Child Zero by Chris Holm

 Action-packed medical thriller -- scary and plausible.

Antibiotic resistance has resulted in a world wide crisis where a simple infection is now deadly. Historically eradicated disease is once again rampant, and humans live in isolation, quarantine, and fear of the microbes and of each other. Bioterror is the latest weapon for those extremist groups who want to bring about the end of human life. Amidst all the confusion and wariness, a couple of NYPD detectives stumble across a boy who has an unusual gift -- the ability to cure. Unfortunately, they must protect him from powerful factions who want the boy as a pawn.

The science in this work of fiction is very real and the threat of humans losing resistance to disease is looming. The world created by the author of this novel is bleak and dystopian. Government overreach and the protection of human rights are always seemingly at odds. The many characters in this book have their own motives for the actions they take and the philosophies they espouse. In any event, this story will make you think, do some of your own research, and take responsibility for making sure that the narrative does not come to be.

Very fast paced, it was hard to put down and quite enjoyable. I recommend it. 

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

Genre - medical thriller, dystopian, futuristic

The French for Murder (Lady Eleanor Swift #10) by Verity Bright

 Another lovely installment in this cozy mystery series featuring Lady Eleanor Swift.

It’s hard to keep a long running series fresh and fun but Verity Bright manages with aplomb. This episode finds Eleanor and her companion butler, Clifford, along with the Hall retainers, visiting a villa in southern France for a little vacation. Their holiday begins with the discovery of a dead body in the wine cellar — an American actor who is starring in a movie currently being shot in the area. Of course they are soon involved in the investigation.

I always enjoy the period details of historical fiction set in the 1920s and the descriptions bring the setting and era to life on the pages. I like the main characters and the interaction between Eleanor and Clifford. Looking forward to the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for t his e-book ARC to read and review. I’d recommend the entire series and suggest that they be read, from the beginning, in order. 

This is the 10th book in the series. Read in order.

Genre - cozy mystery, historical fiction

CRISPR’D by Judy Foreman

 A medical thriller and legal drama focusing on the science of CRISPR and gene manipulation.

Sammie Fuller is a journalist who befriends 3 women who lost infants to a horrible disease after conceiving via IVF at a posh clinic and research facility. Run by the brilliant Dr. Saul Kramer, the cutting edge research he is doing involves gene splicing and editing. He has focused on a rare disease, Niemann-Pick, one that is inevitably fatal in infants. D. Kramer spends many nights in his lab examining and injecting embryos that are intended for implantation. But his mission, ultimately, is not to help prevent or cure, but to cause death. What twisted motivation turns Dr. Kramer from healer to murderer. Or is he really legally culpable to be tried for murder since “an embryo is not a person.”

Despite the medical and legal aspects of this plot being so obvious, the main character was a newspaper reporter which seemed a bit of an odd choice for the primary point of view. In addition, there was a side bit on the #metoo movement which detracted from the moral and ethical questions that were really meant to be the topic of the book. I really never connected with any of the characters as they were quite one-dimensional and the reader knows who we are meant to like or dislike. Not sure how much of the science was accurate but the author made it believable. I enjoyed the medical parts of the story, the courtroom activity, and not so much the journalist filing her stories. 

Easy to read in a single sitting, I do like a moral conundrum and imagine the ethics of gene therapy will be hotly debated on both sides as well as the question of — when does life being or when does a developing collection of cells become a person in the eyes of the law.

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

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

Genre - medical thriller, legal drama, journalist 

My Wife is Missing by D.J. Palmer

 A husband goes in pursuit of his missing wife in this domestic thriller.

When Natalie Hart and her two children leave the hotel room they've reserved for a family vacation in New York, husband Michael goes full on super detective to find them. Why did Natalie escape and what is Michael hiding. Lots of secrets and lies in this crazy drama.

Told in alternating points of view between Natalie and Michael, there's a lot to unpack. First of all, Natalie has been trying to deal with crippling insomnia and the lack of sleep has impaired her thinking to the point that she's apparently having hallucinations and memory problems. I did not think either of those was contagious, but in his storytelling, Michael also seems to have some issues. Neither is reliable as a narrator, and I found that I didn't care for either of the pair. In fact, none of the characters in the book are likeable and the reader has no clue of who has done what to whom. The tale of Michael chasing Natalie across the USA with an NYPD detective in cahoots was a bit of a hard buy in and somewhat ludicrous. A great deal of suspension of disbelief was required.

I found this more irritating than exciting and between Natalie being almost delusional and the reader led to think that Michael is gaslighting her (is this in all the books now) the story just becomes one long slog as I raced to the conclusion to finally get some sort of truth. Even then, the last couple of chapters bordered on complete ridiculousness. I guess if people were open and honest all the time, we'd have no domestic thrillers dealing with husbands and wives. Basically this was a long, drawn out ride with an ending that fell short of my expectations. So 2.5 stars rounded up.

