Passions in Death (In Death Eve Dallas #59) by J.D. Robb

 Another winner in this futuristic crime thriller series.

It's summer in Manhattan, but it's not the heat that brings Lt. Eve Dallas and Roarke to the air conditioned Down and Dirty sex club that night. A bride-to-be lies dead in a private room along with a case of special surprises for her fiancée. Because the club was mostly full of their best friends in a pre-wedding celebration, Eve knows that one of them must have killed Erin Albright, a 27-year-old mixed race artist who was about to marry Shauna Hunnicut. The LGBTQ+ friend tribe is in shock and Shauna is devastated. Eve and her colleagues are determined to get justice for this cold-blooded and obviously calculated murder. 

It amazes me that the author can keep this level of suspense and write interesting plots after 58 other installments featuring Detective Eve Dallas. It's been fun to see all the other characters grow and develop through the pages of the series and I really like them all. Of course, it's Eve and Roarke who have the ideal marriage and partnership, but they are very generous to their friends as well. It's fun with the futuristic bent and the little details about the state of the cities and the ways that people live and work. I am always eager for the next book. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while reading along with the e-book ARC (both provided by the publishers). The narrator, Susan Ericksen, does an excellent job with all the character voices and accents. Her performance is always fabulous as she is so animated and appropriately dramatic. As always, simultaneous listening and reading enhances my enjoyment of the book. 

This is part of a long running series that is best when read from the beginning and in order.

Genre - futuristic crime thriller

The Dark Wives (#11 Vera Stanhope) by Ann Cleeves

 Murder and mystery involving a care home for troubled teens.

This is the 11th book in the series but the first I have read. I've also not seen the television show, so all of this was new to me. Set in the coastal northeastern village of Longwater, DI Vera Stanhope and her team investigate the death of a staff member, Josh, who is found murdered right outside of Rosebank, a care home for teenagers. In addition, one of the residents at the home, Chloe Spence, has disappeared. Is she a victim or a suspect? 

Vera's team begins the tedious task of following up. Her subordinates include DS Joe Ashworth and DC Charlie as well as a new member, DC Rosie Bell. The story also refers to a previous member of the team, Holly, now apparently deceased and often mentioned but no details about what happened. I think this made coming into the series with this installment a bit confusing so probably best to read in order. I could tell that the team understands each other and knows strength and weakness of their colleagues but difficult to assess character development. Vera is strong, independent, opinionated, keeps things close to the chest, and happily single. 

One of my gripes about this police procedural is how completely the reader is left in the dark when Vera and the team have the pieces to solve the case, including the names of suspects, but those details are not given. 

The plot had merits but I found the process and all of the interviews quite slow moving. Lots of characters to keep straight. Not sure if I liked well enough to begin the series with the first installment but I might read another in the future. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator did a great job voicing the characters and all the accents but without the text in front of me I think it would have been difficult to identify who was speaking at times. It definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the story as the production was well done.

This is the 11th book in a popular British crime mystery series. There is also a television series featuring the main character. I had not read or seen either before. I feel best that this series be read from the beginning in order. 

Genre - British police procedural, mystery

Red River Road by Anna Downes

 What a twisty and wild ride in this mystery thriller about a woman searching to find out what happened to her younger sister who went missing when on a solo van trip through Australia. 

Great descriptive storytelling as Katy Sweeney uses her sister, Phoebe’s, old instagram posts to trace her route along the Western Australian coast. Following her social media photos and details into campsites and scenic sites, Katy finds the trail has gone cold. No one knows anything. Katy discovers more questions than answers as she soon realizes that the situation of a woman traveling alone can be very dangerous. What happened to Phoebe and where was she when it did?

Suddenly, the tracking becomes even more convoluted when Katy meets and befriends the stranded Beth. But things are even more strange as they travel together. Someone is following them. 

