What Have We Done by Alex Finlay

 An exciting and fast-paced mystery thriller that went in a direction I wasn't anticipating.

Twenty-five years ago, Ben, Jenna, Nico, and Donnie, survived their time as orphans in the horrible Savior House. After several other teens suddenly vanished from the home with no explanation, they made a grave decision and then escaped to go their separate ways.  The kids put their abusive pasts behind them and went on to different lives, some more successful than others. 

They come back together now because someone is trying to kill them after all these years. Who wants them dead, and why now. No spoilers.

This was action-packed and very entertaining. The narrative shifts in time from then to now and between the main characters in alternating points of view. As I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book, the story came alive with the various voices. A fine multicast performance that really enhanced the book. Each character has a strong persona and the details of their lives were interesting -- one an aging rock star, another a reality television show producer, a housewife with a surprising kick butt past, and the other a judge. The twins as described will give you a few chills. In other words, lots of the unusual. The novel has some good twists and is surprisingly also sentimental and heartrending as well. 

Thank you to the publisher for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I'd also highly suggest listening to the audiobook as well.

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

Genre - suspense, mystery thriller 

Anna O by Mathhew Blake

 A slow burning and twisty psychological thriller that reads like a cross between true crime and fiction. My new favorite description "faction".

The focus of the story is a phenomenon known as resignation syndrome. The main character, Anna Ogilvy, purportedly killed two people, wrote a confession, and promptly fell asleep. She's been in that state for years. Now, the powers that be want to wake her and bring Anna to trial. Forensic psychologist, Dr. Benedict Prince, is an expert in sleep disorders and Anna O is transferred to his clinic for a new method of treatment in the hope that he can wake the sleeping beauty. No spoilers.

So many characters and so many different points of view providing lots of detail lull the reader into believing they can figure out the truth of Anna's story. Did not work for me and I was quite surprised at several turns of the page. Just when I thought I had the gist, I found out that I definitely did not. Just don't bother and let the author string you along dropping hints and pieces here and there and let it all unfold in due course. Yes, the pacing was a bit slow and at times things drug a bit, but I feel like it all came together so well. I think an incredible debut and will definitely look for this author's future books. I liked the subject of sleep disorders and the clinical information as it showed a lot of research behind the scenes. More interesting is the question of how culpable someone should be for their actions if in the throes of something that they cannot control, don't choose, can't predict. Psychology, psychiatry, mental health -- perceptions of what goes on in the mind as separate from the brain. Something that happens in the psyche is as real as functional neurological disease. All great topics for discussion. 

I enjoyed the book and thank the publisher for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I read along while listening to the audiobook of this title and appreciated the different narrators as they brought the story to life.

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

Genre - psychological thriller, drama, reads like true crime, 

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