The Break-in by Katherine Faulkner

 Slow moving domestic mystery.

Art restoration expert and wealthy London mother, Alice Rathbone, watches her life fall apart after a botched home invasion leaves a young man, Ezra Jones, dead. And, she was the one who killed him. Though the police rule the death as self-defense, Alice is consumed by guilt and paranoia. Online threats, suspicious phone calls, and things going missing from her home create confusion and stress. Alice is obsessed and does some extremely reckless things to try to find answers as to why her house was targeted. She can't move on so begins investigating Ezra's family. Her search drags her into a web of secrets, gaslighting, and betrayals involving her husband, her nanny, and her closest friends. It soon becomes clear  that the real danger was inside her home long before the intruder broke in.

The set up was good with the home invasion and the self-defense angle, but then it quickly got bogged down with endless angst on Alice's part. It became annoying with her running off half-cocked, violating her bail conditions, and making (and keeping) contact with Ezra's mom and sister. At the very end, the pace picked up as the reveals start rolling in one after another. I had to really suspend disbelief at some of the absurd things Alice did. There were a lot of messy subplots going on at the same time that diluted the impact of the primary mystery. Alice had to juggle toxic female friendships, a scheming nanny, hidden past affairs, and personal vendettas along with a revenge scenario. I did not like Alice so all that she did and what happened to her meant I ended up not really caring after all that convoluted mess. It was just too much too late. 

I'm giving this 2.5 stars rounded up. The book was way too long with tons of needless filler that made the story evolve more slowly and also quite boring at times. I almost stopped reading as it seemed like it was going nowhere except Alice whinging about can't move on. More domestic drama than thriller.

I listened to the audio book while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Shiromi Arserio, did a decent job trying to voice all the different characters but with so many females it definitely would have benefited from a larger cast performance.

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

Genre and tags: affairs, home invasion, stalking, revenge, secrets and lies, toxic female friendship, nanny, blackmail, Huntington's Chorea, grooming, pregnancy 

Replaced by Stephanie Kreml

 I’m having PTSD reading how this woman’s life is being dismantled.

OK it’s now just TOO MUCH. And it’s gotten completely unbelievable that all of these things would happen and that degree of persecution and manipulation would actually occur. There is no way that paperwork showing a divorce and marriage would hold up. The whole scene with the reading of the will and the lawyer saying that the husband changed the will. He would have had to sign it with witnesses in the lawyer presence. Lawyer accepted new will without ever seeing his client? 

And that those signed documents would not be analyzed. And so many of the legal aspects I am not buying. Things would not happen like that in real life. 

I was liking this at first as it moves really fast but things kept piling on and I can’t suspend my disbelief enough to recommend. It’s just ridiculous now.

Skip it. I finished but reluctantly. 

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

Genre and tags: domestic drama, schemes, manipulation, gaslighting, child custody

Three Reasons for Revenge by Dervla McTiernan

 A mastermind’s deadly game of retribution makes for a chilling thriller.

When student Alexis Turner walks into a Melbourne police station to report a sexual assault by a prominent university psychologist, she specifically asks for Detective Sergeant Judit Lee. The allegation strokes a raw nerve for Judith as it reminds her of a case she failed to finish a decade earlier. But before Judith can properly launch an investigation, Alexis vanishes without a trace. Shortly, three individuals receive personalized, anonymously delivered packages that contain a secret that is designed to destroy the recipent’s life. As Judith tries to piece together how these targets are connected, she realizes she’s not investigating a crime but she has been lured into a meticiulslly planned revenge scenario. 

Very unsettling psychological thriller that is suspenseful and thought provoking. The plot got me hooked and it took awhile to figure out how these seeiminly separate storylines were connected. The pacing was brisk and engaging. Judith Lee as a main character is definitely flawed (as usual) and driven by her own past mistakes but also by an authentic personal investment into getting justice for those the perpetrator has ruined. Definitely the narrative addresses power dynamics and long term trauma. A very addicting crime thriller that was quite sad and left me wanting more.

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, Alison McGirr, did a decent job with all the voices but this definitely could have benefited from a larger cast as there were a ton of characters. I love listening while reading because it creates a more enjoyable, immersive experience with a book. 

