One for Sorrow (DI Callanach #7) by Helen Sarah Fields

 An explosive crime thriller with a cliffhanger ending.

A serial bomber is targeting Edinburgh and victims become the near and dear. DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach head the investigation but have no leads, no clues, and a fear that this killer will not stop.

Without spoilers, I really can't explain this "didn't like it" star rating. Suffice to say that all I want to know is, "Why??!!"  Helen Fields, you had me at #1 and this was one of my favorite detective series ever, but THAT ENDING. All I can say is, "No!"  This blatant emotional manipulation with characters I've grown to admire and love is something I just can't accept. To top it off, leaving that cliffhanger was just cruel. Calls to mind another series that I read and loved until a moment just like the one in this book. Our relationship is over, joining a list of authors I will hard pass in the future.

I can't believe other long-time readers of this series will be happy with this 7th installment, but I have always been one to be heavily invested in a good writer with great plots and good stories to tell. All good things must end...

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for this e-book ARC to read and review. I can't recommend. 

This is the 7th in what was a good series that I had read from the beginning and dearly loved.

Genre - crime thriller, police procedural

Blue Madagascar by Andrew Kaplan

 Action packed thriller full of international intrigue.

A US presidential candidate on the cusp of winning the election commits suicide. Why? In France, an older male customer is killed in a jewelry store smash and grab that goes terribly wrong. The beautiful woman who was with him leaves with the thieves. Who are they? While intelligence agencies are scrambling to find answers, Homeland Security Special Agent Casey Ramirez is tapped to work with the French authorities when no one can identify the dead man in the store. What follows is an incredible chase through many different countries as Casey tries to figure out why so many others want answers and who will kill anyone who stands in their way.

I will start by saying that this novel has a huge cast of characters from many different parts of the world. Keeping them straight is difficult at times. The bad guys are super awful and the book is full of graphic descriptions of them doing horrible things — in other words — lots of deaths. Of course our heroine manages to escape most of the mayhem, puts herself in impossible risky situations and manages to find out the big secret without getting herself killed. The pace is fast but sometimes it seemed like the narrative just rambled and it seemed a lot longer than the page count. As I was reading, I often thought how dangerous the spy game is and know that no one can be trusted with all the activity that goes on behind the scenes of politics and governments. 

This was a new author to me and it is likely that I would pick up another written by him though I’m really usually not that interested in espionage and foreign criminals or conspiracies of same. This definitely was written as if for a film or limited miniseries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Smugglers Lane Press for this e-book ARC to read and review. 

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

Genre - spy thriller

The Stowaway by James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth

 A suspense thriller with lots of grisly details of murder and mayhem.

Maria Fontana was simply doing her civic duty by serving on a jury. Little did she know that alleged serial killer Wyatt Butler’s case would be the start of some harrowing times for her and her children. Deliberating in the jury room was torture and when the verdict of not guilty came in and Butler was set free, Maria thought it was all over and she could get on with her life. Unfortunately, the public, now aware that her vote may have been the deciding factor, is not eager to let it go. Wanting to get away from it all, Maria and her family set off on a 12 day cruise from New York to Southampton on the HMS Atlantia. She and her fiancé, Steve, and her 11-year-old twins, are excited about their vacation and enjoying ship life when a passenger is discovered. The ritualistic display of the remains shocks Maria whose familiarity with the Butler case makes her immediately on guard. Is it possible that Wyatt Butler is on board and what horrendous plan does he have in store for the other passengers and the woman who set him free.

The author creates a very tense mood with the setting of the cruise ship and a pool of victims readily available with no means of escape. There was lots of action and this is a quick and entertaining read even as you may have to suspend your disbelief at times. The character of Maria is interesting as a choice protagonist for a crime thriller — she’s a professor of psychology at Columbia University — and has really had no previous exposure to sociopathic killers. Somehow it all works though there are some very alarming descriptions and scary scenes. Definitely gory accounts of murders. Regardless, I did like the story and will be looking for perhaps another book featuring this character as it feels like it could be the start of a series. Would also make a great movie!

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

This is either a standalone or the first in a new series.

Genre - suspense thriller, very grisly, triggers child murders

Unthinkable by Brad Parks

Fast and fun thriller with an unusual premise.

Nate and Jenny are not the typical family -- he stays home with their two pre-school age daughters while his wife, a lawyer, makes the big bucks. Both are fine with this arrangement until the day when their peaceful suburban life is imploded by the intrusion of a powerful and secret consortium. When Nate is kidnapped and given an explanation, he is stunned to find out that he alone has the ability to stop a billionaire's apocalyptic vision from happening and save the lives of millions of people.

