The Writer by James Patterson and JD Barker

 I need a few moments to come to grips with what I just read...

I love when a book leaves me gasping and wondering what the heck just happened here!!! No spoilers.

This is a crazy convoluted thriller that you have to read in one sitting because you can’t look away. I was glued to the pages flipping frantically, guessing wildly, and thinking I knew what was going on. I didn’t.

The writing is superb and a testament to two brilliant authors who really know how to write a thriller that keeps a reader thinking what in the world is going to happen next.

I won’t rehash the plot and I think it best if you go in blind without any preconceived notions. Know that you are in the hands of two masters and enjoy the ride!

I was able to listen to the audio book while also reading along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Peter Ganim, did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life and enhancing the book with is excellent dramatic flair and depiction of the characters. This production really made the novel so much more enjoyable. 

Highly recommend. One of my top 10 this year so far!

This is a standalone and oh so very good. Not part of any series.

Tags mystery, suspenseful, keeps you guessing, murder

Murder Island (Doc Savage #2) by James Patterson and Brian Sitts

 Action adventure as the grandson of Doc Savage traverses the globe to find his kidnapped girlfriend, Kira Sunlight. This is the second in an offshoot series, but it is not necessary to have read the first before enjoying this one on its own.

The former Brandt Savage, professor of anthropology and the University of Chicago, has now embraced his heritage and has teamed up with the woman who taught him all his new skills, helped him bulk up, and prepared him to meet and vanquish their enemies. 

Doc and Kira are enjoying some private time on an island they’ve made into a little utopia when their solitude is destroyed by evil mercenaries who set up Doc for murder and take Kira. Her captors have nothing less than world dominion in their plans and want her to help accomplish that. Meanwhile, Doc is doing everything he can to escape his captors, survive those who are intent on killing him, and to find Kira. 

Lots of battles, gunplay, death, etc. and it reads like a screenplay for a super hero or spy mission movie. It doesn’t take itself all that seriously and neither did I. It was just entertaining and a quick, easy read with trademark short chapters and lots going on. The characters are standard fare for this type of novel but they really want to have some depth despite being stereotypical. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrators, Tim Lounibos and Suzanne Elise Freeman, did a fantastic job with all the voices, accents, and dramatic flair. Their performance enhanced my enjoyment of the book as it was an excellent production.

This is the second in series. I did not read the first. It works fine as a standalone.

Tags - murder, conspiracy, global, mercenaries 

The Seaside Murders (Secret Detective Agency #2) by Helena Dixon

 

Entertaining historical cozy.

In this second book in the Secret Detective Agency series, I’m off to Jane’s childhood home in the village of Ashbourne in Kent. Jane Treen and her reluctant associate, Arthur Cilento, have been directed there by Brigadier Remington-Blythe because the body of a naked man was found on a beach nearby. The dead man happened to be an Italian POW who was allowed some leeway in a work release program. Definitely the War Office didn’t want any repercussions from this incident. In addition, there have been reports of looting and black marketing in the same area. Off they go, along with Benson and Jane’s cat to the house left to Jane by her recently deceased father.

This story moved along nicely and I enjoyed it more than the first book as I liked Jane and Arthur a bit more this go round. The mystery was well plotted and not entirely predictable. The investigation proceeded quickly and the discoveries were made though they of course put themselves into the thick of it and imminent danger. Jane’s mother is a trip for sure and not any sort of pivotal character. I am not really into the idea of a romance between Jane and Arthur but I hope they can be great friends and even better investigative partners. I liked the wartime details, it’s 1941, and England is beset with air raids and strict rationing. 

I look forward to reading another in this series. Thank you to Bookouture for the e-book ARC to review and recommend.

This is the second book in the series and you should read the first one first.

Tags - historical cozy mystery, 1941, war time in England, black marketing, murder

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego

 Slow and convoluted locked room type mystery.

A famous author, J.R. Alastor, who wants to remain anonymous, hires an event coordinator, Mila del Angel, to set up a special week of trope-themed activities for a special group of authors invited to Wolf Harbor Estate in Casco Bay. The mansion on the private island is well-appointed and luxurious. A chef and housekeeper are also in residence for the undertaking. Almost immediately things start to go wrong. It's soon obvious that perhaps none of them will make it back to the mainland.

I kept waiting for suspense and action that would make this move faster and be more exciting. There were a lot of characters to keep straight and they were not that well-developed. In fact, so little about them was revealed that I struggled to find any empathy or regard for any. The premise, a clue style game on a retreat with famous authors, was so intriguing but the book didn't live up to all its promise or my expectations. The writing seemed cumbersome and I found it difficult to keep track of who was who and doing what to whom and why. I didn't care much for the ending either. It was sort of a disappointment altogether.

I started listening to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. It should have been amazing with the large production cast, but some of the narrator's voices got on my last nerve and I had to skip those sections on audio until I finally had enough and just stopped listening altogether. Let's just say that this format did nothing to enhance my enjoyment of the book.

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

Tag - locked room style whodunit, lots of murder/deaths

The Perfect Divorce (Perfect #2) by Jeneva Rose

 This is a sequel and if you are expecting a great story, I think you will be a bit disappointed. In fact, I’m sorry I picked it up after all.

Here’s a quote: “Any lawyer worth their salt knows sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all, and the second-best thing to say is a lie.” 

Sums up the morals and ethics of most of those characters in the story.

It started out as a 4 when I thought things might go differently (and I assume anyone reading this will have read the first installment) but all the twists and craziness didn’t save it from the last part getting a solid 2 stars. I liked the short chapters. Didn’t like many of the characters. 

There were way too many points of view and what I felt were unnecessary side plots — two women missing and the Stevens situation. Just complicated the narrative without adding any real value since we all know what happened in the first book. Sarah is exactly the same person as before and hasn’t changed a bit despite the years and getting married again, this time to Bob Miller. All the games and the distrust and the cat and mouse didn’t really grab me this time and by the time the second half of the story came around, I had already guess what was going on, who was going to do what, and how it was all going to end. Bummer.  I won’t bother with a third in this series if there is one. Too predictable now.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. There was a full cast of voice actors for this book, in fact 6 different men and women. Everyone did a great job except I do not care for the sound of the voice of whomever performed the character of Stacy Howard. I had to fast forward thru those and read the book instead. In any event, the production did help elevate my experience though they couldn’t change the words or the plot!

This is the second in the series and definitely you need to read book one before starting this one.

Genre - murder, investigation, lawyers, spouses

Nobody's Fool (Sami Kierce #2) by Harlan Coben

 Mystery thriller kept me guessing.

It's been awhile, Harlan Coben -- I've not read him for awhile but I did read the first in the set featuring Sami Kierce so I thought I'd circle back and see about this because the premise sounded interesting. That being said, I didn't remember much about #1 and I think this works as a standalone as any significant backstory is included.

Sami Kierce, kicked off the police force due to egregious behavior, is now a private investigator reduced to doing odd jobs for a law firm that he owes. He's doing a side gig as a night class teacher on criminology. One night he's with his pay per class students when someone enters the room through a side door. When he looks over, he's stunned to recognize her. But, thing is, this is Anna, a woman he met in Spain over 20 years ago while he was backpacking Europe with friends. And the other big thing is that he thought he had killed her. Thus begins a crazy hunt to find her as she runs out the door and vanishes. He needs closure and answers.

This was fast paced and hard to put down. The answers that Sami finds aren't necessarily the ones he wants, or believes. There's another side plot about Sami's ex fiance who was murdered (he's remarried with a baby now) and the killer's release from prison but that wasn't nearly as compelling as the main story line. I liked this despite not really caring that much for Sami and I was afraid of how it was all going to end. Surprisingly, there were some twists and the conclusion seemed a bit rushed.
I'm assuming there might be another in this series as there were some unresolved issues.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publisher. The narrator, Vikas Adam, did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life. His tone, accents, and dramatic flair were excellent and his performance really enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

This is the second in the series but works as a standalone. I've read both.

Genre/tags - mystery, suspense, murder, investigation, disappearance

The Murder Show by Matt Goldman

 Fast paced mystery thriller.

When Ethan Harris returns to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to visit his parents for the High Holidays, he's also escaping New York while the show he runs is on hiatus due to the writer's strike. He's desperate to come up with a possible plot arc for the next season lest his show be canceled, but he never dreamed that inspiration would come in the form of a decades old tragedy. When he lived there while in high school, a local boy and friend of his, Ricky O'Shea, died in an apparent hit and run that was never solved. Now his old crush, Ro Greeman, who is now a cop and who has just returned to live in the house across the way, is trying to entice Ethan into investigating that death that she thinks was actually a murder. Can Ethan help her investigate and come up with a new show idea at the same time?

