He Started It by Samantha Downing

"Because I could. Because no one stopped me. Because it was easy. All the same answer, and it really means 'because I wanted to.'"

This is a story about family. Siblings. A long road trip with a promised huge inheritance at the end of the trek. They love each other, right -- but feelings can be like a seesaw because they each have their own agendas and they don't all have the same end goal.

The Morgan siblings Eddie, Beth and Portia are about to recreate a trip they made with their grandfather 20 years ago. Eddie's wife, Krista, and Beth's husband, Felix, have also come along for the ride. Their grandfather's will is specific: "Go on the road trip. Scatter my ashes at the end. Once I'm in my final resting place, my estate will be equally divided between you." They all knew exactly where they had to go but there were a couple of stipulations -- "anyone who ends up in jail, who does not complete the trip, or who deviates from the original trip in any way, will get nothing." After a bit of research, they piled into the rental car and headed off. But this was never going to be a simple,  fun family road trip and each one is in for some shock and surprise. NO SPOILERS.

What a fast, fun read that I finished in one sitting as it was very hard to put down. Lots of twists and turns and a cast of characters that you will love to hate. The writing was great and I just had to find out what happened. This family kept some huge secrets and were very adept at lying and scheming. Just when you think you have it all figured out, this clever tale will make you extremely glad that your own family isn't like this one! Enjoy.

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

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

Genre - domestic drama, thriller, family, revenge

The Next Widow (Jericho and Wright #1) by C.J. Lyons

This first in a new series introduces Detective Sergeant Luka Jericho of the Cambria City Police Department and Dr. Leah Wright, a physician who works at Good Samaritan Medical Center in the Emergency Department. One night, while she was on duty, Leah's husband, Ian, is murdered at their home leaving behind their very frightened 6-year-old daughter, Emily, who had survived the massacre by hiding under her bed. With plenty of red herrings and only a tenuous guess at a motive for this terribly personal attack, the police start an investigation but are still looking very closely at Leah even as she only wants to protect her traumatized daughter. NO SPOILERS.

This was typical crime thriller genre fare that basically sets the stage for future installments. There are hints of backstory to the main characters, Luka and Leah, and though the author tries, I really didn't develop any attachment to either of them at this point. I am not a fan of a lot of angst and tell in a novel, and there's a lot of repetition of thoughts and feelings. I surely hope there will NOT be a romance here between the pair. I was able to guess immediately what was going on so it seemed like a long wait for the action in the story to catch up. I'm not convinced that I will continue on with this series as there was really nothing fresh and new within. It was a quick read.

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

This is the first in a new series.

Genre - crime thriller, revenge, murder

The Wife Who Knew Too Much by Michele Campbell

A little sordid tale of infidelity, money, and murder.

It's been 13 years since Tabitha Girard had met the gorgeous Connor Ford at the country club where she worked as a pool girl and he was one of the rich kids who happened to be there visiting his grandmother for the summer. A romance grew until it was discovered and forbidden. She'd never forgotten him and now, suddenly, there he was -- sitting at a table on the terrace at the second-rate sports bar where she now waited tables. It was meant to be, them coming back together and all those feelings reignited. One problem, however -- Connor happens to be married to Nina Levitt, a woman who is 20 years older than him but incredibly wealthy. But, they can't help themselves. He's going to get a divorce, he says, and seems to be taking a really long time about it. But then Nina ends up dead and finally Tabitha's fairy tale dream is about to come true. Unfortunately, everything is not quite as wonderful as expected and suddenly Tabitha is under suspicion. NO SPOILERS.

2 stars = it was OK but honestly, this is the kind of story that I really try to avoid and somehow end up reading due to being duped by the synopsis or by other reviews. I need to stop requesting domestic dramas masquerading as suspense thrillers with unlikable characters and thoroughly predictable outcomes. I anticipated the twists from the start and can I say, again, that I really detested all of the characters in this book, especially Tabitha. I mean, honestly, how did anyone believe that this was all going to turn out OK given their decisions, behavior, and the situation. The ending left me scoffing and shaking my head. I was totally disappointed because I had liked this author's previous book. I see that this fit the bill for others and I just have to be more careful in the future.

