All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

4.0 out of 5 stars -- "People were like Russian nesting dolls -- versions stacked inside the latest edition."

Just "wondering just how far we would be willing to go to protect those we love."

As soon as I turned the last page and let the conclusion hit me with full force, I turned back to the very beginning and started to reread. It's that kind of story, but stranger, because it is told in reverse. The answer is there, but you don't see it until you've read to the end. Sure, you have guesses, but you don't really know.

Nic Farrell returns to Cooley Ridge after she receives a cryptic letter from her father. She'd left the place, and everyone there, behind 10 years previously when a friend of hers, Corrine, went missing and was never found. Implicated in the disappearance along with her brother, Daniel, her boyfriend, Tyler, and others in their group, she and her friends managed to satisfy the police that they were not responsible and she made it out and has created a new life for herself -- including getting engaged to Everett. Within 24 hours of her arrival in town, another girl, Annaleise Carter, vanishes. It's all coming back now...

Fast-paced backward suspense provided a very entertaining evening read for me. This will be a great vacation read -- see if you can figure it out from sifting among the red herrings, the lies, the many secrets, and the unspoken.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the e-book ARC to review.

The Drowning Girls by Paula Treick DeBoard

Paula Treick DeBoard returns with a tale of dark secrets, shocking lies and a dangerous obsession that will change one neighborhood forever

4.0 out of 5 stars -- Paradise gone wrong

When Phil moves his wife, Liz, and 14-year-old stepdaughter, Danielle, into the luxury villa on the golf course of exclusive The Palms, he feels like the luckiest man alive. They can live in this paradise of the rich for free as he has been given a contract to be the community relations liaison for the new development with amenities similar to a resort. Although they know they are really outsiders and "house rich, cash poor" -- they begin to meet the other neighbors and become part of their new social world. Danielle is a bit of a nerd, and when Sonia suggests that her same age daughter, Kelsey, might be a new friend, Liz eagerly invites her into their home and the two become inseparable. Only problem, Kelsey seems obsessed with Aussie Phil...she won't leave him alone but he is NOT interested in the beautiful teenager. Or is he?

This is the kind of book that I devour. Even though the reader sort of knows what is going to happen, the build-up and the anticipation made it a story that I just could not put down.

It has all the elements of a "fatal attraction" theme with the reader seeing it all unfold and shaking head in frustration as it intensifies relentlessly. STOP HER! But how? And who is to blame...Told from the point of view of both Liz and Phil, and with some time shifting, the tale unfolds in tantalizing pieces and the conclusion will leave you thinking about this novel long after you've turned the last page. Great summer read, don't miss it!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Harlequin (US & Canada) Mira for the e-book ARC to review.

Guilty Minds (#3) by Joseph Finder

3.0 out of 5 stars -- This third in the Nick Heller series is fast-paced entertainment.

Nick, a private spy, is called to Washington, DC, to fix a situation involving an internet story about a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and a prostitute. The narrative is one that involves nonstop action and includes conspiracy and betrayal as well as interaction with a shadowy organization that solves problems for those who can afford them. Nick, trying to separate the lies from the truth, has his usual share of nearly impossible escapes and of course manages a romantic interlude in the midst of his investigation.

Fans of this author and the series will not want to miss this one. Though very predictable, it was an enjoyable read. Nick Heller is the male hero archetype of this genre and so the dialog is snappy and his skills very impressive as he seeks justice and an answer in this case.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the e-book ARC to review. 

Die of Shame by Mark Billingham

3.0 out of 5 stars -- Standalone delivers a complex mystery surrounding the murder of a member of an addiction recovery group.

They meet every Monday night -- two men, three women and the therapist/group leader. Their addictions are varied and their stories similar in the way that their problem has affected their lives. The narrative shifts in a slightly off-putting THEN and HERE AND NOW, etc. In an effort to focus on the NOW, Tony De Silva (leader) suggest that each member focus on the concept of shame as the root of their addictions. So they each, in turn, are meant to tell something about "something we did" or "something that was done to us." The shame that drove them to substance abuse. This sharing doesn't go so well as one of the members ends up dead.

Nicola Tanner catches the case, and with her partner, Dipak Chall, begins the very tedious investigation. Once they've learned a little bit about the victim, their efforts eventually center on the group members as probably suspects. There's enough suspicion to go around as they delve into the interactions of the group.

I was a bit surprised to find that this was the first and only book I've read by this author. I can't compare it to his apparently popular series featuring Tom Thorne. I felt this was quite slow moving and I really didn't like the flip flop of time though we do get a glimpse of each of the actions and thoughts of the main characters though they never really develop enough to earn my empathy or interest. Nicola needs a lot more fleshing out, but then again, how much of her private life was important to the drive of the plot. I was not really surprised with the revelation of the identity of the killer and can I just say that I definitely did not like the cop out ending. I don't know that this represents this author's finest book, so I may try one of the Tom Thorne series novels just to see if there are more thrills and suspense than there was in this one. Not a lot of action here either. So this story takes a long time to tell and not sure it's for everyone but maybe more for those who are already fans.

Thank you to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic and Edelweiss for an e-book ARC to review. 

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

3.0 out of 5 stars -- Melodrama and mystery on board a luxury cruise ship in the fjords of the North Sea in Scandinavia.

Suspend disbelief as this hot mess of a travel journalist -- Lo (??? this nickname for Laura ugh) Blacklock -- doggedly searches for a woman she spoke to (and borrowed a mascara from) on the AURORA, and who she claims was thrown overboard during the night. The only problem with her story is that there is no passenger registered in Cabin 10 and no one has any idea who she could be.

Lo's main difficulty while playing amateur sleuth is that she doesn't appear to be a very reliable person -- she gets very drunk the first night on the ship, she can't ever sleep, she doesn't eat, she vomits, she gets banged up (a lot), she takes medication for an anxiety disorder -- and yet...  She tries to get the ship's security chief and its wealthy owner to believe her, and they comb the AURORA looking for anyone who might know this missing woman or have seen her on the ship.

The book is fast paced but I found myself so annoyed by Lo and her constant peril and the ridiculous situations she put herself in that the climax and conclusion were a letdown. Without any sympathy for her, I wasn't much concerned with how things would turn out and the whole explanation for the mystery was quite lame. I have not read the previous book by this author and I'm not sure I will, but likely will give another try.

Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for the e-book ARC to review.

The Girls by Emma Cline

3.5 out of 4 stars -- A coming of age first person narrative set in  late 1960s California.

Lonely Evie is 14 when she first sees "the girls" in the park. Fascinated by their grungy appearance and their aura of togetherness, she is drawn to them with an urgency that she doesn't understand. They seem to be so alive, so free, and Evie is desperate to get away from what she perceives as her shallow privileged existence in that limbo time between adolescence and young adulthood.  Since her parents divorced, and her best girlfriend defected, Evie lacks the attention she craves and so she seeks out the apparent Queen Bee of this group, Suzanne, and is taken along to their run down ranch in the hills to meet their charismatic leader, Russell. The ranch, the group, the leader are all meant to represent Charles Manson and his "family" so the reader feels that sense of foreboding though knowing what is going to ultimately happen.

