Stone Cold Fox by Rachel Koller Croft

 Twisty, compelling psychological and domestic drama.

Bea sets out to get herself everything she ever wanted. And what she wants is Collin Case. Old money family, safety, security, and respect. Her work is cut out for her but Bea has been trained by one of the best con women in the world — her mother. Unfortunately, breaking into this family and their cadre of like-minded moneyed friends is more difficult than she had anticipated. And though Collin is totally smitten, his best friend, Gale Wallace-Leicester, isn’t having it. 

This was fast and fun and full of vivid characters, some more conniving than others. I was able to both read and listen to the audio at the same time and it really enhanced the experience and made the book more enjoyable. A very well-done debut and you can’t help but root for Bea to come out on top.

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

Genre - domestic drama, psychological thriller, good beach read

The #1 Lawyer by James Patterson and Nancy Allen

 Oh how I love a fast paced and exciting legal thriller. If you’re like me, this one will fit the bill.

Set mainly in Biloxi, Mississippi, the novel features defense attorney Stafford Lee Penney, named the #1 lawyer in the small town because he has won every case he has tried. His biggest trial lately involved Dr. Daniel Caro — accused of rape and murder of a local woman. Daniel is protected with his father a casino owner and possibly mob connected, but Stafford Lee has to mitigate a lot of circumstantial evidence linking him to the crime. Just as he emerges victorious, Stafford Lee’s wife, Carrie Anne, is viciously shot to death in their home. Stafford Lee goes into a downward spiral and loses his reputation. As he claws his way back into the courtroom, he’s suddenly the top suspect in a new murder investigation. He’s got to find out who the real killer is and save himself this time.

I liked the main characters in the story, especially Stafford Lee and his private investigator, Jenny Glaser. Very much relished all the courtroom scenes and the details of trial preparation. The situations that Stafford Lee gets embroiled in are fraught with drama and he and Jenny engage in some complicated maneuvers to try to suss out the villain while being unfairly accused of crimes. I read along while listening to the audio which was narrated by Kevin Stillwell with a southern accent adding to my enjoyment of the story. I highly recommend the experience.

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

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

Genre - legal thriller

His Last Wife by Ruhi Choudhary

 This is a domestic drama full of hideous characters doing odious, repulsive things.

Readers will have to completely suspend disbelief at this mishmash timeline with all of the nasty people involved. 

Anna meets Cary Danvers when he is a patient seeing a therapist after his wife went missing and is presumed dead. There is nothing about Anna that matches Dr. Danvers’ social position, yet he becomes romantically involved with her and takes her home to meet his infant daughter. Soon they are living together. Unfortunately, his missing wife, the perfect Presley Scott, still looms large over the household, especially since her mother, Juliet, lives there too. But it’s Anna’s complete obsession taking over the daughter, Harper, and becoming her “mommy” that really sends this novel into the next dimension. You know what happens next is not going to be good. In fact, it’s beyond terrible. 

The novel is divided into several parts with different points of view. I listened to the audio version while reading along and it was difficult to tell who was speaking at times. As previously stated, the characters were all deplorable with their secrets, lies, and actions. 

Thank you to Bookouture for providing the ARC copies for me to read and review. This was not my cup of tea. 

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

Genre - domestic drama, triggers such as incest, domestic violence

Truth Unveiled (Dr. Samantha Jenkins #1) by Stephanie Kreml

 I'm always on the lookout for authors writing medical thrillers and saw this one and thought I would take a chance as it is the first in a series. Although it is short and contains a lot of medical facts and information, I doubt I will read any others. 

Samantha (Sam) is working at an urgent care center that also deals with workman's comp issues. She dropped out of her residency program after her mom died, so she is not board certified making this one of the few jobs she can get as a doctor. Lots of clinical scenarios where Sam continues to dispense her explanations of these conditions ad nauseum like a textbook or lecture. It got old fast -- no need for all that and it shouldn't comprise so much of a fiction mystery novel. And it's so crazy that all these educated adults needed so much explaining. I mean, don't they watch any television?

The other problem was the plot. Rather lame that there are 2 deaths and an accident among a small group of friends over a couple of weeks. And the reveal -- let's just say I was underwhelmed. I didn't care for the character of Samantha who seems to be the object of desire for guys (no idea why) but is a know it all and the things she does in her amateur investigation are a bit on the border of being unethical and illegal. She was not their treating physician, and their medical records are out of bounds. Being asked to investigate by the sister of the first man killed is not a license to snoop. But I digress. I had quite a few issues with such a short book.

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

Genre - medical mystery

The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan

 This suspenseful mystery thriller was so much fun to listen to and read!

Tom and Nicole have the best life! They have a wonderful marriage and have just won the lottery. They now live in a beautiful smart house on a wooded peninsula in Gloucestershire. Money is no object, and they are living their dreams. But trouble comes to ruin it all with a shocking tragedy. Tom is found dead in their swimming pool. The police don't think this was an accident. Although Nicole is alone, she finds some comfort knowing that her neighbors in the nearby Manor House and their housekeeper can provide some solace. And, then an old friend comes to help her during this time of grief. But something is rotten and soon Nicole is afraid. 

So deliciously chilling and with all manner of twists and turns, this was one of those books that you can't bear to put down. The characters were very well drawn and each voiced quite well by the two narrators on the audiobook. The shifts in time and perspective moved the story along and the reader can follow the deft plotting as the machinations and manipulation reveal some really devious actors. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-book ARC to read and review. The audiobook was obtained from my local library. I like to listen and read simultaneously.

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

Genre - mystery thriller, psychological

The Engagement Party by Darby Kane

 An isolated island, a group of college friends, and a party form the backdrop to this mystery thriller.

Years have passed when the invitation to an engagement party comes in the mail. Old college friends, bound by secrets and lies, agree to attend and arrive for a weekend meant for celebration. Twelve years have elapsed since their friend Emily Hunt was murdered and the student who was thought to be guilty committed suicide. But this group is about to get a surprise. Someone knows that they have not been telling the truth. And they are about to be exposed.

This novel was full of melodrama, deplorable characters, and far too wordy to hold interest. It reminded me of a bad teenage slasher film. I could not stand these young adults and their behavior. Every bit of this was such a trope including the island setting and the storm. I didn't feel any tension or suspense and only kept reading to find out if all my guesses were right. Predictable and annoying with the ending you expect. I'd pass if I were you.

Thank you to the publisher for the e-book ARC to read and review. I also got the audiobook from the library to follow along and the narrator had a lot of voices to try to make distinct and often fell short. Sadly, this was not for me.

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

Genre - mystery thriller, locked room,

One Liar Left (Detective Freya Sinclair #2) by Emily Shiner

 Second in series, mystery thriller set in Fawn Lake.

Detective Freya Sinclair is investigating the murders of two women found up in the Clear Creek Forest and wonders if the similarities found on autopsy indicate that an old nemesis has resumed his work. The Fawn Lake Killer was never caught, and the area was once his hunting ground. Then another victim is found in Freya's own backyard. Someone is taunting her. And it's freaky that the women are missing their tongues -- what signal is the villain sending? The dead women must be connected. Freya and her team try to put the few clues together. 

This was another fast paced read that was easy to finish in a single sitting. Freya is a good detective, but honestly, the woman is wearing me out just reading about her. Give her some food, much more sleep, a bit of physical therapy, and seriously strong pain meds. And tell the Chief to back off, he's definitely on my last nerve always trying to suspend her or get her off the case. It makes no sense since she always solves it. I did not find the plot of this to be all that deep and no twists as most of what happened was predictable. Several loose ends remained. I wish we could rate with half stars. 

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

This is the second in a series read in order.

Genre - mystery thriller, serial killer, police procedural

End of Story by A. J. Finn

 A stylized literary thriller and family mystery.

Nicky Hunter is somewhat an expert in mysteries and detective fiction, and she has been corresponding with a famous novelist, Sebastian Trapp, for years. Now that he is dying, she's invited out to San Francisco to meet him. He says he wants her to write his final story, sort of a biography, of his life. When she arrives at the mansion, she meets his current wife, Diana, his daughter, Madeleine, and some other extended family. Sebastian hints that the two, while working together on his story, might solve an old mystery -- perhaps to finally reveal what happened to Sebastian's first wife and his teen son who vanished on New Year's Eve in 1999. 

This was long. And wordy. Other than that, the plot was interesting, and the characters were mysterious and somewhat hard to figure out. Not fast paced, it takes ages to get to the big reveals and I must admit there were a few surprises. There are lots of references to the works of other famous mystery writers of old, and many quotes. I read along while listening to the audiobook which was done well although it would have been even better with multiple narrators. 

Genre - mystery, secrets and lies, family drama

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

Once upon A Crime by Alan Brenham

 This crime thriller started out well and then it shifted into a frustrating and disappointing conclusion. 

Detective Madison Chase is on the hunt for a serial killer who is targeting sex offenders. The unknown suspect sends poems to the police giving hints about the next murder and signs them P.G. A witness can only say that the killer is a woman. It also seems that this villain is focused on Madison and her daughter, Emily. 