I think it best to go into this without reading too much about it ahead of time. It’s a fabulous narrative  with multiple points of view that, initially, is quite confusing. When all is revealed, you will likely shake your head and exclaim at how well the author tied everything together in a shocking climax. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publisher. The narrator did a fabulous job with the different character voices and the Australian accents. The quality of expression and tone by Maddy Withington added immensely to my enjoyment of the story. An excellent production that has the added benefit of hearing the author’s note at the end and a conversation between Anna Downes and Sally Hepworth. Highly recommended.

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

Genre - psychological thriller, mystery, assault, partner violence, solo van life 

The Hotel Maid by Michelle Dunne

 June Calloway has been cleaning rooms at the Cedarwood Manor for 6 years. As a maid, she’s practically invisible to the guests and other staff there. A bit of an odd duck, she says little but notices everything. She’s good at her job and enjoys it well enough, but her life outside of the luxurious hotel is quiet and lonely. Although she has a roommmate, she has little money and few possessions. She also has a tendency to self-harm. But June has big plans and even bigger secrets.

A bit of a slow burn, nothing really started happening until after the half-way mark and I was getting bored. The story’s main character, June, seemed a bit too much like another in a series I’ve also read. Also, the narrative flips back and forth in point of view and time jumps that made the flow uneven. I didn’t really enjoy the parts that featured Mia. The lies of Tess and the convoluted identity and names got muddled as well. From then, it became entirely forseeable . I didn’t care for June and how she handled her issues and past. Although I might initially have felt for her in the situations she found herself in, I soon believed that she was wrong in how things were handled. It was way too complicated for a plot that was so predictable in the end.  Enough said. 

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book as both were provided as ARCs by the publisher. I enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook who did an excellent job of voicing the characters and I loved her accent. That definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

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

Genre. - revenge thriller, self harm, mental health issues, child abuse

Shadowheart (UNSUB #4) by Meg Gardiner

 Fast-paced and convoluted crime thriller.

This novel features the characters of the UNSUB series but goes away from the Prophet and the Ghost story line to focus on the manipulations of a serial killer who is locked in a Tennessee prison. Efrem Judah Goode claims to have killed dozens of women and is giving the FBI drawings of them to help their families get closure. Of course he wants something in return. It seems a new killer is putting their victims at the dump sites of Goode's previous murders. FBI profiler Caitlin Hendrix must try to locate this new villain, dubbed the Broken Heart Killer, and try to figure out their motive in taunting Goode. 

There was just way too much happening in this book. Although I liked the character of Caitlin Hendrix, it took forever to get the case unraveled and figure out what was going on. The whole situation with Finch and her adoptive mother bothered me, mainly because of how the concept and point of adoption was framed as well as what happened to the pair. Many convenient coincidences and the conclusion really bothered me. There was also this side plot going on with the boyfriend Sean, and the bomb squad, etc. but left unresolved with the Ghost still out there. 

I suppose this could be a standalone as it really doesn't fit with the rest of the series but is more a tangent. I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher and didn't care for the voice of the narrator. This definitely would have benefited from a larger cast.

This is the 4th in a series. I have not read all of them.

Genre - crime thriller, serial killer. FBI

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

 Absorbing historical fiction set in China in the 15th century.

Although this is fiction, the novel was based on the true story of Tan Yunxian, raised in an elite family and trained in the ancient ways on how to be a wife and mother. Her upbringing, however, was framed by her grandmother, one of only a few female Chinese doctors, and she teaches Yunxian medicine specific to female patients. Most of the illnesses of women relate to childbearing and Yunxian learns about those along with a girl of her own age in training to be a midwife. Meiling and Yunxian become forever friends who share in each other's joy and anguish throughout their lives. 

Yunxian is married out in an arranged marriage and is subject to a mother-in-law who forbids the friendship and also prevents her from treating the women and girls in the large household compound known as the Garden of Fragrant Delights. Confined to the grounds, Yunxian finds ways to reach her destiny despite many travails.

