The Coroner - The Coroner's Daughter (#1 Emily Hartford) by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush

 A prodigal daughter comes home...

This was like reading a Hallmark movie -- except for the murder part. And the fact that it ends on a cliffhanger making it necessary to continue the series should you care to learn what happened to Emily's mom. This is the first of 4 books.

Dr. Emily Hartford, a surgical resident in Chicago, returns to Freeport when her father has a heart attack. Since he is incapacitated, Emily is tapped to assume her father's role as the town's medical examiner when a local teenager is found dead. Emily reluctantly takes up the mantle and, despite their estrangement, tries to patch up issues with her stubborn father that drove her away after her mother's death. Of course there is a big city fiance, another surgeon, and then the hometown boy, her first boyfriend who is now a cop, Sheriff Nick Larson. Who will win her heart? And, who killed Julie Dobson. Emily has a lot of decisions to make. 

Other than the heavy romance aspect, I did enjoy the medical details and the investigation aspects of this book. Unfortunately, I am not an Emily fan. I didn't care for her and wonder if reading further in the series will make me warm up -- she is such a cliche and most of the narrative is a trope. I'll see.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in this e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator was decent but this production would have benefited from a male voice.

This is the first in a series of 4 books that need to be read in order.

Genre & tags - romance, medical mystery, police investigation, murder, forensics, medical examiner, animal abuse

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret (Ernest Cunningham #3) by Benjamin Stevenson

 Just in time for the holidays, a fair play Christmas mystery.

This is a novella, and even though it’s short, it’s a very cleverly plotted story with plenty of clues to allow the reader to figure out whodunit along with the main character. Our erstwhile detective, Ernest Cunningham, finds another mystery soon after solving two very public murder cases. He is headed to Katoomba and a Christmas show after his ex-wife, Erin, calls him from jail there after her boyfriend is found murdered in their house. 

Clever, funny and tongue-in-cheek, this is told in first person point of view with Ernest explaining and talking about things with the reader. It’s a great choice of writing style for this type of story and it works very well. Definitely, Ernest is smarter than he looks and though he’s no real detective, he’s definitely coming into the role. Lots of fun. Can’t wait for the next installment. 

I listened to the audiobook while also following in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Barton Welch delivers a great performance with his Australian accent and dramatic flair. It definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

This is a novella but it is the third book written featuring this main character. Read in order!

Genre - satirical and humorous detective fiction, mystery

The Burning (#16 Kate Burkholder) by Linda Castillo

 Unique Amish crime fiction series continues with an unusual plot.

Could someone be killing the bad Amish people? That's the premise of this latest installment in the Kate Burkholder series when she is called to the crime scene where a man has been burned at the stake. The dead man was a troubled person and mean as a snake. 

I've always liked the series because of the Amish connection as I've learned a lot about their religion and way of life. Now Kate has finally married Tomasetti and has sort of settled into her new life with him. Although no longer Amish herself, she still has a very strong connection to her past and especially to her older brother who now lives on their parents' farm. When he's targeted by the Painters Mill law enforcement as a suspect in the murder of the burnt man, Milan Swanz, Katie is told to step aside from the investigation. 

Does she do that? Of course not, and that's where the narrative went off course for me. Her stupid decisions and maverick attitude once again bring her near death -- but miraculously she's hardly hurt at all despite the battles that ensue and the beatings she takes. How she survives defies believability. Anyway, I ended up disappointed with how this story played out and there were still quite a few unanswered questions due to how the bad guys ended up. I definitely would have liked to hear a lot more about this shady, secretive group of avengers.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator was OK but did not do a very good job at all with the male voices. This is my first audio in the series, so I don't know if they continue to use the same person for reading but I won't likely do another audiobook.

This is the 16th book in the series and it should be read, from the beginning, in order.

Genre - crime fiction, police detectives, Amish

What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena

 Secrets, lies, and a murder.

I’m so torn about this book. The premise was great, reminiscent of The Lovely Bones in many ways, but all the teenage points of view with their angst and drama actually made this too much like a YA genre novel for me. 

I like teenagers, but I’m past wanting to read books where they are the main narrators. I prefer adult viewpoints with the teens there but not heard. I quickly became annoyed with their antics and behavior. Yes, the murdered girl was a teenager but I wish it had been more of a police procedural with the focus being on their investigation. 

I’m not a supernatural or ghost believer so that already had set me off with the dead girl making appearances in the narrative. Conveniently of course, unable to remember who actually murdered her. Lots of red herrings. Plenty of really nasty people living in that small town hiding lots of bad behavior. The notions that a 12 or 13 year old child has a smartphone and the parents have no clue what they are doing on it. So many things got me in a snit and, coupled with the climax with the revelation of the killer, put me way off. So much wasted potential for a good story. But yeah, I think it will find success with a young adult audience. As the points of view went from one character to another, I thought to myself — what a lot of icky people live in this town — and never really related to any of them. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The production had 3 different narrators and they did a decent job of pulling me into the story and kept me reading even when I wasn’t sure that I wanted to finish. I always appreciate when audio has a larger cast and includes both male and female voices. 

I’ve read several previous books from this author and liked them more, so I’m sure I’ll return for another novel by Shari Lapena. 

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

Genre - mystery, suspense, supernatural, adult novel that reads like YA

The Mistletoe Mystery (Molly the Maid 2.5) by Nita Prose

 Short and saccharine sweet, Molly the maid gets a Christmas surprise in this novella that continues the series.

Increasingly suspicious of her beloved boyfriend, Juan, Molly is worried this holiday season. He’s been disappearing with alarming regularity and evading her questions. Is he not meant to be the love of her life?

Listened to the audiobook while following along in the ebook provided by the publisher. I appreciate  the Molly stories as she gets discombobulated because she takes everything so literally. The narrator did a great job voicing the characters and that enhanced my enjoyment of the story. 

Definitely you will want to have read the previous two books in this series. 

Genre- sweet Christmas tale reminiscent of O. Henry’s story. 

I Think I was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker

 Mystery with heavy religious and romance overtones.

I like thrillers that have to do with cutting edge technology and my impression was that this book was about an AI app and also about bitcoin. Although those were parts of the story, the main focus was on the character of Katrina Berg and her Norwegian family in North Haven. The concept of hygge (mood of coziness, warmth and comfort) is also emphasized and appears constantly within the prose. In addition, her romance with a restaurant owner, Seb Wallace, is another huge piece of the novel.

This was fast paced and a quick read, but it just had too much sappy romance for me. I would have liked much more focus on the AI chat bot aspect. Lots of family, home, hearth, sentimentality, and a bit too overly sweet. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. As always, a good narrator can enhance my enjoyment of a book, and this was well done. I always believe, however, that a larger cast with male and female voices would add to the quality of an audio production. 

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

Genre - Christian fiction, mystery, romance

Talking to Strangers (#2 DI Elise King) by Fiona Barton

Another superbly plotted and well-paced crime thriller.

This is a slow burner that kept me intrigued and guessing until the epilogue with its shocking finish. Basically, it's a mystery centered on two different murders that are inexplicably intertwined. The story was told in alternating points of view with the primary characters being DI Elise King and reporter Kiki Nunn. 

A single, middle-aged woman just wants to have fun. Karen Simmons likes her dating apps and often swipes right. She meets and hooks up with the wrong guy late on Valentine's Day night. DI Elise King and her team investigate with many possible suspects to interview. Kiki Nunn is trying to make a living working for a local online news agency and decides to use the murder of Karen Simmons to do her own little deep dive into the online dating scene and the danger of strangers. And she definitely puts herself in it with a very bad guy -- could he be the one who also murdered Karen? 

Lots of suspects and solid police techniques make for a slow process as they wade through witness statements and scant evidence. It's only when they also start looking at the death of a young child years earlier in the same woods where Karen's body was found that they start to narrow their focus.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. I usually enjoy the narrators, but I really was put off by the voice of Jayne Entwistle who voiced Kiki. She sounded like an elderly woman and didn't fit the character in my mind. The other female narrator and the male's voice were satisfactory and matched their parts.

I look forward to reading the next installment in this series. 

This is the second book in a series featuring DI Elise King. Best read in order.

Genre/tags - police procedural, crime thriller, mystery, rape, murder, online dating

The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen

 Entertaining domestic mystery thriller.

A woman whose boyfriend disappeared and then subsequently died receives a text message 5 years later asking her to meet him in the park they had frequented during their time together. Shocked but eager to see him again, Ariel Cafferty rushes to the location. But he never shows up. Ariel has never forgotten Drew and the explanation for the text has her doing a deep dive into everything she thought was true about their relationship, her relatives, and the family business. 

This was fast paced and quite interesting as it involved the technology behind door cameras and the subsequent threats to privacy that they can create. Having access to the footage of those cameras can be used for good and also, as is discovered, for evil. As Ariel searches for the truth, she discovers more than she anticipated. She's been lied to and it's cost her everything. 

