Curfew byJayne Cowie

 3.5 stars to this unique perspective on domestic violence and the historical subjugation of women.

Britain. A woman’s body has been found in the park. She’s been beaten so savagely that the police are unable to identify her for several days. Who could have done this — everyone is saying that the perpetrator had to be a woman due to the time when the crime was committed. All the men would have been safely indoors because of the Curfew Laws and their tags would have alerted if they were out. The law has been in place for 16 years and has definitely curtailed much of the crimes against women ever since. A lone policewoman, weeks from retirement, is not so sure.

Told in alternating points of view, the reader learns that, despite the Curfew, men are still doing bad things if they can get away with it. All the safeguards put in place still apparently can’t protect a woman from someone determined to harm her. There are many ways to hurt a woman, not all of them physical. 

The premise was interesting but the story gets bogged down by all the points of view and the most jarring of those was the voice of the teenager. Her part in the novel was just too big and she was such a stereotype of the hideous teen acting out, spouting off, and doing stupid things. I can’t say that I really enjoyed any of the characters and I think that was, in part, because of the way the narrative jumped from person to person. We do not find out the identity of the dead woman into very late in the book and from that point on, the conclusion is predictable and inevitable. 

Definitely will make you think and would be a great discussion for a book club.

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

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

Genre - domestic, futuristic, dystopian 

The Party at No. 12 by Kerry Wilkinson

 

A leaving party turns into a mystery when one of the guests turns up dead. Hannah is about to take off for parts unknown, spending her small inheritance on travel and self-discovery. Her family and close friends are invited to a get together that will be a tame evening with a few drinks, some board games, and a sleepover. Unfortunately, the dynamics between the attendees are skewed from their shared pasts and the night turns ugly. This was a real slow burner that never really burst into flaming excitement for me. I kept waiting for some tension and thrill, but neither materialized. The suspension of disbelief required sets a high bar as the characters behaved in ways that defied sense. I never felt any large concern for any of them and Hannah seemed a limp biscuit. The conclusion, when it finally came, was rushed and explained to some extent in the final chapter. I usually like books by this author, but this one was a disappointment. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.    This is a standalone and is not part of any series.   Genre - mystery

Imminent Peril (Sasha McCndless #10) by Melissa F. Miller

 This 10th in the series is less legal and more drama in this contemporary thriller featuring Sasha McCandless and her husband, Leo Connelly.

Sasha is unwinding with a friend at a bar when she decides to interfere with a guy there who seems to be harassing some young ladies. After she beats him up, he brings charges and Sasha is remanded to an anger management diversion program. There she meets a young woman who claims that her forced attendance in the program is due to her employer because she brought an issue about product safety to their attention. Then the young woman goes missing.  Meanwhile, the other attorneys at the office are trying to litigate a sale between two toy companies because Sasha is on probation. Of course this is all connected and soon Sasha finds herself in the sights of a killer.

Well, again, this is a lot of Sasha in fights and way too much about home with twins domesticity. Although I like the characters, I’m tiring of the constant way Sasha noses her way into dangerous situations. I miss the legal details and the courtroom action. I think I need to take a little break. 

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

Genre - a little legal, a lot domestic drama, and a crime

International Incident (Sasha McCandless #9) by Melissa F. Miller

 An action packed mystery thriller as Sasha and Leo take off on a luxury cruise.

The new parents are gifted tickets for an Asian cruise and leave their twins at home as they set off for some time alone. Seeing the sights and delighting in the cuisine and culture is not in the cards, however, when Sasha sees a murder from the ship out in international waters. The terrible atrocities of slave labor on fishing boats and heroin trafficking cause an awakened sense of social justice as they try to right some horrible consequences of desperation and poverty. 

Not much legal action in this one, but it was fast paced and interesting as always. The author tackles a huge issue and puts Sasha and Leo well into a complicated mess involving obscure maritime law. Fortunately, Sasha has the brains to figure it out and the Krav Maga skills to stay alive while preventing some hired mercenaries from killing her. Meanwhile, Leo is off doing a much needed rescue. So, they don’t spend much time having fun but there is more than enough romance between the pages to satisfy those who enjoy that.

