The Anniversary by Alex Finlay

 A unique perspective traces the trajectory of two young adults across a decade.

May 1, 1992, is the date that alters the lives of two teenagers in a quiet Midwestern town. Jules Delaney narrowly survives a brutal attack by the elusive May Day Killer, while Quinn Riley gets into an altercation that results in him going to juvenile detention. 

Using an innovative timeline, the narrative revisits Jules and Quinn exclusively on May 1st across a decade. The story focuses on those moments that define the characters’ personal growth as they reach adulthood. Events propel the pair toward a singular shocking truth and a series of revelations that help them overcome the scars left by their experiences on that fateful night and the repercussions that followed. 

I absolutely relished this thriller that was very character driven versus shock value and body count. The format eliminated mid-book sag and kept the pacing brisk. There’s a lot of slow burn tension in this psychological mind bender leading to some huge surprises and a twist of an ending. A big one I didn’t see coming. I liked the main characters and was rooting for them all the way. I did feel the conclusion came in hot and it seemed like I still had a lot to process in the aftermath. Some unanswered questions. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrators, Ari Fliakos and Brittany Pressley, did a good job voicing the main male and female characters. The female voice sometimes got a little too screechy and breathless with a bit of excess dramatic flair, but I did appreciate the dual casting that enhanced my enjoyment of the book as it created a truly immersive experience.

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

Genre and tags: psychological thriller, teenagers to adults, coming of age, murder, rape, assault, war, modeling, kidnapping

The Wrong Victim (Maggie Gallagher #3) by Peter Kirkland

 Smart, well-constructed legal thriller.

This third in a series has defense attorney Maggie Gallagher pulled into a legal nightmare when a luxury yacht explodes following her client's unsatisfactory verdict in an insurance case. The client, Sara Stephenson, was seen in a viral video threatening the CEO, John Archway, of Vista insurance after they were found not liable for her husband's death. When Archway and his lawyer die in the conflagration, Sara is arrested. The evidence against Sara is overwhelming but Maggie realizes that the blast was a calculated plot where the intended target was not the CEO. 

I love a good legal thriller and this was a gripping courtroom drama that relies on steady tension, legal details, and descriptions of sharp legal strategy. My main issue is that this was the third in a series and the only one I have read. I wish I had read the previous two books to get the backstory and to have developed a relationship with the main character. Coming in at this point left me a bit lost especially when referring to cases from the past as well as with Maggie's family and her office help. 

Maggie seems to be a grounded protagonist who seems dedicated to both the law and her family. The case she defended required a lot of maneuvering and side investigation to deliver a mystery where the puzzle pieces fit together logically. 

I definitely enjoyed it and would love to also read and review the first two books in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This is the third in the series. I did not read the first two installments and wish I had.

Genre - legal thriller, insurance CEO, murder, domestic violence 

A Murder in Hollywood by Michael Crichton

 Written in 1973 under his John Lange pseudonym but previously unpublished, this book steps away from Crichton’s usual techno thrillers to deliver a classic whodunit. 

The story unfolds on a movie location in Tucson, Arizona, where the production of a Western film called BLOODROCK is thrown into chaos when the film’s unlikable screenwriter is discovered dead in his bathtub. Studio heads arrange for a meticulous insurance investigator, Harlow Perkins, to come to the set and solve the case before everyone panics. Harvey Jason, the studio publicist for this picture, follows Perkins around as they dig into all the cast and crew members who might be the killer. 

Lots of the usual technical detail with all the accuracy detailing the gritty, unglamorous logistics of a 1970 movie set. There’s no romanticism here but a sort of cynical realism. It captures the mood of a remote location shoot with all the budget anxieties and the tension on the set. This isn’t an action packed plot but more a steady procedural deduction process. 

Definitely not character driven, this is more focused on the puzzle of what happened and who did what. Because it’s set in the 1970s it reads like a time capsule of earlier, less sophisticated movie making days. 

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, Ray Porter, did a fantastic job with the voice work. His tone and delivery were perfect for the content and for the time period. His performances really enhanced my enjoyment of the book by creating a really immersive feeling. I recommend it. 

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

Genre tags: Movie making, 1970, on location, Tucson, Arizona, whodunit 

The Method by Matthew Quirk

 The role of a lifetime.

Fast paced action thriller that begs for a television series or movie adaptation.

Anna Vaughn is an actress and stunt woman who has spent her career studying and training to be a fake badass for the screen. But when her best friend, Natalie, disappears after a night out in Manhattan, Anna's specialized skills -- from hand-to-hand combat to shooting to hot-wiring cars -- are put to a very real test. Along the way, Anna is approached and recruited by FBI Agent Kevin Matthews who reveals that Natalie was entangled with a dangerous circle of international assassins, spies, and oligarchs. Anna takes on the role of her life: going deep undercover as she discovers a lethal conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of government. 

This is great fun as long as you are able to suspend a bit of disbelief at Anna's skills and abilities. In constant peril, she must use every bit of her training to put on the performance of a lifetime if she is to survive and get the evidence she needs. Although her main goal is to find Natalie, Anna soon finds that she is in over her head without any backup.