I liked the main character and though some stereotypical trope friends gave me pause, the narrative played out as I expected with some surprises along the way. A bit of romance and a harrowing cross country bus trip kept me glued to the pages. The conclusion was a bit anticlimactic but anticipated.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. There were 3 narrators, a woman and two men. All did decent jobs for their related male and female spoken parts, but the voice for the child grated as did the instances where men spoke for women and vice versa. Overall, however, the production did enhance my appreciation of the book.

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

Genre - mystery, thriller, domestic drama, cyberstalking

An Insignificant Case by Phillip Margolin

 Entertaining and fast-paced legal thriller.

This is a standalone, so I was able to jump right in and get my fix as I love fiction involving legal maneuvering and complicated plots. This one however, got me with the characters. So many different personalities on the legal end and a really quirky mathematician turned artist who made for a very interesting criminal. 

The basic plot involves an inappropriately displayed painting, a stolen flash drive, sex trafficking, murder, and vigilantism. The story takes off quickly and the excellent writing kept me hooked. As the action ricochets from one scenario to another, the attorneys adapt and try to keep their client alive. 

Guido Sabatini (born Lawrence Weiss) is a most unlikely criminal as he's a slightly crazy painter who believes he was trained by the masters in a past life. He gets mad when a painting he sold to a restaurateur is not hung out in the main dining area but hidden away in an office. He decides to break in and liberate it, but also, in spite, takes a flash drive from the office safe thinking he will simply give it back once the owner hangs the painting in a more suitable place. Arrested for theft, he needs an attorney. Enter third rate lawyer Charles Webb. Charlie's a good guy but he's no match for what's coming. Oh, Guido. What a nest of serpents he let loose. There is something on that flash drive that many people will get to keep secret.

I really liked this story and was lucky to be able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publishers. The narrator did an excellent job of voicing the characters with appropriate tone, accents, and dramatic flair. The production was well done and enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre - tags: legal thriller, sex trafficking of minors, rape, murder

The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

 This melodrama is filled with stupid characters who behave in completely outlandish ways. You know it's bad when you want the main character to be killed off (yes, I'm talking about you, Sydney). I know I have to think way outside the box of reasonable and believable when I pick up a McFadden, but these twists have gone way crazy now. The mystery to me is why I keep hoping that the next book I pick up will be different. 

I listened to the audiobook and hoped it would save a ridiculous premise but that wasn't enough to save it, in fact, can't say I really liked the narrator but am blaming that on the dialogue and action scenes that the author wrote. Since the narrator has to read what's on the page, she really had little choice in how to portray the characters. 

Stop with the insanity of completely improbable twists. It was a surprise only because it was so preposterous, and not in a good way. 

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

Genre - drama, dating, relationships, murder

Taken in the Cold (#7 Tori Hunter) by Roger Stelljes

 Action packed crime thriller!

Even though this is the 7th book in the series and only the second installment I’ve read (just #1), I can say that this is definitely one of the better ones out there. I enjoyed the plot and how the investigation came together with all of its twists and turns. I like the characters, especially Tori Hunter and Chief Detective Braddock. Despite the gap between 1 and 7, I never felt lost as there was plenty of backstory and I was able to catch up quickly.

Though this involves domestic terrorism and also a few other issues like embezzlement and kidnapping, it all flows well and moves quickly. I like the writing style and also the vivid descriptions of the Minnesota weather and the lakes areas. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC (both provided by the publishers) and I highly recommend you do that if you can. The narrator did a great job voicing all the characters and adding an appropriate amount of dramatic flair to the story. Listening while reading definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

Can’t wait for the next in series. Only sorry that I missed 2 through 6!  I’ve given up on many series lately but I’m making an exception with this one. 

This is the 7th in a series that would be best read in order from the beginning.

Genre - crime thriller, detectives, domestic terrorism, money

Local Gone Missing (DI Elise King #1) by Fiona Barton

 Deftly plotted crime thriller kept me entertained.

This is one of those books where you feel like you need a spreadsheet to keep track of all the characters so you can cross reference as you read. There are so many of them but eventually the loose ends all tie together and the conclusion is satisfying when you reach the denouement.

Told in multiple points of view and in a shifting timeline, the plot revolves around a missing local man who is revealed as a con artist who has destroyed many of the residents' lives in the seaside town of Ebbing. He's caught them up in financial schemes but now they want him to pay. There are a lot of suspects with plenty of motive, means, and opportunity to put the fix on Charles Perry. But who took care of him?

This is the first in a new series featuring Elise King -- a former DI who has been off on sick leave after having treatment for breast cancer. While recuperating, she and her neighbor do some snooping on the side, but then Elise goes back to her job and officially investigates the case. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The production was very well done using multiple female and male voices to give distinct personalities to all the many characters. The performances definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

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

Genre- crime thriller, mystery

You Can Kill (Laurel Snow #4) by Rebecca Zanetti

 Absorbing and suspenseful crime thriller.

First off, this is the first book and only one I’ve read in the Laurel Snow series so I believe that left me a bit overwhelmed as I tried to get a feel for all the characters that surely were much more familiar to those fans who have read the previous installments from the beginning. That said, I still enjoyed the story and managed to figure out the good guys from the bad pretty quickly. 

I liked the writing style and the pace though I could happily have not had to read the on page sex scenes. I don’t like them in any of my books, so generally I just skip right on past. The action and the plot moved right along with few surprises along the way though I was eager for justice to be served and the bad guys to pay. If you like this type of mystery with a strong and unusual female main character then you will probably want to check out this series. It’s not likely that I will go back and read from the beginning, but I’ll definitely be tempted to read the fifth installment to see how Laurel and Huck pick up the pieces after the events at the conclusion. Can’t see how much more mileage they can get out of the sister, Abigail, so I guess will wait and see.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. I liked the narrator’s voice for the female characters with her tone and accents, but honestly, having a male voice for the many different men in the story would have definitely improved the sound recording and enhanced the production. The men’s voices all sounded the same and not very masculine. 

I’d give this a solid 3.5 stars that I rounded up to 4 because I do think I would have liked it even more had I read the first three books. 

This is the fourth book in a series that should have been read from the beginning, in order, but this is the only one of them I have read.

Genre -tags, suspense, crime thriller, mystery, romance 

Silenced Girls (Agent Tori Hunter #1) by Roger Stelljes

 Riveting crime thriller.

First in a series, this introduces Agent Tori Hunter of the FBI returning to Minnesota where she grew up. Lured by a newspaper clipping sent to her via mail, Tori goes back home in hopes of finding out what happened to her identical twin sister 20 years ago. Although not on the job, she partners with a local detective, Will Braddock, as he investigates a missing person case involving a local woman who disappeared off a lonely backroad. 

This was super good and I could barely put it down. Although quite a bit lengthier than is typical, I was intrigued and quickly invested in the characters and the plot. I liked Tori and many of the others in that small town. The red herrings tantalized and kept me guessing as I tried to figure out who the bad guy was. I'm excited because I really would like to read more books featuring Tori Hunter and I see many are available. I typically avoid series and prefer standalones, but I think I may need to make an exception with these. A solid and suspenseful mystery. 

I was lucky and got to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. I liked the narrator who did a great job voicing the characters with the appropriate amount of dramatic flair. The experience definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

This is the first in a series featuring Tori Hunter.

Genre - crime thriller, mystery, suspense

Nightmare of a Trip by Maureen Kilmer

 A very long road trip apparently traumatizes this family.

Meant to be some sort of horror mixed with humor story, this was very underwhelming. I did chuckle a few times at a clever turn of phrase, but there was not any kind of horror inside. Paranormal, yes, ghosts, yes, and tons of misery as the family winds its way to Florida. Most of the bad stuff involved things like bad fast food, vomit, flat tires, horrible motels, etc. 

Not a fan of paranormal, don’t believe in ghosts, and definitely don’t buy into people interacting with the phenomenon. That whole part of the story was far fetched and not even very exciting once we find out why it’s all supposedly happening to the family. The kids were horrible — doesn’t anyone know how to act on a car road trip anymore or is that a thing relegated to the past? All I heard the kids do was whine and go through the parents’ money and patience while in their comfy van on the way to their theme park vacation in Orlando. I don’t like reading about bratty kids and honestly, they were not grateful at all for the opportunity to visit the place they had begged to go to. (I’ve made a very similar road trip with kids in a van as well, probably even longer on some of the same roads.) By the time I finished, I wasn’t even sure what the point of the book was meant to be. Family bonding? It got all stupid sappy at the end. Very unrealistic characters and that whole part about the Vickerys was way out there. No suspense. No real mystery or tension. No bad stuff. Like someone said, a paranormal cozy. I felt sorry for the dad. 

So, this was not the book for me. I give it 3 stars because I kept reading it waiting to find out where it was going. I listened to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator was OK though her voices for the kids didn’t work well. This would definitely have benefited from having a larger cast.

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

Genre - light paranormal cozy something

Layover by David Bell

 Fast paced but implausible mystery thriller.

