Black Rock Falls is a busy place in August. Sheriff Jenna Alton and Deputy David Kane have just returned to town after a relaxing holiday when they are called out to attend the discovery of a body in a shower. The victim is college freshman Chrissie Lowe and she was found by her roommate in conditions that suggest she was a suicide. It becomes apparent on the postmortem examination, however, that Chrissie had been viciously raped, by more than one person, and that she had been given several drugs that most probably induced unconsciousness. The medical examine also wonders if this was really suicide -- indeed, it could be murder. The entire team at the Black Rock Falls Sherriff's Office moves into high gear beginning an investigation into the gang rape when it is revealed that Chrissie had been to a party at the private house of the elite senior members of the college football team and that she had been invited there by the star quarterback. Before the case really gets going, a member of that household is found dead in the gym. Was this an accident or murder? Then two other members of the football team also experience freakish deaths and Kane and Alton know these victims must somehow be related but they can't get the proof they need to advance to an arrest or prosecution. They have got to get some Intel from inside the football player's secluded house. NO SPOILERS.
What an excellent police procedural with lots of action and a complicated case that focuses on the topic of rape. I just love the characters in this series and have gotten to know them all quite well since I've read all the previous books. The relationship between "just friends" Kane and Alton is obviously gearing up to be much more, but geez, it is taking forever and I'm grateful their romance isn't a large part of the book as it is much more focused on their working partnership. The description of Black Rock Falls gets me every time. Though not a fan of heights and cold weather, it does sound beautiful and I can almost visulize it in my mind. If you like a fast-paced series that deals with serial killers and fits the genre of crime fiction very well, then you'd really enjoy this one. And, of course, I had to read this in one sitting because I was desperately trying to figure out who was doing this and why. I loved the conclusion and it was quite well-done. I can't wait for the next installment!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.
This is the 7th book a series and the books should be read in order for best enjoyment.
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural, deals with gang rape
NetGalley Top Reviewer
NetGalley Top Reviewer
Thursday, October 31, 2019
The Empty Nest by Sue Watson
"It's the not knowing."
Kat and her 18-year-old daughter, Amy, are very close. They're not just mother and only child, they're also best friends. They tell each other everything and Amy knows how her mother worries about her. So, when Amy moves to Wales for university, Kat is bereft and missing her Amy. This empty nest syndrome has got her bad. But, they talk and text everyday which helps to keep some of the terrible lonlieness at bay. And, best of all, Amy is coming home in the upcoming weekend and Kat can't wait to catch up. When Sunday comes and goes without any contact, Kat starts to fret. The initial attempts to contact Amy via mobile come to nothing and Kat moves from excitement to panic as she calls Amy, her friends, stalks her on social media to see if there are any updates (none), and finally summons the police. She knows her daughter and this behavior and the lack of communication is not Amy. Of course, no one believes that anything bad has happened to Amy -- she's just spreading her wings is all. Not Kat's husband, and Amy's stepfather, Richard. Not Kat's best friend, Zoe, or Zoe's daughter, Jodie, or Amy's boyfriend, Josh, or any of Amy's new flatmates at school. Kat will not be comforted and she alone knows that something is terribly wrong. NO SPOILERS.
It is amazing, sometimes, when you pick up the perfect book at the perfect time. It was 11 pm last night and I'd just gotten a call from my eldest daughter (she hasn't lived anywhere near me for many years) who was letting me know that due to a missed connection on her flight home, she was going to rent a car and drive over 5 hours back. So, folks, yeah, it's a mom thing. Of course I still worry about her and always will no matter her age and stage of life. So, I picked this up and started reading. It hit ALL the right notes from the very beginning and I'm confident that most parents would understand everything that Kat was feeling, even if you never were an obsessed helicopter mom or dad. Yeah, Kat was a little over the top neurotic, but she did have some reasons for that and I could totally empathize with her instincts telling her that something was off and her need to take some action. This was truly psychological suspense and great domestic drama with interesting characters and the narrative so compelling that I could not put it down so read it completely cover to cover while waiting by the phone myself! I loved the surprises along the way, especially unusual for me not to anticipate where this was going.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book to read, review and recommend. You won't be disappointed!
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - psychological suspense, domestic drama
Kat and her 18-year-old daughter, Amy, are very close. They're not just mother and only child, they're also best friends. They tell each other everything and Amy knows how her mother worries about her. So, when Amy moves to Wales for university, Kat is bereft and missing her Amy. This empty nest syndrome has got her bad. But, they talk and text everyday which helps to keep some of the terrible lonlieness at bay. And, best of all, Amy is coming home in the upcoming weekend and Kat can't wait to catch up. When Sunday comes and goes without any contact, Kat starts to fret. The initial attempts to contact Amy via mobile come to nothing and Kat moves from excitement to panic as she calls Amy, her friends, stalks her on social media to see if there are any updates (none), and finally summons the police. She knows her daughter and this behavior and the lack of communication is not Amy. Of course, no one believes that anything bad has happened to Amy -- she's just spreading her wings is all. Not Kat's husband, and Amy's stepfather, Richard. Not Kat's best friend, Zoe, or Zoe's daughter, Jodie, or Amy's boyfriend, Josh, or any of Amy's new flatmates at school. Kat will not be comforted and she alone knows that something is terribly wrong. NO SPOILERS.
It is amazing, sometimes, when you pick up the perfect book at the perfect time. It was 11 pm last night and I'd just gotten a call from my eldest daughter (she hasn't lived anywhere near me for many years) who was letting me know that due to a missed connection on her flight home, she was going to rent a car and drive over 5 hours back. So, folks, yeah, it's a mom thing. Of course I still worry about her and always will no matter her age and stage of life. So, I picked this up and started reading. It hit ALL the right notes from the very beginning and I'm confident that most parents would understand everything that Kat was feeling, even if you never were an obsessed helicopter mom or dad. Yeah, Kat was a little over the top neurotic, but she did have some reasons for that and I could totally empathize with her instincts telling her that something was off and her need to take some action. This was truly psychological suspense and great domestic drama with interesting characters and the narrative so compelling that I could not put it down so read it completely cover to cover while waiting by the phone myself! I loved the surprises along the way, especially unusual for me not to anticipate where this was going.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book to read, review and recommend. You won't be disappointed!
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - psychological suspense, domestic drama
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
See Them Run (DI Clare Mackay #1) by Marion Todd
DI Clare Mackay and her team out of St. Andrews are hunting a cold, systematic serial killer. Men are being run over and left to die. Why are these particular men being targeted and who is murdering them in such a premeditated way? NO SPOILERS
Clare has recently taken a position as the most senior officer stationed in St. Andrews after a shooting incident in Glasgow resulted in her being emotionally and professionally damaged. She's left behind her lovely home, her job, and her boyfriend to take up the job in the small seaside town known for being the home of golf. She and her partner, DS Chris West, track down every lead in this excellent police procedural. Clare is methodical and very determined to solve this case and perhaps even put down roots in this community.
This was an excellent introduction to a new series featuring DI Clare Mackay and I can't wait for book #2 in order to get to know Clare, her team, and the area surrounding St. Andrews better. I loved the description of the setting and the writing style. Clare is slowing feeling her way into her new life and, though she is lonely and unsettled, I think she'll come around. The storyline was good and kept me so absorbed that I read this in a single sitting. Although I've read a ton of British crime fiction, not that many novels are set in Scotland so this was an interesting change of locale.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.
This is the first book in a new series and I plan to read them all, in order!
Genre - police procedural, crime fiction, female detective
Clare has recently taken a position as the most senior officer stationed in St. Andrews after a shooting incident in Glasgow resulted in her being emotionally and professionally damaged. She's left behind her lovely home, her job, and her boyfriend to take up the job in the small seaside town known for being the home of golf. She and her partner, DS Chris West, track down every lead in this excellent police procedural. Clare is methodical and very determined to solve this case and perhaps even put down roots in this community.
This was an excellent introduction to a new series featuring DI Clare Mackay and I can't wait for book #2 in order to get to know Clare, her team, and the area surrounding St. Andrews better. I loved the description of the setting and the writing style. Clare is slowing feeling her way into her new life and, though she is lonely and unsettled, I think she'll come around. The storyline was good and kept me so absorbed that I read this in a single sitting. Although I've read a ton of British crime fiction, not that many novels are set in Scotland so this was an interesting change of locale.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.
This is the first book in a new series and I plan to read them all, in order!
Genre - police procedural, crime fiction, female detective
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
The Verdict by Olivia Isaac-Henry
"Nineteen ninety-four. Twenty-three years ago. Brandon Wells. Guildford."
Julia Winter, now 48-years-old, had fled London to Guildford after her long-time boyfriend, Christian, had dumped her for another woman. She was then 23 and ended up sharing a grand home with the owner, Genevieve D'Auncey, and 4 other tenants. There was Lucy, Gideon, Brandon and Alan. Tensions are high in the household as the roommates don't get along very well and Genevieve is a bit of a flake and makes Brandon her pet -- probably because he reminds her of her own dead son. Their house-sharing comes to a grand halt and the roomies go their separate ways. Or do they? Now, Julia and two of her former housemates are on trial for murder. NO SPOILERS.
This was sort of slow-moving and the forward pace was bogged by the shift in time between 1994 and present day. At first, it was very hard to keep track of what was going on in each time period. I must say that all of the characters are pretty unlikeable and that made their behavior and relationships hard to understand. Julia is particularly weak and the perfect target for an alpha male. It helped that I read this in one sitting so that I could keep all the characters and the events straight. I admit to geing surprised by the conclusion and I was glad that I had stuck with it after all though I'm not sure that justice was adequately served!