I love a book that gets off to a quick start with lots of action and a fun story line. Even though you might have to suspend disbelief a bit to buy in, it is very entertaining and enjoyable. The author creates a lot of tension with the reader wondering if Nate will do what is asked -- or not. All told, a very satisfying novel and a great one to pick up when you are in the mood for a movie in your mind.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series. I do plan to go and check out some of his other novels.

Genre - suspense thriller, action

The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale

Riveting historical fiction based on the journalist Nellie Bly, who spent ten days confined at Blackwell's Insane Asylum for Women in 1887.

The story is real and the descriptions of those days in the asylum still cause me anxiety when I imagine what it was like and how it would feel to be sent there. Hopeless. What Nellie endured to expose that hideous place as it truly was is nothing short of extremely courageous. The fact that so many women were labeled as lunatics and locked away for the rest of their lives is deplorable history, but it happened.

Having read 10 Days in a Madhouse written by Nellie Bly back when I was in high school, I was again intrigued by her story and wanted to revisit it during this particular time when mental health is getting a much needed focus. Reading about the blatant mistreatment of women during those days still angered me as well as made me truly appreciate what she and many other women have done over the past hundred plus years to create a new narrative for all women. But, honestly, in my heart, I still feel that we have not come far enough. Yes, there have been strides in what is claimed by some to be equality, but sometimes when I read the news, hear about new laws or proposed changes, I think that we are not fully there yet.

I know that great improvements have been made in the treatment of the mentally ill, but yet there are still so many who are suffering without any access to the care that could help them. Despite evidence, some continue to believe that psychological illness is not a disease and there is often negative stigma attached to those seeking relief.

This story was a great reminder that outrageous injustice still exists and that we cannot wait for another Nellie Bly but must step up ourselves to affirm and support any methods that will improve the lives of, not just women, but all humanity.

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

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

Genre - historical fiction, mental illness, Gilded Age (1887)
 

The Lives of Diamond Bessie by Jody Hadlock

Based on actual events, this historical mystery is perfect for true crime lovers.

Annie Moore is only 16 when she is sent away to a convent to give birth to her illegitimate baby. When the baby is taken to an orphanage, Annie makes the difficult decision to run away and to try to find some sort of work that will allow her to regain custody of her infant daughter. Unfortunately, opportunities for a woman like her are few and far between and she is taken in by a house of prostitution and soon begins working there. As the years go by, Annie changes her name to Bessie and moves up in the hierarchy, working in fancy brothels and attended by a more wealthy clientele. She's making her way in a difficult situation but longs to return to respectable society.

As it so often happens, Bessie's ultimate downfall is a man. Although what happened to her is not unique, the way the author tells her story is wholly engaging and a compelling tale of what women suffered before women's rights were a thing.

I really enjoyed the way the story shifted after Bessie is betrayed by her new husband and it did indeed remind me of The Lovely Bones with that point of view though I typically am not into any paranormal. The characters in Bessie's inner circle were interesting, but the way the author wrote about Bessie was so endearing that I felt such empathy for her. This was a fast read that I consumed in a matter of hours in one sitting as I could not wait to find out how it ended. The best part of the conclusion was the author's notes about the real people and historical records at the back of the book.

This is definitely a book that I will recommend and thank you to NetGalley and Spark Press for this e-book ARC to read and review.

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

Genre - Historical mystery based on a true crime

The Atlas Six (#1) by Olivie Blake

 A dark fantasy that reads like YA and contains some similarity to themes of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games books.

This was definitely not a book that I normally would choose and probably one that I should have skipped entirely. I was enticed by the hype and ended up being totally disappointed in the story. It was surely an overreach of quasi philosophy and the concept of magic -- of course being misused by power hungry masterminds playing at being God. Another miss was that this ARC contained none of the promised illustrations.

The premise -- six magicians are chosen to attend the Alexandrian Society indoctrination with the ultimate prize of being asked to join this super secret collective and have access to all the lost and ancient knowledge. The characters are introduced and narrate their own chapters as their magical specialties are explained as they try to prove their worth to each other and to the Society. There is a catch, however. Out of the 6 invited, only 5 will be initiated members.