This was definitely one of those where you need to be able to suspend disbelief and just go along for the ride. The unlikely scenario presented made me shake my head several times as Joshua seems to be the biggest patsy sop I’ve read lately. Come on, dude. You know the saying where people tell and show you who they are? Well, Morgan told you buddy. Joshua chases all over following her because he’s so bored with his life and so smitten with her. Even when the police get involved, he’s still uncertain and keeps trying to reconnect with her. Most of the characters were forgettable, the only decent and sensible person in the book seemed to be Joshua’s dad. Him, I liked. 

The only thing saving this from a lower rating was the ending. If it had concluded any other way I would have worried for the safety of my kindle. So, yeah, it was a quick read and kept my interest but I’m thinking 2.5 stars in a mercy rating. The plot was very thin and motivations banal. 

Another reason for the higher rating is that I listened to the audiobook while reading along in the e-book provided by the publishers. The narrator was great and did a good job of voicing all the characters including the southern accents. I’ve found that having a good reader will put a mediocre book a step up as it creates a bit more atmosphere and drama.

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

Genre - mystery, drama, thriller, murder

The Last Party (#1 DC Ffion Morgan) by Clare Mackintosh

 Absorbing crime thriller set in North Wales.

This book introduces DC Ffion Morgan of North Wales CID. When its wealthy developer dies at an extravagant New Year’s Eve party on The Shore property, she and DC Leo Brady of Cheshire Constabulary are called in and forced into a partnership to investigate. The five new luxury lakeside cottages in view of the village of Cwn Coed are stunning as they sit along Lyn Drych right under the Pen y Ddraig mountain. The locals are not happy with the English invasion and there are many who wanted Rhys Lloyd dead. 

I really enjoyed this book and all its characters. I had read the second book in the series earlier and felt the need to read the origin story so I went back and dug this out this one. I don’t often do that, but I am glad I did. I feel much differently about this series now and look forward to the third one. 

The narrative flips back and forth between characters and in time but it is a compelling mystery plot with some surprises along the way. I liked the way that Ffion and Leo’s relationship develops over the course of the story. I really savored all the details about the setting and the description made me want to put the locale on my bucket list. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book and it’s a fine thing I did because the pronunciations would have stymied me and I thoroughly appreciated hearing the appropriate accents.  The narrator did an excellent job of voicing the characters. Well done all around. The audio definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

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

Genre-tags - crime thriller, mystery, North Wales

You Better Watch Out by James S. Murray

 Over the top horror thriller set in a town where nothing is as it seems.

Eddie wakes up in the street during a blizzard. The last thing he remembers is trying to help an old couple stow groceries in their car. Now he finds himself in serious danger with others who’ve also been brought to this fake town of Old Forge, New York. Kidnapped and locked in, Eddie joins forces with this ragtag band of less than upstanding citizens trying to figure a way out. Then they start dying one by one in very horrific ways.

If you like gruesome serial killer slasher thrillers, you will enjoy this one. A vague Christmas theme exists, but it’s not the heartwarming kind. Blood and gore and quite predictable as you see the characters fall but there is a little twist at the end that actually really disappointed me but did fit with the rest of the premise. Don’t read much going into this so you won’t feel cheated.

I liked it OK and it was certainly fast paced but it was just too much relentless horror for my taste. And at the revelations and conclusion I was like, no way,  as it caused me to shake my head in disbelief at the implausibility of it all.

I listened to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC as both were provided by the publisher for review. I didn’t care for her voice and I don’t think she did that great a job speaking both the male and female characters. They all sounded the same. This one would definitely have benefited from a larger cast on the audiobook.

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

Genre-tags: horror, Christmas, locked room, slasher thriller, serial killer, gory 

The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis

 Domestic drama and mystery aboard the Orient Express.

A unique premise -- a young woman has agreed to be the main character in a book written by a famous author. In addition to the monetary compensation, the author has rewarded Rory with a lavish train trip aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient Express. In addition, Ginevra Ex has surprisingly invited along Rory's brother, Max, her best friend, Caro, and her ex fiance, Nate. They all board the train and head to Positano with several stops along the Italian Coast. Why are these people along on this trip? It feels like some sort of game full of secrets, lies, and manipulation. 

Wow, a lot of characters and a very long, involved backstory about Rory and Max's father and Russian history. Parts of that seemed overly long and I wasn't very interested in most of it. Actually, I wanted more about the iconic train, but the characters spent little time aboard. There were some twists and turns, and some were predictable. Lots of emotional baggage to unpack. I didn't really care for any of the characters and was left unsatisfied by the climax and the conclusion. In short, I wish different things had happened to the characters than what I read! 

The narrative is told from alternating character points of view and there are timeline jumps. I cared more about the modern-day story than the deep dive into the past. The resolution of the mystery seemed rather anticlimactic. 

I listened to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The audiobook was quite unsatisfactory overall despite having 5 narrators. The reason being that the person who voiced the character of Caro sent me over the edge with her shrill voice. The other females were hard to keep straight but fortunately I was able to tell who was speaking due to the chapter titles in the e-book. Normally the experience of reading and listening enhances the experience for me but toward the end I had to turn off the audio as it was very irritating.

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

Genre.tags - mystery, drama, secrets and lies, Russia, Jews, train trip, Orient Express

Lies He Told Me by James Patterson

 Entirely predictable and completely unbelievable mob trope.

After a daring rescue, the video of the hero David Bowers goes viral and his whole life blows up. His wife is caught unawares and things go from bad to worse as the bad guys close in. Marcie can’t trust anyone except maybe (how continently) her old ex boyfriend who is now a cop. 

Others have already mentioned the unrealistic plot points and the stereotypical characterizations. You’ll have to suspend disbelief to enjoy this one to any extent. The behavior and actions of the characters is basically a total cliche and I spent most of my time shaking my head. The chapters are short and the author keeps certain information to himself long enough to get irritating. The story is told from various points of view and skips around between them a lot.  I did not relate to any of the characters nor like any of them. I generally like Patterson standalones, but this will be an exception. The whole ramp up, climax and conclusion were just way too outrageous to enjoy. 

I listened to the audiobook while also following along with the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. I much preferred the male narrator’s voice as the women’s overly dramatic reading was occasionally quite annoying. I always find that the experience of listening while reading helps improve a book I’m not really into. 

I see I’m again an outlier but this book was definitely not for me. 

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

Genre - mob, criminals, lawyers, money laundering, secrets and lies

I Need You to Read This by Jesse Maxwell

 An advice columnist solves the mystery of her predecessor’s death.

This was a very predictable amateur sleuth story that was slow and formulaic. I didn’t care for any of the characters, especially not Alex, the protagonist, and most of what happens to her was unlikely and highly improbable. The leaps to conclusions made me laugh, but I don’t think that was the intent. I could barely force myself to finish this once Alex starts trying to do some investigating and goes off totally half cocked. Her diner friendships were convenient, and the new boyfriend should have left her behind the minute she got so weirded out after he asked her a simple question. Alex’s backstory told in the form of the overly long and detailed Dear Constance letters was not a good use of that writing style/technique. In any case, I’d not recommend this. In truth, it was boring and banal. 

I listened to the audiobook while also following along in the ebook ARC provided by the publisher. It did little to enhance the narrative and I was meh about the narrator’s voice and her attempts to give life to the characters. It wasn’t enough to save it.

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

Genre - mystery

Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker

 Meandering drama disguised and promoted as a thriller.

I should have marked this DNF but once I start something, I have to finish it. This story of a totally neurotic married woman (known as Clove) with two children basically turned me off from the start. Her mother is in prison because she confessed to killing Clove's father many years ago. Clove has not once contacted her mother so is sent into a downward spiral when she receives a letter begging for Clove's help to get released from prison now that domestic violence is better understood. 

I can't even begin to describe the angsty stream of consciousness narrative that follows as Clove attempts to deal with the stress of her mother's request/demand. There is not one decision or action she takes that I could relate to. I couldn't stand anything about Clove or Jane. The whole healthy living and clean food part drove me up the wall. Clove needs years of therapy. Any empathy I initially felt for her was gone after the first couple of chapters. It seemed like this went on forever and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. 

I tried listening to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book but did not like the narrator at all -- all the voices basically sounded the same. I recognize that I am an outlier in my thoughts, but I was definitely the wrong audience for this type of story.

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

Genre - emotional drama, spousal abuse, psychological

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand

 Tantalizing family drama and murder mystery on Nantucket.

I love reading about a group of badly behaved rich people doing dumb things and winning stupid prizes. Even though there aren't really a lot of characters to root for in this contemporary and fast paced beach read, the story was very entertaining and easy to read in a couple of hours. 

The wealthy Winbury family is hosting the wedding of their son at their lovely oceanfront home on the island. The bride is the daughter of parents who've lived paycheck to paycheck and her mother is dying of cancer. The others who have been invited come to the estate ready for a fabulous event.  It promises to be an extravagant celebration -- but then, tragedy strikes.