The story went in a direction that I hadn't really anticipated, but it was entertaining and had the elements of a going home reunion and a crime thriller. The characters were interesting but it was easy to see that there was something off about a couple of them. I liked the writing style and the bits of the backstory so the reader knows the history between the main players. Not sure how realistic it all was considering the level of involvement that Ethan gets in the law enforcement aspect, but it held my interest and I read it in a single sitting.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book, both provided by the publishers. I enjoyed the narrator, Dan Bittner, who did a good job voicing all the characters. I had to laugh, however, at the replacement of a certain make of car with another brand in the audio version. Listening while reading always enhances my enjoyment of a book if it's done well. 

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

Genre tags - murder, drugs, cold case, investigation off the books

Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson

 Crime thriller with a psychological aspect.

A popular podcaster, Poe Webb, has a unique hook. She gets people to willingly appear on her show and confess to the bad things they’ve done. No shortage of bad people who happily swear to tell the truth about their crimes to her and her audience. Everything is going well until a man appears on her program and claims that he is the person who murdered Poe’s mother 17 years ago. There’s a problem with that, however, and Poe knows he is lying. That’s because she killed that man herself. 

Now the tables are turned and this elusive villain threatens Poe and she manages to get herself into jeopardy. Now he wants HER to tell the world what she did. 

Ah. This could have been something but it really was mostly a predictable cliche. The author even uses the acronym TSTL in his narrative — too stupid to live. I felt that is what Poe was. I didn’t like her and I thought the whole story was a bit OTT since there is a lot of potential legal trouble for anyone who appears on her program. It was drawn out, repetitive, and somewhat boring. I really didn’t care if she lived and the conclusion was really anticlimactic. I was disappointed and felt let down after reading all the glowing reviews. I sure didn’t care about the endless interaction with the dog and cat. Sorry, pet lovers, it was too much. I guess the whole story just didn’t find me in the right place for it. 

In addition, I listened to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The male narrator was fine if unremarkable, but the female voice, Allyson Ryan, was totally miscast. The female MC is supposed to be 30 years old but her voice was deep, masculine, and sounded like that of a 50 year old smoker. It rang false and so irritated me that I had to stop listening. Most of the time an audio recoding enhances my enjoyment of a book, but it didn’t in this case.

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

Tags - murder, podcast, truth and lies, thriller, revenge

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead

 A chilling crime without much evidence confounds the police, FBI, and a group of armchair sleuths who delve into the case to the extent that they become part of the tragic story.

When three young college sorority girls are murdered at the University of Idaho in Delphine, the police at the scene can’t find anything that leads them to a suspect. The news reaches the internet world of the amateur detectives and the hive mind digs into this juicy crime. Gossip, salacious details, suspicions, and many questions beg for attention. A young Floridian, Janeway Sharp, is lured into that world while grieving her recently deceased father. Finding like minded friends that feel like family, Jane sinks into an obsession for finding out who killed them. She quits college, gets fired from her job, and immerses herself in research and her new found anchor group. Can this makeshift team solve a case that is stupefying law enforcement. 

This was quite fast paced and so absorbing that I could not put it down. The characters were quite well drawn and multidimensional lending a real “true” life aspect to the narrative. There were a lot of twists and turns leading to the ultimate reveal that some might see coming. I did find Jane’s processing and grieving to be a bit too much at times with the constant stuff about her father. I have a serious issue/question with something about DNA but it could be a spoiler so I’ll remind myself that this is fiction. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Leslie Howard, did a great job of voicing all the characters. She was able to make the characters come alive with her tone, timbre, and accents. The production definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

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

Tags and genre - reads like true crime but is fiction, Idaho University murders, amateur sleuths, internet, pod casts, police investigation, grief over deceased parent

Ask for Andrea by Noelle Ihli

 Beware those dating apps!

Haunting mystery thriller with an unusual twist.

Three women who have something in common: Brecia Collier, Meghan Campbell, and Skye Rios — they all went out with the same handsome, charming man who found them on the app MatchStrike.

He killed them. Now dead, they will spend every effort to hunt him down and make him pay.

Told from the alternating points of view of the different women, the narrative hits a bit differently because the women are all dead. Normally I don’t go for this sort of paranormal beyond the grave business, but I did like the way this was written and I relished it. Very fast paced, I read it in one sitting as I turned the pages rapidly hoping for a satisfying conclusion. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC. The narrator, Allison Delaney, did an excellent job of voicing the characters and I thoroughly delighted in her dramatic flair. Definitely enhanced my appreciation and enjoyment of the book as the production was very well done.

I also found a link at the back of the book to a short story that explains what happens to April, the wife of James Carson, the MatchStrike Killer. It was free on Instagram. 

This may or may not be a standalone. 

Genre - mystery thriller, crime thriller, murder, dating apps, paranormal 

Remote: The Six (#1 Remote series) by Erik Rickstad

 Suspenseful crime thriller -- the first in a new series I plan to devour!

Always fun to find a new series that hooks immediately, and this one did. It has an original premise and I'm eager to see where it goes from here.

After FBI Special Agent Lukas Stark has been hunting the Tableau Killer for eighteen months, he's not managed to find or stop the unsub. His boss calls him in and assigns a partner to help with the case. Gilles Garnier is not any type of law enforcement, but he has a strange ability. And he thinks he knows who this killer is -- but not why they are killing entire families.

The writing is crisp and fast paced and doesn't get bogged down as the narrative drops hints about the mystery man known as "Q" and his relationship to Gilles Garnier. Lots of grisly details about the murder scenes and it takes Lukas quite some time before he can accept Garnier and believe him. Lots of action and the characters evolve as the investigation continues. I don't want to give spoilers so I'll not go into Gilles and his ability. It's rather unique and I always like when I come upon something different in my favorite genre.

I was fortunate to be able to listen to the audio-book while also following along in the e-book, both provided by the publisher. The narrator, Ari Fliakos, and he did an excellent job of voicing all the characters using different tones, accents, and timbre. The audio definitely further enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

Definitely recommend and am looking forward to the next installment.

This is the first in a new series. I have #5 on my TBR. Will read in order.

Genre - crime thriller, murder, special abilities

A Recipe for Murder (#21 Lady Eleanor Swift) by Verity Bright

 Another entertaining installment in this fun cozy mystery series.

With their wedding just days away, and plans creating a frenzy of activity, Lady Eleanor Swift and Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon are anticipating the most wonderful time. Then, the people in Little Buckford are attacked by a villain with terrible intentions. Someone has used poison. Many in the village are ill and, worst of all, Eleanor's chosen caterer has died. Who is responsible for this nefarious deed and can Lady Swift and her handsome fiancé find the perpetrator in time to save their wedding and reception? 

Everyone at Henley Hall from the aprons to the gardener is involved in the hunt for the evildoer. Eleanor and Hugh are determined to find out why. So amidst their continued work to get all of their tasks completed in time for the ceremony, they join forces with local police to investigate on both sides of their town bridge. And then there’s another death.

Fast and fun mystery with lots of suspects and skullduggery. I like the characters in this long running series and enjoy their interactions. The relationship between Eleanor and her butler, Clifford, is always laced with good natured ribbing. I’m really curious to see where this series is going to go next and look forward to the next installment. I’ve read all the books in order from the beginning and suggest any new readers do the same. It’s one of the really good cozy historicals with lots of period details that make it even more interesting.

This is #21 in a series that should be read in order.

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

The Secret Detective Agency (#1) by Helena Dixon

 

Murder mystery set in 1941 England during the war.

Miss Jane Treen works at Whitehall overseeing a cadre of secret agents for Brigadier Remington-Blythe. Hard and driven, she’s a chain smoker with a serious coffee addiction. She has no desire to go chasing after missing agents out in the country out of her comfort zone, but needs must when another of her agents goes dark after being hidden away for her own protection at a safe house. She travels to Half Moon Manor to work with codebreaker and puzzle solver Arthur Cilento. He has returned from a work mission for the War Office to find a dead body in the river by his home. Could this woman be Jane’s missing agent? Thus begins a reluctant partnership as the two try to trace a complicated organization of what might be traitors to the British government. 

Let’s see — it took me quite a while to get invested in this time period and story. I didn’t immediately warm to the main characters of Jane (annoying) or Arthur (sickly) and the set up of them being forced to work together. The plot and the many different side characters seemed overly complicated and there were a lot of deaths as Jane and Arthur chased around with only the most flimsy of clues. I was definitely happy that the cat in this book had limited involvement and infrequent mention. 