This novel was epic in scope and evoked all the feelings. I often find books that show how women were treated and seen in the past to be difficult to stomach. As a heath care professional, I also have to shudder at some of the thoughts and practices about disease and treatments that were common in that era, 5 centuries ago, and in a country that I know little to nothing about as far as beliefs and culture. The descriptions about the people, the class differences, the foot binding, the concubines, the feelings about children, and so many other details were absolutely fascinating. I should have been doing so many other necessary chores but could not put this down. I will be thinking of this book for a very long time. This ultimately was a book about women helping women during the Ming dynasty era, but also is true of the way women still support and care for each other because it is true that only women can understand some things about women's health. 

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jennifer Chen and Justin Chien while also following along in the e-book. The narrators did a marvelous job of voicing the characters. Their inflection, intonation, and expressiveness added to my enjoyment of the story. It is an excellent production. 

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

Genre - historical fiction, Ming Dynasty, China, women physicians. Based on real person.

Dark Music (Rekke #1) by David Lagercrantz

 "...darkness not only conceals, it also transforms. Corrupts."

The first in a new crime thriller series, this book features an interesting investigative duo and highlights international crimes and conspiracy. 

Professor Hans Rekke is a physical and personal disaster, but his brilliant deductive techniques make him an expert in logic and observation. Through a series of events, he connects with Stockholm police officer Micaela Vargas. Their partnership proves synergistic as the pair solves the murder of an asylum seeker from Afghanistan. 

This story starts out quite slow and the murder investigation isn't very exciting, but the pace and tension build when Rekke and Vargas start digging into the victim's past. The historical details heighten the intensity of the inquiry. Unfortunately, Rekke seems unstable (addict and depressive) and without Vargas, this whole probe wouldn't have gone anywhere as the police had basically stopped looking for the killer after initially arresting the wrong person. I'm trying to figure out exactly what type of relationship Rekka and Vargas will forge as they work well together and there does seem to be a hint of attraction. The plot develops and it ended up being quite absorbing by the end. I am interested enough in this duo to read additional books in this series. 

I listened to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book and that was essential as the pronunciations, Latin phrases, names of Swedish places, accents, etc. were beyond my ability to understand just by hearing. The narrator had a nice voice and did a good job trying to articulate the many different characters. 

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

Genre - crime thriller, international, Sweden

A Game of Lies (DC Morgan #2) by Clare Mackintosh

 Crime thriller set in Wales.

Another book about a reality show! Apparently, this is the genre du jour in 2024 as I have read quite a few with similar themes this year. In this case, seven contestants are chosen to participate in a telecast named "Exposure" that is being filmed at a camp set up in the Welsh mountains. Lured to participate thinking it was a survival type program, they find out on live television that the whole point of their experience will be about finding out and exposing each other's secrets. Shamed publicly and perhaps resulting in terrible consequences in their personal lives. Locked into contracts they can't get out of, the seven are trapped and when the outing of the secrets begins, one of the players disappears. The local police are called in to search for the missing person. Then a murder.  DC Ffion Morgan has to quickly figure out what is going on.

This was fast-paced, and I felt a bit at a loss as this was the second book in a series and I had not read the first. I have not previously read a lot of books set in Wales so I found the description of the area quite interesting. I don't feel like I got to know the characters very well and all seemed stereotypical and superficial as detectives, especially Ffion who is headstrong, impetuous, and doesn't really follow the rules but her understanding boss allows her to remain on the job despite her failings. I understand the romance began in the previous book. The secrets and lies are revealed and the case is solved with the usual heroine in peril situation. I probably won't continue this series.

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. It's a good thing I had the book because the accents and pronunciations made it almost impossible to understand what was being said. The narrator's voice was quite unpleasant.

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

Genre - crime thriller, reality shows, detectives, Wales

Fire and Bones (#23 Tempe Brennan) by Kathy Reichs

 I truly enjoy this series featuring the iconic Tempe Brennan and what’s really amazing is that this #23 is every bit as good, maybe even better, as the previous installments.  