Everyone is suddenly a suspect, and the local police need to interview the family and the guests. That's when all the secrets come to light. There is "no perfect couple" on the island, or anywhere. 

I was lucky enough to be able to read the e-book while listening to the audiobook. The narrator did a wonderful job of voicing all the characters and adding the appropriate amount of dramatic flair to the reading. It definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book, and I can't wait to see the adaptation on Netflix.  

This is the 3rd book in a series of 4 but it is not necessary to have read the others to enjoy this as a standalone.

Genre - contemporary beach read, family drama, mystery, murder

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak

 Absorbing family drama and psychological suspense.

I've read a ton of mother and daughter stories, but not too many that focus on the relationship between a father and daughter. I found most of the plot to be entertaining as well as filled with some unexpected twists. 

Although Frank loves his daughter, Margaret (Maggie), very much, the pair is estranged because of things that happened in the past. When he's invited, out of the blue, to come to her wedding to the wealthy heir of a huge technology magnate, Frank jumps at the chance to reconnect. When he and his sister and her foster child arrive at the Gardner family compound in New Hampshire, Frank feels immediately out of his element. Not to mention that Maggie is distant and unavailable, and he can't manage to get much private face time with his future in-laws to get to know them properly. Frank is disturbed by things he sees and hears. he can't help feeling that if he doesn't figure it out, he's going to lose his daughter forever.    

I kept thinking I knew exactly where things were going but there were several surprises. Although annoyed by Frank's sister's behavior and reactions as well as being a bit freaked out by that crazy weird spider thing, I thought that Frank seemed like a basically decent guy trying hard to stay true to his values while trying desperately to demonstrate his love for his daughter. I was a bit perplexed by some of his choices and decisions but had to admire him for trying to find the answers. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator was excellent and gave all the characters distinct personalities, but he was absolutely phenomenal giving voice to the character of Frank. The audio performance added immensely to my enjoyment of this book. 

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

Genre - psychological thriller, family drama

Identity Unknown (Kay Scarpetta #28) by Patricia Cornwell

 Another great story in this long running mystery series.

Kay Scarpetta is in the middle of an autopsy on what she suspects is a murdered child when she gets a call from her niece Lucy. It seems that an old flame and friend, Sal Giordano, was kidnapped and violently killed. The strangest thing is that he seems to have been dropped from a great height out of something Lucy can only say was likely some sort of UAP — an unidentified anomalous phenomenon. Collecting her head of investigations, Pete Marino, they head off to the discovery location where everything is cloak and dagger classified. 

I love the way that the author describes everything and gives great detail about persons, places, and things. The writing style draws me in and makes me feel a part of the story as if I am right there. Over the past years after reading all the books in this series, I’ve come to like some characters more than others who get on my nerves. I always find the theme and plots interesting and unique. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the ebook ARC, both provided by the publishers. I loved the experience as the narrator did an excellent job voicing all the characters and bringing the appropriate amount of drama and tone to the book. As always, I look forward to the next installment. 

This is the 28th book in a long running series that definitely should be read, in order, from the beginning.

Genre - mystery thriller, forensic pathologist

The Next Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

 Another wild ride with totally despicable characters in this domestic thriller.

Didn’t get enough of Amber, Jackson, and Daphne in the first book? Well, this should satisfy the most devoted fans who were clamoring for more of this hideous trio. And, yes, I include Daphne in this characterization. Although I’m sure she’s meant to be the best of the lot, and in many ways, definitely she’s less overtly evil than the other two, she just got on my last nerves with her stupid decisions and histrionics. I don’t have much tolerance for a Daphne type who thinks they can play the game against a narcissistic and abusive man with a vendetta and a plan. And all these helpful friends who have lots of money, well that was convenient. Let’s just say, she should never have returned to Bishops Harbor. All the twists and turns and double crosses gave me whiplash. Many of the resolutions were hugely coincidental and convenient. 

In any event, while hating on Amber and Jackson with a passion and hoping for them to get what’s coming to them, there was a lot of action and the pace was fast as events leapt from one location to another. The different characters narrated at various times giving the reader insight into their schemes. Anyone who enjoyed the previous book will want to find out if everyone in the story got what they deserved. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The cast of 4 did a great job voicing all the characters and added an appraise amount of dramatic flair to the performances. It definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

This is a follow-up to The Last Mrs. Parrish which should be read first.

Genre - domestic thriller, spousal abuse, murder

Like Mother, Like Daughter by Kimberly McCreight

 Mother and daughter conflict and drama with a mystery.

Cleo and her mother, Kat, do not exactly get along these days. They've become estranged. Cleo chafes under Kat's controlling manipulations and she tries to escape that influence while attending college nearby. Finally agreeing to come home for dinner to discuss their relationship, Cleo finds the food burnt, blood on the floor, and her mother gone. 

Although there were some interesting diversions, this is basically the usual trope where the amazing, well-meaning mother who has her daughter's safety and best interests at heart is misunderstood and treated badly by the ungrateful daughter -- who soon realizes her mother was right about everything. Along with Cleo finally realizing that mother knows best, there's some legal stuff going on as a side plot that was likely included to make the story a bit more interesting and, indeed, that whole aspect of the lawsuit and drug company coverup was far more compelling to me. The backstory about Kat's time at Haven House and the ridiculousness of the boyfriends really turned me off to the plausibility of that part of the book. In short, there was just so much going on all over the place.  And, the truth was, I didn't like any of the characters. The conclusion was anticlimactic. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The two female narrators did an adequate job of voicing the characters; they were certainly dramatic, when necessary, but the production would have benefited from having a male reader as well.

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

Genre - drama, domestic, mystery

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave

 A poignant family drama and mystery.

Two siblings trying to figure out what happened to their father discover a secret he had kept from them for over 50 years. His death brings Nora and Sam closer to each other but the truth is heartbreaking even as it informs them about choices they each need to make in their own lives.

The narrative shifts in time and point of view but is easy to follow and gives the back story in such a way that makes all of the decisions and actions of Liam Noone more understandable. It’s all quite touching really. I’m not usually one for a sort of sappy and sentimental romance novel, but it was written with a light and deft touch that made it relatable. The revelations came at the right pace and the conclusion fit perfectly with the overall tone and mood. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along with the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator was superb as always and brought just the right voice for all of the characters. Her work definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

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

Genre - family drama, mystery, romance

The Sequel (The Book #2) by Jean Hanff Korelitz

 An amazing follow-up to The Plot with a new voice telling her own story at last. 

I loved the totally deplorable bad girl protagonist that was Anna Williams-Bonner (to use one of her many names). I feel a little guilty rooting for a woman who has gone from one murder to another, all to possess and protect her very shocking life story. 

Although it would help if you have read the first book, the basics of that plot are used in this narrative as Anna comes into her own after writing her first novel as a sort of companion to her husband's bestseller. On tour, living on the proceeds of his success, and reveling in her well-earned new fame, Anna is suddenly beset with anonymous taunts and excerpts of a work in progress that she thought she had eradicated from existence. Does someone know? Well, that can't be allowed. 

I really enjoyed the author's writing style and her word choices. The way she describes Anna's thought processes and actions as well as the quirky descriptions fit the storyline and narrative so well. Defintiely told with wit and satire, the author also gives a nod to the cutthroat world of publishing. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC - both formats provided by the publisher. The narrator did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life and her voice brought so much quality to the production. 

Definitely recommend. And I wonder, is this the end of the tale?

This is the second or a sequel to The Plot which I read first and would advise others to for the full enjoyment and understanding. I liked this second one much more than I did the first, however. 

Genre - mystery thriller

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

 The ultimate summer solstice party ends in flames.

Not going to rehash the plot but the setting on the cliff in Dorset, the big and beautiful new manor, the promise of a spectacular party drew me in. I really had high expectations for this mystery thriller, but ended up being disappointed. Why are endings so very predictable? And does it bother any other reader when the author deliberately leaves out important details such as — who is that body on the beach? 

There were so many time shifts and characters that it took awhile to realize that most of them were just basically nasty. Everyone had underlying motives for being there at The Manor and none of them were good. A basic revenge trope. Of course the worst of them got what was coming to them. It did irritate me that nobody seemed to recognize anyone else and there were way too many secrets and lies going on. I really didn’t like the wrap up ending with its alls well tone. I didn’t really like any of the characters and their outcomes all seemed so contrived. And it all seemed such a waste that the beautiful place came to that end. 

And I will not comment on the repetition and ridiculousness of the birds. Really. 

I read the e-book ARC provided by the publisher and also was able to simultaneously listen to the audiobook performed by a multitalented cast. The voices certainly leant a great deal of drama to the storytelling. Some of them really got into their characters.

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

Genre - mystery thriller, paganism, 

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

 Compelling family drama and mystery.

What a story! I wasn't sure at first if all the jumps in timeline and different character points of view would keep me engaged, but I was drawn in immediately and could not put this book down until I finished it. I had to know.

