Writers and Liars by Carol Goodman

 Atmospheric locked room mystery that is steeped in Greek mythology and hints at the dark underbelly of the antiquities trade.

Maia Gold is a museum supervisor who wrote a successful debut novel years ago during an exclusive writers' retreat on Eris, a private Greek island. That week ended in bitter personal betrayal, however, involving her boyfriend, Ian, and her new best friend, Annika. Maia's novel, based on that drama, ultimately ended her writing career. 

Now it's 15 years later, and billionaire Argos Alexander invites a few of the original cohort back to the island. When all arrive, the host is missing but has left instructions with the housekeeper for a writing contest. They retreat to their rooms to try their chances at winning the promised prize but in the morning, instead of Argos waiting to give out awards, they find his dead body. 

Of course, there's no phone or any means of communication. They are trapped on the island. As suspensions fester and another body is discovered, Maia must figure out the secrets hidden on the island. Fortunately, she has expertise in Greek mythology and uses that knowledge to guide her quest.

This was quite the lesson in Greek mythology (unfortunately not a subject that I am familiar with) and sometimes it seemed way too much. The pacing relies on a shifting timeline between several discrete periods -- the distant past when Maia's parents were on the island, when the first writers' retreat occurred, and now in the present with the return. With so few characters, it was easy to sort quickly who the probably villain must be. It's a whodunit, but definitely has a lot of intellectual subplots and extraneous information that overwhelms the narrative. The fast-paced action scenes and the descriptions of some parts of the island were quite over the top, but the book was entertaining even as it was predictable. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publisher. The narrator, Kirsten Potter, had quite a time with all the characters as she tried to voice both male and female characters without sounding exaggerated. Although she did a decent job, a full cast or at least a male and female speaker for those parts would definitely have balanced out the dialog a little better. I always enjoy listening to a book while reading because it allows me to fully immerse myself in the story and enhances my enjoyment of the book.

3.5 stars

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

Genre and tags: writers, antiquities, Greek mythology, murder, manipulation, Greek island 

The Trad Wife’s Secret by Liane Child

 Behind the filter — the #tradwife exposed in this psychological and domestic suspense thriller.

On her idyllic Montana homestead, Madison March is the ultimate social media commodity: a flawless, apron-wearing “triad wife baking sourdough for her rancher husband, Michael, and their four adorable children. Over a million followers crave her aesthetic. But when Cally, a tutor feeling her own mistakes, enters the home, the flawless filter starts to slip. Told through 3 fractured perspectives: the ruthlessly curated Madison, the desperate tutor Cally, and Brianna, a young girl trapped in a parallel homesteading nightmare. 

This novel un peels the toxic, high level deception behind the lens of influencers. In the March house, submission isn’t just a lifestyle choice; it’s a survival tactic.

This novel offered an interesting look at the dark side of internet influencer culture and the modern homesteading movement, but it ultimately fell into predictable patterns and required a huge suspension of disbelief at the coincidences and connections. The atomosphere was tense and the ominous behavior of Michael was threatening and unsettling as he exerts his dominance and control. The contrast between the online image and the grim reality provided a good setup for the expectation of bad things to come. The final chapters really were over the top stretching believability a huge step too far. 

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, Lauryn Allman, did a good job of voicing the many characters in this novel and tried to keep accents and tones such that they did not blend together and retrained some individuality. Since most of the characters were women and children, she had a lot to keep straight. I always think a story like this would benefit from a full cast especially to have at least one solid male voice. Listening always enhances my enjoyment of the book as it creates an immersive experience. 

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

Genre and tags: suspense, tradwife, domestic abuse, infertility, assault, social media influencer, mother, children, murder

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

 A wonderful character driven drama that avoids typical thriller cliches and defies categorization.

Elsie Fitzpatrick is an 81-year-old woman living a quiet life in a Melbourne suburb. Her peace is shattered when she goes to the aid of a neighbor only to find him dead on the kitchen floor. The police investigate and uncover Elsie’s true identity; she is actually Mabel Waller. In 1954, at the age of 15, she became the youngest person convicted of murder in Australian history. She was known to the public as Mad Mabel. As notoriety once again revisits, Elsie decides to tell her side of the story to a pair of YouTubers. 

The narrator I’ve alternatives between Elsie’s childhood in the 1950s and her present-day reality. The very large personality that is Elsie is blunt, grumpy, unbothered by social niceties, and extremely cynical and funny. I actually laughed out loud so many times at her comments and responses to people and situations. When a book makes me laugh, I’m so much more invested and I could not put this down. I kept guessing, and hoping, with the slow build to the reveal of Elsie’s actual crime and her victim. The characters came to life on the page and the story was well balanced between the dark themes and the humor. I was not expecting to like this as much as I did and definitely recommend it.