Told in flashbacks and alternating with present day when Evie is middle aged and staying in a borrowed home, the story is a stream of consciousness centered on Evie's observations about herself and about what it means to be a girl in society. It is less about the violence and the murders than it is an attempt to explain how a disenfranchised teen could become enamored of this lifestyle, seeking desperately to belong somewhere, to be a part of something significant.

In 1969, I was 13 years old -- a little younger than Evie, and living a life that was the complete opposite of hers. I didn't, nor did any of my acquaintances, have any interest or intention to drink or experiment with drugs at that age and stage of our lives (though some did later in their teens). I think this might be what made this book so hard for me to understand -- how is someone so young as Evie so messed up in her head? Granted our family situations were a lot different (mainly a ton of siblings and parents who were together), but the topic that really got me was all this about how women and girls weren't valued because of their gender. That whole issue is anathema to me. I never thought those thoughts or felt that bias personally though I wonder now if there were messages that might have been intended to make me feel that way. I was probably oblivious having specific dreams and plans -- and a supportive family. So, perhaps that means that I am not the intended audience for this novel as I fail to appreciate the angst that drove Evie to that filthy ranch and her substitute family. One thing is for certain, however, and that is the teen-aged girl's proclivity for drama. That always existed in abundance an was certainly a driving force in behavior and oftentimes ended in bad decisions.

I would guess that many young readers will have no idea, or just a vague notion, about the Sharon Tate murders and Charles Manson, though I do remember it vividly. Newspaper stories were the stuff of nightmares for many of us for years to come. The girls who came under the spell of that psycho maniac were transformed into Russell's hit squad in this novel. The author must have done a lot of research for this debut and I appreciate that.

Overall, I have very mixed feelings about this book as I know it is going to be one of those that gets a lot of focus and certainly could be the subject of many discussions and arguments.  I think it is a title that will appeal to certain readers. All I can say to any parent of a teen girl --  make sure you demonstrate in every way, every day, how much she is treasured. Also, parents, I hope you always know where your children are and who they are with. Seems obvious, but so many things go wrong for kids when parents and other adults in their lives aren't paying attention. Despite her situation, and her perception of the lack of care and concern by her parents, I never felt the empathy for Evie that seems to be necessary to really love this story. Plus (possible spoiler), we are led to believe that she could have been a willing participant -- maybe -- if she had not been kicked out of the car and left at the side of the road on that fateful night of mayhem and murder.

Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss and Random House Publishing for this e-book ARC to review.

Woman with a Secret by Sophie Hannah

Spilling CID #9 in series  ( I have only read #3 and #7)

A dark and chilling psychological thriller in which a woman desperate to hide a devastating secret in her past is drawn into a murder investigation...

4.0 out of 5 stars -- Enjoyable and complicated mystery featuring Detective Constable Simon Waterhouse, his wife Charlie, and the gang in another case in a long running series (this is #9).

The murdered man, Damon Blundy, was a not-so-well-liked columnist for the HERALD. "His vocation was pissing off as many people as possible: women, Jews, Muslims, atheists, pro-choicers...--you name it." The victim had no shortage of people who would have cheerfully killed him so the detectives assume it's personal. This investigation is not going to be an easy one.

Nikki Clements is a woman with a secret. How is she connected to the dead man? Hard to know, because she has a reputation as a liar. She lies about everything. There is only one person to whom she tells everything. A stranger on the internet.

This was a fun read and I enjoyed guessing about the identity of the killer until the conclusion. I have read a couple of other books in this series and I'm sure it would be best to read them all, in order, but I've been hit and miss. I am sure I'll read another.

Library Book

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

5.0 out of 5 stars -- I do not usually read memoirs or nonfiction but I was drawn to this because the forward was written by Abraham Verghese, the author of one of my favorite books of all time -- CUTTING FOR STONE.

Ostensibly, the book is about the life of Dr. Paul Kalanithi, a young man who is in the last year of his neurosurgery residency when he is diagnosed with lung cancer. We know at the outset that he has recently died, leaving behind a wife and an 8-month-old baby girl. But the true nature of his writing is the underlying theme -- Why are we here -- what is the purpose of life.

The book is not maudlin or dramatic, and it's not for everyone. There's a lot of medical detail and literature references that some might find pretentious or overwhelming. After all, Paul initially majored in Literature before he was called to become a physician and surgeon. The reader learns of Paul's early years, growing up in Arizona, and about his education and training in his young adulthood. Then it shifts to his changed circumstances and his treatment after being diagnosed. We see glimpses into his personal life and hear about his closeness to his family, colleagues and friends. What the book most definitely not is a roadmap, nor a guide of how to navigate a terminal illness -- it's not a story of how he found religion, and it definitely does not provide THE ANSWER.

I feel that the mark of a really great book is when it makes me think. When it causes me to pause for periods of intense self-reflection. I do not want to live an unexamined life. I read this over the course of a couple of hours and had to take a break just to reflect on some of Paul's personal insights. These were his thoughts, his reactions, his decisions. What would mine be, given my own life situations. It made me wish that this poetic soul had received the gift of more time. I came away from this reading experience humbled by his story. I would like to think I will go gently and courageously, not screaming WHY ME -- but none of us knows until it happens. Can a person prepare for death, really?

I'd recommend this for the beautiful prose and for giving the opportunity to see what one man did and said and thought during the last months of his life. How would I like to be remembered...what will I leave behind.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-book ARC to review.

Forgive Me by Daniel Palmer

3.0 out of 5 stars -- Fast paced suspense and lots of action as Angie DeRose, PI, searches for a young girl who is kidnapped into prostitution. In another plot line, Angie seeks to solve a mystery involving her own family.

Without giving any spoilers, I found the story of the trafficking to be much more compelling than the one that dealt with the picture Angie found. As do most thrillers that involve bad guys vs the strong, beautiful, female protagonist, some of the situations and coincidence required a heavy dose of suspense of disbelief. The characters and their roles were stereotypical of this genre and there were no surprises or twists. The required romance element is included.

A quick and entertaining read perfect for commute or holiday. I have read most of Daniel Palmer's books and will likely keep the author on my TBR list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the e-book ARC to review.

The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North

3.0 out of 5 stars -- Who are you if no one remembers you -- do you even really exist if the feedback you receive from others is fleeting. You have no permanence in anyone else's memory. "All thought is association and feedback."

Hope Arden is a young woman you will never know. Even if you meet her and talk with her a thousand times, you won't remember it or her face or anything about her when and if you see her again. Hope does not "disappear" or anything magical, but for some reason (never explained), she is just forgotten. This makes it very hard for her to have any sort of normal life or relationships. She can't work a job. Hard to imagine such an existence. Hope has sort of come to terms with it -- even using it to her advantage when committing crimes -- but she is a lonely soul in search of a connection.

In a parallel story to that of Hope and her constant travel to avoid being caught by digital records and cameras that do remember her, she becomes intrigued by a new, popular app named PERFECTION. It's all the rage as the rich and beautiful become "perfect" and Hope wonders if the treatments might help her reverse or change her condition.

All the while, Hope talks to herself in a continuous monologue of trivia and ceaseless counting. She repeats mantras and spouts facts about places and things. I got weary of it after awhile and it was repetitive and sort of annoying. I just wanted to read how things turned out for Hope and let's just say the conclusion was not as satisfying as I'd wished.

