She wouldn’t kill for her career, but she might just die for it.

Charlotte Ashe is desperate to get out of her light-relief gig as TVWE’s ‘weather babe’. When an elite footballer hands her a scoop that could make her career, she never expects it to lead into danger.

Joey Baptiste is on the cusp of greatness, and the edge of despair. Confiding in Charlotte is his last chance at a way out. But Joey's secret pulls Charlotte into a dangerous game that threatens her career, her relationship and even her life. With everyone against her who can she can trust? How much she is willing to risk to expose the truth?

Will her big break become her biggest mistake?

Bad Things Happen is the first book in the new adrenaline-charged series by Ned Kelly Crime Fiction Award nominated writer Rowena Holloway. This page-turning thriller-with-heart can be read as a stand-alone.

Buy Bad Things Happen today and get lost in this dark mystery where the truth has deadly consequences.

 

Laura Furuta

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read...
January 3, 2019
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
Bad Things Happen: Gripping Psychological Suspense (Ashes to Ashes Book 1)
By: Rowena Holloway
5 out of 5 stars

The story Bad Things Happen: Gripping Psychological Suspense (Ashes to Ashes Book 1) by Rowena Holloway is a mystery/thriller that I loved reading. There are suspenseful moments that had me wondering what would happen next. It hooked me in from the beginning and at times had me holding my breath. I loved reading about the character of Charlotte Ashe. She is a woman who is looking to become more than just the “weather girl.” She wants a story that will get her noticed. When presented with a scoop that is just too good to pass up, she soon finds herself in an investigation that has many questions to answer and trying to find out the truth behind the death of Joey Baptiste, the man who had come to her with the scoop, to begin with. She is determined to push forward in the search for answers. She also has to ask herself just who she can trust and is she herself now in danger? Will Charlotte find out the whole truth? Read this book to find out. Charlotte is a character that is resourceful and not one to give up easily. I loved how the story is told in such a way that I felt like I was right there with Charlotte in her investigation. There are secondary characters that are introduced in the story. Trying to put together what part some of them play was like putting together a puzzle. This is a book that had me turning pages. If you love mystery and suspense this a perfect story for you. Highly recommended.

Brenda Telford

4.0 out of 5 stars Start to new series!
April 1, 2018
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
Mystery and intrigue surrounded footballer Joey Baptiste as he desperately confided in Charlotte Ashe, weather babe on TVWE who was always on the lookout for a big story to get her into serious reporting. She realised it was just that she was in the right place at the right time, so Charlotte knew she needed to make the most of the opportunity which had been handed to her.

But the background of Joey’s troubles would lead Charlotte into the worst danger she’d ever encountered. The truth wasn’t something which was allowed to be exposed – would death be the result?

I had trouble getting into the back-and-forth timeline in Bad Things Happen by Aussie author Rowena Holloway, which is the first in the Ashes to Ashes series. Set in London, the football culture along with “drugs in sport”, the stand over men, bimbos and thuggish tactics was rife. But the suspense, dark secrets and sinister twists made for an adrenaline filled story, and one I have no hesitation in recommending.

Vegas Daisie

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Suspenseful!
January 21, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
I was surprisingly pleased with this book! I didn’t know what to expect but I’m so glad I read this book! Bad Things Happen is Book 1 in the Ashes to Ashes series by Rowena Holloway. This story follows Joey Baptiste, who is a professional football (Soccer) player that has witnessed a major crime. This story also follows Charlotte Ashe. She is a weather girl on television trying to become a true crime reporter. Charlotte gets lucky when Joey comes to her with this crime, but Charlotte has no idea what she’s getting into. Her job and life is on the line and Joey is trusting her with everything. Now it’s up to Charlotte to uncover the whole truth behind Joey’s story. Can she do it? I guess you will have to see! I did like the way that the author grabbed you and continued to keep you in suspense the whole time. To be truthful, it was a little bit difficult to keep track of the timeline. Other than that…I loved the characters and the well to be honest the British language! I truly do love books based in the U.K. Things tend to be a bit more forward and raw. The humor is hysterical and I loved how Charlotte is completely focused on her work and doing well at her job. She is determined to prove everyone wrong and prove that she can do the job! I love when the female lead is strong and learns to come into her own.

Erin Davidson

3.0 out of 5 stars A Gripping, psychological suspense novel
January 17, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
Bad Things Happen: Gripping Psychological Suspense is the first book in Rowena Holloway’s Ashes to Ashes series. Charlotte never thought she’d be willing to kill someone for a story, but when her informant ends up dead under mysterious circumstances, Charlotte might just end up doing that or end up dead herself.
The book definitely took its time to ease you into the suspense, but once it had you in its clutches it did not let go. I found the start of the novel to be a little clunky; it dumped a lot of information and some of it was poorly explained. I spent a lot of time trying to understand the relevance of certain side plots and characters. As well as the various characters and their motivations. Eventually it did all make sense, and I found myself enjoying the book a lot more. But it took a hot minute to get there.
This book will definitely leave you on the edge of your seat, and have you reeling after all the twists and turns. Overall I gave this book 3/5 stars and look forward to reading the second book Less you Know, in Holloway’s Ashes to Ashes series.

