The Girl I Used to Be by Mary Torjussen

Fifteen years ago, Gemma went to a party with her classmates to celebrate exam results. The next day, she was not the girl she used to be.

Flash forward to present day in this work of psychological fiction. Gemma is married to Joe and they have a son named Rory. She owns her own business, an estate agency, and Joe is a stay-at-home carer for their child. Gemma works all the time trying to make a go of her business and has several employees. She doesn't think anything of David Sanderson when he comes into the office wanting to be shown some properties and she takes him around but he doesn't buy anything. When Gemma meets him later when she is out of town at a conference, it seems natural for her to offer to buy him dinner -- after all, it's business and he is a client so she can write it off. Great conversation and two bottles of wine later, Emma barely makes it to her room before passing out. Her hangover the next day is fierce. She returns home and gets back to work. It's then that the trouble begins -- in the form of a copy of the restaurant bill sent in the mail. More incriminating pieces are sent and Gemma knows that she can lose everything if her husband finds out that she has not been truthful. NO SPOILERS.

The reader experiences the tension as the blackmailing escalates and Gemma is in a state of anxiety not knowing what to do. Of course we want her to just TELL JOE already, and go to police and figure out what is going on, but Gemma has her own way of doing things and wants to figure out who is behind this and why. It was an easy, fast read and the conclusion was satisfying and it all turns out the way you would expect.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-book ARC to read and review.

After Anna by Lisa Scottoline

"You can't believe people when they look you in the eyes. You gotta look behind them. See what they're standing in front of. What they're hiding."

Maggie Ippoliti Alderson is married to a widower, Dr. Noah, and she's ectastic when she gets a call from her long absent 17-year-old daughter, Anna Desroches. Maggie had lost custody of the infant Anna due to post-partum psychosis. She hasn't seen Anna in all that time. Anna wants them to meet and soon it is arranged that she will come live with Maggie, Noah and Noah's son, Caleb. Anna's wealthy father has died, and she wants to make up for lost time. Maggie and Noah help Anna move in and everything is finally as Maggie has dreamed -- until it all starts to go wrong. The next thing they know, Anna is dead and Noah is on trial for her murder.

The narrative starts at trial and goes backward in time with present day interspersed. Courtroom action, family disintegration, emotional pain and bewilderment as the happy family implodes. But it's not over, yet...NO SPOILERS

With an unusual twist that almost completely defies belief, the story concludes in a very unexpected way given all the events that transpired. The denouement took the book in a completely different direction to what was anticipated. Not sure I bought it, but I was definitely glued to the pages. Some of what transpired was hard for me to buy, but I did enjoy the action, the drama and the writing even it didn't ring plausible. I love a good legal thriller and all the legalese, but this ended up more being a bit off of that path. I'll continue to read books by this author.

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

The Last Thing I Saw by Alex Sinclair

What would a mother do to protect her family? "You understand more than anyone how people are when it comes to family. It brings out the best and worst in all of us."

Emma Turner is in a psychiatric hospital after an event that has shattered her. She and her husband, Darren, and 14-year-old son, Jayden, lived in a lovely home in Clearwater Hills, Illinois. Darren owned a construction company and, when an employee accident happens that threatens their financial livelihood, they try to make things right. Threats against their safety and wellbeing drive them to desperate acts -- but it's money that's wanted.

From her vantage point as an in-patient, during therapy, and through interactions with others, Emma is trying to force herself to remember exactly what happened on the night that preciptiated her breakdown. But will total recall restore her to the life and family she loved more than anything else?

Tense psychological drama told in "before" and "after" first person narrative. A savvy reader of this genre may be able to figure out what is going on before the big reveal, but NO SPOILERS here. The pace is smooth and, even as the narrative highlights some of the horrors of being in a psych hospital, it keeps the reader engaged and involved in getting to the truth of the matter at hand. I enjoyed it.

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

The Girl with No Name (Josie Quinn #2) by Lisa Regan

Police Chief Josie Quinn has her hands full in this second book of the series. A badly beaten woman, a stolen newborn, a woman who claims she doesn't know her own name, and a missing fiance. Her missing fiance, Luke. How are all of these connected? The investigation keeps Josie and her team busy as they search in Denton for clues and evidence. Bodies keep turning up in town and Josie can't make the pieces fit until she gets some very important information from a most unusual source.

This was very fast-paced and, though Josie seems to require no food or sleep, the action moves the narrative forward in classic police procedural. Although I like the character of Josie, she -- like seemingly all other female detectives -- is quite messed up in her personal life. Josie takes risks and trusts in her own judgement no matter how dangerous the situations in which she becomes involved. She's nursing old wounds both physical and emotional and a little more of her backstory is revealed in this book. It would be best to read the first one in the series before reading this one as there are several references to the previous case. I hope Josie will get herself together so she can find some personal satisfaction as all she seems to do is work.

I enjoyed this and look forward to reading the next one in the series. Very easy to get through this in a day and just as well in order to keep all the characters and their relationships straight as the case is very complicated.

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

White Lies by Lucy Dawson

"The truth does not always out, and for that we must all be thankful."

Dr. Alexandra Inglis has what she says was a one night stand while on a girls weekend to Ibiza. The other party, a boy she didn't realize was 17 years old, Jonathan Day. He says that Alex had come on to him and that they had been carrying on previous to the trip. He was her patient at the clinic where she worked. What follows is a classic tale of two people telling a story, but which one of them -- if either -- is telling the truth?

This drama is sort of like a train wreck. You don't want to look, but you can't help yourself. Throughout the narrative, I had to come to grips with the fact that I had no clue who was revealing an accurate depiction of the events. First I believe one, and then the other. NO SPOILERS. But the conclusion was unexpected.

The novel is compulsively readable and kept my interest. That said, I am still not sure what to think of the whole fiasco. Definitely would be a book where the themes beg discussion. Would it ever be OK for a 40 year old woman to have a sexual affair with a 17 year-old boy -- consensual or not? Read it and see what you think.

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

Deadly Secrets (DCI Erika Foster #6) by Robert Bryndza

Who is stalking the streets of London wearing a gas mask? With six sexual assaults on record and now a murder, DCI Erika Foster and her team must work to find and apprehend whoever is responsible.

The murdered girl was Marissa Lewis, a young and beautiful burlesque dancer, who was moving up in the world. She was viciously stabbed to death right outside her front door while her mother slept inside. No CCTV and no witnesses. The narrative moves forward with the investigation and a solid police procedural follows. Lots of possible suspects to detain, question, eliminate. They have a little trouble trying find a motive but it soon becomes obvious that Marissa had a bad reputation and was not well-liked at work or in her neighborhood.

This 6th book in the series is another hit and the whole team is back together until Erika needs to take some time off and puts Moss in charge. I always enjoy reading more about the characters and, in each book, some undergo changes that occasionally affect the dynamics and relationships within the team. It was nice to see Moss move into a stronger role though a bit disappointed when Erika had to save the day at the end. I do have to ask, however, why do these police characters always end up putting themselves in danger by rushing in alone and unarmed. I'm sure being headstrong and independent are decent qualities in a police officer, but can't a book climax occur without one of the main characters ending up alone with the suspect and getting harmed?

The story was fast-paced and this series is addictive. Erika is making some changes in her life and I can't wait to see where her story goes next. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Too Close to Breathe (DCS Frankie Sheehan #1) by Olivia Kiernan

''There is an unsettling truth to be learned when profiling a killer. That is: how incredibly alike all humans are; how worrying similar our desires, our drives, our fears."

DCS Frankie Sheehan, recently severely injured in the course of a case, has big problems at hand in Dublin. She's preparing for the court case regarding the murder of Tracy Ward (when Sheehan was stabbed) as well as investigating the deaths of Eleanor Costello and Amy Keegan. Their chief suspect is nowhere to be found. What follows is an excellent police procedural that deals with a very unsavory subset of people -- those who enjoy pain, seek it out, revel in it. What secrets lie behind the faces of those that others see and interact with everyday? And what is the meaning of the main clue -- Prussian Blue paint found on the victims. Frankie intends to find out through dogged police work with her team and they work every lead as they attempt to discover the identity of the killer before another murder takes place.  

Frankie Sheehan is an interesting character but one whom readers of this genre will be quite familiar with. Of course she doesn't follow orders from superiors, she's messed up and work is her life. Since this is the first in a new series, I see there is room for character development as several hints about her past are dangled in front of the reader. I'd definitely be interested to read more.  I enjoyed this debut and the unusual aspects of this particular case. Technology and the Dark Web prove to be an integral connection, especially a site called the Black Widow. The site allows those with some dark fantasies to interact with others also interested in various forms of BDSM.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Lies by T.M. Logan

Oh, what a tangled web...

"The truth of the battle is whatever the victor deems it to be --Sun Tzu"

This was an action-packed domestic drama that centers on two couples, a "meeting, a fight, a lie." The scene -- Joe, on his way home with his son, sees his wife's car in a place where it should not be. A question -- who was she meeting there? One lie follows another as Joe is reeling from Mel's tearful confessions. Because of the circumstances, Joe is caught up as the person of interest in a murder investigation.  Dominoes start to fall and the truth is revealed in a surprising twist of events.

I first started out listening to this book on audio files. I confess, I simply can't stand audio books for the most part. The reading pace is way too slow and the voices always irritate me. (This narrator did OK for the male voices, but those of the females and William (the son) drove me out of my mind.) So I quickly asked for the e-book and was granted approval (THANK YOU) and could rip through it at a better pace.