The premise was interesting, the story lines were complicated and absorbing, but the overall pace and the redundancy of Hope's internal dialog dimmed my enthusiasm. The writing was extremely descriptive with lots of detail.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Redhook for the e-book ARC to review.

The Passenger by Lisa Lutz

"Forty-eight hours after leaving her husband’s body at the base of the stairs, Tanya Dubois cashes in her credit cards, dyes her hair brown, demands a new name from a shadowy voice over the phone, and flees town. It’s not the first time."

3.0 out of 5 stars -- You will enjoy this if you are able to suspend disbelief and accept some very unrealistic scenarios while following a conniving, murderous thief -- whose name changes with each chapter -- as she attempts to escape her past. Somehow, despite the flaws and the implausibility, you may come to care about this woman and find yourself curious as she traverses the USA by way of car, train and bus. She is constantly on the move because she has the worst luck ever and it is hard to take care of yourself when you have no identity and because people are looking for you. All the while, there are hints that something happened over 10 years ago that caused her to run away and she has been doing it ever since.

The book pace ebbs and flows with some of the assumed identities being more interesting than others. This is really a first person narrative and the secondary characters (even Blue) are basically barely relevant to the development of the plot and the subsequent reveal at the end.

I am not sure why this is categorized as a psychological thriller. I did not find it particularly suspenseful and there were enough loose ends that I felt some annoyance at the slightly off-putting conclusion. I did not find this woman to be a sympathetic or likeable person and wasn't even rooting for a happy ending for her. That said, I liked it well enough as I enjoyed a purely escapist evening read that required no pressure to take seriously.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the e-book ARC to review.

 

Under the Harrow by Flynn Berry

"When Nora takes the train from London to visit her sister in the countryside, she expects to find her waiting at the station, or at home cooking dinner. But when she walks into Rachel’s familiar house, what she finds is entirely different: her sister has been the victim of a brutal murder. "

3.5 out of 5 stars -- A young woman's dogged search for her sister's murderer takes some strange twists as she is tortured by memories of their shared  tumultuous past.

Even though sisters can be incredibly close, they still don't know EVERYTHING about each other -- as Nora finds out. Rachel did have secrets and one of them may have gotten her killed.

Although this book was rather slow at times, it was likely due to the incredible amount of detail about the setting that makes the reader almost feel THERE. Nora, as narrator, delivers a stream of consciousness barrage of description as well as many not so reliable recollections.

Anyone who enjoys psychological drama would probably like this debut novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP for the e-book ARC to review. 

The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza (#1)

4.0 out of 5 stars -- Thrilling and fast-paced debut featuring DCI Erika Foster and set in London.

Beautiful, young Andrea Douglas-Brown is found dead in the ice. She's the daughter of a wealthy member of the House of Lords and the fiance of an equally moneyed business man -- so who would want to kill her?

DCI Foster soon realizes that she is the odd one out as her nemesis in the police department trots out a suspect and wants to close the case. Soon left to her own investigative devices, Erika figures out that this murder was committed by a vicious serial killer and she's put off the case but fortunately still kept in the loop by her Met team members. The investigation is solid police procedural with the addition of some backstory into Erika's character and life situation as well.

I enjoyed this novel and can't wait to read the next in the series, THE NIGHT STALKER, tentative publication date in June 2016. I like the protagonist and am also very interested in the other characters with whom Erika works. It's an excellent blend of strong female lead who is also vulnerable because of events in her past -- but definitely not a psycho mess. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a suspense novel about the hunt for a serial killer that is well-plotted not manipulative and twisty -- though, if you're guessing, it might take you awhile to figure out the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an e-book ARC to review.

I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

You will be scared. But you won’t know why…

I’m thinking of ending things. Once this thought arrives, it stays. It sticks. It lingers. It’s always there. Always.

4.0 out of 5 stars -- What a ride! If a reaction to reading a book keeps you up all night AFTER you've finished, I'd say it hit the mark. Positively or negatively, I guarantee that you will have a hard time putting this story to rest after turning the last pages.

Jake and "the girlfriend" are on a road trip to meet his parents at a remote farm, location unnamed. After unusual conversation and interaction both in the car and at the farm, they head back home because Jake has to work the next morning. Jake is sidetracked and they end up at an isolated school building. That's all I'm saying. No spoilers. You'll have to take this journey yourself and I'd guess that you will be turning this one over in your head for a long time to come. It's very dark and it's really scary in a way that has nothing to do with bad guys. 

I think that this debut is one you won't want to miss -- if only because everyone else who reads it will be talking about it!

Thank you to Gallery, Threshold Pocket books, Gallery/Scout Press and NetGalley for an e-book ARC of this for review.

The Beauty of the End by Debbie Howells

From the acclaimed author of The Bones of You comes a haunting and heartbreaking new psychological thriller about a man thrust into the middle of a murder investigation, forced to confront the secrets of his ex-lover's past.

3.0 out of 5 stars -- Perhaps when someone lives intensely and feels extremes of emotion, she burns out before her time. Or perhaps one can flame out from the weight of secrets, evasions and outright lies.

Time shifting psychological drama full of basically unlikable characters and a very thin mystery that was entirely predictable. The premise -- April lies comatose in a hospital bed after an attempted suicide while being the only suspect in the stabbing death of her stepfather. Noah is a burnt out lawyer turned writer living in alcoholic seclusion -- he adored April but she had dumped him on what was to be their wedding day -- without any explanation. When their mutual friend, Will, calls Noah about April, Noah decides to return to his lost love and clear her name. In between visits to the hospital, Noah tries to sift through the few details he can find about April's life. Apparently there was a LOT that Noah never knew.

I read this author's previous book and so was interested to delve into this one based on the publisher's synopsis. I found the jumps back and forth in time a bit jarring as Noah relives his adolescent crush on April and then time apart and then the ensuing years when the relationship they had finally budded into an upcoming marriage. All the while thinking that Noah was a thick headed dolt who was blinded by his perception of April as a goddess and thus he never confronted her when he should have and thus he was not privy to truth. He saw what he wanted to see: April was perfect.
In between Noah's narrative is another voice, that of a teenage girl named Ella who is seeing a therapist because she has discovered a secret. Lots of secrets in this novel. Anyway, this did not have any suspense and is not a thriller and if you are easily irritated when only hints are dangled for the longest time when you already know where it's going and just want to get there already...then this might not be for you either. I didn't experience any surprises though there were several attempts to create what some might call twists. I would say my overriding emotion the further I got into the book was irritation. Evaluation -- it was OK.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the e-book ARC to review. 

No One Knows by J.T. Ellison

And again, another comparison to books whose titles and content I am starting to hate. STOP! I am beginning to think that I am on a mission to read all the books thus compared so that I can tell readers how unlike those books they are. When something is new and first it is good, but readers aren't so gullible and fooled after that and actually expect the twist and are ready for it.
I'll let you know about this one.
 
No. No. No. Don't bother.
I am not even going to review this one. I could barely get through it. I am done reading books that are compared to GONE GIRL and GIRL ON THE TRAIN. I am done reading books with unreliable narrators and those that have twists that really don't make any sense other than to be a "gotcha" -- know what I mean? When you know there is one and are looking for one, you're prepared and it is a gimmick. I want to believe my characters and like them -- and even if I can't, I still expect plausibility in context.

