Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane

 "That's how they win. They destroy you in silence until you're afraid of speaking out. They attack in your own damn house, where you should be safe."

Lila Ridgefield has always told herself that Aaron wasn't an abusive husband -- but she was wrong. Damaged as she was from childhood trauma, Lila has a stoic personality and fails to understand just how dangerous Aaron is. Until she finds the videos. Her solution seems sound and takes lots of planning. It should have been the end of her problems, but then Aaron goes missing and this can't be right since she arranged things so well and remembers exactly where she left his body. NO SPOILERS.

What a great domestic thriller to end my 2020 reading list! I loved the story line and the narrative was quite twisty and fun. I found this very hard to put down and it kept me guessing until the end. I found the characters quite interesting and well-developed. I was never quite sure which version of events to believe and whom to root for, but i was quite satisfied with the conclusion. There's a lot going on in this suspense novel and I think fans of this genre will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

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

Genre  - Debut in domestic suspense genre.

Saltwater Graves (Detective Casey Whie #3) by B.R. Spangler

"With every high-profile case came a mountain of speculation and rumor."

And in this case, the rumors have to do with Detective Casey White's love, ex-sheriff Jericho Flynn. Implicated in a series of murders, Jericho sees his mayoral campaign collapse. Meanwhile, the newly pregnant Casey is visiting a convicted serial killer in prison. Casey knows that Paige Kotes killed Jericho's wife, but now there's a shadow of doubt. NO SPOILERS.

This novel had every trope known to the typical female detective crime thriller. Although it is the third I've read in the series, it will be my last. I was very disappointed by the conclusion and outcome of this story and don't care to revisit the Outer Banks again. It's too bad that Casey has just one heartbreak and devastation after another, and I won't go down the road with her again. This wasn't a very exciting case and I struggled to get through it especially when I could see the direction it was going. I can see that others really like this series, so I'll leave them to it.

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

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

Genre - female detective, crime thriller, series

We Thought We Knew You by M. William Phelps

  "...sometimes people arrive in our lives and, like black mold, create havoc and hell without us having a clue what is happening."

This is a very well-written true crime account with all the details surrounding the murder of Mary Yoder by Katie Conley in 2015. I do not remember this case on my radar, though I typically follow news of this sort. The story was so interesting because it involved a perpetrator who had insinuated herself into the Yoder family (as girlfriend to Adam Yoder) and as a receptionist/office manager at Chiropractic Family Care, the family business in upstate New York.

The murder weapon was quite unusual -- colchicine -- a very toxic medication used in the treatment of gout. It has a very narrow therapeutic window, and has no antidote or effective treatment if that range is exceeded. The revelations that describe how Katie planned and carried out the poisoning of Dr. Mary Yoder were chilling. It is incredibly scary that a 23-year-old family friend and trusted employee ended up charged in Oneida County Court with second degree murder, forgery, falsifying business records, and petit larceny. The motive(s) behind Katie's acts further demonstrate her narcissism and sociopathy. The lengths Katie went through to try to frame others to hide her guilt defy any understanding of emotions or empathy. I am not sure she got the punishment she deserved, but you will have to read all about the trials to see for yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I plan to look for other books by this very talented author -- he really broke this down well and laid out all the facts.

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

Genre - true crime, murder, secrets, betrayal, deception, poisoning

The Visitors by Miranda Rijks

Hannah and her husband, Daniel Pieters, live in a lovely home in the midst of a rural farm property on the outskirts of London. He's a cardiothoracic surgeon and works long hours in town, so Hannah and their two children are fairly isolated. Hannah decides to renovate a dilapidated barn and turn it into a holiday rental both as a project and to make a little extra money. She finally has everything redecorated and has opened to visitors. Unfortunately, the visitors -- Mike, Nadia, and their daughter Kayleigh, are anything but good customers. Things go from bad to worse as they wreak havoc on both the property and on Hannah's family. NO SPOILERS.

This was a difficult read for me and I almost DNF a couple of times. I can't tolerate characters who have no backbone and who make such horrible decisions that allow bad situations to become even worse. I did not like ANY of the characters in this novel nor could I relate to any of the various situations where Hannah is meant to be courageous and stand up for herself but doesn't. Although the ending and resolution were a bit of a surprise (came out of nowhere), I wasn't gripped by curiosity nor did I find much of it believable. Sorry, this was just not my cup of tea.

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

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

Genre - psychological drama, mystery

Seven Lies by Elizabeth Kay

 Let me tell you 'bout my best friend...

Oh, Jane -- she just loves too much. Is too loyal. She would do anything for Marnie, her BFF since middle school. They've shared everything and Marnie helped Jane through one of the worst parts of her life. They will be just like this forever. That's what Jane thinks, but then Marnie falls in love and gets married. Jane will tell you exactly how she feels about all that happened next. NO SPOILERS.

What a compelling psychological thriller as Jane confesses the truth from her point of view. Sure she tells a few lies (seven, in fact), but sometimes it best served her situation. She's definitely a sociopath and she demands so much because of her obsession with Marnie as their toxic relationship unravels. The masterful writing draws you in and keeps you turning the pages. I found this almost impossible to put down as I raced to find out how this would end. This is not usually the type of book that I'm drawn to read, so this was a nice surprise and I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

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

Genre - psychological thriller, toxic friendships, obsession

The Empty Bed (Burial Society #2) by Nina Sadowsky

 What an exciting follow-up to the first book in the Burial Society series! Using a team of people with dubious marketable skills, Catherine and her shadowy organization exist to help those who need protection or other types of favors that allow them to vanish from dangerous situations. This thriller takes the reader from the USA to London to Hong Kong to Mexico City while Catherine juggles her latest clients. There is a very complicated operation involving many different characters who are desperate for the assistance of the Burial Society. NO SPOILERS.

Told in alternating points of view, this features a couple of the same characters from the first book, but is set three years after those events. I think it essential to have read the previous one before starting this just so you have all the history and backstory. There's lots of action and many different story lines going on simultaneously that eventually come together in a very satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed this and hope that Ms. Sadowsky is planning on a third installment. Catherine is a very interesting protagonist and we are still learning bits and pieces of her past and I'm eager to see what cause and clients she takes on next. This would make a fabulous adaptation to film or TV show.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. 

This is the second book in a series that needs to be read from the beginning, in order. 

Genre - mystery, thriller, shadowy organization

The Burial Socieety (#1 Catherine) by Nina Sadowsky

A great premise -- a shadowy organization that rescues people from dangerous situations and helps them escape into new, safe lives. Catherine is at the helm of this "Burial Society" and gets fixated on the 'one that got away' when she hears that new tragedy has struck a family where she was unable to save a client due to Catherine's own mistake. Her guilt gets her involved in this sorry saga.

I enjoyed this psychological thriller but just could not get too invested in the Burrows' storyline and, unfortunately, those characters ended up forming most of the narrative. I was so much more interested in hearing about other rescues and saves and I did not care for Natalie or any of the family. Told in alternating chapters from the point of view of Catherine, Jake, and Natalie, the different perspectives make it somewhat difficult to figure out what is really going on. The mystery involves figuring out who killed whom and why. Easy to guess that so I wasn't surprised.  NO SPOILERS.

I do have the second book featuring Catherine in my queue and will read it next so I hope that the plot is different to this one and deals with different rescues more suited to the stated mission of the Burial Society.

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

This is the first in a set of 2 books so far in the series. I've read in order.

Genre - psychological thriller, family drama, self-harm, murder

Convince Me by Nina Sadowsky

 "Life is long and complicated. You can live many lives in the course of one."

No one knew that better than Justin Childs. Not only did he live a thousand lies, he destroyed many lives in the process. Not often that one man can deceive and manipulate everyone who knew him, but Justin had that gift. And he got away with it. Until he didn't. NO SPOILERS.

This was really a fast, fun read told from various points of view painting a picture of a man who used people to get what he wanted. After his sudden death in a car accident, his widow, Annie,  his best friend and business partner, Will, and his loving mother, Carol, are grief-stricken, bewildered, and eventually left feeling betrayed. Justin was definitely a sociopath. The revelations of his machinations were dropped in the narrative with precision in this well-written psychological drama and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

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

Genre - psychological, family drama, sociopath

Dark Falls now titled SILENT RIDGE (Detective Megan Carpenter #3) by Gregg Olsen

If you have not read books #1 and #2 in this series, DO NOT read this. It's essential to have all the backstory in order to fully enjoy this third one -- and you definitely will! Note the title change to SILENT RIDGE.

I like this series a lot. The author has a writing style that really appeals to me and the story is told in first person voice from Detective Megan Carpenter's point of view. And, what an interesting character she is! "I destroy monsters, but I'm a monster."  If you'd had her past life, you might lean that way too.

After a woman who knew Megan in her previous identity is found murdered (that first chapter is a bit of a grisly shocker), Megan and her new sidekick, Deputy Ronnie Marsh, pull out all the stops to figure out how this all ties to events and murders that happened over 20 years previously. Lots of action and the inclusion of hearing the killer's point of view as well. NO SPOILERS.

I can't wait to see where the next installment will take Megan and Ronnie and am very much looking forward to continuing. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is the third in a series that really needs to be read, from the beginning, in order.

