NetGalley Top Reviewer

NetGalley Top Reviewer
NetGalley Top Reviewer

Friday, August 22, 2025

Runner 13 by Amy McCulloch

 Lots of action in this survivor thriller.

An elite runner, Adri, returns to do an ultra marathon in the Saharan Desert after years away from the sport. The race is 250 miles long under additional extreme circumstances and the goal is not only for her to finish, but to win. She knows most of the other elite runners on this course, but there's also a contingent of fun runners who won't be forced to endure the same rigid rules and conditions. It all starts out as expected, but then some of her friends are hurt or are being kicked out on some flimsy evidence and she wonders if there is more danger on the sand and weather or if it comes from someone else in the competition. 

The story is told from a dual point of view -- two female characters, one is Adri and the other is Stella. The premise, while initially intriguing, ultimately felt contrived and the depth was just not there to turn this from mediocre to great. I'm not a runner, in fact a lot of extreme physical activity scares me, so I couldn't relate to any of the reasons for someone to want to do this. So much so that I really can't even believe the things those runners did and endured. I never connected with or liked any of the characters. The whole mystery thing with the killer part seemed so artificially inserted with the motivation quite lame. There were so many clues for all that led up to what was supposedly the big twist at the end so I found the conclusion predictable and way too tidy a wrap. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. There were two female narrators for the parts of Adri and Stella, and I honestly didn't care for either voice. They just didn't sound right for their characters to me. Also for specific spots, ie the podcast, the two male voices did a fine job. Unfortunately the production wasn't enough to really enhance my appreciation of the book.

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

Genre and tags - ultra marathon running, killer, mystery, desert, sexual abuse, suicide, attempted murder 

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Departure 37 by Scott Carson

 Captivating premise isn’t enough to make this Cold War mystery thriller a standout for me.


The calls come in the middle of the night, ostensibly from the moms of pilots meant to fly the next day. The message is clear and results in a callout that empties the skies. 


That’s a pretty exciting opening and honestly, that whole concept would have been enough to get me really going, but the whole Seeker Script plot line just fizzled. Then the dual timeline starts and we are alternating between a brilliant physicist, Dr. Martin Hazelton, doing experiments in 1962 and then to present day when two teenagers left alone in Ash Point, Maine, can’t escape their little peninsula when electricity and internet go off when the airline shutdown occurs. Just so happens they are close to a supposedly inactive airfield owned and maintained by the US Navy. And then a B-62 bomber appears out of the sky and lands. Charlie and Lawrence, both 16, learn about secrets and bizarre aviation events from the Cold War. 


I can suspend disbelief about lots of scientific things in a heartbeat, but what I just could not wrap my brain around was the inclusion of these two teenagers and them having such a huge impact on what happens in the story. Seriously? If I want my heroes and main characters to be that age, I’ll read young adult literature. It ruined the book for me honestly. I’m sure I’m an outlier, and that’s fine, because it would have made a better and more realistic climax and ending if it wasn’t for that “perceptive” teen girl and her tagalong. Maybe I’m not the right audience but I do like science fiction and the whole concept of being able to disappear a plane and then call it back was quite interesting. All of the characters felt incomplete and at times the flip between past and present was disorienting. There were other issues I might expand upon as well too explain why this book didn’t really work as well for me as I had anticipated, but that would be spoilers.


I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrators, Mia Barron, Catherine Ho, and Johnny Heller, were a mixed bag. I liked the voices and performance of both women, but Johnny Heller consistently mispronounced the word, nuclear, and that got on my last nerve. I finally had to just skip over his part because I did not find his voice fitting for the part.

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

Tags and genre - science fiction, time travel, Cold War, pilots, dual timeline

Friday, August 15, 2025

Kiss Her Goodbye (Frankie Elkin #4) by Lisa Gardner

 The search for a missing woman turns deadly.

 

This is the 4th book in the Frankie Elkin series. This time, she makes her way to Tucson, Arizona, to find a missing Afghan woman.

Frankie, a missing persons expert, heads out with her meager belongings and finds temporary lodgings at a huge gated mansion in Tucson where she is hired to pet sit an iguana and some snakes. Also in residence, since the owner is absent, are a transgender cook and a big tough chauffeur with an obviously checkered past. The three team up to investigate the local Afghan refugee community while searching for the missing Sabera Ahmadi at the behest of her friend. The local police are uninterested and Frankie immediately ascertains that there is much more going on than a missing wife who left her 4-year-old daughter and husband behind. It seems that Sabera has some very unique skills and abilities that made her a target for those who want the information she hides.

I was looking for a classic escape into the typical but this was too sad, too emotional, and too real for the type of suspense thriller that I was expecting in this series. I just couldn't get into all the background of what happened (twice) in Kabul with the Taliban and the people of Afghanistan. Their terrible struggles to survive and their treatment in refugee camps both abroad and in USA were just not what I was anticipating in a beach read. Also the whole ghost thing isn't something I like to read in a novel in any case. It was just too realistic on one hand and too out there with the visions on the other. There were other aspects that detracted as well. And can we please stop with the main characters being able to find the passwords and get into computers and/or phones they happen to find lying about? For the most part, I just couldn't buy into the whole story arc and how it all played out.

Anyway, this was an OK read, but wasn't what I was looking for in a book in this series. It seems I'm an outlier in my review and reaction and I'm find with that. If there's another in the Frankie Elkin series, I'll likely check it out. This one can stand alone as everything you really need to know requires no backstory to be appreciated. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Hillary Huber, did a nice job with all the character voices, particularly with the accents. I always believe, however, that a production would be enhanced by having a male speaker as well. In any event, enjoying both simultaneously enhances my appreciation of any novel.

This is the 4th in series. You  may want to read them from the beginning but this worked for me as a standalone.

Genre - crime, murder, Afghanistan, Afghan refugees in USA, Kabul, missing persons 

Thursday, August 14, 2025

The Tapes by Kerry Wilkinson

 



Blog stop for Bookouture - 3.5 stars


A murder mystery with an old school feel.


Eve Falconer is clearing out her recently deceased father’s house when she finds a box of old cassette tapes. When she listens to one marked with her name, she hears her mother’s voice reaching her over time and space for her mom disappeared out of the blue over 13 years prior. On the tape Angela talks about her life, with some exaggerations and what Eve knows are outright lies in some spots. But one thing she can’t wrap her head around is when her mom’s recording tells Eve that she’s probably been murdered. 


Eve can’t believe what she’s heard and even more worrisome is that she’s concerned that her mother was a victim of a serial killer that hunted in her town of Sedingham for many years and was never caught. Her mom left a clue that she knew who it was and Eve becomes obsessed. Unfortunately, the killer doesn’t want Eve to figure it out.


There was a lot going on in this thriller with plenty of red herrings and many characters that were suspicious. Eve has a history of behaving badly and is an alcoholic on the wagon so people she talks to don’t always take her seriously. They feel she might be unreliable. Anyway, she investigates on her own asking questions all over town. This moved a little slow with a bit too much repetition of the particular tape segments until we get to the climax and the big reveal that might surprise some. 


I was able to read this in a single setting and it kept my interest.


Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. Blog tour 8-14-2025

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

Tags - murder, cassette tapes, alcoholism, unreliable narrator

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Bless Your Heart by Leigh Dunlap

 Fast and fun debut mystery thriller.


Don’t mess with the Buckhead Betties. These affluent Atlanta women aren’t afraid of anything or anyone. Except outsiders who have no idea how hard it is to maintain their images in this social cesspool. They know everything about each other’s marriages, children, and lives; any secrets they have will soon be outed. When Anderson Tupper, a single, handsome, and wealthy Little League coach, is found murdered right after their big charity bash, tongues wag and everyone in their tight circle is a suspect. 


This was so entertaining as these women get down and dirty while the accusations fly. There’s a lot going on behind the closed doors of those mansions. The investigation, led by Detective Shay Claypool and her partner, Sergeant Dub Rattigan, is stonewalled and the pair is met with snubs and plenty of reasons why many of those residents would want Tupper dead. Lots of rich people cliches and designer name drops pepper the narrative, but it’s all satirical while showing that even people with tons of money have problems. Slowly but surely the truth is revealed and the climax was quite surprising with the conclusion taking a great twist. 


The narrative is told in a before and after fashion with each of the main female characters taking a turn at point of view. Keeping them straight got easier after awhile with trying to remember who was married to whom and the names of the kids. I liked the writing style and the themes involving social status, race, and family. I’ll definitely look for future books by this author. 


I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. I loved the narrator, Hallie Ricardo, who did a fantastic job voicing the female characters giving them individuality with various accents, tone, and timbre. Her performance definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book and I highly recommend it. 

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

Tags - south, Atlanta, wealthy, murder, society, family, female friendship

Saturday, August 9, 2025

High Season by Katie Bishop

 Engrossing summer mystery thriller.


The beautiful Côte d’Azur is the setting for this nostalgic coming of age story that involves a murder. It’s got a dual timeline — 1999 to present day — so the back and forth allows multiple narrators and points of view to describe what happened on the fateful night in question.