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

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

Genre:  Domestic drama

The Suicide House (Rory Moore/Lane Phillips #2) by Charlie Donlea

"Veniam solum, relinquatis et (Arrive alone, leave together)."

Rory Moore, a forensic reconstructionist, and her partner/lover Dr. Lane Phillips, a forensic psychologist and criminal profiler, get involved in an investigation into a series of bizarre murders and apparent suicides at Westmont Preparatory High School in Peppermill, Indiana. This exclusive boarding school was the site of a summer secret society game gone wrong last year on the solstice. Although the police felt that they'd closed the case when their main suspect committed suicide, there are still many unanswered questions about that night. Why did 3 other surviving students return later to kill themselves at the abandoned boarding house that featured in the game -- The Man in the Mirror? As they study the cold case and review the files, interview the witnesses, and visit the site of the carnage, they realize that the mystery is theirs to solve. NO SPOILERS.

Wow, this was a fun and fast read that I found nearly impossible to put down. I typically avoid stories that feature teenagers, secret societies, and boarding schools, but I'm glad I made an exception -- but did so only because I've read and enjoyed every book by this author so I knew he would not disappoint me. I like all the characters and their idiosyncrasies; definitely Rory is unique as a protagonist since she uses her afflictions or "differences" to enhance her cold case investigations. I wasn't bothered by meeting the many different characters or the sidebars about Rory's obsession with antique doll restoration. I found the changes in POV and the time jumps appropriate to enhance the narrative. I confess, however, that I had figured it all out way before the reveals, but that just made it more interesting to see how the characters ran it down. I am looking forward to Donlea's next book.

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

Although this is labeled as book #2 and I did read the first one, it can be read easily as a standalone.

Genre - Suspense thriller

The Deadly Houses (DS Maddie Ives #6) by Charlie Gallagher

Abusive men do not like it when they are kept from the families they think they own and control. Some of them are so angry about it, they decide to take matters into their own hands.

Detective Sergeant Maddie Ives and her former partner, Harry Blaker, of Canterbury Major Crimes, have their hands full with a suspect who claims to have murdered a social worker found suffocated in an isolated warehouse. They don't believe his confession and soon find an even larger problem -- it seems that a protection program devised by the police and CPS has been breached. Families that have been hidden away from brutal partners may have been exposed by people who've been kidnapped and blackmailed into revealing their locations. Can they unravel this heinous plan and save those they've vowed to protect? NO SPOILERS.

Although this is the 6th in a series, I've only read one previous book -- the first -- but I didn't feel that I'd missed much coming in at this point. The plot of this reminded me a bit of THE CHAIN by Adrian McKinty. It was fast-paced and full of action with the characters being similar to all of those in the detective/police procedural genre. The author is a police detective so has first hand experience with the methods and tactics in how Maddie and Harry approach this investigation. I enjoyed it and may be looking for the next installment.

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

This is the 6th book in a series that I've not read all of previously. Works as a standalone.

Genre - police procedural, crime thriller, UK

Her Shallow Grave (Detectives Kane and Alton #9) by D.K. Hood

I've been through a lot with Deputy Dave Kane and Sheriff Jenna Alton. This is the 9th in a long-running crime thriller series.

Black Rock Falls in the winter is a particularly cruel, cold place and this season the pair has their hands full as they track a serial killer who likes to display his frozen victims in a sort of tableau. The villain, known as either The Sculptor or The Preacher, is a nasty psycho as evidenced by the way he dismembers the female bodies with a chainsaw. There's clues that indicate that he has been a very busy man across several states and that he may even keep the unfortunate souls for extremely long periods of time. Along with the other long-time members of their team, and with the help of FBI consultants, Kane and Alton have their work cut out for them. And, as always, Jenna is in peril and Kane usually saves the day. NO SPOILERS.

