Quiet in Her Bones by Nalini Singh

 A son's love for his vanished mother sets him on a dangerous quest to discover the truth in this thriller set in New Zealand.

Aarav Rai, a bestselling author, is recovering at his family home after a car accident that has left him with limited mobility and some neurological damage. As he convalesces, he's reminded of when his mother disappeared ten years previously along with $250,000 of his father's money. No trace of her has ever been found and she's never been in touch with Aarav. His father divorced Nina Rai and subsequently married and had another child. Aarav is haunted by his fractured memories of what happened on the night he saw his mother for the last time. When her bones are found in her damaged car at the bottom of the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park right near his home, Aarav is determined to find out what really happened the night she walked out and slammed the front door, got into her car and almost immediately crashed and died. Aarav is convinced that someone in their exclusive cul-de-sac of private luxury homes knows more than they're telling. Turns out that many of them have been keeping some big secrets. NO SPOILERS.

I really wanted to like this and was glued to the pages with a narrative that irritated me but kept me guessing up until the disappointing ending. REALLY? That's what you've got for me? I stuck through the trope I hate most in fiction -- memory loss -- and really thought the payoff was going to be worth it. Despite the lush descriptions of the forest and the area, I felt let down. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters, especially the unreliable narrator, Aarav, and the story is told from his point of view with an abundance of red herrings. This definitely is geared toward fans of psychological suspense who appreciate a slow pace and a wrap that ties up all the loose ends and answers the questions.

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

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

Genre - psychological suspense, mystery

A Caller's Game by J.D. Barker

 Are you in the mood for a pulse-pounding thriller that will keep you completely held in its grip until the very last pages? Then, this is the high octane entertainment that you're looking for!

Mix a mouthy, irreverent, no-holds-barred satellite radio talk show star (Jordan Briggs) with a tormented, grief-stricken man (Bernie Bretz) bent on revenge -- add in a dash of NYPD cop with bravado to spare (Cole Huntley) and fold in a war-mongering militia (The Sentinels) and you have the recipe for a story that screams to be adapted to the screen. Although a bit of suspension of disbelief is required in order for this all to work, just go with it and enjoy.

The fireworks are kicked off early as Bernie calls in to the radio show and asks Jordan to play a little game involving her making some initially banal choices, i.e. -- do you prefer a taxi or an Uber to get around in New York City? Jordan has no idea what this devious guy has in mind as he slowly takes control of the SiriusXM building and everyone in it. As the true nature of Bernie's plan becomes clear, Jordan has some impossible choices to make. NO SPOILERS.

The writing was engaging and the narrative is character driven as you will immediately form opinions about them though perhaps will change your mind as the plot evolves. Told in alternating points of view between Jordan and Cole, there is just the right amount of suspense as you try to guess how this is all going to turn out. The bombs go off, people die, the building burns as it floods, and things look pretty bleak as Jordan interacts with Bernie who has designed this "game" especially for her. And everything is being streamed live to an ever increasing audience.

I like this author's books and I especially appreciated his notes at the end. I read this over a couple of hours and hope you relish it as much as I did. Some have said that it's DIE HARD meets TALK RADIO but I'm not that familiar with either so I had no preconceptions.

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

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

Genre - thriller

The Butterfly House (Korner and Werner #2) by Katrine Engberg

"No matter how much people desperately want to believe that sickness can be treated and madness controlled, those who work with the seriously mentally ill know that that's not always the case." "In some cases, recovery is not an option..." This second book in this Nordic crime thriller series brings back Inspector Jeppe Korner and the other detectives in the Copenhagen Homicide unit. This time, they are focusing on the murders of former caregivers at a now closed residential psychiatric treatment center for children and teens -- The Butterfly House. There have been a few changes in the lives of the detectives introduced in the first book. Anette Werner, Jeppe's partner, is off on maternity leave after an unexpected pregnancy. Jeppe has moved in with his mother temporarily after he and his wife divorced and sold their home. Jeppe also has a romantic interest that is proving a bit difficult for him to navigate. Meanwhile, the case proves extremely difficult as bodies are found -- 3 murders in 3 days -- and several of the suspects can't be located. Anette isn't adapting to motherhood as expected, and decides to do a little free-lance sleuthing on her own. Jeppe is working his team hard trying to find who is using an antique medical instrument to exsanguinate the victims before placing their naked bodies into city fountains. I really enjoy this series and getting to know more about the characters. The Copenhagen setting really brings the narrative to life with all the detail. The writing is excellent and makes the story extremely relatable as the reader hears many different points of view. The topic of juvenile psychiatric care and treatment was also quite interesting as so many modalities and medications are of questionable value. There were plenty of red herrings on the way to the reveal and conclusion, and left me with much to ponder. I am looking forward to the next installment in this remarkable series. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