Genre - mystery thriller, serial killer, grisly

Watch Her Vanish (Rockwell and Decker #1) by Ellery A. Kane

 This is the first in a new mystery/thriller series featuring psychologist Olivia Rockwell and Detective Will Decker. The setting is Fog Harbor, California, present day.

Women are being murdered and all of them have a connection to Crescent Bay State Prison where Olivia works in the mental health section there. All of the evidence points to an incarcerated serial killer, Drake Devere. Rockwell and Decker end up working together to figure out if Drake is really committing these crimes. NO SPOILERS.

There was a lot going on in this book and sometimes the writing was a little too embellished, if you know what I mean. Lots of descriptive phrases and similes etc. I had a bit of a time trying to develop any affinity for either of the two main characters -- each with a complicated backstory making them both a bit of a psych mess themselves. The whole relationship between Olivia and Deck is textbook cliche romance more reminiscent of young adult love-hate, push-pull dynamics.
I was also annoyed that the reader is left with many unanswered questions and no conclusion to the story so I assume book 2 will pick up where this left off. I'm going to go ahead and read the second one, hoping that I get the answers and become more invested in the characters.

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

This is the first in a new series best read in order.

Genre - mystery thriller, detective, psychologist, prison

The Chalet by Catherine Cooper

 Note to self: do not go on a ski trip in the French Alps. Bad things happen there...

Two brothers and their current girlfriends go for a holiday at La Madiere, France, in December of 1998. Unfortunately, the brothers, Adam and Will, don't get along very well and matters come to a head while they are out skiing off piste as a terrible winter storm comes in. Abandoned by their guides, one of them is found the next morning and the other is not.

Flash forward to 2020. A luxurious chalet and several well-heeled guests trying to work a business deal while enjoying the fabulous skiing, the delicious food, copious amounts of alcohol, and the attention of their own personal chalet girl making sure that every need is met. Hugo and Ria Redbush own a holiday booking company and are looking to partner with Simon as an investor so they really want to impress him and his young wife, Cass. The foursome is definitely not meshing but everyone is playing his or her part as the week goes by. Lots of little irritations start to cause cracks in relationships and it seems that everything comes to a head when another severe winter storm paralyzes the resort. Then, a news report reveals that the body of a skier has been found after an avalanche. NO SPOILERS.

The synopsis is a little misleading but I did enjoy this book despite its similarity to Ruth Ware's ONE BY ONE that I read earlier this year. This is a revenge story and, despite the fact that all of the characters are pretty much miserable, unlikable creatures, I did feel some empathy for a couple of them. The writing was excellent and I liked the way the story unfolded through the time shifts and points of view between 1998 and present day. It made for a great winter read and, though I guessed at most of what was coming, the revelations were tantalizing as they dropped.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

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

Genre - mystery thriller, revenge

The Drowned Woman (Jericho and Wright #2) by C.J. Lyons

 This second book in the series features Detective Sergeant Luka Jericho of the Cambria City Violent Crimes Unit and Dr. Leah Wright, formerly an ER physician, but now medical director of Good Samaritan Hospital's Crisis Intervention Center. They work together handling cases as necessary and, in this thriller, they are looking into a bad actor who identifies himself as Chaos.

Although the plot and the murders are complicated and involve a lot of characters, the premise is that someone is killing others in an attempt to get the attention of a former famous journalist, Risa Saliba. There is also a connection to Luka's past tragedy when his fiance supposedly committed suicide and drowned. In addition, the storyline about Leah's grief over her husband's death in book one continues.

Although not very suspenseful or thrilling, this is basically a detective novel. Unfortunately, I was able to guess the twists so there were no surprises here. I did find myself extremely annoyed by all the chapters devoted to the activities of Leah's 6-year-old daughter and all of that could have easily been left out of this book. I have no interest in reading a child's point of view in the novels I choose and definitely prefer action to long descriptions of internal angst. So, not sure I would continue with this series as I just can't get invested in either Jericho or Wright.

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

This is the second in a series that should be read, from the beginning, in order.

Genre - crime thriller

Murder in the Snow (Lady Eleanor Swift #4) by Verity Bright

 A cozy mystery set in 1920s England has just the right stuff to put you in a festive mood for the Christmas season.

Lady Eleanor Swift is hosting the entire village at Henley Hall for all sorts of frolic and food as she celebrates her very first country Christmas. Unfortunately, a participant in the fun run set up on the grounds of the Hall dies at the finish line. Of course this was not a natural death as Inspector Seldon believes and Lady Eleanor and her butler and partner in crime, Clifford, set out to prove it was murder. NO SPOILERS.

I enjoyed reading about Eleanor's yuletide activities along with her amateur sleuthing. She and Clifford are a great pair and their interaction is often hilarious. She's a fun character and I had no problems following along even though I missed the third in the series. I am looking forward to the next installment. May your holidays be merry and bright -- and healthy.

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

This is the 4th in a series that should be read in order.

Genre - cozy historical mystery with amateur sleuth

Death at the Dance (Lady Eleanor Swift #2) by Verity Bright

I needed a bit of a break from grisly murder and emotional reads, so I was happy to return to this second in a series featuring Lady Eleanor Swift set in 1920s England. I adore this historical period and love the details of life during that time. This cozy mystery was exactly the tonic I needed.

In this installment, Lady Swift is attending a masked ball at the manor owned by the parents of her new love interest, Lance Langham. While there, she ends up stumbling upon Lance bending over a recently murdered guest, holding a heavy silver candlestick, and some very valuable family jewels missing from the safe. As (bad) luck would have it, the police find them immediately and arrest Lance on the spot for murder and burglary. Eleanor, along with her trusty butler and friend, Clifford, must clear his name. NO SPOILERS.

The thing is, some of this is outright funny. The interaction and friendship between Eleanor and Clifford makes me laugh because she is no typical English Lady and he is no normal manservant. I like the characters and the story moved along very quickly with lots of action and quite a few suspects. I look forward to the next in the series, but unfortunately I don't have a copy of #3, so I will be skipping along to the fourth straightaway. Enjoy!

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

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

Genre - cozy historical mystery, amateur sleuth, 1920s

Truth be Told (Zara Kaleel #2) by Kia Abdullah

I'm sitting here in front of my computer -- a bit dazed and feeling quite emotional after reading this second book in the Zara Kaleel series in a matter of hours. Not only could I not put it down, I was glued to the pages wondering how this author was going to handle the subject of male rape.

At first, the premise and likely trajectory seem clear -- two boys at an elite same sex boarding school, a drunken party, a sexual encounter, and one of them says it was rape. The prosecutor's case is that Finn Andersen had sex with Kamran Hadid without his consent. Zara Kaleel, former barrister now an independent sexual violence advisor, becomes involved in supporting and helping Kamran before, through, and after the trial. But there is so much more to this book than courtroom drama or legal maneuverings. Within the pages there are themes of culture, religion, identity politics, family, privilege, and both physical and emotional trauma. NO SPOILERS.

The main character is Zara -- I can't help but love her for so many reasons. Yes, she's fierce but has paid a very high price for her strength. She is someone I wish I knew in real life. How she deals with all the things that happen in this story is beyond admirable in my eyes. But the way the author depicts Kamran is the real heartbreaking aspect of this novel. The writing is excellent and the author gives Kamran his own voice, sharing his reaction to all that happens. It's very powerful and definitely timely in our current social climate.

If you choose to read this -- and believe me there are a lot of triggers -- please read TAKE IT BACK first as it introduces you to Zara which makes this follow-up even better. What a fabulous selection for a book group that likes to dive deep as there would be so much to discuss.

I highly recommend this one and can't wait to meet Zara again so I hope there's another book in the works. 

This is the second book in a series and definitely read the first one before this.

Genre - courtroom thriller, family drama, male rape, taboos, Muslim, Society

Promises in the Dark (Detectives Kane and Alton #10) by D.K. Hood

 This 10th installment in the crime thriller series featuring Sheriff Jenna Alton and Deputy Dave Kane has them chasing down a murderous pyro psychopath.

Oh my goodness, the Black Rock Falls area of Montana has yet another serial killer on a rampage. To be honest, it is starting to strain credulity that this many crazies find that area and commit so many awful crimes. In this case, the crimes involve bombs and fire -- along with kidnapping and a host of other deviant behaviors. I think the tipping point for me was the connection between what was happening in Black Rock Falls to what happened in DC years ago to Kane and his wife, Annie. NO SPOILERS.

Despite having read this series from the start, I have never really liked Jenna and finally admit that I likely never will. I just find her too unbelievable in her role; her attitude and behavior irritates me. Although there was a lot of good forensic detail and long descriptions of everything involved in the murder and arson, I had guessed most everything about the outcome and the perpetrator quite early. I think the motivation explaining all these crimes was a bit of a stretch, but I can see by other reviews that no one else has any issues with it.

So why do I keep reading the series despite my issues? I like to finish what I start and I figure this can't go on much longer but who knows. Surely it's about time for a consummation of the Kane and Alton relationship? We will have to wait and see as book #11 should be out soon.

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

This is the 10th book in a series that should be read, in order, from the beginning.