PS - there was no "affair at work" that cost her job. The synopsis provided is quite misleading in some aspects.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic drama, murder, some courtroom action
Julia Winter, now 48-years-old, had fled London to Guildford after her long-time boyfriend, Christian, had dumped her for another woman. She was then 23 and ended up sharing a grand home with the owner, Genevieve D'Auncey, and 4 other tenants. There was Lucy, Gideon, Brandon and Alan. Tensions are high in the household as the roommates don't get along very well and Genevieve is a bit of a flake and makes Brandon her pet -- probably because he reminds her of her own dead son. Their house-sharing comes to a grand halt and the roomies go their separate ways. Or do they? Now, Julia and two of her former housemates are on trial for murder. NO SPOILERS.
This was sort of slow-moving and the forward pace was bogged by the shift in time between 1994 and present day. At first, it was very hard to keep track of what was going on in each time period. I must say that all of the characters are pretty unlikeable and that made their behavior and relationships hard to understand. Julia is particularly weak and the perfect target for an alpha male. It helped that I read this in one sitting so that I could keep all the characters and the events straight. I admit to geing surprised by the conclusion and I was glad that I had stuck with it after all though I'm not sure that justice was adequately served!
PS - there was no "affair at work" that cost her job. The synopsis provided is quite misleading in some aspects.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic drama, murder, some courtroom action
Monday, October 28, 2019
Heart of the Demon (DS Hunter Kerr #1) by Michael Fowler
I only meant to read a few chapters but after the opening action, I was glued to my chair and read it straight through in a couple of hours. WOW. Now, this is crime fiction -- where has Michael Fowler been and why I am just hearing about this series. This edition looks like a re-release of an earlier published book, but now I'm hooked and want to read them all!
DS Hunter Kerr and his partner, DC Grace Marshall are about to meet a demented serial killer. This case will have repercussions that they can't even foresee and the Barnwell Major Investigation Team will face a devious foe who has been perfecting his skills for many years. It all starts with the discovery of 14-year-old Rebecca Morris in a derelict barn. She'd been reported missing only a few hours prior and her killer was interrupted leaving the strangled and stabbed body behind. But this is only the beginning and soon they discover that Rebecca was not his first victim. The gruesome signature the psycho has left behind give the only clues they have to go on, but the dedicated team won't rest until they have tracked the monster and brought him to justice. NO SPOILERS.
This police procedural was everything a good suspense thriller should be so I'm giving it a rare 4.5 stars. I loved all the characters in the book (well, except for the bad guy of course) and I enjoyed learning about their professional and personal relationships. The details of the investigation, the forensic examinations, the meticulous search for information and the painstaking attention to even the tiniest clue were so absorbing that I was unable to tear my eyes away until the final page. I loved the writing style, the dialogue and the entire complicated plot. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys crime fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sapere Books for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is the first in a series featuring DS Hunter Kerr and definitely read them in order if you can!
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural
DS Hunter Kerr and his partner, DC Grace Marshall are about to meet a demented serial killer. This case will have repercussions that they can't even foresee and the Barnwell Major Investigation Team will face a devious foe who has been perfecting his skills for many years. It all starts with the discovery of 14-year-old Rebecca Morris in a derelict barn. She'd been reported missing only a few hours prior and her killer was interrupted leaving the strangled and stabbed body behind. But this is only the beginning and soon they discover that Rebecca was not his first victim. The gruesome signature the psycho has left behind give the only clues they have to go on, but the dedicated team won't rest until they have tracked the monster and brought him to justice. NO SPOILERS.
This police procedural was everything a good suspense thriller should be so I'm giving it a rare 4.5 stars. I loved all the characters in the book (well, except for the bad guy of course) and I enjoyed learning about their professional and personal relationships. The details of the investigation, the forensic examinations, the meticulous search for information and the painstaking attention to even the tiniest clue were so absorbing that I was unable to tear my eyes away until the final page. I loved the writing style, the dialogue and the entire complicated plot. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys crime fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sapere Books for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is the first in a series featuring DS Hunter Kerr and definitely read them in order if you can!
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Death at Sycamore House (DC Sukey Reynolds #12) by Betty Rowlands
This twelfth book in the Sukey Reynolds cozy mystery series provided me with an afternoon of entertainment. These stories are quick reads and the police procedural aspects add another dimension to the plots.
DC Sukey Reynolds of the Avon and Somerset CID and her team get a call to a posh block of flats known as Sycamore House where the body of a resident, Fenella Tremaine, has been found in one of the rubbish skips. The entire gang at CID gets involved in this very complicated investigation even though they find that their main suspect indeed owned the murder weapon in question. Interviews, visits, and more murders further muddle the case but the detectives stay on it, hunting down every lead and clue, until they find the killer.
I have really enjoyed all of the books in this series and am sad to know that the next one will apparently be the last installment. I like Sukey as a character and as a police detective. She's come a long way since her days as a scene of crime officer -- both professionally and personally. I like the shorter length and the writing style as well. I find that reading this type of novel gives me a nice break from my more typically grisly crime thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is #12 of 13 books in the Sukey Reynolds series and I suggest they be read in order.
Genre - cozy mystery, police procedural, detectives
DC Sukey Reynolds of the Avon and Somerset CID and her team get a call to a posh block of flats known as Sycamore House where the body of a resident, Fenella Tremaine, has been found in one of the rubbish skips. The entire gang at CID gets involved in this very complicated investigation even though they find that their main suspect indeed owned the murder weapon in question. Interviews, visits, and more murders further muddle the case but the detectives stay on it, hunting down every lead and clue, until they find the killer.
I have really enjoyed all of the books in this series and am sad to know that the next one will apparently be the last installment. I like Sukey as a character and as a police detective. She's come a long way since her days as a scene of crime officer -- both professionally and personally. I like the shorter length and the writing style as well. I find that reading this type of novel gives me a nice break from my more typically grisly crime thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is #12 of 13 books in the Sukey Reynolds series and I suggest they be read in order.
Genre - cozy mystery, police procedural, detectives
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Lying Next to Me by Gregg Olsen
Hood Canal and a sweet little 1920s cabin by the water -- an idyllic setting for a weekend getaway that ends in tragedy for a family in Washington State.
Adam and Sophie Warner and their 3-year-old daughter, Aubrey, book one of the 3 cabins near Lilliwaup. Each is named for a flower and they are staying in the "Wisteria." It's on the morning after they arrive that the incident takes place -- Adam and Aubrey are out in a rowboat on the water when he sees his wife Sophie being abducted. Witnesses saw a man in a red jacket grab Sophie and then she disappeared. Police detectives from local Mason County Sheriff's Office, Lee Husemann and Zach Montrose, arrive on the scene and the questions begin. And that's when this gets really interesting...NO SPOILERS
This was an incredible crime thriller populated by some of the most horrid personalities you can imagine! Unreliable narrators that offer lies, keep secrets, manipulate and scheme. The kind you love to hate and since you can't believe what they say, of course you're suspicious of everyone. The pace was fast and the revelations kept coming with twists and turns that are hard to anticipate. So many questions and the detectives have their hands full with the investigation that is complicated by the fact that Adam and Lee have history since both grew up locally and knew each other as children. It was hard to put this down! I really like this author's writing style and the story drew me in immediately and kept me guessing. I'm definitely looking forward to his next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - crime thriller, abduction, murder, detectives
Adam and Sophie Warner and their 3-year-old daughter, Aubrey, book one of the 3 cabins near Lilliwaup. Each is named for a flower and they are staying in the "Wisteria." It's on the morning after they arrive that the incident takes place -- Adam and Aubrey are out in a rowboat on the water when he sees his wife Sophie being abducted. Witnesses saw a man in a red jacket grab Sophie and then she disappeared. Police detectives from local Mason County Sheriff's Office, Lee Husemann and Zach Montrose, arrive on the scene and the questions begin. And that's when this gets really interesting...NO SPOILERS
This was an incredible crime thriller populated by some of the most horrid personalities you can imagine! Unreliable narrators that offer lies, keep secrets, manipulate and scheme. The kind you love to hate and since you can't believe what they say, of course you're suspicious of everyone. The pace was fast and the revelations kept coming with twists and turns that are hard to anticipate. So many questions and the detectives have their hands full with the investigation that is complicated by the fact that Adam and Lee have history since both grew up locally and knew each other as children. It was hard to put this down! I really like this author's writing style and the story drew me in immediately and kept me guessing. I'm definitely looking forward to his next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - crime thriller, abduction, murder, detectives
Thursday, October 24, 2019
In My Mother's Name by Laura Elliot
"A swallow in an attic. A butterfly in a jungle. Random events. Heartbreaking decisions."
Adele Foyle, a 24-year-old documentary writer for Voice Dox, returns to Crannock to bury her grandmother. While there, cleaning out the house they shared once upon a time, Adele finds a backpack containing a diary written by her mother -- a 15-year-old who died when Adele was born. Her grandmother, Noreen, had always refused to tell Adele anything about her mother's pregnancy or the circumstances surrounding her birth, so Adele eagerly devours the diary. What she discovers is shocking and heartbreaking. Her mother, Marianne, had been sent to a home for others like her in Reedstown to wait out her confinement and it was run like a religious cult and known as the Sodality of Thorns and Atonement. When Marianne dies, Adele and Noreen leave Reedstown and hide away in Crannock where they lived until Adele moved to London for work, met and became engaged to Daniel. Because the information in the diary is so inflammatory, Adele feels compelled to go to Reedstown and discover if it contains the truth and to obtain justice for her long-dead mother. NO SPOILERS.