I’d really like to see some change and growth in the characters other than the development of a social conscience. Surely we already know enough about her coffee addiction and athletic prowess and how Leo has to be the world’s best supportive husband in a minor role. Anyway, still enjoying the series as I head to read the next installment in my Sasha binge.

This is a series that should be read in order.

Genre - action and adventure on the high seas, legal thriller, mystery

Informed Consent (Sasha McCandless #8) by Melissa F. Miller

 Sasha gets involved in an ethical quandary regarding informed consent for research subjects.

New parents to twins, Sasha and Leo have their lives full juggling the babies and her career while he is pretty much functioning as househusband and gofer. A new case for Sasha has her investigating a researcher at a nearby geriatric facility where some of the volunteers for a project may not have truly understood what they had originally agreed to do as one doctor pushes through her study on the brains of those with dementia. As for Leo, things take a sudden turn when his long lost father reaches out to him.

I must say this is my least favorite so far. Not sure why, but Sasha seemed particularly self-righteous and the couple seemed to have a glitch in their decision making in several areas. Her constant ability to disarm and handle every thug that comes her way is getting a little old and the fight scenes, described in great detail, are only a bit unbelievable.

I think it must have been the topics and subtext that got me all bent, but I am going to forge ahead in my reading binge of this series with #9.

Part of a series, that really should be read in order.

Genre - medicolegal thriller with ethics considerations

A Mingled Yarn (Sasha McCandless 7.5) by Melissa F. Miller

 Just finished this novella after closing the pages of the previous book earlier today and I have to say that this has been the only totally false note in the series so far. My issue has to do with the pregnancy and this fallacy that Sasha would not have had an ultrasound because, of all things, something about it causing miscarriage. As a long time nurse, not only is this patently inaccurate, but it sort of ruined the story. Come on. Used for decades and mostly standard first trimester screening in any clinical obstetric practice, an ultrasound (sonogram) is not going to harm a pregnancy. Generally speaking, most healthy pregnant women have at least two — one in the first trimester and one at around 18-22 weeks. Why Sasha, supposedly an intelligent woman would neglect this or have those misconceptions, did not make sense. Everyone already guessed about her situation. 

Anyway, I hope to get over this and move on.

Part of a series, do not read out of order. Or just skip it. 

Genre - part of legal thriller series but a novella. 

Irrefutable Evidence (Sasha McCandless #7) by Melissa F. Miller

 In this exciting installment, Sasha takes on an insurance coverage case that ends up opening a massive instance of corruption and fraud.

It’s almost their one year anniversary so Sasha and Leo have a getaway trip planned but a vacation is not going to happen this year. Sasha and her star witness appear before the DA and soon a grand jury is convened.  Now a network of thugs is going to face a trial but before that can happen an undercover agent goes rogue and Sasha and Leo are on the run. Thank heavens for her Krav Maga training.

Just saying, this author can make an insurance case interesting. I really enjoy the characters especially now that they are married. Lots of action and legal maneuvering bring the story to life on the pages and it is hard to put the book down.

On to the next, a novella, before returning to the main series.

Definitely read these in order from the signing.

Genre - legal thriller

A Marriage of True Minds (Sasha McCandless 5.5) by Melissa F. Miller

 Another novella that features the wedding of Sasha and Leo at a Nicaraguan resort with all their family and close friends. Unfortunately, their bliss is postponed when the festivities are nearly ruined by a band of mercenaries hired by their pepper enemy, Jeffrey Bricker. This one has lots of fight action and romance but it all ends well with the pair finally married. 

On to the next installment as I revel in the life and times of Sasha and Leo in this legal thriller series. 

Genre - legal thriller novella

Lovers and Madmen (Sasha McCandless 4.5) by Melissa F. Miller

  This is just a little quickie novella to tie up some loose ends from book 4 and to allow Sasha and Leo to focus a little bit on a Valentine's Day romantic interlude.

Irrevocable Trust (Sasha McCandless #6) by Melissa F. Miller

 This legal thriller series is very addicting!

