The Liar's House (DI GIna Harte #4) by Carla Kovach

DI Gina Harte is faced with a complicated case involving a missing woman from 12 years ago, a recently murdered woman, a woman who was brutally attacked and another who has apparently been abducted. The only commonality among them seems to be a swapping club where the members are apparently all barely known to one another. Harte is alarmed to find that her ex brother-in-law is part of the swingers group -- does he have anything to do with these crimes? The team works hard following the few clues and the red herrings to find the perpetrator. Meanwhile, Gina can't get rid of a Tinder date gone off the rails. NO SPOILERS.

The usual crowd is back and Gina Harte is still fighting her feelings for her boss since they are no longer in a relationship. I hope those two can get together despite the workplace issue. The other team members need a bit more development to cement their working partnership appeal. The pace is fast and the plot is entertaining. I enjoy this series and look forward to the next book. 

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

This is #4 in a series and I urge all to read the books in order.
Genre - police procedural, mystery

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

When Jules takes a dream job that turns into a nightmare...

Who wouldn't take the job as an apartment sitter in the luxurious Bartholomew? Homeless, heartbroken and broke Jules Larsen doesn't hesitate when she finds that she will earn $12,000 in just 3 months! Surrounded by opulence and fine things in 12A, the unit she's assigned, Jules can't believe her luck. At the back of her mind, and because of the concern expressed by her best friend, Chloe, Jules can't help but wonder if it's all too good to be true. Quite soon after she's settled and living in the private residence, Jules meets Ingrid and the two of them find that the Bartholomew is a very scary place to live. When Ingrid vanishes, Jules discovers that behind the walls of this stately facade are secrets that just might kill her. NO SPOILERS.

This was a fun, fast read full of twists and turns that kept me rapidly turning the pages eager to find out the secrets. The writing is good and the characters interesting with the typical stereotyping separating good guys from bad ones. Although I was rooting for Jules, I secretly had this teeny, tiny desire...well, I won't say more. The book provided me with a couple of hours of pure entertainment so I could leave my reality check at the door.

I understand this book may make its way to a television series at some point in the future. I'm looking forward to that and future novels by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House DUTTON for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - mystery, suspense

Murder in the Fens (#4 Tara Thorpe) by Clare Chase

Julie Cooper, a student a St. Oswald's College, is found dead in the fens with crushed flowers in her pocket and indications that a ring had been removed from her right-hand ring finger. A crime of passion? DC Tara Thorpe and her team at the Cambridge Constabulary are on the case.

First things first -- the police want to know everything they can about Julie and have no shortage of potential suspects in her murder. A supposed BFF who copies Julie in every way -- dresses like her and engages in the same political activism as Julie -- Bella Chadwick -- who seems to be lying even as she has nothing significant to report, but does lead the team to Julie's ex boyfriend, Stuart Gilmour, who ticks a lot of boxes. And then there is, "John", the academic whom Julie was supposedly helping with a research project. Oh, and the fellow at the college, Julie's tutor, Lucien Balfour, who ticks all of DC Thorpe's boxes for being a total creeper. But the investigation is just warming up, frustration with the progress of figuring out the crime mounts, and the various members of the team are dealing with personal issues when a second death occurs. NO SPOILERS.

I do enjoy this series. I like Tara most of the time but I don't find her that believable as a character. I know she carries a torch for Blake (having read the previous 3 books in the series) and he has a lot of issues to work out before they could possibly consummate their romance. The setting as described always lends an authentic touch to the story and I relish all those details. I don't typically have a problem figuring out "whodunit" in fairly quickly when reading a mystery but I do like the slow reveal as the climax is reached. The writing is good and the pace is fast. I can't wait for the next book in the Tara Thorpe series.

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

This is the fourth book in the series and I recommend it be read in order. I've read them all to date.
Genre - police procedural, cozy mystery

Whisper in the Night (Kane and Alton #6) by DK Hood

Black Rock Falls may be a small mountain town but it has seen quite a bit of notoriety since Sheriff Jenna Alton moved there after leaving the DEA. This time, someone seems to be targeting young high school girls. First, 14-year-old Lindy Rosen goes missing from her bedroom in the middle of the night. Police attend the scene but there are no signs of a break-in and the house has a top of the line security system that wasn't triggered. Then it becomes obvious to Jenna Alton and her team (which includes Deputy Kane) that a devious killer has no plans to stop. But who is the real target?