I am thankful to NetGalley for offering me the e-book ARC when I requested it.

And Again: A Novel by Jessica Chiarella

3.0 out of 5 stars -- What would you give -- and what would it cost -- to have a new, perfect body with all your old memories? What would being "reborn" do to your relationships, your work, your talent? Would you still be YOU?

These rhetorical questions are at the heart of AND AGAIN as 4 terminally ill strangers are given this very opportunity through an experimental program, SUBlife. Set in present day, in Chicago, these 3 women and one man find out those answers as they wake in healthy new bodies and are thrust back into their previous lives. The novel seeks to examine the concept of identity and self-concept.

The narrative is told from the point of view of each character and the reader is an observer as they struggle to come to grips with their changed reality -- the entire course and purpose of a new life. Though the premise was quite intriguing and reminded me of a movie I saw years ago about a woman who experienced a brain transplant, it really didn't engage me as thoroughly as I hoped and I was a bit disappointed in the pace and the struggles of each character's discovery process. I really didn't identify with any of them and don't think their real question was answered -- in fact, would it be better to have let nature take its course and not interfere? Frankly, if I was in any of their situations, I think I'd sign up instantly for SUBlife and never look back. After all, to be alive is to get that second chance they all seemed too hesitant to take.

I got this book from the library because I actually thought it would have more "medical" in it about the actual cloning.

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

Seriously, here's another blurb using the dreaded comparison...STOP!!!
The next blockbuster thriller for those who loved The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl...a novel with "an astonishing intensity that drags you in and never—ever—lets you go." (Daily Mail, UK)

3.0 out of 5 stars -- There's no where to run and hide as the past always seems to catch up to you...

I am not quite sure how to classify this book into a genre. You start out reading it and think it's going to be one thing, and then, suddenly, it's quite another. I would say it has drama and romance with a large dose of menace.

A child is killed in a hit and run -- leaves behind a devastated mother and an angry police department as they can't find the driver even with intense investigation. No leads pan out and the case goes cold.

Jenna has escaped Bristol to where she lives in seclusion at Penfach in a tiny, cold cottage near the sea. Her dreams are nightmares of the accident. She finds some comfort in her photography and makes some tentative friendships with some of the residents. Her life is lonely and sad.

Suddenly the point of view changes -- no spoilers. After that, the rest of the novel becomes predictable and reaches the inevitable conclusion.

I've read other reviews of this book and can't say I agree. I am not a fan of this new manipulative style of authors that put a GONE GIRL twist now into the narrative. (And I'm tired of reading how every novel that is supposed to be psychological suspense is compared to that title or to GIRL ON THE TRAIN). This was neither. There were a couple of things that really bothered and irritated me, for one, the ridiculous romantic interplay between the two main lead cops, Ray and Kate. It seemed false and banal.

At the end, I was just left feeling meh and disappointed. I never connected with any of the characters and there were quite a few slow parts. I would not say there was any gripping suspense as the outcome is easily anticipated and I'm trying to figure out how so many were captivated and cried while reading.

Regardless, I'll be more careful in the future when reading a synopsis of a book that is compared to those previously mentioned other titles. Because once you accept it's like those, you know that there will be a "gotcha" and you're ready.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the e-book ARC of this book to review.

The Ex by Alafair Burke

Oh publishers, please STOP comparing every thriller to GONE GIRL or GIRL ON THE TRAIN...you know that's not always a good hook anymore, and besides, most books are not going to "catch us out" as we are already anticipating a twist now.

3.0 out of 5 stars -- Legal thriller that asks the question -- how much can people change? And what do you owe someone if you think you ruined his life -- even if it was 20 years ago?

I like courtroom and legal dramas and this one started out well -- criminal defense attorney, 40 year-old Olivia Randall, is hired to help her ex-fiance beat a triple homicide rap. There are complications, however, and the case becomes more complex and convoluted the further she probes. Even though she initially was convinced that Jack Harris could NOT have possibly committed these murders, (certainly not the Jack Harris she was once supposed to marry) as the evidence piles up, she starts to have doubts. Even though she thinks she owes him this defense because she was hideous to him when they were engaged, she starts to feel that she is being used. Is all this obfuscation and his lies an elaborate hoax to cover up cold-blooded murder?

Although this was fast paced and started out extremely well, by the end I was left feeling cold and angry with the ending because I found it totally unbelievable. I could list out the problems I had with the conclusion, but that would constitute extreme spoilers so I will just let readers who want to delve into this find out for themselves. It was obvious that the author knows legal procedure and trial activity, but the characters she created were not very likable and I didn't connect with them. I want to write more, but again, anything I say would give it all away though I had it figured out pretty quickly -- just hoped I was wrong.

Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers for the e-book ARC to review. I'd definitely try another of this author's legal thrillers as I did enjoy the writing style and I like the genre.

 

S. by JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst

3.0 out of 5 stars -- "One book. Two readers. A world of mystery, menace, and desire."

This unique reading experience is presented as S. in a cardboard slipcover with 22 different inserts and lots of color-coded notes in the margins of the actual book that is titled SHIP OF THESUS. There are 5 of us in the group and we are reading it together: a Physics teacher, a librarian/nurse (me), and two library science students at the high school we work at/attend together. Several suggestions have been given about the best way to actually read this book -- I think of it more as that we five are going on an adventure together -- but this is how we are doing it:

First we organized ourselves by taking all the inserts out of the book and labeling them with the page number location where they were removed and putting all of those in an envelope. We all have a dictionary, our iPads and a notebook with a pen and highlighter handy. List of inserts/page numbers taken from http://sfiles22.blogspot.com/2013/01/list-of-inserts.html

We will read independently - one chapter at a time -- but have agreed to read just the actual SHIP OF THESUS book through first, then the blue ink and the black caps ink in the margins, along with any inserts found between the pages of that chapter. We take notes as we read and look up anything that grabs our interest along the way -- oh how I love a book that brings out the researcher in me! Then we plan to meet after we read each chapter to share our thoughts, comments, and questions. We are taking it slow, right now, shooting for only one chapter (about 30 pages) a week. We don't want to rush through it and want to make sure don't miss a thing on this trip.

I'll get back here when we have finished this journey and provide an overall review and recap.

1-15  We've decided that all the side margin notes and the inserts are way too distracting and we are quite confused. Reading has become a tedious exercise. We will move forward to Chapter 3 now reading only the text of SOT and the pencil notes. Ignoring the inserts for now.

1-21 We had our 4th meeting today to discuss Chapter 3. After some discussion in an earlier meeting, we changed our plan and now are reading only SOT and the original pencil notes by Eric. The other margin notes were too distracting and confusing. We are seeing themes of identity, rebirth, change throughout. Quite a bit left to interpretation and imagination within the book and we are going through it a chapter at a time. He's (S---) gone from a tavern, to a ship, to a wharf during a demonstration. The locations are nameless.