Well, the twists and turns just kept on coming so once I started this I could not put it down so read in one sitting. And what a beautiful but sad story it was. The events that ruined Marianne were tough to read and those responsible definitely needed just punishment. I liked the way the author told the story from different points of view and how the diary entries were shared. It never ceases to amaze me what some won't do to cover up their dirty little secrets, lies and crimes. I really liked the characters of Adele and Rachel, a Garda in Reedstown. Some of the others were also well-drawn and their reactions to the release of Marianne's diary were described in great detail. I can't honestly quite figure exactly what niche or sub-genre this book fits into but it does have themes of violent rape, imprisonment, mistreatment and psychological manipulation. I really enjoyed it and I think you will too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - suspense, mystery, themes of rape and psychological manipulation
Adele Foyle, a 24-year-old documentary writer for Voice Dox, returns to Crannock to bury her grandmother. While there, cleaning out the house they shared once upon a time, Adele finds a backpack containing a diary written by her mother -- a 15-year-old who died when Adele was born. Her grandmother, Noreen, had always refused to tell Adele anything about her mother's pregnancy or the circumstances surrounding her birth, so Adele eagerly devours the diary. What she discovers is shocking and heartbreaking. Her mother, Marianne, had been sent to a home for others like her in Reedstown to wait out her confinement and it was run like a religious cult and known as the Sodality of Thorns and Atonement. When Marianne dies, Adele and Noreen leave Reedstown and hide away in Crannock where they lived until Adele moved to London for work, met and became engaged to Daniel. Because the information in the diary is so inflammatory, Adele feels compelled to go to Reedstown and discover if it contains the truth and to obtain justice for her long-dead mother. NO SPOILERS.
Well, the twists and turns just kept on coming so once I started this I could not put it down so read in one sitting. And what a beautiful but sad story it was. The events that ruined Marianne were tough to read and those responsible definitely needed just punishment. I liked the way the author told the story from different points of view and how the diary entries were shared. It never ceases to amaze me what some won't do to cover up their dirty little secrets, lies and crimes. I really liked the characters of Adele and Rachel, a Garda in Reedstown. Some of the others were also well-drawn and their reactions to the release of Marianne's diary were described in great detail. I can't honestly quite figure exactly what niche or sub-genre this book fits into but it does have themes of violent rape, imprisonment, mistreatment and psychological manipulation. I really enjoyed it and I think you will too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - suspense, mystery, themes of rape and psychological manipulation
All His Pretty Girls (Detective Alyssa Wyatt #1) by Charly Cox
I should have gone to bed a couple of hours ago, but I sat down with this book later in the evening and I simply could not put it down without finishing. What an amazing debut! This is one of the best crime thrillers I've read in ages! Introducing Detective Alyssa Wyatt, her incredible team, and her amazing family, this first book in a new series is one you won't want to miss.
Detective Alyssa Wyatt and her partner, Cord Roberts, are getting coffee when the call comes in about a missing person. Callie McCormick had allegedly been taken from her home in an upscale Albuquerque neighborhood at some point during the day. The detectives are surprised that Callie's car has gone but her phone was left behind and there's a hole in the wall and blood. Of course, Alyssa has some suspicion about the husband but shortly it becomes clear that he was not involved. As they diligently work the case, new information comes to light. And then a nearly dead woman is found partially buried high in the Sandias. Then the twists start coming and the suspense doesn't let up as a very complicated investigation turns personal for Alyssa. NO SPOILERS.
I loved all the characters in this book (well, except for the bad guy, naturally) and it was so refreshing to see a happy family unit where there are loving interactions and good relationships. The teenagers aren't bratty and Alyssa's husband is a good guy and very understanding. The detectives form a cohesive unit and keep their focus on important stuff. I can't wait to learn more about them. I enjoyed the way the narrative flipped between points of view giving us access into the killer's thoughts and motive. I want more!
Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for a copy of this e-book ARC to read and review.
Detective Alyssa Wyatt and her partner, Cord Roberts, are getting coffee when the call comes in about a missing person. Callie McCormick had allegedly been taken from her home in an upscale Albuquerque neighborhood at some point during the day. The detectives are surprised that Callie's car has gone but her phone was left behind and there's a hole in the wall and blood. Of course, Alyssa has some suspicion about the husband but shortly it becomes clear that he was not involved. As they diligently work the case, new information comes to light. And then a nearly dead woman is found partially buried high in the Sandias. Then the twists start coming and the suspense doesn't let up as a very complicated investigation turns personal for Alyssa. NO SPOILERS.
I loved all the characters in this book (well, except for the bad guy, naturally) and it was so refreshing to see a happy family unit where there are loving interactions and good relationships. The teenagers aren't bratty and Alyssa's husband is a good guy and very understanding. The detectives form a cohesive unit and keep their focus on important stuff. I can't wait to learn more about them. I enjoyed the way the narrative flipped between points of view giving us access into the killer's thoughts and motive. I want more!
Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for a copy of this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is the first book in a new series and definitely start with this one!
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Her Mother's Lies by Rona Halsall
My goodness -- this story had more twists and turns than the switchbacks on a Colorado mountain road! Although I guessed the truth very early on, it was a fun ride to the conclusion. Definitely a domestic drama that was also quite sad considering how things turned out.
Martha, age 24, lives with her mother, Fran, in "the forgotten corner of Cornwall." They had moved to this isolated spot when Martha's dad, Greg, left her and Fran when Martha was just 9 years old. Martha was working as a vet assistant and dreamt of going to school and Fran was a freelance illustrator who often collaborated with Anna, their occasional neighbor and landlord, on children's books. As time goes by, Martha and Fran aren't getting along so well as diabetic Fran has also turned to alcohol and is not taking care of her health. Martha wants to leave and be on her own and feels tied to home. Things come to a head when Fran is hospitalized and Martha finds that her new role might end up being as permanent caregiver. Fortunately, Martha has a good friend, Izzy, who offers to help. Things might have gone well for them all except for one thing -- Martha finds out that her entire life has been a lie. Can someone just tell her the truth? NO SPOILERS.
This was quite the story and is told in alternate points of view and shifts in time. As you read the different perspectives, it is a bit difficult at first to get the necessary information to guess who is telling the truth. There's a lot of angst, bitterness, regret, and emotion as well. I struggled to find empathy for the characters as each seemed very selfish while complaining about how they had given up everything for the other. This was a quick book that was easy to read in a single sitting. Definitely off the charts in straining credulity but certainly entertaining with all the convolutions.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic drama, secrets and lies, mothers and daughters
Martha, age 24, lives with her mother, Fran, in "the forgotten corner of Cornwall." They had moved to this isolated spot when Martha's dad, Greg, left her and Fran when Martha was just 9 years old. Martha was working as a vet assistant and dreamt of going to school and Fran was a freelance illustrator who often collaborated with Anna, their occasional neighbor and landlord, on children's books. As time goes by, Martha and Fran aren't getting along so well as diabetic Fran has also turned to alcohol and is not taking care of her health. Martha wants to leave and be on her own and feels tied to home. Things come to a head when Fran is hospitalized and Martha finds that her new role might end up being as permanent caregiver. Fortunately, Martha has a good friend, Izzy, who offers to help. Things might have gone well for them all except for one thing -- Martha finds out that her entire life has been a lie. Can someone just tell her the truth? NO SPOILERS.
This was quite the story and is told in alternate points of view and shifts in time. As you read the different perspectives, it is a bit difficult at first to get the necessary information to guess who is telling the truth. There's a lot of angst, bitterness, regret, and emotion as well. I struggled to find empathy for the characters as each seemed very selfish while complaining about how they had given up everything for the other. This was a quick book that was easy to read in a single sitting. Definitely off the charts in straining credulity but certainly entertaining with all the convolutions.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic drama, secrets and lies, mothers and daughters
Monday, October 21, 2019
What He Did (DCI Rachel Hart #2) by J.G. Roberts
This is a fast-paced crime thriller, the second in the series featuring DCI Rachel Hart, and I have some mixed feelings, especially about the cliffhanger ending and some unresolved issues. I assume that's the tag for book 3. I don't know about your reading habits, but mine are such that by the time it comes out, I will have totally forgotten my urgent need to know and may no longer even care. That being said, this is a decent detective novel though quite predictable once we learn what's really going on.
The novel starts with a car wreck. The critically injured man, Simon Shaw, is the husband of one of Rachel's friends. Maddy Shaw, a newscaster on "News 24/7, just happened to be on-air when the bulletin came across. She didn't want their 22-year-old daughter, Siena, to hear it on the television because Siena had recently suffered a suicide attempt after her boyfriend dumped her, so Rachel goes to be with Siena while Maddy breaks the news. It gets even worse for the family, however, when it's discovered that the car accident may have actually been attempted murder. And even more revelations follow -- Simon hadn't exactly been entirely truthful with his wife and had been hiding a big, bad secret from his youthful footballer days. When other dead men turn up, all related to the incident that also involved Simon, DCI Hart knows she has a complex situation on her hands. The detectives are on the hunt for the killer, but it may be someone who they don't expect. It seems that revenge may just be a dish best served cold. NO SPOILERS.
This is a complicated story with lots of background and deals with an historic event. There are lots of characters to keep track of and a great deal of leg work in the investigation. In addition, Rachel's personal life becomes more of a focus as she gets to know Tim, her fledgling defense lawyer boyfriend, a bit better. I admit, I have a hard time when characters have all this emotional baggage they can't unload, but hopefully Rachel can get it together and move on from her feelings about her own past and her twin sister, Ruth. But I doubt it! I don't think Ruth will let her!
I do believe you would want to read the first book in this series first in order to get a handle on Rachel Hart, but perhaps enough is relayed in this narrative to catch you up without doing so. I've read both books now, and it's likely I'll go ahead and sign on for #3. I'm a sucker for female detectives though there's a part of me that wonders how some of these messed up women get to their positions. Sorry, but surely there could be a few that don't have so many mental issues or horrid pasts or skeletons in their closets? But, I digress. This was a solid follow-up though the plot wasn't especially unusual and with the loose ends, I'm not sure how things end up for the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is the second book in the series and I suggest you read them in order.