Definitely a fresh perspective on the "unlikely spy" trope, Anna's character is tough and also soft. There seems to be a lot of technical accuracy in the details of Anna's undercover operations and the fight and flight scenes. The pages turn rapidly because we catapult from one action scene to the next as Anna uses every talent she has as an actress. She's a compelling protagonists.

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, Christine Lakin, did an excellent job with the character of Anna. Her voice and tone adapted as Anna transformed from actress to undercover asset. She handled the other voices and accents extremely well, making everyone have a unique voice print. This created a truly immersive reading experience and enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

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

Genre:tags mystery thriller, spies, actresses, corruption 

Prognosis Critical by Gary Birken

 High stakes medical thriller that excels because of its procedural accuracy and chilling realism.

Dr. Jacey Flanigan has just completed her pediatric cardiology residency and landed a prestigious position at the Children's Heart Hospital in Manhattan. Her excitement at the new job turns sour after a run-in with a hostile heart surgeon and the discovery of a culture defined by rigid secrecy. Jacey notices disturbing patterns -- surgeons refuse to operate without their own specific teams and don't want her observing in their rooms, and the post operative course doesn't seem to be the norm. When a patient nearly dies under suspicious circumstances, Jacey doubles down even as she starts to suspect that whistleblowers before her arrival have not survived. Trapped in a web of collusion and coverup keeping her at distance, Jacey seeks to expose the truth. 

This was the first good medical thriller I've read in a long while. I devoured it as I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that the author swapped out melodrama for the far more frightening portrayal of institutional silence and greed as well as the hubris of surgical ego. I liked the main character of Jacey and appreciated her strength in not backing down even as the newbie in her job. I liked the accuracy of the clinical detail and the believability of the scenario. I'll definitely look for more of this author's books.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book, both obtained from my local library. The narrator, Susan Lyons, did a good job with the voice of the main character, but the other vocal choices felt uninspired and flat. The accents (southern) didn't ring true and the male voices all sounded basically the same. This production definitely would have benefited from at least a male narrator or a full cast. I always like listening while reading as it typically enhances my whole reading experience. 

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

Genre and tags: medical thriller, mystery, pediatric cardiac patients 

Too Close to Home by Seraphina Nova Glass

 Well this was a literal banger of a thriller that kept me engaged and rapidly turning the pages to finish it in a single sitting.

The story opens when Regan Hoffman's car explodes at a Labor Day party in the gated community of Cloverhill Lakes. The blast shatters the peace of the neighborhood and creates a sense of fear because it was not Regan who died. Secrets start to leak out from behind the doors of the homes as three women find that something very sinister connects them. Regan spots her supposedly dead husband. Andi accidentally ends up with an unthinkable dilemma, and Sasha knows her teenage son is getting deep into trouble. 

This was a high tension domestic thriller with multiple points of view narration. The plot is layered and the chapters end at tantalizing cliffhangers forcing you to read on. The pace is fast and the action non stop as the characters make some really bad choices and do crazy and reckless things, but it's so addictive that one ignores some of the outrageous coincidences and just suspends disbelief to go along for the ride. It's a fun and suspenseful story with a satisfying conclusion.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrators, Brittany Pressley, Rebecca Lowman, and Karissa Vacker, did an excellent job of bringing the three main female characters to life. Their voices created unique footprints through distinct, consistent cadence and patterns so they are easily identified. The production created a great immersive reading experience and I highly recommend listening.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre/tags: murder, revenge, secrets and lies, domestic thriller 

A Ghastly Catastrophe (Veronica Speedwell #10) by Deanna Raybourn

 In 1890 London, Veronica Speedwell and Stoker investigate a macabre vampire mystery after a young man is found near Highgate Cemetery with his body drained of blood. When a second victim is discovered after an apparent suicide, the trail leads the duo to a dangerous secret society of immortality seekers led by a self-proclaimed creature of the night and a practitioner of witchcraft. Amidst the investigation, J.J. turns to them for help, and the case forces a brief encounter with Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane to track down a crucial witness.

This was a fast and fun tenth entry into what I consider my favorite historical fiction mystery series. Leaning into gothic atmosphere without losing any of the trademark wit, the pair dives into folklore and myth despite their scientific skepticism. I love the interaction between Veronica and Stoker and the author’s understanding of the time period is expressed in their exchanges with such marvelous word play. The partnership is sound and the characters work together so well. I am always eager for the next installment. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Angele Masters, did a superb job voicing Veronica. She has just the right tone for every sentence and truly embodies the character. It was, however, quite jarring to hear her perform Stoker’s voice because he doesn’t sound at all like I imagined. Way too raspy and not deep enough or suave enough. Anyway, it did provide entertainment but the production would definitely benefit from a full cast because those characters deserve their own voices! 

If you’re considering a historical fiction series, I highly recommend this one. And start from the beginning.

This is the 10th book in the series that should be read from the beginning. 

Genre and tags: Victorian London, amateur sleuth, investigations, witchcraft, mesmerism, historical fiction