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

Genre - crime thriller, police procedural

The Minders by John Marrs

 This third book in this thriller series is set in the future where information and secrets must be hidden from the Hacking Collective. Many methods to hide this sensitive data have failed and governments are being held hostage to the Collective. Britain has, so far, resisted all blackmail efforts by creating a fantastical way to implant all of this protected confidential knowledge into the DNA of human beings. The first order of business, however, is to find 5 people who will accept the implant, follow the rules of the program, and keep the country's cover-ups etc. out of the electronic devices, data banks, and cloud services. Those selected have a certain ability - synaesthesia - most commonly the type that enables personification of numbers, letters, and days of the week. This group of enhanced individuals come to be known as "The Minders" and after their procedure, extensive training, and plenty of funds for expenses, they are sent off to hide in plain sight until a certain period of time has passed. The caveat for their patriotism is that they must leave all friends and family behind without contact until they are recalled.

The 5 Minders go their separate ways and try to establish themselves in small towns, living quietly without electronics or any type of online presence so they can't be tracked or found. The narrative shifts as each Minder shares his/her experience. Existence for the Minders is not as pleasant as anticipated and soon all are running for their lives. NO SPOILERS.

I've read the previous related books -- THE ONE and also THE PASSENGERS -- so was expecting another mind blowing read. For some reason, the alternating points of view and the first parts of the book were hard to follow and not as engrossing as hoped. I couldn't develop any sense of empathy for the characters, didn't really know who the good guys were, and definitely was unable to relate to any of them. They all seemed kind of a nasty bunch. The climax and reveal were disappointing and the conclusion left me feeling quite unfulfilled. There was lots of action so it should have moved faster, but it took me days to finish this as I felt no compulsion to get back to it. I liked it well enough and am glad I finished it, but it's definitely my least favorite of the 3. The premise drew me in but I was a bit disappointed with the direction the story took and the conclusion.

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

Related to THE ONE and THE PASSENGERS -- best to read all in order

Genre - futuristic sci fi thriller

The Tenant (Korner and Werner #1) by Katrine Engberg

  A diabolical mastermind works behind the scenes to protect his secrets and extract a terrible revenge in this first book in a new Nordic crime thriller series.

Esther de Laurenti has retired, drinks too much, and lives in her large family home with apartments that she rents out. She's now turned her attention toward writing a mystery novel and gives fabulous parties with all sorts of artsy type friends. Things take a horrible turn when one of her tenants, Julie Stender, is gruesomely murdered in a manner that is almost copied directly from Esther's unpublished manuscript. Copenhagen police detectives, Jeppe Korner and Anette Werner, are assigned the case and immediately the investigation becomes extremely complicated. Unfortunately, Julie is just the first victim in this complex and very twisted story. NO SPOILERS.

Don't you just love finding a new series with great, multifaceted characters who beg to be known? I enjoyed the relationship between Jeppe and Anette -- they have such distinct personalities and their partnership is one of opposites barely tolerating each other as they work together. Jeppe is messed up after his divorce and Anette seems to have the much more forceful attitude. There are many additional characters in this novel with some very disturbing traits and plenty of red herrings as they probe into the identity of the killer. There are many grisly descriptions along the way but I did love the details about the city of Copenhagen and surrounding areas. I'm eager to see what the two detectives will be doing next and so I will be reading the second book in the series immediately.

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

This is the first in a new series that should be read from the beginning.

Genre - Nordic crime thriller

The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey

 Dr. Evelyn Caldwell discovered the special hormonal methods of neurophysiological conditioning that improved the ability to clone a human being. She enjoyed discussing all of her laboratory issues and struggles with her husband, Nathan, and just knew he'd also celebrate her success. Actually, he was so amazed at everything that Evelyn accomplished that he took what he had learned from her AND MADE HIS OWN CLONE -- a replica of Evelyn but much nicer. And named her Martine. Then something happens with Martine that should not be possible and Nathan ends up dead. How do these two very different women who look alike find a solution? NO SPOILERS.