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural, domestic drama, revenge motive
The novel starts with a car wreck. The critically injured man, Simon Shaw, is the husband of one of Rachel's friends. Maddy Shaw, a newscaster on "News 24/7, just happened to be on-air when the bulletin came across. She didn't want their 22-year-old daughter, Siena, to hear it on the television because Siena had recently suffered a suicide attempt after her boyfriend dumped her, so Rachel goes to be with Siena while Maddy breaks the news. It gets even worse for the family, however, when it's discovered that the car accident may have actually been attempted murder. And even more revelations follow -- Simon hadn't exactly been entirely truthful with his wife and had been hiding a big, bad secret from his youthful footballer days. When other dead men turn up, all related to the incident that also involved Simon, DCI Hart knows she has a complex situation on her hands. The detectives are on the hunt for the killer, but it may be someone who they don't expect. It seems that revenge may just be a dish best served cold. NO SPOILERS.
This is a complicated story with lots of background and deals with an historic event. There are lots of characters to keep track of and a great deal of leg work in the investigation. In addition, Rachel's personal life becomes more of a focus as she gets to know Tim, her fledgling defense lawyer boyfriend, a bit better. I admit, I have a hard time when characters have all this emotional baggage they can't unload, but hopefully Rachel can get it together and move on from her feelings about her own past and her twin sister, Ruth. But I doubt it! I don't think Ruth will let her!
I do believe you would want to read the first book in this series first in order to get a handle on Rachel Hart, but perhaps enough is relayed in this narrative to catch you up without doing so. I've read both books now, and it's likely I'll go ahead and sign on for #3. I'm a sucker for female detectives though there's a part of me that wonders how some of these messed up women get to their positions. Sorry, but surely there could be a few that don't have so many mental issues or horrid pasts or skeletons in their closets? But, I digress. This was a solid follow-up though the plot wasn't especially unusual and with the loose ends, I'm not sure how things end up for the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is the second book in the series and I suggest you read them in order.
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural, domestic drama, revenge motive
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Her Last Whisper (Detective Katie Scott #2) by Jennifer Chase
What he craves is their truth. "...the unadulterated reality they. Hid from everyone else. Their most personal secret."
Things are really heating up for Detective Katie Scott as she's just been named as the head of the cold case unit with the Pine Valley Sheriff's Department. Her fist day finds her looking through files and getting used to her new office in the basement of the building, close to Forensics. She's coming off some rest after her previous missing girls case when her uncle, Sheriff Wayne Scott, gives her the new assignment and she's immediately put into action. The first item she notices to work on has to do with a 6-month old report on a possible kidnapping and assault case that was dropped because the witness was uncooperative. It surprises her that this is already a cold case but she's completely shocked when Amanda Payton, a 31-year-old nurse at First Memorial Hospital is found dead in a vacant lot near Whispering Pines. Then another woman claims that she also was abducted and managed to escape but is now a fearful resident at the local psychiatric facility. Who is taking these women and why? There's a lot more going on in this complicated investigation. NO SPOILERS.
I enjoyed this second in the series as much as the first. Katie Scott is a very interesting female character with her history of military service in Afghanistan and her Army K-9 training. Her dog, Cisco, is an important member of her team as well as her new partner, Deputy Sean McGaven. Her love interest, Chad Ferguson, a firefighter, has been a life-long friend. Katie, unfortunately, has some issues with PTSD from her time in service and her experiences there. She's tough but quite good at her job. The narrative moves along with plenty of background information allowing the reader to get to know the character as well as the police procedural details. The writing is good and all of Katie's personal and professional relationships enhance the story. I can't wait to read the next installment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is the second book in a series featuring Detective Katie Scott and I urge you to read in order.
Genre - police procedural, crime thriller
Things are really heating up for Detective Katie Scott as she's just been named as the head of the cold case unit with the Pine Valley Sheriff's Department. Her fist day finds her looking through files and getting used to her new office in the basement of the building, close to Forensics. She's coming off some rest after her previous missing girls case when her uncle, Sheriff Wayne Scott, gives her the new assignment and she's immediately put into action. The first item she notices to work on has to do with a 6-month old report on a possible kidnapping and assault case that was dropped because the witness was uncooperative. It surprises her that this is already a cold case but she's completely shocked when Amanda Payton, a 31-year-old nurse at First Memorial Hospital is found dead in a vacant lot near Whispering Pines. Then another woman claims that she also was abducted and managed to escape but is now a fearful resident at the local psychiatric facility. Who is taking these women and why? There's a lot more going on in this complicated investigation. NO SPOILERS.
I enjoyed this second in the series as much as the first. Katie Scott is a very interesting female character with her history of military service in Afghanistan and her Army K-9 training. Her dog, Cisco, is an important member of her team as well as her new partner, Deputy Sean McGaven. Her love interest, Chad Ferguson, a firefighter, has been a life-long friend. Katie, unfortunately, has some issues with PTSD from her time in service and her experiences there. She's tough but quite good at her job. The narrative moves along with plenty of background information allowing the reader to get to know the character as well as the police procedural details. The writing is good and all of Katie's personal and professional relationships enhance the story. I can't wait to read the next installment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is the second book in a series featuring Detective Katie Scott and I urge you to read in order.
Genre - police procedural, crime thriller
Friday, October 18, 2019
Flight 19 Part II by Grant Finnegan
What a satisfying conclusion to the mystery of Flight 19. You must read the first book in this duo first in order to appreciate this fun, fast-paced and imaginative tale. NOTE: many people have suggested that this story line is similar to a TV show called "Manifest" that happens to have a similar premise with the time travel aspect via the plane. That is the only element that connects the show with this book as nothing else is remotely alike. I believe this set of books would make a much better television drama.
It's about 7 months after Flight 19 reappeared in 2024 and the passengers and crew have started to adjust to being thrust 5 years into the future. Their lives have been significantly altered, some for the better and some for the worse. The shocks and surprises they faced were also laced with some tender and romantic liaisons and our main characters are weathering the storm their reappearance has caused. At the end of book one, some of the passengers and crew from the ill-fated flight have agreed to take another trip on the Airbus that took them into the future. Unfortunately, this trip doesn't go as planned. NO SPOILERS.
I loved meeting up with the characters I grew to love in the first installment and was very happy with all things turned out for everyone. I liked the futuristic and secretive pieces of the story as well as the human drama that played out. The author's writing style is very engaging and it was easy to read this in a single sitting. I'm sad to see the story end and hope to hear more from this talented author in the future.
This is the follow-up to the first book, Flight 19 and they should be read in order.
Genre -- Action, mystery, romance, drama -- time travel
It's about 7 months after Flight 19 reappeared in 2024 and the passengers and crew have started to adjust to being thrust 5 years into the future. Their lives have been significantly altered, some for the better and some for the worse. The shocks and surprises they faced were also laced with some tender and romantic liaisons and our main characters are weathering the storm their reappearance has caused. At the end of book one, some of the passengers and crew from the ill-fated flight have agreed to take another trip on the Airbus that took them into the future. Unfortunately, this trip doesn't go as planned. NO SPOILERS.
I loved meeting up with the characters I grew to love in the first installment and was very happy with all things turned out for everyone. I liked the futuristic and secretive pieces of the story as well as the human drama that played out. The author's writing style is very engaging and it was easy to read this in a single sitting. I'm sad to see the story end and hope to hear more from this talented author in the future.
This is the follow-up to the first book, Flight 19 and they should be read in order.
Genre -- Action, mystery, romance, drama -- time travel
Thursday, October 17, 2019
The Patient by Steena Holmes
"Fear is a wonder drug. The chain reaction it creates within our bodies is amazing. Prepare and protect...Fear doesn't control me. I control it."
Someone in the town of Cheshire is killing parents and leaving behind the sleeping innocent children after the bloodbath. Everyone is on alert, suspicious and desperate for the "Mad Queen of Cheshire" to be apprehended and punished. Because of the name, this little hamlet has a huge interest in all things "Alice in Wonderland" and has many themed shops and activities. Dr. Danielle Rycroft, a therapist, is no exception and has a huge amount of books and collectibles as well. This psychological thriller opens with Danielle disclosing that she is finally ready to admit that one of her patients might be the serial killer. The only problem is, she's not sure which of those she's treating is the one.
All of them have major issues with their childhoods and all seem capable of violence. NO SPOILERS.
Although the theme is interesting, I would have liked this novel more if I hadn't immediately seen through to the obvious conclusion. So much of the story required immense suspension of disbelief and my irritation with Danielle as a character was extreme. There is so much more I could say but to do so would give away the denouement and I don't want to ruin the guessing game for anyone. Note that this book contains references to childhood sexual abuse in case that topic is a trigger for anyone. I know that others have really enjoyed this and I'd love to discuss certain elements further where spoilers aren't an issue.
2.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this e-book ARC to read and review after I spotted it on Facebook.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - psychological thriller, personality disorder
Someone in the town of Cheshire is killing parents and leaving behind the sleeping innocent children after the bloodbath. Everyone is on alert, suspicious and desperate for the "Mad Queen of Cheshire" to be apprehended and punished. Because of the name, this little hamlet has a huge interest in all things "Alice in Wonderland" and has many themed shops and activities. Dr. Danielle Rycroft, a therapist, is no exception and has a huge amount of books and collectibles as well. This psychological thriller opens with Danielle disclosing that she is finally ready to admit that one of her patients might be the serial killer. The only problem is, she's not sure which of those she's treating is the one.
All of them have major issues with their childhoods and all seem capable of violence. NO SPOILERS.
Although the theme is interesting, I would have liked this novel more if I hadn't immediately seen through to the obvious conclusion. So much of the story required immense suspension of disbelief and my irritation with Danielle as a character was extreme. There is so much more I could say but to do so would give away the denouement and I don't want to ruin the guessing game for anyone. Note that this book contains references to childhood sexual abuse in case that topic is a trigger for anyone. I know that others have really enjoyed this and I'd love to discuss certain elements further where spoilers aren't an issue.