Typical of the genre, the story arc hits all the right notes with plenty of grisly detail. After awhile, I suppose it's difficult to come up with new, heinous killers and different methods. I guess I'm surprised at how many psychopaths a small town like Black Rock Falls can possibly hold or host. Effort is made to create an atmosphere with the snow and low temps. I must say that I'm getting tired of the sexual tension (low level as it is) and the lack of consummation of the romance. Always surprised by the fact that Jenna's the boss though she can't do anything but put herself in danger and need rescuing from Kane in every book. Onward. The thrill is starting to fade a bit so the series needs a bit of a recharge if it is meant to continue.

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

This is the 9th book in a series that should be read in order from the beginning.
Genre - crime thriller, police procedural, Black Rock Falls USA

A Murderous Relation (Veronica Speedwell #5) by Deanna Raybourn

It's always a pleasure to return to beloved characters in a great historical fiction series that I've enjoyed from the very beginning. If you're interested in the daring adventures of this unique duo, don't skip any of the titles and dive right in at the start.

The pair, Veronica Speedwell (a lepidopterist of some renown) and her romantic interest and partner, Revelstoke (Stoker) Templeton-Vane (a man of many skills) are lured to London by Lady Wellingtonia Beauclerk who wants them to meddle in a situation fraught with scandal -- it seems that the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, Prince Albert Victor (Eddy) has got himself into a bit of trouble as he apparently just purchased a very expensive diamond star from the most fashionable jewelers in London. Since Eddy intends to marry his cousin, a princess, he can't be giving such a trinket to a woman who is mistress and owner of Club de l'Etoile, a luxurious house where privacy and discretion allow the very rich to engage in all sorts of debauchery. Veronica and Stoker are meant to get back the star and save the reputation of Prince Albert Victor. Things don't exactly go according to plan when Veronica and Stoker find themselves in the middle of anarchy and a plot that involves her murderous relative. Meanwhile, it's October, 1888, in London during the reign of terror caused by Jack the Ripper and Scotland Yard is under great pressure to find this killer. NO SPOILERS.

What a crazy action-packed bit of detective work and danger in this one. More information about Veronica's secret parentage comes to light and they don't know whom to trust. The romance that has been simmering finally bursts into full flame between Veronica and Stoker but before they can consummate, they must save the future King of England from his own stupidity without getting themselves killed. I like the characters even though they are just a little bit too attractive and a big bit too clever. I love the description and detail that the author provides to recreate the world that was London at that time in history. Of course I can't wait to see what's next for them and look forward to reading book #6.

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

This is the 5th book in a series that should be read from the beginning.
Genre - historical fiction, London 1888

The Vacation by T.M. Logan

Four female best friends from university decide to take a family vacation to a lovely villa in France to celebrate their 40th birthdays. The 12 of them should have a lovely time in a beautiful place. This was a mistake.

Primarily a domestic drama rather than any sort of suspense or psychological thriller, this book was marred by uneven pacing, unlikable characters, mostly hideous children, and a cliche plot of secrets and lies. The ending, when it finally arrived with a head-banging climax, was almost ludicrous. I found myself increasingly frustrated as critical conversations and confrontations were avoided with missed opportunities and interruptions.

Although not a book I particularly enjoyed, I'm sure there are many out there who like the author and who devour this sort of family dysfunction and the slow reveal of what is actually going on with lots of teasers and red herrings. I prefer a different sort of narrative that is more straight forward and less annoying. I've read both LIES and also 29 SECONDS and I will probably give this writer another go depending on the synopsis of the next work.

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, secrets and lies

Cut to the Bone (Agent Sayer Altair #3) by Ellison Cooper

"Life and death. Sorrow and joy. Loneliness and love. Those are the endless cycles..."