This was definitely a fun read that made me consider all the possibilities of what it would be like if you met your own clone, interacted with your clone, formed a relationship with your clone. Not that the world needs another copy of me (HA), but my imagination enjoyed thinking about it. This sci-fi novel is full of issues ripe for discussion of the ethics and morals of creating a clone and then living with it. What makes a clone more than a lab specimen and is there any way it could be fully human after programming? Very interesting story that wasn't science heavy but more focused on characters and the topic of humanity. I enjoyed it.

Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read and review.

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

Genre - science fiction, fantasy

Possession by Katie Lowe

 "She conquers who conquers herself."

Do yourself a favor, avoid the synopsis and the reviews and just dive right in.

Hannah is a psychiatrist now living and working in Hawkwood after the man convicted of killing her husband in their London home was arrested and put in prison. During the ensuing years after the murder, Hannah and her daughter, Evie, have met Dan and are on the verge of creating a new family together. Their happiness, however, is disrupted when a true crime podcast seeks to overturn the previous murder conviction, release the man who was charged, and focus on Hannah as the true suspect - the one who got away. The problem is that Hannah doesn't really remember what actually happened the night of the murder and she has a lot more mental issues than she's letting on. NO SPOILERS.

What a crazy, convoluted psychological thriller that kept me guessing all the way through. There are many different characters involved in this story and Hannah is an extremely unreliable narrator who, at times, doesn't really appear to be fully sane. I enjoyed the tantalizing way that the author dropped the revelations and especially the conclusion when everything pulls together and the whole picture is presented. I read this all in one sitting which probably helped keep everything and everybody straight in my own mind! I usually balk at reading a book that hints at the worn out amnesia trope, but this was written to feel more authentic and unique, to me anyway.

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

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

Genre - pscyhological thriller

The Future is Yours by Dan Frey

Oh, so smart and cleverly told, this sci-fi thriller is one you don't want to miss!

What if you could know what happens one year into the future -- but be powerless to change it?

Best friends, Ben Boyce and Adhvan (Adhi) Chaudry, want to be on the cutting edge of a new technology that will take Silicon Valley by storm and make them loads of money. Their idea involves transmitting data though time so that someone using their machine could see the future and know the outcome of any endeavor. The narrative unfolds in the format of texts, emails, transcripts, tweets, and blog posts as the characters try to bring their unique product to market. Faced with hurdles and problems, the friends soon see that there are some negative side effects of their project to deliver this future knowledge to all of mankind. What was meant to be empowerment and maintenance of free will is soon shown to be anything but.

I was absolutely captivated and could not put this book down until the end. The science, although quantum computing is definitely not my forte, was explained and rendered understandable so that it made the possibility of this machine believable. I enjoyed how the atypical narrative style showed the flaws in the personalities of all the characters and how it was the perfect way to tell this whole story. I laughed out loud at some of the tweets (you'll see what I mean) as the author captured social media trolling and commenting so perfectly -- everybody has an opinion! There are many moral and ethical issues that will make the reader question the ultimate future of technology if it continues to enslave those of us who use it. Is it really better to KNOW the future after all? You decide! And, you really will have to that at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Del Rey 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, futuristic

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse

 "Revenge in its most brutal form, tipping the power balance back the other way."

Elin Warner, on leave from her job as a detective in the UK, and her boyfriend, Will, travel to a new luxurious hotel on a mountain plateau above Crans-Montana in the Swiss Alps. They've been invited to Le Sommet by Elin's brother, Isaac, to celebrate his engagement to Laure Strehl. Elin and her brother are estranged because of an event that happened in their childhood, so things are a bit awkward as they settle in. There's a storm coming that threatens to interfere with the reunion and party, but that's not the worst of it. The day after they arrive, Laure goes missing. Elin's past as a detective kicks into high gear despite her insecurity about her abilities, and the search is on. From this point on, after an avalanche closes the main access road to the hotel, Elin is on her own as first one, and then another, body is discovered. Are these murders connected to the hotel's controversial history as a sanatorium for TB patients, or is this more personal? NO SPOILERS.