2.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this e-book ARC to read and review after I spotted it on Facebook.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - psychological thriller, personality disorder
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Big Bad by Christian Galacar
"Most things aren't black and white, good versus evil. It's never that clear a line."
I'm sitting here trying to slow my pulse and relax a minute after being glued to my reading chair for a couple of hours just devouring this book. Trying to think up new superlatives to describe what a suspenseful and thrilling story this turned out to be. Simply working out a way to encourage you to read it and to describe it without giving anything important away.
I can say that the main character is a former FBI agent, Emma Shane, whose currently on an extended leave after she was shot during a case. This woman is totally kick-ass but also very complex emotionally due to her traumatic childhood. She travels to Rockcliffe, an island out in the Atlantic Ocean off the NE coast of the USA after she is notified of her sister's suicide. Molly Rifkin is a couple of years younger than Emma and was married with a 9-year-old son. Her body is found in a storage locker during a heavy winter storm and the police find no evidence of foul play. Emma really doesn't get along with Molly's husband, Jack, but she goes there anyway because she can't believe her sister would have committed suicide. What follows is a very complex plot with many fabulous characters that will be hard to forget. NO SPOILERS
The writing was superb and the descriptions of Rockcliffe so vivid that I could almost imagine myself there experiencing every bit of the action. I've never read any of this author's previous books and was was a bit hesitant to try this but am so glad I did. I'll definitely be looking for more and I totally wish that Mr. Galacar would continue using Emma in another thriller. What a fabulous movie this would make.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-book ARC to read and review. Don't miss it!
This is a standalone and and is not part of any series.
Genre - crime thriller, Ex FBI agent
I'm sitting here trying to slow my pulse and relax a minute after being glued to my reading chair for a couple of hours just devouring this book. Trying to think up new superlatives to describe what a suspenseful and thrilling story this turned out to be. Simply working out a way to encourage you to read it and to describe it without giving anything important away.
I can say that the main character is a former FBI agent, Emma Shane, whose currently on an extended leave after she was shot during a case. This woman is totally kick-ass but also very complex emotionally due to her traumatic childhood. She travels to Rockcliffe, an island out in the Atlantic Ocean off the NE coast of the USA after she is notified of her sister's suicide. Molly Rifkin is a couple of years younger than Emma and was married with a 9-year-old son. Her body is found in a storage locker during a heavy winter storm and the police find no evidence of foul play. Emma really doesn't get along with Molly's husband, Jack, but she goes there anyway because she can't believe her sister would have committed suicide. What follows is a very complex plot with many fabulous characters that will be hard to forget. NO SPOILERS
The writing was superb and the descriptions of Rockcliffe so vivid that I could almost imagine myself there experiencing every bit of the action. I've never read any of this author's previous books and was was a bit hesitant to try this but am so glad I did. I'll definitely be looking for more and I totally wish that Mr. Galacar would continue using Emma in another thriller. What a fabulous movie this would make.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-book ARC to read and review. Don't miss it!
This is a standalone and and is not part of any series.
Genre - crime thriller, Ex FBI agent
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
I Will Make You Pay by Teresa Driscoll
Alice Henderson, a journalist with the "South Devon Informer", is busy finalizing her article about the scheduled demolition of a council block when she gets the first call. An electronic voice insinuates an alarming threat. She's a bit rattled, reports it to her boss, arranges for more security at her home and contacts the police. A stalker, perhaps? Comes with the territory, maybe someone Alice upset with a story? She goes on about her business, until the very next Wednesday when a flower delivery to her office creates more concern for Alice. Her boyfriend, Tom Stellar, an attorney, decides to engage private investigator, Matthew Hill, to watch over Alice especially on Wednesdays. It doesn't seem to deter the stalker because the very next Wednesday, Alice is attacked in the street even though Matthew is right with her. Things escalate. Alice is panicked and afraid, takes time off work, hides out at her boyfriend's place or with her sister. This cannot go on. Who is the person behind these threats and what is their end game? The truth is, no one can protect Alice. NO SPOILERS.
I really was enjoying this book with the stalker theme until the ending. Although I didn't really care for the "HIM" chapters, I understood that the reader was getting a look into the personality of the person who would eventually be revealed as the stalker. Alice did the usual stupid things that women in fiction books do when there is someone who is going to harm them -- they don't listen, they take risks, they trust the wrong people. It's not being brave, it's being dumb to go out when there's a lunatic wanting to hurt you. There were red herrings but most readers will be able to figure this out pretty quickly. Alice was definitely the perfect victim and I just couldn't warm to her or worry too much about her. She was lucky she had so many people interested in caring about her and protecting her. In the end, the whole reason for the stalking was pretty lame and I just felt let down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - mystery thriller, contains references to sexual abuse of children, stalking
I really was enjoying this book with the stalker theme until the ending. Although I didn't really care for the "HIM" chapters, I understood that the reader was getting a look into the personality of the person who would eventually be revealed as the stalker. Alice did the usual stupid things that women in fiction books do when there is someone who is going to harm them -- they don't listen, they take risks, they trust the wrong people. It's not being brave, it's being dumb to go out when there's a lunatic wanting to hurt you. There were red herrings but most readers will be able to figure this out pretty quickly. Alice was definitely the perfect victim and I just couldn't warm to her or worry too much about her. She was lucky she had so many people interested in caring about her and protecting her. In the end, the whole reason for the stalking was pretty lame and I just felt let down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - mystery thriller, contains references to sexual abuse of children, stalking
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Broken Souls (DI Lottie Parker #7) by Patricia Gibney
"They had to die too. They were breakers of hearts. Breakers of promises."
Two young women are found dead in wedding dresses on the same day. Although both originally are thought to be suicides, it's discovered that they were murdered. Evidence is produced that indicates there may be another linked death that was also ruled a suicide. The weather is awful in December in Ragmullin and DI Lottie Parker and her team have their hands full with a long list of suspects. And, then the 8-year-old daughter of one of the dead women goes missing from her dance school. The police are interviewing everyone connected to the victims and they find evidence of other criminal activity along with way. It appears that everything is connected but Lottie just can't see the case coming together. Meanwhile, her boyfriend, DS Mark Boyd, who proposed to her, is acting strange and Lottie is worried about their relationship. Can the team unravel this twisted crime spree and stop the madness? NO SPOILERS.
I've read this series from the beginning and I'm telling you that poor Lottie just can't catch a break. She loves her family but never seems to get any time to actually spend with them. Her messed up domestic situation is on her mind but nothing improves in her home and between her and her children. Lottie lives for her job and everything else just falls by the wayside as she does not have those critical conversations necessary to sustain close ties. She annoys me to no end and yes, I'd like to sit her down and shake her up a bit before she ruins everything and is left old, sad and alone with just her regrets for company. She's the only really well-developed character in the series and I'd like to get to know the other team members a little better but this book was really focused on the murder cases, the missing child, and a lot of conversations with all the extraneous lot involved.
Of course I'll be looking for the next installment. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is the 7th book in a series that should be read, from the beginning, in order.
Genre - police and detective procedural, mystery, Ireland
Two young women are found dead in wedding dresses on the same day. Although both originally are thought to be suicides, it's discovered that they were murdered. Evidence is produced that indicates there may be another linked death that was also ruled a suicide. The weather is awful in December in Ragmullin and DI Lottie Parker and her team have their hands full with a long list of suspects. And, then the 8-year-old daughter of one of the dead women goes missing from her dance school. The police are interviewing everyone connected to the victims and they find evidence of other criminal activity along with way. It appears that everything is connected but Lottie just can't see the case coming together. Meanwhile, her boyfriend, DS Mark Boyd, who proposed to her, is acting strange and Lottie is worried about their relationship. Can the team unravel this twisted crime spree and stop the madness? NO SPOILERS.
I've read this series from the beginning and I'm telling you that poor Lottie just can't catch a break. She loves her family but never seems to get any time to actually spend with them. Her messed up domestic situation is on her mind but nothing improves in her home and between her and her children. Lottie lives for her job and everything else just falls by the wayside as she does not have those critical conversations necessary to sustain close ties. She annoys me to no end and yes, I'd like to sit her down and shake her up a bit before she ruins everything and is left old, sad and alone with just her regrets for company. She's the only really well-developed character in the series and I'd like to get to know the other team members a little better but this book was really focused on the murder cases, the missing child, and a lot of conversations with all the extraneous lot involved.
Of course I'll be looking for the next installment. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is the 7th book in a series that should be read, from the beginning, in order.
Genre - police and detective procedural, mystery, Ireland
Friday, October 11, 2019
Close to You by Kerry Wilkinson
"Everyone might be the hero of their own stories and, whatever others may think, I'm the hero of mine."
Morgan Persephone has had a bad couple of years but things are finally looking up for her when she receives a "Personal Trainer of the Year" award at the annual UK Fitness Professional Awards dinner. She's attending with her BFF, Jane, who innocently snaps a picture of the winners. Later, when Morgan looks at the photo, she's stunned to see what looks like a picture of her ex-husband, David. The thing is, it can't be David, because he's dead. Morgan knows this because she's the one who killed him. NO SPOILERS.