Set in the Adirondacks, an affluent family suffers the loss of two children. With more than a decade between those disappearances, the Van Laar family has closed ranks but will do anything to maintain their reputation as they live and party during summers at the mansion they built there. On their vast tract of land, the family also operates a summer camp for the children of wealthy parents. Meanwhile, an escaped convict is making his way north. 

This book had so many layers, secrets, and characters from various social classes. The writing was excellent and even though I kept guessing, I was not able to guess as the climax and revelations surprised me. Definitely this is a great one for a book club.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book. The narrator gave such incredible depth to the story but, as always, I know it would have put it over the top with a male voice for some of the characters. The production was well done.

Definitely recommend this one.

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

Genre - literary fiction, suspense, mystery, family drama

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard

 Despite the title and the plot centering on the main character set on clearing her convicted serial killer grandfather's name, this is really more a quirky cozy mystery than a thriller. It was initially fast paced and drew me in quickly, but then got mired down in a long and complex explanation of fraud schemes and business failures that became boring. 

The narrative is in first person point of view, Capri Sanzio, who leads tours of famous murder sites and crimes in San Francisco. She is fixated on proving that her paternal grandfather, William (Overkill Bill) Sanzio, did not commit the 3 murders that landed him in prison where he eventually died. Apparently, though, her family can't escape their violent destiny, and new questions arise when her ex-husband's mother, Sylvia Clement, is murdered. And the MO of the killing is a copycat of her grandfather's. 

As I said, though occasionally light and humorous, there is way too much going on in the character's head and my interest waned as her whole amateur sleuthing became more convoluted. I also didn't appreciate the insta romance with the cop nor her business friends -- all stereotypical with, of course, the techy guy who can hack and crack. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator was OK with the lines she had to work with even though the character got on my nerves. She could certainly turn on the drama when necessary. This production could have benefitted from having a male voice cast as well. 

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

Genre - quirky cozy mystery

The Bitter Truth by Shanora Williams

 Solid contemporary thriller and domestic drama.

A North Carolina governor, Dominic Baker, and his wife, Jolene, are on the campaign trail for his reelection bid when he is beset by a stalker. From the notes they've left, he knows he's got to take care of a problem that he thought had been handled a long time ago. In a world where powerful men think they can get away with anything, some strong women take a stand. 

This was fast paced and, with short chapters and alternating points of view, a quick and fun read. The characters were a bit stereotypical -- the wronged wife, the victims, the side piece who is protective and good, the henchmen, the best friends, and the bad man. There are triggers of sexual assault, rape, and domestic violence. It was a good, if predictable, revenge story. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The two narrators, Sable Lyn and Roderick Ross, did an excellent job of giving voice to the characters with an appropriate amount of drama and expression. I always appreciate when the producer uses both male and female voices for the cast of characters as it lends much more of an authentic sound and creates more of a listening experience vs having the book just read aloud.

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

Genre - contemporary thriller, suspense, revenge, triggers (see above)

Murder on the Nile (Lady Eleanor Swift #19) by Verity Bright

 Another exciting installment in this cozy historical mystery series featuring the irrepressible Lady Eleanor Swift. Along with her enigmatic and brilliant butler, Clifford, Eleanor works to prevent a huge injustice while on a cruise down the Nile. 

Lady Swift, her butler, and her domestic help are on a holiday in Egypt in the summer of 1924. While the help goes on ahead to ready a townhouse she’s rented for them all in Bawaaba, Eleanor and Clifford will travel on the river via a decrepit SS Cleopatra instead of the luxurious ship she thought she had booked passage on. While underway, one of the passengers is found dead. Though others insist it was suicide, Eleanor and Clifford think it murder. An investigation ensues.

I love the characters and the historical detail in this series and always look forward to the next installment. Its success has to do with the mix of both of those elements combined with a compelling mystery for the due to analyze and solve. Eleanor is not the typical lady of the times, much to the chagrin and consternation of her butler, though he actually encourages her inquisitive nature and her courage. I enjoy reading about this era and relish the descriptions of life and times in that period.

If you do want an absorbing cozy series, I’d suggest you start from the beginning of this one and read them in order. Hope to see more of Eleanor’s beau, Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon, in the next episode. 

This is #19 in a series that should be read from the beginning, in order.

Genre - cozy historical mystery series 

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

 Not at all what I expected. 

Well, finally, this is over. What a nightmare of a read. Despite being lured in by the synopsis that pretended to relate to reality television competitions, the book was basically a bad episode of a survivor show. With totally nasty, hideous characters and a very disjoined narrative. The writing was terrible and repetitive, and the book was way too long. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I tried, in vain, to understand why others liked it but I can't relate. There were so many missed opportunities for the author to use the setting and the show concept, but those were ignored and missed. The motive for the whole experience was so lame it strained the last bit of my credulity. 

I listened to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. Usually, this approach makes me enjoy a book more, but in this case, the narrator's voice and the way she expressed the characters put me over the edge. The mispronunciations (such as her saying inchulin for insulin) and the very bad French accent, not to mention the male character voices grated on every last nerve. Hard pass for future Ware novels. I've tried and now I'm totally done.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre - supposed to be mystery thriller but it wasn't. Abuse, murder, survival

Twisted (#1) by Maggie Giles

 I got this book from the library because I received an ARC of the second book in the duology and wanted to get the backstory before I read and reviewed the sequel. A mistake was made.

This plot centers around 3 women with 6 points of view and other characters involved with them. If I say more about these women, it will give the whole thing away. I could do that and save you the pain of reading this.... can you say psychiatric dysfunction, confabulation, and many other intentionally confusing situations. At the center of it all is sexual and physical abuse compounded by a drug prescribed by a doctor who was supposed to help them deal with their trauma. 

Other than being poorly written with horrible characters and a disjointed narrative, it went on far too long and then, worst of all, ends on a cliffhanger. 

My suggestion - skip it. 

This is the first in a duology.

Genre - psychological fiction, drama, DID, abuse, prostitution 

Her Last Walk Home (Detective Lottie Parker #14) by Patricia Gibney

 Complex plotting makes this a compelling crime thriller.

This is the 14th installment in a long running series that should be read, from the beginning, in order. Because of the intense nature of all of the personal relationships and the changes the cohort has gone through over the years, the reader will want to be on the same page. I don’t feel this works as a standalone or a starting point.

That said, this is a complicated story with the usual characters in the Rugmullin police led by Inspector Lottie Parker. Her boyfriend and partner, Mark Boyd, along with their other colleagues face a diabolical villain. The narrative is told from multiple points of view with some time shifts that make it sometimes hard to keep it all straight. When the body of a young woman is found in a field by the local cinema, Lottie and her team begin an investigation that keeps them questioning suspects and families all over the area. There’s the usual personal drama between the teammates as well as more criminal activity. They examine the little evidence they have and attempt to find the truth even as another body is found and yet another woman goes missing. Things get quite twisty at the end. 

This is one of the few series that I still follow and one of my favorites because of the characters. I listened to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator did a great job of voicing the many different characters using different tones and varying accents to help relate their individual personalities. Listening while reading always enhances my enjoyment of the book. 

This is the 14th book in a long series that I have read in order. The only book I did not read was #13 because I was declined when I requested the ARC.

Genre - crime thriller, police procedural, murder, Ireland 

I Dreamed of Falling by Julia Dahl

 Slow moving and predictable small-town mystery.

Roman Grady, his partner Ashley, and his 4-year-old son live with his mom, Tara, and Tara's boyfriend, John in a small Hudson Valley town. Ashley is found dead on a cliff ledge close by a friend's home. Roman realizes that he knew next to nothing about what Ashley had been doing in the months leading up to her death. And now there are questions about whether or not this was a drug overdose or if Ashley was murdered.

This entire story and plot were anything but gripping or thrilling. I really disliked all of the characters in this sordid tale. The concepts of open relationships, having sex with anyone, rampant drug use, and all of this poor parenting just made the whole premise unappealing. I didn't enjoy any of it nor care what happened to Ashley. Besides, it was so predictable you could see that revelation coming a mile away. Honestly, just yucky people, and their lives were so cringe worthy. I can't recommend this to anyone.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC -- both provided by the publishers. The two narrators did an adequate job of voicing the characters, but I felt such antipathy to them all that I could not appreciate the quality of their performances. 

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

Genre - mystery, family drama, drug use

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

 Unforgettable saga set in the last American frontier.

In 1974, Ernt Albright, ex Vietnam War POW decides to move his wife and daughter to the outer reaches of northern Alaska where they will try to make a life in the wilds off the grid. None of them have a clue as to what awaits and how desperate and dire their circumstances once they arrive. Summer treats them well and Ernt, Cora, and Leni work through all the daylight hours preparing for the coming winter. They make friends with some of the neighbors and there is relative peace. Then the darkness comes, ushering in a time of peril for them all. And all the worst dangers are not outside in the treacherous climate and the wild animals are not their most terrible threat. The biggest problem is inside their small cabin. It’s Ernt. 

