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 

That Night by Gillian McAllister

 Family drama that was ultimately frustrating and disappointing. 

While on vacation at their shared home in Italy, siblings Cathy and Joe receive a frantic late-night call from their younger sister, Frannie, who has hit and killed a man with her car. To protect Frannie, the trio buries the body near their property and agrees to a pact of silence. Once back home and to work at their shared veterinary practice, escalating secrets and internal paranoia force the siblings to question their loyalty and how far they will go to protect one another. 

Although the narrative sets up a high stakes moral dilemma, the story quickly drags under the weight of endless repetitive emotional monologues that stall the momentum of the plot. It all falls because of a cast of unlikable characters --Cathy, Joe, and Frannie, whose self pity and bad decision-making make them really hard to root for. On top of that, the constant back and forth timeline disrupts the build up of any suspense as the reader guesses what is really going on. I just couldn't understand or relate to any of their responses to their situation. It was far too long as well. I didn't like the ending either.

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, Amrita Archaria, did an OK job but this story would have really benefited from a full cast with separate voices for the three main characters. It all sounded very much the same tone and inflection throughout and lacked unique voices. I like to immerse myself in a production to enhance my enjoyment of the story. 

This is a stand alone and not part of any series.

Genre and tags: murder, siblings, veterinary practice, family, secrets, coverup, bribes, lies 

It's Not What You Think by Claire Mackintosh

 A thriller full of misdirection that will keep you guessing.

Nadeeka Prasanna, convinced her partner Jamie is having an affair, sneaks home early to catch him in the act. Stung by past betrayals, she speeds to her house only to walk into an active crime scene -- Jamie has been murdered. What starts as a classic domestic suspense novel rapidly spirals into something far more dangers as hidden secrets and modern societal tensions come to light.

Wow, what a surprising shift in the story line! I had to keep reading as things kept twisting. Without spoilers, it's hard to say more about the action and plot but this is definitely not what I was expecting. I really liked the two main female characters, Nadeeka, and the DCI Lauren Caldwell. Other characters are also compelling and I was hooked in the first chapter. 

Told in alternating points of view, the pace doesn't let up as the revelations drop. I certainly didn't have this one all figured out and I really enjoyed that. I  will say that I ordinarily avoid reading any books that have social commentary or virtue signaling, but I didn't get pressure or heavy handedness with the issues. The topic is relevant and definitely one that elicits mixed responses. I was expecting domestic drama and a murder mystery, but this was so much more.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. This was a full cast recording and what a pleasure it was to listen and be so fully immersed in the story. The narrators, Richard Armitage, Samuel Barnett, Tuppence Middleton, and Vineeta Rishi, were all fantastic and deftly handled their character's voices imbued with appropriate dramatic flair. I really enjoyed them and their performance enhanced my appreciation of the novel. 

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

Genre and tags: (spoilers here) mystery, thriller, murder, domestic suspense.....

don't look down

 

 

domestic terrorism, immigration, far right ideology, racism, xenophobia, radicalization 

Those Who Are Gone (#2 Raquel Laing) by Laurie R. King

 Intricate and highly detailed police procedural.

When San Francisco Inspector Raquel Laing bends the rules on a murder case, she finds herself reassigned to the Cold Case Unit alongside mentor Al Hawkin. What seems like a routine transfer quickly turns personal as Raquel and her adoptive sister, Dee, uncover long-buried family secrets tied to drugs and an old investigation. As past trauma and present danger collide, the sisters are drawn into a dangerous game when forgotten history and family stories come to the surface. 

Although the author definitely knows how to construct a true police procedural, and the sister dynamic between Raquel and Dee adds a compelling emotional anchor, the pacing and the plot just sort of drag into ….well, a sort of boring tale. I just could not bring myself to be too bothered and it was such a slow burn unraveling of their family history that I found it a bit of a slog. I tried really hard to care about the characters, but again, they are so dull and I just couldn’t deal with all their past trauma still controlling their lives. Lots of coincidences and parallels in the case which seemed to stretch my ability to buy in. I didn’t feel any tension and I just wanted this very slow burn to be over and answer all the questions. Ho hum.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book provided by the publishers. The narrators, Vivienne Leheny and Luis Moreno, did an adequate job of trying to voice the characters with accents and dramatic flair. There were quite a few mispronunciations of places and nouns but I find that quite often in audio. Usually I find listening while reading to create an immersive experience that enhances my enjoyment of a book. Although the plot was plodding, the two did their best. 

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

Tags and genre: police procedural, sisters, cold case, family, drugs, murder

Buried in the Woods Below by Daniel G. Miller

 A mystery thriller that might keep you guessing.

Charlotte Hoffman agrees to visit a secluded Minnesota island to stay with her childhood family friends after she’s suspended from her job. Supposedly she’s there at her mother’s behest to help the Parkers care for their 8-year old twins and enjoy her time away from work. She arrives to find a house surrounded by dense forests and an abandoned amusement park that was the site of a tragedy 18 years prior. Soon after she settles in, strange notes begin to appear and dangerous incidents escalate. It’s all leading up to a terrifying climax on a stormy night.

The set up was solid but the execution screamed trying too hard as the suspense felt forced. There was a lot of weird stuff going on from the beginning but I, unfortunately, saw the set up and twists right away which dimmed my interest. I didn’t care for the main character and her crush was annoying as were her dreams. The plot seemed overworked and cliche. One happy surprise was, however, that it went where I hoped it would at the end. It was a quick read but the constant melodramatic push kept it firmly meh for me. 

The e-book ARC was provided to me by the publisher for my opinion. I was able to secure the audio book from the library so that I could listen while reading, but I did not care at all for the narrator, Victoria Villarreal, as her voice grated with her stops and starts that were intended to be dramatic. Generally the  simultaneous experience enhances my enjoyment, but I had to stop listening.  

This was a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre and tags: mystery thriller, suspense, island — to give any more tags would give it all away