The plot was convoluted and the denouement seemed rushed after all the suspects couldn’t really be interrogated. I’ll have to reserve my thoughts about where this series might be going and if I will follow it after I read the second book. Not sure this unlikely pair will hold my interest if there is more repetition about Jane’s smoking and coffee and Arthur’s asthma. I surely hope no romance between them as she seems a determined spinster and him a confirmed bachelor. Of course there is also the faithful man servant who seems to be essential to the detecting and is always behind the scenes greasing the wheels. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The performance of the narrator, Kristin Atherton, was excellent. She did a fantastic job with all the voices and the transitions were seamless. Her dramatic flair made the book so much more enjoyable. 

This is the first of a new series. I am going to read the second installment shortly.

Genre - WWII Britain, 1941, secret agents, double agents, traitors, murder

All the Way Gone (Annalisa Vega #4) by Joanna Schaffhausen

 Complex crime thriller, the 4th in a series. Be sure to read the previous installments before tackling this one.

Annalisa Vega, now remarried to Nick, has left the police and formed her own private investigation business. She has multiple investigations she’s working on in this book, the most challenging being asked to ascertain whether a particular person is a sociopath and if so, if he is a good one or a bad one. This person is suspected of having murdered a woman and Annalisa’s client has written a book about him saying he’s basically the good kind — and is in fact a super talented brain surgeon. So is he, or isn’t he.  In addition, there are other cases she’s also got going including one that involves Nick’s daughter. 

For some reason I didn’t like this book and its main plot as much as I have the other three. I thought Annalisa had some serious tunnel vision and also extraordinary access to help with her investigation that I doubt most PIs would have. She was so single minded in her pursuit and it just felt wrong to me how she seemed so self righteous. I didn’t like her character as much. I think it was a mistake for her to leave the police but I can see this is moving in a different direction. The twists and revelations seemed a bit too much after all. I will likely still check out the next installment in the series, but not quite as invested anymore. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the ebook provided by the publisher. The narrator did a good job voicing the characters and added an appropriate dramatic flair when necessary. I find that a good production really enhances my enjoyment of a book and that was true in this case.

This is the 4th in a series that should be read from the beginning.

Genre tags crime thriller, private investigator, murder, sociopaths

Dead and Gone (Annalisa Vega #3) by Joanna Schaffhausen

 This crime thriller has multiple investigations going at once and is the third book in a great series.

Chicago police detective Annalisa Vega has her hands full, not only on the professional front, but also in her personal life. She's asked to investigate Sam Tran's death by hanging. He's an ex-cop turned PI who was a good friend of her boss. She begins by looking into Sam's current and ongoing files in the event that someone killed him because of something he had discovered in the course of his work. Meanwhile, her niece, Quinn, is having a problem on campus. She's a freshman at a local college and Annalisa's brother, Vinny, reports that he had hired Sam because Quinn has a stalker and he wants them found and his daughter left alone. That's not the only problem at the college, however. And that's not the only case of Sam's that Annalisa is chasing. Along with all of her police activity, Annalisa also needs to decide what she plans to do about/with her ex-husband, Nick Carelli.

This was quite absorbing and full of twists and turns that kept me guessing. I found it hard to put down as things started to come together with lots of good red herrings. I like the character of Annalisa as she's a by the book cop who tries to make good decisions and who also cares a lot about the families and victims. She has a complicated backstory with her ex and with her family so it is best that this series be read from the beginning as it makes much more sense that way. The writing is good, lots of action and other well-developed characters and a good set of plots. Looking forward to the next installment.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provide by the publisher. The narrator did an excellent job of voicing all the characters and providing great dramatic flair. This production made the book all that more enjoyable.

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

Genre - crime fiction, police detectives, murder

Holmes is Missing (#2 Holmes, Marple, and Poe) by James Patterson

 Fast, fun, and totally entertaining crime fiction.

This second in a new series is as good as the first and definitely moves Holmes, Marple, and Poe into a higher rung of my favorites. The prose is direct, clear, and crisp with short chapters, lots of action, and great characters. In addition, the plot is tight and intriguing -- kidnapped infants make for a very intense subject in a gripping thriller. I am worried, however, that Holmes has lost his footing as he tries to take himself out of their partnership.

I enjoyed this one and could barely put it down though I had many other things I was meant to be doing today. I like the relationship between the main characters and the twists and turns the story took. From the USA to London, the investigation is urgent and they are running out of time. Can they find the children and expose the criminal network in time?

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator did a great job with voice and accents for all the characters increasing the drama and enhancing my appreciation of the story. Definitely recommend.

I hope we will see more of Holmes, Marple, and Poe as there are still many more possible directions for them to go in their unique partnership.

This is the second in the series that should be readin order.

Genre - crime thriller, partnerships, kidnapped infants and children

The Unlucky Ones (Black Harbor #4) by Hannah Morrissey

 Dark and complex crime thriller.

This is the 4th and probably last in the series set in Black Harbor, a small crime-ridden town on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Hazel Greenlee returns to Black Harbor after her ex husband, Tommy, is killed inside the Mineshaft, a club/bar full of big and small time criminals. Hazel used to work as a transcriber for the local police and that's how she met and fell in love with Sergeant Nikolai Kole of the Black Harbor Police Department. She escaped the town and all the bad memories, became a successful author and was living in New York. Her return changes everything. She's dropped right in during the investigation and insinuates herself back into Nik's life. Murder. Drugs. Gangs. Money. Things go on one way in this town and that is from bad to worse.

I don't know why, but I just didn't get all that involved with this book in the series. Maybe I was tired of Hazel who just seemed like such a wrong choice as a love interest for Nik. She does one stupid thing after another and I don't see her appeal as I didn't care for her character in previous books and even less in this one. Nik was interesting and had a lot of depth considering all that has happened to him. The plot was centered on stolen drugs and the kill or be killed attitude of all the bad actors. Some of the descriptions of torture and murder were quite gory. Some of the things that happened stretched credulity, especially with regard to Hades. The nasty people were very nasty indeed. It was all just quite dismal and depressing to me. I think it ended on the appropriate note so I can say goodbye and close the book on these characters and this place.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book, both provided by the publishers. I enjoyed the voices of both narrators who brought the characters to life and gave the production a good dramatic flair to enhance my enjoyment of the book. 

This is the 4th book in the series. I've read them all from the beginning and suggest that  you do as well.

Genre - crime fiction, detectives, drugs, murder, gangs

Look in the Mirror by Catherine Steadman

 An intense, pulse-pounding suspense thriller that I found impossible to put down.

Go into this book without any preconceived notions and avoid reviews that might spoil this well crafted story. 

Nina Hepworth, a 34-year-old literary academic, is shocked to find that she has inherited a beachfront estate on Pond Bay, Gorda, in the British Virgin Islands. Her father recently died, and though he was financially secure and left her well off, she had no idea where and how he could have had this type of money, when he had gone to this house, and why he had built it. She does what anyone would do - she travels to the Caribbean to claim her new property. 

A young nanny arrives at her next assignment. Maria has been hired for 2 weeks to care for a couple of children while their regular caregiver takes some time off. The house is modern, massive, and extremely well appointed. As Maria settles in, she’s invited to enjoy all the amenities while she waits. And she does. But days pass and the client doesn’t arrive. She gets bored, reads all the instructions in the manual, has the run of the place. She is drawn, however, to the last directive telling her not to enter the locked room on the ground floor. She does what anyone would do - she gets herself into that room.

Without spoilers, let me tell you that I couldn’t even begin to guess what was going on for the longest time. It was so packed with information and action as the narrative flipped between Nina and Maria. I really l liked and became fully invested in both of the women and definitely second guessed every decision they made. No idea where this was headed as I tore through the pages trying to make sense of what was happening. I really enjoyed how everything played out because for awhile I was really afraid I was going to find it cheesy and disappointing. It was fast and fun and I recommend it.

I was lucky enough to be able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator was the author and she, being a well-known actress, did a marvelous job of voicing the characters and enhancing all the dramatic aspects of the book. It was quite well-done.

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

Tags - suspense, thriller, cannot say more due to spoilers

The Library Game (#4 Secret Staircase) by Gigi Pandian

 A cute cozy mystery with a fun library theme.

First, I must confess this is the 4th book in the series but the first I have read. I think that might have put me at a disadvantage as I tried to keep all the characters and their relationships straight. In retrospect, I should have read the other three to start at the beginning. 

