagh’s POV. Things are getting more and more intense towards the ending as the final reveals are coming close, and this is definitely one where you will end up on the edge of your seat. And like I said, while I did guess some of those final twists as well as the killer’s identity right, somehow it didn’t really impact my reading experience as I was too busy being entertained while I confirmed my suspicions.

In short, what seems like an ordinary crime thriller that focuses on a murder investigation, delivers so much more thanks to the focus on the plane crash survivors and how the crash impacted their lives forever. Some characters were more likeable than others, but they make for a lively bunch and the plot itself is highly entertaining. Easy to read, suspenseful, engaging… Oh yes, The Lucky Eight was definitely a winner for me and I can recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well written crime thriller that offers a little something extra.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sheila grew up in a small town in the west of Ireland. After studying Psychology at University College Galway (now called NUI Galway) she left Ireland and worked as an EFL teacher, travelling to Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland and Argentina.

She is the author of a series of crime novels featuring DI Ellen Kelly. The novels are set in South East London, an area she knows and loves.

She now lives in Eastbourne, on the beautiful East Sussex coast. Eastbourne is the location for her series of crime novels featuring investigative journalist Dee Doran.

When she’s not writing, Sheila does corporate writing and storytelling, she runs creative writing courses, is a tutor for the Writers Bureau and is a mentor on the WoMentoring programme. She reviews crime fiction for crimesquad.com and she is a regular guest on BBC Radio Sussex.

She is married with two children.

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