Genre - crime thriller, USA, arson, murder

Take it Back (Zara Kaleel#1) by Kia Abdullah

 Compelling and heartbreaking, this is the story of what happened when a disabled white girl accuses four Muslim boys of rape. It's more than a "she said, they said" novel and is not quite like other books that have surfaced in the wake of the "metoo movement. I found it almost impossible to put down and I can't stop thinking about it since I finished.

Although the narrative shifts in point of view among many of the main characters, the two who have the strongest voices are Zara Kaleel and Jodie Wolfe. Formerly a super rock star barrister at Bedford Row, Zara now works as an independent sexual violence advisor at Artemis House on Whitechapel Road. As a Muslim woman, she has gone through a lot to escape subjugation and traditional ethnic, cultural, and religious roles. She's single, but lonely, and has a strong desire to do "good" in this job. Still, she finds this case difficult. Sixteen-year-old Jodie Wolfe is the most unlikely of accusers -- she knows the boys who attacked her and she has a disease called neurofibromatosis. This condition is a genetic mutation and results in tumors that grow in the nervous system leading to severe deformity in Jodie's situation. (Often this is inaccurately called Elephant Man Syndrome). When Jodie alleges that the 4 boys from her school assaulted her, it sets of a firestorm of community upheaval between Muslim and White. Between native Brit and immigrant. As they move to trial, Zara learns more about Jodie and fully believes her and that what they are doing is right despite personal peril once the tabloids get involved. Can Zara stay the course and help Jodie get justice despite the social climate and the fact that the boys have a lot of support and claim innocence? NO SPOILERS.

This was so good on many levels. The writing was excellent and the emotions experienced by the characters seemed genuine without being melodramatic. I really liked Zara and her struggles were very well explained. As a sort of feminist in many areas, it pains me when women are controlled -- especially when those manipulations are made by family or a particular group because I just don't understand having only limited frame of reference. I think this would make a fabulous selection for a book club and I look forward to reading other reviews to get more perspective.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is apparently the first in a new series -- which I did not know until I went to review. I definitely want to read more. 

Genre - legal thriller, rape, Muslim

The Wicked Hour (Detective Natalie Lockhart #2) by Alice Blanchard

 This afternoon I went back to Burning Lake, New York, the "self-proclaimed epicenter for magic and witchcraft." This second crime thriller featuring Detective Natalie Lockhart was every bit as compelling as the first and I definitely suggest you read them in order to fully understand the backstory of everything that Natalie has gone through to this point. I read this over several hours, unable to put it down, as the excellent writing drew me in and the story line kept me guessing.

A body has been found in a dumpster the morning after Burning Lake's big Halloween bash. It's a young woman, a promising violinist, who was there for the Monster Mash -- a contest for the "spookiest Halloween musical act." As Natalie heads up the investigation, she finds, again, that even the townspeople she's known all her life are not above suspicion. As she chases leads and deals with her grief, Natalie begins to question other events that have happened in her town. NO SPOILERS.

I enjoyed this book and really like the details and descriptions the author relates about Burning Lake and its inhabitants. Natalie is a great character and fully believable as she navigates her personal losses while trying to become a better detective. Again, there are many red herrings so the big reveal is a bit of a surprise and I was pleased that the identity of the killer wasn't obvious. I was definitely glad that I was able to read the first two installments back-to-back but bummed now because I will have a long wait for the next one in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is the second book and I suggest they be read in order.

Genre - police procedural, crime thriller, murder, witchcraft

Trace of Evil (Natalie Lockhart #1) by Alice Blanchard

 There is something -- someone -- evil in Burning Lake, New York. Detective Natalie Lockhart is examining a cold case where 9 people had vanished over the past 25 years. Then she catches her first ever murder case when a beloved teacher and wife of a fellow detective, Daisy Buckner, is murdered in her own kitchen. The town seems to have more than its share of darkness and soon Natalie and the rest of the BLPD are very busy with the investigation and search for the killer. NO SPOILERS.

The small town has a shameful secret: three innocent women were executed as witches in 1712. The lure of the occult is still strong there, however, and many young teenage girls get involved "into the Craft." As a young teenager, Natalie and her friends were involved in Wiccan activities and some of them even took a darker path and engaged in black magic and subsequently told lies and hid secrets. It seems now that events from many years ago have left a terrible scar.

I really enjoyed this introduction to the very atmospheric Burning Lake and to Natalie Lockhart. The writing was good, the plot convincing and different with the witchcraft angle. I look forward to getting to know the main characters better and imagine that future installments will bring a romance. The narrative zipped along and kept my attention with several surprises and a bit of a shocking conclusion at the end.

I'm off to start the second book in the series. Thank you to Minotaur Books for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. 

This is the first in a new series that I will read in order.

Genre - police procedural, crime thriller, elements of occult and witchcraft

What My Husband Did by Kerry Wilkinson

  Twelve-year-old Alice Pritchard was left for dead in a creek. When the nearly lifeless body is found by Madeleine King and her friend's husband, Atal, things don't look good. Because Maddie's husband has not come home. Did Richard have something to do with what happened to Alice -- villagers say that they saw Alice getting into Richard's car that day. NO SPOILERS.

I had a hard time getting into this one -- it was very slow moving and the mystery was not that gripping so I kept putting it down. Told in a past/present narrative from Maddie's point of view, the bulk of the story has to do with small town drama and past indiscretions. Secrets and lies are eventually revealed explaining everything. I found it a bit of a disappointment having read many of this author's previous books.

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. The synopsis does not really reflect book content and is somewhat misleading. 

Genre - small village drama with secrets and lies, mystery                               

The Best of Friends by Lucinda Berry

 A night that changed the lives of 3 families. "An accident with the three boys. The hospital. One of the boys had died."

What an emotional roller coaster in a heartbreaking novel that I absolutely could not put down so read it over several hours today. Three lifelong friends, Lindsay, Dani, and Kendra, have teenage sons who are also best friends. Something happened between the boys on that tragic night and the story is gradually revealed over the course of the narrative told by the female friends in alternating chapters. I had to make a paper chart with names so that I could keep it all straight and that helped immensely.

This is not usually the kind of book that I enjoy, but I was drawn in immediately and was glued to the pages as the events unfolded. I felt sympathy for each of the mothers for different reasons and the writing was superb in drawing out the emotions without being manipulative or maudlin. Of course the boys kept secrets from their parents as all teenagers do and the boys' immaturity added to the the entirety of the sorry drama as it all played out. So many topics addressed and so much pain in a nightmare that no parent ever wants to be in. I liked it immensely even as my heart feels heavy just thinking about it all tonight.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. This would make a great read for a book club.

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

Genre - family drama, mature themes, death and dying, heartbreak

Dead Girl Walking (Jessie Novak #1) by Roberta Gately

 An Emergency Room nurse, Jessie Novak, plays detective in this crime thriller.

When a young couple is attacked, shot, and left for dead in an alley, they are brought to Boston City Hospital by ambulance. Jessie is on duty and finds the wife, Ann Hart, barely alive and the husband with a less serious wound. For some reason, she can't get the crime out of her mind and is quite suspicious about the event. Meanwhile, she's harassed by a reporter and is involved with two local cops who share many investigative details about their investigation with her. NO SPOILERS.

I confess I picked this up solely because I have also worked as an ER nurse. I'm always interested in medical thrillers and thought that this first in a new series might hit the spot for me. Unfortunately, I found it all fairly ludicrous and my ability to take the necessary leaps to credulity was strained to the max level. I simply could not stand the main character, Jessie, nor could I even remotely imagine the level of her involvement in a crime such as this as an ER nurse. The other main irritation I developed was with Jessie's romantic entanglements. Overall, I did not find this gripping or suspenseful -- it all just seemed silly to me. I doubt I'll be interested in another installment featuring this character.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for providing a copy of this e-book ARC for me to read and review. 

This is the first in a new series featuring this nurse.

Genre - crime thriller

Deadly Cry (DI Kim Stone #13) by Angela Marsons

"...even though there are two types of killer, there does remain one single commonality. They will carry on until they are stopped."

A serial killer is taking lives at a rapid rate but reaches out to DI Kim Stone begging for her help to stop. The victims are found with broken necks and the crimes seem random and senseless. Kim and her team are very busy trying to solve this complex case. NO SPOILERS.

I have to say that I am growing weary of this series and with the main character. I used to think of Kim Stone as being an eccentric loner, but honestly, her personality borders on psychopathology. Her complete disregard for orders, following her "gut" instinct, the way she treats her colleagues and others -- all lead me to dislike her more with each installment. The story line here was not as compelling as usual and, though I read it in a single sitting, it wasn't intense or particularly gripping. I am sure most of Marsons' fans will disagree and will eagerly snap this one up and give it heaps of praise. No doubt it's just me requiring more stimulating fare. I do like that readers are given more glimpses into the lives of Kim's team and I did enjoy that aspect of this book. Perhaps this thirteenth in the series is just a one-off disappointment and I do plan to continue reading hoping that Kim Stone has a personality adjustment.

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

 

This is #13 in a long series that should be read from the beginning in order.

Genre - crime fiction, female detective, UK

House of Correction by Nicci French

Tabitha Hardy stands accused of the premeditated murder of her former teacher and neighbor, Stuart Rees. His bloody body was found in a shed outside the house she had bought and was renovating in Okeham, where she had grown up. Upon arrest and questioning, Tabitha can't seem to recall anything specific that happened that day and she is remanded to Crow Grange Prison to await trial. After firing her lawyer, Tabitha decides to represent herself in court. NO SPOILERS.