So this starts off with a dead body in a house that’s being converted into a niche library containing classic mystery books. The dead man was a member of the small cast that was rehearsing for a dinner theater performance that was to be given during the town’s summer stroll event and held at the house. The amateur sleuths set to solve the crime are associated with the company engaged to do the conversion. Tempest, Ivy, Sanjay, Gideon, and others (including the requisite pet — a rabbit) try to track down the killer. It’s mainly a locked room scenario with the killer having to be someone in their intimate circle of friends and acquaintances. 

This was a mix of Nancy Drew and Scooby-Doo with the hook being the concept of secret staircases, hidden rooms, and libraries. Bibliophiles will enjoy all the literary references. I’ll likely go back at some point to check out the first book in the series just for fun. 

I listened to the audio book while also following along in the ebook ARC, both provided by the publishers. I enjoyed the narrator as she used a variety of voices and accents to portray the characters. It always enhances a book when I can have this experience. 

This is the 4th book in a series that I should have read in order from the beginning. 

Tags cozy mystery, amateur sleuths, secret staircases, hidden passageways, food, romance

In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan

 Unique police procedural and crime thriller debut.

The first in a series, this book features DCS Kat Frank who has been asked to head up a pilot project at the Warwickshire Police that involves her and a select team pairing with an AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detecting Entities) unit to investigate cold cases. It will be an experiment to see the difference between human and machine approach to crime solving. Can they learn from each other? Kat and Lock (the name of this particular unit) begin with a series of missing person cases.

This was quite interesting and entertaining as it was different to most in this genre due to the fact that Kat's main partner is basically a "glorified Alexa" as she puts it. Although the machine can rapidly crunch all kinds of data in seconds, there is no feeling, intuition, or gut instinct involved in its decision making. As the duo and the other two team members, DI Hassan and DS Browne, as well as Professor Okonedo (the inventor) start looking into the disappearances of several young adults, it is quite rocky as they try to work out strengths and weaknesses in their approach.

I enjoyed the interplay between the characters and the evolution of the machine into becoming a part of the team. Acceptance of something new is challenging for them all, and there is also the fear of humans being replaced by AI always at the back of their minds. The particular plot and investigative part of this book was actually secondary to the whole artificial intelligence aspect but was satisfactory as far as a case. I understand there are already 2 more books in this series and I do intend to read them.

I was able to  listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. I enjoyed both narrators but wish the male voice had been used for the voice of Lock just to enhance the production quality.

Seems like a series that could easily be adapted for television as well. Definitely a lot of interest in AI right now with all of the surrounding controversy.

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

Tags - crime fiction, AI, missing persons

First Wife's Shadow by Adele Parks

 A fabulously entertaining psychological thriller full of fun twists and turns.

Emma Westly has it going on. She’s 47 years old and at the top of her career as CEO of AirBright, Britain’s wind harvesting company. She’s attractive, driven, and wealthy. The only thing she lacks is companionship and love. Until she meets Matthew Charlton. Emma falls fast and hard for the handsome photographer 11 years her junior despite the warnings of her friends and some serious red flags. The biggest issue at first is that Matthew is widowed and still grieving for his dead wife, Becky. Emma can’t help but feel a bit jealous even as their relationship becomes more intense and Emma invites Matthew to move into her beautiful home in Hampshire. Woodview is absolute luxury living and they both revel in the new direction they are heading. When Matthew suggests they marry, Emma is over the moon. Has she finally found happiness. Of course not, this is domestic suspense after all. But I won’t spoil it with details as you will have to read it for yourself.

I really enjoyed this and had to read it in one sitting as I couldn’t put it down wondering what would happen next. Although a teeny bit predictable, I did enjoy the revelations and the surprises along the way. The narrative is told from several points of view and that definitely puts all the perspectives in place to change what the reader thinks is going on. I liked the writing style even as I wasn’t sure what I thought about the characters since my initial opinions were challenged by new discoveries. I think it best to go into this without any preconceived notions so don’t read too many reviews ahead of time.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator did a great job voicing all the characters with the appropriate dramatic flair and expression. This definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book as it was a quality production.

Enjoy!

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

Tags - schemes, relationships, drama

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger

 Fast paced and action packed suspense thriller was a fun read.

A celebrity influencer and owner of Extreme Games and Insane Challenges, Maverick Dillan, and his team are setting up another challenging game and looking for just the right contestants. This will be a hide and seek type of game with a million dollars as the prize. Those selected travel to the remote Falcao Island to a run down, old hotel crumbling into ruin at the edge of a cliff. But, aside from the game that will be live on WeWatch, there’s a hidden agenda for this stunt. 

Lots of interesting characters and points of view in the narrative with some time shifts. Some I liked, others were suspect, and a few I knew right off were bad news. I wasn’t quite sure how this was going to go and I’ve read a few of these that feature influencers going somewhere to compete in a contest. I wanted to like it, and I did. The writing was good and the atmospheric setting descriptions created the right mood for the story. Some of what happens was predictable but there were some pleasant surprises along the way to a satisfying conclusion. 

I listened to the audiobook while also reading the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. I enjoyed the narrator but she definitely lacked enough depth and range to do the many different characters. Most of the male characters all sounded the same and there were some sketchy accents, but in general, it was satisfactory. This is one of those that could really have benefited from a larger voice cast to enhance the production.

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

Tags - games, online games, social media, challenges, criminals, family

Crash Course: Accidents Don't Just Happen by Julie Whipple

 If you're about to take a flight, this is a book you might want to avoid. I admit to feeling some serious trepidation about my upcoming air travel.

In this day and age, airplane travel should be safe. Over the decades of improvement in quality and design of planes, intense training of pilots and crew, and a commitment to inspection and maintenance, we should be able to rely on a plane to take us from one place to another without incident. In light of recent events, yes there are things completely out of control of those in the air or on the ground, but most air accidents occur long before the airplane goes up. Pilots and crew are human, air traffic controllers make mistakes, and important fixes and directives don't get proper attention. The primary mission of the industry still needs to be focused on safety. Often it is not.

This book is mainly about a specific plane crash, the aftermath and effects on the survivors as the few litigants who weren't bought out line up to get justice. The tragedy ultimately is that not enough changes have been made by the airline companies to mitigate the potential for another air disaster.  

When United Flight 173 crash landed in a neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, in December of 1978, 10 people were killed. The airline immediately leapt to the conclusion that it was pilot error as Captain Malburn "Buddy" McBroom indeed allowed the plane to run out of fuel. Was it because of defective gauges or was the main reason due to him being distracted by landing gear that he could not determine was locked and down. In any event, the drama surrounding the crash and the resulting legal case for punitive damages brought by one of the survivors kept the crash in the news for years. In a travesty of justice, awarded damages were overturned, lessening the sting for United Airlines and allowing them to sidestep major responsibility for the crash.

If you don't get angry when you read this and if your heart doesn't ache for all of the people on the plane and on the ground that night, then you didn't pay attention. It's the age old case of a huge company putting profits and the easy way out ahead of passenger safety. And the scariest thing is that none of us know, because of lack of transparency, whether or not the airlines are taking safety and maintenance as seriously as they must.

This was an excellent book narrated by Heather Henderson. She did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life and delivered the story with just the right touch of indignation and empathy. I believe the author is the daughter of one of the lawyers in the case brought against United Airlines on behalf of one of the survivors. 

This is a standalone nonfiction title. Not part of a series.

Tags - airplane crash, pilot error, technical details, investigation, legal case

Murder at the Loch (Ally McKinley #2) by Dee MacDonald

 

Amateur sleuth and bed and breakfast owner Ally McKinley is back in this second book in a new cozy mystery series set in the Scottish Highlands.

Out on a walk with her dog, Ally is stunned to see a body in the loch. The young woman was on her way into the village to marry a local bartender. Was this an accident or murder? Meanwhile, the local Earl, Hamish Sinclair, is introducing his fiancée as he announces an impromptu wedding up at the castle. A few close friends are invited to the actual ceremony, but most of the villagers show up for the after party. Even though Hamish is in his 70s and his beloved, Elena, is half his age, people are more or less pleased for him. Except perhaps for Hamish’s cousin who is in line to be the next earl bar Hamish having children with Elena. When she is dead under suspicious circumstances the morning after the wedding, the whole of Locharran is stunned and the gossips are trying to pin the murder on just about anyone in town. Are these two deaths related?

Ally is busy snooping around and asking lots of questions of the possible suspects. She’s aided by her boyfriend, Ross, as they attempt to solve the crime. I was way ahead of Ally and had the bad actor identified fairly quickly so this was quite predictable. 