First of all, I really love anything medical and Tempe, as a forensic anthropologist, always gets deep in with the bones and bodies. The details are what I can’t get enough of and because the author is herself an expert, she writes what she knows so well. Every description is so vivid that I can almost feel like I am right there and everything is explained so you don’t have to know anything about the subject to get the clear picture and gist of the situations. 

In this case, Tempe is called to Washington, DC, to help identify the unknown victims of a fire. Those poor, unfortunate souls were staying in the dilapidated building illegally and died inside. In addition, another body is discovered in the sub basement, this one predating the fire by decades.

In typical Tempe fashion, she becomes consumed by the case and the history of the Foggy Bottoms where the building was located. She ends up staying with a friend of her daughter’s while there and that relationship is beneficial to both with regard to the case. 

I love the character of Tempe Brennan. She’s self-deprecating and funny and so very clever. She’s definitely matured and grown since the first novels and I love how she appreciates all aspects of life as she gets older. I have to laugh as she is one of the few woman in novels who actually always has a healthy appetite! As always, can’t wait for the next and will always recommend this series. Be sure to start at the beginning.

I was lucky and obtained a copy of the audiobook that I could listen to while following along with my e-book ARC obtained from the publisher. I loved the production and the narrator’s voice is perfect for Tempe and she does a great job with the other characters as well.

This is part of a long running series that should be read in order from the beginning.

Genre - medical mystery, forensic anthropology, crime thriller

The Astrology House by Carinn Jade

 Entertaining suspense thriller. 

The 4 couples and friends just wanted a fun weekend away and Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat sounds like a lovely place for them to hang out. Farrah and Joe, Aimee and Adam, Eden and Rick, and Margot and Ted are not that big into astrology but are quite surprised by some of the revelations they experience when Rini starts doing their readings. Lots of the usual secrets and lies that are just lurking and ready to bust out.

Sounds like many of these people have things they don’t want to come out and, what a surprise, Rini has her own agenda. And then, the hurricane. 

This was fun and fast and quite predictable with all the couples at the retreat. The narrative alternates points of view so the reader knows what each is thinking  and feeling. I liked some of the characters more than others and the conclusion was not really unexpected as I had anticipated that turn of events. I guess you can never really know anyone as well as you think or hope.

I don’t know much about astrology other than basic zodiac signs so that part was quite interesting and made me actually want to look up my own chart. Alas, no Rini here to interpret for me!

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. I liked that the production had a large cast so as to make the voices and personalities distinct. I definitely liked some of the voices more than others. But, as always, the dual approach made me enjoy the novel that much more.

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

Genre - mystery thriller, psychological domestic drama

Holmes, Marple & Poe (#1) by James Patterson

 This is the first installment of a new crime thriller series featuring private investigators Brendon Holmes, Margaret Marple, and Auguste Poe.

Lots of fun as the three partners set up their business in NYC and solve 4 mysteries with unusual style and flair. Loved the characters and their approach to crime solving. Their interactions with other agencies such as police and FBI were always entertaining. Lots of criminals so a nice variety of detective work.

I listened to the audio while following along in the e-book, both obtained from my local library. The narrator did a nice job of voicing the various characters, complete with accents. I am looking forward to the next in the series. 

First in a new series. Read in order.

Genre - crime thriller, private investigators, murder

The Haters by Robyn Harding

 Psychological thriller conveys the dark side of fame and social media.

At last, Camryn Lane has realized her dream of becoming a published author. She's so happy and proud of her success when "Burnt Orchid" is out, and the glowing comments start coming in. But then, a scathing message and a deluge of one-star reviews start flooding social media. In short order, Camryn's life spirals out of control and she flounders both personally and professionally as she is pummeled by haters and doxed by someone intent on destroying her life. Who is it and who can Camryn trust when it becomes obvious that the tormenter is someone close to her. 