This is police procedural mixed with low key romance and a sort of locked door mystery. Although it does feature a sadistic killer, it's more tell rather than show. I guessed the identity of the Shadow Man early and I finished just to get confirmation that I was right. The investigation requires that the detectives wade through a lot of interviews and do a lot of running around and generally being in mortal danger -- which brings me to my main gripe. Why the heck does Alton need so much protecting and coddling while she pretends to be a tough girl and doesn't eat, sleep or generally take care of herself. Kane has to do it. I don't buy it. She seems weak every time she won't go get her injuries attended to at the hospital or acts all moody -- and does she ever eat anything besides bagels? I don't know why she's the Sheriff when it seems like all these other deputies around know more about serial killers and tracking and police work than she does. She is fake tough and always ends up in a sort of victim role as a target. I'm tired of Kane with the goo goo eyes as he so admires Jenna and wants to be her main squeeze but nobody is doing much about that. Let it go already, it seems a forced token romance anyway.

I've read all the books to date in this series and I don't know that the small town can realistically have another crazy murderer on the loose. I really enjoyed the first couple of books featuring Kane and Alton as they adjusted to life in Black Falls and worked those cases together.

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

This is the 6th book in a series that should be read from beginning in order.
Genre - police procedural trying to be a thriller

Conviction by Denise Mina

Dark and twisty action-packed mystery

The eternal companions of all clever women are mistrust and scorn."

Anna McDonald has two daughters with her lawyer partner, Hamish. On the morning her life implodes, she's listening to a true crime podcast and is quite surprised that she knows one of the people featured in the story. "A sunken yacht, a murdered family on board, a secret still unsolved..."
When Hamish walks out of their home with Anna's best friend and her two daughters, Anna briefly considers suicide. A knock on the door rouses her from her shock and stupor. And thus begins the quest as Anna reclaims her life and tackles the mystery of the DANA. NO SPOILERS

How can it be that I've read thousands of books but never a title by Denise Mina?! I intend to rectify that omission because I really enjoyed the author's writing style. This was fast-paced and had an unusual style -- I especially enjoyed the podcast pieces -- with an engaging and deeply flawed female protagonist in Anna (Sophie Bukaran) and her equally messed up sidekick, Findlay Cohen. Their adventure was pure fun and I raced through the pages trying to figure out how the story would end. Their travels take them across Europe in cars, trains, and planes. I loved the descriptions of the places they visited in their efforts to quiet Anna's demons.

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

This is a standalone and not part of any series
Genre - suspense, crime thriller, mystery

Death at Burwell Farm (Sukey Reynolds #4) by Betty Rowlands

Sukey Reynolds is a SOCO for Goucester City Police. She has a teenaged son, Fergus, and a hot boyfriend, DI Jim Castle. They often butt heads with her being so intent on getting involved in cases beyond the remit of her job. But hey, she only gave up working for the police when she got pregnant.

In this 4th outing, Sukey goes undercover at the RYCE (Release Your Cosmic Energy) Foundation after a couple of deaths seem to have ties to the place. Located at Burwell Farm, Sukey is trying to find out if a suicide and a heart attack death were in any way connected to the new age center. Although she finds the course somewhat calming, there's a murder that disrupts the course and her equilibrium. NO SPOILERS.

I enjoy this cozy mystery series and have read them all in order to date. The characters are nice people without all the pent up angst and psych damage that tend to be a staple in this genre. The stories are fast reads and provide a pleasant entertainment. I'm becoming quite attached to Sukey, her son, and DI Jim. Looking forward to the next one!

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

This is the 4th book in a series that should be read from beginning, in order.
Genre - cozy mystery

The Victim by GD Sanders

When your well-laid schemes go terribly awry...

This is quite different to the usual police procedural or crime thriller in that, even though it is the second book featuring DI Edina (Ed) Ogborne of Canterbury CID, the suspenseful story also focuses on two other main characters so there are 3 different points of view in the narrative.

DI Ed Ogborne is investigating a manslaughter case in Dover -- a woman found dead in her scrupulously clean apartment as well as an alleged rape in Buttermarket. Something is not quite ringing true with the rape victim's account, even though captured in detail on CCTV.

Colin Bradshaw has never had much luck with women. He has plenty of time and money. Now he has a plan to secure the woman of his dreams. What could go wrong?

Georgina (Gina) Hamilton has worked hard to become a dentist and is possibly about to become a partner in a thriving practice. Everything is going her way until the night she meets Colin. Now that she stands to lose everything, can she think of a way out of her situation?

NO SPOILERS. This was a fun, easy and fast-paced read that kept me racing through the pages to see what these characters would do next. I found myself surprised by the twists and turns in the plot and the surprises kept coming as the investigation intensifies and events play out. The characters are the type you can actually enjoy as especially two of them can be pretty despicable. I liked Ed and wish I had read the first book though this can be read as a standalone. I'm looking forward to another in this series and want to go back and read THE TAKEN GIRLS as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/HarperCollins for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the second in a series featuring DI Eina Ogborne but the first one that I read.
Genre - police procedural

The First Mistake by Sandie Jones

"Trust is a funny thing; it takes such a long time to build, yet it's broken in a second."