The story line is OK but nothing extra special and although I like that it is set in current day and Scotland, the most interesting part is that the amateur sleuth is 68 years old. Some will find this far more entertaining and engaging. 

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the e-book ARC and offering this opportunity for a blog tour.

This is the second in a cozy mystery series.

Tags - older amateur sleuth, Scotland, murder 

Murder in the Scottish Highlands (Ally McKinley #1) by Dee Macdonald

 Murder mystery set in the Scottish Highlands and featuring a 60ish widow who has moved to the village of Locharran from Edinburgh. 

Ally McKinley decided she wanted a change after retirement and fell in love with an old malthouse. She had it made over into a bed and breakfast and is just having her first guests when one of them is murdered and left outside in the courtyard. Wilbur Carrington, an American, was found dead with a skean dhu (a dagger) in his back. He’d been investigating old church records because he believed he was the rightful Earl of Locharran. The current earl, Hamish Sinclair, isn’t too worried about the claim but the villagers are quite concerned about the possibility of losing their jobs and tied homes. So, who killed Wilbur and why?  Just as Ally begins her own earnest investigation, Wilbur’s brother, Tyler, and his fiancée, Mamie Van Nuyen, arrive on site to do their own sleuthing since the local police aren’t working hard enough to find the killer. 

This was OK but nothing unusual or remarkable. The story was predictable and not suspenseful. Of course Ally gets a pet — seems to be the current trope for all female amateur detectives to have an animal — and there’s even a romance. It’s set in modern day and the setting is interesting but the characters were uninspiring. Lots of small village gossip and stereotypes. This is the first in a series. I’ll try one more. 

Thank you to Bookouture for this ebook ARC to read and review.

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

Tags - cozy, murder, amateur sleuth, sixties, romance, Scotland 

Message Deleted by K. L. Slater

 Psychological thriller and family drama.

Saffy Morris is waiting for an interview when she receives 3 messages from her old best friend, Leona. The messages sound like Leona is in trouble. But, then they all disappear and show as deleted. When Saffy rushes to the home of her friend, Leona says she doesn’t know what Saffy is talking about. She didn’t send any messages. Hmmm. But then later, Leona, her husband Ash, and their daughter disappear. The door is left open, the fire alarm is going off, and there’s blood on the floor.

This was a slow build with lots of back and forth narration between the 3 main female characters: Saffy, Leona, and Poppy (Saffy’s younger sister). They’ve all known each other since childhood and there’s a lot of past between them. Some of it connected to what is happening in the now. So multiple narrators and time shift make this a bit unevenly paced. The history is dangled without full reveal until the very end in a somewhat underwhelming conclusion. There are some twists along the way and the reader gets a feel for where this is all going. 

I never really felt too invested in the story as it was all so contrived. I didn’t like any of the characters really so there was that lack of empathy as well. The whole “why” and “who” just fell flat for me especially for the motivation. I’d say this was OK but definitely not gripping and it took me a couple of days to get through it because I just wasn’t that interested.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ebook ARC to read and review. 

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

Tags: revenge, drama, psychological thriller 

Kills Well with Others (Killers of a Certain Age #2) by Deanna Raybourn

 This is the second book featuring the four dynamic women of a certain age who “stand between good and decent people and chaos…necessary monsters.”  In other words, assassins. 

Called out of semi retirement, the four have a new mission. Back together again and reliving some of their past assignments, Billie, Helen, Natalie, and Mary Alice each bring certain skills and abilities to work. Their activities take them to many exciting places and often in dangerous situations with only each other and their wits for success and survival. 

I enjoy the characters and their relationships with each other. Not exactly friends but bound by camaraderie much stronger as they have faced many life and death situations. I like that they are older, basically 60ish, and have a unique attitude about their lives and their jobs with the Museum. 

In this particular main duty, the group’s focus is on chasing down a lost piece of art that was looted during WWII and hidden away until the bad guys decide to bring it out for sale on the black market. There are reminisces about the past and some of their other kills. 

I love the way the author writes and I’ve fallen in love with another historical mystery series but I am quite fond of these killers of a certain age as well. I’d definitely read another book about them and more missions. They are getting a little tired, however! 

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I do suggest you start with the first in the series. 

This is the second in a series and you should read the first one before this book.

Tags: mature older women assassins, humor, murder, stolen art

Shell Games by Bonnie Kistler

 Late love or elaborate con?

Thoroughly entertaining domestic thriller that proved nearly impossible to put down.

I love guessing in the books I read. I like to think that I can figure out the big twist or denouement before the author lets me in on the reveal. In this case, though I had suspicions, I was always thinking that the author had a trick or surprise or two up her sleeve. I wasn’t sure which way this was going to go, and if you’re like me, the ending has to be just right for me to really appreciate a book.

The characters in this story are so well drawn and believable. I paid really close attention to everthing each said or did trying to discern their motivations. Is this one guilty or is that one being honest? Who can be trusted and which of them seems like a schemer. In this intricately plotted web, it’s hard to discern their motivations truth. I was really letting my dubious nature reading between the lines. Skeptical about each of the players because there was a lot of money at stake.

Kate is a wealthy CEO with a daughter, Julie. After 50 years, Kate reconnects with her first love, Charlie Mull. They’d met in high school but were separated by circumstance and different choices. On the night after their huge society wedding, something goes terribly wrong. The next thing we know, Kate has accused Charlie of a terrible crime. She claims he confessed it to her. In a whirlwind of accusation and even an investigation, the suggestion is proffered that Kate may not be completely mentally competent. Is this a ploy — gaslighting and manipulation? 

Julie, the daughter, has been in her mother’s shadow for her entire life. Married to Eric, an orthopedic surgeon, she is somewhat controlled by him as well. When tragedy strikes, will Julie stand up and fight or not. Lots of interesting family dynamics. 

The big mystery involves a crime bigger than everyone wanting Kate’s money. I enjoyed the intrigue and was hoping that things would turn in a manner that provided the best conclusion to all the drama. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator did a fantastic job of imbuing the text with appropriate tone, voice, and dramatic flair that enhanced my appreciation of the novel. The production was well done and made the story and characters come to life.

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

Tags - murder, suicide, mental incompetence, wealth, family drama, hurricane, drugs

Murder on the Cornish Coast (Miss Underhay #19) by Helena Dixon

 

I’ve been spending a couple of days with Kitty and Matt at an estate on the Cornish coast. They were invited by Lady Cordelia when she hired them to find out who was trying to kill her. Last summer after a birthday party for her sister, Rachel, Lady Cordelia was attacked and her father was killed. No perpetrator was found yet Lady Cordelia claims that several attempts have been made on her life now that she’s starting to remember what happened on that fateful night.

Well the other guests greet the arrival of Matt and Kitty as the locked room mystery deepens. It’s clear that someone in the big old house has murder on the mind. The red herrings are plenty and the suspects twist and turn with the events. A breakthrough occurs when a noted therapist arrives to help Lady Cordelia by hypnotizing her.

This was quite enjoyable and I had fun seeing my suspicions play out as I helped Matt and Kitty solve their case. I think most fans will appreciate the unexpected. I’ve read all previous books in this series and it’s always great that the stories stay fresh. Definitely recommend any new reader start with the first installment and read all of the books in order for maximum pleasure.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend to anyone who enjoys historical cozy mysteries.  The period details are spot on and the descriptions take me back to another place and time.

This is #19 in a series that I have read from the beginning and recommend. One of my favorite historical cozy series. 

Genre - historical mystery, 1930s, England, cozy

Original post 2-12-25

Blog spot tour for Bookouture on 2-24-25

Till Death Do Us Part by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

 Another day, another completely unrealistic and unsatisfying domestic drama. Unlikeable characters, inane babble, bad choices, secrets and lies tell the story of two women decades apart.

Told in alternating points of view by the two female characters, both unpleasant and loathsome. I liked them less as the story went on. 

June marries Josh Kelly after knowing him for six months. He dies on their honeymoon but his body was never recovered. Drowning, they said. But June can’t forget the love of her life even though it’s 10 years later and she’s met someone else she wants to marry. She keeps seeing him everywhere. Then she sees a photo of him and his wife at their Napa winery. Of course she must go. June seemed like an overly obsessed twit of the highest order. 

Bev is Josh’s mother. She’s married to David and they have a winery in Napa. Bad things happen and Bev makes some crazy decisions. She’s a terrible wife and an even worse mother, just saying. I despised everything about her. 

This went from bad to worse as the narrative went on with a major plot point never actually solved and that left a huge hole as the question is unanswered. The conclusion was absolutely out of nowhere ludicrous and dropped my benefit of the doubt star down a full level. 