This was an interesting book premise, and I liked it well enough though less as the story evolved. I had a couple of issues with it, but mostly it was that I actually did not care for Camryn despite my initial sympathy for her plight. I also couldn't stand her teenage daughter and the behaviors of her other near and dear friends and acquaintances. Wow, such good family and friends. And I was totally uninterested in the book within a book -- the story of Orchid. It became increasingly obvious that the cause of all of this drama was very close. Another issue I had was the lack of real consequences and suitable punishment for the perpetrator(s). There was real and serious damage done. 

This whole concept of the horrible things that can and do happen with posts on social media demonstrates how many, especially the young, cannot handle the dangers. The idea and truth that someone can easily be ruined and destroyed by strangers is strongly conveyed. It is quite scary, really. 

I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator did a decent job, but this production could have benefited from additional voices.

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

Genre - psychological thriller, drama

Only One Survives by Hannah Mary McKinnon

 What a wild, totally fun and twisted thriller!

What won't some do for fame? The Bittersweet all-girl pop rock band is on the cusp of finding out. Drummer Vienna Taylor and her best friend, guitarist and vocalist, Madison Pierce, are just about to realize their dream after the release of their first single. On the way to a meet and greet party in the Catskills in a blizzard, their SUV crashes. One of the band members is dead and others are injured as they make their way to an abandoned house. Not all of the women will survive, and Vienna sees her hopes and plans fall apart. 

This was so fast paced and absorbing as the hits just kept on coming that I could not put it down and read it all today. I had no idea, nor did I anticipate or expect the sudden detour the story took and after that it was a mad dash to the ending. There were quite a few characters, but the author gave the main ones great attention and they came alive on the pages as individuals. Both Vienna and Madison were believable and equally surprising. As the narrative passed the halfway mark, I just could not wait to see what happened next as everything is revealed.  Go into this blind and you will enjoy it a lot more. Even if you're not a fan of 80s music and perhaps the artists and songs mentioned don't ring a bell, the story is still quite entertaining, and I enjoyed it. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Amy Hall, did a great job of speaking all the different characters but this definitely would have benefited from a larger cast because of the predominantly female voices. The listening always adds to the experience, and this was a well-done production. 

Don't read too much about this before you dive in. Enjoy!

This is a standalone and is not part of any series

Genre - mystery thriller

Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman

 A disaster procedural that is impossible to put down -- so clear the calendar because you will want to read this in a single sitting.

The pilot of a large commercial aircraft has a medical emergency and dies instantly while at the controls in the cockpit. Unfortunately, the first officer is in the lavatory and can't get back in time to save the nearly 300 people on board. The plane nosedives into a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota. Soon this town will become the epicenter of a crisis on par with an extinction event.

I think this is the author's best work yet and I was glued to my chair until I turned the last page. I have always enjoyed a disaster novel because it gives the opportunity for such great character development and this one shines in that department. The courage and determination of the plant management, engineers, and scientists are on full display as are the heroics of the local fire department and all of the National Guardsmen called in to do whatever they can. The community rallies and provides for its own at the local church. Fires rage out of control, there's no power, the cooling pool level is falling, the gas is building up, and the pump room is flooded. Doom is imminent. 

Now, I know next to nothing about nuclear power plants and how they function, but the author's research makes it understandable. Complex technology is broken down into bits that explain the dangers and hazards. But in this book, it's the characters that really inhabit the narrative and the drama. The lengths that some went through were inspiring and yes, I shed a few tears. I don't want to imagine this scenario further but I'm glad I read this.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along with the e-book ARC (both provided by the publisher) and that really enhanced the experience. The production was great, even down to having the voices come out garbled over the radios. Sound effects really can make an audiobook more amazing. My only complaint about Joe Morton's narration was that he often mispronounces the word nuclear as nucular. But his inflection and expressiveness were very well done. 

Enjoy! Now this is a movie I would love to see. 

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre - disaster, thriller, suspenseful

The Second Mrs Strom by Kaira Rouda

 If you like reading a story about horrible, vindictive, narcissistic people then this is the novel for you.

