The Family Plot by Megan Collins

 ..."the only way out is to never come back."

Blackburn Island -- the Lighthouse family has called this place home for many years. The four siblings left and had not been back to visit for a decade. But they've returned now to bury their father and try to comfort their bereaved mother. Dahlia is hopeful, perhaps her missing twin, Andy, will finally come back so they can all be united. The two older ones, Charlie and Tate, are grim and determined not to sink back into the roles they played in their unusual upbringing -- home schooled in true crime and isolated in their mansion. With a serial killer on the loose on the island throughout their childhood, the family is a bit obsessed with murder. As they tiptoe around each other and no Andy in sight, a gruesome discovery is made -- bones are found in the plot set aside for their father. To Dahlia's shock, the remains are identified as Andy's. What happened to her twin? The secrets are going to be revealed and the lies are coming out. No spoilers.

This was absorbing and the author dangled plenty of red herrings, but it wasn't too long before I had it figured out. I can't say I cared for any of the characters -- to say they are "unnatural" is even a bit of stretch. Just totally freaky weird and understandably, quite messed up psychologically. I enjoyed all the true crime references and can see how someone could go a bit overboard with it, especially if they have a bit of a connection (that twist). It was a quick and entertaining read.

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

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

Genre - domestic drama, psychological thriller. Clever title.

Nice Girls by Catherine Dang

 A dark psychological thriller that delves into the long-lasting effects of a tortured adolescence.

Mary was meant to finally escape her past and Liberty Lake, Minnesota, when she worked hard to get a scholarship to Cornell University. She thrives at college and is ready for her senior year and graduation when she does something that gets her expelled from school and sent home in disgrace.
Back in Liberty Lake, Mary finds that she can't escape who she really is at her core: angry. She takes a low level job at the local grocery store to start paying off the outstanding student loans, but she and her widowed father stumble through the days and "Ivy League Mary" now fully understands that she is not going anywhere.

Then, an old childhood friend, Olivia Willand, disappears and the town goes bonkers to try to find her. Olivia was everything Mary was not -- rich, beautiful, popular, and a rising social media personality. The discovery of a dismembered arm near the lake sends the community into a frenzy, but the remains are not Olivia but belong to another teenager, DeMaria Jackson. Are these two girls linked somehow? Is there a serial killer in this sleepy town? Mary feels bad about her estrangement from Olivia all these years but old resentments only fuel her guilt so she decides to do a bit of investigating. Mostly Mary only makes matters worse for herself and others, but she does not quit. No spoilers.

The premise was intriguing and the first person narrative by Mary really puts the reader in her head. Sorry to say, but Mary is really quite a mess. I felt sorry for her and also aggravated at other times. She's a hard character to like. This was a decent debut, but the story really never developed the tension or veracity to get to the point of all the angst. I wasn't sure if this was supposed to be social commentary or a murder mystery, and the conclusion was a bit limp after everything that happens. As I always say when exposed to characters like Mary -- she really needs some good therapy! I liked it well enough and will look for this author's next book.

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

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

Genre - psychological fiction, maybe more suitable for YA audience

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

 Twisty and clever, this was such fun to read -- mayhem and murder at Belmont Academy, home of some of the most entitled prep school teenagers and parents that you'd ever want to hang out with.

Rich, spoiled teens need an excellent education and counsel, don't they? Well, Teacher of the Year, Teddy Crutcher, is just the man who knows how to step right up and help mentor those darlings "for their own good." Sure, he may be a bit unhinged and misguided -- don't those cuticles of his look a sight -- but he only wants them to get what they deserve. He isn't too fond of his colleagues at the academy, and the parents just need to butt out of his business. Bribing for grades? Other teachers telling him how to run his classroom? Not going to happen on his watch.

Teddy has some issues, though. His personal life is in shambles, and by the way, where is his wife anyway? When Teddy sees an opportunity to push his way into more respect and attention, what is a little poison going to hurt? When people start dying at #murderhigh, suspicion falls on the most unlikely; which members of this community need to wake up?  No spoilers.

