The Sister-in-law by Sue Watson

"And no matter where I go, I know she'll always be there, my sister for a season, my nemesis, the woman who changed everything."

Now, seriously, this has to be a family that nobody could love. This domestic drama grabs hold and doesn't let up thru the twisty ride to the end. And sure, her new sister-in-law is a nasty piece of work. Ella is about as fake as a woman can get and Clare is going to make certain that everyone else knows it before the end of the Taylor family week vacation on the beautiful Amalfi Coast.

The Taylor clan sets off for an idyllic holiday to celebrate Joy and Bob's retirement from the property company they own and manage. Included on this special occasion are Dan, the eldest son, and his wife, Clare, and their 3 young children. The younger son, Jamie, is also coming along and everyone is happy that he's decided to return home and run the company along with Dan. Then, to everyone's surprise, Jamie turns up with a new wife -- Ella. This beauty has Jamie wrapped around her finger and soon begins a campaign to manipulate the entire family, however, she really hones in on making things miserable for Clare. And the secrets they all have are the perfect opportunity for Ella to do her best work! In a matter of hours, things start to fall apart for the Taylors and it's going to get a whole lot worse. NO SPOILERS.

This was quite the fun read as long as you don't need to like any of the characters. They're all hideous in their own way and any sympathy you manage to dredge up for one or the other won't last long. I figured out early where this was going but it was very entertaining to see how well Sue Watson weaves the web and traps the reader into being unable to put the book down until the conclusion. Although I wasn't quite so pleased with the ending, it did fit. I enjoyed it.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- domestic drama

The Split by Sharon Bolton

"The ends of the Earth. That's how far she ran this time. Not far enough."

Dr. Felicity Lloyd, age 27, is a glaciologist and has spent the last couple of months on the remote island of South Georgia in the Antarctic Circle where she, along with other scientists, works for the British Antarctic Survey studying the formation and movement of glaciers there. A plum assignment doing what she loves, but the most important aspect is that the island is so remote and is unreachable during the long winter months. She's safe there -- or at least she thought so -- until the last ship of the summer is docking and she sees his name on the manifest. He's found her. As soon as she sees Freddie get into the lunch to head for the island's dock, Felicity jumps into an RIB and heads out to hide away elsewhere on the island in Husvik, a dangerous, abandoned settlement that is forbidden to the tourists. Why is Felicity so afraid of Freddie? NO SPOILERS.

And this is where the story really takes off as Part Two begins and it is 9 months earlier in Cambridge, England. Felicity begins therapy with Dr. Joe Grant after she's found severely injured and incoherent with torn clothes and bleeding limbs. And no memory of what happened. Although she's recovered physically, she needs to have a psychiatric assessment before being allowed to return to work for the BAS and be considered fit for a job she knows is the chance of a lifetime. But there is a lot going on in Felicity's life and Joe senses that work with her isn't going to be as easy as she hopes. Felicity is keeping a lot of secrets and Joe becomes very concerned about her safety as events spiral out of control.  No more details on the plot.

This was fascinating and absorbing on so many levels. The first thing I did was pull up a detailed map of South Georgia noting the locations of the settlements. The setting was incredible and so well-described that I could almost visualize myself there as the satellite images depict the abandoned whaling stations. Bolton's writing is excellent and the narrative flips between several different characters identified by their first names as the story progresses. We learn more about Felicity in starts and stops with me guessing and wondering all the while. It's really quite masterful how it all unfolds with some great twists and turns along the way. I could not put this down so read it all this evening in a single sitting. The characters are unique and memorable, some I liked a lot more than others! This is definitely a thriller that I won't soon forget and I think all of us who read extensively in this genre appreciate the uniqueness of a novel that doesn't quite go in the expected direction. Enjoy! I certainly did.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - thriller, psychological

Final Judgment (Samantha Brinkman #4) by Marcia Clark

"Maybe not truth. But justice for sure."