Paul Strom has married again. But now he's the rich one after his stint at being a boy toy has ended with his paramour's death. Cecilia is everything he wants after his disastrous first marriage and the loss of his two sons (see first book). She is young and beautiful and will help him take Hollywood by storm. Unfortunately, he doesn't really know her very well at all. And she has her own ideas about what this marriage is going to do for her. 

This was just too much nastiness for me. Both Paul and Cecilia are such hideous people that I could barely get through this though others might like this kind of psychological drama. At first, I was drawn in and hoped that perhaps the whole plot would turn out different than expected, but, alas, it was predictable and thus I just read the twisty mess to get to the epilogue. I was not happy with the conclusion either. Definitely read Best Day Ever first before you tackle this one if you really think you need more. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along with the e-book, both provided by the publisher. I really wanted to like this one, but I do not like this type of trope where bad people get away with so much evil behavior. I liked the voice of the male narrator, but the female's voice was like nails on a chalkboard and got on my nerves with the breathy high-pitched sound. 

This is a follow-up to The Best Day Ever so read that one first.

Genre - psychological drama

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager

 Mystery with perceived paranormal elements.

When Ethan was 10 years old, he and his best friend, Billy, were sleeping in a tent out in Ethan's backyard on Hemlock Circle. When Ethan awoke the next morning, Billy's sleeping bag was empty and there was a huge slit in the side of the tent next to where Billy had been. He was never seen again.

Thirty years later, Ethan returns to his childhood home after his parents relocate to Florida. Most of the same neighbors remain in the cul-de-sac and there are still no answers as to what happened that night. Ethan cannot move on. Then Billy's remains are located in a lake at the bottom of a waterfall on some property owned by the secluded and private Hawthorne Institute. Did that creepy place have something to do with Billy's disappearance? Who took him from the tent? Suddenly, some really weird things start happening -- strange shadows on the web cam, baseballs on the lawn, and secret words from the past. Has Billy's spirit come back to answer all the questions.

Two things I generally dislike in books -- paranormal stuff and details about stuff kids do. This was told in shifting timelines by Ethan as narrator and most of the time, he seemed like just a mess. His insomnia has affected his ability to think clearly, and he has all sorts of notions and suspicions. I didn't like him much as a main character as he seemed to be devoid of personality. The whole ghost thing and the Hawthorne Institute aspects were nothing more than diversions that never went anywhere. The reveal at the end, well, not really much of a surprise if you were narrowing down the suspects and weeding out the red herrings. Way too much repetition. It was all just a letdown. 

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Santino Fontana while following along in the E-book ARC provided by the publisher. I liked his voice for the male characters, but the ones he tried on for the women and the kids didn't quite do it. This production would definitely have benefited from a larger voice cast.

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

Genre - mystery thriller

The Unwedding by Ally Condie

 A lovely resort in Big Sur, a private wedding, a huge rainstorm mudslide, and a murder...

Ellery Wainwright goes solo to the Resort at Broken Point in Big Sur, California, following a sudden and devasting divorce. The trip was already paid for, intended to be the perfect place for she and Luke to celebrate twenty years of marriage, so Ellery decides to go on alone. It so happens that her stay isn't anything like she expected. Initially, a wedding is canceled when the bride is left standing at the altar. Then the first dead body is discovered. Things get worse when the resort is cut off due to a deluge washing out a bridge preventing anyone getting in or out. When yet another guest dies, it becomes clear that things are not at all what they seem and some of those there are not good people. 

This started out OK with Ellery meeting and making friends with the guests at the resort. Lots of different characters are introduced but it's like almost instant friendship which seemed a bit strange. Of course, most all the people staying there have secrets or are lying. I just never warmed to Ellery as she wallowed a lot in her post-divorce misery, missing her kids, or hints about a past trauma. She was ingratiating herself at every turn and getting into everyone's business. Many of the others were stereotypes and not all were explored or fully developed enough.  