1-26 - Met to discuss chapter 4. Another chapter, another adventure. This time S is in a house (labeled with S of course in that strange script) with the leaders of the demonstrators -- they are hiding from the police after the bomb went off -- they're suspects.
More recurring themes: birds and bees, Sola again (but a problem develops and a question of whether or not this is same girl), "home is not safe" -- always changing. Allegory about hell?
See the homage to the art of storytelling thru writing or oral narratives -- it's how we tell the world who we are? There is a connection between writer and reader!
New clothes for S - he get a new set almost everywhere he goes.
Thought -- S is being reborn, changing -- we change through experiences we have and people we meet -- same as S.
Seems to be a preoccupation with relationships.
Where is he geographically? Eastern Europe?  City and country names not mentioned. Surnames of different nationalities such as French or Swedish.
Off to explore caves next. Traveling companions with S.

1-27 Great article from UTNE
The Ship of Thesus and the Question of Identity

1-29 Met this am to discuss Chapter 5. Still seeing the same themes and starting to wonder if SOT might be Straka's metaphoric autobiography? S__ sure finds himself in dire situations where he's given the chance to step up, but usually does not. He lets people down. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."  Is S___ passive-aggressive?
Another common theme is that of being alone vs relationships.  "LOVE. LOSE. DIE." S__doesn't seem to have much luck with people he runs into and they sure don't fare better for meeting him.
The cave painting description was interesting as was their journey into (and out) of it.
Once again S___finds himself in water, alone, and lo and behold -- there's the SOT there, waiting, with all his old shipmates.
We see S__experiencing loss, a little shame and regret..how will he atone and do penance?

2-2 Met to discuss Chapter 6. Our confusion as to who S__ is, and what he's doing continues. Is he moving toward something or away from something? Everywhere he goes, people die trying to help him. Time is passing -- and he's unaware. He (his foot) was healed in the water (baptism?) and now is back on the ship. Bizarre ritual observed below decks. Crew down to 15 sailors from 19 and some are women, he just notices. He's writing his story on the walls of his cabin.
Reasons for change - time, circumstances, people and experiences.

2-9 Met to discuss Chapter 7. We were quite surprised by events that bring even more questions and confusion. S___ is writing. S____ has aged. S_____still has no answers to his history though it seems that memories are coming. The visit to the island was interesting -- who was that old woman?
Is this whole experience to this point some sort of dream state for S____?  He's back to the ship after seeing all the books and the old woman. Makes a mistake to sneak a visit the orlop deck? or is it not a mistake after all?

2-11 Again we meet to talk about Chapter Interlude when S___is apparently fulfilling his duties with the contents of the valise and murdering the Agents who work for THE BOSS (Vevoda).  It was interesting to see a reference to a specific place (Sarajevo) and a real event (assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand) and some other details that eliminate some of the vagueness associated with the rest of the book. May be helpful to review some of the pertinent history of that time and place. Circa 1914? 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Archduke_Franz_Ferdinand_of_Austria
Interesting that S___sews up his own lips but takes out the thread when he leaves the ship to go on his missions. He still spends hours in the orlop writing "all the stories of the world" and time is fluid.

2-16 Met for Chapter 8 - on the Territory for another assassination. This time -- someone S___ has known in the past! Again his guides are killed/die. There's a baby too -- what does it mean? Some good quotes in this chapter: "What matters is what you DO, not what you are called." (name is not your identity). "Better a change than an end."  "History - a story of choices."  When S____attempts to return to the ship, it's been destroyed and all appear dead.

2-22 Well, we have finished reading the book of Ship of Thesus and were quite dismayed by the NONending. No answers. Just a lot of platitudes and axioms about life in general. What happened at the Chateau? Where are S and Sola going (if anywhere). Where's their ship? Is this a happy ever after ending for them?

Not sure what to do next. We've agreed that we will give a shot to going back through and now reading the margin notes and trying to figure out what the inserts have to do with anything. I'm afraid we all missed the boat and the message of this one...

2-29 How appropriate to end our reading of this book on "Leap Day" -- yes, we're done. After all this time, we just don't want to commit any more to trying to decipher the hidden means, go through the clues, and figure out any further revelations from this book. The experience was interesting, but in the end, all the "extras" didn't really do anything to add to the value or the story of S. In fact, the most common complaint from the group was that the story was frustrating and confusing.
SO -- we're glad we read it, found some insight about the truth of personal identity and change.
I'm thinking that others might get more out of it than we did, but we just didn't want to invest any more energy and continue reading between the lines (and around them) to get the whole story!

I like this quote (on a card inserted between pages 360-361) attributed to VM Straka: "A person is NO MORE & NO LESS than the story of his Passions and Deeds."

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

4.0 out of 5 stars -- "Life is a series of decisions and reactions. It is the things you do and the things that are done to you. And then it's over."

It's been awhile since I opened a book and read until I finished it. Over the couple of hours I spent with this novel, I experienced quite a few emotions and thoroughly enjoyed the writing style of the author and the characters he created in this sadly too familiar story that could be current headline news.

A private jet crashes into the ocean just minutes out of Martha's Vineyard. The passengers include a wealthy family of 4 the Batemans, a couple who were friends of theirs, the Kiplings, a bodyguard to Mr. Batemen, a washed up artist posed for a comeback, Scott Burroughs, and the plane's crew of 3. There are only two survivors -- 4 year old JJ Bateman and Scott Burroughs. What brought down this plane?

The narrative shifts in point of view as the backstory of the characters is revealed as well as all that was currently going on in each life. It's a story of how the very wealthy live. It's about the power of the media in this age of 24-hour all access news. It's about perception and honesty and the difficulty one can have in figuring out what is important and how terribly fleeting life is.

I don't want to say more -- I'd recommend it!  February was a month of "plane crash" books for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the e-book ARC to review.

What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan

4.0 out of 5 stars -- Nothing strikes fear into the heart of parents as much as the thought of a missing child -- their own missing child...

Eight year-old Ben Finch goes missing while out walking on a lovely autumn day near their home in Bristol. Ben had run on ahead by himself to a clearing to a rope swing and when Rachel Jenner, his mom, catches up -- Ben is gone! Brought to the edge of insanity by everything that transpires as police try to find her son, Rachel is undone by how the trust she innocently placed in others was misguided at best, and dangerous at worst. Who could have taken Ben? Neither the detectives nor the public are very sympathetic to Rachel, who is not behaving as expected. But no one involved is who they have held themselves up to be.

I enjoyed this fast-paced mystery thriller that alternated between the voices of Rachel and the lead detective assigned to the abduction, James Clemo, from the Avon and Somerset Constabulary. The details of the investigation were solid police procedural mixed with conflicting personal drama that interfered with the case. Although I wasn't all that keen on Rachel, I was empathetic to her situation and kept biting my nails and holding my breath at the red herrings and distractions that prevented me from guessing the identity of Ben's kidnapper. I found the conclusion quite satisfying and would recommend it to any fans of domestic suspense. If you like the novels of authors such as Linwood Barclay and Gillian Flynn, you'll not want to miss this.

Library book. 

The Secret Language of Stones by M.J. Rose

This is the second in the daughters of La Lune series and set in Paris during WWI.  Frankly, these are the most beautiful covers -- I just love looking at them to get in the mood for reading.

3.0 out of 5 stars -- "Make of the blood, heat. Make of the heat, a fire. Make of the fire, life everlasting."

