Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty

 Lovely contemplative fiction that hits on the issues of life and death.

I enjoyed this book. It hit all the right notes with the fantastic characters and their individual stories. The premise — people on a plane are given a death date — is so positively intriguing. Is it real or a hoax? When people start dying just as predicted, social media takes notice.

The writing, as always, was excellent and I was so drawn in that it was hard to set this book aside. I got so absorbed with each person as the narrative shifted in viewpoints. I so wanted everyone to be OK! The author has a knack of getting everything just right. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrators, Caroline Lee and Geraldine Hakewill, were absolutely brilliant. The accents and the drama were perfect and I loved every minute of the experience. It made me love the book even more.

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

Tags - mystery, psychological, death prediction, actuaries, family drama

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

Unforgettable novel that had me feeling all the emotions and kept me mesmerized until the end.

There’s a million things I let go while living inside the pages of this book. I am not sure how to describe how it affected me, except that even when I was trying to get stuff done, I kept wanting to return to the story. The characters were so alive and I just wanted to know them and to exist in their space.

Things I loved about this book:

The characters were all so well developed and intriguing with many different layers, desires, and motivations. I fell in love with Patch and Saint and so many others.

The setting, mostly small town Missouri, called me me because it's home. Although Monta Clare is a fictional town, it definitely describes a lot of rural areas in this state.

The plot was a combination of thriller and epic love story about an unlikely one-eyed boy who becomes a local hero and ultimately loses himself. There's the faithful friend who follows him through a life spent searching for something and someone always out of reach. A serial killer hunting girls who eludes the police and can't be caught. Lost people, with good hearts, who don't always do the right thing, but really want to. Heartache plus regrets but always a deep and abiding affection and trust. And hope.

The writing. I loved the style and the way the author paints his world with imagery and color. I could picture everything so clearly. This would make a great movie or television show with the right cast and director.

I was lucky enough to be able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book. The narrator did an excellent job of voicing the characters and his dramatic flair added much to my overall enjoyment of this book.

Definitely recommend.

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

Tags- mystery, thriller, serial killer, abortion, love, family, small towns

Home is Where the Lies Live by Kerry Wilkinson

 There’s something strange in this neighborhood.

Secrets and lies in every home on the street. What are they all doing behind closed doors and who fired the gunshot?

This psychological thriller features the viewpoints of many of the homeowners as they relate things that are going on in their households. Freddie and Heidi just moved into Huntington Grove for his new job and Heidi is at loose ends. Why has her husband suddenly started hiding things from her and locking his office door? Others on the street also have some things they don’t want everyone to know. Like Willow. She and her daughter, Isabella, argue a lot and husband isn’t hanging around home much. Then there is the widower Dylan and his daughter, Orla, whose wife was murdered 3 years ago. He’s still very upset and angry that the killer has never been arrested. Allison, the neighborhood party organizer is another weird one — her husband works overseas but the house isn’t quiet. It all comes out on the night of the block party.

This was fast and fun and I enjoyed the writing style with the shifting points of view and the insertion of the police interviews. The characters were complex and interesting. Even if the coincidences and conclusion were a bit far fetched, it was still entertaining trying to figure it out.

 I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The two narrators did an excellent job of voicing all the different characters and used an appropriate amount of dramatic flair as needed to really enhance my reading experience.

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

Genre - psychological drama, family dysfunction, secrets and lies

A Midwinter Murder (Lady Eleanor Swift #20) by Verity Bright

 A 1920s Christmas is tainted by murder.

Lady Eleanor Swift and her entourage are bound to the wild Yorkshire Moors to spend Christmas at Auldwyke Hall as guests of the Duke. The only saving grace making this venture pleasant is that Eleanor’s fiancé, Hugh Seldon, is actually going to attend with them. They hope to find some quiet time alone to discuss their future plans. Alas, almost immediately after arrival, Eleanor stumbles upon the dead body of the Duke’s secretary. Mr. Porritt has been strangled and left for dead in a storeroom. 

Their holiday is near ruined now as Eleanor, Hugh, and butler Clifford spend their time trying to suss out a killer.

As always, the characters make this such a fun and satisfying cozy mystery. It’s definitely a series that should be read in order from the beginning in order to develop a relationship with each of them. Eleanor is definitely unconventional, compassionate, and clever as she helps investigate nasty crimes and find justice.  I enjoy all the period details and a particularly interesting aspect is that the book includes a recipe for genuine Yorkshire Christmas Pie (circa 1747) and some historical notes on rural policing, clay pigeon shooting, Prussic acid, inheritance laws, miniature books, and Edwardian Christmas trees. All of which feature in the story. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC — both provided by the publisher. The narrator, Karen Cass, did a fabulous job of voicing all the different characters and bringing them to life with appropriate dramatic flair. This excellent production definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

If you are looking for a great cozy mystery series set in the UK in the 1920s, I can highly recommend this one. I’m already looking forward to the next installment. 

This is the 20th book in a series that should be read from the beginning in order.

Genre - historical cozy mystery, 1920s UK