This novel gives you all the feels as the Allbright’s experience in Alaska runs the gamut from exciting to bloodshed. As they develop the resilience and skill to handle their daily existence, it’s obvious that Ernt is breaking down and that Cora and Leni are in fraught situations. He’s a loose cannon and Cora’s bad decisions don’t help. Leni loves her mother desperately, but she can’t get Cora to see the truth about Ernt. And then the moment comes when Leni and Cora have to respond.

I typically do not care for coming of age plots and teenage main characters so it surprised me how much I loved this book. I also found that Alaska itself was another main character and I could see the appeal of that wild place to a certain type of person. Me, on the other hand, lazy type princess who loves to have everything nice and fresh and clean, can’t wait to go to the grocery store and shop, could not have lasted a day there. I’m not cut out for that pioneer lifestyle, but I definitely admired those characters in the book for how they thrived and became part of their land. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook narrated by the fabulous Julia Whelan. Her voice and passion really gave the characters distinct personalities and brought them all to life. It definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the story. 

Highly recommend this. I’m sure I will be thinking about it for a long time.

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

Genre - historical fiction, survivalist, Alaska, coming of age

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead by Jenny Hollander

 Overwrought psychological drama.

Charlotte (Charlie) Colbert was a witness and a survivor of an event at graduate school more than 9 years ago. The public knows it as "Scarlet Christmas" -- when 2 students died on the Carroll University School of Journalism campus. Now Charlie is an editor-in-chief at a prestigious magazine and engaged to a wealthy publishing magnate. She's come a long way since those terrible traumatic days in the aftermath of the tragedy. Unfortunately, she's really not OK, and when a former classmate decides to produce a movie about those long-ago deaths, Charlie decides she can't let the truth come out. Because Charlie lied. 

The narrative is told in a then and now format leaving so much out that the reader is easily annoyed by the lack of a real plot. The main character, Charlie, is written as a neurotic so it is hard to imagine her successful in her high-powered job. She can't remember what happened that night but is convinced that she's about to be outed. The author attempts a twist that falls flat as revelations occur that make the previous historical accounts moot. And it went on way too long. This could easily have been a short story. Not that interesting of one, but definitely most of the chronicle could have been cut and you'd still be left with the bare bones of banality. 

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator did an adequate job but found it hard to pick and stick with an accent for the characters.

This isn't one I'd recommend.

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

Genre - psychological drama

Break Every Rule by Brian Freeman

 Fast paced and highly entertaining thriller.

When his wife and baby daughter are kidnapped from their home in Florida, Tommy Miller must come out of hiding and use all of his deadly skills to track them and get them back. His biggest initial problem is that his wife was keeping secrets, and he hasn't the first idea of who would have grabbed her or why. And, indeed, Tommy has some pretty big secrets of his own. Are the abductors trying to get to him or is Teresa their real target. 

I'm not going to unpack this great plot as there is so much going on, but it was quite well-constructed with lively action scenes and different locales for them to play out in. I liked the main character and several others in the book and had a hard time putting it down. The ruthless billionaire and his wife on their private island are definitely evil and up to no good. The Florida police detective who can't let the case go and follows the trail to the Bahamas. The trustworthy partner -- yeah there are some tropes -- but it's all great storytelling. 

I was lucky enough to be able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The fantastic narrator, Scott Brick (already one of my favorites), brings so much dramatic flair when he voices the characters which definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the whole book. His intonation, accents, pacing, and cadence are always spot on. Enjoy!

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

Genre  - action packed thriller, triggers of trafficking and sexual assault, rape

Suicide Med by Freida McFadden

 Highly entertaining suspense thriller.

If you’ve read any previous books by this author, you already know you are in for a wild and unpredictable reading experience. McFadden can take a plot in directions that are completely unanticipated and sometimes over the top. Despite yourself, you just keep going and don’t want to step away until the conclusion. Most of the time, the characters are quite unlikeable and that was definitely so in this novel.

It’s a tough time for these students taking Anatomy in their first year of medical school. Between long periods in the lab doing dissection, interminable study sessions, very little sleep, impossibly close and intense relationships with each other, and add on the pressure of trying to get top grades — well, it’s not surprising that eventually something, or someone, breaks. In the previous 6 years, at least one student has committed suicide. But there are even worse things going on at this school. 

The narrative is divided into different points of view and their individual stories provide quite the drama. Yeah it was a bit much sometimes, but I did have a lot of fun with it.

Listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a fabulous job voicing the characters and giving an excellent performance that enhanced my enjoyment. Have fun! 

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

Genre - suspense thriller

Death by Misadventure (Lady Emily #18) by Tasha Alexander

 Richly detailed historical mystery thriller.

In the winter of 1906, Lady Emily and her handsome husband Colin are invited to the recently renovated home of Baroness Ursula von Duchtel in the Bavarian alps. Her art collection is amazing. Outside is a panorama of the Alps and a winter wonderland with a view of Mad King Ludwig's fairy tale castle. The eclectic group of guests are enjoying a winter house party except that there are several incidents where Ursula’s son-in-law, Kaspar Allerspach, finds himself hurt or nearly killed. Though there’s no love lost between Ursula and Kaspar, everyone is shocked when a death occurs and it’s not Kaspar. In a dual timeline, the narrative unfolds to reveal hidden desires, tumultuous passions, and unfortunate liaisons that destroyed lives. 

I loved this multilayered story with its historical details and complicated plot. The writing is excellent and this series is definitely so well researched and interesting. I like the characters of Lady Emily and Colin, and they always find the most interesting cases on their travels.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Bianca Armato, was absolutely amazing with her voice, accents, and dramatic flair. Her performance definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book as it was an excellent production. 

I look forward to the next book in this fabulous series. 

This is the 18th book in a series. I’ve missed some and I’ve been OK reading out of order.

Genre - historical mystery series 

Death at the Sanatorium by Ragnar Jonasson

 Absorbing mystery thriller set in Iceland.

The author definitely channels Agatha Christie in this well-plotted novel best described as a whodunit. If you like Icelandic Noir, this is one book that begs to be read. 

Helgi Reykdal is meant to be working on his dissertation in criminology when he looks into an old, unsolved murder case that occurred at a sanatorium in the north of Iceland in 1983. It's now 2012, almost 30 years later, but some of the former employees, all one-time suspects, present during the old murder investigation are still alive and Helgi is tracking them down to interview them. He's about to join the Reykjavik Police Department and take over a job held by Detective Hulda Hermansdottir who is about to retire. She was one of the original investigators on the 1983 case involving the deaths of a nurse and doctor at the sanatorium. Helgi, involved in a dangerous relationship with a live-in girlfriend, is finding the former suspects difficult to talk with. He grapples with indecision about his future but is desperate to solve the old mystery. 

I've read a couple of other books by this author and always enjoy them. I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Sam Woolf, did a great job of voicing all the characters. His pacing, intonation, accents, and dramatic flair really enhanced the production and my appreciation of the book. 

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

Genre - Iclandic Noir, mystery thriller

Murder in the Countryside (#17 Miss Underhay) by Helena Dixon

 Another cute cozy in one of my favorite historical mystery series.

In #17, Kitty Bryant (formerly Underhay) comes upon a dead body with its head crushed in a cider press while she's out in the countryside looking for cider refills for her husband, Matt. Yes, it's local farmer Titus Blake, miserly misanthrope, widower, and drunkard who has indeed been murdered. The wife of Titus's estranged brother engages Kitty and Matt to find out who killed him. Then, their main suspect is also found dead out in the woods nearby. Is this about a murky inheritance or something much deeper. 

I enjoy reuniting with all the characters in this series and this installment features more of Alice and Robert. I do, however, miss those stories set at the Dolphin Hotel where Kitty's grandmother resides. Since Kitty and Matt have married and live on their own, there is a lot less about the hotel in Dartmouth and the goings on there. This plot features bad blood between family members and some secrets. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I've enjoyed the entire set which is best read, in order, from the beginning. 

This is #17 in a series.

Genre - cozy mystery, England, 1936, historical

Her, Too by Bonnie Kistler

 An unputdownable thriller.

Kelly McCann is a successful lawyer who has made a lucrative practice out of defending men accused of sex crimes. Her most recent win is the acquittal of Dr. George Benedict, accused of the rape of a coworker he had fired. Dr. Benedict, the man behind the discovery of what might be the cure for Alzheimer's, is now back on track to receive the Nobel Prize in medicine. Kelly is jubilant in her victory as she loves winning. Until she's attacked and sexually assaulted. Telling anyone is out of the question as it would destroy her career. Once she comes to her senses, she realizes that she must get revenge for herself and for all the other women who have been victims. 

This is a very tough subject to read about and to discuss. The author handles it with the outrage it deserves and also shows the damage that the assaults inflict on the lives of the women and every other aspect of their existence. I was cheering Kelly on even as I cringed at some of the decisions she made. Her situation is complicated by her family life and unwillingness to tell anyone what happened to her. I read the entire book in a single sitting, and I know it will linger in my mind for a very long time. 