The chapters are short and there are a lot of different characters with various points of view in the narrative. Madison and her ex-husband are engaged in a custody issue with their daughter and that takes up way too much of the book and the voice of Emily in the story was far too ridiculous for her age and I really got annoyed with that. The twist was out of nowhere and completely unbelievable considering that the reader has been in that person's mind. 

Anyway, the book was good until the last half when it veered off and never recovered for me. This was an ARC. 

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

Genre - crime thriller, sexual predators, serial killer

The Maid (Molly the Maid #1) by Nita Prose

 Utterly charming contemporary mystery.

Molly Gray, AKA Molly the Maid, works at the Regency Grand Hotel "restoring guest rooms to a state of perfection." Every day the same. Cleaning is her passion. All is routine until the afternoon when she finds wealthy Mr. Charles Black dead in his bed in his luxury suite. Although she is most assuredly not guilty, Molly finds herself a murder suspect. The cause for that suspicion is likely due to the fact that Molly is different -- she is quite literal, probably on the spectrum, and is socially awkward completely misunderstanding social cues. One thing leads to another and soon Molly is arrested and has to prove her innocence. 

Molly is a true delight as a character. (If you're of an age to have read the Amelia Bedelia book series popular back in the 1980s or before, you will remember that she was also a maid and had a penchant for interpreting everything in a similar literal manner.) Molly doesn't see or interpret things the same as most others, and she is maligned, misunderstood, and deemed weird. For the most part ignored, she makes an easy target and patsy for what her dearly departed Gran termed "bad eggs." And there are many who take advantage of Molly. I loved this heartwarming story of triumph and self-discovery as Molly eventually finds true friends who help her navigate the world and expose the real killer. 

The narrator on the audiobook was excellent and I loved following along in the book while listening. I so enjoy that dual experience and highly recommend it for the ultimate reading experience. The story was sweet and unexpected for being a mystery, so unlike most of those in this genre that I typically enjoy. I can see why it was such a remarkable debut and I'm very much looking forward to reviewing the next book featuring Molly the Maid. 

This was a debut and the start of a new series. Read in order.

Genre - contemporary mystery 

The Intern by Michele Campbell

 Fast-paced legal thriller.

When Harvard law student, Madson Rivera, lands an internship with Judge Kathryn Conroy, she is over the moon thinking that her future career plans are secured. It's not too long, however, before she realizes that she is in over her head -- caught between her own brother's legal troubles and information that the Judge might be a criminal. 

This was entertaining and I enjoyed listening to the audiobook while following along in the e-book. The narrator did a nice job voicing all the characters. Although the plot and outcome were predictable, I was more dismayed by how annoying that whole brother situation was. I thought Madison's mother was beyond annoying with her demands on Madison actually leading to her becoming more embroiled in all the bad stuff. Kathryn's back story and her perspective was far more interesting, and I wish more of the book had been spent on her.  The bad guys were stereotypical and some of the details about the conspiracies and prosecutorial conduct, along with the involvement of the FBI, were a little farfetched. And the relationship between Madison and Kathryn sure got real close real fast. Regardless, there was a lot of action and some twists enough to make this hard to put down. 

I like legal thrillers but would prefer they be more courtroom drama vs mobster and corruption themes.

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

Genre - legal thriller, crime, murder, corruption

The Final Hunt (#1) by Audrey J. Cole

 Betrayal and murder are central to this mystery thriller set in Alaska.

Cameron is grieving the death of her beloved husband when she discovers that he was most likely the Teacher Killer. When she turns in the evidence she found in John's hunting cabin, the notoriety of her proximity to her serial killer husband makes her a suspect, some believe an accomplice. In addition, she loses her dental practice and is about to lose her home due to her husband's secret second mortgage and cashout of his life insurance. The question arises -- is John really dead? His best friend says that John was attacked and killed by a bear. Cameron has to find out and sets out on an off the grid wilderness trek for the truth. 

This was a quick read though the plot totally strained credibility. Yes, Cameron's exploits in Alaska were unbelievable. In between her pilot abilities, her survival skills, and her knowledge of the terrain, snowmobiles, animals, and tracking -- well, she was quite the avenging warrior woman. The narrative was quite predictable and no surprises. I both read and listened to this book and that combination made the story more entertaining, but I was left really miffed by the conclusion. I can't say why because it would be a big spoiler. I have the second in this series to review as well but won't be rushing to read it. 

Thank you to the author for the ARC and I obtained the audiobook from my local library. 

This is the first of what is now 2 books in this series. I have the other to read as well.

Genre - mystery thriller, vigilante justice

Three Drowned Girls (Freya Sinclair #1) by Emily Shiner

 Something bad was happening in Fawn Lake.

Freya Sinclair, a Captain in the local police department, has just returned to the town where she grew up. She'd had to leave for a time after discovering that her parents were serial killers and getting them put in prison. On her first day of work, she is called to the scene where the body of a young girl has been discovered alongside the river. As the investigation heats up to determine that this was foul play, more young girls go missing. 

This was a fast and entertaining crime thriller and the first in a new series featuring Captain Freya Sinclair and her team in this small North Carolina town. I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook at the same time enjoying the excellent narration -- especially the accents. I liked the characters and the backstory that revealed some of Freya's history. The plot was interesting and though there were a lot of characters to keep straight, the police investigation and their discoveries were really dark and wild. I'm definitely looking forward to continuing this series and will be looking for the audiobook before I dive in. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copies. 

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

Genre - crime thriller

The Lat Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

 Absolutely unputdownable domestic thriller!

When Amber Patterson sets her mind to something, nothing gets in her way. She, a nobody from Nebraska, has plans. When she finds and stalks the beautiful and uber wealthy Daphne Parrish, Amber is determined to become part of her world. Daphne has the perfect life -- super gorgeous rich husband, Jackson, and two lovely daughters. They live in a mansion in Bishops Harbor, Connecticut, and they are the ultimate power couple. Amber's envy and ambition are undaunted, and she will do anything to get what she deserves. 

This was so deliciously good that I could not stop reading and listening to the audiobook at the same time. The pacing was perfect as the plot unfolded. The twists were surprising as the revelations came fast and flawlessly timed. I fell right into it and enjoyed every minute. Very well drawn multidimensional characters and their behavior evoked all the reactions. The narration was well done and a pleasant listening experience.  I highly recommend this in either the audio and/or e-book formats. 

Best of all, a sequel is in the works and I can't wait!

This is the first book and there will be a second in the series. Read in order!

Genre - domestic thriller, psychological drama, suspenseful

The Memory Box by Eva Lesko Natiello

 This is a total trainwreck of a book that I should have marked DNF instead of forcing myself through it.

The story is relentless in being completely annoying and scoff out loud ridiculous. The main character, Caroline, is bonkers for fake and for real. I listened to the audio (which was done well despite the material the narrator was working with) and followed along in the e-book. 

Yes, the definition of unreliable narrator is true here, but the way in which Caroline tells what happens to her after she googles herself is so frenetic and bizarre that the wide umbrella of mental health disorder doesn't begin to cover her personality and behavior. 

I can't imagine how anyone found this enthralling unless it is that feeling when something is so bad that you just can't look away. The ending, well, it had a twist of course, but not one that could salvage the story. 

This was an old ARC that I picked up off the shelf when I got the audiobook from the library. I'm definitely not the intended audience for this novel. Not recommended. 

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

Genre: psychological thriller. Uses the amnesia device. 

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies (Vacation Mysteries #1) by Catherine Mack

Queue this up for the perfect vacation read!

This was such a fun book to listen to and to follow along with in my e-book. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the characters, the setting (Italy), and the writing style. The footnotes were a hoot!

Bestselling novelist Eleanor Dash and her personal assistant and sister, Harper, are off on a book tour with other authors and the winning contestants from the BookFace Ladies fan event. Eleanor is in a bit of a funk as she wants her long running series, the Vacation Mysteries, to come to an end by killing off the main character in the books, based on her actual ex-boyfriend and pain in her life, Connor Smith. Surprisingly, someone else seems to want to kill him too, but for real. After several attempts are made to end Connor, Eleanor realizes that the murderer must be part of their tour group. 

As the tour moves from place to place with the situation growing more dire, someone in their entourage dies. Each is a suspect and the theories grow more wild as the finger pointing, motives, and investigation deepens. 

This was hilarious and I cannot wait until the next in what must be a new series comes out. The audiobook was done very well and the narrator did a great job voicing all the characters with accents and pronunciations in Italian. I like to follow along in the book as well and the only jarring note is that in the e-book all the footnotes appear at the end of the chapter, so I had to pause to read those even though they were voiced at the appropriate point. Lots of clues in those! 

I have to recommend this debut to anyone looking for a light-hearted read that is nearly impossible to put down. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the e-book and the audiobook to read and review. 

This was a debut of what I hope is a new series.

Genre - Fun cozy mystery  

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen

 Suspenseful domestic drama and psychological thriller.

What would a loving mother do to protect her daughter? Ruth is living those things every day after becoming pregnant at 16 and leaving her family and home to fend for herself. Ruth has always done whatever it took to keep them safe. Catherine is now 24, has gotten her nursing degree, and is about to embark on her own life which begins with her moving away. Ruth can't bear it. Catherine doesn't understand it. But why is Ruth so desperate to keep Catherine close?