What a cast of characters! Told from different points of view, the narrative was so lively and fast that I read this book in one sitting as I just could not put it down without knowing how it was all going to turn out. Having been educated and also worked in the private school system (albeit not this particular type of elite academy), I had to laugh at some of the interactions between administration, faculty, parents, and students. The author has an excellent style that brought these people to life on the pages, made me shiver, and made me whoop in recognition. I almost had to hold my breath as the story ratcheted to a very satisfying conclusion. Fans will definitely not want to miss this one!

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

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

Genre - twisty thriller

The Night She Disappeared by Kevin O'Brien

 Fun and suspenseful mystery thriller that I just couldn't put down!

After an evening out to a fancy dinner with Dr. Russ Knoll (her lover) and his author wife, Courtney, Seattle TV reporter Anna Malone wakes with a horrible hangover. She remembers little about the previous evening but does feel certain that Russ's wife knows about his infidelities.  That becomes more significant, however, when Anna hears that Courtney has gone missing. Russ reports that Courtney apparently packed a bag and vanished at some point that night -- possibly when he had walked drunken Anna home to her floating house on Lake Union just a short distance from the Knoll's residence. Anna and her sordid personal life suddenly become of great interest to the media, particularly to Sally Justice and her News Network show. The problem is this: Anna can't remember anything that happened after the trio left the restaurant. No spoilers.

I thoroughly enjoyed the way that this story unraveled and the large cast of flawed characters. Although I was searching for clues and guessing wildly as I rapidly turned the pages, I wasn't able to come up with the answer until the twisted tale came close to conclusion. I liked the fast pace, the writing, and the way the author dangled the red herrings. I definitely plan to seek out more of O'Brien's novels.

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

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

Genre - domestic suspense, mystery thriller

Little Bones (DI Lottie Parker #10) by Patricia Gibney

Another gripping installment, the tenth, in the Detective Lottie Parker series.

A mother finds her daughter dead on the floor in front of her infant granddaughter's cot. Isabel Gallagher has been stabbed and clutches an old-style razor blade in her hand. The very same evening, Joyce Breslin, another young mother, hasn't returned to pick her child up from daycare. Then the child, 4-year-old Evan, is kidnapped from the creche. When police search Joyce's home, another razor blade is found. Lottie is sure that these cases are connected, but this is just the beginning of a very complicated investigation with a long list of suspects. No spoilers.

This was quite the story with a large cast of characters to keep straight, and a very convoluted motive that took ages for the police to analyze and solve. I do like Lottie, she's a mature woman, widowed, with older children, who is trying to keep her personal life afloat in the midst of the chaos of an intense job at the Ragmullin garda station. Her romance with Boyd takes a backseat with all that is going on but is Lottie ever going to find a little bit of happiness and peace? Lots of drama at the police station between the detectives as well. I've read all the previous books in this series and suggest any new reader do the same as the backstory is quite interesting.

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

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

Genre - Irish crime thriller, police procedural

Where No One Should Live by Sandra Cavallo Miller

 I have to admit, I am a total addict for books by this author. I have thoroughly enjoyed every single one and urge you, if you like a medical thriller, to get started on these.

This outing introduces a new character, Dr. Maya Summer, who works at Arizona Public Health, and has a side gig at a local family medicine clinic so she can keep up her clinical skills. She's concerned with all matters affecting the local citizenry, including helmet laws, mosquitos, swimming pool contamination, and other infections issues that might bring loss of life or limb. Although she's currently involved with a cardiologist, she's drawn to one of the physicians at the clinic, Dr. Alex Reddish. So a little mix of medicine and romance never hurt anyone!

I love her character -- she's physically damaged from a long ago accident, but is smart and empathetic to both people and animals. There's a bit of a mystery in this one involving tainted consumables that are making the clinic staff ill -- who is doing it, and why? The gist of the novel, however, is the day-to-day practice of medicine. I enjoyed the patient interactions, the health problems, the public safety issues, the asides about obscure disease, and the interplay between the health care practitioners.

If you enjoy stories about medicine along with interesting characters, a bit of romance, and the lovely, HOT, Arizona setting, you will love this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and University of Nevada Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I can't wait for another featuring this character.

This is a standalone but I hope it is the first of a new series.

Genre - medical thriller/mystery

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

 Tense and suspenseful, this thriller hits all the high points for a thoroughly satisfying read.