Sasha McCandless and her new husband, Leo Connelly, face an old nemesis in this installment. When a woman in the Federal Witness Protection Program, Allison Bennett, is tracked and killed by her husband, she leaves behind 6 minor children. Issues about parental rights, custody, and a trust give Sasha plenty to do with her partner, Will, and helped by their legal associate, first year law student, Naya. Leo, currently unemployed after his short tenure in security at a pharmaceutical company, teams up with Hank to help locate their escaped prisoner, Jeffrey Bricker, before he can wreak more havoc.

Just keeps getting better -- the more I read, the more I like the characters and the flow of each story with all the legal details and the drama. So happy that I came upon this author and this series. The books are full of action and have a fast pace so are easy to read in a single sitting. I realized that I had missed two novellas that tie up some loose ends, so will return to those before moving on to #7.

This is the 6th in a lung-running series that should be read in order from the beginning.

Genre - legal thriller

Improper Influence (Sasha McCandless #5) by Melissa F. Miller

 Another exciting legal thriller in this series.

This 5th installment has Sasha and Leo Connelly planning their upcoming nuptials while also dealing with a scandal and coverup in the Medical Examiner's Office. Women are dying of myocarditis and all have something in common that several different bad guys want to hide. The politicians are in bed with a local beverage company and again, greed makes them hide the evidence.

The stories in this series are so interesting and I really like the characters. It has been so much fun to read these back to back and become immersed in them without interruption. Lots of action and legal detail are accompanied by a little romance and a good plot. On to the next.

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

Genre - legal thriller

Indispensable Party (Sasha McCandless #4) by Melissa F. Miller

 Another exciting installment in this legal thriller series!

A couple of months after Sasha’s last case and Leo’s decampment to private enterprise at a pharmaceutical company, she is missing him and taking care of business. Then Leo calls with some news about a vaccine theft and the Doomsday virus — a horrible flu that has been lab created to be a biochemical weapon and is supposedly secure. Of course Sasha gets involved as outside counsel and the true nature of their predicament becomes clear: someone is about to unleash this terrible disease and they have to stop it. Add in some fringe psycho preppers and the alphabet soup of government agencies — their work is cut out for them.

I just love this series. It’s fast paced and easy to read and enjoy as each brings another interesting perspective of the practice of law as well as an exciting issue that needs to be addressed. The main characters are well-developed and, though have their flaws, are not hot messes but problem solvers. On to the next!

This is the 4th book in the series that should be read in order from the beginning.

Genre - legal thriller

Irretrievably Broken (Sasha McCandless #3) by Melissa F. Miller

 Another exciting installment in this legal thriller series.

This third book has Sasha McCandless keeping busy in her solo practice. She’s recently lured a former legal assistant from her former employer, so she has a little help around the office. It does come as a surprise, however, when that firm asks her to represent the husband of one of their partners — Ellen Mortenson — when he is accused of killing her. Now, Sasha has never had a criminal defense case, but that doesn’t seem to matter. In a crazy twist, she soon finds herself with another client after yet another female partner in the firm has been murdered. Dubbed the Lady Lawyer Killers, both men proclaim their innocence and Sasha is determined to find out the truth.

Again, this was fast-paced with a good story line that keeps the reader guessing even though we have some inside information. Sasha always has just the right connections to find people who can help her do what needs to be done. I really enjoy all the legal details and descriptions as well. The characters are all a little flawed which makes them relatable and interesting. I am looking forward to reading the next installment.

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

Genre - legal thriller 

Inadvertent Disclosure (Sasha McCandless #2) by Melissa F. Miller

 Entertaining second book in this legal thriller series featuring attorney Sasha McCandless.

A few months have passed since Sasha left her high-powered legal office to set up her own shop. Her newest client requires her to travel to rural Clear Brook County for an argument about a lease. While there, she's tapped to represent an elderly man who is facing a competency hearing. All of this leads to her involvement in a sticky situation centered on hydrofracking, shale, and mineral rights. Some very greedy people are determined to circumvent the law to get what they want.

This series has the elements that I am currently in the mood for: action, legal shenanigans and courtroom activity, minimal romance, interesting but stereotypical characters, and a good story.
I got this from Amazon in a 3-book set, so I am off to read the third. Enjoying myself with this series.

Second in a series best read in order. 

Genre - legal thriller

Irreparable Harm (Sasha McCandless #1) by Melissa F. Miller

First in legal thriller series does not disappoint -- I'm ready to read the rest of them!