Then, the story went haywire at about 80% when these sudden complete confessions were taking place out in the woods. The ensuing action and behavior of the characters was quite unbelievable and contrived. I just never bought into Ellery being so clever or so popular and all of the people just laying the whole thing out like an outline. And all the motivations were quite lame. Definitely need to suspend a ton of disbelief to buy into the big twists and reveals. It lost me.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Christine Lakin, did a decent job with voicing all the characters, but this book had so many that the performance would have benefited from having a larger cast of narrators.

This is a standalone debut and not part of any series. Author previously wrote mostly YA novels and this is her first book aimed for adult audience.

Genre - mystery thriller, contemporary

Storm Child (Cyrus Haven #4) by Michael Robotham

 Psychological thriller that unlocks the secrets of Evie's past. 

This 4th installment in the series featuring forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven brings the origin story of Evie Cormac in a full arc. From her discovery in the walls of a secret room hiding from killers and captors, Evie and Cyrus have embarked on a journey to find the answers that will make her whole again. That past reaches up to both Evie and Cyrus when a migrant boat is sunk washing up the dead on a Lincolnshire beach. 

I have read these 4 books from the beginning and feel that is the best approach as all of the facets of Cyrus and Evie's relationship have been revealing and interesting. I feel this one could be a fitting conclusion to the series and time to move on. I have liked the characters and how they have interacted and built a life for themselves. I like the author's writing style and the whole premise was well-executed in the previous books. 

I was fortunate and able to listen to the audiobook narrated by the talented Joe Jameson while reading along with the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The many different character voices were done very well, and the accents were performed beautifully. Definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

This is the 4th and hopefully last in the series that should be read in order.

Genre - psychological thriller, mystery

Off the Air by Christina Estes

 Debut mystery is realistic about the world of multimedia news and journalism.

Local television reporter, Jolene Garcia, wants a big story and wants an Emmy. When a controversial  radio personality, Larry Lemmon, dies while at work on radio station KFRK, Jolene wants the inside track. Soon the death is considered suspicious, and everyone knows that means Larry was murdered. Since she was the last person to interview him, Jolene has the notion that this will be the news break that makes her career. Despite competition from other local and national news outlets, Jolene has a couple of sources that might give her an advantage if she can find out the truth first and get it on the air.

This was funny at times and lighthearted at others. Some serious political hot topics are discussed as part of the shock jock's rhetoric, and there are lots of details about the inner workings of news organizations. The author has experience and obviously knows what she is writing about, and that insider information is interesting. Although I have an aversion to reporters and how they want the story at any cost, I can understand how the public's demand for 24/7 news and social media feed the frenzy. I found it quite convenient that Jolene had so many sources and also thought her investigation was equal parts unlikely and ill advised. All told, it was easy to read in a single sitting and a unique contemporary bit of storytelling. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Marcella Black, did a good job of providing nuance and distinct voices for all the characters. This dual method always adds to my enjoyment of the reading experience.

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

Genre - contemporary mystery

Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda

 Compelling atmospheric mystery thriller. 

A persistent drought has lowered the levels of Mirror Lake as Hazel Sharp returns to claim her childhood home. Her father, beloved police detective, recently died and she has to face the two brothers she left behind ages ago. The house by the lake is not all that was left to Hazel in her father's will. Things that had been hidden in the depths of the lake are exposed. As the shock ripples through the family and the community, some secrets and lies are revealed and everything Hazel believed is now suspect. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the mounting suspense and tension as Hazel makes her discoveries and faces the challenges of the revelations about her family. I liked the twists and turns and was trying to figure out everything along with Hazel. I liked her as a protagonist. The small-town atmosphere and the dry conditions set a great scene for the story. 

I listened to the audiobook while following along with the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Ines Del Castillo, did a fantastic job voicing the characters and making them all sound unique. The production enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

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

Genre - mystery thriller, suspense