This is the 4th in this legal thriller series featuring lawyer and vigilante Samantha Brinkman. I've read the previous books and find them fast-paced and the stories typically have complex plots with a lot going on -- mostly outside of a courtroom.

Samantha is a defense attorney and definitely bends the rules and the law most of the time. Unfortunately, Samantha is a total hypocrite and operates with a strange double-standard as the reader sees when her boyfriend, Niko Ferrell, looks to be guilty of murder. Now, keep in mind that Sam doesn't mind so much that he killed someone, what makes her angry is that he didn't tell her -- a lot, actually, and she can't stand that. The aggravation and irritation I felt with her is due to the fact that she has not shared her own past and truth with him. Hmmm.

For the most part, the characters are quite unbelievable and stereotypical. The bestie, Michy, is Samantha's Gal Friday and of course there is Alex, the expert hacker and investigator who operates without boundaries of any kind. So much illegal stuff going on here that it stretches credulity to the max. The trio spends a lot of time together and there is a great deal of detail and description about what they eat, wear, etc., and lots of banter. Samantha's endless angst over her personal relationship with Niko got old fast. I found it difficult to imagine how Samantha, as an attorney, spent more time investigating the cases and chasing leads than the police did. Her relationship and interaction with her father, Dale, a cop, is also quite weird. Samantha is definitely operating outside of moral and ethical codes in her quest to save Niko from himself and his conscience as well as to take care of someone who did her great harm in the past. If you like vigilantism, you will like Samantha and this series. Anyway, despite my reaction to her dubious behavior and the need to suspend disbelief at her antics, I do like the series and will most likely be reading the next installment. The author is well-known and is herself a practicing criminal lawyer in LA. She served as prosecutor for the OJ Simpson trial and is a legal correspondent and talk show commentator. So she knows the law and definitely uses that expertise when writing these legal novels.

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

This is the 4th in a series that is best read, from the beginning, in order.
Genre -- Legal thriller

Can You See Her by S.E. Lynes

"That's all any of us want, isn't it? To be seen, to be listened to with compassion and attention while we unload our troubled hearts."

Rachel Edwards feels invisible. Going through menopause is indeed rough, but this is something else. As she tells her story to the forensic psychiatrist, Rachel hopes to achieve some clarity about events over the past year. Lately, Rachel has come to believe that she has committed murder and she contacts the police and turns herself in. NO SPOILERS.

This psychological drama was quite unusual. The narrative alternates between Rachel's point of view and transcriptions of excerpts of police interviews with the main characters. The police speak with Rachel's husband, her daughter, her best friend, and her neighbor. All could see that Rachel was struggling -- but so were they. The themes of mental illness, grief, stress, and strong emotions are examined. Menopausal psychosis is not a familiar subject so I had to go do some reading about psychiatric conditions that occur because of, or during, menopause. Definitely the social and life changes such as having an "empty nest" and a flagging marriage can exacerbate pre-existing depressive symptoms. Rachel's negative self-image with regard to her aging appearance likely also had an effect on her thoughts and behavior. Although not fast-paced or thrilling, it was an absorbing story and it really was rather sad after all.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- psychological drama

Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier

 "Four minutes. That's all it took to steal a child. A lollipop, a Santa suit, and two hundred forty seconds...A missing child is an open, infected wound."

Marin Machado and her husband, Derek, struggled to get pregnant but are totally overjoyed now raising their 4-year-old son, Sebastian. Their wealth and community position don't help them when Sebastian is kidnapped from a very busy Pike Place Market on a Saturday afternoon in December. Marin was texting her husband when Sebastian let go of her hand. The FBI worked the case diligently but the leads went nowhere and the case is now gone cold 16 months later. Marin is in a very bad place emotionally and her relationship with Derek is on the rocks. Then, she learns that he is having an affair. Marin refuses to lose her husband along with her child and decides that she is going to do something about it. NO SPOILERS.