Evelyn Drayton, a former “it” girl and her family have always summered here in the French Riviera. Her grandfather had designed and built the place where the entire family have spent years. Rarely interacting with any of the locals, the family has an air of magic attached to them. The 17 year old twins, Blake and Tamara, along with their little 5 year old sister, Nina, have the run of the place while their mother, Evelyn, tries to keep hold of her latest husband. When Tamara is found dead on the night of her mother’s birthday party, the entire town is in shock. It’s unbelievable to hear that one of their own, Josie Jackson, has been accused of killing Tamara. Motive speculated, but never known.


I loved the multifaceted characters in this story, especially Josie and Tamara. All of the things that were going on behind the curtain so to speak and led to Tamara’s death were never really exposed or explored. Nina’s testimony at trial when only 5 years old led to Josie going to prison for 10 years. It’s only twenty years later that a true crime blogger wants to delve deeper into the case and help to figure out what really happened that night. The author deftly weaves a web of connections that point to another as the perpetrator. Even tho I guessed the whodunit, I really enjoyed how the author got me there with all the revelations. 


I loved the writing and even though I don’t relish stories about teenagers and the ridiculous things they get up to, some of that was necessary to put the reader in the right headspace to understand all that led up to Tamara’s death.


I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Alix Dunmore, did a fabulous job of voicing all the characters in the story. Her dramatic flair and ability to adapt accents and tone really enhanced the production. The only voice that grated on my nerves was when she did the annoying podcaster’s voice. But that was fleeting thank heavens and probably quite an accurate portrayal. I’d highly recommend the audio book.

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

Tags. Coming of age, murder, mystery, teenagers, thriller, podcast

Thursday, August 7, 2025

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen

 Compelling psychological thriller about sisters with a unique connection. 


Georgia Cartwright is locked up in the psych ward after she’s accused of murdering her younger sister, Annabelle. Pretending to be in a disassociate state, she is desperate to prove her innocence and reaches out to Amanda — her twin. The shock of finding that she has a twin is almost too much for Amanda, owner of a bar, to process, but she tries to wade through all the secrets and lies of Georgia’s wealthy family to find out the truth. 


I enjoyed the dynamic between the sisters and the slow reveals about their relationship as well as what happened with Annabelle. Some of it was predictable, but definitely kept be interested and invested. The narrative is told in alternating points of view between Amanda and Georgia. Raised separately, their twinship is an awakening for them both. The other characters were rather one dimensional and it seemed like a few threads were left unanswered, like who were their birth parents, etc. and what about Patty? Anyway, I liked it well enough.


I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, January LaVoy, did a great job of giving two distinct voices to the twins and even included a fairly convincing southern accent. She always brings te characters in the book to life and her performance enhances my appreciation of the story.

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

Tags - twins, murder, psych ward, adoption, mystery, lies and secrets

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

The Woman in Suite 11 (Lo Blacklock #2) by Ruth Ware

 Entertaining mystery thriller that is as predictable as it is entertaining. 

First and foremost, before you open this book, you need to know that it features many of the characters from The Woman in Cabin 10 and it's probably a really good idea to read it first if you have not.

Secondly, you must suspend any and all disbelief as this entire story will seriously strain any credulity you have. 

It's been 10 years since Laura (Lo) Blacklock experienced all of the traumatic events on the Aurora. Since her lucky escape from death, she's gotten married, had two children, and written a bestseller about her experience on that ship. She has, however, not worked at all since and wants to get back to her old career as a travel writer. Out of the blue, she gets an invite to the opening of a grand hotel owned by Marcus Leidmann, a billionaire. Lo manages to leverage that name with an old contact who works for Financial Times publication who encourages Lo to go to Switzerland and try to get an interview with the man. Lo does go to Switzerland and finds herself quickly in way too deep in a new and crazy situation. And it gets even more wild when she reconnects with someone from her past.

As always, Ruth Ware hooks the reader quickly and you're in way too deep before you realize that Lo hasn't changed a bit and she's still not experienced as much personal growth as we would have hoped. There are lots of twists and turns and many red herrings though a savvy reader will be able to guess where it's all going. The fun is in seeing how the author gets you there. Was this sequel necessary? Nope, not at all, but it was a quick read and kept me dialed in and amused.

I was able to listen to the audio book while reading along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. I liked the narrator, Imogen Church, only when she was voicing the main character. The way she did other voices, especially the kids, was almost cringe sometimes. (Maybe there should be a prohibition in adult books with narrators trying to imitate children.) The accents and male voices didn't fare much better. In any event, I do enjoy the immersive experience of both at once.

This is a sequel to The Woman in Cabin 10 and it should be read before this one.

Tags - travel writer, murder, naive, Britain, mystery, suspense, thriller 

Monday, August 4, 2025

Coded Justice (Avery Keene #3) by Stacey Abrams

 Artificial intelligence — villain or savior?


This is a thriller that tackles many different aspects of AI, but specifically in this book it is working on delivering medical care to marginalized veterans. Avery Keene, now working in the private sector, is hired by Dr. Rafe Diaz, CEO and founder of Camasca, an AI enabled healthcare tech company after an incident that resulted in the death of one of the head programmers. Ruled an accident in a cursory police investigation, Diaz is concerned that there’s something going on that might impact the IPO he’s planning. Avery is meant to assemble a team as an internal investigative unit with attorney client privilege to see if there are any potential issues that might derail the big debut. So Avery gets her best friends and boyfriend on board and they get busy.


There’s a lot of technical jargon and detail about AI and a lot of other things in this novel. It’s almost exhausting to read through the info dumps, even though it’s all very interesting. And scary. Especially when it starts to look like the various components of this huge neural network might be going rogue. I really liked the medical application aspects and the mission of Camasca with its focus on veterans. But the bottom line is that giving over a huge part of anything to quantum computers with sophisticated learning models could prove more deleterious than it does good. 


I wasn’t sure who or what was going to answer the questions about the issues at the company so I had to finish the book in one sitting. Definitely mind boggling and will provide a lot to think about. At present, there’s no regulation or set of rules about how this type of technology is to be created, implemented and evaluated so I still feel that without some checks and balances it could all be a very dangerous tool in the wrong hands. And certainly I don’t want to see sentience. 


The author is obviously creative and brilliant and I’ve enjoyed the previous Avery Keene books as well. Who knows what’s next for her and friends, but I look forward to reading more.


I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Adenrale Ojo, did a great job of voicing the characters and giving the appropriate dramatic flair. The voices were distinct, but of course I always wish for a male to be doing the men. The production enhanced my enjoyment of the story. 

This is part of a series, the third book, and they should be read from the beginning in order.

Tags - legal thriller, suspense, AI, medical, veterans, murder, greed

Saturday, August 2, 2025

The Hampton’s Lawyer (Jane Smith #3) by James Patterson and Mike Lupica

 Fast and entertaining legal thriller.


This is the third in the series featuring criminal defense lawyer, Jane (Effing) Smith, who is, at least in her own mind, the best of the best but definitely so in this part of Long Island. This is the only one I’ve read, but I’m definitely hooked and look forward to checking the others out.


In this book, Jane and her investigative partner, both ex NYPD cops, are defending a local real estate creep named Rob Jacobson. He’s been accused of murder, the triple homicide of a man, wife and teen daughter. The evidence against him is overwhelming, but Jane and Jimmy Cunniff have a plan. Unfortunately, the case has ties to a local bunch of bad guys who are into loan sharking, racketeering, and bookmaking. 


Meanwhile, Jane is dealing with a personal health crisis of her own that means she has to win this case if it is the last thing she does. 


Lots of action and bad guys doing what they do. The characters were interesting and I’d probably know them better if I had read the first two books. This was fine as a stand alone. The medical aspect was a bit, ok wildly, unbelievable but I just ignored that and went with it. This is the type of book you can just lose yourself in for a couple of hours and just have fun with it.


I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along with the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Eva Kaminsky, did a great job of voicing the characters and they were easy to differentiate. Her dramatic flair added a nice touch and made the immersive experience more pleasurable.

This is the third in a series and even though I didn’t, they probably should be read in order for best enjoyment.

Tags - murder, mob, loan shark, legal thriller, suspense

Friday, August 1, 2025

The Maid’s Secret (Molly the Maid #3) by Nita Prose

 Heartwarming cozy mystery series comes to a touching end.


It’s wedding bells for socially awkward Molly the Head Maid/Events Coordinator and her handsome chef fiancé, Juan Manuel. Both work at the Regency Grand, a five star hotel, and are looking forward to the big day. Plans are interrupted however, when Molly finds that a Faberge egg left to her by her grandmother is worth millions. With all the media attention and theft of the egg, Molly is overwhelmed but finds answers to many secrets hidden in her grandmother’s diary. 


