Witch Trial by Harriet Tyce

 This pairing of legal drama with psychological horror struggles to strike a tone and left me unimpressed.

When a boarding school student, Christian Shaw, is found dead in an Edinburgh park, her close friends, Eliza Lawson and Isobel Smyth, are brought to trial for her murder. Heart surgeon Matthew Phillips serves as an initially enthusiastic and devoted juror while the prosecution presents a shocking claim: the death was connected to the practice of witchcraft. As courtroom testimony unfolds, Matthew begins experiencing strange visions, leaving all to question whether supernatural forces are at play or if it is all a calculated deception and the two on trial just carried bullying too far. 

The initial premise of blending courtroom procedures with teenage occultism created real intrigue and hooked me, and the Edinburgh setting lends a fittingly bleak atmosphere, but the whole witch and devil thing really just lost me. The courtroom scenes are repetitive and Matthew is clearly in need of antipsychotic medication as he flips out really early on and I stopped buying into the story. I was not invested in the girls on trial and it all became rather boring. The author attempts a last twist but it falls flat and the final part of the book just left me shaking my head. I don’t think I’m the right target audience for a book of this nature with all of the witchcraft, tarot, ouija boards, devil messages, etc. 

I was provided with an audio book which I listened to while also reading along in the e-book ARC gifted by the publisher. The narrator, Angus King, did and OK job but he really had a heavy accent which made him hard for me to understand and his female characters all sounded the exact same and it wasn’t good. This would definitely have benefited from a female narrator to add some contrast and a change in tone. Usually the audiobook enhances my enjoyment but I had to stop listening at times and forced myself to go back to it. 

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

Genre and tags: teen witchcraft, occult, devil, spells, murder, trial, courtroom, jurors

You’ll Be Sorry by Liz Alterman

 Satisfying and suspenseful domestic thriller.

On the eve of her 40th birthday, successful and wealthy Amelia (Mia) Montgomery spots an advertisement featuring Ethan Blackmore, the ex-fiancé who shattered her life and left her humiliated over a decade ago. Mia rebuilt her entire identity from scratch to escape her past so she’s totally not meant to look deeper into what Ethan has been doing. She can’t help herself. Mia finds that he married well and has a couple of kids, but has lost his fortune and has had some trouble. While she’s happy he’s not on top of the world, she still has unresolved trauma and a deep desire for revenge. Mia can’t leave it alone and now it’s on. She’s going to dismantle everything in his life. 

This was fast and fun and kept me engaged. This is definitely one of those where the main character walks that line between seeking justice and becoming obsessed to her own detriment. Mia was easy to understand, especially at first, but as she went deeper into her dark desires to destroy him, she became unlikeable. Enough is enough. She definitely went too far, and she sort of missed her target (no spoilers) but I don’t think anyone was sorry about that. Mia was malicious and single minded losing sight of the end goal and carried things just a bit too far. I do think she got what she deserved and I doubt she got the closure she wanted, but it goes to show how retaliation can backfire. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the ebook ARC provided by the publisher. The narrators, Christine Lakin and Stacey Carolan, did an excellent job of voicing the characters and bringing appropriate dramatic flair. Their performances really enhanced the immersive effect and increased my enjoyment of the story. 

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

Genre and tags: psychological thriller, suspense, domestic, murder, twins, revenge

Malice by Design (Jack Wyatt #2) by Gary Birken

 Medical sleuth Dr. Jack Wyatt and Dr. Madison Shaw return in this second installment of the medial thriller series.

The pair are called in to investigate a terrifying anomaly at a top pediatric oncology hospital. Children who were in remission from leukemia are suddenly developing an inexplicable, severe wasting disease that they name Leukemic Malnutrition or LM. The doctors race against time to uncover the root cause navigating hospital politics as well as discovering links to past unethical research. They ultimately find a secret that someone is willing to kill to protect. 