This book took me forever to read and I honestly would have marked it DNF except for this crazy issue I have that I just can't do it. I didn't like the story or any of the characters and found the whole trial and courtroom scenes hard to believe. I've read this author before and enjoyed the books, but this one was just not for me. If you can relate to an unreliable narrator with lots of problems and can suspend disbelief, this might work for you.

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

 

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

Genre - psychological

The Company Daughters by Samantha Rajaram

 "Half-light and half-darkness. Like the best of lives."

Amsterdam, 1616, Jana Beil has worked hard to survive. Now, after tragedy leaves her without a position as a servant, she decides to accept the offer presented by the Dutch East Indies Company, or V.O.C. The Company will send her to Batavia on a long, dangerous journey by ship to become the bride of a settler in this Asian colony. Longing for security and a future, these Company Daughters will be married off to strange men and begin a new life on the other side of the world. Of course, nothing goes as expected and The Company promise isn't the answer to any hopes and dreams. Jana contents herself with a forbidden love but life does not come with any guarantees. NO SPOILERS.

I enjoyed this historical fiction novel and Jana's story. Jana is determined and diligently tries to improve her situation through many sorrows and travails. Although she and Sontje find mutual pleasure in their relationship, their moments are stolen and they are always at the mercy of men. Although I liked the story well enough, it seemed that much of it was centered on Jana's thoughts and reflections more than relating details that I was looking for in regard to life in the colony so it left me a bit disappointed in a vague way.

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

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

Genre - historical fiction; LGBT literary fiction

Shadow Sands (Kate Marshall #2) by Robert Bryndza

 This is the second book in a series featuring Kate Marshall, a former DC in the Met Police, now a lecturer in criminology at Ashdean University in Devon. Kate had left the Met under a cloud when her lover and former boss turned out to be the notorious Nine Elms serial killer. But her past years spent as a detective never allow her to find the peace she wants as she rebuilds her life in Thurlow Bay for there's a new mystery to solve after she and her son, Jake, find a dead body in the Shadow Sands reservoir on a SCUBA dive. NO SPOILERS.

Kate is an interesting character with her history of alcoholism and the grief she experiences over lost time with her now teenage son. She's had to overcome a lot of personal and professional turmoil and is slowing getting her life back together. She and her research assistant at the university, Tristan Harper, have an interesting partnership as they work as unofficial private detectives in this case. I like the further development of their characters in this story and am looking forward to seeing what comes next for them.

The book was fast-paced and I've long been a Bryndza fan and enjoyed his other thrillers as well. I was thoroughly entertained and read in a single sitting. I'm ready for #3 and will try to be patient as I wait. I don't think this works well as a standalone as Kate's backstory is very important so be sure to read the first before picking up this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the second in a series and should be read in order from beginning.

Genre - mystery, crime thriller

You Betrayed Me (The Cahills #3) by Lisa Jackson

 An entertaining and complicated mystery thriller that involves murder, greed, revenge, big money, and fatal attraction.

James Cahill is the son of a San Francisco family with vast wealth but he has moved away to Riggs Crossing, Washington, to start his own enterprises -- building tiny houses, a Christmas tree farm, and a quaint little inn. Unfortunately, he's the target of a lot of gold diggers due to his good looks and eventual inheritance. He wakes up in the local hospital with a head injury and amnesia. His current girlfriend, Megan Travers, is missing. Detective Brett Rivers and his partner, Wynonna Mendoza, soon come calling with many questions. It quickly becomes clear that Megan was not James's only girlfriend and this complicates the investigation into Megan's disappearance. NO SPOILERS.

What a convoluted tale full of a huge cast of characters told in multiple viewpoints. I struggled to find even one character that I liked as they were all complex and some were very nasty. Although it was fast-paced, there was a lot of repetition and my least favorite parts were those written italics. I had not read the previous 2 books in this series, but this felt OK as a standalone and seemed complete.

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

 

This is the third book in a series but I did not read the previous 2.

Genre - Mystery/thriller

Murder on the Dance Floor (Kitty Underhay #4) by Helena Dixon

 Another delightful installment in this cozy mystery series set in Devon, England. This 4th features Miss Kitty Underhay, whose grandmother owns the Dolphin Hotel, in her latest adventure.

It's autumn, 1933, and Kitty is attending the annual Hotelier's Association Dinner and Dance with her love interest, Captain Matthew Bryant, when one of the guests at their table collapses and dies. Poisoned. Councillor Harold Everton was known as an honest businessman, but soon there are hints of fraud and bribery in the local council. Who wanted him dead and why? As Kitty and Bryant dig around trying to find clues to solve the case, other trouble is brewing. In addition, Kitty continues her quest to find out what happened to her mother who went missing 17 years ago.

Fast and fun, I really enjoy this period in history and love all the details the author interjects to make the era come alive on the page. I've followed this series from the beginning and it's one of my favorites in this genre. I look forward to seeing what's next for Kitty and Matthew.

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

This is the 4th in a series that should be read in order.

Genre: cozy historical mystery, romance

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

"Some of us like the dark. It's what we know."

A haunted motel. Ghosts. Murder. Are you in the mood for a chilling thriller?

Carly Kirk heads to Upstate New York in 2017. She wants to find out what happened to her aunt, Vivian Delaney, who disappeared from Fell, New York, thirty-five years ago. Viv was working at the Sun Down Motel when she went missing, leaving all her personal belongings behind and lots of questions though the police investigation was minimal. As Carly insinuates herself into life there, even taking the same job Viv held as night clerk at the Sun Down, Carly finds that something strange is really going on there. The motel seems frozen in 1982 and Carly soon falls prey to the mysteries that consumed Viv. NO SPOILERS.

I really enjoyed this. It was so well-written that I could not put it down and I read it much more slowly than I typically do most other novels. The characters were engaging and, even though I'm not typically enamored with the supernatural in books, I found myself totally captivated by the atmosphere and the narrative. The story is told in shifts back and forth in time between present day and 1982 with the points of view of both Carly and Viv. I couldn't help but see that this book would make a fantastic film with all of the scary elements and amateur sleuthing. Simply a great story and I definitely plan to look for more titles by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

 

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

Genre - supernatural elements, mystery, thriller

The Deep by Alma Katsu

"She is not mad. But there is something in her that is hospitable to madness."

As I close the file and prepare to write this review, all I can think is, WHAT DID I JUST READ? Certainly the entire story was not what I was expecting even given the hints of the supernatural and Gothic elements within. Yes, it is historical fiction in that the thriller is centered on the very real Titanic and its sister ship, the Britannic. The author says that she was particularly inspired by a memoir written by Violet Jessop, a woman who did survive both disasters. I'm not merely speculating when I say that I'm certain that the events in this novel do not have even a remote connection to that memoir.  Many of us are morbidly fascinated by the sinking of the Titanic and the huge loss of life on that terrible night especially given that we've probably read other books or seen the blockbuster film.

The narrative shifts in time between 1912 and 1916 and is told from the point of view of Annie Hebbley, who was first a stewardess on the Titanic and then, 4 years later, a nurse on the Britannic. The story draws you in and the prose sets a mood that makes the reader uncertain about what is really going on in either time period. I enjoyed the descriptions of the famous ships and the goings on of the real famous people who were on the voyage of the Titanic. The activities and thoughts of those historical persons, however, definitely require you to take it all with a huge shaker of salt in this novel. It took quite awhile before all the pieces came together for me and although I enjoyed it well enough, it just all seemed pretty over-the-top crazy to me in the end. Hopefully that won't be your experience!

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP G.P. Putnam's Sons for this e-book ARC to read and review. 

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

Genre - supernatural suspense, historical fiction
 

Her Final Prayer (Detective Clara Jefferies Book 2) by Kathryn Casey

"Life held such contradictions. People died, and the next morning others woke and started a new day...We still ached for revenge."

This is the second in a series featuring Detective Clara Jefferies, police chief in Alber, Utah, returned recently to her hometown from Dallas, Texas after 10 years. Clara grew up in Alber as a child belonging to a fundamentalist Mormon town that adhered to the principle of plural marriage. She was married off to an old man age at 17 and fled her home and is now shunned by Elijah's People because she disavowed all of their teachings. Including her own mothers and family. Now she's back there and still not accepted even as she tries to do her job for all of them.

In this case, a family massacre. Two mothers and two children murdered on their property and their husband, Jacob Johansson, lying on the kitchen floor near death with his throat slit. Upstairs a newborn baby remains the only one in the family unmolested. Who has committed this heinous crime and why. Clara and her former teenage boyfriend, Chief Deputy Max Anderson, examine the evidence, interrogate witnesses, and track down suspects to find the killer. NO SPOILERS.

I enjoyed this especially because of the setting and the interesting glimpse into an unusual religious society in modern day. I like the main character even though she's as messed up emotionally from her past as any female in this genre. I was hoping that the ending wouldn't be what it was because I had guessed it right away, so that was a bit of a disappointment. Hopefully the next book will put Clara in a better place with her personal relationships and I look forward to reading it.

