The Lie Maker by Linwood Barclay

 Fast and fun, a thriller with some great twists.

Many years ago, Jack’s father was put into the Witness Security Program after testifying against his former boss. Although Jack Givens and his mother could have gone with him, they did not and rebuilt their lives. Jack, however, has always missed his father and has channeled his emotional pain into writing. When he’s approached by a US Marshal to write backstories for people in the protection program, Jack begs Gwen to help find his dad.

The narrative introduces the reader to several different characters whose presence in the novel is not initially clear but it all comes together as revelations and discoveries are made. The main characters are well-developed and Jack was certainly a likeable protagonist. I always enjoy Barclay’s writing style and plot lines. Found this one hard to put down. 

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

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

Genre - suspense thriller

Intrigue in Istanbul (Jane Wunderly #4) by Erica Ruth Neubauer

 Historical mystery set in and around Istanbul in 1926.

Jane Wunderly and her new fiancé, Redvers, are on a mission to track down her father before their row house in the USA is repossessed by the bank. Her father is abroad, apparently determined to find an ancient Ottoman relic — the lost heart of Sultan Suleiman. Unfortunately, they can’t find Jane’s father and are being stalked and watched as they travel from Turkey to Hungary in search of Henry. Jane and Redvers are joined in their adventures by her Aunt Millie and Lord Hughes. Another surprise for Jane awaits along with danger on the Orient Express.

This was the 4th in series and the first I’ve read. I admit I wasn’t enamored with the characters and find Jane quite irritating for several reasons — mostly she seemed immature. I doubt I will go back to the beginning installment and not sure if I will read another in the future. The details about the places and such were interesting, but the story just was not that exciting or compelling and very predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for this e-book ARC to read and review. 

This is the 4th in a series.

Genre - historical mystery

Fit to Die by Daniel Kalla

 Contemporary issue in a fast-paced thriller.

What price are you willing to pay to lose weight and be fashionably thin? Are you willing to die to be fit? Detectives in LA and Vancouver are racing to find the supplier of diet pills and supplements that contain DNP -- a weight loss agent that has significant toxicity. 

The son of a senator and a social media influencer are found dead due to overdose of the toxin DNP, a deadly chemical that was once used as an explosive agent during WWI. When more body builders and people with eating disorders come to emergency rooms with high fevers and uncontrollable seizures, the hunt is on to find out where those people are getting DNP and to stop the supply chain. 

This was another great read by an author who has become a favorite of mine. He always finds an issue that needs to be addressed and I love the medical aspects and details. The characters in this were not really as well developed but the focus was on the drug and its effects as well as shedding light on the difficulties in managing eating disorders. Many people have an obsession with fitness and weight so definitely a timely topic -- and who doesn't want a fast and easy way to shed those extra pounds. Unfortunately, there is no method that works like that, and definitely it's not one that is healthy. 

Thank you to the publisher for granting access to this ARC for me to read, review, and recommend. Looking forward to Kalla's next book. 

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

Genre - medical thriller, drug abuse, weight loss, eating disorders

The Marriage Act by John Marrs

 Excellent speculative fiction that will make you pay much closer attention to what's going on in the tech industry and the political arena.

In the near future, in Britain, The Sanctity of Marriage Act is law. Everything possible is done to encourage marriage and those who sign up are rewarded while those who refuse are punished. Everyone is strongly urged to marry and to get the maximum benefits by agreeing to a Smart Marriage. A wide chasm between the haves and have-nots has formed and growing larger every day. The government controls the lives and relationships of those citizens and monitors them 24 hours a day. Several couples whose activities and communication indicate that they are in trouble will soon learn just how far the proponents will go and how impossible it is to escape. 

This was super good and I really enjoyed it. It is sort of a companion to the previous novels by this author, The One (DNA love match), and The Passengers (autonomous vehicles). The character development was excellent, and the writing style and pace were perfect. I had such a powerful reaction to the situations that occurred in the novel and fearful about how much of the plot could be taken from the headlines today. Scary stuff here. As someone who is very leery of AI and its potential for misuse, my fears were not alleviated but heightened. I am already also concerned with government intrusion and overreach into personal and private life. This was all too believable and the absolute chill I felt while reading the last paragraph was undeniable and alarming. 

What a great discussion this would create for book clubs and I highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press for this e-book ARC to read and review. Don't miss it!

