Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

 This starts out as a 4 and rapidly declined to a 2 and I should have DNF. Though market as an adult thriller, it totally reads like a YA novel.

The premise -- a young woman is dying after an attack damages her brain and an aneurysm is due to burst and bleed within the week. She decides, after a completely lackluster life where she accomplished nothing, to solve her own murder. With the help of her childhood friend, Billy, (who of course in this trope of tropes secretly loves her), Jet (oh what a name and somehow a nickname for Margaret) tries to find some clues that will help them discover the identity of the killer. 

The dialogue was sophomoric and the plot so very thin that within a few chapters you can guess correctly most all of the what, why, and who. The constant repetition of how much time Jet has left was annoying. The things Jet did in that week in her condition were quite preposterous and one needs to really suspend all disbelief as it really strains credulity. I can see by other reviews that I'm an outlier on this one. I'm sorry I wasted my time but I thought the unique perspective was going to be better executed. I appreciate receiving the ARC from the publisher. 

I also tried to listen to the audio book but the narrator's (Alex McKenna) voice just made me cringe and emphasized all the points I made about the writing and the dialogue. I stopped.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Tags and genre -- publisher markets as adult novel but reads like YA, trope filled mystery, boy next door, solve your own murder premise 

Wild Instinct by T. Jefferson Parker

 Taut, atmospheric police procedural that weaves timely social commentary into a murder mystery.

A routine call to track and shoot a mountain lion that apparently killed Bennet Tarlow, a wealthy land developer in the hills of Orange County California, quickly unravels into a complex murder investigation. Detective Lew Gale, previously a Marine sniper and also a member of the local Acjacheme Indian community, and his new partner Daniela Mendez, discover that Tarlow was shot execution style before the lion got to him. Now the pair is tracking humans and that trail is leading to secrets, lies, and greed.

This was really complex in that there were so many details about the indigenous culture and history of the Spanish missions in the area and how that changed and displaced the communities. There is conflict between them and the powerful and rich who basically stole the land. Exploited the natives and destroyed their heritage. I liked the depth and dimension of the main characters, Lew and Daniela,  whose backstories are unusual and compelling. The writing is excellent as the author weaves all of the historical into present day issues. The pacing was good and could be described as a slow burn as the characters come to life. Definitely has a lot of depth and context. I could see this as a series, and if so, I will be reading more. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, John Pirhalla, did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life with his versatility and skill with accents. His voice is very smooth and compelling and helped create the right atmosphere for a totally immersive experience.

This is a standalone, at least right now, though I would love for it to go further.

Tags and genre - indigenous peoples, land development, greed, murder, police procedural

The Merge by Grace Walker

 Unsettling speculative dystopian fiction.

In near-future UK, society is straining under resource shortage and environmental collapse. The revolutionary Merge procedure is meant to allow two consciousnesses to blend into one body to conserve and pool the benefits. Amelia, the daughter of an activist, signs up to merge with her mother, Laurie, who is in the first stages of Alzheimer's. What could go wrong?

The premise grabbed me immediately -- Amelia's desperate move driven by love. What profound scientific achievement is this where a daughter wants to keep her mother's memories and connection and The Combine has found a way to do it by putting it all into one body. I couldn't wait to dive in to understand the methods and practical aspects of the procedure and this integration. And then it went so flat so fast. Why can't we ever get cool new things? That don't end up being so bad.

The first part just drags on forever as the pair prepares for their merge. They meet others that are also in the process which takes months. The whole section was mainly character development without the significant details about the actual procedure that I was looking for. Lots of nothing happens. Then the two are in recovery with a gap between their pre and post transition phases. The exposition goes on and on with Amelia unhappy until the rush to the completely unsatisfying conclusion with so many unresolved situations and no answers other than -- oops, no spoilers.

I wasn't a fan and the main reason was that this is basically just a big ethical question about identity, selfhood, and sacrifice. The result is a narrative that felt unfinished and inconsistent, focused on the mundane instead of realizing provocative its medical, scientific, and dystopian potential. 

So more frustrated than fascinated, and ultimately disappointing at the execution of what could have been a really good story.  I'm giving this 2.5 stars.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrators, Tamaryn Payne and Pearl Hewitt, were adequate but sometimes it was very hard to differentiate their voices from other characters. This production would have benefited from a larger cast since all the characters blended together, especially in light of a plot where consciousness and inner voices are combined. 