As far as the story goes, it was the basic theme of average family man finds the strength to prevail against all odds. Common enough premise, and this one followed the same course. I had to suspend a lot of disbelief throughout as Joe ricocheted from one revelation to the next. I really didn't care for any of the characters and especially detested the obvious attempts to make me feel some sort of care and concern about Joe's family and his marriage. I must say, however, that I was not quite sure where this was going even as I was led along. Nice little twist, but NO SPOILERS here.

I did enjoy it and it certainly kept my attention as I finished this in a couple of hours. Despite some minor annoyances with the "family man" and "good guy" tags, I liked the writing well enough to want to read more by this author. If you like authors Harlan Coben and Linwood Barclay, and the other male writers who tend toward this particular subgenre, you will like this book. If nothing else, the novel will make you think twice about your online presence, technology, and personal privacy.

Thank you to Edelweiss, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book (and audio) to read and review.

Dark Lies by Nick Hollin (Rhodes and Radley #1)

"We do know the truth about ourselves. We will always have our own secrets. And we will always seek  to uncover other people's."

A murderer known as "The Cartoonist" is on a killing spree. DI Kate Rhodes enlists the help of a former partner profiler, Nathan Radley, to help find him. Regrettably, both of them have history and terrible memories of the past. The killer knows them very well.

This could have been a brilliant suspense thriller. Unfortunately, the narrative was so disjointed and so full of distractions and distortion that the reading was frustrating and so much work. I personally don't like to have to put so much effort into reading a story -- I just want it all laid out in an organized fashion so I can follow the plot and enjoy the ride to catching the bad guys. I'm sure that the way the author wrote this was designed to increase intrigue and suspenses, but I found myself extremely irritated at the way it all developed. I don't feel that I got to know the main two characters or that they had any depth that would make me want to read about them again. I guess the main feeling I came away with was disappointment. A good premise but poorly executed. I see this is the first in a series, but I don't think I would want to continue if the writing and the style is the same. Yeah I get that Kate and Nathan are really messed up people. I probably would have identified with them more if the story had not included so much of their fractured lives with just hints dropped here and there. I failed to connect all the dots.

Again, I find that the blurb doesn't really tell you accurately what this book is about.

This book, when I read it, was titled IN THE BLOOD. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

The Next Girl (DI Gina Harte #1) by Carla Kovach

"The world wasn't a good place. It wasn't all roses, cake, parties and nice things. It was a dark place, a place that she'd yet to fathom."

DI Gina Harte is looking for a missing woman, Deborah Jenkins, who vanished on the way home from work 4 years ago. Deborah's husband, Luke, and their two children were moving on with the help of Deborah's mother, Cathy, until an abandoned baby shows up -- and is purported to be the daughter of Deborah. She's still alive! The squad goes all out to look over past witness statements, interview those who knew Deborah, and to try -- again -- to find out who has her or where she might be.

This was a fast-paced police procedural with a likeable new protagonist in Gina Harte. She is beset with the past demons of her own life while trying to find Deborah. Fellow team members are also interesting and the reader can see that there is a lot of room for character development in this series. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next one!

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

Low Lake (Tyrone Swift #5) by Gretta Mulrooney

"Dig deep and deeper still. It's not what you FIND, it's what you FIND OUT."

Kim Woodville drowned at Low Lake two years ago. A very close friend, Jack North, hires private investigator (and former Met detective) Tyrone Swift to look into the matter because North doesn't believe it was an accident. Kim has led a very troubled life as a ward to the Ramsays living there at property on the lake and no one seems to be very upset that she has died. Kim suffered from epilepsy and had a horrible fear of water because her drug addled mother had tried to drown her in the bathtub when she was a toddler. As Swift begins his investigation in the the circumstances of Kim's death, he finds lies, secrets and betrayal. "Women, money and power."

This fifth in the Tyrone Swift series is the only one I've read and I'm very sorry about missing out on the others. I usually try to read books in order and hate not knowing the backstory of Tyrone but I was able to follow along as the author provides some of the historical detail. This was, for me, a mystery novel that I found hard to put down. I enjoyed it and thought it very well-written with a plot written in layers that slowly revealed the truth of what happened to Kim. The characters were interesting and believeable and I really am looking forward to reading the next installment.

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

The Murder List (DI Zac Boateng #1) by Chris Merritt

"Never give up. You owe it to that person you loved. To the memory you still love, that no one can take away."

Fast-paced police procedural with the theme of revenge. DI Zac Boateng’s 9-year-old daughter, Amelia, was a victim of a stray bullet when they were going on an errand to the local newsagent one morning 5 years ago. The killer was never identified or apprehended. Zac, his wife, and surviving son have not passed a day without remembering Amelia. But Zac wants much more -- he wants the killer behind bars -- or dead. He moonlights on a solo investigation to track down the killer's identity and bring him to justice and meanwhile puts himself in danger because others are looking for the same man for different reasons.

Darian Wallace spent time in prison but is now out. He wants to recover the stolen items that resulted in his imprisonment, but more than that, he wants to punish those who ratted him out after the robbery. The reader sees a glimpse into his twisted psyche as he attempts to rationalize his behavior and life of crime. He can't leave London until he's taken care of business...

An ex-military man named Spike is also looking for Darian Wallace at the behest of Susanna Pym, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health. She has her own reasons for finding Wallace. Seems he stole something very valuable from her in the robbery that landed him in prison.

A complicated manhunt as Wallace is determined to complete his tasks and Spike is mission with Zac Boateng right on their heels. The writing is good, the characters well-drawn, and the action almost non-stop. Very enjoyable. I'll definitely want to read the sequel.

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

Beneath an Indian Sky by Renita D'Silva

"All it takes is one decision, one moment of madness, of curiosity winning over sense, for your life to change for ever."

Mary and Sita meet in India as children but then tragedy interupts their idyllic life of freedom. Each girl fights against expectations of parents and society as they grow into adulthood. Both independent and single-minded, Mary and Sita try to make their dreams come true. Unfortunately, betrayal and jealousy mar their lives and prevent happiness.

Set against the lush background of India beginning in 1925, the narrative goes back and forth in time and alternates between the voices of the Englishwoman, Mary, and the Indian, Sita. One can almost see, smell, hear and taste the country through the eyes of the women. This novel is rich in detail and description.

Those readers who enjoy historical fiction will surely find a dramatic and moving story within these pages.

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

No Safe Place (DI Lottie Parker #4) by Patricia Gibney

"Love can do strange things to people."

DI Lottie Parker has her hands full. A recently dead body found in an open grave, a missing girl and a stand-in boss who won't let her chase her cases in her own way. Not to mention the usual havoc on the home front -- it's not easy working full stop when you're a widow with 3 children and a new grandson. Lottie's life is very complicated and she doesn't always handle things..."a past master at burying emotional turmoil deep beneath the mundanity of everyday life." Some of those events have led her to pills and drink but she's trying hard to get a handle on that even while holding her partner, (and maybe a new love) DS Boyd, at arm's length.

During the course of the investigations, a ten years old missing persons case looks to have some similarity to the current situation. It's coming up on the anniversary date of when Lynn O'Donnell got off the train in Ragmullin and was never seen again. It seems that the girl in the grave, Elizabeth, and the missing girl, Mollie, were also on the train before they went missing. DON'T TAKE THE TRAIN FROM DUBLIN TO RAGMULLIN...

This is so much more than a hunt for missing girls or to solve a murder. The investigation by Lottie and her team is complicated and tedious. There is definitely something rotten in Ragmullin and the menace is probably in their midst. Although you may figure out where this is going, the process is excellent police procedural.

I note that others have said that this can be read as a standalone, but I disagree. There is too much of Lottie's backstory that gives history for her behaviors both professionally and personally. I have read #1, #3 and unfortunately missed #2 -- which I need to rectify. I want to know ALL about Lottie. Can't wait for the next in this great series.

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

The Third Victim by Phillip Margolin

Well there went a good night of sleep! I started this one late in the evening and did not put it down until after 3 am -- definitely a "read in one sitting" type of legal thriller that I hope is the first in a new series by this talented author.

The plot is described in the blurb but essentially it is full of twists, turns and surprises that begs the question -- who is the real victim? No spoilers, but when a tortured and starved woman is found at the edge of a road in Whisper Lake -- one whose horrible treatment bears similarities to two other cases of dead women -- many different groups of law enforcement and justice kick into action. The prime suspect is a prominent attorney and the prosecutor goes for the death penalty.

A large cast of characters and interesting detail about their lives provide a sidebar to the legal maneuvering. I found all of it quite absorbing and, though I guessed where it all might be going, I love to see the process of how the truth is revealed despite the red herrings.

I really would like to see more of Robin Lockwood and the legal team. I'm worried about Regina Barrister. I liked the Oregon setting. I do enjoy a good legal thriller and this fit the bill. Bring it on!
It was a refreshing change for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.

Exhibit Alexandra by Natasha Bell

"The very worst things in life, our most fearful nightmares, they don't happen all at once. They creep up, lodge themsevles gradually in our brains..."

I just finished reading this, in one sitting, because I could not put it down. From the blurb, believe me when I say that you can't imagine what a ride you're getting on. I would say that this psychological thriller will be very polarizing and that you'll either love it or hate it. I fall on the love side because it was quite unique, despite the inevitable (and so tiring) comparisons to GONE GIRL and the like. It seems I read so many books in this genre that are full of secrets and lies between husbands and wives, etc. Well, most have nothing on this one.