The atmosphere surrounding the renovated sanatorium and all its creepiness is perfect for reading on a very frigid winter day. Although I've read about 4 other books in similar settings, I still find the details of this locale quite fascinating. I found it a bit difficult to warm to Elin as the main character as she's a bit of a hot mess but her instincts kick in and she gets right down to business. Although it's a bit of a stretch to imagine that the Swiss police would not be able to get to the hotel to help investigate the murders, I just suspended my disbelief and went with it. I found this hard to put down as I kept trying to guess who was behind the murders and the motive so the climax and revelations came as a bit of a surprise after all. I enjoyed the story in all of its convoluted meandering despite some little irritations along the way.

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

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

Genre - thriller, mystery

Silent Voices (DI Lottie Parker #9) by Patricia Gibney

 This is the 9th installment in the DI Lottie Parker crime thriller series. I've been with Lottie through a lot of tragedy and upheaval in her personal and professional life. It seems that she's finally going to have a chance for happiness with her partner, DS Mark Boyd -- until the bodies start turning up in Rugmullin.

A series of gruesome murders of young women in town lead Lottie and her team into a complicated case and a lengthy, intense investigation that takes precedence over the upcoming nuptials. Although the detectives know the cases must somehow be linked, they are having trouble figuring out the motive or identifying a suspect. Boyd has been a bit distracted by the plight of a 15-year-old who seems to have a connection with one of the murder victims. Unfortunately, the police are having a really tough time getting important interviews and information from all of those they are trying to question. NO SPOILERS.

If you're considering this, be sure to read the previous books in the series as you will appreciate the characters more than if you start with number nine. Although I like Lottie, I have a hard time with her character, her priorities, and her approach to her job and home life. It's a good series and I'm glad I've been along for the journey. I wasn't surprised when the identity of the killer was revealed and definitely there were a lot of potential nasty perpetrators and a plethora of unlikable characters. Fans of the series won't want to miss this latest fast-paced thriller.

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

This is the 9th in a series so read in order.

Genre - crime thriller, police procedural

The Shadow Man by Helen Fields

 "Bad or mad was the question psychiatrists asked themselves when assessing offenders..."

Wow, what a story! Three people have been kidnapped and locked in the upper rooms of an old house. Elspeth is the wife, Meggie is the daughter, and Xavier is the brother. But why are they there and what is the shadow man going to do with them if they don't play his imaginary scenario?

I really enjoyed this as I have this author's previous series and I hope this isn't the last we see of Dr. Connie Woolwine and Detective Inspector Baarda. The narrative is detailed, fast-paced, and frightening as the reader is taken into the world of a man who suffers from an unusual psychiatric condition known as Cotard's delusion or walking corpse syndrome. Connie is an American forensic psychologist who is asked to consult with Edinburgh's Major Investigation Team on this unusual case and she partners with Baarda while providing insights into the development of a profile for a man who can't be tracked or found even as he continues taking people in plain sight.

Very hard to put down but begs to be savored, this is another that goes beyond the tropes providing a really unique take on a serial psychopath. It is dark, grisly, and thoroughly absorbing. The ending was quite suspenseful and this is a thriller you don't want to miss.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series ... YET. I hope it will be.

Genre - crime thriller

Beneath Her Skin (Empty Coffin #1) by Gregg Olsen

 A 15-year-old girl, Katelyn Berkley, is found dead in the bathtub. Was this suicide, an accident, or murder? The identical twins who live next door, Hayley and Taylor Ryan, have some sort of ability to sense paranormal communications and receive messages indicating that there is more to this death than is believed. Soon they believe that Katelyn is communicating with them to help figure out what really happened. NO SPOILERS.

First, let me say that I had no idea that this was YA fiction and, if I had, I would not have requested it. Rarely do authors write teens authentically, and this was definitely the case here. I'm quite familiar with teenagers having spent 12 years with them at a local high school as nurse, librarian, and teacher. I've read several previous books by this author and enjoyed them, so I stuck with it even though I was ready to quit early on. I hoped that the supernatural elements would be played down and it would read more like Nancy Drew, but the actual story was all over the place with some nasty characters and the ending defied even my best ability to suspend disbelief.

I'm sorry that this was not for me and I definitely will not be reading the second in the series -- apologies to Bookouture for asking for the e-book ARC. I do thank NetGalley and Bookouture for granting access to this title but will be more careful with requests in the future.

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

Genre = YA mystery fiction, paranormal