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, thriller, insomnia, gaslighting

Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone

 Suspenseful and twisty, this is a timely thriller with powerful social commentary.

Ariel Pryce and her new husband, John Wright, are in Lisbon for his business meeting and enjoying the sights and sounds of the city for a few days. On Monday morning, Ariel wakes up alone in their suite. Her husband does not return, nor is there any sort of note and he is not answering his phone. Panicked, Ariel begins to seek help from every possible avenue from hotel security to the local police to the American Embassy. At first, no one is much concerned about this crazy American woman and her demands for attention and assistance. Ariel is nothing but determined to get to the bottom of this sudden disappearance but it's hard to get them to believe her and to take action.

I'll say no more about the events and the plot so as not to give any spoilers. This is surprising at every turn and the narrative is whip smart with the author making incredible observations and incisive perception thru the voice of Ariel. I can say that I was totally surprised by the direction this took and very pleased with how the story played out. I love the writing style and the ability of this author to really get to the crux of the matter. Lots of action and a fast-pace interspersed with critical moments of self-reflection, this was hard to put down and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Full of interesting characters and settings, this was another good book by Chris Pavone. I've read several others, and plan to keep him high on my list for future reading.

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

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

Genre - international suspense thriller (includes rape)

Take Your Breath Away by Linwood Barclay

 Fast and fun suspense thriller that will keep you guessing!

Six years ago, while Andrew Mason was away with his best friend on a fishing trip, Brie Mason disappeared without a trace. Andrew was tormented by accusations and suspicion by the local police, his in-laws, and the people who lived in town. Finally, since there was no proof and no body, Andrew was left to get on with his life and he has found new happiness with girlfriend, Jayne, and her brother, Tyler. His newfound happiness, however, is about to vanish when a woman who looks like Brie starts showing up around their old home and by the hospital where her mother is currently dying. If this is really Brie, why isn’t she sticking around to explain where she’s been. Things are about to get really crazy.

I really enjoyed this as I do most of Barclay’s novels. The narrative shifts and the pacing made it hard to put down as I raced to the conclusion. Full of twists and red herrings, I still managed to solve the mystery before the big reveal, but it was pure enjoyment from beginning to end. This book was just what I needed after a string of titles that did not make my recommended list. Sure it is a bit far fetched and you might need to suspend some disbelief, but it was a great story. 

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

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre - mystery, crime thriller, family drama

The Island by Adrian McKinty

 Predictable and completely unrealistic thriller where a family is on the run from an inbred collection of lunatics.

All the tropes are found within this novel that I had to force myself to finish. The characters were copies of every other story where someone finds extraordinary courage and is equipped with just the right talents and stamina to overcome the odds. With some kids to protect. The most interesting parts had nothing to do with the narrative but included facts about the Australian island and survival skills.

In addition, it is violent and includes all sorts of human and animal abuse. If this is your thing, then you might find the book to be just what you're looking for.

I'd requested it because I had enjoyed the author's The Chain. Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this e-book to read and review. I can't recommend it.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series. Previous title was The Chase.

Genre - thriller

The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian

 Never going on an African safari...

Historical thriller, quite predictable, and very violent with a large cast of characters.

Hollywood actress Katie Barstow, and her new husband, David Hill, decide to take some family and close friends to the Serengeti at the end of their honeymoon. What is meant to be an adventurous camp-out that involves watching animals and taking photographs turns deadly when the entourage is kidnapped by Russians.

I've read all of this author's books and, upon analysis, I see they have been hit and miss with me. I found this to be terribly bloody, lots of senseless killing, and a plot that really did not grip me with an ending, meant to be a twist, that was totally foreseen early in the story. Told in multiple voices, the narrators give their take on what is happening during their ordeal, and reveal a bit about themselves and their lives interspersed with blurbs from supposed tabloid reports from Hollywood. All of the jumping around made the novel less suspenseful as mostly I just wanted a fluid tale without all the background that foreshadowed how this would all end. I never felt that I identified with the many characters and thus did not regret any one death more than another though it all just seemed so pointless and sad.  As usual, the author includes political and social commentary relevant to the place (Africa) and the time period (1960s) and, given the current global tendency to despise the mercenary Russians, they don't get any love either. I think my overwhelming response to this work is that I was disappointed.

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

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

Genre - historical fiction

The Change by Kirsten Miller

 A feminist revenge fantasy with mystery elements.