While SSA Sayer Altair, a neuroscientist, is working on her research into the brains of psychopaths and rebuilding her life, she's called back to field duty for the FBI when a bus carrying 24 high school students, the driver, and a chaperone, disappears on the way to a STEM competition. In addition, police have discovered what looks like the ritual murder of a young girl at the foot of the Einstein statue by the National Academy of Sciences. This looks like the work of a serial killer but seems to have some very unusual elements including a connection to the Egyptian underworld and a specific ancient monograph, the "Amduat." Nonstop action, a compelling plot and fascinating characters bring this third book in the series to another heart-stopping conclusion that has me already crying for the next installment. NO SPOILERS.

I am crazy about this series. Just when you think you know where it's going -- FULL STOP shock. There are so many twists and turns along the way that it will make your head spin. I find these impossible to put down, evidenced by me reading the first three books in a matter of as many days. It certainly doesn't help that this one also ends in a cliffhanger! Now, I have to wait a long time before book #4 in what I hope will be a long-running series. I like so many things about the setting, the relationships between the characters, and the intricate narrative. The details the author gives about ancient civilizations are appropriate to the story and quite interesting. Definitely for any fan of the crime thriller. More, please. Now.

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

This is the third in a series that definitely needs to be read in order. Not a standalone.
Genre - crime thriller, FBI

Buried (Sayer Altair #2) by Ellison Cooper

This second in the series featuring SSA Sayer Altair continues with nonstop action, incredible description, and fascinating characters.

After 6 months of desk duty while recovering from a gunshot wound, Agent Altair is called to a situation in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park.. An FBI agent and his cadaver dog discovered a sinkhole filled with old human bones and 2 fresh bodies. What does this have to do with an historical missing person report and a kidnapping in the area? Without a task force, Sayer has to recruit locally but she is lucky enough to obtain the services of the recent amputee, Ezra, her old tech genius from Quantico. As they probe the connections between the cold cases, some alarming details come to light and they all need to stay ahead of the killer who seems to be everywhere and who means them harm.

I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish this after starting late in the evening because I simply could not put it down or go to bed until I turned the very last page. The writing kept me fully engaged and I devoured the Greek lore and mythology. This is definitely a set of books that you want to read from the beginning, in order, and all at once if you can. I loved the setting and the way the author created a word picture of the many caves and mine shafts in the area. There's so much going on and the investigation is very complicated but so very interesting. I can't wait to start number 3 next!

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

This is the second in the series and I think they should be read in order.
Genre - serial killer thriller

Caged (Sayer Altair #1) by Ellison Cooper

'The real monsters are just human beings cut loose from the thin moral bonds that hold us."

It's always so exciting to start a new series, and even more thrilling when the book grabs and doesn't let go! This first installment featuring FBI Special Agent Sayer Altair is nonstop action as she and her team in the Critical Incident Response Group race to find and apprehend the most cunning and devious serial killer they've faced.

Sayer is a neuroscientist working on research involving the evaluation of brain scans of known killers. She's called away from the project to head up an investigation when the long-missing daughter of a senator is found dead locked inside a cage in a booby-trapped underground bunker. In that subterranean room, along with the body, they find traces of hallucinogenic smoke (DMT) and a video of the girl's death featuring projection of strange Mayan glyphs on the wall. As the scene is processed, the agents also discover that there is another missing girl who may still be alive! An arrest is quickly made based on evidence found, but Sayer isn't convinced they have the right person. The hunt for the other missing girl continues and this case takes a lot of twists and turns with surprises along the way. NO SPOILERS.

I loved the protagonist -- Sayer Altair is a unique character and I can't wait to find out more about her personal life as well as her professional side with the FBI. I enjoyed learning about the Mayan, Egyptian, and Greek symbolism and mythology and how it related to the killer's objective. In all, the entire story was fascinating and the plot very well executed. I liked the writing style and can't wait to read more -- a good thing I have it ready to go, since the ending left something important hanging.

Thank you to Minotaur Books courtesy of Edelweiss for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the first in a new series and I plan to read them in order.
Genre - serial killer thriller, FBI agents

Blue Ticket by Sophie Mackintosh

If, for some reason during these terrible days -- of quarantine/social isolation, COVID-19, an economy in free-fall, violent protests, political unrest, murder and mayhem -- you want to read a novel that is seriously disturbing, depressing and hopeless, this is the book for you.