I had some problems with this book and ended up being disappointed. While it had a decent medical plot, the book as a whole just didn't hit right and was almost a duplicate of the first book as far as these two doctors coming in to save the day with this same obscure type diagnosis and a sinister bad actor behind it all. The characters of Jack and Madison just don't act right, I mean they are supposed to be a romantic couple, and all they ever did was run around the hospital, eat, and talk about the disease. Absolutely no tension or suspense in this story. It was actually kind of boring and slow. Also some errors where the wrong character's name was used, etc.  I have no issues with the medical jargon and descriptions, in fact, that's the only part of this that I liked was the discussion of prions. 

I don't know if I'll bother with further books in this series. The characters need some life and the stories need a new tangent. I am just not buying this super medical detective brilliance stuff. Definitely way too much ethics discussions and yeah, they are self-righteous and know they're correct about everything. 

This is the second in the series, best read in order.

Tags and Genre - medical mystery, prions, leukemia, experiments on humans, unethical research, murder 

What Happened That Night (Maud O'Connor #3) by Nicci French

 A slow-burning, deeply compelling mystery that hinges on tension and atmosphere.

After spending 30 years in prison for the murder of his university friend Leo, Tyler Green is released, still maintaining his innocence. He arranges a gathering of the 8 friends who were present on that tragic night for a reunion in London, seeking answers about what truly happened.  When another murder occurs late in the evening after dinner, Detective Inspector Maud O'Connor steps in to investigate. Tyler is immediately re-arrested and returned to prison but Maud isn't sure. As old secrets unravel and with the past repeating itself, Maud and DS Carrie Kessler must determine whether Tyler is a psychopathic killer seeking revenge or a scapegoat set up once again. 

This is one of those locked room type mysteries where the killer is hidden in plain sight and I suspected each person in turn. What makes the set up work so well in this case is the quiet paranoia and heavy sense of long-buried guilt among the friends. The story shifts focus from simple procedural tracking to a nuanced exploration of shifting loyalties, unreliable memories, past hurts as well as embarrassments, and evidence of how 30 years of secrets can corrode relationships. The characters were so well-developed and sharply drawn and as the friends reveal their stories in police interviews, Maud is laser focused on the timeline and their explanations about the night. The tension builds and the suspense escalates as things soon crystalize while Maud hones in on the likely killer and obtains the confessions. I could barely put this down wondering who did it making all sorts of guesses. It was a very engrossing book. I've read the first in this series but missed the second and now will definitely go back to catch up. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Sophie Roberts, did a very good job of voicing all the characters, giving them unique and distinguishing tones. She had the appropriate dramatic flair which enhanced my immersion into the book and increased my appreciation of the story. 

Note - this book was previously titled Tyler Green Will Never Be Free

This is the third in series featuring DI Maud O'Connor and the second I have read.

Genre and tags: police procedural, murder, locked room, wrongful imprisonment, friendship 

The First Scarlet Door (Anson Bishop 4MK prequel #1) by J. D. Barker

Dark, atmospheric prequel that functions as a gripping origin story for a very unsettling serial killer.

In 1999, Anson Bishop, 15 years old, has escaped to Charleston after his childhood home burns down and his mother vanishes with stolen mob money. In a foster home sort of situation that reeks of child exploitation, he makes some friends who attempt to break free only to find that powerful forces are much more organized and stronger than anyone realized. The violence that surrounded his ruthless upbringing resurfaces and Anson, guided by his father's voice inside his head, is pushed to his limits and must rely on his highly analytical instincts to stay alive. All of his steps toward rescuing himself and the other kids are dangerous choices that push him down the dark path that will ultimately mold him into the notorious Four Monkey Killer. 

I had completely forgotten what a great writer this guy is and he's returned to top form with this first in what is meant to be three stories detailing Anson Bishop's growing up years. The main character is very interesting and you can see how his detachment style gives a unique perspective on the dangerous and scary situations he and the other kids are in. There's definitely a buildup of psychological momentum without losing the gritty and disturbing elements that make this a really great thriller. It's fast paced with short chapters of alternating viewpoints and some tight suspense with sharp plot twists. Who can be trusted in a world where unhoused children are for sale to the highest bidders. Reading this made me want to go back and reread the first trilogy but I'll probably wait until I've read all three of these origin stories. 