Very slow pace, a lot of repetition, and ultimately somewhat boring -- this was not my cup of tea. I did not like any of the characters and the whole concept of their purpose was only vaguely explained. I have no intention of reading further books in this series because I simply do not care about any of them nor their future conspiracies or manipulations. There is no sense of menace or foreboding even in the magic or the atmosphere of the mansion where they live and study. I was a trial to read through to the end and I am glad to be done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. Sorry, it was not for me and I can see from other reviews that I am an outlier on this one.

This is meant to be the first in a series.

Genre - YA fantasy, sci fi, magic

Blood Sugar by Sascha Rothchild

 This debut thriller features a likeable protagonist, even if she does have some serial killer tendencies.

Ruby does not have any anger issues, in fact she is an animal lover and an empath who is currently a doctor of psychology with a thriving therapy practice. When she's accused of murdering her husband, Jason, and arrested by the Miami Beach Police Department, she starts reminiscing about some previous nefarious behavior in her past. She just might have been responsible for the deaths of three others, but she did not kill her husband.

This was so fun and clever and I really enjoyed it. I was rooting for Ruby, despite her bad behavior, because she is so self-aware and cares so deeply about those she loves. Told in shifting time periods going back to her childhood and up to present day, Ruby is a marvelous narrator with rich insight and a unique way of managing her life.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

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

Genre - psychological thriller, debut

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

If paranormal mysteries are your thing, then this is a haunting thriller you won't want to miss!

Shea Collins is obsessed with true crime. Having been a victim in her past, she is still painfully afraid and spends her nights running a website, the Book of Cold Cases. She meets Beth Greer at the doctor's office where she works as a receptionist and asks her for an interview. In 1977, Beth Greer was arrested and tried as the Lady Killer. After being acquitted, Beth remained in Claire Lake, Oregon, and has lived alone in the mansion near the ocean in Arlen Heights. Will Shea finally learn what happened all those years ago?

I like the author's writing style and the story was interesting with the time shifts and alternating points of view. I had lots of guesses and most proved correct, but I was just undone by the supernatural elements. The novel has a very slow build up before stuff really starts happening. The conclusion was where it all became a little too "out there" for me, but I know fans will appreciate that aspect as it is a familiar part of St. James's books.

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

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

Genre - paranormal mystery

The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

 Fast and fun, this fantasy adventure is the perfect antidote to any lingering blahs.

When Jamie Gray gets fired on the day of his 6-month performance review, things look pretty bleak. The Covid Pandemic is beginning to isolate and quarantine everyone and jobs are scarce. Fortunately, he gets work as a delivery person and soon reconnects with someone he’d known at university. When a job doing something a little more lucrative is offered, Jamie accepts immediately.

Soon, however, Jamie finds that he has agreed to go off Earth to another dimension to protect an unusual creature, the kaiju, and that’s when the world building and hilarious story comes alive. The interaction between the characters and their daily routine working for the KPS is sprinkled with all kinds of serious science stuff, but the gist is that the entire outpost is mainly there for the kaiju. When nefarious people from real Earth come through to take a closer look at the unique biological system that is a kaiju, the team goes into action hoping to avert a terrible disaster. 

This was a quick read that took me only a couple of hours, much of that time spent smiling at the nonsense and the interplay of the team. It was just what I needed and I can recommend it to anyone who wants a break from the gritty and serious for some entertainment. If you liked the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park or the dragons from The Great Zoo of China — or any huge, otherworldly creature features, you will definitely enjoy this one.

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

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

Genre - fantasy, science fiction, unusual creatures

No Shadow Without Light by Luke Gracias (sequel to The Devil's Prayer)

 A worthy conclusion to the thrilling saga as Siobhan Russo continues her treasure hunt for the 12 missing pages of the Devil's Bible to prevent Armageddon. This is action-packed and full of historical references as Siobhan tries to complete her mission facing danger at every turn.

How fun it is to read an entire story back-to-back from beginning to end without having to wait ages to find out the end!

I received an ARC of the first book several years ago and it languished on my TBR shelf until this sequel was about to be published. A gentle reminder made me look to see if I had read the earlier one or if I still had it as I do not like to read books out of order or miss the beginning of a set or series. After I devoured <i> The Devil's Prayer </i>, I immediately begin this follow-up.

There is a moral here -- that humans are selfish and that their greed to accumulate and hoard precious resources will end up costing the survival of future generations. As stewards of the Earth, only with selfless behavior and curbing this behavior can all species continue to live. The story may be fictional, but the details and descriptions of the places and events that have already occurred are pertinent and relevant to current situations as well. The author also includes photographs of some of the sites that Siobhan visits in her quest and the history of them is fascinating. The topics of religion from a historical perspective and the themes of darkness and light, good and evil,  carry a warning. I always enjoy a book that makes me think and this one certainly did. I would love to have some great discussion with like-minded readers and definitely look forward to a film adaptation of these two novels.

