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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Message Deleted by K. L. Slater

 Psychological thriller and family drama.

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

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

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

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

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

Tags: revenge, drama, psychological thriller 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shell Games by Bonnie Kistler

 Late love or elaborate con?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

Genre - historical mystery, 1930s, England, cozy

Original post 2-12-25

Blog spot tour for Bookouture on 2-24-25

Till Death Do Us Part by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#1 Red Queen

#2 Black Wolf

#3 White King

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay

 This was a totally unexpected and fun to read thriller.

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

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

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

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

Tags - couple kills bad men, murder, dark humor

The Crash by Freida McFadden

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

Let me count the ways:

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

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

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

4. How convenient to have a Jackson.

5. Predictable denouement and unsurprising climax. 

6. The conclusion. Just no.

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

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

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

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

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAlister

 Basically a love story disguised as a thriller.

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

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

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

Ultimately, this was an OK book. 

This was a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre - domestic drama

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

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

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

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

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

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

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

Genre - crazy psychological thriller, lawyer, murder, adultery

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

 Unevenly paced psychological thriller left me disappointed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass

 Solid mystery thriller with a cozy type touch.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tags - mystery, kidnapping, romance, small town

Whiteout by R.S. Burnett

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

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

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

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

Tags - Antarctica, alone, elements, cold, mission

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall

 Lots of drama in this psychological thriller mashup.

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

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

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

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

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

Tags - murder, family, secrets and lies, drama

The Mother Next Door by Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Loose Lips (Ghostwriter #2) by Kemper Donovan

 Mystery and intrigue on the high seas.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Family Inside by Katie Garner

 Overwrought and ultimately unbelievable domestic thriller.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Swiped by L. M. Chilton

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

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

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

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

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

Genre - light, funny, dating, murder, cheating

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pro Bono by Thomas Perry

 Action packed and fast paced legal thriller.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tags: marriage, revenge, women power, mystery

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia

 You were warned — don’t talk to strangers.

And, be careful on a plane. 

Wow, this took a turn that I was not expecting and I loved that it surprised me! Sometimes I feel jaded and disappointed with how easy it is to guess the big twist or reveal. Not this time.

Two women meet on a flight. One is a news director on her way to a conference and the other is escaping an abusive boyfriend. They have nothing in common. Friendly conversation ensues and the trip passes pleasantly. Nothing, however, will go as planned. 

The narrative flips between points of view and the characters are interesting and unique. It was so hard to step away from reading so I found myself forgetting about all the things I really meant to do today and read it in a single session. Lots of drama and the reader is totally drawn in by the activities and behavior of the characters. 

I was lucky enough to be able to listen to the audiobook while reading along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The talented cast of narrators really brought this story to life with their voices and dramatic flair. It definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the story. Well done. 

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

Tags - psychological thriller, murder, manipulation, would say more but don’t want to spoil

No One Will Know by Rose Carlyle

 Can you guess what happens when a young, unwed, pregnant woman agrees to work as a nanny for a fabulously wealthy couple living on a private island?

Of course there are a couple of catches in this 'too good to be true' scenario...

If you can suspend enough disbelief at some of the outlandish circumstances and events that occur within the pages, you will be entertained for several hours with the twists and turns. Unfortunately, the last third of the book went way too far out there and I was ultimately disappointed.

The characters were just a bit too far. Quite stereotypical, it was apparent which ones we should dislike and distrust. I really didn't even like the main character and some of the things she managed to do really stretched credulity. But, that's fiction for you.

There's a lot going on with this story and I had to finish to see how it ended.

I was able to listen to the audio-book while also reading along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. I liked the narrator at first, but then the way she pronounced things and her uneven voices and accents drove me to eventually turn her off.

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

Tags - pregnancy, trafficking, illegal animal trade, crime, kidnapping

The Traitors by C.A. Lynch

 A mix of horror and crime thriller.