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

 

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

Genre - Crime thriller, female detective, religious sect, USA

 

Dead Perfect (DC Maggie Jamieson #3) by Noelle Holten

In this third book of the series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson from the Major and Organized Crime Department (MOCD) in Staffordshire, she and her associates are on the hunt for a killer who is targeting victims that look like her close friend, Dr. Kate Moloney. When two women are killed who are made up to look like Kate, the team goes to great lengths to protect her from this stalker who seems suspiciously close and knows way too much about Kate. The investigation is long and complicated and Kate is not happy about the safety measures put in place. Can Maggie and her colleagues find the man the papers have dubbed the "Living Doll Killer" before Kate becomes his next doll?

This was a quick read, but so easy to guess and predict the outcome. Maggie's personality sometimes gets on my nerves and her obsession with Kate certainly distracts her from her job. Other characters from the two previous books are also still hanging around and interacting inter-departmentally with the Staffordshire unit. I feel like the books in the series should be read in order from the beginning, but that's just my preference and the way I've done it so not sure if this would work as a standalone or not. Typical British crime thriller all around with lots of acronyms thrown about, definite police procedural techniques, and lots of suspects to run down. I'm looking forward to the next installment as this one ends with a tease.

Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the third in series, read in order.

Genre - British crime fiction, police procedural, bisexual main character, female detective

The Girls in the Snow (Nikki Hunt #1) by Stacy Green

 A solid start to a new series featuring FBI Special Agent Nicole (Nikki) Hunt. The story is fast, a bit repetitive with the slow reveal of the backstory, but an entertaining read. I look forward to continuing installments as I anticipate some changes in Nikki's professional and personal life subsequent to the conclusion of this one.

It's bitterly cold in Stillwell, Minnesota, when Nikki Hunt returns to her hometown to investigate the discovery of two murdered teenage girls found frozen in the snow. The 15-year-olds had disappeared without a trace two months earlier and local police were unable to find them, hence the call to the FBI. Liaising with Sergeant Kent Miller out of the sheriff's office, Nikki and her team quickly discount the bodies as the work of a serial killer they are hunting known as the Frost Killer. The two dead girls are Kaylee Thomas and Madison Malone, high school freshmen, and the team quickly gets busy with interviews and investigation. Nikki is somewhat distracted, however, because of her past association with the town -- her parents were murdered in the family home over 20 years prior -- and Nikki, a 16-year-old schoolgirl, had discovered the bodies and testified against the only suspect, Mark Todd. Now it seems that new evidence has come to light indicating that Mark may not have been the killer after all. With those protests in the background, Nikki has to face the fact that there may have been a miscarriage of justice all while trying to catch the villain responsible for the current deaths. In addition, Nikki has to deal with her old high school boyfriend, John Banks, another person she had left behind when she escaped Stillwell those many years ago. NO SPOILERS.

Although I found this quite predictable and easily guessed how everything would turn out quite quickly, I did enjoy the writing and the story line. I was quite glad that the arc related to Nikki's parents was completed so that she can deal with a completely fresh situation in the next book as I do not like when that sort of thing drags on. Nikki is divorced with a young daughter and her personal life will likely be examined a bit more as well as what I guess will be a focus on her hunt for The Frost Killer. I'm looking forward to it.

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

 

This is the first in a new series featuring this protagonist and I will read in order.

Genre - police procedural, crime thriller, female FBI agent

Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell

 "But people, you know, they like having someone to blame, don't they? The like knowing who the bad person is."

This is a very slow, dark psychological thriller told from three different points of view. There's Owen Pick, 33 years old, disgraced and suspended from his teaching job after allegations of sexual harassment, whose pitiful living situation puts him directly across the street from the Fours family. Cate and Roan Fours live in a rented flat with their teenage children, Georgia and Josh. Roan is a child psychologist with Cate pretty much a stay-at-home mom. Their marriage is a bit rocky as Cate doesn't trust Roan due to his past behavior and inability to remain faithful. And lastly, there's Saffyre Maddox. She's now 17 years old but is a former patient of Roan's with a history of self-harming. Saffyre felt abandoned when she was pronounced "cured" and has taken to stalking Roan and his family. Things are happening on the street both inside the homes and outside in the dark. Saffyre is watching until the night she disappears. NO SPOILERS.

I feel like this drug on forever and I had no problem putting it down for long periods of time as it was hard for me to get into the narrative. I was unable to identify with any of the characters but Owen's part of the story made me very anxious for him. I didn't find any twists and turns as it all seemed predictable but the content themes of sexual assault, involuntary celibacy (incel), rape fantasy, adultery, were addressed by the characters and the story line. This was not my favorite Lisa Jewell novel, but it was OK.

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

 

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

Genre - psychological thriller, family drama

The Girl in White Gloves - A Novel of Grace Kelly by Kerri Maher

"Mother, wife, princess...they were all roles, even if she hadn't fully digested the script when she accepted the part."

This fictionalized account of Grace Kelly, Hollywood icon and Monaco's Princess, is entertaining and informative while also acknowledging the liberties the author admits taking with Grace's life and times. Since we all live two-faced lives -- the one inside and the one the world sees -- it's always hard to know exactly what someone was thinking and feeling at a particular time. I always take any type of account or story of a person with a grain of salt. That said, this novel gives readers a glimpse into scenes that encompassed 33 years of Grace's life both as an actress and then as the wife of Prince Rainier. This was a different time and certainly a different world to now, but many of the themes of the ambitious woman who wants a successful career along with motherhood are addressed.

Frankly, what I felt for Grace Kelly -- other than admiration for her talent and drive -- was sympathy. At the brink of superstardom, she marries her prince but basically loses herself. It takes years before she starts carving a new niche for herself in the 1950s when women were still very much under the thumb of society thinking men were in charge. Grace gave up so much to be married to Prince Rainier and her life was not the fairy tale it must have seemed to all who watched her on the world stage.

I enjoyed reading this well-researched novelization that provides insight into this American film actress and now I have the strong urge to go look up and see the films as I think I'll view them in a different light now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for this E-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series

Genre - historical fiction, Grace Kelly, novel not biography

The Innocent Girls (Detective Casey White Book 2) by B.R. Spangler

 This is the second book to feature Detective Casey White who works in the Outer Banks town of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. I'm still trying to figure out how the title relates to the book's plot and characters, so maybe someone can help me with that!

A series of gruesome murders rocks the Outer Banks and all of the victims seem to have childhood ties to the area. Some of those killed even have peculiar marks carved into their bodies and Casey tries to get her team to figure out what those mean -- is it some sort of ritualistic inscription related to the solstice? After a dogged investigation, Casey feels that these deaths have something to do with a nearby traveling church that has exploded in popularity though she can't quite figure out the connection. And do the children of the murdered have anything to do with these crimes? As always, Casey is constantly searching for her own missing daughter, Hannah, who was kidnapped before her eyes many years ago but would be 17 years old soon. Casey and her team are going to be very busy until those responsible are behind bars. NO SPOILERS.

This was fast-paced although it seemed overly long to me. The case was complicated and not particularly riveting although the grisly factor was quite high. Casey's character is rounded out and she makes some important discoveries as she moves into a more permanent relationship with her boyfriend, Jericho Flynn. I enjoyed it and will likely want to continue the series.

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

 

This is the second in the series and I like to read them in order.

Genre - Police procedural, crime thriller, female detective, Outer Banks

The Faces of Doctor Richards by Steve Jaffe

 What a crazy and wild medical sci-fi rollercoaster I just rode! Although the "science" is way out there, "this entire case is one step away from the Twilight Zone and bordering on X-Files..."

Dr. Todd Richards has discovered and perfected a secret serum that allows him the ability to transform himself into anyone else. The only problem is that his research protocols require him to use fetal stem cells and that means he needs a steady supply of pregnant women willing to undergo abortion. In Richards' world, the USA has overturned Roe v Wade and abortion is now illegal. He needs to find subjects, however, and has managed to do so by securing 5 women who desire keeping their youthful faces and bodies. The price is their fetus. Meanwhile, the FBI, CIA,  Homeland Security, and every other agency wants a piece of Dr. Richards. In fact, the President has decided that experiments using this serum should go forward to protect the security of the United States. Wouldn't it be amazing if the military operatives could infiltrate any terrorist cell or other enemy camp by using this incredible ability? Dr. Richards, unfortunately, doesn't want to play this game and he has his own special plans. NO SPOILERS.

This book was fast and fun even though it really required a huge leap to suspend disbelief. There was a huge cast of characters and it was hard at times to keep everyone slotted into their places but the usual variety of good guys and bad guys. I would have enjoyed this thriller so much more had the ARC I was reading been edited. The errors were quite distracting, but I pushed past and couldn't help but imagine this as a blockbuster movie. I read it over several hours as I found it totally kept my attention wondering what would happen next.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend to fans of this genre.