This was a very fast-paced and absorbing psychological thriller that I found impossible to put down so read it in a single sitting today. It is quite heart-wrenching watching Marin struggle and try to keep herself together. The toll that the kidnapping took on her and Derek's marriage was considerable as is common in these situations, and the ways in which both dealt with the trauma and ongoing anguish was difficult to read at times. Although the focus of the narrative is from Marin's viewpoint, there is also insight into what the other characters were thinking and feeling as well. A totally well-crafted story that has a fitting conclusion and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- psychological thriller, family drama

Find Her Alive (Det Josie Quinn #8) by Lisa Regan

Mystery and police procedural, the 8th in a series that I've read from the beginning. Featuring Detective Josie Quinn of the Denton Police Department, this crime thriller has the team on the hunt for the "Bone Artist" -- the serial killer who has apparently kidnapped Josie's twin sister, Trinity Payne. He's playing a game and wants Josie to engage. Can Josie and all of the other regulars, including newcomer, Special Agent Drake Nally of the NY FIB field office, find Trinity before she becomes another piece of art in the Bone Artist's display? NO SPOILERS.

Returning to the familiar in a long running series is always pleasant. This one, however, required a lot more suspension of disbelief than usual as the elements of the investigation created a sense of skepticism in me. So many times this pair of sisters have been in peril -- obviously they are nut magnets -- but all the coincidences were a bit too much. I still enjoyed it and will continue with the series though hopefully the focus will go back to investigations involving criminals and victims who are not known to Josie or Trinity. Readers are still learning more about Josie's convoluted personal life and her evolving romance with boyfriend and colleague, Noah Fraley. I also would enjoy discovering more of the personal sides of the rest of the team members as well. Look forward to seeing what new crime will show up in central Pennsylvania in the next book.

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

This is #8 in a series that should be read in order from the beginning.
Genre -- female detective, police procedural, mystery, crime thriller

The Invitation (DS Stephanie King #2) by Rachel Abbott

More of a mystery than a thriller, this is the second in a series featuring DS Stephanie King and her boyfriend, DI Angus Brodie. Though they normally do not work cases together, the circumstances of this unusual situation take them to Polskirrin, Cornwall.

Wealthy Lucas Jarrett is set to marry Nina Belanger on the grounds of his massive estate and they've invited all of Lucas's best friends from his teenage years. The guests arrive at Polskirrin, a lovely manor house near the crashing waves of the nearby ocean. Matt and Jemma Hudson are themselves newly married -- he's a plastic surgeon now. Other attendees/friends include Andrew Marshall and his fiancée, Chandra Tran, and twins Nick and Isabel Wallace. Over dinner and drinks, they all relax and are looking forward to the festivities. The only "off" note is the occasional appearance of Lucas's half-sister, Alex. When she was 14, something dreadful had happened to Alex, and she's never quite been the same but she lives in an apartment above the boathouse on the property. The friends reconnect and are looking forward to the wedding -- alas, it's completely ruined for all when the body of Alex is discovered on the beach of the cove on the morning of the ceremony and everything is canceled. Flash forward one year. All of the friends have received another invitation to return to Polskirrin to play The Murder Game even though Alex's death was ruled a suicide. In a bizarre set up, Lucas tries to figure out which of his special guests killed his sister. NO SPOILERS.

As you'd expect, this is rather convoluted with various narrators and a lot of twists and turns leading to what might be a surprising conclusion. You will need a serious ability to suspend disbelief as events unfold. I think my main issue was that I really didn't like any of the characters. Their relationships with each other were also quite odd and way too many secrets and lies. Quite a nasty bunch of folks. This was the first book I've read by this author and not sure if I liked this well enough to continue on with the next installment in the series. Can you solve the mystery before the big reveals?

