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

Fury in Death (Eve Dallas #63) by JD Robb

 A shift from traditional police procedural to a morally complex race against a unique adversary.

In 2061 New York, Lieutenant Eve Dallas investigates the brutal overkill murder of Larry Chu, a top biotech executive at the shadowy conglomerate Banner-Wyst. Alongside Roarke and the rest of the NYPD crew, Eve is faced with a string of violent retaliatory killings of other employees of that company. The trail leads back 13 years to a tragic event that destroyed a scientist’s family. Digital records show millions spent for secret payouts. At the end of the day, Eve is forced to hunt a grieving killer whose quest for vengeance mirrors her own deeply rooted sense of justice even though she’s determined to make them pay. 

This 63rd in the series balances the procedural with an emotional aspect. The tragedy is established early on so the reader understands the reason behind the murders. There is definitely a heartbreaking motive but the crimes against the Banner-Wyst employees are also extremely violent and personal. Eve finds herself in a gray area because of her empathy for the perpetrator while she struggles with what she knows is her unwavering sense of duty to the law. 

As always, enjoy the interaction between all of the characters who are also good friends as well as work colleagues. Their whole history is so intertwined and the relationships so mutually healthy. I get a kick out of all of the futuristic details and conveniences that still seem so far away from what we have today but who knows. Can’t wait for the next in the series as they always seem like fresh and intriguing plots. 

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, Susan Ericksen, has performed all of the “In death” books and she does a great job voicing all the various characters keeping them distinct and identifiable. She’s got the accents and the tone down to an art and her dramatic flair always creates an immersive effect that enhances my enjoyment of the book. 

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

Genre and tags: murder, vengeance, police procedural, friends and colleagues, corporate greed, whistleblower

Mother Daughter Sister Stranger by Hank Phillippi Ryan

 Domestic suspense with many twists and turns.

Sisters Eliza and Bea share a traumatic bond as the only survivors of the plane crash that killed their parents. Years later, on the exact anniversary of the crash, Bea vanishes without a trace, failing to pick up her 11-year-old daughter, Piper, from Eliza’s home. Eliza embarks on a desperate search that unravels a web of family secrets tied to a serial killer from their past. 

This was entertaining with a good premise, but ultimately was way too wordy with repetitious and unnecessary stream of unconsciousness angst as the story evolves from Eliza’s point of view. For example, at one point, it takes 3 pages of wild speculation to get her from hearing someone at the door to actually going to answer. I personally don’t care for all of that and it bogged down the pace of the story. So all these possibilities of what happened to Bea and we skip from one assumption to another as Eliza sees danger around every corner and in every person. Then come the revelations which jump out one after another as they get more outrageous. It all felt more manufactured drama rather than a good mystery. I tried hard to really feel for Eliza and the other characters but they all seemed so superficial and without depth. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Stevi Incremona, did a decent job of trying to voice all the characters. I always enjoy the immersive experience.

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

Genre and tags: mystery, suspense, family drama, serial killer, pregnancy, adoption, murder, secrets and lies