I'm trying to figure out how to review this without ruining it for future readers  -- the initial point is "explaining the absolute abnormality of a woman who had always come home...not walking through our front door that night," says Marc when Alexandra Southwood goes missing. The family, living in York, has two young daughters. The police get involved quickly and begin an intense hunt, but this is not a typical 'detectives searching for a missing person' novel. The narrative is so bizarre as Alex tells an unidentified man her story "more honest than the police reports and newspaper articles. If it is not an actual truth, it is very much a human one." Interspersed between Alex's account are other points of view -- that of Marc, letters from her college friend, Amelia, and flashbacks painting a picture of their married life together. Bizarre, right?

Right away the reader senses something really off about this whole scenario. Where is Alex? What happened? Why? Lots of questions. Along with the forward motion of the story describing how Marc, his friends and family react to Alex's disappearance and the search for at least a body so they can have some closure, there is ART. ALL CAPS ART. I don't pretend to know much about art other than to be able to say whether or not I like a particular piece of it or not. It's not my thing, so I learned a lot about it from a much more learned source! I must say that was the least compelling part of this book to me until I got further in and found out more about Alex and what makes her tick. I can't say I liked her at all, was totally empathetic to Marc all along, and the other characters in the story were only peripheral to their relationship. Alex's main relationship was with herself.

So forgive this meandering and probably pointless review and take a chance on reading the book itself as it is far too complex for me to reduce to these few paragraphs to try to explain my reaction. I think the ending was quite a masterpiece even as I anticipated what was coming as I rushed to the conclusion. Certainly it would make an excellent book club book as there are so many ideas and issues that could be discussed and debated. Definitely one that was thought-provoking and I'll be pondering some of it for a long time.

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

Dark Waters (#3 Alex Devlin) by Mary-Jane Riley

"Nothing was black and white in life, nothing was certain."

Alex Devlin has moved from London where she previously worked as a journalist for THE POST. She fills her time doing a bit of freelancing, feature stories, etc. Her father suffers from early onset dementia and her sister, Sasha, is being released from the psych institute where she was committed. Alex returned to Sole Bay to be close by to help them out.

Her quiet and somewhat lonely life is disrupted, however, when two men are found dead on a pleasure boat off the Norfolk Broads. Her investigative instincts kick in when she discovers that the two men were chatting online about suicide. When she learns the identity of the men, she calls her old boss in London and begs to be put on the story but another reporter, Heath Maitland, is sent down instead. Alex and Heath agree to a quid pro quo as there is something that Alex wants him to do for her in exchange for her doing a lot of the legwork for the story. Abruptly, both are called off by the home office, but Alex can't let it go. She's figured out some interesting connections...

This was a mystery with a lot going on in the plot. Many different characters -- some who featured in the previous 2 books in the series (which, unfortunately, I have not read). That said, there was enough information about some of the backstory so that I didn't feel entirely lost. It moved along quickly with the pieces slowly coming into place. Of course there is no one that Alex can work with or trust while she is busy ferreting out the truth. Goes to show, again, that the past won't stay buried.

I enjoyed this and will definitely look for another in the series should there be a 4th book. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Cold Heart (Kate Matthews #3) by Stephen Edger

A missing 15-year-old girl, a severed female foot found in a school sports center marked for demolition, and the heart of a male victim delivered to the police station. Are these connected? That is what Detective Kate Matthews and her team try to figure out in this police procedural.

The investigation hits one wall after another as little headway is made. The painstaking methods of tracking down all leads and clues take valuable time with hope running out that Daisy is still alive. They can't find her and the other two who were eventually identified offer no evidence to chase. As they haul in first one suspect and then another, the team is working long hours and nearing exhaustion without having any luck. Meanwhile, Kate is dealing with one of her fellow team members and a personal situation. NO SPOILERS.

This is the third in the series featuring Kate Matthews and the second that I have read. I am fully vested in learning more about the characters on the team and about Kate's personal life outside of the police. The author is able to evoke reader response as tension builds and frustration mounts. I am definitely looking forward to further revelations in the next book.

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

I Know Where She Is by S.B. Caves

"A white envelope, unmarked, no stamp. Scrawled in chicken scratch: I KNOW WHERE SHE IS."

Francine receives this message ten years after her daughter, Autumn Cooper-Wright, went missing and no amount of searching ever turned up a clue. Francine descended into an alcoholic haze, she and her husband, Will, divorced and only recently has she begun to get herself put back together. Francine frantically calls her husband for a meet, but he's moved on, has a new wife and is expecting a child, and he thinks it's just a prank. When Francine meets 18-year-old Lena out by her car next to her job place the next day, she's not convinced that Lena is anything but a cruel joke when Lena says she knows Autumn -- whom she knows as Melody. And, Lena says that Autumn is still alive. Lena only begins to believe it when Lena tells her things that make her blood run cold.

"Even if you got her back...She's not the same little girl you lost...None of us are."

As messed up and unstable as Francine appears at first, she pulls herself together quickly and is off on a mission to rescue her daughter from unspeakable circumstances. NO SPOILERS, but the situation Autumn is in is horrible and one that no parent wants to imagine. The book really takes off after this and ratchets toward a spectacular, if somewhat unbelievable, climax. The narrative is well-paced and tension builds as Francine seeks to find and regain her daughter. Francine changes into something approaching Super Woman before the reader's eyes and the transformation is necessary considering what she is up against. Can she rescue Autumn when there is no one to turn to for help?

This was quite the unexpected thrill read for me as I had not anticipated the direction it was going. I enjoyed it as the pages flew by. As others have said, set aside a block of time as this begs to be read in a single sitting.

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

The Babysitter by Sheryl Browne

This suspenseful thriller is like a train wreck. You don't really want to see the damage, but you can't help yourself and look anyway. Throughout the whole of the novel, I was screaming at the characters to open their eyes and see what was happening.

Now let me ask you, ladies especially -- would you really take a near stranger into your home and put her in charge of your children?? NO WAY. Especially if she was young and pretty and seemed the answer to an overworked mother's dream. So when Melissa and Mark Cain try to help their poor neighbor who was burned out of her home by a fire, you just KNOW that nothing good is going to come of this. They are too nice and you sense the menace of Jade immediately. Would you check references before you hire on a nanny -- of course you would. But, do they? Oh no, they are so happy to have some help in their busy and chaotic lives.

What Jade does to this family is pure evil. Should we overlook Jade's past and excuse her behavior? I don't think so! Even as the chapters roll by and as you are glued to the pages to see what heinous act Jade will pull next, you can't help but turn the pages as fast as you can to see if she is a master manipulator and a shrewd planner.

This book was great fun to read because, even as you knew (hoped) that Jade would be outed and taken out before she could ruin the family, you weren't quite sure what damage she would leave behind. What I didn't understand was how Mark and Melissa so totally missed the clues and evidence that Jade was not the paragon she seemed to be. When everything started to fall apart right after Jade came to live with them, I was sure that one of them would be suspicious. But, oh no, we had to go through a lot of drama. Nevertheless, I guess it wouldn't have been such a story if they had!

You can read this in a couple of hours and I can honestly say that I enjoyed it though there is one character I would have liked to see get his comeuppance! And, I'm a little worried about Dylan...

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book to read and review.

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

"...love makes us behave out of character...it drives us to do things we never thought we'd do."

Finn McQuaid and his girlfriend, Layla, are driving back home to St. Mary's (in Devon) after skiing in Megeve when they pulled off the motorway into a picnic area at Fonches. It's not a service station, its main appeal is that it has a toilet. When Finn returns to the car after using the facilities, Layla is gone. Over the next 12 years he exhausts various methods looking for her, but never finds a trace. Was she kidnapped, is she dead? Finn has no clue.

Though she was the love of his life, he has finally managed to move on and has become involved in a serious relationship -- with Layla's sister, Ellen. They are to be married and Finn is happy enough. Soon after the wedding announcement, Finn starts to receive some creepy indications that perhaps Layla is still alive. Or is someone just messing with his head not wanting him to finally have some happiness. Has she finally come back to him and what in the world is he to do about Ellen?

Creepy is a good word to describe this novel of psychological drama. It will become clear to the reader quite quickly that something weird is going on here, but NO SPOILERS. There are many clues and the astute reader will see where it's leading fairly quickly though the author makes a valiant effort to throw in many red herrings to divert away to other conclusions. It was hard to really get into the true nature of the characters and I didn't find myself identifying with any of them except I could feel the tension and frustration that Finn experienced. The believablity factor also comes into play so you have to allow for the fact that you'd probably do things a bit differently to Finn as events spiral out of control. The writing was good and the pacing was appropriate to the story. I think I can say that the overall feeling I came away with was just sadness.

I've read both other novels and still think that Behind Closed Doors was the best of the 3, but I enjoyed this one. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-book ARC to read and review. B.A. Paris is still on my "to-read" list.

Don't Believe It by Charlie Donlea

WOWZA -- fantastic read! "Is fame and fortune enough or is the truth the only thing that matters?"

Wow, Charlie Donlea -- you have done it again! Written a suspense thriller that grabs from the first page and never lets go. It took me through all of the emotions on a twisty ride where I first thought one thing, and then another. Just be careful -- and don't believe anything!