I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC audio book which I listened to after also obtaining a copy of the e-book from the local library. The narrators, Michael Crouch and Piper Goodeve, were excellent in immersing me in this very dark world and I could not put this down so read it all in one sitting. Their voices created the tension and dramatic flair I appreciate for a story such as this and thoroughly enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

This will surely captivate fans of the original 4MK series and likely secure more.

This is a prequel series related to the 4MK trilogy and I believe best read in publication date order.

Genre and tags: children, exploitation, trafficking, murder, torture, corrupt cops 

Fallow by Sarah Anderson

 Entertaining debut with humorous social commentary and a fun read for fans of speculative fiction. 

In a world where employee efficiency still dictates human necessity, Natalie is stuck in a dead-end job logging complaints at a workplace harassment call center. Burdened by debt, lacking dental insurance to pay for treatment, and selling her own plasma to get by, she spots a flyer at a local blood bank that changes everything.

She's recruited to The Company, a huge conglomerate launching a pilot program: to provide corporate funded surrogacy so their female execs don't have to juggle pregnancy and childbirth with the demands of their job. The deal seems like a dream as The Company provides Natalie with everything including an apartment, food, exercise and health programs, as well as a huge amount of money in exchange for carrying pregnancies for its top executives. Natalie enthusiastically accepts and the arrangement works for six years with transactional precision. However, during her final contracted pregnancy, a restructuring at The Company ends her comfortable routine. The shift in her lifestyle is full of surprises as she tries to figure out what she wants and recovery her own autonomy.

This novel is definitely one to make you think about current reproductive politics and modern work culture. What perks might be offered to keep the capitalist machine running at full force. I found this book insightful and with many topics to discuss making it ideal as a book club choice. I liked Natalie even though she's so disarmingly honest about her lack of ambition, desire not to work, and her attitude about what she needs to have a nice life. Her cynical voice makes her journey to self discovery both hilarious and relatable. I was much more interested in her surrogate life than in the communal environment because she didn't seem to fit with any sort of that minimalist mindset and I wonder if she substituted animals for all else that she lacked in her personal life. I also thought the book ended rather abruptly. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Natalie Naudus, did a great job of voicing the mostly all female cast of characters. She handled some accents and tried to make each voice distinguishable. Her tone and pacing was well done and the production added to my enjoyment of the story.

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

Genre and tags: female reproductive rights, surrogate pregnancy, workplace culture, social commentary, self determination 

 

January and July by Jeff Abbott

 A nasty web of spiders and intrigue hidden in a small town.

When Global Intelligence Analytics (Annex) intel officer January Holte messes up on a Paris situation, she's given another chance to redeem herself. The assignment requires her to track a possible traitor from within her organization. She arrives in quiet Lethy, Texas, where everyone in the small town seems to know each other and she can tell there's something a bit suspicious going on. At the same time, a private bodyguard, July Whitlock, arrives to search for his missing client, Bill Connors. The strange duo is forced to team up as the uncover an intricate web of money laundering, fake organizations, and local greed where no one is telling the truth and all seem to be criminals.

This began with an intriguing premise, but it quickly became bogged down with an overwhelmingly large cast of characters and a very convoluted plot. With so many competing perspectives, subplots, and suspects to track, the narrative drug out for far too long making what should have been a tense thriller feel unexpectedly dull and more like a comic book. I am a bit bewildered as well by the choice of the main character's names. When the climax and conclusion finally arrive, it felt so completely predictable and I was disappointed. This was definitely not what I had hoped for when I selected this book. I sure hope there are no plans for this to become a series as I wouldn't read more about this pair. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Lauren Fortgang, did an adequate job but there were far too many different characters requiring a lot of unique voices and accents which just proved a bit too many for her to maintain. This is one of those books that would have benefited from a full cast. 

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre and tags: spies, money laundering, murder, criminal netework