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book and the narrators did a fabulous job of voicing all the characters. The accents, the emotions, and the drama were all so well done by the performances of Susan Dalian and Elisabeth Rodgers. The audiobook definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the story. 

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

Genre - suspense thriller, sexual assault, rape, murder, lawyers

Passions in Death (In Death Eve Dallas #59) by J.D. Robb

 Another winner in this futuristic crime thriller series.

It's summer in Manhattan, but it's not the heat that brings Lt. Eve Dallas and Roarke to the air conditioned Down and Dirty sex club that night. A bride-to-be lies dead in a private room along with a case of special surprises for her fiancée. Because the club was mostly full of their best friends in a pre-wedding celebration, Eve knows that one of them must have killed Erin Albright, a 27-year-old mixed race artist who was about to marry Shauna Hunnicut. The LGBTQ+ friend tribe is in shock and Shauna is devastated. Eve and her colleagues are determined to get justice for this cold-blooded and obviously calculated murder. 

It amazes me that the author can keep this level of suspense and write interesting plots after 58 other installments featuring Detective Eve Dallas. It's been fun to see all the other characters grow and develop through the pages of the series and I really like them all. Of course, it's Eve and Roarke who have the ideal marriage and partnership, but they are very generous to their friends as well. It's fun with the futuristic bent and the little details about the state of the cities and the ways that people live and work. I am always eager for the next book. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while reading along with the e-book ARC (both provided by the publishers). The narrator, Susan Ericksen, does an excellent job with all the character voices and accents. Her performance is always fabulous as she is so animated and appropriately dramatic. As always, simultaneous listening and reading enhances my enjoyment of the book. 

This is part of a long running series that is best when read from the beginning and in order.

Genre - futuristic crime thriller

The Dark Wives (#11 Vera Stanhope) by Ann Cleeves

 Murder and mystery involving a care home for troubled teens.

This is the 11th book in the series but the first I have read. I've also not seen the television show, so all of this was new to me. Set in the coastal northeastern village of Longwater, DI Vera Stanhope and her team investigate the death of a staff member, Josh, who is found murdered right outside of Rosebank, a care home for teenagers. In addition, one of the residents at the home, Chloe Spence, has disappeared. Is she a victim or a suspect? 

Vera's team begins the tedious task of following up. Her subordinates include DS Joe Ashworth and DC Charlie as well as a new member, DC Rosie Bell. The story also refers to a previous member of the team, Holly, now apparently deceased and often mentioned but no details about what happened. I think this made coming into the series with this installment a bit confusing so probably best to read in order. I could tell that the team understands each other and knows strength and weakness of their colleagues but difficult to assess character development. Vera is strong, independent, opinionated, keeps things close to the chest, and happily single. 

One of my gripes about this police procedural is how completely the reader is left in the dark when Vera and the team have the pieces to solve the case, including the names of suspects, but those details are not given. 

The plot had merits but I found the process and all of the interviews quite slow moving. Lots of characters to keep straight. Not sure if I liked well enough to begin the series with the first installment but I might read another in the future. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator did a great job voicing the characters and all the accents but without the text in front of me I think it would have been difficult to identify who was speaking at times. It definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the story as the production was well done.

This is the 11th book in a popular British crime mystery series. There is also a television series featuring the main character. I had not read or seen either before. I feel best that this series be read from the beginning in order. 

Genre - British police procedural, mystery

Red River Road by Anna Downes

 What a twisty and wild ride in this mystery thriller about a woman searching to find out what happened to her younger sister who went missing when on a solo van trip through Australia. 

Great descriptive storytelling as Katy Sweeney uses her sister, Phoebe’s, old instagram posts to trace her route along the Western Australian coast. Following her social media photos and details into campsites and scenic sites, Katy finds the trail has gone cold. No one knows anything. Katy discovers more questions than answers as she soon realizes that the situation of a woman traveling alone can be very dangerous. What happened to Phoebe and where was she when it did?

Suddenly, the tracking becomes even more convoluted when Katy meets and befriends the stranded Beth. But things are even more strange as they travel together. Someone is following them. 

I think it best to go into this without reading too much about it ahead of time. It’s a fabulous narrative  with multiple points of view that, initially, is quite confusing. When all is revealed, you will likely shake your head and exclaim at how well the author tied everything together in a shocking climax. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publisher. The narrator did a fabulous job with the different character voices and the Australian accents. The quality of expression and tone by Maddy Withington added immensely to my enjoyment of the story. An excellent production that has the added benefit of hearing the author’s note at the end and a conversation between Anna Downes and Sally Hepworth. Highly recommended.

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

Genre - psychological thriller, mystery, assault, partner violence, solo van life 

The Hotel Maid by Michelle Dunne

 June Calloway has been cleaning rooms at the Cedarwood Manor for 6 years. As a maid, she’s practically invisible to the guests and other staff there. A bit of an odd duck, she says little but notices everything. She’s good at her job and enjoys it well enough, but her life outside of the luxurious hotel is quiet and lonely. Although she has a roommmate, she has little money and few possessions. She also has a tendency to self-harm. But June has big plans and even bigger secrets.

A bit of a slow burn, nothing really started happening until after the half-way mark and I was getting bored. The story’s main character, June, seemed a bit too much like another in a series I’ve also read. Also, the narrative flips back and forth in point of view and time jumps that made the flow uneven. I didn’t really enjoy the parts that featured Mia. The lies of Tess and the convoluted identity and names got muddled as well. From then, it became entirely forseeable . I didn’t care for June and how she handled her issues and past. Although I might initially have felt for her in the situations she found herself in, I soon believed that she was wrong in how things were handled. It was way too complicated for a plot that was so predictable in the end.  Enough said. 

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book as both were provided as ARCs by the publisher. I enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook who did an excellent job of voicing the characters and I loved her accent. That definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

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

Genre. - revenge thriller, self harm, mental health issues, child abuse

Shadowheart (UNSUB #4) by Meg Gardiner

 Fast-paced and convoluted crime thriller.

This novel features the characters of the UNSUB series but goes away from the Prophet and the Ghost story line to focus on the manipulations of a serial killer who is locked in a Tennessee prison. Efrem Judah Goode claims to have killed dozens of women and is giving the FBI drawings of them to help their families get closure. Of course he wants something in return. It seems a new killer is putting their victims at the dump sites of Goode's previous murders. FBI profiler Caitlin Hendrix must try to locate this new villain, dubbed the Broken Heart Killer, and try to figure out their motive in taunting Goode. 

There was just way too much happening in this book. Although I liked the character of Caitlin Hendrix, it took forever to get the case unraveled and figure out what was going on. The whole situation with Finch and her adoptive mother bothered me, mainly because of how the concept and point of adoption was framed as well as what happened to the pair. Many convenient coincidences and the conclusion really bothered me. There was also this side plot going on with the boyfriend Sean, and the bomb squad, etc. but left unresolved with the Ghost still out there. 

I suppose this could be a standalone as it really doesn't fit with the rest of the series but is more a tangent. I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher and didn't care for the voice of the narrator. This definitely would have benefited from a larger cast.

This is the 4th in a series. I have not read all of them.

Genre - crime thriller, serial killer. FBI

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

 Absorbing historical fiction set in China in the 15th century.

Although this is fiction, the novel was based on the true story of Tan Yunxian, raised in an elite family and trained in the ancient ways on how to be a wife and mother. Her upbringing, however, was framed by her grandmother, one of only a few female Chinese doctors, and she teaches Yunxian medicine specific to female patients. Most of the illnesses of women relate to childbearing and Yunxian learns about those along with a girl of her own age in training to be a midwife. Meiling and Yunxian become forever friends who share in each other's joy and anguish throughout their lives. 

Yunxian is married out in an arranged marriage and is subject to a mother-in-law who forbids the friendship and also prevents her from treating the women and girls in the large household compound known as the Garden of Fragrant Delights. Confined to the grounds, Yunxian finds ways to reach her destiny despite many travails.

This novel was epic in scope and evoked all the feelings. I often find books that show how women were treated and seen in the past to be difficult to stomach. As a heath care professional, I also have to shudder at some of the thoughts and practices about disease and treatments that were common in that era, 5 centuries ago, and in a country that I know little to nothing about as far as beliefs and culture. The descriptions about the people, the class differences, the foot binding, the concubines, the feelings about children, and so many other details were absolutely fascinating. I should have been doing so many other necessary chores but could not put this down. I will be thinking of this book for a very long time. This ultimately was a book about women helping women during the Ming dynasty era, but also is true of the way women still support and care for each other because it is true that only women can understand some things about women's health. 

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jennifer Chen and Justin Chien while also following along in the e-book. The narrators did a marvelous job of voicing the characters. Their inflection, intonation, and expressiveness added to my enjoyment of the story. It is an excellent production. 

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

Genre - historical fiction, Ming Dynasty, China, women physicians. Based on real person.

Dark Music (Rekke #1) by David Lagercrantz

 "...darkness not only conceals, it also transforms. Corrupts."