Sasha McCandless, an associate at a prestigious law firm, is working hard to make partner. When one of the firm's biggest clients needs help after a commercial airline flight crashes unexpectedly, she is immediately involved in defending them when a class action lawsuit is filed. It turns out that this crash may have been deliberate, caused by a piece of rogue technology. As Sasha unearths incriminating information, she tries to get answers and finds that a federal air marshal is also investigating this case. Not sure who to trust, and with people involved suddenly dying, Sasha knows she has to get to the truth before someone gets her.

I downloaded this as a freebie from Amazon a long time ago and was not in the mood for anything in my review queue, so I picked it up and started reading. A couple hours later, I put it down having read in a single sitting. I was thoroughly entertained with the main character and the story. I do love a good legal thriller and hope to see more courtroom action in the subsequent installments. Sasha is a tiny woman and knows Krav Maga which really helps her out against the bad guys trying to get her. Perhaps less fighting in the next one? On to #2 as this had all the elements I was wanting in my current frame of mind - lots of action action, good plot, minimal romance, no domestic drama, no psychological twisting, no supernatural, and no horror.

This is the first of 14 titles and I plan to read them all, in order.

Genre - legal thriller

Sundial by Catriona Ward

 Ghastly horror in the desert.

Rob and her husband are trying to hold their life together with their two daughters, Callie and Annie. It’s unfortunate, however, that soon Rob understands that the darkness is in Callie and knows she needs to take care of it. Rob goes to the place where it all began, a huge ranch in the Mojave Desert, her childhood home named Sundial. 

I almost DNF this but I have a thing where I have to if I start. This was not the book ever meant for me. Too many huge triggers including animal abuse and really disturbing psychological stuff. Some of the book was actually slow and boring with this insert of a book that Rob is scribbling. The narrative flips back and forth in time and as the climax draws near, the expected twist appears. The ending was totally out there crazy. But I see from other reviews that this appeals to others in a way it never could for me. 

Despite the fact that I don’t recommend this to anyone I know, I would like to thank NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the e-book ARC to read and review.

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

Genre - horror, animal abuse, psychological, thriller

The Heights by Louise Candlish

 A beautiful family broken. An anguished mother. A quest for revenge. Domestic drama that brings you into the heart of a tragedy.

I really enjoyed this book and the characters were very well-developed and realistic. The narrative is told from several points of view, and each brings a different perception to all of the events that transpired. I don't get this hating on Ellen; I felt mostly sympathy and pity for her and I don't think you can judge her until you have experienced and felt what she went through. Would most of us make the same choices she did -- probably not -- but the quest for revenge is as old as time and the grief of losing a child can't be quantified.

The thing that always gets me in these family dramas is how pitiful the parenting seems to be. I don't know any teen parent that would allow all this running around, drinking, and drug use in their child when said child is still in school and living in the home. Are people really this permissive?

More so -- the concept of the bad friend. The kid who incites the others to get into trouble, flaunt parental authority, experiment with dangerous drugs. What is a parent to do with this negative influencer? And what makes others fall in with this sort of kid instead of staying outside of it?

At the end of the day, a child is dead and the person who allegedly caused it won't or can't give a full accounting. The punishment is minimal and the parents can't accept it. Ellen, the mother, wants more. She tries to put some serious plans in motion to extract her pound of flesh -- she is not able to even think about anything else as long as he is still alive and living his best life.

The writing and the way the story is told was engaging and I was unable to put the book down until I'd finished in a single sitting. Whether or not you like Ellen or agree with what she did, the theme begs the question of what does pain make a person do.

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 - domestic drama, tragedy, revenge

Tell Me an Ending by Jo Harkin

 This debut science fiction thriller is complex and completely absorbing.

If our personality and state of mind is dependent on our memories, experiences, and relationships then what happens if part of those is erased? A clinic offers a service to particular clients interested in deleting traumatic recent memories. Napenthe supposedly does careful psychological evaluation of potential patients before performing the procedure. All does not go well, however, and some of those who had undergone the memory removal experience trace recall. When a class action lawsuit is brought against the company due to this side effect, some of those affected are offered memory restoration. 