Six local people are sent a formal invitation to spend the night at Beechwood Castle. If they spend the entire night and follow the rules and the terms of their NDAs, they will win a portion of one million dollars. It wouldn’t be much of a big deal except for the catch: the dilapidated and decaying castle was once the site where three teenagers were hacked to death by an ax murderer. But still, each is confident about their chances on what they think is some sort of reality show.

The story is told from the point of view of each contestant and I have to say that I couldn’t find one of them that I felt very kindly toward. They were easy to dislike and I could see right away that this was going to be one of those tropes where they are picked off one by one. The title is misleading, however, in that supposedly there is an imposter and the rest are traitors. Didn’t make sense. I don’t see anyone being a traitor — to what or to whom? Regardless, the story was fast paced and predictable. I didn’t care for the ending at all. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book. The two narrators enhanced the novel using their voices and various accents to differentiate between the characters and provide some dramatic flair.

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

Tags - locked room type mystery, crime, murder, horror

The Housemaid (Housemaid #1) by Freida McFadden

 Entertaining twisty domestic thriller.

Ex con Millie gets a dream job as a live in housekeeper and maid for Nina and Andrew Winchester. In addition to cleaning and cooking, Millie also keeps an eye on their daughter, Cecelia. It doesn’t take long, however, before things start to go awry. It sure doesn’t help that Millie starts to fall for Nina’s handsome husband. 

This was full of unreliable narrators and lots of twists that made me race through the pages. Although I guessed what was coming, it was a fun ride getting there. I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided long ago by the publisher. The narrator did a great job with her accent and dramatic flair to bring the story to life. 

You never quite know how far out Frieda McFadden will go in her plots, but I always anticipate the unexpected and the guessing makes it more pleasurable. I’ll be reading the other two novels in this series shortly. 

This is the first of 3 novels in a series that should be read in order.

Tags - domestic thriller, revenge, murder, abuse

Bellevue by Robin Cook

 If you are a fan of medical thrillers by this author, as I have been, it might be best for you to skip this suspense horror with its supernatural elements and a totally horrible (to me) ending.

A first year surgical resident, Dr. Mitt Fuller, is beginning his career at Bellevue. He comes from a long line of Fuller doctors and is super thrilled to be at this particular hospital. Little does he know that the stories he’s been told about his forebears are inaccurate. In fact, they all were practicing on the wrong side of what are now accepted medical advances. In his first week, all of his patients die of strange complications. Now that’s not a statistic any new surgeon wants on his record. But it gets worse. Strange apparitions are haunting Mitt and soon he learns why. Unable to leave well enough alone despite the warnings, Mitt finds out the truth in the worst way.

I was so disappointed in this. Although I loved all the medical details and descriptions, the whole paranormal focus ruined the novel for me. I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator did a good job with the material and brought the story to life, but it was not enough to overcome the real issue with the book — the plot and the conclusion.

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

Tags - horror, suspense, medical thriller, paranormal, ghosts

Family Doctor by J.M. Dalgliesh

 Domestic thriller set on remote Scottish island.

Kelly has escaped a checkered past by coming to the island and setting up a small clinic there. She and her teen daughter, Lauren, are making the best of things. On a day when Lauren is meant to be heading off island for an important interview, Kelly gets a message from Lauren’s phone. The directions and rules are clear. Kelly must kill one of her patients or whomever has kidnapped Lauren will instead kill her. 

This was fast paced even as it stretched credulity. As Kelly richochets from being terrified to determined, she has no idea whom to trust and definitely no clue about the person who has taken her daughter. Except Kelly knows this villain must have information about events in Kelly’s past. They want to hurt her in the worst way a mother can experience.

The characters were predictable and I had figured out the twists early on. The writing style was good but overly wordy in places when action would have sufficed. I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator did an excellent job of bringing appropriate dramatic flair to the story and that enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

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

Tags - mystery, kidnapping, murder, revenge, whodunit