It's finally summer and Tallulah Murray and her live-in boyfriend, Zach, are out at the local pub for an evening of celebrating after a long school year for Tallulah and to relax after the daily grind of caring for their new baby. Tallulah's mom, Kim, is watching baby Noah and knows that Zach has something planned to top off the night. She waits for them to return but they never come home.

Sophie Beck and her boyfriend have just moved to Maypole House in Surrey Hills as he is taking the job of head teacher there. She's a novelist, writes cozy mysteries, and hopes this change of scenery won't be so bad though she misses London already. Soon after their arrival, she finds a strange sign on the back gate fence and follows the instruction to dig where she discovers a ring box. Of course, the nosy writer has to find out why she got the message and what it all means.

What happened to Tallulah and Zach that night? No spoilers.

I was glued to the pages trying to guess what was going to happen next and to find the answers to the mystery. The writing is excellent and the multiple points of view reels you in and keeps you hooked to the story. Even though I was able to predict with some accuracy what had happened, the big reveal and the conclusion were both worth waiting for. Although not really a main character, I felt drawn to the pain that Kim was experiencing and liked her best. Enjoy!

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

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

Genre - suspense thriller 

A Lesson in Murder (Lady Eleanor Swift #7) by Verity Bright

 Light-hearted cozy English mystery series set in the 1920s never disappoints.

Lady Eleanor Swift is off to be the guest speaker at her old boarding school in this 7th installment. St. Mary's doesn't hold a lot of good memories for her as she attended soon after the disappearance of her parents when she was 9 years old. Unfortunately, the speech day is interrupted by an untimely death of one of Eleanor's favorite teachers. Could it be murder? She is surprised when Detective Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon attends the scene and even more taken aback when she and Clifford are asked to stay on to do some investigating. No sooner do they start making discreet inquiries when yet another suspicious death occurs. Someone is killing teachers, but who, and what could possibly be the motive? No spoilers.

Another enjoyable quick read with some of my favorite characters. I love the banter and interaction between Clifford and Eleanor -- everyone should have such a butler. And will Eleanor and Hugh finally, ever, take their relationship to the next level? Can't wait for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. And, incidentally, it is best to read this series from the beginning to fully appreciate it.

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

Genre - cozy mystery

Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

A truly absorbing piece of domestic fiction that examines family, marriage, and sibling relationships.

Stan and Joy Delaney seem to have it all -- fifty years of wedded bliss, a successful tennis academy that they've recently sold, and 4 grown, reasonably adjusted children. Unfortunately, retirement isn't exactly proving to be as exciting as they'd hoped and tensions build as they each reflect on their shared history and their individual disappointments. After a disastrous encounter with a young woman, Savannah, who shows up on their doorstep one night, things come to a boil and the family is having some serious issues. When Joy later goes missing, Stan is the main suspect. The children seem to take sides and no one wants to believe that Stan could be responsible. As the days drag on, each of them takes a closer look at each other and their memories. No spoilers.

I really enjoyed this one though it took awhile for the story to really get going. Told in alternating points of view with time jumps, each of the characters comes slowly into perfect focus and the reader is left feeling that they know these people quite well. The author is an excellent writer and is really able to give these characters the depth and range to elicit our sympathy and frustrations. Set in Australia, the story comes alive on the pages and the mystery of Joy's disappearance begs to be solved. Enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

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

Genre - contemporary domestic fiction

Mastermind (Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood #1) by Andrew Mayne

After a blackout hits Manhattan, FBI Special Agent Jessica Blackwood is tasked with finding and rescuing Dr. Theo Cray. She locates and retrieves him from a prison in Myanmar and gets him out using some forged documents and a bit of plane stealing. They join forces in order to figure out what dastardly plan the mastermind Michael Haywood has set in motion this time. Dealing with government interagency squabbles and territoriality, Jessica and Theo, a computational biologist, must use every type of intelligence trick in the book to outmaneuver The Warlock. NO SPOILERS.

This reads like a made-for-TV movie or James Bond pilot. Both of these characters have been featured in other series, but this is my first exposure to either of them so had to hit the ground running without any backstory. The narrative fills in the important gaps and I don't feel that I need to go catch up to appreciate this first installment. Jessica is described in the stereotypical female FBI Agent manner, but Theo was definitely a different breed with his analytic mind and moral compass. The pair works so well together, but oh no, save us from a romance between them!