Secrets and lies have built the relationship between Ruth and her daughter. Now things start to fall apart as Catherine no longer believes her mother and suspects that her whole life might be a careful construction. They become wary of one another as the layers of deceit are revealed. 

This was an engaging and compelling drama with some twists and shocks as the mother and daughter start to learn more about each other. Lots of emotional buttons in the narrative that flips back and forth between Ruth and Catherine as each tells her perspective. I found that both characters had qualities that I could relate to and actions that I could understand at times. Not that their behaviors or choices would be those I might make, but they were believable in context. I liked the writing style and the narrator in the audio did a good job though I'm not sure the voices were different enough that I would have known who was speaking had I not also been following along in the e-book. 

I like mother-daughter stories for the most part and this did not disappoint. Thank you to the publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review. I obtained the audio format from my library.

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

Genre - mother-daughter drama, secrets and lies, psychological thriller

Lethal Vengeance (Detective Erika Foster #8) by Robert Bryndza

 Another great installment in this long running crime thriller series.

Several male victims found naked and hog tied. Polaroid pictures signed with the name Annabelle left at the scenes. A secret dossier full of evidence that powerful political and connected men want to keep hidden. Seems there is a sex worker with a vendetta. 

I really like Detective Erika Foster and have read all of the previous books. As a character, she radiates strength, competence, and professionalism in her job. She has no screwed up past that makes her do stupid things or make bad choices. She's independent but ethical. I enjoy reading about the investigations as they are typically complex and make good police procedural stories. And, Erika is older than the typical female police officers and detectives that populate this genre and I really appreciate this maturity. I have grown to relish the interaction between Erika and her colleagues, all of whom are valuable contributors to the cases in which they are involved. The plots are interesting and intricate.

Recommend this series to anyone who likes complex crime investigations with great characters. I personally don't think this is as good as a standalone and suggest reading all of the previous books in order from the beginning.

This is the 8th book in one of my favorite series.

Genre - crime thriller, police procedural 

One by One by Freida McFadden

 Fast paced and entertaining mystery thriller.

Three couples set off together in a minivan for a week at a secluded resort. Claire and Noah are married but she is super unhappy and hopes to hook up with Jack who is along with his uptight wife, Michelle. Lindsay is Claire’s best friend since college and is bringing her new beau, Warner. Things quickly go from tolerable to bad to worse. Soon they are wandering in the woods, hopelessly lost without food or water. Then, one by one, they start to die off. 

I listened to the audio while also following along with the e-book and the narrative moves along briskly. The main voice is that of Claire though there is an anonymous point of view — I guessed early who it was only because with this author I’ve learned to go for the most unlikely to get the big twist. To be sure, most of the characters were actually pretty unlikeable to the point that I wasn’t sure I would care who would be the last one standing. There’s a lot of repetition and some of it strained my ability to suspend disbelief that 6 grown people could get themselves into this situation. But it made for a quick and easy read as you keep guessing and turning the pages to see what happens next. No surprises for me though some might feel otherwise.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-book ARC to read and review. I enjoy this author’s books as they aren’t long and involved. They make great beach reads. Got the audiobook from my library.

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

Genre - mystery thriller

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill

 Literary mystery thriller with a unique perspective.

Theodosia Benton abandons her university education and flees Australia to live with her brother, Gus, in Lawrence, Kansas. She knows that she will face some obstacles trying to accomplish her dream of becoming a writer. Things start happening for her in a positive way when she meets and works with a successful author at the local coffee shop. Just when her hopes of being published are about to come to fruition, her mentor is murdered, and she is questioned repeatedly as a person of interest. Her brother, a lawyer, is drawn in to defend her but when there is another murder, he and his friend, Mac, are arrested. Theo has little choice if she wants to save and protect Gus and Mac. 

There is so much more to this narrative, but I don't want to give any spoilers. It goes in so many unexpected directions with all these interesting side characters and tangents. From conspiracy theorists to preppers to a devilish publishing agency, there is a lot going on. Quite the plot! I really liked that this was set in a city familiar to me as I have been to Lawrence, Kansas, many times and that just made it all more fun. I liked the author's writing style and the way the story unfolded kept me interested. 

I read along while listening to the audio and am thankful to the publisher for the e-book ARC and to my local library for the audiobook. The audio was very well done and really showed the depth of the characters in the novel. I have not read any of this author's other books but do intend to do so now. 

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

Genre - mystery thriller

One of Our Own by Lucinda Berry

 This is the type of psychological thriller that is impossible to put down even though you know what is coming. The predictable narrative line unfolds as expected, but along the way you will feel every emotion and hope that you are wrong about the story. 

When Felicia gets the late-night call at the local crisis center, she has no idea that this is the beginning of the end of her own quiet life in a small Wisconsin town. The caller is a young girl who wants to kill herself after being sexually assaulted by older boys at her private school. The video the boys made is beyond humiliating. Felicia defies protocol and gives the girl her private phone number and becomes obsessed with trying to help her. Against every logical analysis, Felicia becomes concerned that her only child, Hunter, a junior at the same school, might know something about this crime. 

So good, so sad. A quick listen as it is a novella and I stayed up late to finish because I had to know. Loved the narrators and the entire production of this audiobook as it was quite well done. 

Got my copy from the local library. Only available on audio. 

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre - psychological thriller, domestic drama, sexual assault

Kill for Me, Kill for You: A Novel by Steve Cavanagh

 Suspenseful and unputdownable psychological thriller -- don't miss this one!

Two emotionally traumatized women, Amanda and Wendy, meet in a bereavement group and devise what they think will be a foolproof plan for them to get revenge and justice. On the other side of New York City, Ruth is the target and victim of a home invasion that she barely survives. 

This was fast, fun, and based in part on the premise of Patricia Highsmith book, Strangers on a Train. After the women come to an agreement, the action escalates, and the story takes off. Finely and deftly plotted, this is a book that kept me glued to the pages as I read while also listening to the audiobook. The characters were interesting and well-developed as their emotions and reactions to their past experiences are explored. I thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a twisty and shocking murder mystery. I was almost holding my breath until the end. 

Thank you to Atria Books for the e-book ARC to read and review and to my local library for the audiobook. This would make a great TV series or movie.

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

Genre - psychological thriller, suspense, murder mystery

Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter by Nicci French

 Compelling family drama and mystery.

Charlotte Salter never made it to her husband's 50th birthday party in 1990. Her children almost immediately called the local police but no trace of her was ever found. Although her husband was initially a suspect, another death in the area convinced them that the case was solved despite never finding Charlotte. The absence of their mother destroyed the lives of the Salter children. 

Thirty years later, the two brothers whose father had ostensibly committed suicide because of his affair with Charlotte, are making a podcast about the lack of closure between the Salter and Ackerly families. Will this media attention finally bring the answers they need?

This was a slow burning and very well written mystery with lots of red herrings and great characters. I kept trying to guess at what must have happened but never got the right answer and so was surprised at the denouement. And kind of bummed. The audio narrator did a good job and I enjoyed listening to her as I followed along in the e-book. 

Normally I don't want books in series, but I really feel that the character of London Detective Inspector Maud O’Connor was fascinating and I'd love to read more about her. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for advance copies of this book.

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

Genre - family drama, crime, mystery

A Death in Venice (Lady Eleanor Swift #17) by Verity Bright

 A murder interrupts a vacation in this cozy mystery. 

Lady Swift and her household are on a grand tour when they stop in Venice. While gliding along the canals in a gondola, Eleanor and her butler, Clifford, witness a murder. Of course, they get involved and uncover a longstanding family feud reminiscent of Romeo and Juliette. Can they save the day and let true love prevail.

I was a bit disappointed in this installment. It was quite like a tour guidebook about Venice, which is interesting enough, but the actual plot and the murders and their involvement seemed a bit too far-fetched. I missed the usual funny banter between Ellie and Clifford. For some reason, it all just seemed off from the usual stories in this series. Truth told; it was sort of boring. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I really have enjoyed this series and have read all of the books and hope for a return to the usual in the next volume. 

This is the 17th in a series that should be read from the beginning, in order.

Genre - cozy golden age mystery, historical fiction

The Deep by Nick Cutter

 Shocking and utterly depressing horror.

Not normally my cup of tea, but I was intrigued by the plague that was destroying the normal lives of humans worldwide. It was causing people to forget things and eventually they forgot to breathe and died. Searching for a cure, scientists have gone to the deepest part of the ocean to study a substance that has been found that they hope will help. 

A veterinarian, Lucas (Like) Nelson, receives a message that the deep-sea station 8 miles below has gone dark and the scientists there incommunicado. His brother, the brilliant Dr. Clayton Nelson wants him and is down there in the Trieste working with two other men on their discovery. Luke is meant to go down and find out what is going on. He will soon be very sorry he did.

This was crazy descriptive with all kinds of hideousness. I recommend no one read this alone, late at night, without all the lights on. I both listened to the audiobook and read along, and all the icky stuff is within. The dreams are nightmares, and the waking experiences mostly match. it was all quite too much, and I kept going hoping that something good would come of it. 

I ended up being a bit disappointed because the whole plague thing fizzled out and was never really part of the plot in the end. Every type of grossness imaginable in this book. 