Set in a vague dystopian future in some unnamed country, here is another tale that involves the subjugation of women centered around control of their reproductive systems. At menarche, the young teens are taken to a center where they are required to take a ticket that will inform the rest of their lives. Blue = career and freedom while White = love, home, children/family. Calla, age 14, "felt no great fidelity to the concept of free will." She gets the Blue Ticket, puts it in the locket that had belonged to her dead mother, and is discharged from the center with only "a bottle of water, a compass and a sandwich." They are meant to make their own way alone to the place of their choice, a city, where they will figure out a career and do whatever else they want. They are not, however, allowed to get pregnant. Ever. The path cannot be changed and the decision was made.

As expected, Calla lives life large for about 10 years and then she decides that she wants -- must have -- the thing that has been denied to her. Motherhood. NO SPOILERS.

Let me just say that there is nothing uplifting within these pages filled with first person narrative and no dialogue. It's hard to discover any real emotion even though riddled with angst. Calla rebels, yes, but at what cost? It just made me angry to keep reading a book where, once again, it's only the women whose lives are proscribed while men are allowed freedom of choice. That world sounds like hell on earth but there's no mention of how things got this way. I had so many questions but got no answers. I wish I could say that I finished, shut the book, and will never think about this story again. I'd be lying. I'm sure this will haunt me and I can't say I liked it, but I think there's definitely a niche readership for this type of novel and I look forward to reading more reviews.

Thank you to Doubleday Books for this e-book ARC via Edelweiss for me to read and review. I am sure this would be a fantastic book club selection as there would be lots of lively discussion and debate.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - Dystopian, futuristic, reproductive control

Somebody's Daughter (DCI Natalie Ward #7) by Carol Wyer

The bodies are stacking up in Samford. DCI Natalie Ward -- recently promoted to head a new special crime unit at Holborn House with DI Lucy Carmichael now leading the old team -- has quite the series of murders on hand. Two dead teenage girls thought to be working the streets and 3 older adult victims seem like unconnected cases at first. It will take all of them countless hours to figure out this one. NO SPOILERS.

This is the 7th in a series and I've read all the previous books in order to date. Although a detailed police procedural and crime thriller, it seemed a bit long and quite convoluted; I didn't race through it as fast as I've done before. There are some references to previous cases and events, but I don't think this is good to read as a standalone. Again, we hear quite a bit about the team members and their personal lives (which are all a bit messed up as always.) I liked it well enough to continue reading the series.

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

This is the 7th in a series that should be read in order.
Genre - police procedural and crime thriller

The Patient by Jasper Dewitt

"Whatever you do, don't tell your child that the monsters they see are only things they created with their imagination."

This debut thriller is suspenseful and held me glued to the pages so I read it over a couple of hours today. There are elements of the practice of psychiatry and mental illness along with the supernatural. The narrative, in the format of dated installments posted to a defunct web page, MDconfessions.com, was written under a pseudonym and the names and places of all those referenced in the story have been changed. The synopsis gives an idea of the plot.

Patient Joe has been housed in a private room at the Connecticut State Asylum since he was 6 years old. He's considered to be dangerous and incurable. Dr. Parker H- finagled a way to get permission to treat him despite the previous long list of failures by other psychiatrists there. Therapy does not go as anticipated. NO SPOILERS.

Personally I'm not that much into horror anymore, but I have lately read a few titles in the genre and I enjoyed how succinct and compact this short novel was. I'm just glad I read it during the daylight hours because I don't want any nightmares! I thought the hubris of Parker was perfect as a foil for Joe and everything just came out with each successive "posts" providing more revelations -- some were quite surprising and all very interesting. I am fascinated by psychiatry but always a bit dubious about how effective it may or may not be. This "case" proved that not everyone can be fixed. One of my favorite supernatural/horror authors is Dean Koontz and this reminded me of his focus on battles between good and evil. I liked the menacing and foreboding tones in the prose of this book and the overall nightmare-like setting of the asylum. Fun read!