I was lucky enough to be able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrators, Hannah Fredericksen (young Mabel in the 1050s) and Jenny Seedsman (81-year-old Elsie in present day) were absolutely fabulous. It was also tricky for them, I’m sure, to do the child parts as those never quite sound right. Both did a marvelous job of giving life to Mabel’s story and I enjoyed the immersive experience that enhanced my appreciation of the book. 

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

Genre and tags: contemporary, mystery, thriller, drama, murder, abuse, sexual assault, childhood trauma, suicide

Murder Will Out by Jennifer K. Breedlove

 Small town whodunit and a classic ghost story.

Graduate student and talented organist Willow Stone returns to Little North island off the coast of Maine for the memorial service of her estranged godmother, Sue. Willow soon discovers that Sue’s recent death before her imminent wedding might not have been accidental. Sue had inherited Cameron House, a large local mansion rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of its previous owners. When Willow overhears a threat directed at the next heir to the estate, she realizes that someone on the island is desperate enough to kill for the property that legally has to go to a Cameron heir. To uncover the truth, Willow navigates a tight knit community filled with greed and secrets. 

Although I’m definitely not a fan of paranormal anything, this worked in a crazy way with the Gothic atmosphere, the big old mansion with its secret passageways, and with the ghosts hanging about in the rooms. The mystery got a bit convoluted about who was related to whom, and definitely predictable with final revelations. Several murders threw up some red herrings, but the close group of women determined to figure out the truth was successful after a lot of misdirection. It was entertaining enough that I read it in a single sitting.

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, Gail Shalan, had a huge job voicing all those characters and trying to give each a sense of individuality. I must confess, however, that she got overly dramatic and used a very shrill voice much too often with several of those female characters. She used several different accents and was fairly consistent throughout the production. This is definitely a book that would greatly have benefitted with a full cast recording. I always enjoy a book a little more when I listen while I read. 

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

Genre and tags: ghosts, murder, mystery, cozy, paranormal, lesbian relationships, legacy and birthright, inheritance, Gothic mansion

Where the Truth Lies by Katherine Greene

 Simmering small town noir and domestic suspense.

On the surface, high school sweethearts Rhett Clark and Lucinda Herbaugh enjoy an idyllic life in their quiet Kentucky town, complete with a beautiful little girl and a lovely home. Their stable foundation, however, is built on deception. Right before their wedding fifteen years prior, an outsider, Jennifer Moore, arrived in town sparking a brief, explosive affair with Rhett that culminated in a brutal murder, local corruption, and a buried secret. 

The past collides with the present when an eyewitness gives evidence that places Rhett directly at the scene of the unsolved crime. Told in alternating perspectives across a past and present timeline, the carefully constructed facade of their marriage disintegrates as all is brought to light. 

This was an excellent character driven novel that shows the insular nature of small town life, local politics, and protection of their own. The tension is created by the dynamics between the characters and the dual timeline structure showing the bitter reality of Rhett and Lucinda's marriage. Issues of toxic control and social privilege, along with manipulative behavior, trap the characters in an exhausting cycle. Although some might feel it is slow burning, the narrative builds into revelations of emotional and physical abuse and the dark tone is consistent and unrelenting. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The full cast recording features the narrative talents of Amanda Stribling, Tristan Wright, and Hallie Ricardo. They all did a fantastic job of voicing the characters and bringing them to life on the page with their accents and dramatic flair. This created a truly immersive experience that enhanced my enjoyment of the book. Highly recommended.

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

Genre and tags: toxic masculinity, domestic violence, secrets and lies, suspense, small town 

The Family Secret (Detective Lottie Parker #16) by Patricia Gibney

 Series continues with another excellent procedural.

In this 16th book of the Detective Lottie Parker series, the entire team is consumed with an investigation involving the apparent murders of an entire family after they hosted a birthday party for the daughter, Freya. The inquiry is complicated by the subsequent disappearance of a mother and daughter in the neighborhood -- former good friends of the victims. The probe leads down one rabbit hole after another as the current crime is also tenuously linked to a decades old unsolved case where a mother and her daughter were also killed. 

Keeping all the characters straight was definitely a feat as the complex plot continues to yield new clues. Secrets from the past are revealed that connect some really nasty actors. There is so much going on in this installment that I had to read it all in a single sitting to find out who did what to whom. In addition, Lottie is juggling so many professional and personal issues it's definitely a herculean feat that she holds it all sort of together. I like her but sometimes I want to shake her to pay attention to what's really important. She's the kind of flawed that makes her more human instead of a messed up torpedo bound for self destruction going off half cocked. I hope she can get her life a bit more together. Between her kids (this time Chloe gets into it) and Boyd, as well as her mom, Lottie still tries to solve the mystery and keeps her main focus there. I didn't particularly like how the end came so abruptly with some unanswered questions that made it a sort of cliffhanger. 

Looking forward to the next episode. 

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.
Book Blog Stop/Tour

This is the 16th book in a series that should be read in order.

Tags and genre: police procedural, crime thriller, murder, grooming, secrets and lies, abuse, sexual assault 

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