Romance, witchcraft, and lithomancy set in Paris toward the end of World War I. Opaline Duplessi, the daughter of Sandrine (of book #1 in the Daughters of La Lune series), is studying the craft of jewelry making under the tutelage of Pavel Orloff, a Russian expatriate. Opaline is able to hear voices of those who have died after she makes a special talisman for those who seek her special skills. One day, while creating such a charm, she hears the voice of a dead soldier speaking directly to her! Along the way, she also becomes involved in the politics of the Bolshevik Revolution and the Romanov family.

Art and history combine with the supernatural to create a love story that transcends what we normally understand about the occult and death. It matters not whether you believe in psychic power.

I've read all of MJ Rose's novels and this is another one that will please her fans and perhaps entice new readers as well. The beautiful cover art draws the reader in, and the writing captures the time period and the deepens the mood. Satisfying read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Simon & Schuster for the e-book ARC to review. 

Far From True (#2) by Linwood Barclay

3.0 out of 5 stars -- Something is seriously rotten in Promise Falls...

I was excited to get this second book in the trilogy by one of my favorite authors. Had I known that the cliffhanger at the end of this one was going to be so glaringly a slap in the face after the time I invested reading it, I would have definitely not read it at this time. If you haven't yet started this trilogy, my recommendation would be to wait until all 3 books are available so that you don't experience the frustration of wanting to throw the novel at the wall!

The story is a complicated mix of various plot lines and a vast cast of characters. Trying to keep them all straight is difficult as there are multiple investigations going on simultaneously. Lots of death, murder and mayhem with some titillating scandal involving some of the members of this small community. The opening features a giant drive-in movie screen exploding and falling on a couple of cars in the lot. Once the dust settles from that event, we move on to situations involving a tragedy or two from the previous book and a current shocker of "spouse sharing" that might lead to a murder or two. And that's just the beginning.

I had read #1 also as an ARC (in June of 2015) so it had been awhile, and my memory of that book was resurrected as events evolved so there was some familiarity with several of the characters. I thought at least ONE of the crimes would have been solved by this one's end, but no joy. I enjoyed the writing and the stories and would have rated this higher had it actually had a definitive conclusion giving some resolution or answers. Of course I'll read the third one having already come this far, but I don't like having to wait for it and I do not like it when authors do this to fans.

I'd describe it as a mystery thriller involving domestic issues. Thank you to the publisher for the e-book ARC to review.

PS The reader gets a sneak peek into the beginning of the next and last book in this trilogy and, whoa, now those poor folks in Promise Falls have a really big problem! 

The Considerate Killer by Lene Kaaberbol (#4)

This is the 4th and final installment of the Nina Borg series set in Denmark.

3.0 out of 5 stars -- Fitting conclusion to a very enjoyable series of 4 books featuring Red Cross nurse Nina Borg. I would definitely recommend that any reader start with the first, THE BOY IN THE SUITCASE, my favorite, as Nina is a very complex character whose motivations and drive provide the rationale for how she ends up in some of her predicaments.

Although Nina is Danish, her adventures and escapades take her to various other far-flung destinations. She has a difficult time with relationships, given her history, and she can be quite stubborn and single-minded. She's emotionally and physically tough, and those traits serve her well.

When she is assaulted while out grocery shopping and comes to consciousness with a skull fracture in a local hospital, she has no clue of who might have wanted to harm her, or why. For this time, she has not run off to a dangerous situation but was simply "being there" in Viborg after her mother was diagnosed with cancer. From there, the narrative goes back in time to set up the story to explain the reasons for the attack and how Nina innocently got involved in a calamity in the Philippines 4 years previously that has led to someone wanting her silenced. It takes quite a long time for the set up.

Except for the fact that Nina does the almost impossible and manages to escape death yet again -- the story was complex and even a bit far-fetched -- but I enjoyed the pace and the personal growth that Nina experiences. This was not a medically oriented thriller despite Nina being a nurse, though her occupation is generally what gets her into the situations.

I've liked all the books in the series and will miss Nina -- with hope that she is finally happy and at peace with herself and her life!

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher, Soho Crime, for the e-book ARC to review.

Passenger 19 by Ward Larsen

What can I say -- I like books about airplanes and I'm in disaster mode...please suggest more titles in this vein...

4.0 out of 5 stars -- Entertaining and fast-paced, this action adventure novel featuring Jammer Davis kept me guessing almost to the very end!

Jammer (Frank) Davis is an investigator for the NTSB. Ex military (Air Force and Marines) and a private pilot, he has the necessary experience to investigate the crash of a regional jet in Columbia. The situation is complicated by the fact that Jammer's daughter, Jen, was meant to be on that plane.

When he arrives in Bogota, Jammer and the other investigators are confounded by some irregularities in the flight and astounded by the dawning realization that this was not a typical plane crash. The local authorities are not as helpful as they could be and the language barrier is also a bit of a problem.  What brought down this plane and what happened onboard? The clues point to a deviously plotted event.

Once I got past the character's name and got into the book, I really enjoyed the story. Of course it was a bit over-the-top stretching credulity due to Jammer's simply amazing talents, skills and abilities for a mere man, but I'd definitely read more books by Ward Larsen. The author obviously knows planes and I definitely will check out his previous books featuring this character and any future novels he writes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the e-book ARC to review. 

After the Crash by Michel Bussi

4.0 out of 5 stars -- Tantalizing thriller that is hard to put down...

The premise of this mystery is simple: two infant girls were passengers (together with their parents) on a plane that crashed on Mont Terri in the Jura mountains en route from Isanbul to Paris in December, 1980. The only survivor was ONE of the babies. But which one?

The relatives of both families wanted to claim the infant as their own -- one family the rich de Carvilles and the other, the provincial Vitrals. In a heated legal battle, a judge tries in vain to determine if the surviving baby girl is Lyse-Rose de Carville or Emilie Vitral. A verdict is rendered based on supposition since there was no hard evidence. But did the judge get it right?

The de Carvilles are so upset at the decision that they hire ex mercenary, now private detective Credule Grand-Duc, to investigate and bring the child they believe is their granddaughter back to them. For 18 years, Grand-Duc searches for proof of the identity of the surviving child. He leaves no stone unturned while working for the de Carvilles.

Now the child, known as Lylie Vitral, has reached 18 still not knowing her true identity, but has grown up with her brother, Marc, and her grandparents in conditions far from the luxurious life she could have had as a de Carville. She and Marc are students at Paris VIII and their relationship has deepened into something beyond that of brother and sister. The mystery of her true identity must be solved. Though their circumstances have changed, neither the de Carvilles or the Vitrals want to let go of Lylie.

When Lylie disappears after giving Marc the notebook that contains a summary of Grand-Duc's years of investigation, he traipses all over France trying to figure out the truth. At first totally bewildered and then almost fanatic in the hunt, he follows the trail in the notebook to a totally startling conclusion.

Told in alternating narratives from the viewpoints of all the different characters and the text of the detective's notebook, each chapter ends on a note that makes the book very hard to put down. The reader tries to piece together the known facts while being tantalized by envelopes containing DNA evidence (finally!) and other red herrings. Although Marc seems to be the main character, the story is less about him than about the case itself and the events that transpired in everyone's desperate search for the truth.