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - part thriller, horror, supernatural, psychiatry

Find Me (Inland Empire #1) by Anne Frasier

"There was no starting over for most people. That was a misconception. Unless a person's memory could be erased, there were no fresh starts, only progression."

Reni Fisher knows how difficult it is to go forward and live anything resembling a normal life. When she was a child, her father, Benjamin Fisher, was arrested as the Inland Empire Killer. With evidence suggesting that he was responsible for over 20 murders, Ben Fisher now resides on death-row at San Quentin. After 30 years, Ben has reached out to the former investigator who handled his case but finds that he has retired. Instead, Daniel Ellis, homicide detective, comes to the meeting. Ben Fisher has decided to reveal the locations of his victims - in exchange, however, he insists that his daughter, Reni, be allowed to accompany him on the expedition.

Now 38 years old, Reni has not visited Ben since his arrest. She had joined the FBI as a profiler, but events soon led to her resignation and escape to the isolated house in the Mojave Desert. She is running from her own demons because she had been used as bait and had indeed lured many of the victims to their deaths at the hands of her father. Sure, she was a child and should be held blameless, but she can't escape the guilt. She reluctantly agrees to accompany Daniel and Her father on the recovery effort. There are still many secrets and lies about what happened 30 years ago and Reni and Daniel are about to find out just what the truth will cost them. NO SPOILERS.

This was excellent. It became obvious immediately that this was not the typical serial killer thriller. The narrative draws the reader in quickly and the great writing keeps you absorbed and focused. I really liked the character of Reni Fisher and grew to care about her and Daniel as events unfolded. My biggest disappointment is that I can't read the next in the series immediately as it won't be out until 2021. I loved the desert setting and the details enhanced the mood and the plot. Well done!

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

This is the first in a new seris and I plan to read the second as soon as available.
Genre - crime thriller, serial killer's daughter

The Babysitter by Nancy Bush

Twenty years ago, a teenager is attacked in the house where she is babysitting 7-year-old twins. With the resultant diminished mental capacity, Emma doesn't recall anything about that night so she's unable to help the police find the person who did it. Emma was the most popular senior at River Glen High School and for a long time it was thought that the vicious deed was committed by one or more of the boys from school. No arrests. Unable to go to college as planned, Emma lives with her mother in town and works at a thrift shop.

When mom dies, her younger sister, Jamie, returns with her 15-year-old daughter, Harley, to live there with Emma and help care for her. Not too long later, Harley's new friend, Marissa, is babysitting in the same house when she is also attacked. In addition, there are other things going on in the town. A couple deaths. And it's quite convenient that the boy that Jamie had a crush on in high school happens to be a police detective there now. NO SPOILERS

I struggled throughout this book because I don't feel that it was quite what was advertised from the synopsis etc. It was not suspenseful, it was not a thriller, and it seemed super long -- so much so that I read it in starts and stops. There were way too many characters and so much going on that made the narrative so convoluted as to be underwhelming -- but it might have been saved had all that detail been really interesting. I didn't really like any of the characters and the whole story seemed very contrived with the coincidences and really hideous people. It's like nobody ever left the town and never grew up. And, it was easy to see where this was all going despite all the effort made to disguise the reveals with lots of description. I was quite disappointed and feel misled by so many positive reviews. I thought it was just OK.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.\
Genre - contemporary drama, romance, mystery

Murder at Enderley Hall (Kitty Underhay #2) by Helena Dixon

This second book in the Miss Kitty Underhay cozy mystery series continues the summer of 1933. Kitty has been invited to visit her paternal aunt and uncle at Enderley Hall where she will spend some time getting to know her father's sister and her cousin, Lucy. She hopes to find out more about what happened to her mother who seems to have visited there before vanishing many years ago. What Kitty does not plan for is murder. The first untoward event is the disappearance of some important papers, a chemical formula, from her uncle's safe. Then, beloved Nanny Thoms is found dead at the bottom of a staircase. The household is in an uproar, but fortunately, Kitty has the attentions of Captain Matthew Bryant - -a new "friend" who had helped Kitty and her grandmother at the Dolphin in the previous episode. Of course Kitty wants to be involved in the investigation as Matt and the police try to find the thief and the killer. NO SPOILERS.