The narrative unfolds with chapters that alternate between " THE WHY" and "THE NOW." As the reader learns about Morgan and David, it's not hard to see how she's ended up in her situation. I was caught between admiration and dismay as the story reveals the truth about events that led up to David's death and Morgan's subsequent cover-up (he just went missing). Morgan is a complex character and she definitely has a talent for telling lies. The pace is fast and the plot is interesting so held my interest enough to keep me reading cover to over in a single sitting. There were a couple of surprises along the way and it ended up being a fun story. I do prefer detective novels and the Jessica Daniel series is quite good, but this was entertaining as a standalone.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - suspense thriller with themes of revenge
Morgan Persephone has had a bad couple of years but things are finally looking up for her when she receives a "Personal Trainer of the Year" award at the annual UK Fitness Professional Awards dinner. She's attending with her BFF, Jane, who innocently snaps a picture of the winners. Later, when Morgan looks at the photo, she's stunned to see what looks like a picture of her ex-husband, David. The thing is, it can't be David, because he's dead. Morgan knows this because she's the one who killed him. NO SPOILERS.
The narrative unfolds with chapters that alternate between " THE WHY" and "THE NOW." As the reader learns about Morgan and David, it's not hard to see how she's ended up in her situation. I was caught between admiration and dismay as the story reveals the truth about events that led up to David's death and Morgan's subsequent cover-up (he just went missing). Morgan is a complex character and she definitely has a talent for telling lies. The pace is fast and the plot is interesting so held my interest enough to keep me reading cover to over in a single sitting. There were a couple of surprises along the way and it ended up being a fun story. I do prefer detective novels and the Jessica Daniel series is quite good, but this was entertaining as a standalone.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - suspense thriller with themes of revenge
Thursday, October 10, 2019
When She Returned by Lucinda Berry
Kate Bennett, married to Scott for 17 years and has a 5 year old daughter, seemingly vanishes one day. All of her belongings were left in the car in a Target parking lot. "She disappeared like a ghost, with her keys in the ignition and her purse on the passenger seat -- no sign of a struggle." An exhaustive search by the FBI and a massive press push turned up nothing and Scott was even a suspect for quite a time. After about four years, Scott and his daughter Abbi face the fact that Kate must be dead and they move on. Years pass and eventually Scott meets, courts and marries a widow, Meredith, he met in a support group and they, along with Meredith's two older sons, form a family. In fact, they are newlyweds of about 10 months when the call comes: "She's alive." Kate and her 7-week-old baby girl, Shiloh, were found at a gas station in Montana.
Throughout Kate's absence, her memory had been kept lovingly alive by Scott for his daughter, Abbi, who's now 16. Because they were childhood sweethearts, soul mates, and he absolutely adored Kate, Scott is a mess when he sees her in the hospital. She's been tortured and is experiencing PTSD. There's not much to do for Kate after she's physically restored except for her to go back to Arcata, California, with Scott, Meredith and Abbi. To her old home. Protected by local police and with FBI consultants staying in the house, it is discovered that Kate had been living in a cult for all these years. As Kate settles in with the baby, the household is in a bit of an uproar and slowly Kate opens up about her time with the group that calls themselves Love International. NO SPOILERS.
This was quite the interesting story and I couldn't put it down so read in one sitting. The narrative shifts back and forth in time and between the points of view of Kate, Meredith and Abbi. The characters were all quite complex and no doubt you will have your favorites while others will try your sympathy. Since the revelations come slowly, you'll need some patience to get through some of the sections to get at the truth. I found the information about the cult quite fascinating and it is scary how the brainwashing is done and more so how effective it is. I liked the writing style and appreciate the fact that this book was written by a trauma psychologist and researcher in childhood trauma. Her expertise lends much credibility to this thrilling novel.
I always read other reviews when I've finished writing mine and am surprised at the disparity between the ratings but what I'm looking for in a suspense tale is originality and edification and this met both. I hope you enjoy it is much as I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - psychological suspense fiction - cults
Throughout Kate's absence, her memory had been kept lovingly alive by Scott for his daughter, Abbi, who's now 16. Because they were childhood sweethearts, soul mates, and he absolutely adored Kate, Scott is a mess when he sees her in the hospital. She's been tortured and is experiencing PTSD. There's not much to do for Kate after she's physically restored except for her to go back to Arcata, California, with Scott, Meredith and Abbi. To her old home. Protected by local police and with FBI consultants staying in the house, it is discovered that Kate had been living in a cult for all these years. As Kate settles in with the baby, the household is in a bit of an uproar and slowly Kate opens up about her time with the group that calls themselves Love International. NO SPOILERS.
This was quite the interesting story and I couldn't put it down so read in one sitting. The narrative shifts back and forth in time and between the points of view of Kate, Meredith and Abbi. The characters were all quite complex and no doubt you will have your favorites while others will try your sympathy. Since the revelations come slowly, you'll need some patience to get through some of the sections to get at the truth. I found the information about the cult quite fascinating and it is scary how the brainwashing is done and more so how effective it is. I liked the writing style and appreciate the fact that this book was written by a trauma psychologist and researcher in childhood trauma. Her expertise lends much credibility to this thrilling novel.
I always read other reviews when I've finished writing mine and am surprised at the disparity between the ratings but what I'm looking for in a suspense tale is originality and edification and this met both. I hope you enjoy it is much as I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - psychological suspense fiction - cults
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
The Last Wife by Nicola Marsh
Meet the wealthy Parker family from Chicago whose name is synonymous with prestige, money and power. There's May, the matriarch, now a widow after Percival's death. She still firmly holds the reins (and the purse strings) at the family's financial company, Parker Partnership. The eldest son, Justin, is 45 and married to Ashlin and has 2 daughters. He works directly with May. Christine is May's only daughter and she lives in New York for a reason. Trent is not involved in working for the family business and he sporadically teaches guitar and supports his wife, Shamira who has an aromatherapy shop - the family refers to them as "the hippies." The youngest son, Grayson, who once worked IT at the company abandoned Ria and their 5-year-old daughter and they've not seen or heard from him in years. Ria is meant to be an investigative journalist, but other than on the first page, she never actually goes to work or does any reporting. A collection of very different personalities. A very, but not unusual, dysfunctional family.
The story is told from the viewpoints of the Parker wives -- May, Ashlin, Shamira and Ria -- in alternating chapters. This gives the reader the opportunity to see how messed up each of the women is and how much they think of themselves. They all make excuses, rationalize their behavior, angst and dither while saying and doing stupid things. All claim to be intelligent and independent and strong. None of them is likeable. It is obvious that the reader is supposed to root for Ria from the outset. Everyone still invites her to family functions even though some don't like her but they feel bad that Grayson ran off and they want her and the daughter to feel the family connection. This is domestic drama full of all the bickering, secrets and lies that you might expect.
Ria is at work submitting an article she's written when the email comes in. It targets the Parker women and supposedly shows them in incriminating, compromising situations though the content of this email is not shared until revealed (dribbled out) in subsequent chapters. In any event, it alarms Ria and she's concerned about the safety and reputation of the family so she contacts a guy she knows to help her track the source of the email. No luck. So of course she has to find her ex, an expert hacker IT man, to return home to protect them all. Meanwhile, the women are experiencing some accidents that make them feel vulnerable. May is making big changes to the family purse strings and starts reining in their rampant spending as she prepares to sell the company and makes sure they know that she wants no scandals to surface.
On the story goes with more drama until it reaches the final reveal and it will come as no surprise to the reader. Since the characters were all basically not women I'd want to know or hang out with, I didn't really care what happened to any of them but I really was disappointed in the ending. You know, sometimes I do root for the "bad guy" or an unexpected twisty conclusion and I hate the goody goody perfect heroines. This read like a soap opera and it was entertaining to believe, for awhile, that the super rich have their own problems!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic drama with secrets and lies
The story is told from the viewpoints of the Parker wives -- May, Ashlin, Shamira and Ria -- in alternating chapters. This gives the reader the opportunity to see how messed up each of the women is and how much they think of themselves. They all make excuses, rationalize their behavior, angst and dither while saying and doing stupid things. All claim to be intelligent and independent and strong. None of them is likeable. It is obvious that the reader is supposed to root for Ria from the outset. Everyone still invites her to family functions even though some don't like her but they feel bad that Grayson ran off and they want her and the daughter to feel the family connection. This is domestic drama full of all the bickering, secrets and lies that you might expect.
Ria is at work submitting an article she's written when the email comes in. It targets the Parker women and supposedly shows them in incriminating, compromising situations though the content of this email is not shared until revealed (dribbled out) in subsequent chapters. In any event, it alarms Ria and she's concerned about the safety and reputation of the family so she contacts a guy she knows to help her track the source of the email. No luck. So of course she has to find her ex, an expert hacker IT man, to return home to protect them all. Meanwhile, the women are experiencing some accidents that make them feel vulnerable. May is making big changes to the family purse strings and starts reining in their rampant spending as she prepares to sell the company and makes sure they know that she wants no scandals to surface.
On the story goes with more drama until it reaches the final reveal and it will come as no surprise to the reader. Since the characters were all basically not women I'd want to know or hang out with, I didn't really care what happened to any of them but I really was disappointed in the ending. You know, sometimes I do root for the "bad guy" or an unexpected twisty conclusion and I hate the goody goody perfect heroines. This read like a soap opera and it was entertaining to believe, for awhile, that the super rich have their own problems!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic drama with secrets and lies
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
The Vanished Bridge (Bronte Sisters #1) by Bella Ellis
What if the talented Brontë sisters decided to put their incredible imagination and intelligence to practical use and solved a mystery? It's 1845 and the Brontë children are all back in the parsonage with their father at Haworth. Their reunion has given them the intellectual peace they desire and they spending evenings in the dining room writing and talking. The sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne, have every intention of putting aside social convention and living lives that they choose -- free from male overbearance. Their brother, Branwell, is typically off at some particular debauchery nursing a broken heart and spirit, while the young women laugh and argue. But it is Branwell who brings them the news that will set them on a great adventure, detecting, when he informs them of a "bloody and awful killing" that has apparently taken place in nearby Arunton. It seems that the lady of the house, Elizabeth Chester, had disappeared from her bedchamber leaving behind her son and a stepson - and a great quantity of blood. There's no sign of the body at Chester Grange and the Brontë sisters are at once intrigued. They just so happen to be acquainted with the governess there, Matilda French, who happens to be a friend. There's nothing to be done but to go see for themselves and visit their acquaintance in order to help. In this way, the sisters embark on a secondary career and set their writing aside to solve the case. NO SPOILERS.