I found this mystery quite compelling and enjoyed it very much. It wasn't until almost the very end that I had an inkling of how this all might end. I relished the descriptions of all things French and the satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hatchette books for the ARC to review.

Final Approach by John J. Nance

4.0 out of 5 stars -- How I love a "disaster" book -- especially one that involves a tragic airplane crash at "my" airport -- Kansas City International -- located in Kansas City, Missouri!

Despite the fact that this book was written and published in the early 1990s and is thus quite outdated, it was an enjoyable and fast-paced read that focused on the NTSB's investigation into the causes of the crash of Flight 255 into another plane waiting on the ground at the side of the runway.

Was it mechanical failure, human error, bad weather, or perhaps even secret activity that produced massive interference with the sophisticated Airbus plane's computer systems? Although the NTSB does not seek to establish blame for the crash, there are many possible explanations for the accident and North American Airlines, the FAA, the FBI, and other factions don't want to be held responsible. Secrets and lies are uncovered when a US Senator gets involved because of chief investigator Joe Wallingord's difficulties in getting the answers he needs to make a full report. Is there corruption and possible governmental cover-up or was something else going on that fateful night?

This would have been an even better book had the author and publisher updated it to reflect the changes brought about by the events of 9-11.

Thank you to Open Road Integrated Media and NetGalley for the e-book ARC to review.

Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben

2.5 out of 5 stars -- "The dead always stayed dead."

Maya Stern, ex helicopter pilot, now retired Army Captain, returns home after a disastrous ending to her tour of duty in Iraq.  Shrouded in scandal, she rejoins her husband, Joe, and her 2-year-old daughter, Lily. Though suffering from PTSD, and haunted by her memories, she is trying to find her way back to civilian life. The novel opens with Maya burying Joe -- who was shot dead in a park close to their home.

Now a single mother and widow, she has to work so Joe's wealthy family provides a nanny for Lily. While reviewing the film of the nanny cam a friend gave her, Maya sees something unbelievable -- her dead husband playing with Lily in their living room. Could he still be alive? And if so, why? Where is he? That's when things really start to happen.

Without any spoilers, the rest of the narrative puts Maya into investigative mode trying to tie events from the past to the present situation This is standard Coben fare and fans who enjoy his domestic thrillers will likely find this one full of the action and twists that are his trademark.

I've read all of Coben's standalone suspense novels but did not care for this particular story as much. After talking with a friend about this one, I believe I am indeed jaded by having read so many twisty thrillers with endings that seem to come out of nowhere.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for providing me with an e-book ARC to review.

The Crow Girl by Erik Axl Sund

"It starts with just one body – tortured, mummified and then discarded.

Its discovery reveals a nightmare world of hidden lives. Of lost identities, secret rituals and brutal exploitation, where nobody can be trusted.

This is the darkest, most complex case the police have ever seen.

This is the world of the Crow Girl."

3.0 out of 5 stars -- A confusing and very disturbing hot mess of a book that deals with sexual abuse of children (pedophilia), torture, mutilation and other acts of depravity. In addition, the fact that one of the main characters appears to suffer from the very rare phenomenon of multiple personality disorder (dissociative identity disorder) makes the narrative difficult to follow.

Whew! I would say that it took me way too long to read this novel -- probably as long as it took for Detective Superintendent Jeanette Kihlberg and her partner to bring some resolution to the complex case after the mummified body of an immigrant child is found dumped by a train stop. Jeanette seeks out a psychologist, Sofia Zetterlund, to help make sense of these bodies of mutilated children when others are found. What heinous creature could do this to children?

Set in Sweden, and with a huge cast of characters (including the other personalities), the story was extremely detailed and grisly -- it required a lot of energy and focus for me to keep everything straight. Each chapter bounces from character to character and to different places and time periods. I prefer a more linear narrative, and I definitely had a hard time staying with this book.
No spoilers, but, finally there was resolution of sorts as I reached the end of this intense story. Absorbing the impact of statistics of the high incidence of pedophiles in Sweden (and other societies as well) and revelations of the horrible damage that this type of abuse causes made for several sleepless nights. Ultimately this was a novel of revenge and hate -- but even payback does not undo the simple truth: lives ruined beyond repair.

I wonder if there will be more books to follow that feature Jeanette and/or Sofia as it seemed like their story was not finished. I do think this book was too long at 768 pages and hope any follow up is shorter and tighter.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing the e-book ARC to review. 

She's Not There by Joy Fielding

3.5 out of 5 stars -- "And guilt and blame are two very powerful weapons. Weapons of intimate destruction."

Imagine every parent's worst nightmare -- your 2-year old daughter is kidnapped from a hotel room while you're out enjoying dinner with friends at a luxury resort in Mexico celebrating your wedding anniversary! That's the tragedy that Carol Shipley and her husband, Hunter, faced 15 years ago. No trace of Samantha was ever found. Everyone constantly reminds Carole that she should never have left her children alone in a hotel room. She knows that, but blames Hunter for talking her into it.

Flash forward to the ringing of a telephone and a voice on the other end -- it's a girl claiming to be that missing daughter. Carole so wants this to be true, an answer to her hopes and prayers. Carole and her daughter, Michelle, travel to Calgary but the girl doesn't show. But then arrives on their doorstep in San Diego. Is this really Samantha?

This was a very fast read but populated with several characters that I found so annoying that it was distracting. The mother was a mess, not that it would be unusual since she lost her daughter, but the rest of the family -- Michelle, mother Mary, brother Steve, and Hunter -- were also not exactly the kind of people I'd be able to tolerate as friends even if given lots of latitude for their personal anguish. The only thing that saved this book was that I wanted to get to the end to see if the girl was indeed Samantha and to find out what happened in the hotel. I hoped there would be a satisfactory conclusion. Most of it I had guess and anyone who reads this type of book would as well.

Overall, I enjoyed the quick read in a single sitting. I wish I had developed more empathy for Carole, but I never connected with her. I like strong female protagonists vs those who do a lot of angsting and sobbing. The relationship between Carole and everyone else in her family was completely dysfunctional and they all need more than a few sessions with a therapist to fix all that is wrong. I don't even want to think about the pain a parent would experience in this sort of situation, so I gave her some leeway with her reactions and behavior, but some of her choices defied credibility and a reader will need to suspend a bit of disbelief about some of what happened.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the e-book ARC to review.

Ashes to Dust by Yrsa Sigurdardottir (#3)

Ashes to Dust: A Thriller (Thora Gudmundsdottir #3) 

4.0 out of 5 stars -- Some mistakes can have lifelong consequences.

This third book in the series has the lawyer Thora trying to clear Markus, a man accused of multiple murder when bodies are found in the basement of his childhood home. The house was covered with ash and lava after a 1973 eruption of a volcano in his village and is just now being excavated when this grisly discovery is made.

A very complex case involving events of the past, as well as crimes in the present, and many characters makes this quite an interesting read. Thora doggedly follows the leads she is able to uncover from information that is very difficult for her to get as most of the people involved are either long dead or incapacitated. Bella, the difficult office secretary who is usually a thorn in Thora's side, has more of a role in this book than does Thora's love interest, Matthew, who is still trying to decide about moving to Iceland.