This is part fairy tale with a riches to rags theme as well as an ill fated love story. I enjoyed the diary entries and Flora’s history which explains so much. In addition, we have the present day mystery of who stole the egg and why. The connections are a bit too convenient and hard to believe, and the conclusion is quite predictable. I think this was a bit more contrived than the other books in the series, but it wraps everything up and alls well that ends in a happy ever after, right? It might be a bit too much sappiness for some, but it seemed a fitting end to the series. 


Thank you to NetGalley for the e-book ARC to read and review. I did enjoy the series and would recommend it. I listened to the audiobook while reading and the narrator, Lauren Ambrose, does a fantastic job of voicing Molly. The other characters also have distinct voices which made the book come alive and created a more immersive experience.

This is the third in a series that should be read from the beginning in order. A novella, The Mistletoe Mystery, is also part of the story. 

Tags - cozy, mystery, neurodivergent main character, hotel, maid, family secrets, heirloom

Monday, July 28, 2025

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea

 Fast paced and convoluted psychological crime thriller.


3.5 stars rounded up


A teenage girl disappeared 10 years ago and detectives in Cherryview, Wisconsin found no clues so the case went cold. Ethan Hall, previously a detective, currently working as an ER physician, is called back into law enforcement by a former partner who is dying and can’t let it go. The situation is complicated because an inmate at the local prison (convicted and incarcerated for murdering Ethan’s father who was also a detective) seems to know something about Callie Jones and wants to make a deal. 


This was twisty but quite predictable despite the red herrings and diversions into other points of view and shifts in time. I love Donlea and will always want to read his new books despite the need to often suspend disbelief. How is it that everyone (but me) casually knows a fantastic hacker who can give them tons of information? I liked the main character ok, but honestly none of the cast was fully fleshed out and I never related to any of them. Multiple threads unwound for the big climax and reveal. The themes in the story are familiar ones of friendship, relationships, loyalty, revenge, and murder. 


I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Vivienne Leheny, did an acceptable job of voicing the characters but the choice of a female for the voice seemed wrong as so much of the book was male point of view and the story would have been well served with a male narrator instead. I find that listening while reading allows for a more immersive and enjoyable experience with a book. 

This is a standalone and not part of any series though the ending leaves one to imagine that there might be a follow-up with this same main character, I would prefer not.

Genre and tags, mystery, crime thriller, serial killers, missing persons, teenagers

Thursday, July 24, 2025

The List by Steve Berry

 Very entertaining novel of suspense and a departure from this author’s typical work.


Brent Walker has moved back to Concord, a small town in central Georgia, after being hired by Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company as its assistant general counsel. When he left it behind years ago, he also left a woman he loved and his parents. Now, since his father is no longer alive, he is going to help care for his mom who has recently been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. 


Not too long after beginning his new job and reuniting with an old friend, union leader Hank Reed, Brent faces a curious mystery when a list of names and numbers comes to his attention. Once the implications of that list becomes clear to Brent and Hank, they know that everything they believed about their town and its biggest employer was wrong. 


This was so well written and very fast paced. I found it hard to put down as things heated up quickly. So many characters, easily divided into the good guys vs the bad guys, but the premise was good and there was lots of action. It was a fun read and though the ending was anticipated to some degree, I enjoyed how it all played out.


I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided for review by the publishers. The audio format was narrated by the incomparable Scott Brick. I love his voice and his dramatic flair that always brings the novel to life and this production was no exception. This immersive experience definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book!

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre - mystery, thriller, suspense, action 

Sunday, July 20, 2025

I Did Warn Her by Sian Gilbert

 A whodunit on the high seas.


A beautiful yacht, owned by a billionaire, and a full crew is crossing the Atlantic. The stunning stewardesses, Sasha, Jade, Imogen, Euphemia, and Lola. Lots of competition and gossip among them. The handsome deck hands taking care of the ship and the ladies don’t you know. The captain on his last cruise before retiring and the chief trying to keep the schedule. Everyone’s main purpose is to keep the two rich men and their female escort guests happy and satisfied. 


But the boat and its occupants are keeping lots of secrets and definitely there’s a hidden agenda for this trip. Then one of the stewardesses is murdered. Jewelry and other items going missing. Everyone is suspicious of the rest and they are all held hostage and isolated on this yacht in the middle of the ocean. Who is doing what and to whom.


This was a locked room style mystery complicated by a large cast of characters who are skulking about, lying, and doing things they should not. The story is told in shifting point of view as each stewardess reveals her thoughts, motivations, and activities. They were hard to keep straight at first, especially with the all the other names bandied about. Eventually it became easier but be sure to note who is speaking at the beginning of each chapter.


I felt this was definitely like a reality show with all the expected misbehavior below decks and the way that the clients acted during the voyage. There were red herrings and twists, but the denouement was a bit anticlimactic. Definitely a lot of irrelevant side plots but everything was wrapped up in a tidy conclusion. 


I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The production had a large cast of all female narrators and I definitely preferred some of the voices over others. The disappointment in the audio, however, is because there was not a single male voice to do those character roles so the voices of the men were not ideal. It would have been so much better had that happened. At times I had to stop listening and just read when I became annoyed at the sound of a particular voice. I do enjoy, however, the immersive experience of both listening and reading.

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

Genre and tags - mystery, locked room, rich people doing bad things, yachts, below deck crew, murder, schemes

Friday, July 18, 2025

The Housemaid is Watching (#3 in series) by Freida McFadden

 "The third [book] in a series usually isn't that great."

That's a quote directly from this book and sums up my thoughts. 

In fact, this was such a let down and a horrible way to end the Millie and Enzo story but I'd never read another even if Freida McFadden tried to redeem the couple. Their move to Long Island and description of their lives in the new neighborhood 11 years into married life with two children was slow, boring, and deadly dull. Everything fun about Millie and Enzo is way gone.

Right when things start to be not OK in their marriage, with their kids, and because of the weird neighbors, they don't talk to each other? Come on Millie and Enzo. You two have been through everything and now they have problems and their interaction was terrible. No one for an instant thought Enzo was doing anything bad so how could Millie even entertain any ridiculous suspicions even though Enzo was acting like a total idiot. 

Then the big reveal and that's when this narrative went totally off the rails from semi interesting to ridiculous, over the top, and completely unbelievable. A sting of coincidences that strains credulity. Everything could have turned out differently if the people in the family would have talked to each other. The worst part of the book for me was when Ada took over the narrative point of view. I also quit reading and DNF but I guess I wanted to torture myself just a bit more. My advice: if you're thinking that you want more of the Millie exploits and are tempted to read this, just give it a hard pass and remember her how she was. 

I listened to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. I had to wait a long time for the audio format to come up at the library so that's why I am reading so late after publication. The main narrator, Lauryn Allman, voices the character of Millie and she does a fantastic job with the accent. Her performance has always made that character come to life and seemed to embody the spirit of Millie. Ina Marie Smith is the second narrator.

This is the third book featuring Millie and Enzo and should not be read without having read the other 2 in the series. If you must.

Genre - mystery, abuse, sexual abuse, murder 

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Last Night at Villa Lucia by Simon McCleave

 Psychological drama and mystery set on a Tuscan bed and breakfast.


Divorced Cerys owns Villa Lucia and is running it as a holiday rental while also living nearby in an annex on the property. Her daughter, Lowri is currently visiting. Harry and Zoe Collard arrive for a stay along with their son, Charlie. Things go awry fairly quickly and one of them ends up stabbed to death in the infinity swimming pool. 


Predictable despite the attempts at misdirection, the characters all have some damage from domestic trauma. Along with spousal abuse, other themes include alcoholism, sexual assault, toxic masculinity, divorce, casual drug use, and effects of parental issues on children growing up in their homes. I never managed to connect with any of the characters as they were all fairly one dimensional and their behavior seemed an unbelievable many times. The relationship between Lowri and Charlie was too convenient and the two men, Nick and Harry were just complete jerks. No nuance. Just all bad. The story drug on in places and the ending seemed to take forever to arrive. The plot was banal and I never felt any suspense or thrills. 


I listened to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Clare Corbett, did an OK job of voicing the characters but they most all sounded the same. This production definitely would have benefited by having a larger cast, or at least one male voice.

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

Tags, genre — murder, abuse, alcoholism, sexual assault, infidelity

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline

 Gothic thriller with supernatural elements.

I should have read the synopsis more closely. A grief stricken widow whose husband was killed in front of her (she had a premonition) inherits a huge Tuscan estate from a woman she's never heard of. Julia goes to Italy to check out the villa and vineyard, both worth millions. Once there, Julia, who was adopted as an infant, begins to suspect that the owner of this estate, Emilia Rossi, must be related to her. While ensconced in the villa and thinking about selling, Julia starts to experience visions, hallucinations, and crazy dreams. 

This was a psychological thriller that never quite created any suspense or uneasiness for me especially when the paranormal events escalated and Julia started to believe she had special gifts in connecting with the dead and being guided by them. Most of what Julia did and thought defied credulity and I got bored very quickly. I am not a fan of anything metaphysical, paranormal, otherworldy etc. I do enjoy historical fiction and would definitely have liked more of those details, especially from the Renaissance period. The meet cute and instant romance (her husband had only been dead 6 months) was really off putting and pushed me over the edge. The whole conspiracy set up and explanation also didn't really even make that much sense as being the reason for all the persecution. 