The story -- in 2007, at Gros Piton on St. Lucia at the Jalousie Plantation resort, Julien Crist fell to his death from the bluff. In addition to those injuries, the fatal wound, however, was to his head before he went over. His girlfriend at the time, Grace Sebold -- a medical school graduate about to embark on a neurosurgery residency -- was convicted of his murder.

Ten years later, Sidney Ryan, a documentary producer of some renown, decides to take on this case as a possible expose of miscarried justice. She plans to go back over every element of the situation and show, in real time, everything that she discovers through interviews and evidence. The main question -- did Grace really kill her boyfriend? As her show rockets to unimagined ratings success, Sidney becomes emeshed in a deeper mystery than she anticipated. Her investigation leads her to secrets and lies -- but can she get Grace the reprieve that many believe she deserves?

I loved the narrative as it highlights excerpts from the initial police interviews and investigation as well as examination of all the evidence from the case. Since the trial took place in St. Lucia, it could be that the US government was derelict in duty to one of its citizens. A very complicated endeavor, but Sidney has the clout and the brains to do this well. She's a new network darling and everything she worked for is about to pay off big time. And then... (NO SPOILERS). Yeah, I was sure I knew where this was going -- several times. It wasn't until the very last paragraph that I got my answer!

If you read any of my reviews, you know that I am partical to this genre and read almost everything of this nature. This was exceptional on several counts, but mostly it is the writing style and the way that Donlea tells a great story. Trust me on this, you won't want to miss it!  And if you haven't read his other two novels (all standalones), SUMMIT LAKE and THE GIRL WHO WAS TAKEN, you need to rectify that immediately. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. I admit that I shamelessly begged for it! And I'm so happy I did. Sign me up for #4 now!

Need to Know by Karen Cleveland

What are you willing to do to protect your family?

Vivian Miller is a CIA counterintelligence agent working to uncover a network of Russian sleeper agents hidden in the USA. She's married to Matt, an IT guy, and has 4 children. Just a normal family with two working parents and busy hectic lives. Except that Vivian's job is going to take them all to the brink of disaster because she's uncovered a secret that calls into question everything she knows and believes.

This is an incredibly fast-paced suspenseful thriller that draws you in so fast -- by the time I got to the second chapter, I felt that I WAS Vivian. And that this was my life and my problem. Told in the first person, it ricochets from one tense moment to another mind-numbing revelation. You can feel her anxiety and her fear -- and you are almost afraid to read on to see what happens next. Vivian's main goal is to protect her family and to avoid being a traitor to the government she has sworn allegiance to serve.

NO SPOILERS, but if you haven't read this yet, put it on your list immediately. It's one crazy, wild ride and would make a fantastic movie. It's not often I gush about a book, but forgive me this time because I loved this one!

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

The Visitor by K.L. Slater

"I'm always just a visitor in everyone's life...I come and go, but nothing ever changes."

Holly grew up in Nottingham but ran off to Manchester for a better life. Things happened and she's now returned to try and make a new start. She's been taken in as a "visitor" by elderly Cora Bennett and soon gets a job selling furniture. But, poor Holly, nothing ever seems to go right. Has her past caught up with her?

David is an odd duck who's had his share of problems -- and he still lives at home with mom at age 40. Although he's on meds and has a job of sorts, he's consumed with monitoring all that is going on in the neighborhood. Keeping everyone safe. He lives right next door to Holly and can't help but notice that she seems to need his help. Is he offering friendly protection or is he a stalker?

The chapters are told in the alternating point of view of Holly and David. Also shifting back and forth in time for the history of each, we finally come to present day and some interesting revelations. It seems that neither of these two are really the people they pretended to be.

I had a hard time dredging up any empathy for either of the main characters, nor did I identify with them. There was a huge sense of menace as the reader knew something was off and that bad things were coming, but not quite from which direction. After all the hints that were dropped, it was not so much a twisty or surprising conclusion as it was a relief to finally have the salient points exposed. I don't really like when dangled snippets and then have an abrupt shift just when the truth is about to be revealed! Regardless of these annoyances, I did enjoy this pscyholgical drama and am glad that I'll never meet Holly or David.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I enjoy the titles by K.L. Slater and will definitely read more from her.

The Liar's Girl by Catherine Ryan Howard

Imagine that your college boyfriend, Will, turned out to be a serial killer and has been locked away in the Central Psychiatric Hospital for the past 10 years. He, at age 19, confessed to the murders of four young women -- and was dubbed "the Canal Killer".  Alison Smith barely survived the emotional trauma and hasn't returned to Dublin since she fled both Will and St. John's.

Flash forward 10 years -- another college girl has been killed in the same manner.  Alison is asked to return to Dublin to meet with Will -- who may be innocent after all. Along with the Garda detectives Malone and Shaw, Alison visits the CPH and all of the feelings she thought she had long buried come again to the light. Can Alison make up for the past and help free Will now even though she feels responsibile for helping put him where he is?

Well written but predictable drama with a time shifting first person narrative as Alison goes back and forth between "then" and "now".  There is another voice that appears in the story line every so often. Alison isn't the most sympathetic character nor did I identify with her nor understand most of her reactions and actions. The Garda detectives and other characters are fairly one dimensional with the main focus on Alison and only vaguely on Will. This wasn't action packed but more of a plodding expose with the revelations coming slowly as Alison is supposedly drawn into the investigation. Will she be able to prove that Will is not the Canal Killer? And has he now, finally, told her EVERYTHING?

This is the second book by this author that I've read and I'll look out for another by her. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing Company for the e-book ARC to read and review.

The Crooked Staircase (Jane Hawk #3) by Dean Koontz

Jane Hawk is the real Wonder Woman -- no super powers, just an amazing, highly skilled ex FBI agent who sees a wrong and needs to right it.

This third in the series (yes, there will be a #4) takes up right where the second left off so you absolutely need to read these from the beginning, in order. From the blurb, the reader knows that Jane is running for her life as she is hunted by some of the most skilled and highly placed government agents who have a way to track even those who are completely off the grid as is Jane. Her son, Travis, hidden in the care of friends, is safe FOR NOW, and Jane is seeking out members of the Techno Arcadians to eliminate them and shut them down. Remember, this hideous elitist group is intent on implanting nanobots and converting them to automatons to use as they wish. The Hamlet list, devised by those members at the very top, is a computer generated program that identifies those at greatest risk to the new planned utopia where the Arcadians will reign supreme.

Incredibly fast-paced with lots of action and bloody murder, the book zips along so quickly that you barely have time to take a breath, gasp, sob or sigh. No spoilers, but some of those deaths were really hard to take. Conversion is a nasty, scary business.

Despite Koontz's penchant for ten dollar words and maximum verbosity -- with metaphors and similes galore -- I love this series and cannot wait for the next. I had NO idea that this third was not the end, so the cliffhanger ending made me want to throw the book across the room in frustration at now having to wait to see what happens next. Not nice, Mr. Koontz! All the loose ends are coming together as Jane gets nearer to the rotten core at the center of this terrible conspiracy. The characters are so well drawn that the reader is drawn completely into this world and fears the consequences of world leaders gone mad, drunk and euphoric with their power.

This would make the most fantastic movie or miniseries evere -- do you hear me out there, producers? Option it already!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Random House for the e-book ARC to read and review. PLEASE hurry, Mr. Koontz, so I can relax.

Wave of Terror by Jon Jefferson

Are you in the mood for a great disaster novel? Well, this is the one for you!

I'm a sucker for disaster novels and I comb the lists regularly to see when a new one is due to be released. I lucked out and, thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer, I received this ARC to read and review.

The premise -- an astronomist is in La Palma (in the Canary Islands 250 miles off the coast of Africa) looking for Planet Nine when she notices abnormal seismic activity that is not being transmitted to the scientists who monitor that sort of thing. When she does the research, she finds that a quake along the fault line there will result in catastrophic tidal waves that will decimate coastlines from North America and other countries along the Atlantic coast.

Dr. Megan O'Malley is no Cassandra but, in desperation, she contacts her ex-husband and the government. Unwittingly, an FBI special agent Chip Dawtry, gets the information she's trying to share to get out the warning. Can they make the authorities LISTEN before it's too late? This tsunamic wave will wipe out entire coastlines and cause millions of deaths -- not to mention the damage it will do to the economy and the infrastructure of all the areas affected. She's a lone voice, a scientist, but will those in power take her discovery to heart and intervene before it is too late?

I loved this very fast-paced novel and read it over a matter of hours, not wanting to put it down. It's tense and action-packed with all sorts of interesting characters and geography. Not to mention the incredible scientific detail about the fault line and the resultant catastrophe. Megan and Chip are a dynamic due who defy the odds and make the play to save the earth. What could be a more fun read?

The authors of this are quite well-known -- in fact, Jon Jefferson IS Jefferson Bass of the Body Farm series! If you're in the mood for thrills and heart-pounding adrenalin rush, this is the novel for you!
I only wish there were more titles like this available to read these days as I thoroughly enjoyed the break from my usual genre (mysteries and police procedurals).

Scarred for Life (Jessica Daniel #9) by Kerry Wilkinson

GOBSMACKED. That's my takeaway. No spoilers...

What is this 9th in the DI Jessica Daniel Series about? The blurb gives a decent overview as there are a lot of cases that Jessica and her team are juggling in this outing. I've read the previous ones, in order, so following along with the changes wasn't difficult as I'm familiar with the backstory. I'd urge anyone interested in this series to do the same as they don't work well as standalones.