This was just lovely! The writing was excellent and the author did a great job giving each of the Brontë sisters her own personality. It was a time when women were subjugated completely, property of their fathers or husbands, and these women are having nothing to do with being put in such a place. The novel stays true with many facts about their life and times and, though them being "detectors" is probably a bit of a leap, the device serves the story quite well. A large cast of secondary characters is brought to life and there are many layers to this mystery. I totally enjoyed it and definitely will look forward to another installment in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is meant to be the first in a series featuring the Brontë sisters. Read in order!
Genre - mystery, historical fiction
This was just lovely! The writing was excellent and the author did a great job giving each of the Brontë sisters her own personality. It was a time when women were subjugated completely, property of their fathers or husbands, and these women are having nothing to do with being put in such a place. The novel stays true with many facts about their life and times and, though them being "detectors" is probably a bit of a leap, the device serves the story quite well. A large cast of secondary characters is brought to life and there are many layers to this mystery. I totally enjoyed it and definitely will look forward to another installment in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is meant to be the first in a series featuring the Brontë sisters. Read in order!
Genre - mystery, historical fiction
Sunday, October 6, 2019
Cold Storage by David Koepp
Cordyceps novus -- this is one nasty fungus! This thriller screams big screen to me and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Way back in Australia in 1987, government bioterrorism operatives for the DTRA, Roberto Diaz and Trini Romano, found something that could decimate the earth and destroy every living thing on it. A fungus, capable of adaptation unlike no other ever seen. Once contained and destroyed, they take a single sample back to the United States and store it in a secure storage facility far below the ground in the Atchison mines. It's safely away there until global warming effects changes that cause the fungus to grow -- but no one is the wiser because the owners of the storage facility have no idea it's there. Two security guards are at work manning the reception desk allowing locker renters access to their things one night when they hear a strange beeping noise. Teacake and Naomi, an ex-con and a single mother, decide to find out the cause and trace it to a vertical display panel that reads, "NTC Thermistor Breach" and see some strange green glowing things on the subfloor of SL-4 deep underground. They know this isn't good, but there is quite the night ahead of them. NO SPOILERS.
This was quite the fun and action-packed ride that I found impossible to put down. I really enjoyed the humor, reminded me of Carl Hiassen novels, and I just loved the characters -- it was easy to tell who the bad guys were and know they'd get their comeuppance. But the best "character' of all was the fungus! I can't avoid wanting to read books with a dastardly bug, a science angle, or a doom and gloom scenario. Pure entertainment and one I heartily recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a debut and a standalone so is not part of any series.
Genre -- sci-Fi thriller
Way back in Australia in 1987, government bioterrorism operatives for the DTRA, Roberto Diaz and Trini Romano, found something that could decimate the earth and destroy every living thing on it. A fungus, capable of adaptation unlike no other ever seen. Once contained and destroyed, they take a single sample back to the United States and store it in a secure storage facility far below the ground in the Atchison mines. It's safely away there until global warming effects changes that cause the fungus to grow -- but no one is the wiser because the owners of the storage facility have no idea it's there. Two security guards are at work manning the reception desk allowing locker renters access to their things one night when they hear a strange beeping noise. Teacake and Naomi, an ex-con and a single mother, decide to find out the cause and trace it to a vertical display panel that reads, "NTC Thermistor Breach" and see some strange green glowing things on the subfloor of SL-4 deep underground. They know this isn't good, but there is quite the night ahead of them. NO SPOILERS.
This was quite the fun and action-packed ride that I found impossible to put down. I really enjoyed the humor, reminded me of Carl Hiassen novels, and I just loved the characters -- it was easy to tell who the bad guys were and know they'd get their comeuppance. But the best "character' of all was the fungus! I can't avoid wanting to read books with a dastardly bug, a science angle, or a doom and gloom scenario. Pure entertainment and one I heartily recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a debut and a standalone so is not part of any series.
Genre -- sci-Fi thriller
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Good Little Liars by Sarrah Clutton
An upcoming 25th year class reunion for the women who graduated from Denham House School, an exclusive all-girls boarding academy, brings back memories of a classmate whose untimely death just days before graduation has haunted some of them. Tessa Terrano's death was deemed an accident, but was it really?
The book is set in Hobart, Tasmania, and is told from several viewpoints that give alternate perspectives on what happened to Tessa. Emma Parsons, married to Phillip, has a 13-year-old daughter named Rosie, and works as staff at Denham House School. She's the one who's quite fixated on the Tessa question and feels that she has kept a secret about her death for far too long. Emma's best friend is Marlee Maples, an architect, has recently moved back to Hobart to take a new job. She knows a bit about what happened on the day Tessa died. Clementine Andrews is a famous artist and a classmate of theirs. She's the daughter of Harriet Andrews, a brilliant attorney. Harriet's brother, Dr. Jonathan Brownley is the head of school at Denham House. Whew! These are the main characters who are embroiled in the Tessa debacle. Emma, Marlee and Clementine were classmates back in 1993 when events took place. Fast forward 25 years when thoughts of their class reunion bring Tessa back to mind. What will happen if someone wants the truth to come out now? NO SPOILERS.
I'm sure I've muddled this review as it is so complicated with all the drama going on with this large cast of characters, but I really enjoyed the book. It was fast-paced and easy to keep them all straight once they'd been introduced. The author skillfully weaves the narrative pulling in all the strands to make an interesting tale. I found that I was able to relate to all of the characters even while not always liking how they behaved or how they were thinking. In fact, Tessa's death really isn't the main focus of the story as it's more a personality study with all the dysfunctional family situations that run amok. At times quite funny and at others very disturbing. I believe that the point of the novel must surely have to do with the strength of women. With friendship. With possibility.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. It definitely pushes all the buttons.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - drama, mystery, boarding school
The book is set in Hobart, Tasmania, and is told from several viewpoints that give alternate perspectives on what happened to Tessa. Emma Parsons, married to Phillip, has a 13-year-old daughter named Rosie, and works as staff at Denham House School. She's the one who's quite fixated on the Tessa question and feels that she has kept a secret about her death for far too long. Emma's best friend is Marlee Maples, an architect, has recently moved back to Hobart to take a new job. She knows a bit about what happened on the day Tessa died. Clementine Andrews is a famous artist and a classmate of theirs. She's the daughter of Harriet Andrews, a brilliant attorney. Harriet's brother, Dr. Jonathan Brownley is the head of school at Denham House. Whew! These are the main characters who are embroiled in the Tessa debacle. Emma, Marlee and Clementine were classmates back in 1993 when events took place. Fast forward 25 years when thoughts of their class reunion bring Tessa back to mind. What will happen if someone wants the truth to come out now? NO SPOILERS.
I'm sure I've muddled this review as it is so complicated with all the drama going on with this large cast of characters, but I really enjoyed the book. It was fast-paced and easy to keep them all straight once they'd been introduced. The author skillfully weaves the narrative pulling in all the strands to make an interesting tale. I found that I was able to relate to all of the characters even while not always liking how they behaved or how they were thinking. In fact, Tessa's death really isn't the main focus of the story as it's more a personality study with all the dysfunctional family situations that run amok. At times quite funny and at others very disturbing. I believe that the point of the novel must surely have to do with the strength of women. With friendship. With possibility.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. It definitely pushes all the buttons.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - drama, mystery, boarding school
Friday, October 4, 2019
What Happens in Paradise (Paradise #2) by Elin Hilderbrand
"Love is messy, complicated, and unfair."
This second book in a planned trilogy picks up right where "Winter in Paradise" left off so I urge you to read the first one before plunging back into the drama and romance. The big bombshells from book one are lingering and still producing damage to the family Russ Steele left behind when he died in a helicopter crash along with his island mistress, Rosie. Russ's wife, Irene, and his sons, Baker and Cash, spent some time on St. John before returning to their homes in the USA. Unsettled, they all long to return to St. John and to the people they met during their brief visit after the shocking death and revelations. So they all end up back on the island trying to make sense of their discoveries but it seems the FBI has now taken an interest in them as well. It seems that whatever Russ had been doing at his job with hedge-fund Ascension wasn't exactly legal. Secrets and lies are keeping each member of the family from finding happiness. As they come to grips with their new reality and try to settle in on St. John, there is a big storm (not the weather kind of destruction) coming their way and this book ends with quite the cliffhanger. NO SPOILERS.
I recently made my first trip to the lovely island of St. John and fell in love with it. It was so much fun to be able to recognize many of the places described in loving detail and it brought back some great memories that I hope to repeat. The descriptions make you feel as if you are there and a part of island life. The characters are quite interesting though some need a good shake to get themselves together and make some good decisions. Of course there is a lot of romance going on and it seems ever so convenient but hey, I took it all in stride! I very much enjoy this series and can't wait to see how it all ends in the next book. This was a book that was easy to read in one sitting!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This second book in a planned trilogy picks up right where "Winter in Paradise" left off so I urge you to read the first one before plunging back into the drama and romance. The big bombshells from book one are lingering and still producing damage to the family Russ Steele left behind when he died in a helicopter crash along with his island mistress, Rosie. Russ's wife, Irene, and his sons, Baker and Cash, spent some time on St. John before returning to their homes in the USA. Unsettled, they all long to return to St. John and to the people they met during their brief visit after the shocking death and revelations. So they all end up back on the island trying to make sense of their discoveries but it seems the FBI has now taken an interest in them as well. It seems that whatever Russ had been doing at his job with hedge-fund Ascension wasn't exactly legal. Secrets and lies are keeping each member of the family from finding happiness. As they come to grips with their new reality and try to settle in on St. John, there is a big storm (not the weather kind of destruction) coming their way and this book ends with quite the cliffhanger. NO SPOILERS.