I have read most all of this author's legal procedurals and definitely prefer those to this kind of departure. I'm definitely not the intended audience for this type of mystery.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Maria Marquis, did a fine job of voicing the characters but her talent was not enough to overcome what I perceived as shortcomings with the plot and storyline.

This is a standalone and is a departure from this author's usual series. 

Genre - astrology, paranormal, supernatural, gothic, mystery, psychological thriller

Monday, July 14, 2025

Julie Tudor is not a Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich

 Though the subject matter is not, this debut psychological thriller was a hoot because of the way the author uses dark humor to make the main character "almost" endearing.

Julie Tudor has had quite the life, constantly having to fight for her love interest du jour. Eliminating romantic rivals is a lot of work. She works in the financial world and is a whiz with spreadsheets, but her job isn't her main focus. Her colleague, 25-year-old, Sean, is the man of her dreams. Even though he's half her age, Julie is convinced her feelings are reciprocated despite the fact that Sean keeps hooking up with other women. What to do? She's tired of waiting for him. 

Told from Julie's delusional perspective, the book is definitely black comedy as she continues to spiral. She must be on the spectrum because she totally lacks any sort of ability to read a room or honestly analyze her situations. She gets a little fast and loose with those eliminations and her coworkers become increasingly aware that a real psycho is amongst them. 

I loved the tone and the writing in this novel. I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Clare Corbett, strikes just the right notes of self righteousness and defensiveness as she voices Julie. She does a good job with the rest of the characters as well. The production definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

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

Genre - dark humor, serial killer, thriller 

Sunday, July 13, 2025

The Lake Escape by Jamie Day

 Overly complicated mystery thriller centered on three lifelong friends who have a tradition of spending summer vacation at their generational family lakeside homes in Vermont. 


When the 3 friends, their significant others, and their kids converge on the lake this time, old conflicts and dark secrets are exposed. All are having some issues in their personal lives — between marital problems, alcoholism, debt, and many lies. David has brought along a new girlfriend, Fiona, as well as a young nanny to care for his 5-year old twins. It seems the nanny has a hidden agenda. Julia and Christian are facing some serious money problems along with a betrayal that might undo them. Erika and Rick have harbored deceit for many years. It all comes to a head when Fiona goes missing. And this isn’t the first time a young woman has disappeared from Lake Timmeny.


I really got into this at first, intrigued by all the possibilities. The further along I read, however, the more the book became a bit over the top. There was way too much that stretched my credulity and the plot became so complex with a ton of characters and relationships that it got to the point of ridiculous. I especially didn’t like the revelations or the conclusions. Bummer. I also never cared for any of the characters with all the coincidences and unlikely behavior they exhibited. So, although a quick read, I ended up unsatisfied and disappointed.


I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrators, Lisa Larsen and Phoebe Strole, did a great job of voicing the characters and did their best to provide dramatic flair to a story that just couldn’t match their talents despite their excellent performances. 

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre - mystery, suspense, murder, missing women, lifelong friends, family drama

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft

 Solid mystery thriller debut with a strong element of true crime and psychological suspense. 

A late night radio host in Portland, Oregon, Nola Strate, experienced a terrifying event as a child. Her babysitter was murdered in front of her by a notorious serial killer dubbed "the Hiding Man." He was never caught. Even though 20 years has passed, it all comes back when a woman calling in to Nola's show is actually killed while on air with her show. Is the killer active again after all these years? And most concerning to Nola -- has he returned to get her?

This was fast paced and I read it this evening in one sitting. The characters were an interesting mix and the plot was fairly predictable with some red herrings and additional threats. The detective and the investigation seemed rather inept as was the focus on a particular suspect (who was a loser but not a killer). I think the most disappointing part was the revelation of the identity of the killer -- what a stretch and a let down. I definitely would have enjoyed more elements that featured Nola working on her actual radio show and other callers. This really wasn't particularly scary and it was never really fully explained how the perpetrator managed to elude law enforcement all those years.

One of the most interesting aspects of the book was when the author talks about herself, her own true crime podcast, and her Aunt Carol. This was not included in the e-book ARC but only on the audio as an introduction. She also discusses ethics and the societal impact of crime and those who investigate it while also expressing true concern for the victims and their families. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrators are the talented duo of Helen Laser and Will Collyer. They both brought great dramatic flair to the production and definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series. I'd definitely be interested in a sequel.

Genre - psychological suspense, mystery thriller, true crime, murder, serial killer, radio talk show host 

We Are Watching by Alison Gaylin

 Entertaining and suspenseful.

If you're surrounded by conspiracy nuts or just kooks with crazy ideas, then this psychological thriller will hit in a different way. Sometimes people in this day and age get a little derailed by a seemingly normal event or person and that's what happens in this book. Misinformation and conspiracists attract these truthers who, unfortunately, carry things way too far when they decide to act.

The plot centers around a family who are targeted and pursued by violent online conspiracy theorists. The Russos -- Justin, Meg, and their daughter, Lily --  are threatened by some obsessed cult who latched onto the family because of their deluded notion that music lyrics (written by rock musician Nathan who is Meg's father) and a book (written by Meg as a teenager) contain proof of Satanism, a curse, and predictions of the end of the world which the group believes is coming in just a few days time. The true believers' behavior is escalating as the "end" approaches and everyone in the Russo family is in extreme danger. 

This was fast paced and a bit out there, and I liked it. Certainly some suspension of disbelief required, but the concept was well developed and the characters interesting. I always wonder, though, how people can get so drawn into an idea that is kind of bonkers. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also reading along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers for review. The narrator, Jennifer Pickens, did a great job of voicing all the characters and bringing dramatic flair to the story. Her performance definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the twisty and somewhat chilling novel.

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

Genre - suspense, thriller, conspiracy theorists, end of world scenario, family drama, psychological 

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten

 This was a suspenseful psychological thriller.

Written in dual timelines, the novel kept me glued to the pages as I tried to keep up with all the characters and figure out what had gone on years ago and what was going to happen in the present. Tessa Nilsson is attending a bachelorette party along with her sister, Lena, for one of their oldest friends on a remote, basically deserted island known as Isle Blind. Coincidentally (or not) the place happens to be where four friends disappeared 1o years ago. It so happens that Tessa is a true crime podcaster (now disgraced and canceled) who is set on trying to revive her career by finding out what really happened to those women known as the Nacka Four. Shortly, Tessa finds herself in a very precarious position that might just end her and her friends. 

Without spoilers, the book deals with sisterhood, friendship, and the girl code as well as what happens when you don’t do the right thing by others. Although it didn’t end as I’d hoped, it kept me in suspense and guessing throughout the story. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC —both formats provided by the publishers. The narrator, Laura Jennings, did a great job of voicing all the characters and bringing great dramatic flair that made for an excellent production. At one point, toward the end, I just had to speed up ahead of the audio as things got really tense and exciting. The audio definitely enhanced my enjoyment.

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

Genre - mystery, psychological, thriller, revenge 

Monday, July 7, 2025

The Housemaid's Secret (Housemaid #2) by Freida McFadden

 Fast-paced fun!

This is the second book the Housemaid series and I realize I'm slow to the party with all the hype and reader awards this garnered. I enjoyed the first so thought I'd give this a try. Started it late in the evening and didn't put it down until 2 am as I had to finish before I could sleep.

This features the same character, Millie Calloway, who is lucky enough to get a position with the Garricks after getting fired by her previous employer whose baby kept calling Millie "mama". Mr. and Mrs. Garrick have a fantastic penthouse apartment and all Millie has to do is a bit of light cleaning, laundry, and cook. The money is good and Millie is excited. There is one thing though -- she has been warned by Douglass Garrick that she is not to bother his wife, Wendy, who is ill and stays mostly shut in her bedroom up on the second floor. Hmmm. Of course Millie is curious. After awhile she hears and sees things that make her suspicious that Wendy is actually hiding because she's being abused. Now this is Millie's area of expertise. Helping. What could go wrong?

Of course knowing this author's previous books well has the added benefit (?) of anticipating the crazy twists and turns that are hallmarks of her work. Some are crazy over the top, but I was fully prepared for whatever was coming. Even though predictable, I still enjoyed seeing it all play out. McFadden's books are hit and miss with me and I've even sworn a time or two that I wouldn't read any more, but sometimes you just can't avoid picking up. I'll be reading the third one too.

I really enjoyed listening to the audio book while also following along in the e-book. The narrator, Lauren Allman, does a fantastic job of voicing Millie with her accent and inflection. She fully brings the character to life and it really enhanced my enjoyment of the story. 

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

Genre - domestic drama, mystery, suspense, thriller 

Sunday, July 6, 2025

Nightshade (#1 Detective Stilwell) by Michael Connelly

 The first in a new crime thriller series by this bestselling author!