Character development, especially of Jessica, is ongoing and, though she still can't sit still for a minute and is ridiculously headstrong, she's matured a bit since the beginning of her career. She works for the Manchester Metropolitan CID, based at Longsight, and her supervisor is DCI Jack Cole. Fortunately, she's not as messed up emotionally as a lot of other female protagonists in many of the books I read in this genre. That said, I'm not sure about her future.

Not sure that I will go on with the series though I've loved and enjoyed it to this point. It's too bad as I always looked forward to another JD episode. 

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

The Missing Hours by Emma Kavanagh

"You do not go looking for kidnap and ransom. It comes looking for you."

Incredibly tense police procedural and complicated mystery involving a woman's disappearance and a man's murder -- that just may be connected.

Dr. Selena Cole vanishes from the playground near her house, just leaving behind her young daughters. When she reappears over 20 hours later, she can't remember anything of the missing hours. Or is she lying?

Defense solicitor Dominic Newell is found dead on the side of a mountain road. He was respected and well-liked. Who killed him and why?

Sister and brother Detective Constable Leah Mackay and Detective Sergeant Finn Hale of Endleby -- on the border of England and Wales -- work in the Criminal Investigation Department of a small police force there. Leah is on the Cole case and newly promoted Finn is working the Newell homicide. As the investigation proceeds, it appears that the cases are somehow related, but they have a long and circuitous road of leads and suspects to follow. In addition, it was fascinating to read about the murky world of kidnap and ransom crimes and the secrecy surrounding the efforts of those private security companies that seek to rescue the hostages.

I enjoyed the characters and the depth portrayed by the author as they come to life before the reader's eyes. Told in alternating points of view, mainly from Leah and Finn, the different aspects of the crimes become three dimensional. Great storytelling and prose with excellent detail and description. The narrative tackles a lot of complex issues that are very timely considering what is going on in the world today. Loved the ending.

 I really enjoyed this novel and will definitely look for more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Tell No Lies by Lisa Hartley

The life of DS Caelan Small: "Fooling people, using them, spending days, weeks and months living as someone she usually despised. It was a strange way of meting out justice, and she had to wonder, was she making any sort of difference?"

Fast-paced police drama centered on thugs and drugs. Set in London and the second in a series featuring this undercover detective, the action moves the narrative forward. It all starts with the discovery of two separate victims, both tortured to death and one a cop. Were they connected somehow? Sent back into the field following a previous case that ended in her having some injuries and causing the breakup of a long-term relationship, Caelan is intent on finding the perpetrators. Seems like a new drug lord is coming into territory recently vacated by the previous kingpin who is now in prison. Caelan has to reach into herself to find the mental and physical reserves she needs to tackle this investigation and stop this explosion of crime in Edmonton without blowing her cover. And all the while having to work with her former lover.

I enjoyed this very much but wish I had read the first one in the series prior to starting this second. Allusions were made to the previous case/book, and yeah, you could figure it out more or less, but I think I missed a few things though this could work as a standalone. I'll definitely be looking for the third book in this series to find out more about Cailan and what she will be involved in next. She's a loner by nature, and perhaps also because of what she must do for her job -- which is her life. She's tough and edgy and vulnerable. Smart with nerves of steel to do what she does. Encore, please!

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Publishing Company for the e-book ARC to read and review.

The Reunion by Samantha Hayes

Twenty years ago, August 1996, 13-year-old Lenni Lucas disappears while walking to get ice cream.
Claire Lucas, now Rodway, older sister to Lenni, was 18 years old at the time. She and her friends were splashing about in the water of Trevellin Bay, a normal day at the beach. When Lenni did not return, the Lucas family, their friends, relatives and the police searched and did all the normal things that people do when a child goes missing. To no avail. The only signs were a dropped ice cream cone and a pair of shorts. Lenni was gone.

The family somehow puts itself back together over the next 20 years without the baby of the family. Patrick, the patriarch, is a well-loved husband and father to the Lucas kids as well as to their childhood friends. Shona, mom to all, handles everything -- especially now that Patrick has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Claire and her brother Jason get on with their lives, marry, have their own families -- but still have so many questions. "In the end, our suffering came from not having anyone to blame, from not knowing what happened."

Claire decides that it would be a good time to get some of the old crowd together to help her dad with his memory issues. She has two children (Marcus and Amy) and her best friend from back then, Maggie, has a 15-year-old daughter, Rain. Old flame Nick -- Claire often wonders what might have happened between them had Lenni not vanished. Sets it all up for lots of potential drama considering that Claire has a son about Rain's age. All the relationships are complicated. The big impetus, however, is that Shona wants to sell the old farm because she can't take care of it and her husband too. So, a last little reunion to celebrate and reminisce. Things don't quite go as planned.

Wow, there's a LOT going on in this book. Many different characters and narrations from different points of view. It's hard to imagine all this happening to a single group of people in a small little town, but all the big themes are there. Deceit, betrayal, heartbreak. Not a single character in the book has an easy time of things. It was almost too much, if you know what I mean. I won't say more to prevent spoilers, but despite all the red herrings that the author uses to obfuscate, some things were obvious quickly but one took a little longer to become clear. I am sorry to say that I really didn't like any of the characters in the book very much. Couldn't relate to them. But it was a good family drama story. I am not sure I would call this a "thriller" but more a mystery. I didn't find it suspenseful or heartpounding, etc., but definitely the word I'd use is DRAMA. I did have a hard time putting it down as I wanted to see what was going to happen to this poor messed up group of people next! The ending came a bit abruptly and a few dangling ends were left to my imagination.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I think most people will be fascinated by the train wreck that is the Lucas family! Enjoy!

Next to Die by TJ Brearton

Is someone targeting case workers from the Department of Social Services?

Setting -- Lake Haven in the Adirondacks. A DSS worker is stabbed to death in her car outside the office after hours one night. Harriet Fogarty wasn't scheduled to be working that evening, so perhaps Bobbi Noelle, who was meant to be on duty but was home sick, was the intended victim? Things in the small town heat up pretty quickly as Detectives Mike Nelson from the New York State Police and Detective Lena Overton with the Lake Haven Police start to work the case.

But there is a lot more going on in Lake Haven. Suspects are identified and the investigation painstakingly plods along as more questions are raised than answers can be found. There are parallel plots and it is all quite complex. Red herrings abound, but most astute readers will figure out where this is going though it takes a long while to get there. There are so many characters that sometimes the names all became a jumble and they were all very superficially constructed. The main character of Bobbi narrates part of the story as it alternates between her and Detective Mike. There's also a romantic element for both of those two (not with each other) that really didn't add anything to the forward movement of the plot.

This works find as a standalone though I've read others in the series. I enjoyed it but it seemed like it took a lot of pages to get to the denouement and the final showdown when all was revealed. I'll definitely read more by this author.

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

The Art of Fear by Pamela Crane (#1 The Little Things That Kill)

"If you go poking around in shadows, you'll find darkness."

Ari was ten years old when she was held responsible for her little sister's death. Tina (Sophia) was sold into sex slavery by her parents when she was 6. These two young women meet at a suicide support group, bond, and start looking for answers to explain their miserable lives. Although complete amateurs at the investigation business, they somehow find out more than expected and track down the different parties as it seems that there is a connection between events that happened over fourteen years ago.

Despite the need to completely suspend my disbelief in the action and plot, and never mind that the characters were flat and stereotypical, I moved through this rapidly. I really didn't like any of the characters in the book and the coincidences were often just too extreme. Ari and Tina are supposed to be two tough chicks who'd survived really hard times (and yeah, I am sure the sex slavery was total horror and sometimes I can't even stand to think about it much less read about it), but I just couldn't buy into Ari's personality. The romance that blossomed with Tristan was...well, most know how I feel about romance in these thrillers...but how convenient that his job proves so HELPFUL to Ari right?
No spoilers, but the ending shows that Ari is moving forward into a new direction -- no longer a retail sales clerk after her stellar investigating techniques -- finding out stuff that defied all the efforts of previous law enforcement types.

Although this was OK, I don't know that I'd invest the time in another of this series. I didn't like the interaction between the characters, the dialogue or the need to be so incredulous at outcomes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tabella House for the e-book ARC to read and review.

The Fear Within by JS Law (LT Danielle Lewis #2)

"Good people do bad things, and bad people do good things...the world doesn't work in absolutes."

Gripping thriller set mainly near and on a Royal Naval base in Portsmouth. Lieutenant Danielle Lewis and partner, Master at Arms, John Granger, work for the Special Investigation Branch. In this second book the pair face a series of disasppearances and crimes that tie back to the TENACITY (a submarine) and their previous case. A very complicated plot with lots of characters, this moves along quite quickly with information and action.

After rescuing an abused wife in an abandoned shop, the duo is called to the ship, DEFIANCE, because a young female stores assistant had gone missing. Meanwhile, Dan (oh how I HATED everytime I saw that masculine name used for Danielle in the entire book -- but this was an ARC and I am hoping that someone talked some sense into the powers that be and got that changed) is also talking to a serial killer because body parts thought to belong to his victims have come to the attention of her bosses, AND she is also still secretly working on the former case involving a drug smuggling operation on the submarine. Busy lady!

There was a lot going on in this book and quite confusing to me because I was not familiar with the characters and had not read the first book in the series. In this case, I think that was a huge mistake and would urge anyone considering this title to go back and read #1 first. As far as the character of Danielle Lewis (and just again metnioning that she was called Dan throughout), I'm not sure I can say that she was believable or likeable. Let's say that some of the scenes stretched credulity and leave it at that. The reader really doesn't learn much about her personally and so she was not very three-dimensional nor were any of the other characters in the book. I did find the military connection to be quite interesting as I haven't read many books where the investigators are part of the Royal Navy.