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

Genre - medical science fiction, abortion, fetal tissue experimentation, stem cells

Where Light Comes and Goes (#2 Dr. Abby Wilmore) by Sandra Cavallo Miller

 I happened to take a very nice trip down memory lane today. Growing up as the eldest daughter of a family practice physician (called a GP in the old days), I spent many hours in my father's office and so much about this book took me way back to those days. How I loved working there, meeting the patients, learning some skills, and performing all sorts of other duties. You just can't beat the variety of illnesses and ailments seen in such a place. As an RN now, I really enjoy novels with a medical bent and this one hit that sweet spot. Enough clinical detail to satisfy with a continuation of the story that started when I "met" Dr. Abigail (Abby) Wilmore in THE COLOR OF ROCK. Abby is a family practice physician who goes to Yellowstone National Park for a 3-month summer stint at a new clinic there that caters to tourists and the people who live or work in the area.

It was particularly fun to be able to read this second in the series immediately after finishing the first. I must say that I enjoyed this one more, probably because I just skimmed the parts that had to do with Abby's sex life and focused on the parts that interested me. I love how the author describes the beauty of the National Parks and it certainly gave me some travel lust to visit both the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. The patients and their cases were varied and the activities in the clinic demonstrated that family practice is always surprising as one never knows who, with what, will come through the doors. It was a great mix of scenery and medicine augmented by the geology, astronomy, and seismology that the author inserts to further educate and entertain.

Abby is a fun character but she certainly manages to get herself into some predicaments and she is growing on me. I really liked all the other secondary characters in the story as well as the author provides them with personality and depth. This one also had a bit of a mystery: who is killing the bison and why. In all, a very enjoyable book and I am really hoping for another in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and University of Nevada Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is the second of two books in the series and I read them in order.

Genre - mystery, romance, medicine, female physicians, National Parks, Yellowstone

The Color of Rock (#1 Dr. Abby Wilmore) by Sandra Cavallo Miller

 I love to read books about medicine, female doctors, and disease so I was eager for this one written by an author who is a retired academic family physician. I loved the Grand Canyon setting and the details about the activities at the clinic, but I was really disappointed with all the romance and sex as I feel it detracted from the interesting aspects of the story.

Dr. Abigail Wilmore comes to the canyon from Phoenix and is trying to manage her own anxiety disorder and start over in the more rural setting working at a clinic that handles the medical needs of many tourists and a few people who actually live in the area. She handles the challenging workload, develops a few professional relationships, and finds love. NO SPOILERS.

I have the second book featuring this character from NetGalley and University of Nevada Press on my review shelf, so I wanted to read the first in the series before tackling it. I liked Abby enough to find out more about her, but am really more curious about the unique setting and hope there is more of the medical practice in this next one and less sex/romance. 

This is the first in at least two books with this protagonist and I will read in order.

Genre - Romance/sex, female doctor, Grand Canyon

Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger

 "How complicated we all are; even the worst among us might still be worthy of love."

Things fall apart for Selena Murphy after she meets a stranger on the 7:45 train in this interesting psychological thriller. The woman calls herself Martha and Selena finds herself telling her about the problems in her life -- including mentioning that Selena thinks her husband, Graham, might be having an affair with their nanny. Of course Selena wishes her problems would all go away and that she might continue to keep up the facade of her perfect family and marriage. well, that's not going to happen. NO SPOILERS.

I'm sure it hasn't escaped most adult women that so much of what happens to women is because of their association with particular types of men. Good or bad, men have a huge influence on their happiness. A large number of incarcerated women are in prison because of men, how they were *mistreated by men, cheated on, lied to, manipulated, hurt -- it goes on. Even so, women are largely have themselves to blame for where they end up. A famous saying, "You are not responsible for what happened to you as a child, but you are 100% responsible, as an adult, for fixing it."

In this book, the women are quite damaged. All of them. Because of the men in their lives and the decisions they made around them. I never really developed any fondness for Selena nor did the pity party come out for Pearl. The writing was good, but the narrative seemed quite drawn out and a bit choppy with the alternating viewpoints and time leaps. I anticipated the twists so wasn't surprised or shocked by the reveals or climax. Always reminded of the fact that the biggest and worst lies are those we tell ourselves.

Thank you to Harlequin Park Row for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre - psychological thriller, domestic drama, revenge, infidelity, violence

First Girl Gone (Charlie Winters #1) by L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain

 Private Investigator Charlie Winters searches for a missing girl in this mystery thriller. She's come back to Salem Island after many years and this abduction hits too close to home. When she was a teenager, Charlie's twin sister Allie vanished and this case is a huge reminder. Who has taken Kara and why? Charlie's a little out of her typical caseload on this one, but is making progress until another family reports another missing daughter.

I think I would have liked this more if the "voice" of Allie wasn't speaking constantly to Charlie. I didn't care for the use of that narrative device and it annoyed me so much that I just couldn't really appreciate this story. I didn't care for Charlie as a character and I guessed the "bad guy" much too easily. I did finish the book, but I don't believe I'll be reading another in this series.

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

 

This is the first in a series.

Genre - mystery/thriller

Kill Chain by Dominic Martell (a Pascual Rose thriller)

 Fast-paced and suspenseful spy thriller with lots of action and a whirlwind tour of so many different countries that it may make your head spin!

Pascual Rose has been out of the terrorist business for 20 years and is now residing quietly in Barcelona with a new identity and a boring translator job. Thinking he's living a peaceful middle-aged life, Pascual is yanked back into action when his cellphone and laptop are hacked by a man and woman who want him to do a little job for them. This piece of criminal activity may cost him dearly as they've threatened the safety of his wife and son, but if he pulls it off, they promise him one million euros. The task involves a money laundering diversion of massive proportions and there's danger at every turn. As he travels from one locale to another, setting up accounts here and there, he finds that he can't trust anyone because he doesn't know who is behind the scheme. NO SPOILERS.

This was a fun read if you like complicated cross and double-cross narratives with lots of shady characters and mysterious, threatening situations. He's no James Bond, but Pascual didn't forget everything from his past days as an operative. I enjoyed the descriptions of the different countries and felt the tension build as he finally started getting some answers when the plot came to its climax. With every move and each decision comes danger. I found the character of the protagonist to be quite complex and interesting even when situations seemed impossible. I haven't read any of the book in the original series featuring Pascual Rose but may have to search them out.

Thank you to Tracy at Meryl Moss Media for sending along this ARC for me to read, review, and recommend. 

This is part of the Pascual Rose series but can be read as a standalone.

Genre - spy thriller, cryptocurrency, money laundering

The Evening and the Morning (prequel Kingsbridge series) by Ken Follett

I read PILLARS OF THE EARTH over 30 years ago but never forgot the impact that the book had on my reading life. For many years, it was the my most recommended book of all time even though it, at over 1000 pages, it would be one of the longest most of us had read. Diving into a Kingsbridge novel, then, is definitely a commitment but assures transport to another time, another world.

This historical fiction is the 4th Follett has written in the series, but is, in fact a prequel. Within the first several pages, however, any inclination to romanticize England just after the Dark Ages should/will be immediately put aside. The fall of the Roman Empire resulted in a deterioration of Western Europe that was characterized by economic hardship, intellectual darkness, and upheaval throughout the land with many warring factions and some very poor leadership. This novel spans the time period of 997 CE to 1007 CE and describes the many social, cultural, and cognitive improvements made through great sacrifice.

The characters come alive on the pages and reflect the different classes of people that appear in a section of land that comes to be known as Kingsbridge. Some there by choice and others by coercion. At the heart of it is Edgar, the protagonist, who loses his home in Combe when Vikings raid and results in the family having to move to a very backward place called Dreng's Ferry. As always, Follett frames his novel around a builder, and Edgar's transformation of both himself and the town. A second thread in the story revolves around Lady Ragna of Cherbourg, who comes to England after marrying an ealdorman. And the third piece concerns an evil and ambitious bishop who wants power and wealth. The interaction between the three central characters forms the action and narrative. NO SPOILERS.

I thought it would take me a bit longer to read this 982-page saga, but I found it really difficult to put down and devoured it quickly. Keeping all the different characters straight is easier that way, of course, plus the events and conflicts were absorbing. Follett's research provides incredible detail and description and I found it all compelling and fascinating. After finishing it, all I could think about was revisiting POTE again even though I almost never reread a book. If you've not read any of this series, this is definitely where you should start.

I can't come to grips with how awful life must have been during that time period. Life meant nothing and the extreme deprivation and hardship is hard to read about without wincing in distaste and shuddering with disgust. Women had basically zero rights or privileges even if wealthy or noble and law and order were largely absent. It never ceases to amaze me to realize what marvelous achievements were accomplished despite all of that and just how far we all have come.

So, definitely, I highly recommend this to all fans of historical fiction and especially those who have followed this series faithfully.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the 4th book published but is actually a prequel to Pillars of the Earth and subsequent books in the series. It could be read as a standalone but best if you read all 4.

Genre - historical fiction, setting England, after the Dark Ages

The Silence of the White City (#1 Inspector Unai Lopez de Ayala) by Eva Garcia Saenz

"This is where your hunt ends and mine begins."

Although this book has been on my TBR list for some time, I have been burnt out by crime thrillers recently and had skipped past it until I found myself on Goodreads one evening. I was checking out reviews for the titles on my shelf when I came upon one for this novel that mentioned that there was a Netflix film of the same name. Now, I'm a sucker for movie adaptions based on books I've read, and I almost always insist on reading the book first. In this case, however, I went to the television and watched the film -- I really didn't want to tackle a book with about 500 pages if it didn't grab me. And what a sucker punch of a serial killer thriller that was. I started the book that same night and I've been savoring it over the last couple of days.