Set on beautiful Catalina Island, this novel introduces a new character, Detective Sergeant Stilwell, who has been assigned to the sheriff’s substation there because of problems he had as a homicide cop in LA County, California. One of his cases is the investigation of the death of a young woman who was found wrapped in a sail bag and weighted with an anchor in the harbor. Assisted by his girlfriend, Tash Dano, assistant harbor master, and the other police officers also exiled there, he attempts to solve the murder as well as expose corruption and other crimes on this beautiful island.


I liked the action and the excellent writing that kept this moving a fast pace that I could easily devour in a single setting. The characters need to be a bit more fleshed out, including perhaps getting the first name of our main character Stilwell, but I am looking forward to a follow up installment. The details about the setting are interesting and the locale will doubtless prove that bad things happen even in idyllic places. 


I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Will Damron, who always does a great job voicing strong male characters. His performance enhanced my enjoyment of the novel.

This is the first in a new series that I plan to follow.

Genre - police procedural, crime thriller, Catalina Island

Saturday, July 5, 2025

Whispers of the Lake by Shanora Williams

 Entertaining psychological thriller and missing person mystery.


Rose Gibson is in the middle of finalizing a contentious divorce when her friend, Eve Castillo, a proximate cause of said marriage breakdown, goes missing. Rose and Eve haven’t spoken for months, but Eve’s sister is desperate to find her. Eve, a travel vlogger, apparently rented a lake cabin in North Carolina but is not now responding to her sister or any of her boyfriends. Despite Rose’s issues with Eve, she decides to go to Sage Hill to see if she can find out what happened. 


I enjoyed reading the NetGalley ARC e-book along with listening to the audio book provided by the publishers. The setting was interesting and the action fast paced. The mystery of the disappearance solved by an amateur sleuth facing off with bad small town cops and residents was fairly predictable. Eve’s journal entries provided the details while Rose floundered around questioning people. Rose is helped by fellow journalists and computer hackers who can get her information. In peril at the climax, the conclusion follows quickly. 


The narrators, Dominque Franceschi and Jasmin Walker, did a good job of voicing the characters and adding the dramatic flair that enhanced my appreciation of the book.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre - friendship, psychological thriller, mystery, missing person

Friday, July 4, 2025

2 Sisters Murder Investigations (#2 in series) by James Patterson and Candice Fox

 The Bird sisters are back in this second installment of their detective agency series.

Rhonda and Barbara (Baby) Bird are half sisters who have taken over their deceased father's LA detective agency. There's a huge age gap between them as Baby is only 16. This time they seem to be at odds and each sister is sort of running an independent operation. Rhonda used to be an attorney so has a lot more experience and a methodical approach to her work. She is trying to help a man accused of harming his missing wife and just might also be a serial killer.  Baby is a teenager who never behaved in any believable way and using the name Baby for her was like nails on a chalkboard. Baby has decided to help an old man who's being forced out of his lifelong home by a big bad development corporation.

I'm typically a fan of this author and whomever he writes with, but this book just wasn't for me. I didn't like the characters, the plot was lame, and the actions of both women were often totally preposterous. Lots of times the sisters are in peril. Amazing escapes from attacks and terrible people. Convenient rescues. And then the ending rushed up from out of nowhere. 

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-book ARC of this but I won't be continuing the series. I obtained the audio book from the library to listen while I read and wasn't impressed with the narrator so that didn't help me to enjoy the book more either.

This is the second book in a series featuring the sisters who run a detective agency. I did not read the first. It didn't make any difference. I didn't like this one enough to go back and catch up.

Genre - female detectives, crime, murder 

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Death at a Paris Hotel (Lady Swift #22) by Verity Bright

 

Blog Tour for Bookouture

Follow Lady Swift and her new husband, Detective Hugh Seldon, as they enjoy a honeymoon in Paris. 


The newlyweds are living it up in the city of love and have taken Clifford and Gladstone along to ensure the best time. Unfortunately, as luck would have it, their dinner toast is interrupted by the body of a man falling through the glass roof onto their table. Though Eleanor tries her best, the poor guy can’t be saved and he dies pressing a brooch into her hands. Now instead of sight seeing and other delights, Eleanor, Hugh, and Clifford become involved in the investigation into what seems to be theft from a museum and murder.


Now everyone knows that in the cozy mystery genre there’s a dead person in every story. So Eleanor has been quite busy for 22 installments in her story. But that’s the thing about a cozy. Everyone knows that the mystery will be solved and the good guys will come out on top and all the grisly details that many of us enjoy at times are absent. And that’s why we read them — it gives us a break and provides a sense of rightness and comfort. Eleanor and her cohort are just overly wonderful people so you totally know what’s coming but there is a sense of solace that all can be made right in the world.


I enjoy the golden age details with regard to the clothes, food, social customs, and the upper class lifestyle during that period in history. I do wish Eleanor and Hugh would have more to attend to at Henley Hall and I sense a shift in the series as perhaps they will form some sort of detective agency with Clifford. Who knows, but I look forward to whatever comes next for the happy couple and their entourage. 


Thank you to Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. It’s a great series that should be read from the beginning for best experience.

This is part of a long series and I have read them all.

Genre- historical cozy mystery, 1920s, English Lady

Note: the wife in this husband and wife team unexpectedly died recently. Hopefully the series will continue. Of course it won’t be the same, but I hope to see more of Lady Swift. 

Sunday, June 29, 2025

Hidden Daughters (DI Lottie Parker #15) by Patricia Gibney

 



Blog Tour Stop for Bookouture

Another exciting installment in this crime thriller series.


Detective Lottie Parker is off to a wedding in Connemara but soon becomes involved in a series of horrific murders there. She and Detective Sergeant Boyd are meant to attend his sister’s wedding, but it seems that Grace’s fiancé, Bryan, has a secret that might derail the nuptials. 


This episode details the horrors of the Magdalene laundries in one of the most disgusting and terrible periods in the Catholic Church in Ireland. Many young women and children were sent to convents. Some abandoned by families who couldn’t care for them or didn’t want them. Others were unwed and pregnant and sent there for their sins. Too many did not make it out alive. They were abused in every way possible and those nuns and priests were never held accountable for these crimes. It was evil and unimaginable — the stories told by the survivors are difficult to hear.  Imelda Conroy is in Connemara to product a radio documentary about those women who were basically locked away in a convent there in the 1970s and 80s. 


But someone doesn’t want Imelda to reveal those details. Women connected to the convent are being murdered, scalded and burned in fact. Even though Lottie is out of her home area, she immediately gets herself involved in the investigation along with local policeman, Detective Sergeant Matt Mooney. Lottie irritates everyone involved in this case. She enrages Grace and gets herself kicked out of their house, and Boyd is over it so their relationship hits the rocks. But, she continues her singleminded focus despite all.


I have to say that Lottie is definitely a person with whom it would be tough to be in a relationship with. I think Boyd’s words to her ring true and I hope she pulls herself together or gets some therapy so that she doesn’t ruin a good thing with him. If family is so important to her, she really needs to spend more time with her people.


I love the series and looks forward to the next installment. The plots are always complex and interesting. The author doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff. Thank you to Bookouture for the ARC to read, review, and recommend.

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

Genre - crime thriller, murder, Magdalene laundries, Ireland

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Making a Killing (DI Adam Fawley #7) by Cara Hunter

 Entertaining crime thriller and police procedural. 

The first thing I should say is that this is the first of the series featuring DI Adam Fawley that I have read. So, coming in completely cold to the backstory and the characters. I didn't realize this was a followup to the first book. Regardless, I found it easy to follow even though the story twisted and turned.

The plot centers on the discovery that a child who had been considered dead, Daisy Mason, was possibly still alive and everything that the police had done prior was a mistake, including the conviction of Daisy's mother who had been in prison already for 8 hours. 

The narrative unfolds with transcripts of phone calls, interviews, emails, newspaper articles and other bits that make the procedural part of the investigation seem so much more real. There were a lot of characters that were hard to keep straight, but a helpful guide provided by the author was included at the start of the book. I thoroughly enjoy this mystery but am completely stymied by the lack of closure with that ending. If someone could help me, I'd appreciate it! yes, I like it all spelled out in a tidy conclusion. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. I liked the multi-cast performance, but often times the narrator did not change their tone or voice, or use various accents, etc. to match the character. Some were fairly monotone actually. It is particularly hard when the male voice was reading through phone transcripts as both voices sounded exactly alike. Regardless, I do enjoy the listening while reading experience.

This is the 7th book in a series. I had not read any previous books.

Tags - police procedural, mystery,  

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen

 Typical Hiaasen farce featuring satire, stereotypical wacko characters, and the absurd, exaggerated situations that make up his novels.

In this story, Twilly Spree, along with his love interest du jour, Viva Morales, take on right wing radicals who are dumber than rocks but bent on becoming famous since they missed out on previous insurrections. The two undermine sleazy politicians, inhibit corrupt developers, impede philanthropic billionaires who bankroll ludicrous projects to propel their true objectives behind the scenes, and protect those they perceive to be innocent. 