This is a standalone debut and not part of any series. Nor would I want more of it.

Tags and genre - speculative dystopian fiction, medical procedures, mind melding, activism, ethics and morrals 

Nash Falls (Walter Nash #1) by David Baldacci

 How far will the Eagle Scout fall in his quest for vengeance, justice, and revenge?

Walter Nash sort of had it all as a well paid finance wizard at a top notch firm. He, his wife Judith, and daughter were living a good life until the FBI came calling after the death of Walter’s father. They recruit Walter as a mole and whistleblower to take down his employer because it happens that Sybaritic is a money laundering machine for an Asian criminal mastermind, Victoria Steers. When everything falls apart and Walter is framed for horrible crimes, he goes on the run and has to reinvent himself from mild mannered banker to killing machine. 

Walter is a complex character who is basically just a really decent and moral guy who has quite the transformation in this action packed thriller. The author’s deliberate pacing draws the reader in waiting to see what will happen next. The story is filled with all the usual types of good guys and bad guys. There’s the faithful friend who helps Walter become who he needs to be. The slimy super rich bosses who take whatever they want —except blame or responsibility. Conniving women. Lots of fighting and grisly descriptions of maiming and murder. I felt some sympathy for him except for how he, well I don’t want to spoil anything. I want him to succeed in his mission to take down this global criminal enterprise, I really do, and I understand we will see more about it in the sequel coming next year. 

Definitely a book that will keep you glued to the pages and you won’t even realize that it’s a bit longer than usual. I know what I hope will happen so will definitely be in line to find out if the author avoids the cliches in this character’s metamorphosis and personal growth. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrators were a full cast with MacLeod Andrews as the main character and supporting voices from Christine Lakin, Larry Herron, Shiromi Arserio, and Will Collyer. The men did an excellent job of dramatizing the story with appropriate flair, tone, and giving each a unique and distinctive voice with consistent and authentic accents. There was a female voice that just was not good and was used for many of the women in the story. The voice sounded the same for all of them and didn’t seem to integrate smoothly into the scene nor was the emotion there. The female voice was flat and unengaged. I have no idea which of the two narrators this person was. The other female did better but not by much. I wish that roles would be identified with large cast recordings.  Overall, however, because of the strong male voices, the production enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

This is the first book in a new series with sequel coming out next year. Read in order.

Genre and tags: Everyman becomes superhero to save family, transformation, spies, global criminal enterprise, murder, extortion, FBI, family drama

The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf

 Utterly dramatic popcorn domestic thriller that is highly entertaining though completely preposterous. 

A spectacle of a gender reveal party involving a truck that is meant to explode with the appropriate color ends in tragedy when a guest winds up dead and many others wounded. The hosts, the extremely wealthy landowners, Madeline and Wes Drake, are in the crosshairs of the investigation when an ATF agent with former ties to the area comes to their ranch to get answers about what looks like something other than an accident. 

There is no shortage of suspects or motive along with the usual plethora of secrets, lies, and drama. It seems that in addition to the planned event, a second explosion was actually an IED that someone at the scene engineered. Who set it and why?

I just can’t with this one. There was so much going on and such terrible, hideous people doing all sorts of things that it was hard to narrow down who the really bad actors were. I think readers will enjoy this whole romp more if they can suspend disbelief and embrace the chaos and soap opera qualities. It was fast paced and easy to read in a single sitting. Definitely predictable and thus not really suspenseful but it will likely hold your attention for a couple of hours. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrators, Brittany Pressley and Xe Sands, were a bit of a pair as I didn’t really care for either of their voices nor can I identify who did which character making them basically indistinguishable. My main issue was some of the pacing and the deliberate pauses that were overly dramatic even for this plot. There was no male voice which was also a disappointment. I wish that the contents listed who voiced which characters.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre and tags, domestic drama, murder, secrets and lies, wealthy ranch owners, traumatic past

The Proving Ground (Lincoln Lawyer #8) by Michael Connelly

 A legal thriller that is timely and explosive as it deals with the contemporary issues surrounding the development of artificial intelligence. 