This is pretty tame fare and faithful to period details. I found it a very fast read and enjoyed the chance of pace to my usual grisly thrillers. I look forward to reading more in the series though I could have done without Muffy and without the frustrated romance.

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

This is the second in a series featuring Kitty Underhay. Read in order.
Genre - cozy mystery 1933

My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

Although considered historical fiction, this is the first book I've read that brings Elizabeth (Eliza) Schuyler Hamilton to life. Between the lines and on the pages is a truly absorbing and fascinating account of an incredible woman who indeed probably spoke of her husband, Alexander, this way: "My husband. My hero. My betrayer."

Perhaps, like me, you've seen the musical, "Hamilton" at the theater, memorized the original cast recording of the show, watched the 2016 production featuring its author Lin Manuel-Miranda on Disney+ several times already (#5 for me), and read the biography by Ron Chernow. Maybe you also wanted more facts, more story, and more about WHAT WAS ELIZA THINKING? I can never let anything be without getting several sides to a narrative. But finding the truth about a person is always fraught with issues because there is no way anyone can ever truly know another -- no matter how much interviewing, research, reading, and speculation involved. We even edit our own lives for others. I think these two authors did a masterful job of filling in the blanks for me.

There are so many fabulous quotes I could share, but I suggest that you just read it if you're a fan of American History or of any of the many formats that feature Alexander Hamilton and his amazing wife, Eliza. I think this would make a great book club read and it has so many discussion questions for you to analyze and debate. Hamilton would love a good argument!

A friend of mine gifted this to me and I'm very grateful to be able to have read, reviewed and recommended.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - Historical Fiction subject: Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton

You Can't Catch Me by Catherine McKenzie

"...anger. It has a way of focusing you that forgiveness can't."

Jessica Williams is angry. While running off to Mexico to escape ridicule and harassment over a plagiarized story she submitted to FeedNews as an investigative reporter, Jessica meets a woman in the airport bar. The funniest thing -- you can't make this up -- the woman's name is also Jessica Williams AND she happens to have the same birth date. What a coincidence? Their happy little exchange of 20 questions is almost forgotten by the time Jessica returns to New York. That's when she finds that her identity has been stolen and her bank account drained. Unable to get satisfaction from reporting the theft to the police and the bank, Jessica decides that she needs to find this other Jessica and get back what she took. Along the way, she discovers that she's not the only Jessica Williams who has been fleeced. A cat and mouse game, a clever set-up, and a spectacular plan go awry. NO SPOILERS.

This was a fun book that I read over the course of a couple of hours. Hard to put down, the characters jumped off the page and I was quite engaged in the story -- especially about Jessica having escaped from a cult when she was nearly 18. I liked the writing style and particularly the way the plot unfolded. Just when you think you have it all figured out, making guesses along the way as to what is going to happen, BAM! I'll definitely look for more books by this author.

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

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

The Dilemma by B.A. Paris

I found this latest book by B.A.Paris to be frustrating and annoying. It is a domestic drama with several dysfunctional human beings who miss every opportunity to communicate honestly about their relationships, their friends, their family, and their lives.

Livia has planned her 40th birthday party for 20 years. The build-up to it has everyone all thrilled for the big event she has meticulously arranged for herself. Yes, everyone she knows is meant to be in attendance -- except for her daughter, Marnie, who's away studying in Hong Kong. That's OK, though, because Livia doesn't really want to see her daughter and needs to tell her husband, Adam, all about it. She'll discuss the situation with him after the party is over.