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

This is the second book in the series and it works fine as a standalone. I've only read this one.
Genre -- Mystery not crime thriller per se or police procedural

The End of October by Lawrence Wright

PSA -- I rarely give 5 stars to a fiction book but this one completely blew me away! To say that it is prescient and timely is an understatement. If you have a desire to really understand what is going on in the world right now, this is a novel that you cannot afford to miss!  It is shocking and absorbing with so much information that I can't even relay it in a review. I was overcome with so many emotions as I read this and I think it is one that every sentinent being on the planet cannot afford to miss this year.

It stars with a few cases in an Indonesian camp set aside for Muslims with HIV. Termed the Kongoli virus, this is a killer unlike anything seen since the pandemic Spanish Flu of 1918. As it infects the entire world, there are only a few who understand what has happened and its ramifications. Doctor and epidemiologist, Henry Parsons, is one of those few. His history is unusual, he's gone around the globe fighting epidemics of horrific porportion. "Science knows no borders, nor does disease -- especially a disease that can literally fly across international boundaries."  This novel explores the nature of a virus unlike any that has occurred in recent human history and its aftermath is beyond chilling. "Disease was more powerful than armies. Disease was more arbitrary than terrorists. Disease was crueler than human imagination."  The entire world is under attack and there is no treatment for the scourge affecting the world population. There are no spoilers here but I urge you to read this chilling story of a world in ruins.

The writing and research involved in this novel are of epic proportions. The science, the human component, the political fallout are all so vividly described. If you only read one book this year, I urge you to pick up this one. I know it's going to be tough as you sit in self-quarantine lock-down with little information on our own situation with COVID-19, but the message within is extremely powerful and must be communicated. Don't be complacent. "But nature is not a stable force. It evolves, it changes, and it never comes complacent." Our way of life, our civilization, our future depends on us getting a handle on these organisms and saving humanity. This is real. And I realize this is a work of fiction, but it is so eerily close to what is happening now that it totally petrified me. Maybe you don't have the stomach or nerve to read this now while you are sitting at home in isolation and worrying about your family and your job, but I'm telling you that our lives are now entering into the phase of nightmare and this book puts it all out there.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alfred A. Knopf Publishers for this e-book ARC to read, review, and highly recommend. DO NOT MISS IT.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3L5AZZ5DGOWDS/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- medical thriller, political, so timely

The Last High by Daniel Kalla

A new illegal opioid drug hits the streets of Vancouver leaving many dead as they experience the last high they will ever know. Composed of the ingredient carfentanil, the drug is ten thousand times as strong as heroin and kills users almost instantly.

Julie Rees, an ER physician and toxicologist at St. Michael's, is working when ambulances bring 6 teenagers into her department -- all but 2 are dead. When other users from all walks of society start falling victim to this deadly drug, Julie teams up with Detective Anson Chen of the VPD to track the source, the suppliers, and trace new overdoses. NO SPOILERS.

This was an excellent read and I really enjoyed it. The scourge of opioids in our society is well-documented and has proven very hard to control. The narrative is action-packed and quite interesting -- it's obvious that the author did a tremendous amount of research along with pulling from his own personal experiences as an ER physician. The dynamics of the gangs and cooks, the "plugs" and those that seek the high are quite well described. I loved the characters and found them sympathetic and believable for the most part. It's a very timely and scary read. Daniel Kalla writes, "I want you to enjoy the story, I hope it will also make you a little more aware of a terribly indiscriminate and potentially stoppable killer that is raving our communities."

I'm a sucker for any medical thriller; I have read other books by this author and can recommend them to any who enjoy this genre. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, Inc. for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- Medical thriller -- drug abuse, opioid crisis

Buried Deep (DS Megan Thomas #1) by Susan Wilkins

This first in a new crime thriller series features DS Megan Thomas. She's recently returned to Devon after doing undercover work for the Met and is living with her sister and family while she gets back into the swing of police work. Her first case on the new job on the Major Crime Team for South Devon involves the discovery of a dead body in the septic tank on the estate of an actress turned children's book author, Georgia O'Brien. As Megan leans into the tank to look at the victim, she experiences a PTSD reaction brought on by a horrible experience she had in her previous work. Although she's seeing a therapist, she has issues dealing with her past trauma and is also finding it a bit hard to integrate back into the detective role. Her boss, DCI Laura Slater, seems to have a few qualms about Megan's performance but the rest of the team seems pretty solid. As Megan jumps in to the investigation of the apparent homicide, a young, local girl is coerced by her grandmother into reporting a rape. Kerry Waycott is 14-years-old and is vague with details and refuses to identify the man who did this. Megan has her work cut out for her and things are about to get a lot more difficult. NO SPOILERS.