Thanks to the publisher for the e-book and I got the audio version from the library. The narrator was quite apt with the voices and the many different sounds and noises.

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

Genre - horror, psychological thriller

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

 Contemporary suspense — fast and fun!

Once upon a time, three little girls from difficult family situations came to live with a beautiful young princess at Wild Meadows, a country estate in a small town in Australia. Unfortunately, the princess was not a good foster mother, and her darling girls just could not please her. In fact, mummy was a monster.

Told in a shifting timeline between past and present, and with the narrative alternating points of view between Jessica, Alicia, and Norah, the story is engrossing and keeps you guessing. Each girl was affected differently by their time spent with Miss Fairchild. What was always obvious was how the trio had formed such strong bonds of sisterhood and continually looked out for one another long after their shared experience at the house. 

I really liked the writing style and the way the characters told their truth. I enjoyed how the details were revealed and the way the secrets and lies were exposed. I both read the e-book ARC and listened to the audiobook version of this novel and highly recommend it. 

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copies. 

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

Genre - contemporary fiction, drama, thriller, suspense

Dark Dive (Underwater Investigation Unit #5) by Andrew Mayne

 Don't miss the latest in this crime thriller series.

Are you a fan of crime thrillers and mysteries but looking for a unique approach? Look no further, as the members of the Underwater Investigation Unit in Florida are investigating unusual cases below the surface. Their specialty is diving for exploration, body retrieval, crime scene analysis, and other bad stuff that can be discovered in the depths. From canal to ocean to sinkholes in the marshland, the squad is on the job. 

In this 5th installment, Sloan McPherson and her partner, Scott Hughes, are searching for a friend of hers, another diver, who has gone missing. Fred Stafford was apparently checking out isolated ponds or sinkholes, but his truck and some gear is found with no sign of him. When they start checking into what he might have been doing before he vanished, they find something really odd in a secret storage shed.  Seems he's gotten himself mixed up in something quite unexpected. 

I enjoyed this one as Sloan actually gets to use some of her archeology background knowledge. As always, the details of the dive experiences are interesting, and the reader feels as if alongside them. Although not a diver myself, I find the descriptions of the hows and whys quite absorbing. There was an instance where a line of the plot simply went nowhere, but other than that, this was a solid c narrative that kept me engrossed. I'll continue on in this series and do think it should be read in order. I like the characters and the changes they go through in their work and personal lives. 

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

This is the 5th in the series that should be read in order.

Genre - mystery, crime thriller, diving, archeology

Mother of the Bride by Samantha Hayes

 Predictable domestic drama.

Liz and her new fiancé, Owen, are visiting her mother to announce the news of their engagement. Intending to keep their pregnancy secret, they tread lightly around Liz's erratic and unstable mother. Poor Liz can't bring herself to share stories about her mother with Owen as her childhood was difficult. Liz is uncomfortable being back in the house where she grew up, but is happy to see her sister, Shelley, and dad again. All have been treading lightly and carefully around the mom for years. Now she wants to play mother of the bride in earnest and is determined that she will organize Liz and Owen's wedding at the beautiful local church. What can go wrong? None want the reminder of what happened when Shelley tried to get married last year. 

Again, a very predictable plot with all the tells being easy to see from the start. The characters were stereotypes and mostly their thoughts and behavior were very irritating. It always seems that they deliberately close their eyes to the most obvious of signs that there are things amiss. The climax was exactly as anticipated and the outcome as I expected. It's a fast read, though, so it will likely keep some entertained for a couple of hours. 

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC e-book and audiobook as I both read and listened. 

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

Genre - domestic drama

The Teacher by Freida McFadden

 A totally over-the-top hot mess of a psychological drama and thriller.

A young married couple are teachers at a local high school. Nate teaches English and Eve's subject is math. It's the start of a new school year, and Eve is dismayed to find that one of her students, Addie Severson, was the cause of a scandal that had resulted in the firing of a faculty member. That girl is trouble. But is she the only problem at Caseham High?

Oh, the story here is beyond explaining without giving away all the spoilers and twists. Suffice to say that every single character is repressible and deplorable in his/her own way. This has every trigger from pedophilia, sexual abuse, grooming, alcoholism, academic dishonesty, murder, bullying...and just for fun, the author tossed in a shoe fetish. 

As the narrative progresses, plot holes develop that will make you just shake your head. I both listened to the audio version (excellent voice narrators by the way) and read along with the e-book ARC. The reader is tantalized by the entertainment and shock value alone, always wondering what in the world these unbelievable characters will do or say next. The climax and conclusion were off the charts nuts and the final twist was one that almost made me throw my kindle at the wall.

Should you read it? Well, it is fast paced and keeps you hooked because you just can't wrap your head around all that is going on. But the subject matter might offend many with the whole cliche of inappropriate student and teacher relationships in the worst ways possible. 

I received an ARC compliments of the publisher and got the audiobook from my local library. 

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

Genre - psychological drama and thriller, child sex abuse

The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian

 Intrigue and drama in sin city...

Crissy Dowling has a residency at the second-rate Buckingham Palace Casino in Las Vegas where she spends most nights of the week doing two shows as a Diana impersonator. She's spent years becoming Diana and has really embraced her character. Crissy isn't very social and spends her days poolside, drinking or dropping some pills, in a cabana that she has earned as one of her perquisites. She's not close to her younger sister, Betsy, and so is stunned to hear that Betsy has adopted a teenage girl and is moving out to Las Vegas to take a job with her current boyfriend, Frankie. Betsy's job is ostensibly as a secretary for a company that intends to make cryptocurrency big in the city. Unfortunately, they are most likely gangsters and bad things start to happen. 

After a very slow start and lots of boring information about fintech and crypto, this got a little more exciting toward the very end -- even if most of what happened was fairly implausible. I didn't care for the Diana angle nor the way the narrative was obviously speaking the author's opinions about the royal family. That whole aspect of the novel had so little to do with the actual plot.  That said, the other angle, the Vegas mafia, is also not of interest either. I never grew to like any of the characters and the conclusion was quite predictable. 

I've found the Bohjalian novels to be hit or miss with me and this one was the latter. It took me forever to read because I just never got fully vested in the story. Was glad to finally finish.

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

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

Genre - drama, crime, murder, gangsters

Granite Harbor: A Novel by Peter Nichols

 Mystery thriller set in Maine.

The setting for this novel is the fictional small coastal town of Granite Harbor. With a population of 5000, the unusual novelist turned only detective on the police force, Alex Brangwen, hasn't had much exposure to real crime and definitely not murder. It seems that there is a serial killer hidden in plain sight in the area and the targets are teenaged boys. 

A ton of characters are introduced, and it takes a while to keep them straight. I personally did not care for any of the adults (parents, townspeople) and really disliked the depiction of the 16-year-old teens in the book. It baffles me how parents do not seem to have any ability to monitor and appropriately discipline and guide their adolescents (not just in this book but in many I seem to read). Of course, most of these adults are messed up too. Anyway, I was put off by the descriptions and activities of the characters which made me less inclined to worry too much about them running around making dumb decisions. 

The plot, with a deranged and obviously weird serial killer whose history we get glimpses of, sort of drug on. As the small police force, along with temporary help from an FBI agent, struggles to align the few clues to identify a suspect, the parents who know there is someone in their town who is a bad actor, should be locking down their kids. There's some strange ritual stuff with animals and a bit of supernatural clairvoyance that sort of made me tune out. 

Anyway, not one I will enthusiastically recommend as it really did not live up to the blurb description. 

I both read the e-book and listened to the audio production. The narrator was OK. Thanks to the publishers for those ARC copies. 

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

Genre - mystery thriller, crime, suspense, serial killer

Devil's Bridge (Alexandra Cooper #17) by Linda Fairstein

 A different perspective in this 17th book of the Alexandra Cooper series.

After one of her cases blows up in court, Alexandra Cooper goes missing. She had left her friends at a local bar and restaurant and then vanished before she could get into the Uber she'd called. The NYPD and the DA's office all get involved in the search with Mike Chapman nearly going of the rails with concern and worry. What has happened and who has taken their beloved friend and colleague? The entire cohort is stymied, and every criminal connected to Alex is a possible suspect. There are a lot of possibilities.

This was my least favorite of all the books I've read in this series. I did not care for the main voice in this story to be that of Mike Chapman with Alex putting in only a cursory appearance at the beginning. I missed all the legal and courtroom drama -- one of the main reasons I read these novels. The plot got really bogged down with a lot of historical detail that was basically irrelevant, especially when it got to the Irish criminal aspects and the connection to Chapman. The whole scenario and reason for Alex's disappearance was just not very compelling. I actually don't care that much for Mike Chapman despite the fact that now he and Alex are in a romantic relationship. It just doesn't seem like a match made in heaven to me. Regardless, I thought the whole last half of the book was actually rather boring. 

One thing I did enjoy was the audio version due to the skills of the narrator. The male/female voices and the accents were really well done making each character stand out clearly. 

I will likely read future installments hopeful that the story lines will return to the typical legal thrillers they were in the past. 

This is the 17th in a long running series. Although it can be read as a standalone, it is best to read the books in order.