This is a standalone but a companion to the two novels mentioned in my review. It is not absoltely necessary, however, to have read them. 

Genre - speculative fiction, thriller, futuristic, 

Murder at the Beauty Pageant (Miss Kitty Underhay #12) by Helena Dixon

 Exciting installment in this cozy mystery series.

It's springtime, 1935, and newlyweds Kitty and Matt are settling in to married life and their joint detective agency operations. Despite her protestations, Kitty is busy helping Mrs. Craven organize a beauty pageant for the royal jubilee celebrations when she and Matt are asked to investigate a particular friend of the stepdaughter of a famous Egyptologist. On the day of the pageant, one of the pageant contestants is found dead -- but no one seems too broken up about it. Seems that no one really cared much for Peggy Blaine. Why? As revelations about the young woman's behavior and character come to light, there is no shortage of suspects. Kitty and Matt involve the police and find out more, and there is another death -- yet another of the pageant competitors. What is going on?

This was one of the more exciting episodes in this great series that I have followed since the beginning. Drugs, theft, blackmail, romance, sex, pregnancy -- dripping with scandal. I highly recommend all of the books to anyone who enjoys a solid historical cozy mystery. It has great characters with juicy stories and lots of period detail. Definitely you'll want to start from the beginning as the installments really aren't meant as standalones. Looking forward to the next one!

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

This is the 12th in a series that should be read in order from the beginning.

Genre - bozy historical mystery, 1935, Dartmouth

Blind Spots by Thomas Mullen

 Science fiction plus crime/detective story is original and unsettling. 

When everyone in the world lost vision and became totally blind in a matter of months, the chaos and destruction resulted in a tremendous loss of life and an uncertain future for all who struggled to survive. Eventually scientists and business interests were able to restore sight through an invention known as the vidder. Implanted on the side of the head and able to interact with the brain, these devices gave people the ability to see again. As life returned slowly to something approaching normal (much like we experienced during and after the coronavirus pandemic), Detective Mark Owens makes a startling discovery. Someone is manipulating the vidders. What happens to world order when you can't trust what you see?

A unique concept developed into a narrative that was quite entertaining and interesting. I enjoyed the story even though it mostly played out as expected. I tend to like dystopian scenarios and this did not disappoint. The pace was good and there was plenty of action and a wide variety of characters. I could see this easily as a film adaptation. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.  3.5 stars rounded up.

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

Genre - crime fiction, dystopian, science fiction, detective

To Catch a Storm by Mindy Mejia

 Winter ice storm in Iowa. An atmospheric physicist. A psychic. A missing husband. 

Dr. Eve Roth is desperate to find her husband, Matthew Moore, whose car was found burning in the parking lot next to the woods. His disappearance is just the beginning of an action-packed search for the missing and answers to many questions. She's assisted by Jonah Kendrick, a psychic, who claims he has the ability to dream of the lost. He's on a mission of his own, looking for a young woman he says is trapped in a barn -- the same one that now holds Matthew. 

This is fast and enjoyable especially if you are able to suspend disbelief. The narrative shifts between points of view as the story unfolds with some twists here and there. I see that this may be the first in a new series, so I may have to check out the next installment though I typically don't care for mysteries to have any paranormal elements. I love science and facts and those details in this book were quite interesting. I was surprised at the direction it took with the reveal of the "why" and also of who was responsible. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this ARC to read and review.

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

Genre - mystery, action, science, drugs, murder

Bones on Ice (17.5 Temperance Brennan) by Kathy Reichs

 A forensic investigation into the death of a body returned from Mount Everest reveals a shocking crime.

I'm a huge fan of this series and have read most all of the books yet had not heard about this novella. I just finished another book that had lots of details about the hazards and peril of summiting Everest, so this added to the fun factor with additional facts that always pique my interest. Climbing that mountain is extremely hazardous and the survival rate is such that many dead remain frozen in place, never to be recovered. Fascinating even if you aren't planning a trek or climb.

Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist, is asked to confirm the identity and cause of death of a mummified and frozen corpse for a wealthy Charlotte family who believes it may be their daughter. The body was recently recovered from Mount Everest after an earthquake allowed retrieval. What was meant to be a quick favor turns quickly when Dr. Brennan finds evidence that the death of this young woman was no accident.

A fast and fun mystery with lots of forensic detail. I borrowed it from the library and enjoyed it. This can be read as a standalone as the focus is really in the particulars of this case and not much character development.