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

Genre and tags: crime thriller, female detective, murder, revenge, long term trauma, psychopath

System of Justice (Tom Berte #3) by Dan Buzzetta

 Compelling legal drama bridges the gap between Washington politics and raw courtroom battles.

Civil attorney, Tom Berte, is forced out of his quiet Albany practice and dragged back into the line of fire when a shocking murder rocks the nation's highest court. A Supreme Court justice has been murdered in his chambers, and the prime suspect is Madison Redding, a court clerk who also happens to be the protege of Tom's late mentor. Madison swears her innocence prompting Tom to step into the unfamiliar territory of criminal defense. There's a lot going on behind the scenes as Tom risks it all and tries to clear Madison's name.

I was at a distinct disadvantage coming into this series without having read the first two installments. Although the narrative referenced the back story often, it didn't really add to the current story and was more off putting because I wasn't familiar. Those many backward reflections seemed to take up a lot of space in this book and it really wasn't needed. 

Tom is one of those good guys who follows the rules and really wants justice, so basically a unicorn in the legal world in many ways. The legal maneuvering felt authentic even though it was quite convenient that Tom had friends in so many high places. It definitely helped him navigate the red tape and avoid getting killed. I liked the plot well enough but it was a bit predictable and some of the drama was over the top along with the trope of the innocent framed by powerful unseen forces. 

The pacing was good and kept me turning the pages so I read this in a single sitting. But the conclusion came quite abruptly after the final clues are revealed. Tom is a polarizing character for me because he is almost too decent and his portrayal is of a man and lawyer who is so amazing and can just do it all. But definitely I'd rather read about criminal cases over civil actions any day. I'm a huge fan of legal thrillers and glad to have had a chance to read this ARC thanks to the publisher. 

3.5 stars

This is part of a series that should be read in order. 

Genre and tags: supreme court justice, murder, framed, political corruption, legal thriller 

The Midwest Lawyer (Maggie Gallagher #1) by Peter Kirkland

 Authentic courtroom drama in this high stakes legal thriller.

After trading the frenetic pace of the Chicago prosecutor’s office for the quiet rhythms of her Ohio hometown, Maggie Gallagher wants nothing more than a peaceful practice and family dinners as she continues to recover from her injuries. Unfortunately, switching to a defender’s role brings an immediate trial by fire. When her childhood friend, Troy Weaver, is arrested for the shooting death of a local high school football coach, Maggie finds a nightmare from day one. The physical evidence is damning, her client seems to be hiding secrets, and a ruthless new prosecutor is hungry for a swift conviction as she sets her ambitions higher. 

Fortunately, Maggie’s husband and her other relatives in town are supportive as she tries to navigate the small town community to unearth the truth and help to free a man she believes to be innocent. 

I love a good legal thriller and this fit my requirements. The writing was good, the details and descriptions of the law and legal procedure were authentic, and the courtroom scenes were spot on. I know Maggie seems just a bit too fantastic with all her smarts and maneuvering, but I like her as a main character and look forward to seeing what she does in the next books in the series. 

I was able to listen to the audio book that I received from NetGalley while also reading along in the e-book. The narrator, Carrie Coello, did an ok job trying to voice all the characters but this could definitely have benefited from a larger cast or at least one male voice. It’s difficult to play the entire age and gender range with this many different characters to create a truly immersive experience. I’ve always felt, however, that listening while reading definitely enhances my enjoyment of a novel. 

This is the first in a new series.

Genre and tags: legal thriller, small town, murder, defense attorney, courtroom drama

The Last to Drown by Noelle W. Ihli

 Nail biting survivalist horror.

After her husband’s death, Kaia decides to escape from the suffocating weight of her grief by choosing to go on an 84-mile whitewater rafting trip down a brutal, isolated stretch of river with a group of women. But the wilderness offers no sanctuary.

Seven years prior, this exact river was the stage for a horrific mass murder committed by a rafting guide and is a tragedy the true crime community insists never really truly ended. As the roaring rapids cut the group off from the civilized world, tales from back then begin to repeat themselves. Missing gear, sabotaged rafts, and late night disturbances prove the past is alive. When the women take to the rafts in a desperate attempt to escape certain death at the hands of the murderer, Kaia must figure out how to survive and develop the will to save herself and the others. 