I recently made my first trip to the lovely island of St. John and fell in love with it. It was so much fun to be able to recognize many of the places described in loving detail and it brought back some great memories that I hope to repeat. The descriptions make you feel as if you are there and a part of island life. The characters are quite interesting though some need a good shake to get themselves together and make some good decisions. Of course there is a lot of romance going on and it seems ever so convenient but hey, I took it all in stride! I very much enjoy this series and can't wait to see how it all ends in the next book. This was a book that was easy to read in one sitting!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is the second book in a planned trilogy so be sure to read them in order.
Genre - domestic drama, romance, secrets & lies
Thursday, October 3, 2019
The Butterfly Girl (Naomi Cottle #2) by Rene Denfeld
"...the stories we tell ourselves have more meaning than the facts. That doesn't make them lies. Seeded with every myth was the emotional truth."
What a beautiful, lyrical and sad story that focuses on the plight of abused , murdered, and missing children. Naomi, now married to Jerome, is a child finder. She's made it her life's mission because she's really searching for her sister. They'd both been abducted from an orphanage when very young, Naomi had escaped, but had left her sister behind. Without specific memories of where, when or how, Naomi managed to find a loving adoptive mother who nurtured and believed in her. Now, Naomi has decided that it time for her to return to the place where she was found in order to finally track down her long-lost sister. In Oregon, she meets a 12-year-old street child named Celia and inexplicably drawn to her. Celia dreams of butterflies and being free having run away from hom due to childhood sexual abuse. Can the two of them help each other? NO SPOILERS.
Although this was fairly short and easy to read in a single sitting, the prose is captivating and held me in thrall. The personalities of the two main characters, Naomi and Celia, are so fleshed out that you want to know them, to comfort them, to love them. Childhood horrors are so difficult to escape and their story is fraught with the sordid truth of life on the streets. Believe me, this book is not one that any reader will be able to forget after reading. I hope to see another that features Naomi and wish for her to continue to do what she does best -- lay the tormented souls to rest and find the missing children.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is the second book featuring Naomi Cottle and I think it best that they be read in order.
Genre - Thriller, Child abduction, Homelessness, Sexual abuse, Fiction
What a beautiful, lyrical and sad story that focuses on the plight of abused , murdered, and missing children. Naomi, now married to Jerome, is a child finder. She's made it her life's mission because she's really searching for her sister. They'd both been abducted from an orphanage when very young, Naomi had escaped, but had left her sister behind. Without specific memories of where, when or how, Naomi managed to find a loving adoptive mother who nurtured and believed in her. Now, Naomi has decided that it time for her to return to the place where she was found in order to finally track down her long-lost sister. In Oregon, she meets a 12-year-old street child named Celia and inexplicably drawn to her. Celia dreams of butterflies and being free having run away from hom due to childhood sexual abuse. Can the two of them help each other? NO SPOILERS.
Although this was fairly short and easy to read in a single sitting, the prose is captivating and held me in thrall. The personalities of the two main characters, Naomi and Celia, are so fleshed out that you want to know them, to comfort them, to love them. Childhood horrors are so difficult to escape and their story is fraught with the sordid truth of life on the streets. Believe me, this book is not one that any reader will be able to forget after reading. I hope to see another that features Naomi and wish for her to continue to do what she does best -- lay the tormented souls to rest and find the missing children.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is the second book featuring Naomi Cottle and I think it best that they be read in order.
Genre - Thriller, Child abduction, Homelessness, Sexual abuse, Fiction
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
The Lying Room by Nicci French
Domestic drama and psychological fiction centered on a woman who has a mid-life affair with her boss and turns up to his pied-a-terre one day to find him murdered. What is this cheating woman to do? She didn't kill him but she surely doesn't want anyone to find out her secrets and lies.
Neve Connolly is 46 years-old, married to Fletcher, with 3 children -- one of whom may or may not be heading out to university in a couple of weeks. She and her husband have been married 20 long years and "her affair with Saul Stevenson was just the fever dream of a woman in her forties who had grown weary of the slog of family life." When she finds his body, head bashed in with a hammer, she can't call it in and so she scrupulously cleans the place and removes every trace of her presence. Now she needs to act surprised when the death is discovered and it becomes common knowledge at the office. Meanwhile, Neve is frantic -- who killed Saul and what might the enigmatic investigator, DCI Alastair Hitching be able to figure out. NO SPOILERS.
This was entertaining but a bit unbelievable as far as the investigative elements as it seemed that the police would have been able to figure out what went on in the flat. None of the characters were really very likeable, and Neve didn't elicit the empathy I usually like to have with a protagonist. The writing was good and the narrative moves along with lots of drama, but the ending seemed somewhat drawn out though the conclusion was quite predictable. I haven't read many other books by this author and may give the Frieda Klein novels a look.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- domestic drama, psychological fiction, murder
Neve Connolly is 46 years-old, married to Fletcher, with 3 children -- one of whom may or may not be heading out to university in a couple of weeks. She and her husband have been married 20 long years and "her affair with Saul Stevenson was just the fever dream of a woman in her forties who had grown weary of the slog of family life." When she finds his body, head bashed in with a hammer, she can't call it in and so she scrupulously cleans the place and removes every trace of her presence. Now she needs to act surprised when the death is discovered and it becomes common knowledge at the office. Meanwhile, Neve is frantic -- who killed Saul and what might the enigmatic investigator, DCI Alastair Hitching be able to figure out. NO SPOILERS.
This was entertaining but a bit unbelievable as far as the investigative elements as it seemed that the police would have been able to figure out what went on in the flat. None of the characters were really very likeable, and Neve didn't elicit the empathy I usually like to have with a protagonist. The writing was good and the narrative moves along with lots of drama, but the ending seemed somewhat drawn out though the conclusion was quite predictable. I haven't read many other books by this author and may give the Frieda Klein novels a look.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- domestic drama, psychological fiction, murder
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Blood Rites (DI Kelly Porter #6) by Rachel Lynch
"There are demons out there, and they look like people."
A young girl is found, naked and half frozen, on Castlerigg Stone Circle. She's taken to the local hospital but is uncommunicative and unidentified. Then she disappears. DI Kelly Porter can't get the haunted child's face out of her mind, but soon a gruesome murder scene occupies the team at Cumbria Constabulary. As the investigation begins, Porter discovers that the dead woman had links to a local group that seem to be members of a Pagan coven. The detectives soon get a crash course in symbolism and ritual practices, but have no leads or clues as to the murderer when another killing takes place. Kelly is convinced that the person committing these crimes has a plan and that more deaths will occur unless she can stop them. Meanwhile, she's been contacted by her old nemesis, Amy Richmond, AKA "The Teacher, a serial killer who wants to see Kelly hinting that she has some information about the current case. NO SPOILERS.
Wow, was this good! The writing is superb and the characters come to life on the page as they are so well-drawn. As always, the Lake District, is almost like another character in the novel and the description of the area draws the reader in with an appreciative sigh. Kelly has grown stronger, her personal life is improved with Johnny, and she's dealing with her grief appropriately. She loves her life and is even making plans for a sailing trip vacation in Florida. The case is getting to her though and fortunately she has a lot of emotional and professional support. The best, and most interesting, part of this particular story, however, is the inclusion of the Pagan angle. I couldn't help but have Google on standby to give me more information and was fascinated by the detail of the beliefs, practices and rituals. Note -- this is not satanic in case that would be a trigger. I could say more about the killer and the motivations, but won't. Just read it for yourself and enjoy. I've read this series from the beginning and I do believe that the books should be read from the beginning in order to appreciate Kelly's history and to know her better. Crime fiction at its best!
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for this e-book ARC to read and review. I cannot wait for #7.
This is #6 in a series that should be read in order.
Genre - crime fiction, female detective, thriller
A young girl is found, naked and half frozen, on Castlerigg Stone Circle. She's taken to the local hospital but is uncommunicative and unidentified. Then she disappears. DI Kelly Porter can't get the haunted child's face out of her mind, but soon a gruesome murder scene occupies the team at Cumbria Constabulary. As the investigation begins, Porter discovers that the dead woman had links to a local group that seem to be members of a Pagan coven. The detectives soon get a crash course in symbolism and ritual practices, but have no leads or clues as to the murderer when another killing takes place. Kelly is convinced that the person committing these crimes has a plan and that more deaths will occur unless she can stop them. Meanwhile, she's been contacted by her old nemesis, Amy Richmond, AKA "The Teacher, a serial killer who wants to see Kelly hinting that she has some information about the current case. NO SPOILERS.
Wow, was this good! The writing is superb and the characters come to life on the page as they are so well-drawn. As always, the Lake District, is almost like another character in the novel and the description of the area draws the reader in with an appreciative sigh. Kelly has grown stronger, her personal life is improved with Johnny, and she's dealing with her grief appropriately. She loves her life and is even making plans for a sailing trip vacation in Florida. The case is getting to her though and fortunately she has a lot of emotional and professional support. The best, and most interesting, part of this particular story, however, is the inclusion of the Pagan angle. I couldn't help but have Google on standby to give me more information and was fascinated by the detail of the beliefs, practices and rituals. Note -- this is not satanic in case that would be a trigger. I could say more about the killer and the motivations, but won't. Just read it for yourself and enjoy. I've read this series from the beginning and I do believe that the books should be read from the beginning in order to appreciate Kelly's history and to know her better. Crime fiction at its best!
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for this e-book ARC to read and review. I cannot wait for #7.
This is #6 in a series that should be read in order.
Genre - crime fiction, female detective, thriller
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