Alice and Nathan Davies have a thriving business and two young daughters. They live and breathe their work and have big plans for an exciting new development in Japan. Alice was married before, to Tom, the love of her life, and has finally been able to deal with his tragic passing and has moved on with Nathan so invested in everything.

Alice had some issues in the past but has finally made a friend, Beth. The two women share secrets and all is well until...NO SPOILERS.

This novel of psychological fiction and domestic drama is narrated by Alice and by Beth. Since you know this genre, you expect some twists and a savvy reader will figure out where this is all going fairly quickly. The story moves along at a fast pace and is quite convoluted by the end. Although I couldn't really relate to either woman, and though I can't understand why people don't speak up, confront and ask the big questions right away, I did get that both women were damaged by their pasts. You'll be able to zip through this in a couple of hours.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- domestic drama and psychological suspense

The Honeymoon by Rona Halsall

"It's all about guilt...the poisonous emotion was the common denominator, a deadly catalyst..."

Dan Marsden woos and marries Chloe in a whirlwind courtship that lasts about 2 months. The first signs of trouble appear as the two are boarding their plane for the honeymoon. Chloe had dreamed of the Maldives but suddenly she learns that they are actually going to Menorca. What?? Turns out that this is not the first time Dan has taken her by surprise, and when they arrive at their destination, Chloe finds out that nothing is anything like what she had expected. Dan has just informed Chloe that they are not going back home to Brighton after all. NO SPOILERS.

I really enjoyed the fast pace and the writing in the first half of the book as tension built and I was trying to figure out what was actually going on. It was fun guessing about Dan's motives and getting annoyed with Chloe because she's got to be pretty stupid as she dithers about and makes the dumbest choices a woman could make. Since I couldn't relate to any of the characters and the whole crazy plot, I really had a hard time at the end as everything is revealed. Unbelievable to a degree that defies even my superpowers of suspension of disbelief when reading psychological fiction. Alas, I was disappointed with the explanations and the conclusion. The most interesting part of the novel was the description of the island as I had to go find it on a map. It definitely was a book that begs to be read in a single sitting.

I've read other books by this author, and I'll give her next book a try. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic suspense fiction

A Face in the Crowd by Kerry Wilkinson

Lucy is having a hard time making ends meet these past years. She's stuck in a dead-end job at the local supermarket making barely better than minimum wage and has a load of debt from when events 5 years ago basically changed her entire life. One evening on the bus home, someone puts an envelope containing money into her bag without her seeing who it was. She knows she shouldn't keep this new-found jackpot, but starts spending it anyway despite knowing that soon she'll be called to account. NO SPOILERS.

This was a quick read, but there were no surprises here. I didn't really connect with the main character of Lucy and way too much of the narrative focused on her dog, Billy. The story will require some extreme suspension of disbelief. I was a big disappointed by the payoff with the "big reveal" and the explanations without ever having felt much tension or suspense.

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

This is a standalone and not part of any series.
Genre - drama, not especially a thriller

The Child Before (DI Finnegan Beck #2) by Michael Scanlon

DI Finnegan Beck has been banished to Cross Beg after an incident at his former post in Dublin. He's adjusting to life in the Cross Beg Garda Station and attending AA meetings. In this second book in the series, Beck and his team are confronted with the slashing murder of a young female in a car out on a lonely road. The biggest problem is that Beck notices that there is a car seat in the back of the vehicle, but no baby. This is classic Irish police procedural with the investigation throwing up clues and suspects and lots of questions. NO SPOILERS.

There is a lot going on in this story and it becomes complicated quickly. In addition, there's a whole second narrative involving the disappearance of a baby from the isolated Kelly's Forge, a Clachan of a superstitious and closed community in 1954. The reader knows there must be a connection to the current case, but it is a long time before any can be made. In between the forward action of the plot are long sections of description and detail about the area, history and landscape.

Beck is an interesting, but not really likable, character. He's brash, standoffish and obviously ridden with personal demons. Alcohol is his main friend, but he's trying to stay on the wagon. I think it may be too late for professional counseling to help him come to grips but I still am hopeful for his redemption. The reader sees glimpses into the other charcters' personal lives but they are still mostly just names on the page at this point. Perhaps they will be developed more in future books.

I enjoyed this and was able to finish it in a couple of hours. I'll want to read future installments in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the second in the series and I suggest you read them in order.
Genre - Irish police procedural

Bold Lies (DI Kelly Porter #5) by Rachel Lynch

What if a drug could be created that would save millions from the misery of substance abuse? And who might not want that to happen?

A body is found shot to death in a boathouse at Derwent Water. Two scientists are killed in a hidden lab in East London. Are these deaths related? DI Kelly Porter has the case in the Lake District but travels to London to work with her old flame, DCI Matt Carter. This is a complicated investigation that involves the upper levels of the government and a pharmaceutical giant. NO SPOILERS.