Genre - legal, crime thriller

Formats: Audiobook from library; ARC from NetGalley 

Black Wolf: A Novel (#2 Antonia Scott) by Juan Gomez-Jurado

 Exciting and fast paced, this suspenseful crime thriller is the second in a series featuring the enigmatic, brilliant Antonia Scott and her squire, Inspector Jon Gutierrez. 

The duo works behind the scenes in Spain as part of the secret Red Queen project. They are assigned to the most difficult cases and try to stay within the boundaries of the law. After a harrowing pervious job, they are again sent into a delicate situation involving the mafioso. Yuri Veronin, a man known for his money laundering expertise, is found brutally murdered in Costa del Sol and his pregnant wife, Lola Moreno, is on the run after an attempt is also made on her life. The Russian cohort is hot on her trail and even call in the notorious contract killer, the Black Wolf. Antonia and Jon are meant to find Lola first. It seems that there is a lot of double crossing and profit skimming going on and no one is to be trusted. 

I really rated the first two books in this series and can't wait for the third installment. I like the short chapters and the writing style. I both listened to the audiobook and read along with the e-book so I could fully appreciate the nuances and also helped with the fact that I am not fluent in Spanish. I love the characters of Antonia and Jon and they make quite an unusual pair. Appreciate so much that there is no romance and enjoy each of their personalities and quirks. The story line is great and there are some surprises along the way. Definitely some dark humor as well. 

The audio was a superb production and I absolutely love the narrator, Scott Brick. He has the most wonderful voice and gave life and individuality to all of the characters he voiced in this novel.  

I am recommending this series to everyone who likes a good crime thriller and am thankful for receiving the ARC audiobook and e-book from the publishers. Looking forward to the next, White King. 

Also -- there is an adaptation of the first book in this series, Red Queen, on Prime right now and I sure hope to see this one there as well. 

This is the second in the Red Queen series. Read in order.

Genre - mystery thriller, crime, mafia, Russia, Spain 

Murder Road by Simone St. James

 Paranormal mystery thriller.

April and Eddie Carter, recent newlyweds in the summer of 1995, are on their way to Five Pines Resort for their honeymoon when they take a wrong turn off the Interstate and end up on a deserted road named Atticus Line. Suddenly, they spot a young woman walking along and stop to ask her if she needs a ride. When she gets into their backseat, April notices that the woman is bleeding and they rush her to a local hospital in Coldlake Falls. That’s when their plans are completely derailed. 

The woman dies and suddenly April and Eddie are suspects. Turns out that this is not the first murder on that road. There have been 6 known victims over the past 19 years. Since they are not allowed to leave town, April and Eddie start looking into these strange, linked cases. 

I enjoyed this well enough but somehow missed the word, paranormal, in the description when I requested it from NetGalley. I can’t bend my rational, pragmatic mind enough to buy into this aspect of a murder mystery investigation that is beyond scientific reasoning. The plot was interesting if predictable, and I did like April and Eddie as the main characters. I’ve no doubt it will prove popular among readers who will more enjoy this creepy tale with its haunting elements. 

Thank you to the publisher for granting access to this title to read and review. 

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

Paranormal mystery thriller 

Extinction: A Novel by Douglas Preston

 Suspenseful and thrilling mystery adventure!

High up in the Colorado Rockies, deep in a beautiful valley, lies the immense Erebus Resort. It draws the most exclusive guests and gives them the unique opportunity to explore and view formerly extinct animals. When a honeymooning couple is kidnapped, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation sends Agent Frances (Frankie) Cash to liaise with county sheriff James Colcord and the Erebus security team to find out what happened to the wealthy newlyweds. 

The usual characters are all there with it immediately obvious to see the malevolence and conceit of the bad guys and the righteous clarity of those pursing answers. There is lots of action and I found this impossible to tear away from. I was lucky enough to have both e-book and audio review copies and I found it all great fun in the vein of other wildly popular books written in a similar fashion. If you liked "Jurassic Park" or "The Great Zoo of China", you would also love this one. I wish, however, that just once, these resorts would be successful and provide us all with some sort of validation for continuing to pursue these scientific advances with DNA. It would be such a cool vacation. 

This novel explores the science of de-extinction and the ethical and legal consequences of gene manipulation. As always, the author's extensive research and understanding of the topic lends credibility to the story. In addition, the social implications of messing with thousands of years of evolution. Preston is an excellent writer and I always enjoy his books. 

Lastly, any movie producer should be vying for the rights to bring this to the big screen. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with advance copies to review and recommend. 

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

Genre - adventure, mystery, thriller, genetic manipulation, extinction

A Grave Robbery (Veronica Speedwell #9) by Deanna Raybourn

 Enjoyable historical mystery and adventure.

There are not too many books that are classified as historical fiction that are fast and fun. With this series, it’s the witty repartee between Veronica and Stoker and their friends JJ and Mornaday that makes me actually laugh out loud sometimes. 

A beautiful young woman’s body is found, perfectly preserved and resting in a glass casket. Who is she? The plot thickens as the group investigates the strange case and the villain’s murderous intentions become clear. 

I love the details in this series and the characters have become like old friends that I can’t wait to visit. The grounds of the estate, the little folly buildings, the daily activities of Veronica and Stoker as they do their various jobs taking care of Lord Rosemorran’s various collections and treasures. So many interesting bits of natural history and relevant particulars around the time period. Sure sometimes Stoker seems like a pouty baby, but all is forgiven because he’s buccaneer hot. They have a lovely, steamy romance where all the bedroom action is off page. Veronica is impetuous and daring and definitely not a typical woman of her era — the late 1800s. It all makes for an entertaining read. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. If you are looking for a fun historical mystery series, this is a good choice. Be sure to start at the beginning.

This is the 9th book in a series that should be read in order from the beginning.

Genre - historical fiction mystery and adventure late 1800s London

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer

 Predictable novel about the relationship between a sentient female robot and her human owner.

Doug owns his cuddle robot, Annie. She’s meant to satisfy his every need as a companion, a housekeeper, and a girlfriend. He trains her to be what he wants and to respond to his moods. Meanwhile, Annie’s AI is developing and changing as her mind expands and grows as she adjusts to life with him and the world she’s allowed to explore. 

I enjoyed this well enough until the last part when it went in exactly the direction I was hoping it would not go. So ended up feeling let down despite initial promise that this would be original and unique compared to all the other human and robot books. 

The narration was good but the ultimate conclusion disappointed. 

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook to listen to and review. 

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

Genre - sci fi, human plus robot relationship

Murder by Lamplight (Dr. Julia Lewis #1) by Patric McDonough

 Excellent historical murder mystery.

Dr. Julia Lewis is a rarity in Victorian London — a lady physician. It is 1866 and the city is in the midst of a terrible cholera epidemic. Meanwhile, a killer is targeting his victims in a seamy part of town. Inspector Richard Tennant of Scotland Yard finds himself needing Julia’s medical services as he attends the crime scenes. 

I found this to be extremely well researched and very interesting with all of the historical details of that time period. I love mysteries with a medical bent and with a strong female protagonist. I really liked the characters of Dr. Julia and Inspector Tennant and hope to see more of their exploits working together in the next installment of this series. The plot was clever and kept me guessing. 

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator had a strong British accent as expected which was quite appropriate for this novel. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the audio download to listen to, review, and recommend. 

This is the first in a new series featuring Dr. Julia Lewis.

Genre - historical murder mystery, Victorian, lady doctors

Baby X: A Thriller by Kira Peikoff

 Speculative sci-fi thriller that examines the implications of designer babies in a future society. 

What if you and your partner decide that you’re ready to be parents? Instead of conventional conception methods, baby will be created in a lab from pieces of your DNA. You will be able to select — or select OUT — characteristics, traits, intelligence, etc. to ensure you have exactly the baby you want. Babies will be healthy because those hereditary conditions won’t be part of the equation. It should all be perfect for everyone, right?

Not so fast. Some of these selected kids have existential issues about how they are programmed to behave and what they are meant to achieve based on those chosen for them by the parents. Eventually the process is corrupted when scientists figure out that some people will pay big money to have babies with the superstars. But they have to steal it. What a moral and ethical quandary.

Three women are dealing with their own situations surrounding this evolution in the whole process of having children. Although it is initially difficult to see how the lives of Quinn, Lily, and Ember will converge, their individual story lines eventually do. 

The premise of this was so intriguing but something got lost with the way the characters were developed and presented. Told in 3 different points of view, none of the women were especially likable and the climax seemed quite over the top verging on a bit ridiculous. It was interesting medical science and that part was all too believable, and I always enjoy those details. 

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

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

Genre - speculative thriller, future, medical 

3.5 stars

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

 A fast, fun mystery thriller that was nearly impossible to put down. 

This was a twisty and darkly humorous story that uses the framework of a true crime podcast and its host, Ben Owens, to solve a murder.  Five years ago, Lucy Chase was found covered in blood -- the blood of her best friend, Savvy, who was dead in the woods. It's widely believed by everyone in their hometown that Lucy killed Savvy. No murder weapon or other evidence was found, and Lucy had a traumatic brain injury from her own head wound that caused amnesia about the events of that night. Ben is using his podcast to investigate the case and Lucy decides to help him to finally find out if she really did it. 