If you’re interested in learning about wine and wineries, there’s a lot of information. I didn’t care about most of that. 

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrators, particularly the two women, had voices that I didn’t care for. I didn’t particularly enjoy the production. 

I thought at some point, surely my questions will be answered and it will all make sense. And, these ladies aren’t so bad. But I was disillusioned. All very unrealistic and very slow.

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

Tags - wine and wineries, romance, Lesbian relationship, murder, adultery, family drama, mystery, twins, motherhood

White King by Juan Gomez-Jurado (Antonia Scott #3)

 No! Tell me it’s not true — this cannot be over. This can’t be the last outing for Antonia Scott and Inspector Jon Gutierrez. The entire 3 book series has been exceptional in action and well constructed plots and I hate that the saga of the Red Queen is coming to an end.

I have loved the characters of Antonia and Jon as their relationship deepens through their attempts to solve the most heinous crimes and find some sort of justice. Not only are they unique in personality, they are also highly skilled in their jobs and focused on completing their missions. Now they face their adversary, Mr. White, who brings them full circle into his devious plans. He’s a nasty piece of work and another nemesis makes an appearance as well. It was hard to guess where this was going with all the twists and turns. I liked the writing style and the bits of humor that the author included to make me really care about Antonia and Jon. There’s just the barest bit at the end that could allow for further stories about these two. If only. 

I suggest you read these from the beginning in order. And better if you can do it one after the other without suffering through the waiting for the translations from Spanish. Also catch the first book’s adaptation on streaming channels. I enjoyed it as well. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publisher. The book is narrated by the incomparable Scott Brick whose voice consistently elevates the novels he performs with his incredible range and talent. This is definitely one I highly recommend on audio for a completely absorbing experience. 

This is the third and final book in the Red Queen series. It should be read in order, close together as possible.

#1 Red Queen

#2 Black Wolf

#3 White King

Tags: brilliant and quirky philologist, Spain, police, murder, special projects, crime

Don’t Ask, Don’t Follow by Mary Keliikoa

 Mystery thriller full of family drama, secrets, and lies.

Beth Ralston works as a paralegal at her father’s law firm. On the night of a party, she finds her boss dead in his office. Even more shocking, however, is that she sees her sister, Lindsay, running from the scene. Later, Beth finds her sister’s phone in her purse along with a note telling her not to ask and not to follow. Now Beth is on a mission to find out what her investigative reporter sister was working on. And to find Lindsay who has now completely disappeared.

Oh my. I’m feeling generous tonight with the star rating although this book barely held my interest. There were too many improbable scenarios and Beth, the main character, was running around doing all sorts of detecting and snooping and the usual amateur sleuth activity. Her job lost, she has plenty of time to figure out stuff. I never took to her. The rest of the characters were stereotypes and none were well developed. I figure out where it was going quickly but it took the author a long time to get me there. The epilogue was a complete laugh out loud, and not in a good way, ending. Really. 

I listened to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. I did not care for the voice of the narrator, especially the tone and inflection for some of the characters. I almost quit listening to the audio completely due to it getting on my nerves. I’ll make sure I avoid this one in the future.

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

Tags - sisterhood, family secrets and lies, adoption, illegal activity, drama, romance, murder, kidnapping

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay

 This was a totally unexpected and fun to read thriller.

Snarky humor about a husband and wife serial killer duo who is feeling some pangs when they put their bloody murder adventures on hold after getting married and having a baby. They don’t find the quiet suburban life anything as expected. Their outlet is gone and it all seems like their passion and joy went away. They miss hunting down the bad men and killing them. What to do?

I enjoyed this far more than expected and it was a nice change of pace. The story is told in a then and now format with both Fox and Haze narrating their before and present day lives. Even though by most standards neither are good people, the way they approach their new parenthood and now really boring grind is humorous and relatable. Typically I’m not a fan of vigilantism regardless of reason, but the author does a good job of making these killers almost sympathetic. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. I enjoyed the female and male narrators who brought the story to life and gave such great inflection and drama to the production. It definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

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

Tags - couple kills bad men, murder, dark humor

The Crash by Freida McFadden

 Trying to think of a way I can give this any kind of spin, but I can’t. It was terrible. 

Let me count the ways:

1. Calling the baby little Tuna and the number of times she used her baby voice. That seems a crime against literature. 

2. Hideous characters - all of them. And yes, our main character was the worst of them all despite the fact that Polly was actually mentally ill. Majorly delusional and stupid. The neighbors. 

3. Completely unrealistic basement scenes with 8 month pregnant Tegan with her post crash injuries and the repetition of the injuries.

4. How convenient to have a Jackson.

5. Predictable denouement and unsurprising climax. 

6. The conclusion. Just no.

I have said it before but this time I really mean it. No more McFadden. I like a good thriller with some surprises and twists that fit the situation and make sense. I like clever writing and dangling clues. Chilling suspense. I don’t like crazy over the top scenarios and dramas with unlikeable characters. I hate a fairy tale ending. I see all these glowing and gushing reviews for her books and I just don’t get it. It was a waste of a couple of hours. Definitely not for me.

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC. I didn’t really care for the narrator’s voice and the way she spoke the different characters. But, honestly, it may have been more that the lines were so bad that I maybe shouldn’t blame her.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Tags - drama, pregnancy, unmarried mom, mental illness, murder

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAlister

 Basically a love story disguised as a thriller.

I should have read more of the reviews before leaping into this because I thought it was going to be more of a fast paced nail-biter instead of a slow burn domestic drama. Even though it started off with a literal bang, the hostage crisis, it quickly became something else when the focus shifted to Camilla dragging through the years because her husband disappeared. I found it repetitive and the whole scenario required a great deal of suspension of disbelief. The revelations about Luke and the very tedious investigation were not surprising twists. 

The other issue was that I was not able to appreciate the characters nor really feel much for either Camilla nor Niall. I often actively disliked her with her brain on constant repeat and stuck in a state of suspended animation most of the time. Sure, I get it — she missed her husband. The expected truth comes out and everything ended just about exactly as I had anticipated. No surprises. The narrative was quite convoluted though the actual plot was very simple.

I listened to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator was OK but the production would have benefited from a larger cast, especially for the male voices. At times her pronunciation of certain words got on my nerves and I have found when that happens it takes away some of my enjoyment of the book. 

Ultimately, this was an OK book. 

This was a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre - domestic drama

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

 This is the craziest most over the top ridiculous book I’ve read in a long while. I could not put it down because I was waiting to see what the author would throw at me next. I’m giving it 3 stars because it had everything I love to hate within the pages.

The characters were deplorable in every way. Not one in the bunch seemed to have a double digit IQ and behaved so badly. Without giving spoilers, I can’t go into more detail. So many cliches and tropes in the narrative — sometimes I had to laugh out loud saying to myself that surely we weren’t going to go there — and then we did! 

Ostensibly about a lawyer, Sarah, defending her cheating husband, Adam, on a murder charge, this takes incredulity to a whole new level. If you’re looking for accurate attorney client relationships, this is not what you should read. Yes, spent most of the book trying to figure out why anyone would want to be in the same room with Adam much less try to help him. The ending was quite satisfying in a perverse sort of way. Suffice to say, hideous people doing hideous things. The end.

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the ebook and I enjoyed the production. I was quite irritated, however, because often the performer’s words did not match the text in the book. The voices did add a nice bit of dramatic flair to the whole farce. I gave this 3 stars because it did entertain me as I alternated between flipping pages and contemplating throwing the book across the room.

And yeah, I can’t help myself. I do plan to read the sequel. 

This is the first of two books featuring same characters. Read in order!

Genre - crazy psychological thriller, lawyer, murder, adultery

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

 Unevenly paced psychological thriller left me disappointed.

I started this book with high anticipation. The premise was intriguing — a female attorney, Stella Hudson, is assigned as guardian ad litem for a nine year old girl in the center of a custody battle because her parents are going through a contentious divorce. The situation is complicated by a few things that immediately start setting off some alarms for me: the girl has traumatic mutism (same as our MC did as a child) and recently her nanny died from a fall out of a window of the family home. Right away I start thinking that somebody murdered the nanny and am on the hunt for the culprit. 

All of a sudden there are like twenty different things going on that start to irritate me. I don’t care about the MC’s past or her mother. I want to know the deal with Rose, the child, and if she’s being sheltered or if she’s like the bad seed. So many uninteresting side plots that involve Stella that I honestly didn’t care about. When things start to become way to coincidental and unbelievable is when I start to turn off. All I wanted was to read about Rose’s situation and the role of a best interest attorney in a custody case. Now Stella’s trying to solve the murder, meanwhile she’s fixating on her mother’s death, and also starting to doubt her relationship with Charles. And then her flirtation? It was all just too much.