Except Twilly really isn't a nice guy, per se, and gets his hands really dirty while interfering in as much mayhem as he can. There are some funny moments, but sometimes the message got lost because of the many outlandish and over the top scenarios. It was predictable in the sense that the bad guys all got what Twilly thought they deserved but the people he liked made out OK. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Will Damron, did a good job of voicing the characters and using appropriate tone and inflection to provide the right note of comedy. The production enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

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

Tags - satire, right wing radicals, sleazy politicians, politics,  

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Jill is Not Happy by Kaira Rouda

 Dark domestic drama — like a train wreck.


Jack and Jill, oh my. I challenge you to find two more despicable unlikable characters. These two were definitely made for each other. Jill knows that, but Jack must be having some sort of life crisis cause he’s gone off the rails. A new woman in his life? Jill thinks not. After all, Jill knows that this is a marriage made in heaven, well maybe not there, but she sure isn’t going to let anything break them apart.


There is so much in this novel where you just shake your head at the thought of people behaving like this. I couldn’t stand either Jack or Jill as each had bad intentions. Thank heavens Jill had her special notebook to ensure Jack follows the rules. Her rules. I am guessing that many felt bad for Jack and thought Jill the worst of the pair. I disagree. He’s one of those that garners sympathy and such because people feel bad for him. The daughter, Maggie, well I do not like when any parent commandeers a child and involves them in their adult relationship no matter how old they are. Bad on Jack. For awhile I was worried (yeah I know I’m always on the bad side) that they were both going to end up in jail or kill each other. But they truly do deserve one another.


I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Marnye Young. She was OK, but honestly, it was a huge disappointment as her male and female voice for Jack and Jill were interchangeable. She never sounded like a man. This is one of those that definitely would have benefited from having a male narrator. Usually the audio enhances my enjoyment of a book but this production was not as good as I’d hoped for.

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

Genre tags - marriage, drama, murderous couple, secrets and lies, manipulation, emotional blackmail

Monday, June 9, 2025

Brain Damage by Freida McFadden

 This was a great listen while I was sick. It was funny in places and fast paced, and then heartwarming with the romance, and it just hit the spot. I liked Charlotte McKenna even when she was acting more stupidly than her brain damage should have allowed. In fact, she was pretty lame before she got shot! But, the bullet to her head was definitely the best thing that happened to her after all.

From acute injury to months in rehab, Charly finds that her memory and her disability are not easy to recover and overcome. 

I noted this was published in 2016 so the author hasn't gotten to the completely outlandish over the top thriller stage. 

This audio book was narrated by Megan Tusing who did a fantastic job of voicing all the characters and giving a sensational bit of dramatic flair to the production. 

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Tags - brain injury due to gun shot, rehab, romance 

Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson

 More domestic drama than murder mystery, this novel explores the history of a marriage.

Thom and Wendy have been married for over 25 years. He's a professor of English Literature and they have a grown son. Money is not an issue, they've plenty of that, and to casual observes, they seem like a close, loving couple. Except Wendy is done. She wants Thom gone. And the only way to make this happen is for her to murder him. 

The narrative is told in reverse, taking the reader backward though their lives and the different stages of their relationship. Everything hinged on something they did together back when they were in their early twenties and that secret has bound them together.  

So why does Wendy want to kill him now? 

I've long been a huge fan of this author and his twisty mystery thrillers so I expected a lot. For some reason this just didn't seem like the same writer as this story wasn't really very exciting or thrilling. I didn't care for either Thom or Wendy and honestly their lives seemed so boring as it seemed all Thom did was get drunk and act stupid. Neither had any direction or drive. Definitely both extremely self centered. I tried to get more invested, but ultimately I really didn't like it. Was there a bit of a surprise at the ending? Why, yes, there was, but it wasn't enough.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Steven Weber, is one of my favorites and he did an awesome job of finding just the right tone and voice for the characters. His dramatic flair made the characters some alive and definitely the production enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

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

Tags - genre - domestic drama, mystery, murder 

Friday, June 6, 2025

The First Gentleman by Bill Clinton and James Patterson

 A political and legal thriller that you won’t put down until the very last page!


President Madeline Parson Wright is about to reveal a legacy plan to overhaul the economic disaster facing the United States. As she’s scrambling to put last votes in line, her husband, the First Gentleman, is arrested and accused of committing a murder. Cole Wright, ex tight end for the Patriots, now avid supporter of his wife, is on trial for the crime committed against a former cheerleader, Suzanne Bonanno, almost 20 years ago when they were both connected to the team and they were dating, against team and NFL rules. 


Of course there are many who don’t believe Cole did it, but there are two people are determined to prove him guilty and who intend to write an expose nonfiction book covering the story. Brea Cooke and Garrett Wilson go behind the scenes, contact family and other people involved to create a narrative that will bring Cole Wright to justice. The trial promises to be epic.


There was so much going on in this book and so many different characters — some you’ll like and others who turn your stomach or rub you the wrong way. You may think you know where this is going, only to find a new twist or revelation popping up that sheds a new light on things. I loved the way the book was written and the style used by authors Patterson and Clinton to keep me hooked so that I read the book in a single sitting. Totally hooked and fully invested in the outcome. The trial scenes were great and I’m a sucker for the legal stuff so I couldn’t get enough. I’ve not read any other books by this duo but I plan to rectify that.


I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publishers. The four different narrators did a masterful job of bringing the story to life and the production was extremely well done. The tone, the dramatic flair, the accents, and the sound effects really enhanced my enjoyment of the novel. My favorite voices were those of the men and the voice of Brea got on my nerves at times, but overall I definitely recommend.

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

Tags and genre - legal and political thriller, murder, rape, courtroom, investigative reporting

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Badlands (Nora Kelly #5) by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

 Excellent writing and fast pace make this 5th book in the series another must read.


FBI Agent Corrie Swanson and archeologist Nora Kelly are working together again. This time, they are investigating the unusual, separate, deaths of two women found in the desert. The deaths seem almost like suicide as the women had apparently taken themselves to remote areas in the New Mexico badlands. Corrie and Nora know the deaths are related when the evidence team finds lightning stones clutched in their hands. These stones, used by the ancient Chaco people, make Corrie and Nora believe that they are on the trail of some sort of cult that is involved in long extinct, and most probably evil, rituals. 


I love the writing style of the Preston and Child team and read almost everything they write together and separately. I like the two main characters, Corrie and Nora, as well as their friends, lovers, and colleagues. Nora’s brother, Skip, always a bit impulsive and immature, plays a larger role in this particular book. The narrative is straight forward and the fascinating historical details are evidence of a great deal of research. I really like when I can learn a lot from reading a work of fiction. I always look forward to a new installment in this series and highly recommend it to any fans of suspenseful thrillers.


I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Cynthia Farrell, did a great job of voicing all the characters and giving the story an appropriate amount of dramatic flair. I do wish the production had a male narrator as well as there are many male characters, but this was a fine production that enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

This is the 5th book in the Nora Kelly series and I’ve read them all in order from the beginning, but actually this would also work OK as a standalone although not ideal.

Tags and genre - mystery thriller, suspense, historical Native American, rituals, evil, FBI, archeology 

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Gray After Dark by Noelle W. Ihli

 This was a tough read — the abduction, the violence, and the relentless descriptions of the days in captivity were hard to take. It was almost too much detail. I am glad to be done and take a deep, cleansing breath. I’m giving it 3.5 stars and rounding up. But be forewarned, it’s harrowing.


This is another book by the author that draws on a true story but is mostly fiction. In 1984, a 24-year old athlete, Kari Swenson, was abducted by two men in Montana. The story in this book is not that story.


Miley Petrowski is a biathlete who suffered injuries that kept her off the Olympic podium but she hasn’t given up. Even though she’s taken a summer job as a kitchen worker at the Hidden Springs Resort in the Frank Church Wilderness in Idaho, she still manages to find time to run and train for her comeback. Her best friend and fellow team member, Brent, stayed behind but will be getting in shape as well for their next attempt. Fortunately Miley has found a great trail for her workouts. Unfortunately, she’s abducted from an icy alpine lake where she swam. A father and son living off the grid in their mountain cabin have taken her captive as part of their plan for when SHTF. They need to tame her so she doesn’t escape. She thinks she’s found an unlikely ally, but no one can be trusted when these two brutal maniacs are in control. 


I know I would have lasted about 10 minutes tops in that cabin with those men. The level of trauma Miley experienced was tremendous and it was hard to keep reading about what she was subjected to in her prison. 


I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book. The two narrators, Megan Tusing and Will Dameon, did a fantastic job of voicing the characters and making the book come alive even more so than plain text alone. Their dramatic flair definitely enhanced the story as it was an excellent production.


PS at the end of the book, there is the opportunity to download a very short chapter that tells more about Rayna. It’s called After the Dark. It’s free.

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

Genre tags - abduction, violence against women, athletes, captivity, prepper types

Sunday, June 1, 2025

Such Quiet Girls by Noelle W. Ihli

 Suspenseful mystery thriller.