The first in a new crime thriller series, this book features an interesting investigative duo and highlights international crimes and conspiracy. 

Professor Hans Rekke is a physical and personal disaster, but his brilliant deductive techniques make him an expert in logic and observation. Through a series of events, he connects with Stockholm police officer Micaela Vargas. Their partnership proves synergistic as the pair solves the murder of an asylum seeker from Afghanistan. 

This story starts out quite slow and the murder investigation isn't very exciting, but the pace and tension build when Rekke and Vargas start digging into the victim's past. The historical details heighten the intensity of the inquiry. Unfortunately, Rekke seems unstable (addict and depressive) and without Vargas, this whole probe wouldn't have gone anywhere as the police had basically stopped looking for the killer after initially arresting the wrong person. I'm trying to figure out exactly what type of relationship Rekka and Vargas will forge as they work well together and there does seem to be a hint of attraction. The plot develops and it ended up being quite absorbing by the end. I am interested enough in this duo to read additional books in this series. 

I listened to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book and that was essential as the pronunciations, Latin phrases, names of Swedish places, accents, etc. were beyond my ability to understand just by hearing. The narrator had a nice voice and did a good job trying to articulate the many different characters. 

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

Genre - crime thriller, international, Sweden

A Game of Lies (DC Morgan #2) by Clare Mackintosh

 Crime thriller set in Wales.

Another book about a reality show! Apparently, this is the genre du jour in 2024 as I have read quite a few with similar themes this year. In this case, seven contestants are chosen to participate in a telecast named "Exposure" that is being filmed at a camp set up in the Welsh mountains. Lured to participate thinking it was a survival type program, they find out on live television that the whole point of their experience will be about finding out and exposing each other's secrets. Shamed publicly and perhaps resulting in terrible consequences in their personal lives. Locked into contracts they can't get out of, the seven are trapped and when the outing of the secrets begins, one of the players disappears. The local police are called in to search for the missing person. Then a murder.  DC Ffion Morgan has to quickly figure out what is going on.

This was fast-paced, and I felt a bit at a loss as this was the second book in a series and I had not read the first. I have not previously read a lot of books set in Wales so I found the description of the area quite interesting. I don't feel like I got to know the characters very well and all seemed stereotypical and superficial as detectives, especially Ffion who is headstrong, impetuous, and doesn't really follow the rules but her understanding boss allows her to remain on the job despite her failings. I understand the romance began in the previous book. The secrets and lies are revealed and the case is solved with the usual heroine in peril situation. I probably won't continue this series.

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. It's a good thing I had the book because the accents and pronunciations made it almost impossible to understand what was being said. The narrator's voice was quite unpleasant.

This is the second book in a series that should be read from the beginning.

Genre - crime thriller, reality shows, detectives, Wales

Fire and Bones (#23 Tempe Brennan) by Kathy Reichs

 I truly enjoy this series featuring the iconic Tempe Brennan and what’s really amazing is that this #23 is every bit as good, maybe even better, as the previous installments.  

First of all, I really love anything medical and Tempe, as a forensic anthropologist, always gets deep in with the bones and bodies. The details are what I can’t get enough of and because the author is herself an expert, she writes what she knows so well. Every description is so vivid that I can almost feel like I am right there and everything is explained so you don’t have to know anything about the subject to get the clear picture and gist of the situations. 

In this case, Tempe is called to Washington, DC, to help identify the unknown victims of a fire. Those poor, unfortunate souls were staying in the dilapidated building illegally and died inside. In addition, another body is discovered in the sub basement, this one predating the fire by decades.

In typical Tempe fashion, she becomes consumed by the case and the history of the Foggy Bottoms where the building was located. She ends up staying with a friend of her daughter’s while there and that relationship is beneficial to both with regard to the case. 

I love the character of Tempe Brennan. She’s self-deprecating and funny and so very clever. She’s definitely matured and grown since the first novels and I love how she appreciates all aspects of life as she gets older. I have to laugh as she is one of the few woman in novels who actually always has a healthy appetite! As always, can’t wait for the next and will always recommend this series. Be sure to start at the beginning.

I was lucky and obtained a copy of the audiobook that I could listen to while following along with my e-book ARC obtained from the publisher. I loved the production and the narrator’s voice is perfect for Tempe and she does a great job with the other characters as well.

This is part of a long running series that should be read in order from the beginning.

Genre - medical mystery, forensic anthropology, crime thriller

The Astrology House by Carinn Jade

 Entertaining suspense thriller. 

The 4 couples and friends just wanted a fun weekend away and Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat sounds like a lovely place for them to hang out. Farrah and Joe, Aimee and Adam, Eden and Rick, and Margot and Ted are not that big into astrology but are quite surprised by some of the revelations they experience when Rini starts doing their readings. Lots of the usual secrets and lies that are just lurking and ready to bust out.

Sounds like many of these people have things they don’t want to come out and, what a surprise, Rini has her own agenda. And then, the hurricane. 

This was fun and fast and quite predictable with all the couples at the retreat. The narrative alternates points of view so the reader knows what each is thinking  and feeling. I liked some of the characters more than others and the conclusion was not really unexpected as I had anticipated that turn of events. I guess you can never really know anyone as well as you think or hope.

I don’t know much about astrology other than basic zodiac signs so that part was quite interesting and made me actually want to look up my own chart. Alas, no Rini here to interpret for me!

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. I liked that the production had a large cast so as to make the voices and personalities distinct. I definitely liked some of the voices more than others. But, as always, the dual approach made me enjoy the novel that much more.

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

Genre - mystery thriller, psychological domestic drama

Holmes, Marple & Poe (#1) by James Patterson

 This is the first installment of a new crime thriller series featuring private investigators Brendon Holmes, Margaret Marple, and Auguste Poe.

Lots of fun as the three partners set up their business in NYC and solve 4 mysteries with unusual style and flair. Loved the characters and their approach to crime solving. Their interactions with other agencies such as police and FBI were always entertaining. Lots of criminals so a nice variety of detective work.

I listened to the audio while following along in the e-book, both obtained from my local library. The narrator did a nice job of voicing the various characters, complete with accents. I am looking forward to the next in the series. 

First in a new series. Read in order.

Genre - crime thriller, private investigators, murder

The Haters by Robyn Harding

 Psychological thriller conveys the dark side of fame and social media.

At last, Camryn Lane has realized her dream of becoming a published author. She's so happy and proud of her success when "Burnt Orchid" is out, and the glowing comments start coming in. But then, a scathing message and a deluge of one-star reviews start flooding social media. In short order, Camryn's life spirals out of control and she flounders both personally and professionally as she is pummeled by haters and doxed by someone intent on destroying her life. Who is it and who can Camryn trust when it becomes obvious that the tormenter is someone close to her. 

This was an interesting book premise, and I liked it well enough though less as the story evolved. I had a couple of issues with it, but mostly it was that I actually did not care for Camryn despite my initial sympathy for her plight. I also couldn't stand her teenage daughter and the behaviors of her other near and dear friends and acquaintances. Wow, such good family and friends. And I was totally uninterested in the book within a book -- the story of Orchid. It became increasingly obvious that the cause of all of this drama was very close. Another issue I had was the lack of real consequences and suitable punishment for the perpetrator(s). There was real and serious damage done. 

This whole concept of the horrible things that can and do happen with posts on social media demonstrates how many, especially the young, cannot handle the dangers. The idea and truth that someone can easily be ruined and destroyed by strangers is strongly conveyed. It is quite scary, really. 

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator did a decent job, but this production could have benefited from additional voices.

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

Genre - psychological thriller, drama

Only One Survives by Hannah Mary McKinnon

 What a wild, totally fun and twisted thriller!

What won't some do for fame? The Bittersweet all-girl pop rock band is on the cusp of finding out. Drummer Vienna Taylor and her best friend, guitarist and vocalist, Madison Pierce, are just about to realize their dream after the release of their first single. On the way to a meet and greet party in the Catskills in a blizzard, their SUV crashes. One of the band members is dead and others are injured as they make their way to an abandoned house. Not all of the women will survive, and Vienna sees her hopes and plans fall apart. 

This was so fast paced and absorbing as the hits just kept on coming that I could not put it down and read it all today. I had no idea, nor did I anticipate or expect the sudden detour the story took and after that it was a mad dash to the ending. There were quite a few characters, but the author gave the main ones great attention and they came alive on the pages as individuals. Both Vienna and Madison were believable and equally surprising. As the narrative passed the halfway mark, I just could not wait to see what happened next as everything is revealed.  Go into this blind and you will enjoy it a lot more. Even if you're not a fan of 80s music and perhaps the artists and songs mentioned don't ring a bell, the story is still quite entertaining, and I enjoyed it. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Amy Hall, did a great job of speaking all the different characters but this definitely would have benefited from a larger cast because of the predominantly female voices. The listening always adds to the experience, and this was a well-done production. 

Don't read too much about this before you dive in. Enjoy!

This is a standalone and is not part of any series

Genre - mystery thriller