This is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.

Genre - mystery, medical, forensics

The Girl Who Lived Twice (#6 Millennium) by David Lagercrantz

 This 6th book in the Millennium series featuring Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist focuses mainly on events that transpired years ago involving a disastrous Mount Everest expedition, politics, and Russian troll factories. 

The other line of the plot deals with Lisbeth and her twin sister, Camilla. It seems that Camilla wants revenge by killing her. 

The story is told in alternate viewpoints and skips all over the place from past to present. Unfortunately, this whole concept was not as exciting as I have come to expect from this series and I was a bit disappointed at the pace. The plot was quite convoluted and it seemed that Lisbeth and Mikael were only minor side characters involved in old spy stuff.

I got this book from a friend and have the next installment (by a new author) in my TBR, but I think I need a break.

This is the 6th book in the series but the third one by this author. I have read them all, in order, and suggest you do the same as they are not good as standalone.

Genre - mystery, thriller, Sweden, Spies, Mouth Everest 

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

Domestic drama and a mystery with a touch of the supernatural.

Most thrillers or mysteries start with secrets and lies. Many end with revelations that show exactly why things turned out as they did. This is the same. 

Pippa and Gabe Gerard live in their dream home on a cliff of a coastal town. Unfortunately, the cliff is a draw for those wanting to commit suicide by jumping off the edge. Gabe has become somewhat of a legend for talking them away from the ledge. Except for this time. A woman falls to her death. Turns out that this woman was no stranger to Gabe or Pippa. Did she fall or really jump, or was she pushed? Surely Gabe, Pippa's fantastically gorgeous and soulmate of a husband, didn't lie about what happened out there...

This was OK but not as compelling or thrilling as I had hoped. A couple of twists, sure, but it all boils down to some weirdness with this couple -- the biggest which is the mental illness angle. I never really liked any of the characters, and what I expected to happen, happened. An odd note that really jarred was the narration from the point of view of the dead woman. While that little trick works in some great novels (The Lovely Bones), it really didn't work for me here. The time shifts of then and now also disrupt the flow of the story a bit. And the conclusion seemed rushed and sort of a letdown after all the buildup, plus not really believable. Moral of this and every story - stop lying. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read and review.

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

Genre - domestic drama, mystery, mental illness 

Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421 by T.J. Newman

 Decent disaster novel.

A jet crashes off the coast of Oahu shortly after take-off and ends up in the ocean. Most of the survivors fled the burning plane, but 12 of the passengers were trapped inside as it sank into the depths. A massive rescue operation gets underway, but they are running out of time as the water rises inside the jet and the trapped oxygen is running low. Fortunately (and I really mean completely unrealistically), an elite underwater industrial diving and marine construction team owned by one of the surviving passenger's wives just happens to be right there on the job. Will Kent is in the nearly flooded jet with their daughter, Shannon, and Chris is arguing topside with the Navy and Coast Guard about how to proceed with the rescue. Whose plan will work and who will be saved?

This was OK but heavy on the emotional and relationship aspect of the crash calamity. It ends exactly how you expect it will. I liked the technical aspects of the rescue effort, but the characters were written as total stereotypes and the reader reacts to them exactly that way. You may need to suspend quite a bit of disbelief as the disaster drama plays out with all the coincidences in confluence. 

Also note -- the cover of this novel is nearly the same as the one used for her first book. That's rather weird and surely the designers have a little more imagination than that? Who knows, maybe they did it on purpose.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for this e-book ARC to read and review.

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

Genre: disaster drama novel

The New One by Evie Green

 A novel that seeks to be cutting edge sci-fi but misses the mark.

Two parents, living in poverty in a static caravan in Cornwall, find life nearly unbearable with their rebellious 14-year-old daughter, Scarlett. When there's a terrible accident and Scarlett is in a deep coma, Ed and Tamsyn are offered a miracle. They are going to get a new daughter, a replacement, a cyborg, a reanimation. All they have to do is move to Geneva and accept all the wonderful new things coming their way. 