Based on a true story, the 1976 Chowchilla kidnapping, this fictional novel describes a similar event. Two creepy guys devise what they think will be a fool proof crime that will net them a big payoff. They stage a road construction barrier to stop the bus taking 10 kids to a local daycare center after school. They then abduct the kids and the bus driver and bury them 20 feet underground in a shipping container they’ve sunk in a quarry where they’re both employed. Against all odds and some very bad decisions, can the children and the bus driver survive these desperate circumstances?


This moved quickly with short chapters and alternating points of view. The four main voices are of the characters Sheena (mother to Sage and Bonnie), Sage (12 years old), Jessa (the bus driver) and Ted (one of the kidnappers). I will say that I was really turned off by so much of this novel being told from the points of view of the child. I do not like to hear the voice of children in an adult novel, but that’s a pet peeve so I’m interested to see if that bothers anyone else as it did me. I would have rated the book a full star higher had so much of the narrative not been in the voice of Sage. 


Often repeated, the following mantra expresses the feelings of Jessa (a convicted felon) while buried and trying to keep it together for the children: “I accept my past, understand my present, and look forward to my future.” The kids below ground are scared, hungry, thirsty, dirty, and running out of air. Can she keep them calm? I know some didn’t like this character, but I felt for her. She was grossly misunderstood and overcame her deficits to help the kids. The ending really didn’t say what happened to the kidnappers in any great detail. I was just disappointed that the focus seemed to be on the kids which, as I’ve said, I’m not into when reading this type of suspense thriller.


I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book. There were 4 different narrators, some of whose voices I liked more than others. The person who did the child voice got on my last nerves as they so often do. I do not appreciate it and I don’t know which performer of those 3 females did the voice of Sage. I do feel that having the larger cast production does add more enjoyment of the book in most cases. 


Story was 4 stars but too much of the book told from the child’s point of view knocked it down to 3 for me. 

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

Tags - kidnapping of children, Alzheimer’s, suspense, mystery thriller

Friday, May 30, 2025

Save Her Life (Sandra Vos #1) by Carolyn Arnold

 First installment in a new mystery thriller series.


Special Agent Sandra Vos is a hostage negotiator for the FBI. She’s divorced and has a teenaged daughter, Olivia, and an ex who works for the Hostage Rescue team against counterterrorism. The beginning of the week finds Sandra trying to talk down a man who has holed up with a bunch of customers in a pharmacy. Then she has to attend a parole hearing for a man who killed her twin brother 30 years ago. The week gets worse when 16-year-old Olivia is kidnapped. 


I had a hard time with this book. I feel like there’s no way Sandra would have been so involved in a case involving her own daughter. There were many parts of the book where I felt like I was reading a primer on negotiation and many parts of the story got bogged down by dialogue that didn’t advance the plot. I never got attached to any of the characters who were all very one dimensional. The action proceeded as expected and the ending was predictable. I don’t think I will read any further installments in this new series. 


I listened to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Kathryn Akin, did an OK job but most of the voices sounded way too much alike. This could have benefited with a larger cast or at least a male voice as there were many male characters.

This is the first in a new series. I doubt I will go on.

Genre - FBI hostage negotiator, kidnapping, murder

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Witness 8 (Eddie Flynn #8) by Steve Cavanagh

 Fast paced thriller that works as a standalone.


Eddie Flynn and his colleagues are defending a doctor accused of murder while dodging a hit man or two. Eddie has an enemy in the mob boss who controls a corrupt police gang. This brings some nasty people into the mix while Eddie is trying to help acquit his client and figure out who made the anonymous call that got Dr. John Jackson arrested and charged. 


Lots of action and murders and hired killers running amok in this one. And then there’s the most evil of them all, Ruby Johnson. I despised her. And I was so unsettled by the conclusion and the inexplicable outcome of her crimes that it actually ruined the rest of the book for me. There were other situations within the narrative that required suspension of disbelief but that was the worst. No spoilers. This was definitely not one of my favorites in the Eddie Flynn series. 


I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Adam Sims, did a great job voicing the characters.

This is the 8th book in the series. I’ve jumped and skipped around without any issues.

Genre - legal thriller, hired killers, murder, mystery

Sunday, May 25, 2025

What the Wife Knew by Darby Kane

 A twisty domestic drama and thriller that kept me entertained.


This book brings dysfunctional family stories to a whole new level. The battle of the Doughertys has a cast of characters you will love and hate. Told from different points of view and in a shifting timeline, Addison Dougherty, the new wife, reflects on her short marriage to the recently deceased Dr. Richmond Dougherty. Ex Kathryn is livid at the loss of a substantial amount of money and she uses hers and Richard’s two children as pawns. There’s a great deal of expert manipulation and gaslighting going on and as the secrets and lies slowly leak out, the climax reveals a master of deception and a revenge plot that is heinous in every way. 


I can’t say too much about the characters as not to spoil the story but what a collection the author has assembled. There’s a lot more going on with several plot lines as I kept trying to guess who did what to whom and why. It was fun in a nasty sort of way with a couple of these ladies really going beyond he pale to show us who they really are. You know the quote about unhappy families being unique in the causes of their situation. Anyway, it was all good fun and I read it in a matter of hours.


I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrators, Helen Laser and Andrew Eiden, did a fabulous job of voicing the characters and giving that great dramatic flair to the production. It really enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

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

Genre and tags - domestic drama, thriller, murder, revenge

Saturday, May 24, 2025

A Most Parisian Murder (Opal Laplume #1) by Millicent Binks

 Historical cozy set in 1930s Paris.


The Honourable Opal Laplume and her mother operate a millinery shop in Marylebone, London. Opal loves designs and her mother sends her off to Paris to do costume headdresses alterations on the showgirls for a new production that actually will star and feature her cousin, Clementina Lalonde, at the fabulous Casino de Paris. Unfortunately, tragedy struck before her arrival when one of the dancers,  Valentine Beaumanoir, ended up dead on the street below her hotel balcony. No one knows how it happened and if it was suicide, accident, or murder. Amidst all the drama, Opal makes friends with the assorted characters involved with the show as she tries to parse the clues after yet another person dies. 


This was mostly a satisfactory debut but something was missing or it was just that the character of Opal didn’t really feel realistic given the time period and setting. I didn’t warm to her. I’m still trying to figure out how big that tube of red lipstick was that someone could use it for drawing and writing so often. Also, and here we go, I’m tired of the new cliche where all of these amateur lady sleuths have a pet and far too much of the narrative is focused on it. The mystery was OK and some of the story drug a bit, but it was solved as you’d expect it to be while also having the inevitable peril for the main character. I may or may not try another installment featuring this character.


I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book, both provided by the publisher. The narrator, Antonia Beamish, tried her best to do all the different accents from plummy English, to Cockney, to French with varying degrees of success. She also had to do all the male characters, which was hit and miss. As always, this audio book would have benefited from having a male narrator as well. I enjoy how a good production enhances my enjoyment of a book.

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

Genre - cozy, historical, showgirls, Paris, famous 1930s personalities, art, design, fashion

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Whistle by Linwood Barclay

 It’s so hard to keep order and balance in the world…


I’ve long been a fan of this author, and when I saw he had tried something new with this book, a supernatural chiller, I thought I’d give it a go. Even though I’m more a modern thriller and suspense fan, I decided to check it out with high hopes. I ended up disappointed. 


The narrative jumps back and forth in time and point of view so it took quite a while before the dual timelines merged. I confess to enjoying one part of the story and its main characters much more than the other. Hint: events in the town of Lucknow, Vermont, the police chief there, and the townspeople were much more interesting and believable. The premise of trains and malevolent forces was enticing because I really like model trains for one, and I was curious as to how these special trains worked.  


I didn’t like Annie right off the bat and Charlie, her 7-year-old son, totally pushed the outer limits of my credulity about what a 7 year old can do and understand even with a supernatural force at play. I was so bummed by the conclusion. This little mean person inside of me wanted a far different end for Annie. OK, I won’t spoil it for you. But a completely different conclusion would have really enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 


Ultimately, I think Barclay should stick to the genre he’s best known for writing and I’ll continue to be a fan. It’s fine to try, but I’m not the audience for supernatural phenomena so this book might have just been a bad choice. It could have been a 4, however, had the right characters made it out alive. 


I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Eva Kaminsky, did an OK job of voicing the characters but her most stellar contribution has to be when she makes the train sounds! It’s a shame that there wasn’t a male voice to do part of the narration as that would have boosted my listening pleasure.

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

Genre and tags - supernatural chiller, train sets, death and chaos

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs

 Totally enjoyable with many twists and laugh out loud moments.


I was definitely needing something different and am so happy I picked this up. I enjoyed the story — three middle aged women sick of and disappointed in their husbands and their lives — decide to hire a hit man to get rid of the men so that they can head off on exciting adventures like their newly widowed friend Marlene. Things don’t go quite as expected. There’s drama, intrigue, and twists in the plot as the women discover exactly what they’ve set in motion. 