The narrative is polyphonic with a collection of very interesting characters all connected through Nepenthe. All are struggling with the concept of the memory deletion and how it has strained their current lives. Since none of them know exactly what has been removed from their consciousness, they don’t understand their feelings and behavior. 

There is quite a lot to absorb in this novel as it touches on moral and philosophical questions about self and how the brain deals with traumatic incidents. How important is memory, which is often not as accurate as we would like to believe, in shaping how we respond to life. Assuming this ability to erase specific, targeted events is possible, then is it a good thing or a bad thing — and why or why not. As one character says, it’s important to ask questions. 

I really enjoyed this and it has given me much to ponder. It would make an excellent choice for discussion with a book club interested in going deep. The author writes well and the story drew me in keeping me engrossed for hours. I will definitely look for another title in the future. 

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

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

Genre - science fiction, medical, philosophical

The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson

 A gruesome thriller that combines elements of science fiction and domestic drama to create a study of family, abusive situations, and survival. 

A new disease has emerged in a post Covid world and it quickly becomes a pandemic that causes sudden and inexplicable violent outbursts. Usually someone or something ends up dead. The rager has no control over his or her behavior and returns to normal after the episode is over. People are fearful of the condition and of each other. No place and no one is safe as little is known about its epidemiology. The story is told through the eyes of 3 generations of woman — a grandmother, a mother, and two young daughters. All have experienced domestic abuse and all need to be saved.

Although quite graphic and very disturbing at times, this was a well-written exploration of the cycles of abuse as seen through the eyes of the main characters. The descriptions of how they dealt with the trauma of trying to survive The Violence were inspiring and the level of tension was high. The people they met along the way provided a reminder that there are still many good and decent folks left in the world despite harrowing times. Love, protection, and support become the true holy grail. Each woman shows determination and courage as she navigates this scary pandemic hoping to be freed from everything they had known before and create a new family where everyone feels valued and heard. Lots of social commentary and a few political asides were blended into the narrative as well.

I actually liked this one quite a bit but admit to glossing over the really gory hideous details. Did the women achieve the redemption and regain the self-esteem they wanted — you will have to read it to find out.

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

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

Genre - Science fiction thriller and drama, very grisly violence

Girl in Ice by Erica Ferencik

 Atmospheric setting brings the Artic chill as this story unfolds.

A linguist noted for her study of dead Nordic languages, Val Chesterfield, is invited to a remote island off the coast of Greenland to see if she can find a way to communicate with a young girl who apparently has been thawed after found frozen in ice. She decides to go, though she has severe fear anxiety, because her twin died there a year ago and Val wants to talk about him with his mentor and project leader, Wyatt Speeks. The weirdness begins as soon as she gets off the plane in this barren, unforgiving landscape.

What I liked most about this book: the details and descriptions of the Arctic outpost and the way the author used it to set the tone and mood. The reader can almost actually feel the extreme cold and the minimalist conditions under which the team is meant to live. The close proximity of the characters to one another in the crowded spaces with nothing but endless snow and wind as the light diminishes each day. I also was very interested in the language aspect and the translation of the words as Val struggles to communicate with Sigrid. And, I was eager to discover the truth about the girl who had come to life after being frozen -- the how, especially. The writing style of the author was engaging and absorbing.

What I didn't like -- the actual unfolding of the story was a disappointment especially the last third of the book when all falls apart and becomes predictable as far as outcome. The characters were such stereotypes and the plot basically seemed to turn into Helen Keller on ice. I found it difficult to relate to any of them, Val included, and some of what happened created difficulty for me to sustain my ability to buy into all that transpired.

The underlying theme is focused on climate change and all that entails -- very scary to be sure. I found myself fascinated by the ice wind phenomenon described. I even googled it to see if it was a real thing (not as far as I could tell). Also, quite enthralled with the topic of thawing a frozen person or other living thing to bring them back to life and wish there had been more focus on that in the novel. In all, however, the book left me with more questions than answers because I do like science fiction when it can be made plausible with explanation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for this e-book ARC to read and review. I will be thinking about this one for awhile.

This is a standalone and is not part of the series. I may check out the author's other books because of the different settings in each and the author's writing style is compelling.

Genre - sci fi thriller, atmospheric