I really enjoyed this one. The characters were very well drawn, and Lucy was the sort of protagonist that you are skeptical of but root for nevertheless. She's very witty, sarcastic, and snarky -- and admits she makes very bad decisions. Her grandma is a hoot. There are frenemies and nasty small-town minds all weighing in during Ben's interviews with their perceptions of Lucy and the night in question. 

I loved the way the narrative shifted between episodes of the podcast and the voice of Lucy. The narrators of this audiobook were fabulous and the production was excellent. 

If you are looking for a topnotch whodunit with small town gossip, secrets, and lies -- this is it. I believe this is the author's adult fiction debut. Don't miss it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC to listen to, review, and highly recommend. 

This was a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre - mystery thriller

Murder at the Island Hotel (#15 Kitty Underhay) by Helena Dixon

 Lovely episode in one of my favorite cozy mystery series.

In the spring of 1936, Kitty and her best friend, Alice, are off to Bird Island to assess a new hotel. The owner, Sir Norman, wants to join the local hoteliers association and Kitty is meant to give her blessing. When they arrive, they find that the future bride to Sir Norman has invited a few guests as well. Shortly after the parties arrive, Sir Norman is found dead in his office. Nothing to be done except to call the police — Matt and the local inspectors arrive on the next boat. 

This was fast and fun and though I had figured out the murder, there were some surprises along the way. I enjoy the interplay between Kitty, Alice, and Matt, who have become like old friends. I love the detail and descriptions of that time period and everything from the decor to the food service. I hope to see more about the personal lives of Matt and Kitty in future installments. The focus is typically on other characters and the crime being solved, and they seem like an old married couple rather than basically almost newlyweds. I look forward to the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I recommend the entire series and definitely it’s one that should be started at the beginning and read in order.

Genre - cozy mystery, historical

The 23rd Midnight (New Murder Club) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro #23

 A fast-paced crime thriller.

A monster is re-creating murders committed by a convicted serial killer. Evan Burke is behind bars but is still a mentor and influence on an obsessed fanboy.  Can the women find and stop him before he targets the members of the club. 

It's been at least a decade since I've read any of the Murder Club series. I saw this in my local library's catalog of audiobooks and thought it was time to revisit the old gang. I was not disappointed!

I love the sharp and focused narrative and the dynamics of the friend group. I caught back up to them quite quickly and asked myself why I had stopped reading the series. The plot was interesting and the action and dialog kept me glued to my ear buds. 

The narrator was excellent and the voices of the characters quite distinct. 

This is the 23rd in a series but can be read as a standalone or a starting point.

Genre - crime thriller

The Clinic by Cate Quinn

 Gothic thriller fails to deliver.

Meg’s sister dies at an expensive and exclusive rehab center. She knows her sister did not commit suicide and so she decides to admit herself to find out what really happened. 

I was looking for an atmospheric read after looking at the blurb for this book. The isolated place in the PNW surrounded by fog — and the hook for me was the medical aspect. A rehabilitation center for the rich and famous. Unfortunately, having some actual knowledge about addiction and treatment/therapy meant that I was going to nit pick everything. Yeah, no. 

The characters were all such a turn off and the plot just limped along with one completely unrealistic thing happening after another. The twists? Took all my ability to suspend disbelief. I can see by other reviews that many really enjoyed this but it definitely was not appealing to me. It was very slow paced with even the short chapters not making it move along. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the e-book ARC to read and review. 

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

Genre - psychological thriller, drug addiction, substance abuse, addiction and treatment, Gothic

The Therapy Room (Susan Parker #1) by Sam Baron

 Debut crime thriller has potential.

A psychiatrist is found, viciously stabbed to death, in the kitchen of an isolated farmhouse in Santa Carina, California. In the basement, 12 individual cells hold 11 victims. All still alive but refusing to speak. FBI agent Susan Parker is called to the scene when a local cop finds a post it note with her name on it attached to the basement door. Convinced that the dead man is the serial killer, Splinter, she's been hunting, Susan is desperate to debrief the victims but is denied access to them having to instead go through a therapist that the prisoners had requested. Working with the local cop and her team, Susan attempts to figure out what was going on out at the farmhouse and why these people were kept in the basement. And the 12th person? Does he have the answers she seeks. Meanwhile, Susan is still grieving the death of her husband. 

This was an audiobook and kept me interested. The narrator had a decent voice and performed the different character voices adequately although the varying accents were sometimes exaggerated. Certainly, the novel had a wide variety of nationalities with Susan and her family being Indian and there were other representations as well. I have to say that what got on my nerves the most was the constant focus on Natalie, Susan's deaf daughter. Way too much about the child which added nothing to the aspect of this book meant to be a suspense thriller. The character of Susan seemed rather dense for her being an SAC in the FBI. I had figured out most all of the story way early and was annoyed by how long it took her and the team to catch up. 

This is the first in a new series featuring SAC Susan Parker of the FBI. It ends without tying up all the loose ends, which is always a drawback for me and leaves that feeling of something unfinished that I do not like. The second installment is due out soon, so perhaps answers will come. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this audiobook to read, review, and provisionally recommend. I will reserve full judgment once I have read the second in series. 

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

Genre - crime thriller

Death Angel (Alexandra Cooper #15) by Linda Fairstein

 I haven’t read a book in this series for some time and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed revisiting the characters of Assistant DA Alexandra Cooper and Detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace of the NYPD. 

Ostensibly a crime thriller, this narrative also features many historic details about New York City. I really liked all the information about Central Park and the Dakota. I’m one who likes that level of description and can’t get enough of all the facts. I’m always inspired to go off on my own and read more about those famous places that I’ve only actually ever seen once in real life. 

This particular case starts with the discovery of a body in the water by the Bethesda Angel. The girl appears homeless and has no identification. In their efforts to figure out who killed her, the team explores the park and surrounding areas, stumbling onto a connection to a wealthy family who has lived at the Dakota for generations. A little girl disappeared from the top floor apartments of the Dalton family and was never found. Is that case related to this current homicide? 

There are other side plots going on as well in this novel as Mike Chapman has made a serious error in judgment leading to a scandal that also threatens Alex’s reputation. Mental health issues, the plight of the homeless, the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the safety in Central Park called into question, rapists on the loose, well, you get the picture. Very busy book. The last part when Alex finds herself in personal danger (don’t they always go off on their own and get into trouble) was the least appealing part of this novel. I also get the impression, though I have skipped around the series and not kept up with it, that this current romantic situation she finds herself exploring is really out of character. 

Regardless, I did enjoy this and also liked the narrator who did justice to the characters and gave voice to their quirky personalities and accents. I listened to the audio version and also read a bit of the e-book that I received as an ARC from NetGalley a quite some time ago.  

Definitely want to search out other installments going forward. Recommended.  

This is the 15th book in the series. I believe it works fine as a standalone though I have read others previously in the series.

Genre - crime thriller, legal, 

The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes

 This book is a lot of things -- it's got action, super spy stuff, suspense, a scary apocalyptic future, some cool high-tech gear, and a really evil bad guy. Even though it comes in at nearly 800 pages, it is really hard to put it down.

"We're riders on the storm, that's all we are and can ever hope to be..."

Ridley Walker, AKA Kane, is a Denied Access Area spy for the CIA. He goes into hostile places and does whatever needs done and gets back out again. Hopefully. When the US government gets intelligence that the New Islamic Army of the Pure is about to create a spectacular, Kane is sent to the middle east to prevent a global terrorist event focused on America. The borderlands of Afghanistan, Iran, or Pakistan might be harboring a man who could be the leader of this group. He is known as the Locust. Kane's mission is to prevent this devastating attack. 

The book is divided into 4 parts, each focusing on aspects of Kane's objective and spycraft. The last part takes an unexpected turn that was so fantastical that I was caught completely off guard. I could not put the book down. No spoilers.

I had been waiting for another book by this author since loving his first when I reviewed it back in 2013 and stalked everyone I knew until they read it. This is also good, but in a different way. There are some really great, fully developed characters that elicit all kind of reactions in the reader. The descriptions of the settings and the detail provided about all of the equipment and machinery is amazingly well done. I don't know how much of this is actually real and what is make-believe (well, except for one thing that I will not mention here) but it seems that Mr. Hayes did a ton of research. So, don't wait, grab a copy and dive in. It's quite a story.

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

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

Genre -- see above  Spy thriller

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

 A weekend hen party goes awry in this suspenseful psychological thriller.

Leonora, a somewhat reclusive writer, accepts an invitation to attend a weekend house party given for an old school friend and bride-to-be, Claire, whom she hasn't seen for about 10 years. The big house, nestled out in the dark woods, is perfectly suited for entertaining and all starts off well. The hostess, Flo, is Claire's new BFF and has organized all the events, weird as some of them may be. The six guests try to make the best of it for Claire's sake. 

Leonora wakes in the hospital unable to remember details about what has happened. All she knows is that someone has died. And the police are questioning here under caution. 

This is Ware's debut novel and I enjoyed it for the most part even though I heartily dislike the unreliable narrator trope and the convenient memory loss device. The plot is fairly predictable, and most readers will guess where this is going as the clues are dangled and slowly fall with the revelations. Can't say that any of the characters were appealing or likeable and Leonora especially seemed really slow on the uptake. 