I enjoyed the characters and the anticipation of what was coming next in the story. The author kept me guessing and the dialogue made me chuckle. Who says late middle age has to be dull and that your marriage is as bad as you think. It was just a fun read.


I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publisher. The narrators, Kiiri Sandy and John Pirhalla, did a fantastic job voicing all the characters and bringing them to life. Their accents and dramatic flair really added to my enjoyment of the book as the production was very well done. 

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

Genre and tags - cozy, murder, hit man, theft, mystery, dark humor

Monday, May 19, 2025

All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall

 Dystopian fiction that is extremely depressing.


I’m usually a big fan of post apocalyptic fiction and love to read about survivors and how they create a new world order from whatever disaster has fallen. The premise of this was interesting — oceans have melted due to climate change, bad weather has caused the water to rise and drown out all the coastal cities. The synopsis said that the survivors who stayed in New York City lived on the roof of the American Museum of Natural History, AMNH, that the residents called Amen. I thought the narrative would be about living in the museum and its artifacts and treasures, hunting in Central Park, carving out a living within a really cool building. But it wasn’t. Almost immediately the hypercane flooded them out and they had to leave. Then I had to endure a very long, repetitive, drawn out “on the run” scenario with one dreadful thing happening after another. The story is told from the point of view of a 13-year-old girl named Nonie. 


The book was very slow and I considered not finishing it but kept on going because I’m that person who has to know the ending. I’ll not ruin it for anyone who can’t predict what is likely. I guess the main problem with this book is that it was very depressing and not even the author’s attempt at creating sympathetic characters could make it better. So, basically this was typical end of the world as you know it stuff. And I’d definitely say that it had a lot of really boring filler. The author states that it took 11 years to write this book and it felt like about that long for me to finish it. 


I was able to listen to this audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Eunice Wong, did an OK job voicing the characters in the book, but it wasn’t compelling enough to change my opinion about the story itself.

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

Genre - dystopian, water rising flood, bad weather, survival

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Murder at the English Manor (#20 Miss Underhay) by Helena Dixon

 


One of my favorite cozy historical mystery series!


I’m off to Markham Hall with Matt and Kitty! At the behest of her grandmother’s best friend, Mrs. Craven, they are looking into the disappearance of a maid. Agnes Jones worked for Lord and Lady Faversham near Dartmoor at Markham Hall but her sister, Dora who is Mrs. Craven’s maid and sister to Agnes, is concerned because she hasn’t heard from Agnes for almost a month. Where had the girl gone and why hadn’t she taken her things?  It’s almost inevitable that she’s come to no good end. Matt and Kitty need to find out the truth before one of the Faversham sons weds a wealthy American heiress to save the estate and Markham Hall. 


I really enjoy this series and love the main characters. Although I miss the original setting of the Dolphin Hotel now that Matt and Kitty have married and moved to manage their detective agency, they don’t spend a lot of time at home and so each book takes us to a new location and a new crime to solve, most often a murder or two. I love the period details and descriptions of 1930s South Devon. Looking forward to the next installment and the continuation of an unsolved mystery from Matt’s past. 


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, Karen Cass, did an excellent job of voicing all the characters and lending wonderful tone and appropriate dramatic flair to the novel. The production really enhanced my enjoyment of the book.  I highly recommend this entire series!

This is book #20 of the series. It’s best to read them from the beginning, in order.

Genre - historical, 1930s, South Devon, cozy mystery, murder, private investigator, amateur sleuth

Friday, May 16, 2025

Havoc by Christopher Bollen

 This is touted as a dark thriller reminiscent of books and movies about bad seeds and kids born evil. It was, however, a messy psycho drama that made me want to throw my kindle at the wall.


The premise, an 81 year old widow, Maggie Burkhardt, travels to Egypt during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. While staying at the Royal Karnak Palace Hotel in Luxor, Maggie can’t help herself. She likes to meddle in other peoples’ lives. Helping them, she thinks, to be free of their troublesome relationships and bad decisions. Unfortunately, a new guest at the hotel threatens what she has come to know as her home and family. She’s going to have to take care of him. The issue, however, is that Otto, her nemesis, is only 8 years old. 


As wild as that sounds, for a while I thought the author could pull this off. But that was before I figured Maggie out and knew I wasn’t going to be able to prevent the coming train wreck of a story. I’m very tired of unreliable narrators and unlikeable main characters.  If this had not been an ARC, I wouldn’t have finished it. I kept going and all my supposition proved right. The worst of it all, however, was the ending. Umm no. That was just terrible. I’ll not be recommending this one.


I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book. The narrator, Maggie Meg Reed, was OK but I really didn’t like the voice she used for the main character and especially it grated on my nerves to hear her do the voice of Otto.

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

Tags: mental illness, Covid, dark, thriller, murder, Egypt

25 Alive (Women's Murder Club #25) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

 Fast pace and return of familiar characters makes this a read-in-one-sitting  crime thriller

They're back for the 25th book in the Women's Murder Club series. The women include Sergeant Lindsay Boxer of the SFPD (married to federal agent Joe Molinari), medical examiner Claire Washburn, ADA Yuki Castellano (married to Jackson Brady), and crime reporter Cindy Thomas (married to Rich Conklin who is Lindsay's partner). The setting is San Francisco.

The story starts off with a murder that is devastating and personal: Warren Jacobi. He was Lindsay's mentor and partner but had retired. The only clue at the scene is a matchbook that has the words "I said. You dead." The club vows to avenge his death and find his killer.

Meanwhile, Yuki is prosecuting Dario Garza, a drug cartel member, in a high profile case that's leaving those involved in extreme danger. Joe Molinari is also involved in efforts to bring down this cartel. There seems to be a link between Jacobi's death and this cartel.  Cindy, ever the investigative journalist, finds another connection between the two. Claire really doesn't have a lot going on in this book.

It's rather convoluted with all the threads but it finally comes together in the end in a rather rushed dramatic climax and conclusion. As always, the short chapters, action, and mystery keep the reader entertained.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC. The narrator, January LaVoy, did a good job voicing all the characters and giving each their distinct personality. The only jarring and annoying note was when the child, Julie (age 5 or 6) spoke. Please stop!! I'd be fine without any of that dialogue in any future books. Regardless, the performance usually enhances my enjoyment of the book.

This is the 25th in a long running series that is best if read from the beginning and in order.

Tags - murder, crime, female friendship, legal, forensic, police, drug cartel, FBI

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

The Note by Alafair Burke

 Contemporary fiction, a novel about friends, dumb decisions and murder.


The three women have been friends since they were children: May, Lauren, and Kelsey. It’s been awhile, but they’ve arranged a get together in the Hamptons to catch up. All have some things they harbor as resentments for stuff that happened in the past. Secrets told, embarrassment, and acting out. As they reconnect, they are out and about in the town when they make a very bad choice involving placing a note on a car. 


What happens after this was kind of crazy to be honest. It didn’t track for so long until I figured out what was going on. It was quite a convoluted plot and predicable once the narrative revealed some important details that were dangled forever. I was OK with most of it until the end which was a real reach but the reasons were only obvious at the last minute. I didn’t care for any of the characters so honestly didn’t care what the outcome of this was going to be. Overall, it was rather a disappointment after getting through all the layers of secrets and lies. 


I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the ebook ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Catherine Ho, did an OK job of voicing the characters given the lines she had to work with. Since most of the main characters were women, she did an admirable job of making sure each had an individual sound.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Tags and genre - contemporary chick lit, lies and secrets, murder, female friendship

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Isola by Allegra Goodman

 Absorbing historical fiction that is both inspiring and depressing.

A novel based upon Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval, an orphaned noblewoman, who is entrusted into the guardianship of her cousin, Jean-Francois de la Rocque de Roberval. These events are purported to have taken place in the 1500s.

Cousin Roberval is a terrible guardian and mistreats Marguerite, appropriating and selling her lands, and basically kidnapping her away from her home in Perigord. He drags her onto a ship bound for New France (Canada) where he has been commissioned to establish a colony. Although no one actually knows the truth of what happened aboard the ship, Marguerite and a man (identification depends on which version of the story is true) are left marooned on an island in the gulf of Saint Lawrence. She lived there for abut 2 years. This is one version of what may have happened while she was there.

The tale is compelling but sometimes it was overwhelmingly relentless in the saga of hardship and misery that Marguerite endured. Also very heavy on religion, prayers, psalms, faith, and devotions. It astounds me that she survived her trials. Heaven knows I would not have lasted a week. I liked the book, but I had to take a couple of breaks because of all the difficulties and tragedy.

The title, Isola, comes from the Italian and basically means island. This reflects the importance of the island and isolation experienced by Marguerite as a central theme of the book. The challenges and the heartbreak that were endured basically alone. It is definitely a survival against all odds type of novel.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Fiona Hardingham, does an excellent job of voicing the characters and especially bringing the main character to life on the pages with appropriate dramatic flair. Her performance definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Tags and genre - historical fiction based upon a real person, survival, tragedy, faith