This is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2020. I'm not sure if it was the setting, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain, or if I was captivated by the complicated story line, but once I opened to the maps at the start and met the characters -- I was hooked. The premise: Inspector Unai Lopez de Ayala (Kraken) and his partner, Inspector Estibaliz Ruiz de Gauna (Esti), of the Criminal Investigation Unit are looking into a series of ritualistic murders that have just begun again after a hiatus of 20 years. The immediate problem for the partners is that the man who was found guilty of those previous kills is still in prison. NO SPOILERS.

There was so much to love and nothing was lost in translation as this takes off and keeps a fast pace that doesn't let up. Included with the beautiful descriptions of the country and culture are myths and legends of the Basque country. The characters were well-developed personalities that were easy to like and relate to as they case alters their lives in many ways. I cannot wait for the second book in this trilogy to be released in English early next year -- THE WATER RITUALS. The complex plot is surpassed only by the skillful way that the author dangles the breadcrumbs of clues as the inspectors chase the truth. I was thoroughly entertained and totally satisfied.

As to whether or not you should read the book first or see the movie, that's up to you, but I'm very happy with my atypical backward approach as having already "visited" the setting and "met" the characters gave me a much deeper appreciation for all the details one can't get from a film.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard) for this e-book ARC to read, review, and highly recommend to all mystery and thriller fans. 

This is the first in a series and could be a standalone but I can't wait for #2 and definitely read in order.

Genre - crime thriller, Spain, serial killer

Plague by Julie Anderson

"Plague. Ciuma. Pest. Plaga. In any language, a word of power and fear."

Alas, I selected this to read because when I skimmed the synopsis, I thought this was actually about a plague in London. The "plague" in this mystery thriller is about proximity to power and control of money markets, government, and media.

Cassandra Fortune, drummed out of her former job as investigator at GCHQ, has a chance at redemption when she's asked to work with the police after several bodies are found that appear to be linked and discovered in unusual places in the subterranean areas surrounding Westminster. While the press has a field day with reports of plague pits and corruption, Cassandra and DI Andrew Rowlands track down a shadowy organization that is connected to the highest levels of government. NO SPOILERS.

This turned out very different to what I was expecting and that has led to me being disappointed in the overall story. I was not anticipating the protagonist to be such a hot mess nor was I ready for the romantic entanglements that would ensue. I did find the descriptions of the underground and subterranean tunnels and river to be quite interesting and there was a lot of that. I understand that this is the first in a planned trilogy featuring this character and I may or may not be reading those. I was not particularly thrilled by the last third of the book or the conclusion. The writing style was interesting though it got annoying when Cassandra's thoughts would be interspersed with her interactions and printed in italics. The reader learns very little about the other characters and it was easy to guess the bad guy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Claret Press for this E-book ARC to read and review.

 

This is the first in a planned trilogy. 

Genre - mystery thriller, corruption, government, UK

Their Silent Graves (DI Gina Harte #7) by Carla Kovach

 "Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour...but sometimes your enemy isn't all they seem."

Teenagers. Bodies buried alive in bespoke coffins. Cryptic notes. Unreliable witnesses. A serial killer on the loose? DI Gina Harte has her hands full as she and her team investigate the murders. They are having a hard time coming up with a motive but hope that they can solve this crime before the press goes crazy and before another body is discovered. NO SPOILERS.

There are two flashbacks that start this 7th in the series. The first is 24 years ago and the second is 12 years ago on a frosty Halloween night so it seems fitting that this murder spree starts right around that time in present day. This was a straight forward police procedural featuring Gina Harte as the lead and I must confess that I was pretty disappointed in the whole story once the reveals had been made. It all seemed pretty weak as a basis for the crimes and resultant criminal charges but I don't know UK law. I'm tired of Gina and her obsession with her past history and I don't think this should be read without having followed the series from the beginning. Why are so many of these female leads in detective series so damaged? I've come this far in the series having read them all to date, but just not sure if I want to continue as I've seen no evidence of personal growth and the rest of the team barely get a mention much less fleshed out to develop individual personalities. Also, how is it possible that many of these leads always end up being some sort of victim themselves? This was not a bad book, but it certainly didn't provide a lot of gripping suspense or twists that I didn't see coming.

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

 

This is the 7th book in a series that should be read in order from the beginning.

Genre - Police procedure, women detectives, murder

The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

 I usually start my review with a quote. I found, however, that nearly ALL of this narrative was worthy to highlight, so I'll just come out with this: you must read this book. It's profound. It's heartbreaking. It poses questions that will make you examine every decision you've ever made. and, strangely enough, this is a story that I loved despite feeling that the main character was superfluous in so many ways.

The synopsis provided by the publisher gives the overall premise (which actually isn't very accurate but NO SPOILERS) and introduces the concept of a woman who has a second chance to evaluate a choice she'd made 15  years ago. A do-over in a way. The story is told in an unusual narrative that mimics Dawn's obsession with her research on THE BOOK OF TWO WAYS, a coffin text found on the floor of the coffin holding a mummified body in the Middle Egyptian necropolis of Deir el Bersha. (Dawn gave up her doctoral candidacy in archaeology at Yale due to a family emergency and retrained to become a death doula.) In short, the "two ways" refers to the two paths that lead to the netherworld and eternal afterlife. One path is water and the other is land, and the chapters in the book are labeled that way.

But, I digress. What captivated me was the information. I was fascinated by all of the archeology details and the history. The descriptions also included line drawings that fully engaged my attention and, though the learning curve was steep, I love when I find a novel that makes me think. In addition, the topic of assisting someone in the dying process was extremely riveting. There was so much in this book to absorb and contemplate, the least of it being Dawn and her search for herself. Sorry, but I did not care for her selfishness and her behavior. This was a very complex novel that dealt with the real life questions about "what might have been" and paralleled the hurdles and tests in that guidebook for the Egyptians navigating the afterlife. Once I had a couple of hours to sit down and read, I could not put this book down until I reached the end.

Bravo to the author for the intense research she did in order to be able to expound on everything from quantum physics to ancient Egypt. If you're looking for mindless entertainment, this is not the book for you. Jodi Picoult was able to translate her passion for all the subjects within to the page with her incredible writing talents. I'm giving this one 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I'm well aware that this review doesn't do this book justice but I can only say that I hope it moves you as it did me. What a great selection for a book club and I am hopeful that a film adaptation is forthcoming as well.

 

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

Genre - Adult fiction, women's fiction, (Ancient Egypt - archeology)

The Coast-to-Coast Murders by James Patterson and J.D. Barker

 "All actions have consequences, good and bad. We're each the architect of our own fate."

Action-packed, high body count thriller is a roller coaster ride from beginning to end. It just never lets up with twists, turns, questions, doubts, and confusion on every page. My mind is still reeling as I try to grasp and fully understand exactly what happened.

I'll not give any spoilers, but the premise involves a serial killer targeting specific people connected to Michael Kepler and Megan Fitzgerald -- the adoptive children of a famed psychiatrist and a psychologist. Raised in luxury by their wealthy power parents, the two were subjected to dubious therapy and several forms of torture. Why the murders are happening and who is doing it forms the complicated plot. A manhunt headed by Special Agent Jessica Gimble and LAPD Detective Garrett Dobbs follows the spree across the country racing against time hoping to save at least one intended victim and apprehend the killer known as "Birdman."

I don't know if this is meant to be the first in a new series by this author duo, but I am sure I'd like to read more featuring Gimble and Dobbs. What a head rush! Enjoy...

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this ebook ARC to read, review, and recommend to fans of grisly psychological suspense.

 

This is a standalone and is not (yet) part of any series.

Genre - Psychological suspense, grisly

The White Coat Diaries by Madi Sinha

 Norah Kapadia has finally graduated from medical school and is starting her intern year in Internal Medicine at Philadelphia General Hospital. In her naivete -- she "just wants to help people" -- Norah is unprepared for the physical, mental, and emotional toll that the year is going to take on her. Even though her father was a respected physician, the head of Pediatrics at UPenn, he died when Norah was ten and she wants to follow in his footsteps. And she fully intends to finish her residency and make her family proud if she can make it though the grueling years to come. So much happens during her intern year and Norah, a sheltered girl from a traditional Indian family, is completely unprepared. Between the demands of her family and the stress of her job, Norah can barely hold it all together. Things look up, at first, when she meets Ethan Cantor, her chief resident, and falls under his spell. As always, however, things are not what they seem to be. Norah needs to make some very serious decisions about who she is and what she wants to do. NO SPOILERS.

This is not nearly as trashy as GREY'S ANATOMY, but it's probably relatable to anyone with a hospital or medical background. The nightmare of internship and residency is real -- the long hours and the stress -- and the very strange bonding that occurs, sort of like a battlefield mentality. The author portrays Norah as being more patient-oriented than most of the other medical personnel in the book, and that's the point it seemed, that Norah was different and better than them. A few digs, some not subtle, at pharma, hospital administration, insurance companies, and legal to name a few. I felt that Norah was a bit one-dimensional in her straight arrow approach and yet I liked her much more in the first part of the book than I did after the "two year" mark. This is not meant to be non-fiction, nor is it a real diary, so I think there's a banal moral in all this, but I really didn't end up liking the ending of this novel at all.