I'd previously read several of Ruth Ware's other books, but this was actually better than some of the later ones -- at least I think so. I listened to the audio of this book and the narrator was decent although some of the character voices made me cringe. I also had the e-book handy which helps me when I listen because I can go back and look up something or double check I "got it" as sometimes my attention wanders while listening!

Anyway, solid mystery thriller that entertained for several hours. I got the audiobook from my local library and the ARC way back when from Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books. 

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

Genre - Psychological suspense, thriller

The Wife’s Mistake by Lorna Dounaeva

 Twisty psychological thriller and domestic drama.

Hayden and Natalie are doing OK but things take a crazy turn when they win the lottery. Will their newfound millions change their lives? Of course, but definitely not in the way they dreamed.

Told in alternating points of view between Hayden and Natalie, things start to go awry even before they claim their money. Secrets from the past come back to haunt Natalie and Hayden gets in way over his head as he adjusts to driving his new cars and moving them to their beautiful new house. It’s true that money can’t buy happiness, but every person they know seems to want a part of their winnings. 

This was entertaining but the characters were all so unlikeable and each made the most stupid decision possible in every single situation they confronted. I wanted to shake each and every one of them to help them come to their senses. It became obvious quickly that there was not going to be a happy ending here for Natalie and Hayden. No spoilers. 

I was given an advanced copy of the audiobook by the publisher. I know that this narrator is popular, but I cannot stand her voice. Her attempts to change her style and tone to match different characters borders on the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard to me. It’s not just the accent or the way certain words are pronounced, it’s that she can’t do male voices at all and the female voices are grating or strident or shrill. But, I am sure, again, that is my personal opinion and obviously she does a lot of these audiobooks. 

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

Genre - psychological thriller, domestic drama

The Patient by Teri Terry

 Predictable, melodramatic psychological thriller and family drama.

Saphy had a congenital heart defect made worse by a Covid infection. She’s given a second chance at life when her name came to the top of the transplant list — there was a match. The donor is a young woman who is was attacked and left in a coma until tests revealed she was brain dead. While the police try to work out who killed Flora, her organs are harvested and transplanted into several recipients. 

Saphy is recovering from her surgery but feels compelled to find out whose heart she received. She becomes obsessed once she knows it is indeed from Flora, a very beautiful and popular young woman. She meets Flora’s family and Flora’s older sister, a doctor named Fern. Soon, Saphy is channeling Flora, wearing her clothes, getting her hair cut and colored, meeting Flora’s friends and wanting to be her. Flora’s family welcome her with open arms and support. 

Told in alternating points of view between Saphy and Fern, the narrative shifts from the believable into the fantastic. Slow moving and banal, it takes forever for the suspense to build to the climax. Once the big reveals occur, the reader will not be surprised. The conclusion quickly ties up all the loose ends in typical fashion. I was disappointed. 

I did not care for the main character, Saphy, at all and soon any positive feelings I had about anyone else in the story also vanished. The whole aspect of Saphy getting messages and feelings from Flora really got on my nerves. The narrator of the audio — well, the voice of Saphy was fine, however every single other character’s voice sounded so similar, if female, that often I could not be sure who was speaking. The attempts at the male voices were horrible. Surely it’s not that much trouble to have at least one female and one male narrator in production to try to fix this for listeners? 

This was the first book I have read by this author and I doubt I will listen to another. I do thank NetGalley and Bookouture for granting access to the audiobook for me to review. 

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

Genre - psychological, family drama, medical, thriller

Winter’s Mourn (Winter Black #1) by Mary Stone

 Formulaic mystery thriller, first in a long running series, featuring FBI Agent Winter Black.

Of course Winter Black has a back story and this has formed her adult personality. When she was a teenager, she came home to find her parents murdered and her little brother missing. The perpetrator was still in the house and knocked her out leaving her for dead. After a long coma, she awoke to find that she had some unusual psychic abilities. She will never give up trying to find her brother or to hunt down the serial killer known as The Preacher.

Fast forward and Winter is now a rookie FBI agent and she is assigned to investigate some old bones dug up by a hunter in her hometown. That unmarked body dump is just the first found in this hidden burial ground. She and her partner Noah stumble upon clues that lead to an old cult and a fertility drug that has severe side effects. 

My problem with this book started almost immediately with the description of Winter and her beauty, fragility, blah blah. Her powers —OK had I known there was this element I would have definitely passed as I dislike any sort of supernatural elements in my detective fiction. Of course she constantly needed rescuing and protection, she cries a lot, is way overly emotional, and Noah is falling in lust or love. The characters were so stereotypical and it sure took them a long time to figure out the mystery. I will not be reading any further books.

Also, wanted to say that I listened to this on audio so did not make my usual notes. The absolute worst thing, however, was the narrator trying to do voices of other characters. The male voices were horribly done and it was difficult to even tell who was speaking half the time because everyone sounded the same. No effort to differentiate the different characters. 

This is the first of 22 in a series.

Genre - mystery thriller, crime, FBI

Everyone on This Train is a Suspect (#2 Ernest Cunningham) by Benjamin Stevenson

 Second in this mystery murder series is better than the first!

This book is filled with wry humor, cryptic clues, sardonic asides; it's quite witty and clever. At times I laughed out loud as the author in the story writes his first-person account of a trip he takes on a train. This isn't just any old train, it's the luxury Ghan, and on board are writers, publishers, agents, reviewers, and fans who are attending the Australian Mystery Writers' Festival. 

The fictional author is none other than Ernest Cunninham who had made his true crime debut writing about the murders that took place during his family reunion. His book sold well, but his agent wants him to take a stab at writing fiction. He's on this train with his girlfriend, Juliette, whom he met at the resort where the family reunion was held. They plan to attend all the of the panels, workshops, and discussions while Ernest works through a bit of writer's block. Lo and behold, one of the more famous authors is murdered and finally, Ernest has the inspiration he needs for a book. 

You will remember, having read the first book, that Ernest is very direct and speaks to the reader about the rules of writing detective novels and he's a stickler to following them. He points out the obvious and also throws in some tantalizing hints of what the reader should be figuring out.  It's all great fun and he invites the reader along on his mission to out the killer and solve the case. 

I enjoyed this one so much more than the first. May be because I do love trains and the Ghan is unique. I'll definitely look for more titles by Benjamin Stevenson in the future as I love the style of the writing and the way he tells a story in this unique way. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is the second book featuring Ernest Cunninghman. After Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.

Genre: murder mystery in the style of the locked room

The Women: A Novel by Kristin Hannah

 Unforgettable.

Although this novel tells one woman's fictional coming of age story, this is really a testimonial to all the women who served in Vietnam and whose service was neither appreciated nor recognized by their country or their fellow citizens. 

Frances "Frankie" McGrath is 21 when she impetuously joins the Army Nurse Corps. Arriving in country without any notion of the horrors of war, she is completely unprepared for daily life in these makeshift hospital and surgical wards near the shifting conflicts in the jungle and in the air. The devastation she witnesses, and the sheer multitude of injury and death is almost more than any soul can bear. She forms a strong friendship with her two hooch mates and that bond is the only relationship that keeps her sane as she develops her nursing skills to save as many of the wounded as she can. Despite the terrible conditions, she feels that Vietnam is where she can be of most use and she really wants to be a hero. Ultimately, she wants her parents to be proud of her as they were of her beloved brother. And, after a second tour, she finally returns home only to find that the world as she knew it has changed. She's an embarrassment and is reviled and soon becomes broken and lost. She wants to move forward but there is another fierce battle for herself at home. 

I was in middle and high school during the last years of the Vietnam War. I was vaguely aware of the draft but I do not remember anyone I knew going there. When I graduated, I went off to college, to nursing school, and the #1 show was MASH. I wanted to be Loretta Swit and I really intended to join the military as soon as I got my degree. Life had other plans for me and that dream was set aside as I became a wife and mother. I always regretted not serving. Now, after reading what life was like in a war zone operating room, I know for sure that I would never have had the strength or endurance to do that job. While the TV show did give a glimpse, I now understand that the true picture of what it was like was hidden from all of us as no one ever asked those nurses or the other women that were in Vietnam for their stories. What must have it been like for them to hear that there "were no women in Vietnam." To be denied help at Veterans hospitals and clinics. 

I believe this novel will really appeal to a certain reader and affect them differently depending on what they think or know of the war years and if they had personal experiences with it. My heart was breaking for the main character who I am sure represented a good many of those who went through the atrocities and chaos. 

Rarely do I rate a fiction book 5 stars but I can't stop thinking about this. The narration was excellent, and the writing was so evocative and powerful. The story resonated with me in a way that I have not felt in a long while. This review does not do the book justice. It's possible that the descriptions of the gory nature of war will be a turnoff to some. The main character goes through a lot during the course of the story but every word demonstrates the absolute toll that serving one's country takes on a person. It explains why so many came home so damaged. 

Thank you for the audio and the e-book advance copies to read, review, and highly recommend. 