Even though I guessed some of what probably happened in the Icelandic village where the bodies were discovered, there was a huge surprise twist at the end that I did not see coming. I like the writing style and the description of the methodical way that Thora investigates. Her personal life is part of the story, but most of the narrative is focused on the case and the clues. In addition, I've learned quite a bit about the country of Iceland and the people who call it home.

I've only one more to read to be caught up with the entire series, and though I have read it out of order, I've thoroughly enjoyed each book. 

 

The Silence of the Sea by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir

4.0 out of 5 stars -- Complex and intense mystery, the latest in the Thóra Gudmundsdóttir series (#6).

The chilling opening of this suspense novel by the "Queen of Nordic Noir" quickly sets the mood for this well plotted tale. A luxury yacht that is supposed to have 7 persons on board crashes into the pier in Reykjavik Harbor. A family of four (husband, wife and twin daughters) and 3 crew are missing from the yacht. There is no evidence of foul play and no clues as to what might have happened. Thóra Gudmundsdóttir gets involved when the parents of the missing husband (who have been keeping the youngest daughter while the rest of the family was on the cruise) ask her to help them sort out the life insurance. Thóra needs to prove that the missing husband and wife are dead in order for them to collect the money.

This is a very complicated mystery and the narration shifts in time and person from the point of view of what is occurring on the yacht out in the ocean and Thóra's investigation back in Reykjavik . It is methodical and slow in some parts, but the reader is guessing wildly as to what happened on the yacht and why there is no one on board as the clues come to light. The revelations at the very end are surprising and very satisfying. No spoilers!

I love this series. I'm waiting for #3 and #4 so that I can be up-to-date having just finished this one, the most recent. I like the main character a lot and the writing style. There wasn't much of Matthew Reich in this book, and that's fine by me. I'm looking forward to reading #7 whenever it's written.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-book ARC to review. 

My Soul to Take by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Bernard Scudder (Translator), Anna Yates (Translator)

4.0 out of 5 stars -- A chilling and absorbing read -- Nordic noir.

The second book in this series featuring the lawyer Thóra Gudmundsdóttir and her lover, Matthew Reich, is just as absorbing and interesting as the first. The setting is modern day Iceland, almost a character in itself, with its uniqueness and history. In this mystery, Thora is asked to represent the owner of a New Age spa and resort who wants to sue the previous owners who he claims misrepresented the old farmstead and sold him a haunted property. Although Thora doesn't hold with the supernatural, she goes to stay at the health resort in Snaefellsnes and is immediately drawn into an different sort of investigation there when the owner, Jonas, is accused of the murder of the architect who was working for him after her mutilated body is found on the beach nearby. As Thora starts digging into the case, she unearths some photos and information about the brothers, their wives and children who had lived on and owned the farmstead property many years ago. Then a second person is murdered. Thora and Matthew must figure out why these two were killed and who committed the crimes.

With a huge cast of characters and with the Icelandic names, it can be a feat just to keep everyone straight! But alternate point of view narration provides some clues that there is much more going on here than first thought. The mystery is well-plotted and complex with mutiple red herrings and I was glad not to be able to be sure that my guesses were correct until the final few chapters. I like the personality and character of Thóra Gudmundsdóttir -- divorced mother of two, about to be a grandmother. She's snarky and intense, definitely not damaged, and has a good sense of humor. I enjoy all the details about Iceland and its culture and landscape. I like the writing style and the translation flows nicely as well.

This is the third book by this author that I've read (#1, #2 and #5) and I have plans to read #3 and #4 as soon as I can get hold of copies. I really like this series. I guess you could say I'm hooked on crime fiction and the unusual setting.

Please send me any recommendations of other authors/series of this type and unique settings. 

Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Bernard Scudder (Translator)

4.0 out of 5 stars -- "An Icelandic novel of secret symbols, medieval witchcraft, and modern murder."

A student from Germany who is working on his master's degree in Iceland is found dead in a Reykjavik university printer alcove. He is carved with strange symbols and his eyes have been removed. The boy, Harald Guntlieb, had an unusual passion and a curious set of friends. One of them is quickly arrested for the murder. Harald's wealthy parents don't believe that the person arrested actually committed the crime and engage Thóra Guðmundsdóttir to assist a family friend, Matthew Reich, with a deeper investigation. Harald's obsession is focused on witch hunts -- torture and execution -- and a particular manuscript, THE WITCHES' HAMMER. The novel is full of many interesting historical details of significant people and events during the 1500s and the conversion to Lutheranism.

I read some of the previous reviews here on Goodreads and I must say that I disagree about Thora. I quite like her and found her normalcy a refreshing change from the "damaged" female protagonist often seen in current crime and suspense thriller novels. I thought she was an interesting character with quirks and flaws as she is struggling to work and be a single mother to a 6 year old daughter and a 16 year old son after a divorce. I liked the sparring between her and Matthew and didn't mind the developing romance even during the midst of some of the gruesomeness of the case. I am enjoying learning more about Iceland even as I struggle to pronounce the names. The translation seems quite well done and I like the writing style. I did not guess the identity of the killer until late in the book.

Back in November of 2014, I read the 5th book in this series (SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME) and lamented that I was not familiar with Thóra Guðmundsdóttir's backstory and that I wanted to start the series from the beginning. Well, finally got this debut from the library and am looking forward to reading more about this female lawyer and Icelandic crime fiction. I have the second novel in the series to start next!

The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood

4.0 out of 5 stars -- "Some truths will shatter worlds. Some secrets are best kept, though the keeping can eat you up."

In this psychological thriller, the first book I've read by Alex Marwood, the characters are easy to loathe and the alternating points of view with multiple narrators and the back and forth from present day to the weekend in 2004, make it a bit hard to get into at first. But stick with it -- what a great hodgepodge of immorality and dysfunction!

The novel starts with a press release -- a three year old girl, Coco Jackson, daughter of the super wealthy Sean Jackson and his current second wife Claire, also a twin to Ruby, is missing from the family's vacation home in Bournemouth while on a holiday weekend in August, 2004. No trace of Coco is ever found.

Fast-forward to present day and the death of Sean Jackson (in a hotel with poppers and handcuffed to the bed though on his 4th wife) and preparation for the funeral and a reunion of sorts with the Jackson Associates -- a group of friends who were there on the holiday in 2004. One of Sean's daughters, Mila, is entreated to take Ruby along with her to the funeral. The revelations are dangled bit by bit as the truth about that fateful weekend comes via the various narrators and climaxes on the very last pages of the novel in a gripping conclusion that, though somewhat predictable, is very satisfying.

The Jackson family tree consists of 5 daughters -- 2 with his first wife, twins with the second, and a 5th with his last and 4th wife. The Jackson Associates include friends from Sean's university days and their spouses. Keeping everyone straight is a bit hard at first, but the well written novel allows for great characterization that is quite a study in personality disorders and relationships. The reader comes to know some of them better than others and the narrative reminds us that perception becomes truth -- we cannot know that which is kept from us and our feelings and actions rely on what we believe.

I enjoyed reading this and will definitely be looking for the other two books published by this author. It definitely would make a great book club read and ranks up there with many other recent, popular psychological thrillers. I'm sure there will be the inevitable comparisons, but this work stands on its own as a cautionary tale. And yes, there is definitely evil in the world, and there will always be those who justify their actions to preserve ego and to get what is wanted.