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

This is the second book in a set of 2. Do not read this one if you have not read the first.

Genre - historical fiction, religion, action, adventure, quest, good vs evil

The Devil’s Prayer by Luke Gracias

 Mind blown. I started this earlier tonight and I could not turn the pages fast enough. I have rarely read such an amazing blend of horror, thriller, historical fiction and though  — note the trigger warning — not for everyone, I will be recommending it to anyone willing to take a chance on a book that has left me reeling. Different than most of my usual favorites, I am left without the words to describe what I’ve just finished. Of course I went directly to the related website indicated in the back of the book, and watched the trailer, looked at all the gallery of photos of actual sites described in the narrative, and desperately long for the movie that is meant to be in production. 

http://devilsprayer.com.au/

In the meantime, read this if you dare. I’m off to start the sequel.

My apologies for neglecting to read and review this for so many years. Thank you to NetGalley for the e-book ARC.

This is the first book and is followed by a second, NO SHADOW WITHOUT LIGHT.  Read in order.

Genre - as described above with triggers for rape, murder, horror, supernatural, religion

Sea Storm (Unwater investigation Unit #3) by Andrew Mayne

Exciting action in the third installment of this adventure thriller series.

The Florida Underwater Investigative Unit is called to the scene when a cruise ship is rocked by a series of well-placed explosions and begins to list and sink close to the harbor. As the rescue team looks for any remaining crew or passengers while the lifeboats head to shore, they discover that the damage is intentional and points to perhaps being caused by some sort of ecoterrorist.  An intense investigation involves the team working in conjunction with various governmental agencies, but clues and leads begin to hint that there is much more at play here than an attempt to protest environmental issues. The small unit, consisting of Sloan McPherson, Scott Hughes, and boss George Solar, are convinced that they are facing off with a well-connected and powerful enemy involved in a huge conspiracy.

This was so much fun to read with a fast pace and tons of action involving incredible feats of bravery, endurance, and skills as the team races on land and sea to solve the case. I enjoy the partnership between McPherson and Hughes who seem to manage in all types of dangerous situations. They have some incredible abilities and good instincts as they face all sorts of bad guys. I also like how the author shows glimpses into their private lives with McPherson's family -- who are definitely unusual. I've read only one other in this series, but I admit I can't wait for #4. If you are looking for something different in the crime fiction genre, this series fits the bill.

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

This is the third in a series that does work as a standalone but best if you read them all, in order.

Genre - crime thriller, adventure, action

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

 "Your opinion is your opinion, your perception is your perception--do not confuse them with facts or truth." (John Moore)

This domestic drama is a study of an unusual family whose patriarch is about to marry a much younger woman after his wife, diagnosed with Alzheimer's, is confined to a care home.

Stephen Aston is a heart surgeon, is in his early 60's, and has two daughters who are both older than his bride-to-be. He wants Tully and Rachel to be happy for him and Heather, but the whole situation is fraught with complications -- especially since Stephen has not divorced his mentally unstable wife, Pam. As all of them begin interacting and making discoveries about each other, long held secrets and issues start to bubble to the surface creating conflict and questions. Most of the concern is directed toward Stephen.

This novel was quite entertaining as the author creates the narrative from several different points of view and with a time shift that makes the reader start the guessing games. Just when you think you have it all figured out, there's a twisty surprise at the end that might leave some readers a bit unsettled. Personally, I thought most of the women were huge hot messes and totally unreliable in their perceptions and quite untrustworthy. Talk about a lot going on -- these women all needed some long term therapy!  In any event, I enjoyed the read and, perhaps you are like me, and only want to know -- what happened next?

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

Accusation by Paul Batista

 A legal thriller that focuses on a famous actor accused of sexual harassment.

Aaron Julian receives a call from his agent informing him that he has been accused by several young female actresses of taking liberties with them and then ruining their careers. Represented by a lawyer who brought down the Catholic Church in the Boston Archdiocese over abuse by priests, these women are appearing on television making their claims. Aaron Julian and his wife, a famous singer named Vega, have been married for 3 years and they are urged to retain defense attorney Raquel Rematti. 