Adam is quite excited about the special surprise he has planned for Livia's party and is having a tough time keeping the secret. While getting everything arranged for the evening, he hears some terrible news. Telling himself that it's better that Livia just enjoy her special day, Adam decides to keep it to himself. He decides that he will share all when the party is over.

NO SPOILERS. But, I just wanted to smash some dishes throughout most of this book. The narrative is told from the points of view of both Livia and Adam as they struggle to keep in the extremely life-changing information that each holds separately. Neither knows the thing the other knows. Have they ever heard the phrase, "Sharing is caring." Well, eventually it all comes out and is just as bad as you'd expect when people withhold stuff from their partners. I was sick of both of them by then and so irritated by the missed opportunities that I was just glad to get to the end. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read and review. I've read all the previous books by this author and now I don't know if I care to try another.

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

The Lion's Den by Katherine St. John

A fast-paced summer beach read (if you can get to some water -- even better) featuring money and murder.

Isabella (Belle) Carter isn't exactly living the dream when she's invited to accompany her BFF, Summer Sanderson, on a luxury cruise on Summer's billionaire boyfriend's yacht to the Mediterranean. Accompanied by Summer's younger sister, Brittani and her mother, Rhonda, they join friends Wendy, Claire, and Amythest on John Lyons's private jet and fly into Genoa, Italy, to meet The Lion's Den. Several odd things cause Belle to become a bit wary about this trip: they are all asked to sign non-disclosure agreements, there's no Wi-Fi available on the yacht, and they are required to hand over their passports. It becomes obvious that John Lyons likes to be in control and every aspect of their time is managed. Meanwhile, things aren't going so well among the lovely ladies on board. Summer has jealousy issues and John seems to be involved with some shady business dealings. Will this dream vacation become a nightmare? NO SPOILERS.

Told from Belle's point of view, the narrative flips back and forth in time where the reader learns the history of Belle and Summer's friendship. With a few surprises that pop up late in the book, the plot takes a turn that may be unexpected. I enjoyed it as a nice change of pace from more serious topics and grisly crime.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this e-book ARC to read and review.


This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - romance, chick-lit, murder, friendship, luxury cruise gone wrong

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

"Et Verbum car0 factum est" (and the Word was made flesh -- translated).

Noemí Taboada is a 22-year-old debutante whose life is filled with social delights and parties in Mexico City in the 1950s. Things change for her quite suddenly when her father decides to send her off to El Triunfo to see about her cousin, Catalina. Apparently he'd received a very disturbing letter that indicated a decline in Catalina's mental health. Using a bit of bribery -- Noemí wants to study anthropology at at National University -- her father persuades her to go to High Place and make sure that Catalina is OK. Noemí heads off on the train as planned, expecting to be gone for a short time. She's picked up at the station and driven up into the mountains to a very English Victorian style home that is nearly derelict, has little electricity or modern conveniences, and is possibly haunted. High Place has been in the Doyle family for hundreds of years but is nearly empty of life and servants. What Noemí discovers is so much worse than she could have imagined. NO SPOILERS.

I haven't read horror like this for ages since a Clive Barker obsession many years ago. And the novel is definitely horror with a very high creep factor. Since Gothic fiction refers to writing that has elements of fear, death, horror and darkness -- lots of emotions and maybe romance, I would say that this qualifies. Definitely there's the icky, moldy house, a supernatural phenomenon, a curse, damsels in distress, and lots of doom and gloom. I liked the writing style, the slow build-up of menace and Noemí's descent into the nightmare. It was just the far out factor that limited my full appreciation of the story. It was just too much! But if you're a fan of this type of novel then you're in for a treat. It delivers every necessary piece to satisfy as Gothic literature.

I read this with a friend, though she finished much quicker and enjoyed it more than I did. It intrigued me from the description and I'm glad I had the opportunity to revisit this genre. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Del Rey for this e-book ARC to read and review.

3.5 stars

This is a standalone and is not  part of any series.
Genre - Gothic Horror