I like books about medical things, no doubt because of my background and career, so I wanted to read it. It was an entertaining and easy read though I honestly don't know if all the detail and description is too much for a person who has no real experience or knowledge of medicine or nursing, etc. I'd describe it as a coming of age story more than anything. Norah grew up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - contemporary women's fiction, medical, coming of age

Murder at the Playhouse (Miss Underhay #3) by Helena Dixon

This third in the cozy mystery series featuring Kitty Underhay is another hit with me. I like these for so many reasons -- and if you agree, this is definitely one you should follow.

I love the time period. I'm addicted to the 1920s and 1930s. The clothes, the customs, the manners, and all things cultured and classy. Despite dealing with murder and mayhem, Kitty is always poised but very modern in her thoughts and actions. Another aspect I enjoy is that it is set in a small English town and that Kitty and her grandmother own and operate a hotel. The characters are fun and the author uses a lot of description and detail to make them come alive so that I can visualize them quite clearly. The only thing I can't quite wrap my head around is this obsession with tea -- I mean, really, it's a constant thing this tea drinking! I'm also certain that people of that time period ate food other than eggs, biscuits and fish -- don't they? Regardless, this is a fun whodunit and might be predictable but that thoroughly entertained me over the course of the couple of hours it took to read.

I feel that one should read the installments in order from the beginning so to get a feel for the relationships that have evolved over the past cases and events that have transpired. We're still following a couple of storylines that have yet to be resolved so I look forward to the next book.

If you're a fan of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries or Gran Hotel or Downton Abbey or any of the other similar television dramas, you'll like this too. As I said, for me it's mainly the time period and the setting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for this E-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This is the third book in a series and they should be read in order.
Genre - amateur sleuth, murder, cozy mystery

Don't Look For Me by Wendy Walker

The Clarke family has been under severe strain for the past 5 years so it's not terribly surprising when Molly doesn't come home after visiting their son, Evan, at college. Molly and John are estranged and can't seem to bridge the gap to repair their marriage. Their daughter, Nicole, has basically kicked off her own future after being expelled from high school and the only words that come out of her mouth lately are mean ones. Although there's a search effort when Molly's car is found abandoned near a gas station, police and others soon decide that she's done a walk away. But has she? NO SPOILERS.

I have mixed emotions regarding this book as it didn't go in the direction I'd anticipated and ended up being something much different than expected. Although I read it in a single sitting today, it wasn't particularly fast-paced and there was a lot of emotion and "thinking" going on. Told from the alternating perspectives of both Molly and her daughter, Nic, there was some repetition and overlap. All told, I enjoyed it well enough but it didn't strike me as a thriller, more a psychological or domestic drama.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this E-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - psychological, domestic drama, grief, loss, guilt

Blood World by Chris Mooney

Fast-paced and fun, this science fiction thriller is set in the near future and features an LAPD cop who goes undercover to expose the illegal business of treatment centers that provide special transfusions and the blood farms where the carriers are kept.

After a lost dog leads Ellie Batista and her partner, Danny, to a mansion in Brentwood that turns into a bloodbath, she is tapped to get on the inside as the Feds and police try to take down the main players in the blood world. Carriers are a very valuable commodity and usually very well protected, but lately many of them have been kidnapped and drained of their special blood -- which acts like a fountain of youth restoring muscle tone and vitality. As Faye Simpson, Ellie gets involved with some of the major characters involved in the lucrative practice. As those in the trade fight among themselves, Ellie/Faye has her own agenda -- to find someone she loved who disappeared a very long time ago. Will she stay alive long enough to get what she wants? NO SPOILERS.

I enjoyed this one though it was definitely full of lots of blood and gore, torture, and grisly detail. The "science" of the carrier blood and its effects was fascinating and quite believable. The characters were multi-dimensional, so much so that I found myself rooting for the bad guy a time or two. It was absorbing and kept me interested throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this E-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - sci-fi thriller

One by One by Ruth Ware

The exclusive French ski resort of St. Antoine is set to receive a corporate party -- a tech company called Snoop. Ten people will arrive for discussions about the future of the company in a lovely setting with amazing views and fabulous skiing. The only problem is that the area has been rocked by heavy snowfall and several recent avalanches. The two chalet hosts, Erin and Danny, are busy getting everything ready for the guests at Chalet Perce-Neige -- the rooms are spotless and the champagne is chilled. Just 3 days later, 4 people are dead, 2 others are hospitalized, and the other survivors are in shock. NO SPOILERS.

What a fun, fast-paced mystery told from two perspectives. Since the cast of characters is limited, it's a guessing game as the numbers fall. Although you'll probably figure out the who fairly quickly, it might take time for suss out the why of it all. It's a quick one, easy to read in a single sitting, and I devoured it over the course of a couple of hours. I liked the writing style and the flow of the narrative and had my favorite characters. The setting, along with the avalanche, gave the story a nice dark atmosphere and added to the increasing tension throughout. Enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - atmospheric mystery thriller

The Wife by Shalini Boland

A woman (Zoe) faints on her wedding day, has amnesia for over 10 years, eventually finds out the secrets being kept from her, and the truth finally comes out.

Mercifully, this was a very quick and short read that I finished in a single sitting over a couple of hours. It was easy to guess where this one was going and I really didn't find it suspenseful or twisty. Unfortunately, I find that I have no tolerance for this type of domestic drama and cared little for the main character so was unable to drum up any empathy for her plight or her angsty behavior.

Looking over the many glowing reviews, I see that I am definitely the odd one out so I'll just leave this here.

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

This is a domestic drama standalone.

The Annihilation Protocol (#2) by Michael Laurence

This follow-up to THE EXTINCTION AGENDA was another action-packed thrill ride that combined a complicated conspiracy, detailed science, and history going back generations in a story that is utterly engrossing. I found it extremely hard to put down and was happy to be able to read it immediately following the first in the series. My immediate reaction after shutting down the kindle after I finished was to lament the fact that the third volume is probably a year away! 

The synopsis provided by the publisher gives a great description of the premise and the author fulfilled all my expectations. I urge you to read the initial book before tackling this one in order to have the full background and understanding about the cabal behind these heinous plans to kill off a large part of the world's population. Money and power are often in the hands of really evil people and the motive of revenge can create the life mission of someone who has been wronged. Pure entertainment even if it hits a high on the "you've gotta be kidding" meter! I enjoyed the interaction between the 3 main characters continued from the first book and can't wait to see what is next for them. Lots of description and detail to satisfy anyone's curiosity and the writing is great. 

  Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I only wish this would be optioned for a Netflix series or a major motion picture! And, Mr. Laurence, please get busy on book #3. 

This is the second in a series featuring these characters and should be read in order. 

Genre - science, history, conspiracy, thriller

The Extinction Agenda (#1) by Michael Lawrence

This action-packed thriller grabbed me from the first few lines and held me completely entranced as it rocketed towards a conclusion that begs the question -- "What gives you the right to determine who lives and who dies?" I could not put this down and so read it from cover to cover in a single sitting. I'm lucky enough to have the second in the series, THE ANNIHILATION PROTOCOL, already queued up on my Kindle and can't wait to dive in!

The plot focuses on the hunt for an evil cadre who are apparently designing some type of biological agent that they can unleash on the undesirable populations around the globe. Ostensibly to create a new world order that they will control and thus save the more educated and productive while killing off those who they perceive are sucking up the natural resources and destroying the planet. Can FBI Special Agent James Mason and his friends save the day? What a wild ride to find out. NO SPOILERS.

I loved the detail and the meticulous descriptions of so many different situations going on within these pages. The way the author expressed the forward narrative kept me fully engaged and the occasional humorous interjections were much appreciated. So the guy is almost Superman, who cares, it might have stretched the believability index, but it was definitely pure entertainment. The themes are certainly timely given everything currently happening in the world with COVID-19 pandemic still wreaking devastation and death. The moral and ethical decisions that are presented every day still confound every person and especially the leaders. I certainly will recommend this book to anyone who wonders about what might be going on behind the scenes or those of us believe that evil will triumph if good people do nothing.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I'm sorry it took me so long to get around to reading it!

This is the first of two books in a series that definitely should be read in order.
Genre - thriller, suspense, medical, conspiracy, global

I Know Your Secret by Ruth Heald

This is a story about vulnerability, power in relationships, and explosive secrets. It's a very quick read that is easily consumed in a single sitting as it alternates between the points of view of Danielle and Beth.

Beth Evans has no idea that Danielle Brown has an agenda when Danielle starts therapy with her. Ostensibly to save a failing marriage, Danielle reveals her innermost thoughts and fears. But what if she is lying? Beth has no idea that Danielle is bent on revenge. NO SPOILERS.

Although a bit predictable once you've gotten into it a bit, the story held my interest and kept me guessing as I followed the twists, turns and revelations. I found the interactions between Beth and Danielle quite interesting as they form a counselor-client bond and sink into dysfunctional, mutual manipulation. I found myself feeling empathy for both women by the end. Enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. An addictive piece of psychological fiction.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic, psychological fiction, secrets and lies, therapy