Emily Bee

5.0 out of 5 stars Keeps you guessing until the very end!
January 17, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
Oh my goodness, what a story!! Rowena Holloway has woven an intricate and fascinating thriller in “Bad Things Happen!” Charlotte Ashe is a determined woman, she came to London to make her big break and has been stuck as a weather girl for too long. So when she meets local footballer Joey Baptiste, she jumps at the chance to tell his story. Like Charlotte, just when I thought I had this story figured out, I was thrown for a loop and oh boy was it a good one! This story was by no means predictable, which I love! Sometimes, I read a mystery/thriller and can figure out the bad guy in no time, but this story really keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing until the very end! There was a quality to the story I didn’t love and it has to do with Joey. However, overall this was a fantastic read and I can’t wait to dig into the sequel “Less You Know!” So, I give “Bad Things Happen” five stars!

Naomi McDonald

5.0 out of 5 stars Intense!
January 17, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
Bad Things Happen is the first book in the Ashes to Ashes series. This story is left open to pick up in book two.

I have to say, I’m not a huge fan of sports so I was a little concerned that I wouldn’t like this book, but it actually had me sucked in from the beginning. It isn’t sports heavy and focuses more on the mystery and intrigue aspects. I found the first-person story line for Joey an interesting choice considering what happens to him. One thing I found interesting is that a lot of the characters you kind of have a love/hate relationship with. They’ve all got something that makes you cringe a little bit, but also parts of them that make you love them in some way or other, at least most of them. There were a couple characters that were just…evil. I am interested to see how things play out in the next book.

ERIN E WOLF

4.0 out of 5 stars Intense
January 17, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
I give Bad Things Happen: Gripping Psychological Suspense (Ashes to Ashes Book 1) by Rowena Holloway, 4 stars.

Joey is an up and comer. He wants to be a star in his sport. Instead, he gets benched for something he did not do. Now his coach won't even believe that he is innocent. Steaming mad, he goes to the first news reporter he sees, the "weather babe" Charlotte. He is ready to spill the dirty little secrets. Unbeknownst to him, doing this may have caused a lot more trouble than he ever thought possible. But he has to do this to get some quick money and protect those he loves.

Charlotte is tired of being the weather babe. She wants to be a real reporter. She has done it before and knows she can do it again. So when Joey approaches her, there is no way she can say no. She has to convince him that this in his best interest. She NEEDS this story. But the deeper she digs, the more trouble arises. Just what is really going on? Who is behind it all? What will the outcome be?

This was quite an interesting book. For American readers, I will let you know right now, there is a lot of British slang in this book. But don't let that deter you. It really is an incredible book and I worked my way through those I was unsure of. There are many twists and turns that will leave you dizzy until the end. The author also gives away a big spoiler in the beginning that makes you want to find out why. It reminds me of the detective classics, but with an edgy, modern, suspense reworking. The characters are interesting and maybe not all are whom they appear to be. I was so happy I read this book and was shocked at the end. I want to know more!

If you like psychological suspense, this book is for you.

Erica Wojdyla

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome "Psychological Suspense" book.
January 17, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
Bad Things Happen by Rowena Holloway is what the title says “A Gripping Psychological Suspense” story. Rowena Holloway does an amazing job keeping the mystery going through out the story. This story has a dark thriller with suspense, secrets, truth, twists, and turns. Holloway makes sure that you have all the information you need to understand the story fully. There are times when I just wanted to close my eyes and get lost into my “happy world” because I was fearful for what was coming. Then BAM!!!! A twisty turn comes and makes me reread what I had just read because I missed the turn to her twist. I would allow time to read this book in one sitting as it moves at a good pace, and for me at least, I wanted to finish to see how everything came together.

E. Walsh

4.0 out of 5 stars A Heart Pounding Thriller!
January 17, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
Bad Things Happen (Ashes to Ashes #1) by Rowena Holloway was a suspense thriller that had me holding my breath.

A dark look into London's football, drugs, secrets and a deadly tip that puts our MC in danger, this read hooked me, and pulled me into the game.

As much as I was absorbed into this book, I will say that the start was a little too info-dumpy. I get that a setting needs to be set, but sometimes holding info back will add to the story instead of just unloading and hoping the reader will stay with you. Also with all that info, I had a time sifting through it, and keeping the facts straight. But once I got pass that, this story dug it's dark claws in and I got lost in this thriller.

Overall this book is an engaging, entertaining read that will have you guessing, lead astray, and wondering what's up and what's down. Paired with an multi layered plot and complex well rounded characters, this book will take you on a dark ride, have you on the edge of your seat and leave you shocked.

So please take my super high recommendation and my stamp of approval that you will not be able to put this book down.

Happy Reading

-E.A. Walsh