So, despite my annoyances as described above, I did enjoy it and will probably go back and read the first book at some point. Would definitely want to read #3 because this one ends on a cliffhanger!

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for the e-book ARC to read and review.

The Undertaker's Daughter by Sara Blaedel (#1 Ilka Jensen)

 The first book in a new series by one of my favorite authors!

Forty-year-old Ilka Nichols Jensen travels from Denmark to Racine, Wisconsin, USA, when her estranged father dies and leaves her his business -- a funeral home. Ilka's life as a widow in Copenhagen was nice and peaceful, she took school portraits for a living, and her mom and partner were close by. A nice, uncomplicated life. She's quite shocked when she finds out that the father who had abandoned them when she was 7 years old had made a new life in Racine. So what is she to do? She travels to Racine and finds not only a funeral business on the brink of bankruptcy, but a decades old murder mystery. The bodies keep on coming to the funeral home and Ilka finds herself in the middle of a huge mess. At first just eager to sort things and return home, she comes intent on discovering more about her father and the art of undertaking.

I really enjoyed this departure from the Louise Rick series for a couple of reasons. For one thing, I've always been secretly fascinated by the whole funeral business and actually considered whether to train in Mortuary Science so that I could work in one (before I found out how "family" controlled that the whole business actually is -- well, aside from the big conglomerates.) So I found the details absolutely fascinating as I believe it is both an art and a science to care for the dead and a ministry to attend to the families. I found the author's note explaining why she wrote this book quite illuminating and very easy to understand why she decided to write about this topic. Secondly, I loved the main character -- Ilka. What an unusual woman and an atypical protagonist. She's strong but sensitive, and I can't wait to learn more about her. Sure she has her personal demons, and coming to the USA where things were so different for her was quite a feat. I assume she's staying on at the funeral home and am eager to see how she assimilates in this unfamiliar territory.

So - it is not your typical Blaedel suspense thriller or police procedural, but there is a mystery and lots of intrigue. I'm sure the secondary characters will be developed further as well. And I can't wait to see what happens next as the book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger!

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

Little Liar by Clare Boyd

"Tell me. Explain to me. Describe to me."

The words used by the social services people when they interview Rosie, the 10-year-old daughter of Gemma and Peter Bradley. The neighbor next door, Mira Entwistle, has called the police about the screaming she's heard, and suspects that Rosie may be an abused child. Life in Virginia Close, Denton, is about to take a detour. For it seems that there are many secrets that may have led to this eruption in domestic life.

What a tense and almost, at times, excruciatingly painful drama to read! I felt so much sympathy for the parents of Rosie, and wondered when she would get the psychiatric help she obviously sorely needed! Being a parent is very hard, and that girl drove her mother to the near brink of madness with her acting out and tantrums. I wasn't sure what was going to happen and held my breath preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best. Suffice to say that Mira has her own demons -- no spoilers.

This was a domestic psychodrama that kept me glued to the pages. I was suspicious of the main characters and not quite sure what to make of any of them. Who am I to judge another? Their motives, their emotional reactions, their deeds? What a great choice this would be for a book group as there are many themes that most mothers especially could possibly relate to. And, haven't any of you heard a child's scream or cry from next door that you wondered about? After all, we hear stories everyday about mistreated children whose situations were never reported to any authorities! But, geez, who among us wants to see the police or DFS on our doorsteps after our children have misbehaved? Anyway, I thought this all was pretty scary stuff and I'll be thinking about it for a long while. Point being -- a mother is accused of hurting her child, lies are told, things go from bad to worse. We all want children to be safe, especially in their homes. Would YOU make the call? And, if so, what would be the trigger?

I look forward to reading more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

Look For Me (DD Warren #9) by Lisa Gardner

 "Mistakes, regret, repair. Family isn't a destination. It's a journey."

It is a perfect fall Saturday in Boston when peace is shattered in a Brighton neighborhood. A family of 4 is shot in their home. No forced entry, no witnesses. The oldest daughter, 16-year-old Roxanna Baez, is missing. When Detective DD Warren gets the call, her first thought is -- is Roxie a lucky near-victim or the perpetrator? Joining the police in the hunt and Amber Alert is Flora Dane (from FIND HER); she's the leader of a survivor group having escaped her captor after 472 days. She teaches women how to live again after their horrible experiences. Seems that Roxy had reached out to her group before that day's tragic events. The search is on and the narrative focuses on procedures and investigative techniques along with a very stark and scary portrayal of the foster care system.

I've read this author before, but have not managed to read all the books in any particular series. I don't feel that I missed anything significant by coming back in at #9. There's enough backstory to fill in the gaps. DD is now a mom and she's not quite as edgy as in previous books, but still tough and sure of herself and her job. She's not that excited to be working with Flora, but realizes that Flora and Sarah can help in this situation. The reader understands why Flora and Sarah do what they do - which is a sort of vigilantism and self-defense tactics not totally limited by laws and protocols that the detectives have to follow.

Anyway, the mystery of Roxy and the murders is solved as the layers are peeled back to reveal the truth about "family." None are perfect and all require a lot of work and forgiveness. I was unsurprised by the conclusion and I can't say this was really suspenseful, but it was a meaty plot with many complex issues. Most notably that of the foster care situation -- for which I have no answers, only sadness.

I'll definitely pick up another title by this author and thank NetGalley and Dutton for the e-book ARC to read and review.

I'll Stay by Karen Day

"The unexamined life is not worth living. For your life and sanity...you must learn about yourself."

Set in the 1980s and moving forward, this is a story about friendship and about mothers and daughters. A role in a relationship assumed and taken on, sometimes without little to no understanding about how it came to be. Intense emotional impact!

The best friends are Clare and Lee and the narrative is told in first person by Clare. The girls go with two other sorority sisters on a spring break trip, ending up in Florida, where a life -- and friendship -- changing event takes place when Lee say to a trio of young men, "Let her go, I'll stay." Traumatized emotionally by what occurred in Daytona, their relationship collapses and for many reasons, they never discuss it. Time goes by as Clare and Lee navigate their lives after college without ever confronting each other and they don't understand why each is broken inside until much later.

The story is profound, if a bit slow moving, as Clare examines her relationship with Lee and with her mother -- a needy and somewhat narcissitic famous author. The book written by the mother features prominently in the novel and only at the end does its true meaning become clear enough to help Clare figure out who she is. "Maybe there was a difference between saving people and taking care of them."

I don't usually read contemporary women's fiction, but I found this one very thought-provoking and enjoyed it much more than I expected. It would make a great book club selection because of all the issues and themes to discuss and debate. I'd recommend it!

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

Into the Black Nowhere (Unsub #2) by Meg Gardiner

"I'll slip into floating darkness, It'll be like falling through a field of stars, into the black nowhere."

I need to catch my breath after racing through this second book in the UNSUB series. The sense of urgency, the tension, and the suspense racheted up with every chapter. The writing was superb and the details and descriptions of the places where events occured only added to the foreboding and dread as the story unfolded. This is definitely one that should not be missed if you're a fan of this genre.

The plot line -- serial killer on the loose. Kyle Detrick is "one calculating, remorseless predator." His style is reminiscent of Ted Bundy because of his ability to charm, disarm, and manipulate.

The good guys -- FBI Special Agent Caitlin Hendrix and her partner Brianne Rainey. Special Agent in Charge CJ Emmerich. This team is tracking the murder spree and trying desperately to capture Detrick and bring him to justice. These are fairly standard chararcters as portrayed on TV and in books about the FBI, but they are two very tough women whose personal lives aren't delved into too much between the covers of this novel. They see a lot of action in the narrative and are almost continuously working and in active pursuit of more information and the killer.

I really like this series and it stands out from others of the same ilk because of the great writing and the facts about serial killers, etc. that are contained within the pages. I did not want to put this book down even though I knew how it would likely end. I cannot wait for the next one and definitely plan to go back through the author's backlist and read more of her previous work. I love when I find a new author or series to get hooked on!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the e-book ARC to read and review. Please don't make me suffer and wait too long to see what happened in Oakland...

Dark Game by Rachel Lynch (#1 DI Kelly Porter)

DI Kelly Porter has her hands full in this first book in a new police procedural series where she is working for the Cumbria Constabulary. She'd been reprimanded for being too much of a risk-taker while working in London at the Met and had come back to her childhood home feeling like a failure.

There are, at her initial examination, 3 separate cases. A cold case involving a kidnapped and murdered 10-year old girl that she's asked to reopen. An abandoned baby whose hospitalized mother can't speak a word of English. And a well-known, wealthy civic leader found dead in a bed in a hotel room.

Porter has a lot to prove to her new team and she leads the investigation using the skills she learned from her mentor and partner at the Met -- patience, memory, order and time. The information gleaned by Porter makes her start to believe that the cases are related as the same names keep coming up. What she uncovers through this complex police operation is an illegal prostitution and slavery ring, global money-laundering and murder.