This was a great introduction to a new character and series. I found it easy to relate to Megan and look forward to seeing her progress in her new job and life. Also eager to learn more about the rest of the CID team. The narrative flowed smoothly and the cases were complicated and interesting. Although I was able to guess how it was all going to come together (probably because I read way too many books in the genre), I still enjoyed the way the author put all the pieces together for a satisfying conclusion. I look forward to reading the next installments of this series.

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

This is the first in a new series that I plan to read in order. Original title was Damage Done
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural, detectives

Flight Risk by Cara Putman

A mystery that focuses on the importance of truth in reporting, not rushing to judgement, and taking risks.

The main character, Savannah Daniels, is an attorney who is helping a company navigate through arbitration and a lawsuit with their new technology. She has a complicated "family" situation as her ex-husband, Dustin Tate, fathered a daughter with Savannah's sister. Savannah's niece is Addy, and is not well looked after by her mother, Stasi. A reporter is hot on a story involving Dustin Tate and some friends of his who often travel to Thailand and are suspected of trafficking young girls. In a twist, as the expose is released after much fact-checking by the reporter, Jett Glover, three of the people involved in the Thailand escapades end up dead. NO SPOILERS.

This was OK but bogged down with way too much romance and has a very Christian tone. Those two features sort of overpowered the actual plot and story line which I thought was going to be more a legal thriller or a suspenseful mystery. It was a quick, easy read.

2.5 stars raised because I hope this is a standalone and not part of any series. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.
Genre -- Christian fiction, romance, mystery

A Very English Murder (Lady Eleanor Swift #1) by Verity Bright

3.5 stars rounded up.

I'm a total sucker for books set in the 1920s and I quickly fell for Lady Eleanor Swift and the rest of the quirky cast of characters living at Henley Hall. I most thoroughly enjoyed this cozy murder mystery set in Chipstone.

On the night of her arrival at the Hall she hadn't visited since age 13, Ellie is walking near the estate when she witnesses what appears to be the shooting death of a man inside a workman's hut. Concerned that it was murder, she contacts the local constabulary but is met with resistance when they investigate and no body and no evidence of any homicie can be found. A very independent adventuress, Lady Eleanor won't be dismissed and decides to begin her own inquiries with the help of her deceased uncle's butler, Clifford. Is she just a nosy newcomer or is there something nefarious going on in the little town. NO SPOILERS.

The further I read, the more I enjoyed this first installment in a new series featuring this strong female protagonist. I liked the interaction and banter between the characters and the mystery was complicated enough to present all sorts of possible outcomes. I liked the relationships between those who lived at the Hall and very much look forward to the next book in the series. The only drawback, to me (and I realize I'm going to be the exception here) is Eleanor's dog, Gladstone. I'm sure many dog lovers will disagree, but there was way too much focus on him at times and her conversations to him annoyed me. OK, that said, I am eager to see what Eleanor does next as she gets more comfortable in her new home. This was easily a one sitting read.

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

This is the first in a new series that I intend to read in order.
Genre - cozy mystery set in 1920s England

The New Husband by D.J. Palmer

Nina has a new man in her life -- is he her savior or does he intend her harm? Nina's husband, Glen, was fishing and disappeared over 2 years ago and she's found out that he had deceived her. She's moved on now with Simon and they've moved in together. Nina's two children, 16-year-old Connor and 13-year-old Maggie Garrity have mixed feelings about Simon and Maggie is especially distrustful and suspicious. There's a dog. Lots of angst and high level of predictable bad behavior. NO SPOILERS.