The plot is a typical "save the world" trope with the heroes managing to avert world disaster with some outlandish tricks and other mind games. I enjoyed Theo's non sequiturs and the humorous bantering between the dynamic duo. The science was interesting, if a bit unbelievable, and the whole story was entertaining. I will look forward to another book in this series.

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

This is the first in a new series though each character has been featured in their own stories previously.

Genre - technothriller

Bring her Home (Boyle & Keneally #1) by S.A. Dunphy

 This new crime thriller series has an original bent with its inclusion of Celtic history and mythology. Set in Ireland, the partnership of criminal behavioral specialist Jessie Boyle and Detective Seamus Keneally of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, brings that lore to life as they search for a missing woman.

Penelope O'Dwyer is the daughter of a former Taoiseach (prime minister of the Irish Republic) and worked in finance -- perhaps some of her work was bordering on criminal -- so one of the local gang factions might have kidnapped her. Then Jessie gets a message saying that Penny has only until Samhain until she will be killed. Joined by Terri Kehoe, a genealogist and expert in Irish history and folklore as well as being a tech wizard, the trio learns that a serial killer has been operating in the Sligo/Leitrim area for years and that the murders might be related to the myth of Balor - the fire demon or the Celtic equivalent of Satan. What have they all got themselves into with this case? NO SPOILERS.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel with its setting, rich historical references, and very likeable characters. Though Jessie has experienced a recent tragedy, she focuses her attention and energy on the case and develops a great relationship with her two new partners. The writing was good and the story was clever. I am looking forward to reading the next installment.

Note - original title was Dancing with the Dead.

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

This is the first in a new series.

Genre - crime thriller

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

 "...we all have our monstrous moments..."

A young man, Daniel Sutherland, is found dead on his derelict houseboat. The mystery in this slow burner of a crime thriller focuses on those who may have had a reason to kill him. Although populated by some really nasty and unlikable characters, the novel dangles the suspects with plenty of reasons to want to murder him.

Written in various points of view, there is a story from each of them. Bitter, resentful, angry, damaged, and vengeful, the narrative sometimes feels like it skipping all over the place as their motivations become more clear. Who stabbed Daniel?

I ended up liking this one well enough as it is basically saved by the conclusion but I can't say it is an exciting or engrossing read. Unreliable narrators have become a common trope, and I personally prefer a straightforward story with at least one character I can relate to. This took me longer than usual to finish and though I had really anticipated the read, I was left feeling a bit of let down.

I've read this author's two previous novels and was hoping for the thrill I experienced when I first read THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, but it didn't get to that level. Thank you to Riverhead Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.

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

Genre - mystery thriller

You Can Run by Karen Cleveland

"Losing everything changes you."

Jill Bailey, married to Drew, mother of two young children, is a CIA analyst who is responsible for vetting new intel sources. The new recruit, Falcon, is set to become a prize catch for the agency as he has information about Syria's plan to use anthrax as a bio weapon. Before she can do her due diligence and pass him up the chain, she gets a phone call at work. Someone has kidnapped her son and they are asking her to betray her country by doing just this one "small" thing. She's desperate and she does it.

Alex Charles is a reporter for the Washington Post and gets an anonymous tip that she can use to catapult her career with a Pulitzer if she can run it down. Her search leads her to Jill and they begin to investigate the claims and find the truth. NO SPOILERS.

This was another fast-paced espionage thriller from an author whose previous books thoroughly hooked me. Karen Cleveland writes about what she knows as she spent 8 years working for the CIA and it shows. Told in alternating points of view between Jill and Alex, the characters come alive and this becomes more than a spy story. Two determined women who have a lot to lose but who love their country and feel a deep responsibility to find those responsible for this conspiracy. Another great conclusion leaves the door open for another book, perhaps a sequel. This, however, is a standalone and you don't need to have read the other two books.

All three of these novels beg to be adapted into miniseries and I am still waiting for Need to Know to go into production. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. 

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

Genre - espionage thriller, family, CIA