The book is very well-written and moves along quickly. The main character, Kelly Porter, is 36 years old and quite passionate about her work. She's the most fully developed as the story is told mainly from her point of view, but the secondary characters will likely be more fleshed out as the series develops. I'm eager to see what's next for her and the Constabulary team. The only thing that would have been helpful to me is a map -- as I am totally unfamiliar with the area and layout where Porter works! Seems like she had to do A LOT of driving from one place to another and the scenes were nicely described. Something that irritated me, but that is in essentially every book of this genre, is when the female detective goes in alone to a critical situation when she shouldn't and thus requires "rescue" from either a male partner or an entire police department. She should be smarter than that! But then, there wouldn't be the dramatic climax would there?! But it would be more realistic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review. Definitely can't wait for the second book in this series and recommend it to anyone looking for a strong female protagonist in a police procedural.

False Witness (Detective Cooper Devereaux #3) by Andrew Grant

Excellent and complex police procedural featuring Detective Cooper Devereaux. Set in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, this third in the series continues with a new case for Devereaux as he also continues to come to grips with his personal backstory.

Two victims, both women nabbed and murdered on subsequent nights, on their 21st birthday. Wrapped in sheets and delivered to the doorstep of a public place, the women did not know each other or have any connections. The press soon dubs this the B/DK -- the birthday killer case. Devereaux and his current partner, Tommy Garretty, begin the painstaking efforts to figure out who is doing this. There are quite a few possible suspects at first, but the list dwindles as time drags on without any progress. Then a third girl's body is found.

Meanwhile, there are some parallel stories that involve Cooper's long-dead father and some domestic drama with his girlfriend (the mother of his daughter). Because of this, I think it's very important to read these in order. Unfortunately, I didn't have access to #2, but some of the blanks were filled in with revelations in this book. I like seeing the progress that Devereaux is making toward self-acceptance and personal growth. He's quite the maverick in many ways, but his character is growing on me. As the main character, I'd say that he is the most fully developed of those in the novel. I continue to be very worried about his daughter, Nicole, and feel like his girlfriend, Alexandra, has serious blinders on and that is going to lead to a huge problem in, hopefully, the next in the series where THE ISSUE will be acknowledged and handled! NO SPOILERS.

The complicated investigation leads to a satisfying conclusion and I'm looking forward to the next in series. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the e-book ARC to read and review.

False Positive (Detective Cooper Devereaux #1) by Andrew Grant

"Within the core of each of us is the child we once were. This child constitutes the foundation of what we have become, who we are, and what we will be."

This is the first in a police procedural series featuring Detective Cooper Devereaux and set in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. He's the archetype of maverick cops with unorthodox ways and a very sketchy history. The "child" in him is quite messed up and his background provides fodder for the development of the premise and main theme of the book -- is your future behavior predicted by your genetics, is it in your DNA? Or can you choose who you want to be?

In this outing, he's partnered with a cop on loan from vice, Jan Loflin -- another pretty messed up character with her own secrets and she and Devereaux have a lot in common though they don't really trust each other. The case that they are to work -- a 7-year-old boy, Ethan Crane -- has been abducted and is apparently the latest in a string of kidnappings spanning many years. Can they find him before it's too late?

This was well-written, fast-paced and full of twists with some interesting revelations as the characters are developed and the investigation proceeds. Although some of it was predictable given the genre, the narrative unfolds and is told in alternating points of view with a timeline progression. I really was into the story -- until the very end. The conclusion with its insinuation left me COLD and very unsettled. I'm not sure if I want to continue. I don't have the second at hand, but I do have the third, and I guess I must read it to find the answer I need to set my mind at ease -- or not.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the e-book ARC of this to read and review.

This was the first book I've read by this author.

I Know My Name by C.J. Cooke

"Light creeps in through the cracks caused by tumbling through the hard spaces of life. But it's love that lets the light back out of us, moving inward and outward at the same time, dissolving the thresholds between past and present, between each other."

A nearly drowned woman washes up on the remote and derelict Kommeno Island -- 8.4 miles northwest of Crete. In Potters Lane, Twickenham, London, 37-year-old Eloise Shelley has vanished from her charming Edwardian semi. She left behind her four-year-old son, Max, and newborn daughter, Cressida, as well as her husband, Lochlan. What follows is an incredibly complex narrative told in alternating points of view with occasional shifts between 2015 and dates from 1983.

NO SPOILERS. This is a remarkable novel unlike any I've read previously because of the many nuances and details leading to an incredible revelation. Yes, it's sort of a mystery, but it's more than labeling it a psychological thriller as well. It's really a case study more than anything, and one that I won't soon forget. Nothing like I was anticipating when I read the blurb thinking that I knew all about where this was going to go being a fan of this genre and all. I don't want to put this in a category. The writing was incredible and the story horrific and heartbreaking.

I could go on and on in this review, but I don't want to ruin it for any reader. This book would be great for a club discussion for sure, but it also begs a lot of questions that each of us will ponder, turning and assessing in our own minds. Is it realistic to think this could happen? I'm a skeptic at heart, but I was quite moved by the struggle and the outcome experienced by the characters -- all very vividly depicted and so three-dimensional.

Just get a copy and read it and I'd love to know what you think of it all. I could not put it aside as I kept coming back to the situations and just had to know the truth once and for all. Sure I had some clues and was pretty sure I had figured out where it was going, but the author was so skillful that I wasn't quite sure how it would all end. The conclusion was fitting and satifying for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an e-book ARC of this to read and review.

Vanishing Girls by Lisa Regan (#1 Josie Quinn)

"You can't always be all roses and sweetness...that don't get shit done."

Detective Josie Quinn of the Denton, Pennsylvania police, has a bit of a temper and is on suspension after using excessive force during a call out for a disturbance of the peace in the rural town of about 30,000 people. So, she can't get involved in the search when teenager Isabelle Coleman is apparently abducted even though the department is stretched thin, especially after a highway shooting leaves 3 apparent gang members dead at the Stop and Go gas station. Of course Josie won't sit this out, especially after she discovers that there may have been other instances of kidnapped girls that might be linked to this case -- a girl that no one even knew was missing is found in a catatonic state. The only real clue is a name -- Ramona. Who is Ramona?

This fast-paced police procedural is full of surprising revelations as the full scope of the "vanishing" girls is discovered. That small town has many secrets. NO SPOILERS.

There is a lot of room for character development in the future episodes in this series, and I hope that Josie becomes her own person rather than a copy of all the other female detectives in books of this genre -- let's "un mess" her up, OK?  Women can be great cops without being so damaged, can't they? Another issue for me was the romance with Luke (and leave out the sex scenes -- a pet peeve of mine) as Josie needs to get her head on better before she's too deep in another relationship.

I enjoyed this debut in this crime thriller series and am eager to see what case comes next as Josie assumes her new role in the department.

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

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

"...passion, like fire, was a dangerous thing. It so easily went out of control. Better to control that spark...or perhaps to tend it carefully like an eternal flame."

This book came highly recommended to me by many different people. And I wanted to love it as much as they claimed I would. The characterization in this novel was extremely well done -- it's just unfortunate that I basically detested them all. Sure I had some, albeit brief, moments of empathy at one turn of a page or another -- but for the most part, I couldn't understand their motivations, their actions, or their decisions. I guess my reaction says more about me, personally, than it does about the book. I didn't find most of the narrative to be believable and the construct -- is love between parent and child about biology or is it about the nurturing -- to be an overly done theme. The relationships between them all rang so false and actually, I thought quite ridiculous in some instances. No spoilers, but I couldn't find a one to root for. Sure we're all flawed, and the parent-child relationship is fraught with issues at all ages and stages of life, but some of the things that happened in the book just left me more angry than sympathetic. I know I tend to prefer books where I can make some sort of personal identification with at least one character, but that was absent for me in this story.

The writing was decent, if a bit melodramatic at times, and I highlighted a bit here and there when I found a particularly interesting turn of phrase. But overall, I just don't feel the love so it missed the mark for me. This was the first novel I've read by this author, and I might be tempted to try another in the future -- as long as it wasn't a domestic drama.

This would make a great choice for a book club as there are so many things within that beg discussion and debate. I think that hearing other opinions always helps me to understand and further support my own position on the topics.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the e-book ARC to read and review.

The Daughter by Lucy Dawson

"You cannot understand what it's like to lose a child unless it happens to you. It's every pain you have ever felt turned up so loud you can't think, move, speak -- and nothing drowns out the agony, not even for a second. It's what annihilation actually means."

Jessica's life changed when the unthinkable happened -- her darling 5-year-old daughter, Beth, died in an accident on the playground at school. Jessica left her then-husband, Ben, and walked out of that life. Someone made her go. And now, 17 years later, Jessica has remarried and has a new husband. She and Ed have a son, James, and Ed knows everything about Jessica's sordid past. So does someone else -- and all of a sudden, things start to unravel in their family life. Who is tormenting Jessica and what more does she have to do to pay for her past mistakes?

Although the identity of the tormentor is easily guessed by the reader, the narrative is told in such a manner as to create tension as Jessica tries to figure out why her past is ruining her present life. Jessica does the usual dumb things and makes choices that seem unlikely given her relationship to the various people in the story, but the tale unfolds with the drama of the evenentual unmasking. This is an emotionally wrenching book that tugs at the heartstrings and is hard at times to read because no parent wants to go there. Jessica is very three-dimensional and though at times I wanted to shake her, at others I just wanted to hold her and give a big hug. She has a lot of baggage to work through in addition to dealing with the loss of her child.

This was the first book by this author I've read and I'll definitely look for another. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Bring Me Flowers by DK Hood (Kane and Alton #2)

"The dead can't hurt you. Swallow your fear and find justice."