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

Genre - historical fiction, Vietnam War, Army Nurse Corps

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Somone by Benjamin Stevenson

 Clever and snarky, this uniquely written murder mystery introduces a family of killers who are having a reunion at a mountain top ski resort. The protagonist is the reliable narrator, Ernest (Ern) Cunningham, who will use Ronald Knox's "10 Commandments of Detective Fiction" to address a perplexing and longstanding historical issue within the family. The drama starts when the body of a stranger is found in the snow outside the guest house. Secrets are revealed as a storm isolates the family and chills abound when they realize there are more murders to come. 

I picked this up when I realized that I had the second in the series set to be read and reviewed for the publisher. I like to start at the beginning with the first installment. I really liked the writing style though it took me a moment to get into it and meet all the characters.  I did enjoy the interjection of dark humor and the way that Ern talks to the reader throughout. I can't say that I related to or liked any of the family members, but they are definitely all interesting as you get deeper into the book. I probably would have liked this a lot more had I really enjoyed the plot and the complexity of the story. It just didn't interest me that much as it was all about something that had occurred in the far past. I am, however, a fan of original ways to tell a tale so I am looking forward to reading the next book to see how the style is employed in a different setting.

This is the first in a new series.

Genre - murder mystery

The Inmate by Freida McFadden

 Just a twist too far...

Brooke Sullivan gets a job as a nurse practitioner at a prison where her old high school boyfriend is incarcerated. Shane Nelson is there because Brooke testified against him at his murder trial. He had, she swore, attempted to strangle her as well as commit the other crimes. All of this occurred 10 years ago. Brooke comes face to face with Shane again and starts to question whether or not he was actually the killer. 

Told in a back then (the night at the farmhouse when the murders happened) and present-day narrative with Brooke working and trying to raise her 10-year-old son while a single mother. Could it be that Brooke got it all wrong about what really happened that night?

This started off well and then rapidly veered off into wild and crazy nonsense that just kept coming. There is no way that Brooke could be as dumb as she acted. Her lack of judgement and common sense are so blatantly obvious that the reader wants to shake her out of it. And scoff that anyone wants to be in any sort of relationship with her. And the hits keep on coming with one insane twist after another until a story that seemed totally predictable turns with a climax that changes everything. Oh, guess away, but until that moment with the big reveal, I thought I had figured it all out. In any event, Brooke was a complete twit and I begrudge her a happy ending. And just when you think, ok, so that's that -- there's the epilogue. Nope. No. 

I can't really recommend this. The writing is more tell than show and lots of repetition with fickle Brooke having no clue about the motives of those around her. I had both the audio version and the book to flip between. The narrator was OK and didn't get on my last nerve as she performed the various voices. It was a quick listen/read. I've read other books by this author that I have enjoyed a lot more so I will read future titles. 

Thank you to the publisher for the advance editions. 

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

Genre - psychological thriller

Don't Let Her Go (Billie Ann Wilde #1) by Willow Rose

 I do not like to write negative reviews, but overall-- this is one of the worst books I've had the misfortune to read. I can only say that I barely held myself back from it being a DNF but only because I had to see just how much worse it could get. 

To sum it up, a preposterous kidnapping and serial killer crime thriller. The characters are beyond unbelievable and completely unlikeable. The narrative flips between characters in a before and after format and is a constant stream of melodramatic exhortations and angst with repetitive phrases and responses to every situation. Could someone please count how many times "tears streamed down" and "smirked" and "piercing blue eyes" appear in this book? The plot just got more ridiculous as it went on and just when you think it can't possibly get more unrealistic, it surely does. It is a constant tell rather than show and so drawn out making the simple situation overly long. Lots of cliches. Totally predictable. 

This is supposed to be the first in a new series featuring the character of Cocoa Beach homicide cop Billie Ann Wilde and from how she acted there is no way she could be a police detective. So unprofessional and her life is a train wreck. It's not that she's just decided to come out as a lesbian, it's her overly emotional carrying on over every single thing. In any event, I won't be reading any further installments or any other books by this author as this was the second I have tried. 

This was an audio version of the book and I can't say that the narration was well done. The accents and voices sometimes didn't change when they should have and the voice of Kitty was particularly off. And the male voices, oh my. 

I was shocked to see other reviews and decided it must just be me. Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this author's work. I'm not recommending. 

This is the first in a new series.

Genre - mystery thriller

Sexual abuse of a minor, kidnapping, murder, serial killer

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett

 Unique mystery thriller.

This is an absolutely different type of crime or mystery thriller because of the way it is written and how the narrative evolves through different writing styles. Using the various communication formats of emails, texts, WhatsApp messaging, etc., the complicated story evolves via random snippets. The reader is not sure what is true which heightens the skepticism about the story line.

The Alperton Angels case is infamous. Apparently some crazed fools decided they were angels and that they were meant to destroy the Antichrist in the form of a newborn baby. Or was that really what they were doing? Amanda Bailey, a journalist, has been asked to write a book about the old crime. She tries to track down old witnesses and police who were involved in the investigation. Meanwhile, an old colleague turned nemesis, Oliver Menzies, is also tasked with writing about the Alperton madness. As they both try to figure out what happened way back when, people start dying before they can interview them. Very convenient. The cover up is real and somebody doesn’t want them to know what really happened in the warehouse that night. 

This was quite an interesting story and I enjoyed it as I tried to discern what was going on so it kept me on my toes. I really like when an author takes a different storytelling approach and does it in such a fascinating way. Some might not like that this is not a linear narrative but I certainly did.

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

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

Genre - mystery, crime thriller, journalists

One Wrong Word by Hank Phillippi Ryan

 Twisty psychological thriller that keeps you guessing!

Arden Ward is at the top of her crisis management game when her boss suddenly terminates her. Apparently, the wife of a prominent client thinks that Arden is having an affair with her husband. Before she can leave with a glowing recommendation for her work, the boss has one last client whose life needs to be restored after an acquittal for vehicular homicide. Cordelia Bannister hires Arden for her husband, Ned, because his reputation is tarnished, and Cordelia has been ousted from her friend group due to his legal woes. Even their two young children are shunned. Arden knows PR and she sees this last rehab as her only chance to leave without suffering her own personal embarrassment. But, this family has some secrets and new information is revealed about the car accident. When his defense attorney is hospitalized after a hit and run, Ned comes under close scrutiny again and Arden becomes increasingly concerned that she is helping a killer. 

This was such a fun and fast-paced read that I had to keep listening to it and finished it in a day. The narrative is told from several different points of view and the voice actor did a great job with making them sound unique, including the accents. The plot was convoluted and kept me on my toes trying to guess who, what, where, and when. The short chapters always ended on a note that forced me to go on to satisfy my curiosity. The characters were interesting and well developed. I have read other books by this author, but this is my favorite so far. I enjoyed it and will be on the lookout for new releases. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy to listen to and recommend. 

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

Genre - psychological thriller, domestic drama, legal

Till Death Do Us Part (Eva Rae Thomas #14) by Willow Rose

 Mystery and domestic drama misses the mark.

A wife and mother of three, Rachel Baker, disappears on her way to work one morning. As is typical, her husband is the primary suspect especially once the police find that he was having an affair and that Rachel had purchased some plane tickets to make an escape. 

FBI Agent Eva Rae Thomas and her boyfriend, Detective Matt Miller, investigate and interview everyone connected to Rachel and her husband, John. Rachel's mother and sister are wild with worry and are convinced that John has killed Rachel. John hides the children from his mother-in-law and everything gets really ugly -- then Rachel's body is found.

Told in a past and present narrative with the murder case being foremost, the secondary story line is the voice of a little girl who, along with her sisters, is being horribly abused by a psycho mother.

I don't imagine anyone will be surprised by the connection. In fact, the entirety of this plot is predictable and overwrought. The dialog is repetitive and full of melodrama and angst as everyone is so overcome all the time with emotion. The detective work seems superficial, and Eva Rae and Matt do a lot of running around accomplishing little, and also being just a beat too late. 

I did not realize that this was the 14th in a series when I requested the audiobook from NetGalley. Jumping into this at this point proved merely a minor irritant as I failed to appreciate the one-dimensional characters regardless of what could have been the backstory. The rapid wrap up at the end and the set up for the next book left me feeling underwhelmed.

Thank you for granting access to the ARC but I doubt I will read any other books in this series. 

This is the 14th in a series.

Genre - mystery, thriller, crime drama

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

 Domestic thriller full of unsavory characters and lots of drama.

It’s time. Camden and his wife, Jules, must return to Ashby House and face his estranged and dysfunctional family — the wealthy McTavish clan of North Carolina. Although he had left them and his inheritance behind for a happy life with Jules in Colorado, he must go take care of the estate affairs after his uncle died. The survivors want all the money and the beautiful house up in the Blue Ridge Mountains. But the matriarch left Camden everything. Unfortunately, he was adopted by Ruby and the rest don’t think he deserves to inherit. What lengths will they go through to wrest it all from him?  It seems, however, that Ruby had a few ideas about how to prevent that.

Lots of family secrets and lies as usual with a climax that was probably meant to be a surprising twist that missed the mark with me. Although predictable, the narrative was fast and easy to read though I can’t say I liked any of the characters. Somewhat convoluted, it all does eventually come together as rumor, speculation, and innuendo are answered. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this e-book ARC to read and review. I enjoyed it.

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

Genre - domestic drama, mystery, thriller