I was quite disappointed that this psychological drama did not meet my expectations nor did it fulfill the premise that made me select it to read in the first place. I'm not sure how this title fits with the book either. The book has several narrators and I really disliked the parts that were from Maggie's point of view. I wasn't expecting this to be so much from a teenager's perspective and I didn't like her character at all, nor that of Nina. I see that other reviewers have a different reaction and so I'll just leave it here -- not for me.

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 - domestic drama

The Secret Admirer (Detective Natalie Ward #6) by Carol Wyer

This 6th installment in the Detective Natalie Ward series picks up several months after the traumatizing events in the previous book. Natalie is getting herself back together, has moved to a flat closer to Samford HQ, and decides that it's time for her to return to work. Almost immediately, she gets a call from Superintendent Dan Tasker -- there was an acid attack on a young woman who was heading for the library at Samford University. The victim is 19-year-old Gemma Barnes. There are no witnesses. Natalie and her team jump into the investigation, interviewing Gemma's housemates and everyone who knew her. Frustrated at the lack of forward movement, Natalie is stunned when yet another young coed is found dead. The only clue is a typewritten note found in Gemma's diary signed, "An Admirer."  Are these cases connected? NO SPOILERS.

Fast-paced and easy to read in a single sitting. I'm familiar with all the characters and, watching all that they are constantly going through, it's a wonder any of them can have a personal life, be good parents, or have a relationship. They all pretty much work 24-7. Lots of changes for Natalie and she's still dealing with David and reeling from the tragedy. Although I haven't yet really warmed to Natalie as a person, I still like the stories and can attest that she is very single minded in her pursuit of justice. No comment on her budding romance and all the baggage there. Looking forward to the next book with yet even more adaptation required.

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

This is the 6th in a series. I suggest reading them in order.
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural

After the Accident by Kerry Wilkinson

Is it a true crime tale, or is it an examination of family, jealousy and grief? Maybe it's all of those things? Or maybe, it is a simple tale of someone who pushed their father off a cliff and got away with it."

Originally titled "Seven Days in July", this book certainly opens itself up to intense scrutiny and unlimited speculation. It's the story of a group of people who tell their version of events, interview style, explaining what happened when they all went on holiday to the island of Galanikos in the Mediterranean. Based on a real incident, all the names have been changed but the basic fact is that Geoffrey McGinley, a British businessman, was standing on a cliff after dinner on the first evening there and later he was found unconscious and broken on the beach below. Did he fall or was he pushed? Geoffrey was at the resort with his wife, Beth, their grown children Julius and Emma, his business partner, Daniel Dorsey, along with his wife Liz and their son, Victor and Vic's wife. In addition Julius's 8-year-old twins, Chloe and Amy, were along on this trip. The getaway was planned by the elder McGinleys as Beth had been diagnosed with a medical condition and wasn't doing well. They had been to the island many times, but hadn't gone for the previous 9 years. So, a family trip with a party of 10 descended on the resort. The problems started the very first night. NO SPOILERS.

This book is so different to what Kerry Wilkinson usually writes and I had no clue of what to expect. I definitely enjoyed it, especially the style created by recordings made of interviews with all of the subjects. The entire collection of photographs, film and recordings was supposed to be a movie based on the case but the author used the material to create this novel presenting everything in written form and then leaving the reader to make up her own mind about what happened and who to believe. I can honestly say that there wasn't a character in this whole story that I actually liked. I questioned everything -- perhaps if I'd heard it all relayed in their own voices, watched their body language, analyzed their verbal tics, I might be able to put my reactions and thoughts into better perspective. I might be able to say which person I really believed. There should definitely be a film of this, a miniseries for sure. This type of docudrama is quite popular nowadays. So, in the end, "It's not only a question of who did what, but whether anything was done at all."

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic drama, "true" crime, docudrama