Although the book is short, the pace is fast and events soon pile up into a vast conspiracy as each side creates a response to the charges and engages in different efforts to reveal the truth — or do they? It was obvious quite quickly that justice in this case would be impossible as nefarious and patently illegal methods are used to seek answers that benefited either the prosecution or the defense. I was actually sort of sickened by the manipulation that went on behind the scenes and am concerned that, in many cases, justice is not served by the legal system. 

The characters were hard to like as each seemed engaged in a more personal fight that had nothing to do with the case. Despite being a legal thriller, there was not much action in the courtroom as most of the narrative focused on what was going on behind the scenes. I liked the story well enough and it was hard to put it down. That’s why the ending came as such a surprise and why I knocked off a star. The author really did not provide any explanation for some of the loose ends. In any event, I had though about going back to read the previous books in the series that feature Raquel Rematti but now not sure since I was very disappointed with the conclusion. 

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

This is the third in a series featuring Raquel Rematti but this is the only one I read and it can be read as a standalone.

Genre - legal thriller, #metoo

Insomnia by Sarah Pinborough

 May need an extra dose of suspension of disbelief for this mind-blowing domestic thriller, but have fun on the ride!

Emma Averell is an accomplished lawyer with two children and a househusband. She’s come a long way from a traumatic childhood tainted with madness and attempted murder. Her mother, subsequently placed in a mental health facility, has been out of Emma’s life for years. Unfortunately, as Emma’s 40th birthday approaches, she starts to experience insomnia and soon fears she is going insane — just like her mother. As her life starts to crumble and fall apart, Emma tries to find answers about her childhood but discovers that she has no clue whom to trust.

The story was wholly original in some ways with the time paradox elements, but I had to work hard to buy in. I also had a difficult time relating to Emma as she wore on my last nerve with all the angst and wishy washy behavior where she never got control of herself or made good decisions. I admit that I was waiting for the huge twist that never came because there were enough hints that a reader could figure out most of what was going to happen. I know that I was hoping for some surprise like the controversial ending of Behind Her Eyes and the climax did not really come close in this novel. In addition, the pace was quite slow and repetitive. Despite those drawbacks, I still enjoyed the book and definitely will read more by this author.

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

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

Genre - domestic thriller

Nine Lives by Peter Swanson

 An unusual mystery thriller that will leave you guessing until the end when all comes together.

Nine names on a list. Each of those people receives a mysterious letter in the mail with no explanation other than the names. Some initially think it a prank or some sort of glitch but then, one by one, each is murdered. Who is the architect of this elaborate plan and why are these particular men and women being targeted since there seems to be no connection between them. FBI Agent Jessica Winslow, whose name is also inexplicably on this list, is determined to protect them but soon finds herself trying to hide as well. Are all of them doomed?

This was an interesting narrative with many different points of view so initially it was a bit hard to keep all of the characters straight. The chapters are short so the reader learns a bit about each named person on the list — all but one of them living basically banal and unremarkable lives. After awhile, I started to have an idea about who might be behind the plot but the full details do not become clear until the very end. It was a quick read for me and kept me immersed in the story so I read it in one sitting this afternoon.

Thank you to the publisher, William Morrow, for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

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

Genre - mystery thriller

A Harmless Lie (Louise Rick #10) by Sara Blaedel

 This is the 10th book in a series featuring Louise Rick, a detective with the Copenhagen police. I’ve read most of the installments in this collection and feel it is best to not view this one as a starting point or standalone.

Louise is on leave prior to taking a new position and vacationing in Thailand where she’s just been left behind as her son and her partner, Eik and his daughter, have gone on without her. Her future plans now on hold, Louise is more than wiling to rush home when she gets a call that her brother Mikkel has attempted suicide because his wife, Trine, had left him. 

Once she arrives home in Osted, Louise learns that there is a lot more going on. Her brother is now a suspect in Trine’s disappearance. Meanwhile, the body of a young girl who vanished over 25 years ago while on a school trip has been found. At loose ends, Louise decides to help the police clear Mikkel’s name and figure out what happened to Trine. It becomes clear, however, that the recently unearthed body and Trine, along with her old schoolmates, might be connected.

This was an OK read but the plot really didn’t grab me and I wasn’t pulled along by any great suspense or gripping story. I like Louise as as character and also some of the others mentioned in the novel are familiar as well. I will definitely read the next book, but I hope there will be more substance to it and that Louise will get her personal and professional life back on track.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the 10th book in a series that is best read in order from the beginning.

Genre - mystery, police and detective stories, crime