In this 8th book in a long running series, Mickey Haller handles his first civil case after leaving criminal defense and his reputation as the Lincoln Lawyer behind. The trial is very high profile as it tackles the ethical and legal dangers of unregulated AI. Although the main premise centers on the allegation that a teenaged boy shot and killed his ex girlfriend at the behest of a chat bot companion, the parents of the teens sue the multibillion dollar company, Tidalwaiv, because their app lacked essential guardrails that should have protected the children. 

The story was so good and the issues so interesting that I could not put this down and read it in a single sitting. I love the author’s writing and I am a huge fan of legal and courtroom drama. I liked everything about the book from the characters (all the ones we know and love from previous Haller installments) and the new journalist character was a great addition. Most of the book centered on the legal maneuvering and the skirmishes between opposing attorneys and the judge. The whole concept and reality of the dangers of AI and the evolution of chatbots and how they are programmed and trained were so riveting. When so many people, especially young ones who are easily influenced, spend so much time interaction with devices and AI, it seems inevitable that many lawsuits will follow as damages become evident and the dangers exposed. 

This was not action packed and the criminals were not the usual types found in previous Lincoln Lawyer novels, but were actually more insidiously malignant. It was gripping and thought provoking and I think it serves as a wake up call and cautionary tale as well as legal fiction that could just as easily be true crime. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Peter Giles, did an amazing job of voicing the characters in this book. He has a great delivery style and has excellent pacing that fits whatever is happening in the story. He is not overly dramatic and sounds like the voice of authority making him a good match for strong male characters. I like his deep voice as it is pleasant to listen to and he can adapt to other characters’ voices though I always wish for a female cast member for these productions. Overall, the audio definitely added to my enjoyment of the book.

This is the 8th book in a long running series. Probably best to read in order. 

Tags and genre - legal thriller, contemporary issues, artificial intelligence, chatbots, civil law

I Found You by Lisa Jewell

 Enjoyable character-driven mystery.

Alice Lake finds an amnesiac man she decides to call "Frank" sitting on a beach near her house. Miles away, a newlywed's husband vanishes on his way home from work. Police reveal to the new wife that his passport is fake and the man she knows as Carol doesn't exist. 

Weaving present day mystery with a decades old seaside vacation that ended in tragedy, this novel slowly reveals the dark and unsettling connection that binds these disparate lives and answers the questions about their identities and the past. 

The atmosphere is enticing and the seaside setting with the multi timeline structure at first is a bit confusing, but it pulls in the reader. The build up and minute revelations make the book seem very slow moving and I put it down and didn't rush to pick it up again. The resolution, with all the coincidences, felt a bit too neat and almost a let down after all the information is finally exposed and the truth disclosed. I know we're meant to like the characters, especially Alice, but I'm just trying to imagine bringing a strange man who doesn't know who he is inside my home with my  kids. There was nothing twisty or surprising about the conclusions so I can't really call this a thriller. I like the author, but this one just fell a bit short for me. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. Yes, I'm late getting around to this one! I wasn't impressed with the narrator, Helen Duff. I wish a male voice had been utilized as well to give a more immersive experience. When the audio had to go back to the library unfinished, I just continued to the end of the book without it and no regrets.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre and tags: mystery, romance, amnesia, psychopath, murder, fake identity, missing persons 

Murder Most British (Secet Detective Agency #3) by Helena Dixon

 

This is the third installment in this cozy historical mystery series.

It’s 1941 and secret agent Jane Treen is back working with codebreaker and analyst Arthur Cilento. This time their partnership has them investigating the murder of a typist who had discovered that there were secret codes inserted into broadcast manuscripts. Jane ends up temping as accompanist to her mother, Elsa, while checking out everyone who is working at the agency. 

This one moved rather slowly and, though peppered with marginally dangerous situations for Jane, it never rose to any sort of intensity and had no real twists or surprises. It seems that Jane and Arthur are becoming close and perhaps, after about 10 more books, a romance may bloom though he’s quite sickly and I can’t see what the attraction might be. The characters spend a lot of time talking, eating, and drinking their coffee and tea without much really going on. I just couldn’t get too excited about the plot. 

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read and review. 

This is the third installment in a series that should be read in order.

Genre and tags - historical cozy, fiction, mystery, murder, 1941 war time London