This was OK but I really didn't care for it all that much as it was so predictable. There was no suspense, the big reveals were ho-hum expected, and the pace was super slow. The writing was adequate but this plot trope has been seen and done a million times. I guess it didn't help much that I have recently seen the movie, M3GAN, and watched the television series, Westworld. Of course this whole magic science thing is not going to go well. It never does, right? I was really hoping that, for once, the author would do something unique and make a clone a really cool thing! I had to really hold myself back from marking it DNF or just flipping through the pages. There was a lot of repetition in the narrative too, which also made the book seem longer. It ended exactly as you can guess right now. 

Thank you to Berkely and NetGalley for the ARC to read and review. I'd say pass on this.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre - science fiction, bad scientists, cloning

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay

 Unique and wholly original mystery that seeks to answer the question -- what really happened to jane Larkin?

An 11-year-old, Miranda Larkin, comes home one November afternoon to discover that her mother is missing. Two brothers, Alex and Jeff, along with their father, Dan, report Jane's absence to the police. For decades, there's nothing but the waiting. To tell anymore about this story would ruin it, but it is definitely one you will want to read.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book but it sure took me through the wringer as far as reactions and emotions. I flip-flopped all over the place trying to speculate, but I had no more evidence than did the family and law enforcement. Reading the various viewpoints took me on a ride -- while common sense told me one thing, my intuition spoke otherwise. The whole narrative spans more than 40 years and then...what an ending! Such excellent writing and memorable characters. The structure sort of gives the book a true crime vibe. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.

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

Genre - mystery, suspense, domestic drama, murder, legal

The Surgeon by Leslie Wolfe

 Fast-paced and convoluted psychological thriller.

Cardiac surgeon Dr. Anne Wiley’s life falls apart the day a patient dies during surgery on her table. Her peaceful and orderly world is shattered as she is put through the wringer, accused of causing the death by ceasing resuscitation efforts. Targeted and harassed by the State’s Attorney, Dr. Wiley undergoes scrutiny and suspicion even though she’s cleared of wrongdoing by her peers. No one can find out her secret — the dead patient is someone she knew.

I enjoyed this well enough until the climax and the ending — it was just a twist too far. After awhile, I found it hard to like any of the main characters with all their lies and cover-ups and bad behavior. The wrap up and conclusion just ruined the story for me but to say exactly why would be a big spoiler. The whole vendetta campaign by the attorney was hard to believe when the reason (which is meant to be another shocker) is revealed. I didn’t buy it and that dampened my enthusiasm for this book.

I did, however, thoroughly enjoy all the medical details as always so I tried to ignore the domestic drama and focused mostly on that.

Thank you to the author for gifting an ARC for me to read and review. If the ending had been different, I would have definitely been able to recommend. 

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

Genre - medical, psychological thriller, domestic suspense

Sea Castle (Underwater Investigation Unit #4) by Andrew Mayne

 This 4th installment in the series is entertaining and thrilling.

The UIU is on hiatus due to some political and jurisdictional problems, so Sloan McPherson is currently working for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement until all those issues are sorted. When she's called to the scene on a Fort Lauderdale beach, she becomes involved in what may be a serial killer case. She's paired with Gwen Wylder, an unpopular homicide detective from Miami, and they investigate various cold cases involving missing women and murder. 

This was very good and I really enjoy the character of Sloan McPherson. I like this author's writing style and the complicated and interesting plots. This was quite different to the previous books in the series, and that made it even better to show more dimensions of the main character. The narrative takes some unexpected turns and the conclusion was quite surprising. I definitely recommend this series and suggest it be read in order. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-book ARC to read and review. I look forward to the next book when the Underwater Investigation Unit might be back in action.

This is the 4th in a series that is best read in order/

Genre - thriller, police procedural

A Sinister Revenge (Veronica Speedwell #8) by Deanna Raybourn

 How I love returning to a familiar series with much-loved characters!

This 8th installment in the Veronica Speedwell series was quite clever and entertaining as always. Veronica and Stoker accompany his brother, Tiberius, back to the family seat on the Devon coast to flush out a murderer. It seems that Lord Templeton-Vane has received death threats and a number of his friend group called the Seven Sinners have already met untimely ends. Tiberius has decided to invite the remaining survivors to the estate for a reunion and remembrance party. Not all of those invited are accepting with good intentions.

Although Veronica and Stoker have hit a bump in their relationship, they are able to work together as they investigate the members of the house party at Cherboys. Although a bit predictable, I enjoyed as always and look forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for this e-book ARC. I encourage you to read this series in order from the beginning in order to enjoy it fully. Definitely recommend to any historical mystery lovers. 