My main problem with this story was that it meandered all over the place and Stella’s behavior and responses just seemed too much over the top. All these tangents that had nothing to do with anything and just drew out a simple straightforward plot. I didn’t like any of the characters. And I really don’t enjoy reading about kids and nasty parents. So many cliches in the book. The last couple of chapters were completely ridiculous. Glad I never have to hear about any of them again. 

I listened to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC. The narrator was OK but some of her voices for characters didn’t work for me. I think I should have just put the audio aside and read the book and could have been done that much faster. Definitely not a favorite.

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

Tags: divorce, custody, murder, adultery, parents, mutism, drugs

Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass

 Solid mystery thriller with a cozy type touch.

In a small Minnesota town two best friends are reeling from events that took place over a year ago. Shelby interrupted what might have been a burglary inside her friend’s cafe and was left to die. Suffering some frostbite amputations and trying to get herself back into a good place mentally, she’s shaken when a threatening note appears on the windshield of her car. Is he back?  Meanwhile, Mack, the best friend, is broken and haunted because her husband, Leo, vanished the same night of Shelby’s attack. Bad things start happening to Shelby and the seniors at the rest home she manages rally around but no one knows who is responsible. 

I liked the setting and the characters, especially the seniors. What a hoot. They interjected some fun moments and snarky humor into the story making the situation seem less ominous even though some seriously nasty stuff, including murder, was going on. I really liked those interactions. The story was a bit predictable and it was easy to guess who the bad guy was despite the red herrings and the dangled hints. The narrative shifted in point of view and the pace was fast. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The 3 female narrators did a nice job voicing their character parts with the appropriate dramatic flair and this enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

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

Tags - mystery, cozy, senior sleuths, murder, betrayal, obsession

Frozen Lives (Emily Hartford #4) by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush

 This fourth in the series solidifies my intent to avoid reading any further mysteries by this author. I was looking for a more medically slanted plot considering the title features the word, coroner, so this is not what I had in mind.

The series is flawed because the main character, supposedly a medical doctor and surgeon, Emily Hartford, is just a wishy washy medding mess. She's impetuous to a fault and ridiculous in the extreme with her reactions to situations and events. She has vacillated with her romances, her job, her home, and her other relationships from the beginning. Not to mention that she isn't a very good doctor and she has way too much free time to go off piste catching bad guys to really be any sort of surgeon with a position at a major medical center in Chicago. I've grown to dislike her immensely over the past 4 books so I'm done with her now.

The rest of the characters -- I could go on and on about the stereotypes. A chief irritant is the ex FBI agent now bakery owner in town who calls her doll all the time. But she still has connections. Why do the local police need Emily's assistance for a kidnapping case when she is meant to be a coroner doing autopsies or death investigations. And why did we need all that little baker nonsense.

This plot was really lame and there was no suspense and definitely no thrills. The outcome was so predictable and there were no twists or surprises or even a good rationale for any of it. That last couple of pages was a total cliche and whoever doesn't see that coming isn't paying attention.

To top it all off, I was listening to the audio book while trying to following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The editors must have done a real overhaul of this because they changed so much that I had to scramble to find my place on the pages. Unfortunately, their changes and improvements did little to change the overall truth -- this just wasn't a good story.

Anyway. I've read all four and I don't recommend the series especially if you are looking for a medical thriller with good forensic details.

This is the 4th book in a series that I have read from the beginning.

Tags - mystery, kidnapping, romance, small town

Whiteout by R.S. Burnett

 I picked this one because I was in the mood for a creepy atmospheric thriller, and the description of a researcher in Antarctica ending up alone on a glacier during an endless winter sounded good.

It was a disappointment despite the promising premise. You know when you reach a saturation point in a novel — where the MC keeps on facing what should be death scenes and survives to fight
another day? Well it got there quick. It was just one crazy peril after another. The things she did and her responses to people and situations were just over the top ridiculous. I was sort of sad that she didn’t fall into a crevasse — oops, was that a spoiler? It was just ultimately too much and I honestly didn’t care what happened to her after awhile. The “twist” when it comes late into the final pages is just what you’d expect from the set up.  I didn’t like the main character, Rachael, at all.

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book, both provided by the publishers. I thought the narrator’s many voices were a bit too much if you know what I mean. Generally I find that listening while reading enhances my reading experience, but I finally had to stop the audio and just force myself to the end.

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

Tags - Antarctica, alone, elements, cold, mission

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall

 Lots of drama in this psychological thriller mashup.

An oft used trope is involved here -- innocent young woman is taken to meet wealthy future in-laws at a secluded mountaintop retreat in the middle of winter. Theo doesn't know her fiance, Connor, very well as they've had a whirlwind romance. His entire family is there to celebrate Christmas but Theo knows she's going to be tested. Immediately upon arrival, and in addition to threatening messages she has received on her now useless phone (no signal), Theo feels that she's actually been to this place with the cabins in the woods before.

As the suspense is supposed to build, you will have to suspend an incredible amount of disbelief at the coincidences and plausibility of the plot. I might have been more invested had I liked any of the stereotypical characters. I couldn't even fake that much interest in Theo or feel empathetic to her situation. The endless red herrings, Theo's angst, and the repetition of the fact that her memories are hazy got on my nerves. Sure there were revelations as the secrets and lies were finally revealed, but I bet you guessed most of them already.

This is the second I've read by this author and doubt there will be more. There's just nothing new to see here. It wasn't a bad book per se, but it was just too similar a story to so many others I've read.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book, both provided by the publishers. The narrator was OK but her attempts to voice all the characters sometimes fell flat and the extra oomph she put into the really dramatic scenes seemed a bit too much. This is a production that could definitely have been enhanced by a larger cast. 

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

Tags - murder, family, secrets and lies, drama

The Mother Next Door by Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber

 Excellent examination of an often misunderstood crime -- medical child abuse, otherwise known as MBP or Munchausen by proxy.

As a registered nurse and legal nurse consultant, I've long been fascinated by any crime that involves medical ethics, negligence, malpractice, or victimized patients. There's nothing quite so frightening, however, as an innocent child being deliberately harmed by a parent or guardian under the guise of them being brave and heroic for their care of a sick dependent. That devotion and attentiveness can have another side and this book tells the stories of three separate cases where mothers were actively harming their children through unnecessary medical care and procedures for conditions and diagnoses that did not actually exist. Heinous. Made worse by the difficulty in getting the perpetrator's loved ones and friends to accept that the primary care giver's presence and manipulations are making the child ill. Even more frustrating: the lack of cooperation by protective services and the courts in taking appropriate steps to remove the source and cause of the abuse.

The descriptions of events in the stories were very difficult for me to read. I was so impressed by Mike Weber, the detective who is probably one of the leading investigators into crimes against children and a dogged and faithful crusader in his efforts to protect and save the children who are being abused. He overcame so many discouraging setbacks to help get those sickened children away from the mothers who were actively trying to harm them. I love how the book named names of people in the system who did not actively prosecute and obtain justice for the victims. Shame on them.

I agree that there is an issue with MBP because of the attitude regarding the sanctity of motherhood. This, despite the fact that every day you can read news about mothers abusing and even outright murdering their children. So why is it so hard to accept that a mother could deliberately make her child sick to even the point of death while all the time being hailed as a great selfless, sacrificing saint.

At the heart of all of this is the question of why. What drives someone, almost always the mother, to make her child sick. To tell the lies and distort reality so much that their child receives unneeded medication and treatments or even invasive surgical procedures for conditions they do not have. It's definitely a complex issue as it's not that the mothers are mentally  ill -- they know what they are doing. Is it the attention they receive? The respect and admiration of others? The drama? That's not been established and it is likely an amalgamation of many personal needs or issues.

Regardless of what makes a mom do this, it has to be caught. Everyone who is suspicious needs to take a stand and report. Despite the fact that MBP , or factitious disorder imposed on another, has existed in the literature for years, it needs greater attention and understanding so that this complex form of abuse can be identified and stopped.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, also the book's co-author, Andrea Dunlop, alludes to having dealt with MBP within her own immediate family as apparently a sister of hers was accused. Details of that were not given, but she references her true crime podcast for further information. I plan to check it out. I always enjoy the experience of listening while reading as it adds to my appreciation of the book.

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

Tags - nonfiction, crimes against children, tragic, sad, medical, criminal investigation, child abuse

Loose Lips (Ghostwriter #2) by Kemper Donovan

 Mystery and intrigue on the high seas.