Sheriff Jenna Alton has a series of vicious murders on her plate. Teenage girls, eviscerated and displayed in a gruesome tableau taunting her team in Black Rock Falls. With so many possible suspects and a rodeo circuit in town, she, David Kane and new deputy, Shane Wolfe, have their hands full as terror engulfs the small town.

This was an incredibly fast-paced, high octane thriller that begs to be read in one sitting -- as I accomplished today (despite the hated battery dying on my kindle -- thank heavens for a power pack!) There are so many red herrings and so much going on that the reader is glued to the pages trying to guess the identity of the killer. It doesn't help that these are teenaged girls who don't listen to their parents, who take incredibly stupid risks, and who think they are invincible! I cringed more than once knowing what was about to happen to those feckless girls. Yes you have to use a bit of suspension of disbelief that so much could happen in this backwater town where Jenna is sent in the Witness Protection Program (see book one), but the storytelling captures you and it's fun to go along for the ride. Lots of gruesome and grisly description of the kills, but once again, detective work saves the day!

I like this new series and the second one just whets my appetite for more of Kane and Alton and I hope it's not too long a wait for #3. I like the small town atomosphere and the detail in the narrative and as I said, it was impossible to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. Can't wait for the next!

The Silent Girls (Anna Gwynne #1) by Dylan Young

 "Remember, we are all capable of acts of terrifying destruction when the tenuous constraints of consciousnesss snap and the primal impulses ooze and stain the world."

Once upon a time,  in 1998, 18-year-old pregnant Emily Risman was killed in the Forest of Dean. In present day, 16-year-old Nia Hopkins is kidnapped from her parents' barn and later found dead. Is this the same killer? And if so, is the convicted and recently released Neville Cooper back to his old, evil ways? Recently promoted Inspector Anna Gwynne is leading the investigation for the Southwest Major Crimes Review task force -- examining the Woodsman killings following his release. In addition, there is a wave of serial rapes. Are these connected? Anna and her team are liaising with police on the current Nia Hopkins case. But those detectives are convinced that it is Neville Cooper resuming his murder spree.

This is a police procedural more than a suspense thriller and it plods along as various aspects of the investigation are undertaken. Anna visits a prisoner who provides some interesting clues -- Hector Shaw -- in jail for the murders of those he suspected of murdering his daughter. Does he really have information Anna can use in her own case or is he just wanting her attention? Lots of questions in this complex case and Anna must use all her skills as she pits herself against the murderer and others involved on the police side.

I did enjoy this novel but found some irritations that seem to be recurrent themes in other books in this genre. First of all, why does the main character always have such a crappy relationship with her mother and a father adoration? Secondly, why does it always come down to the criminal engaging the detective in a personal one-on-one near death encounter? The other theme in this story was that much was made of the fact that Anna tested as INTJ on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. This means she is supposedly an expert at thinking and judgement as well as being an intuitive introvert. It's not a BIG DEAL -- I had to laugh as I, too, test that way. It doesn't make her anything special even though the book says that only 4 in every 500 women test as INTJ. Really? I guess I'm a BIG DEAL too -- wish I'd known!!  Despite all these little things that always get me in a narrative, I went along with the revelations and was unsurprised by the conclusion as it was the only thing that made sense.

If this is the start of a new series, put me down for #2 because I want to see what is in store for Anna in her next outing. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

Keep Her Safe by Richard Parker

The premise -- what will a mother do to protect her child? In this particular novel, the mother is asked to kill another mother so that her own child will live. The murder is ordered by a man known as The Babysitter. His motives are unclear, but he targets single mothers. He kidnaps their babies and then sends them to kill. So, murder by proxy.

Unfortunately, the execution of the plot left me completely unable to suspend my disbelief at the events that transpired. The two main characters -- Maggie and Holly -- endured a night together that left me scoffing in amazement. Amazement that I actually continued to read to the end. The frantic activities that engaged Maggie and Holly bordered on ridiculous as they attempt to outsmart The Babysitter and get Holly's daughter back. Their decisions and actions made no sense. Their near death experiences and escapes from the perils they endured did not make for exciting or tense suspense. It was all just TOO MUCH. I didn't like either of the women, I didn't feel empathy for their plight, and I just wanted to get to the end so it would all be over and I could say I finished it.

I've read another book by this author, HIDE AND SEEK, and it was much better written than this one. I simply can't recommend it unless you can force yourself to believe that there is any way this sort of thing could happen as described. I'm sorry to say I can't find anything nice to say so I'll stop now.

I do want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me access to the e-book ARC to read and review.

Liars (THE GOOD LIAR) by Frances Vick

Psychological thriller narrated by 3 different people -- all of them liars and mostly thouroughly unlikeable. The synopsis provided on the book information page is misleading and inaccurate.

Jenny, David, and Freddie -- all have their own perspectives or perceptions of their interactions with each other and their tales of what their past lives were like. It's hard to sift through the exaggerations and interpretations of events to get at the truth. All are self serving. None are who they pretend to be and their motivations to be involved with each other are warped. People connected with the three keep dying -- who is responsile for that? Jenny's mom, Jenny's stepfather (who she claims had abused her). Is someone Jenny's protector and savior -- or is it something entirely different? No one is who they seem.

Frankly, I didn't like any of the characters and got tired of the convoluted way the layers were revealed so that the reader could try to put the pieces together to form some answers. Although I didn't like the ending, it was realistic considering the nature of Jenny, and entirely anticipated. The twists were expected since the reader knew everyone -- particularly David and Jenny -- had some seriously flawed personalities.

Did I like this? It was a little slow and I guess I prefer a more linear story with characters I can actually respect or understand. NO SPOILERS, but I do like it when good guys win. Or when there is a "good guy" to root for.

I read the ARC of this titled THE GOOD LIAR. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-galley to review. I would read another by this author.

The Last Thing She Ever Did by Gregg Olsen

"They can pinpoint the split second when something they did changed everything in their world. Mistakes are dominoes, falling on one another in a mechanical, unstoppable progression."

The first mistake that Liz made could have been an accident. The second was a crime.

This was a fast-paced psychological thriller that kept me glued to the pages in suspenseful anxiety. On one hand, I detested nearly all of the characters in the book -- especially Liz -- and on the other, I was hopeful that there would somehow be justice and a satisfactory conclusion. Not sure I got my wish, actually, but NO SPOILERS -- I did enjoy the novel and loved reading about Bend, Oregon’s Deschutes River and could imagine myself there on the banks watching the whole story go down from the porch.

This well-written drama has great description and detail about the locale and the interactions between the characters is believable. I'm not a big fan of internal angst and was grateful it was somewhat limited as it annoys me quickly especially when repetitive. I did like the two Bend police detectives, Esther Nguyen in particular, and her younger male partner. In all, a compelling tale that reminds us that everything can change, lives can be destroyed, in a heartbeat.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-book ARC to read and review. I'm off to hunt for another title written by this prolific author!

The Chalk Man by CJ Tudor

"We think we want answers. But what we really want are the RIGHT answers. We ask questions that we hope will give us the truth we want to hear."

In 1986, Eddie's world was a snowglobe. He and his mates were 12 years old and spent their days doing what young boys do. Hanging together, going to school, enjoying holidays. The boys even created a secret code using different colors of chalk to send messages to each other. Until "the day some causal god came along, shook it hard and set it back down again." A series of events transpired that year that changed everything forever.

Part coming of age story, part mystery, this stellar debut opens strong and finishes with a very fitting conclusion that is no less satisfying because of its painful revelations. Told in Eddie's point of view but alternating between 1986 and present day, the prose is so well written that it evokes all the feels. I found it impossible to put down while frantically highlighting all the great lines that sum up so many truths, even as some are cliches, they aren't trite within the pages. The characters are all very well-drawn but still retaining some mystery and unknowningness -- as no one fully can know even their best friends. NO SPOILERS, but definitely a suspense thriller that I will not soon forget. I definitely look forward to seeing what CJ Tudor has coming up next.

Don't miss this one, it's sure to make a lot of lists! Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the e-book ARC to read and review.

The Running Girl (Louise Rick #5)

A solid and absorbing police procedural featuring Detective Louise Rick. Set in Copenhagen, the descriptive writing makes the city come alive to the reader. In this novel, Louise is called to a party that her 12-year-old foster son, Jonas, is attending with schoolmates when thugs crash it and intimidate the guests. While running for help for her mom, Britt, Signe Fasting-Thomsen ran out into the road in front of a van and was hit. With both mother and daughter in the hospital and the father out of town, Louise and her fellow police try to find the older boys who invaded the party. Meanwhile, the beating death of a man needs solving and a warehouse is burned down. Are these events connected?

This complex story takes time to unravel as the many layers are revealed slowly through solid investigative work. Louise juggles both her professional responsibilites and her personal issues with Jonas and her current sort of boyfriend. Not always a job done well. Camilla Lind and her son have taken off to the US for a couple of months and the two friends keep in touch through emails and calls as Britt Fasting-Thomsen is known to her as well. So basically, the usual characters having continuing roles in this novel.

There are 9 books in the Louise Rick series thus far. I've read 7 -- completely out of order -- as this was #5. Fortunately there is usually enough backstory that I can catch up, or follow -- and enough time has passed between reading one and another -- so I don't feel too out of it. My preference would be to read a series in order, but I think it's because of the way the translations are being released in the USA. In fact, sometimes I feel totally confused as to where a book fits into the series!
Regardless, I enjoy them and will continue to snap them up as they are available here.

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