This is the 8th book in a great series that should be read from the beginning, in order.

Genre - historical mystery, Victorian, amateur detectives 

Lying Beside Me (Cyrus Haven #3) by Michael Robotham

 A very compelling third installment in the Cyrus Haven psychological thriller series.

As forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven deals with the upcoming homecoming of his brother, Elias, he’s also helping the police with an investigation into a missing woman. Elias has been held and treated at a secure psychiatric facility since he murdered their parents and twin sisters over 20 years ago. Both Cyrus and his lodger, Evie Cormac, are a bit worried and concerned about Elias coming to live with them. 

I love the characters that this author creates. Cyrus and Evie are so well-developed and complex, each having struggled with horrific pasts that add incredible depth and emotional resonance to this story. There is always so much going on within the pages of these books that keeps the reader glued to the pages. 

I could say more about the complicated plot, but would suggest that you don’t read this as a standalone. I really like this author’s writing style and can highly recommend the entire series. I look forward to reading more about these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for this e-book ARC to read and review.

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

Genre: psychological thriller, forensic psychologist, child abuse, murder 

Death on Deck (Lady Eleanor Swift #13) by Verity Bright

 Another fun installment in this historical mystery series. 

Lady Eleanor Swift and her staff are enjoying a last minute luxury cruise to New York when she becomes involved with a murder investigation on board the Celestiana. 

You had me at “cruise” as I confess I love reading about ocean voyages aboard lavishly appointed ships during the Golden Age circa 1930s. I loved all the details and descriptions of everything from decor to food to dress. I enjoy the characters, especially Eleanor and her butler, Clifford, and their lively, humorous repartee. It was great to have Chief Inspector Hugh Sheldon along and to see their relationship finally progress. Lady Swift is definitely unconventional for the time and place, but she’s independent and tough and also incredibly kind. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC — I definitely recommend the entire series and encourage any curious readers to start at the beginning. I look forward to the next.

This is the 13th book in a series that should be read from beginning.

Genre -  history mystery, cozy, murder 1930s

When She Was Good (Cyrus Haven #2) by Michael Robotham

 This is the second installment in a very gripping psychological thriller series featuring forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven, and his unusual semi ward, Evie Cormac.

As Cyrus continues to delve into the events surrounding the discovery of Evie at the scene of a gruesome murder and the aftermath of her complicated history, Evie is still hiding and supposedly protected as she lives in the children's home. She is not safe anywhere, however, and the hunters will stop at nothing to find and kill her. She knows the secrets and the people they want to shield.

These characters are so complex and interesting, and you can't help but root for the totally damaged Evie. I love the author's writing style and the story was so engaging as some of the details about Evie are slowly revealed. As the pair continues to search for answers, Evie reluctantly divulges more about her past and the villains involved. Ancillary characters are also more fleshed out and the relationships that Cyrus has with them also show the scars he has from his own childhood trauma. These two messed up people, Cyrus and Evie, still have a long way to go but have forged an uneasy alliance that looks something like care and concern. I am looking forward to the third in the series.

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

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

Genre - psychological thriller -- trigger: child trafficking

Good Girl, Bad Girl (Cyrus Haven #1) by Michael Robotham

This is the first in a new crime thriller series by one of my favorite authors. 

Cyrus Haven, a criminal psychologist, tries to help a young girl with a horrifying past. The nearly feral child was found hiding in a secret room when authorities discovered her as they investigated a brutal murder. There are no clues as to her real identity, so she is taken in by social services. Now, Evie Cormac (a name she was given by the court) is petitioning to be released from a children's home and declared an adult. Cyrus Haven is meant to determine if she is ready to be on her own. He soon discovers that Evie has an unusual skill -- she's a human lie detector. As Cyrus becomes invested in Evie Cormac, he's also involved in a murder investigation of a local figure skater. 

This was quite entertaining and absorbing. The revelations about things that happened in the past for both Evie and Cyrus were interesting as were the secrets and lies exposed during the course of finding out what happened to Jodie Sheehan. I liked the alternating points of view as narrated by Evie and by Cyrus. Though I pieced together what and why and whodunit quite quickly, I still enjoyed reading the unraveling as the author peeled back the layers with such a clever plot.

Thank you to Scribner for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I'm off to start the second book in this series. 

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

Genre - suspense, crime thriller, psychologist, sexual abuse