What a fun book! I came into this second installment without reading the first in the series, but I was able to quickly become absorbed without the benefit of a lot of backstory. The premise involves the concept of bringing a large group of women together for a short ocean cruise focusing on different genres of books. Organized by a prolific author, the main character, Belle, is invited to be a guest instructor in the mystery group. Not everyone in attendance is there to enjoy talking about books, eating the fabulous food, or enjoying the free bar drinks. One person, in particular, is bent on murder. 

I loved Belle (not her real name) with her snarky personality and antisocial tendencies. Her clever banter and the many astute references to literature and other forms of entertainment were spot on and relevant and added to the narrative. I had to really work to figure out who and why with the motive, means, and opportunity. The denouement was quite the revelation and very well done. 

I was lucky enough to be able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book, both ARCs provided by the publishers. The narrator. Eva Kaminsky, did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life with all of her accents and dramatic flair. I’ve found that listening while reading really enhances my enjoyment of a book when the narrator is good. It was an excellent production.

I’m looking forward to another in this series and I need to go back and find a copy of the first so that I am properly caught up. I feel like I might have missed out and I typically don’t read series out of order.

This is the second in series. Probably would have been better had I read this after the first one.

Tags - cruise, murder, mystery, authors, women, relationships

Bonded in Death (#60 Eve Dallas) by J.D. Robb

 I don’t know how she does it, but Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb, keeps coming up with unique and satisfying plots in this futuristic series. This one, #60, has Eve Dallas and her cohort facing off with a war criminal. 

As always, Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her gazillionaire husband, Roarke, do what it takes to track and capture a man whose obsession is to destroy a group of men and women who were active in the long ago Urban Wars. The Twelve, as they are called, are old and retired now, but the traitor (he was once one of them) wants retribution. 

I really enjoy this series and always look forward to a new book. The characters are almost like old friends and I love reading about each of them and their personal lives as they all do their thing helping Eve with whatever case she’s on. Sometimes Eve is just a little too much, rude and snarky, socially inept at times, and yet she still is a good leader of her cop team. Oh yeah, where can we all find a guy like Roarke? Doesn’t exist, but it’s nice to imagine such a man. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book - both ARCs provided by the publishers. I enjoy the voice of the narrator, Susan Ericksen, who has narrated most of these in the series. She’s got great accents and shifts between characters with different tone and voice making them sound distinctly separate. I find that a good audio production often enhances my enjoyment of a book and that was definitely true in this case. I’m looking forward to the next installment. 

I’ll never understand how this series has not been made into some sort of television adaptation as its popularity continues. 

This is #60 in a long running series that is best read in order for full enjoyment. You don’t HAVE to read them all but why not.

Tags - futuristic police procedural, suspense, murder, cops and bad guys

The Family Inside by Katie Garner

 Overwrought and ultimately unbelievable domestic thriller.

A poor and frumpy woman is courted by a really handsome, wealthy man. Iris is a widow (her husband was murdered) and she has an 18 year old daughter. Iris loses her job and is evicted from their home. Hugh sweeps in to take Iris and her daughter to a mansion he lives in with his mother. His brother, sister-in-law, and sister live there too. And then this really goes off the rails into territory that is so convoluted and twisty that not even the most dedicated reader could manage to suspend enough disbelief to keep up.

The characters were all stereotypes and the plot contained enough tropes and cliches for several books. The main character, Iris, was the most ridiculous of all. She basically is also not very smart along with being histrionic.

I really didn't want to finish this. I hate to say it because this was an ARC given to me by the publisher, but this book was a hot mess and I couldn't give it more stars.

If the writing and narrative weren't already bad enough, I was also listening to the audio book while following along in the e-book. The narrators' voices were so cringey and grating that I finally had to turn it off. Generally the accompanying audio production enhances my enjoyment of a book but this time it made me dislike it even more. 

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

Tags - domestic drama, suspense, thriller, family, murder, secrets and lies, convoluted

Swiped by L. M. Chilton

  Trying to find love in the digital age is fraught and often comical. But, occasionally, it might turn deadly. 

This was darkly humorous and a bit of fun as a young woman on a dating app has a ton of bad dates. Recently broken up with a long term boyfriend, she’s disillusioned by the creeps she meets. There is never a second date. Then, they start turning up dead. 

I wish I could have related more to the main character, but I didn’t and the things she did and got away with drove me a bit nuts. There were some great lines that made me laugh, but I never connected with Gwen. Of course the concept was a bit far fetched and the conclusion was like way out there of straining credulity, but it was fast and kept me entertained for a couple of hours.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book. I have to say that I liked the book much more than the audio production. The narrator was OK, but there were a lot of discrepancies between the words in the novel and the voice of the narrator. I probably liked the book more because the terms were less British. I wasn’t that big a fan of the narrator’s voice. In any event, I still like the whole listening and reading experience.

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

Genre - light, funny, dating, murder, cheating

Cold Storage (Revival #2) by Michael C. Grumley

 Another wildly entertaining and fast paced thriller with cryotechnology and time travel as its key components. 

The second in the series opens with a bang and the action keeps up throughout the narrative. The characters from the first book return and it’s essentially a good vs evil setup with Rachel and John vs the dastardly creeps called The Nine. 

I love science fiction that is slightly out there but still believable. I enjoyed the technology and the details about the concept of reviving someone who had been frozen alive and was now being thawed and brought back to life. With any futuristic novel set in a dystopian world, you always hope that this worst is not going to come to pass, but it sometimes seems inevitable doesn’t it? I’ll save other spoilers so as not to ruin any twists and discoveries that occurred.

Regardless, this was another great part of the story started with the first book. I’m not sure if we will see a third, but I really do hope so. I liked the characters of Rachel and John and their close friends and cohort. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC with both provided by the publishers. The narrator was fabulous. Scott Brick has a voice made for drama and his incomparable performance always enhances every book he reads. Don’t miss it!

This is the second in a series and it needs to be read after reading book number one.

Tags - future, dystopian, time travel, cryotechnology, sheep, elites

Pro Bono by Thomas Perry

 Action packed and fast paced legal thriller.

How I love a good story that involves lawyers and clients in distress. It’s even better when the attorney isn’t sleazy but instead is smart and well-intentioned. This fit the bill for me as I was really in the mood for some legal machinations and clever maneuvers on the right side of the law.

Loved the character of Charles Warren, a lawyer and CPA whose expertise, beyond the typical divorces and other civil litigation, was in financial crimes. He had a great backstory to explain why he wanted to help victims of con men stealing money and that explained his motivation to help Vesper Ellis. She was another great character along with many others in the book. 

There was lots of action, excellent writing, and even when some situations strained to the point of credulity, I still enjoyed reading and the narrative kept me glued to the pages. There was a little romance and a lot of info about bad actors embezzling money from their clients. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator did a great job voicing the characters and bringing an appropriate amount of dramatic flair to the story. I definitely enjoyed this one as I have most of this author’s other books. I’m a sucker for a good legal thriller and this hit all the marks.

This is a standalone and not part of any series. However, I’d definitely love to see another book featuring this character.

Tags - legal, money, con men, murder, embezzlement

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

 Things in life are often not at all what you think they are. Nor are people. 

After his wife’s disappearance, Grady Green escapes to a small Scottish island. He’s an author who can’t write since Abby has gone. This retreat at Amberley Island, in a former bestselling author’s cabin, is his last chance to publish a book and redeem himself now that he has nothing left to lose. But the conditions on the barely populated isle are fraught. 

I started out intrigued and then became irritated with the slow pace and the repetitiveness of Grady’s hallucinations and insomnia. His behavior was erratic and his angsty thoughts were an annoying stream of consciousness. I lost patience with him, struggled to find any characters likable, and had a lot of difficulty with some of the ridiculous situations Grady got himself into. I don’t really like when an author dangles hints and never gives more explanation. So I was already struggling and started to disengage when the last third of the book became so out there that I just raced to the end. I didn’t like what transpired and even looking back in the pages left me feeling duped, not happily stumped. 

This author has always been hit and miss for me and this was a miss. I can’t say more about things that put me off without spoiling some of the plot points. I had no idea the narrative was going to go in the direction it did and had I know, I would never have picked this up. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrators did a decent job and it helped a little to improve my reading experience. I especially enjoyed the sound effects. 

I would give this 2.5 stars but I rounded it to 3 because the first part of the book was a good premise and set up. Unfortunately, it was ultimately a let down. 

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

Tags: marriage, revenge, women power, mystery