This was fast and furious with lots of white-knuckle suspense as the women face death in every moment. Definitely a claustrophobic nightmare of a book set in the deceptive beauty of the great outdoors. And also most assuredly, the type of adventure I would never sign on for! The killer is deliciously creepy. What made the novel stand out was how its pacing and plot sort of Mimi end the unpredictable current of a river — at times lulling into a false sense of survival before dropping. You into a terrifying free fall. 

An absolute must read for fans of survivalist horror and locked-room thrillers as there is no escape: can’t go anywhere but down the river. 

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. The only off-putting note for me was the constant insertion of the dead husband’s “presence” through the events.

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

Genre and tags: whitewater rafting, wilderness, murderer, survival, horror, river, female camaraderie 

Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox

 Entertaining psychological thriller that brilliantly dissects the cutthroat subculture of Southern Beauty pageants as well as the toxicity of lifelong small town friendships.

In the small town of Anhalt, Texas, the glittering facade of the annual Lone Star Princes Pageant masks a legacy of rot. The narrative weaves between two distinct timelines: the year 2000, when teenager Isabelle Whitmore vanished without a trace, and the year 2025. It’s been 25 years since her disappearance and the pageant is once again underway, bringing together a group of women who were also teenagers when Isabelle vanished. Ingrid, her twin sister, has returned to town just as a construction crew begins excavating the local ranch for a new housing development in a move that threatens to unearth the town’s secrets. Ingrid was dating Ben Sherman, the son of the ranch owner and he’s considered the most likely person to have killed her. But he’s never talked. 

Told in alternating points of view between 4 main women: Cat, Sarah Lynn, Ingrid, and Melanie. Each woman has a unique perspective on the events leading up to the day of competition when a historic winter storm completely knocks out the power grid and most of the town is gathered in the event center. All of the past resentments, relentless ambitions, and shifting loyalties reach a point that will result in another tragedy. 

I definitely enjoyed this more than I expected because it really gets down into the underbelly of generational trauma and small town venom. The locked room aspect wasn’t giving the vibes as it’s such a trope, but I did like the complex network of messy relationships among the women and former pageant contestants as well as their daughters. The mother-daughter relationships were a bit fraught and the teen thing is why I was a bit leery about this at first, but once I waded through being able to identify all the characters and got into the fast pace, I ended up surprised by a late twist and liked it a lot.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The audio had a full cast recording that included narrators Andrew Eiden, Brittany Pressley,  Mia Wurgaft, Saskia Maaleveld and Stevi Incremona. Most of them did a great job and I always enjoy a large cast so much more than a single voice. My least favorite was the voice of Melanie. I definitely appreciate the immersive experience that comes with listening while reading. Definitely recommend.

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

Genre and tags: beauty pageants, missing girls, murder, small town, friendship, psychological thriller

26 Beauties (Women’s Murder Club #26) by James Patterson

 Fast paced and engaging thriller.

Detective Lindsay Boxer investigates the disappearance of young women across San Francisco. The Women’s Murder Club must coordinate their police, forensic, and medical resources to tackle down a trafficking ring before more women vanish.

Trademark short chapters and high tension make the book speed by so I read it in a single setting. I love the series and the ladies of the club so it’s always fun to have a new installment. The characters collaborate well and get along and are still going strong with their friendship and their partners.

The story focuses on human trafficking but on a local scale in San Francisco. Bodies are found and girls are reported missing and the area of interest is the Tenderloin part of the city. An Interpol agent visits to help Lindsay and he gets involved in the investigation. There’s not a lot of depth about motives and the network of criminals involved, nor explanation of what those found were actually doing in the meanwhile, but the team gets their man after all. 

Always enjoy listening to the audio book while following along in the e-book. The narrator, January LaVoy, does a fantastic job of voicing all the characters, including the accents. Listening definitely enhances my enjoyment of the story. 

This is the 26th in a long running series. You can read as a standalone but you would be missing out on the whole history between the women, so don’t do that!

Genre and tags: police procedural, missing women, mystery, trafficking