Three women past their prime, according to the world at large, and menopause is not appealing. As each experiences loss of one kind or another, they find that they have developed some interesting abilities with their freedom. Living in Mattauk, they often see, but rarely interact, with the super wealthy who live on Culling Point overlooking the ocean. The women soon learn that with their new power comes responsibility. Their mission is to rid their community of the evil that has resulted in missing and dead young women.

I liked this well enough but am sort of tiring of the angry women vibe that involves vigilantism and murder. It's one of those where all but maybe one or two men are horrible and, despite everything going on in the news, I do not actually feel that way. In order to fully buy into this story, you have to suspend disbelief long enough to accept that the three main female characters in this story have unusual supernatural skills that come in handy when they are investigating and taking care of business in their little town. It was hard to feel sorry for the creepy men, but definitely they were stereotypical as in every book like this you read about old rich men abusing young girls. Harriet, Nessa, and Jo narrated arts of the novel so each was unique in her point of view and interesting in the way they dealt with their age and stage of life.

So, I'm glad I read this and feel like it will appeal to a certain female fan base as mature women are portrayed as strong and powerful characters capable of living life large. 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 - women's fiction "Big Little Lies meets The Witches of Eastwick" fantasy

Cabin Fever: The Harrowing Journey of a Cruise Ship at the Dawn of a Pandemic by Michael Smith

 Utterly heartbreaking and vivid account of life and death aboard the cruise ship Zaandam during the initial COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020.

When passengers, most of them over age 65, streamed onto the Holland America ship in Argentina, they had only minimal concern about the novel coronavirus that was just starting to hit the news. Over 1200 cruisers and 600 crew members were convinced that they were escaping on this planned 3-week voyage into areas that would be safe. Unfortunately, a stowaway was also on board and within days of the Zaandam embarkation, people began coughing and developing symptoms indicating that the virus had come along. Because so little was known about how the virus was transmitted, how to confirm a diagnosis, or how to take care of people exhibiting the signs of disease, mistakes were made. In another colossal failure, the ship had only a small medical unit with two doctors and minimal supplies and medications to even begin to care for the incoming deluge of patients. Even worse, there were no reliable COVID tests on the ship so tracking the spread proved nearly impossible. 

Meanwhile, as the communications between ship and shore intensified, passengers were quarantined in their cabins so the crew members, many of them sick themselves, were expected to continue laundry and food service to the passenger rooms at unprecedented levels. Left adrift in the ocean for weeks on end, the Zaandam was denied port entry as the world was shutting down. All the basic necessities were running low, the medical unit was filled to capacity, the crew members were sick and dying, and the passengers were locked in their rooms, many sick and untended. What a nightmare. The ship was deemed a pariah and left to wander the oceans, doomed to wait until someone let them come into safe harbor.

This was a grueling read and I had to stop often as the emotional stories got to me. I was angry even as I understood that ignorance of the condition, so profound in the early days of the global pandemic, resulted in so many egregious errors in how this situation was handled. The Zaandam was not the only cruise ship out on the waters with sick and dying people on board. An overwhelming situation was occurring on land at the same time, and things were dire everywhere as a worldwide shutdown began. The personal accounts by passengers and crew that were related in this book really demonstrated the reality of the crisis and the hopelessness all experienced. Difficult to read, especially in retrospect now that we are two years out from the beginning of this disease, I am glad so many survived despite the seemingly insurmountable odds. It is important to remember that there are always heroes in any disaster; it just may be that they are not the ones you imagine.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. It is definitely not for the faint of heart. 

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre - nonfiction drama

The Long Weekend by Gilly Macmillan

 A fun and twisty thriller that will keep you guessing.

It’s autumn at Dark Fell Barn when three women arrive for a long weekend. Though not really friends, they are bound together by their husbands who’ve been best buds for ages. When they finally get to the isolated farmhouse, they are still a little miffed about the fact that their husbands have conveniently stayed behind for the first night of their annual couples getaway. Deciding to make the best of it, they make their way up the barely there road to the barn they’ve rented for the retreat. Things seem to be looking a little brighter when they arrive to find a note and a lovely wrapped gift. Suddenly everything gets really dark, fast. Not only is a storm moving into the off-the-grid moor, but the note, written by another friend who was recently widowed and decided not to come this year, claims that she has killed one of their husbands!  

This book starts off a little slow but soon gets all kinds of crazy — in a good way. I was completely surprised by the direction the story took and was making all kinds of wild guesses. The narrative is told from several points of view and so deftly woven together that I became impatient to get the answers to all my speculation. It was a quick and entertaining read especially because I was expecting more of the same old “girls trip locked in” novel and this was definitely not that. 

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

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

Genre - suspenseful thriller with lots of drama