I really enjoy this police procedural series. The characters have definitely grown on me and I can relate to Kelly Porter -- she's a woman who has her act together, is tough when she needs to be, and can handle her job without doing stupid stuff. The other important aspect of this series is the setting: the Lake District descriptions make me want to visit and I love the details of the area. I suggest that these books be read in order to get full appreciation. I know I'm looking forward to another!

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

This is book #5 in a series. Best to read in order.
Genre - police procedural

Little Girls Sleeping (Katie Scott #1) by Jennifer Chase

"Capture. Protect. Sleep..."

Katie Scott returns home to Pine Valley, California, after serving as part of a K9 team with the US Army in Afghanistan. She was a former police officer with the Sacramento PD, but wasn't sure she wanted to return there. Fortunately, her uncle Wayne Scott, is the Sheriff and he is more than willing to have Katie do some admin duty at the station until she sorts herself out and makes some decisions. Almost immediately, Katie is drawn into a cold case involving a missing eight-year-old named Chelsea Compton. Though her disappearance was 4 years ago, no body had ever been found. Katie sneaks the files and as she looks through the notes she finds that not a lot of effort had been made to investigate. Katie figures she would look into this further and discovers that there are other missing girls in the area. Through painstaking search tactics, she discovers "the sleeping girls." When she's suddenly elevated to the temporary position as a Detective in Pine Valley working with a special task force, there are those on the team who aren't very happy with this development. Can they find the "Toymaker" before he collects the next girl? NO SPOILERS

OK, if you're going to start this one, prepare to sit glued to the pages until the end! This one grabbed me and never lost momentum as I raced to see if I could solve the case before Katie figured it all out. I enjoyed the setting, the writing and the characters. Katie is a very interesting young woman and her backstory provides a special history that is a bit different to most of the books in this genre with female detective protagonists. I can't wait to read more about her and will be waiting impatiently for the next book in this new series.

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

This is the first in a new series. Will read in order.
Genre - detective mystery

Keep You Close by Karen Cleveland

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple." (Oscar Wilde)

Stephanie Maddox heads the FBI's Internal Investigations division and is uniquely placed because of her inherent beliefs about right and wrong. She's all about love of country and the greater good. How to shake up a strong-willed person like that? Get to her son. Steph's a single mother to teenaged Zachary. Lately the two haven't gotten along so well and she is suddenly faced with some discoveries that make her realize that she doesn't know Zachary at all. When Steph finds out that Zachary is implicated in a domestic terrorist plot, when she finds a gun hidden in his room, and when she's told that he's in real trouble -- what does she do? DENIAL.  Stephanie believes that her son is being framed because of some deep secrets that she discovered as part of her own previous cases and investigations. All she is asked to do in order to protect her son from prison is to "let it go."  NO SPOILERS.

Make no mistake, this is a fast-paced and very complicated thriller involving the FBI, CIA and the upper levels of government. It's quite difficult to guess at what is going on, and even after I finished, I had to go back and read the last couple of chapters several times. Even now I'm not quite sure I completely understand all the nuances and the cross-double cross espionage pieces of the plot and definitely unsure of which are the bad guys. As far as the character of Stephanie Maddox -- that's tough. She's definitely dedicated to her job and never makes the choices I'd make as a mom but I guess all she's ever known is how to keep her cards and information close to her chest and she exists in a state of distrust. And she is full of questions and secrets without anyone to turn to with her dilemma.

I was quite surprised to find that this novel is somewhat related to NEED TO KNOW though it's not a series per se. I'll be interested to see what the author does next and if any of these characters reappear in her next book. Although I enjoyed this, I didn't like it nearly as much as I liked the first one. It was a little hard to keep all the players straight as they didn't go into neat little boxes! Probably my fault!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.
3.5 stars

This is a standalone but does have some connection to previous book by this author.
Genre -- spy thriller, FBI agent

Dead Inside (DC Maggie Jamieson #1) by Noelle Holten

DC Maggie Jamieson has been seconded to the newly formed Domestic Abuse and Homicide Unit (DAHU) after successfully closing a serial murder case with the murder team out of Staffordshire. She finds that the police team of her new unit is fully integrated with different agencies, including probation and domestic violence advocates. Almost immediately, the colleagues become involved in the search for a killer -- one who is murdering men who are domestic abusers.

Lucy Sherwood from Markston Probation has her hands full as she oversees the supervision of several different men who've been released after serving prison time for some sort of domestic violence offense. Lucy enjoys her job even though interacting with these abusers reminds her of her own personal situation and the issues with her husband, Patrick. When some of her probationers end up dead in particularly gruesome ways, everyone wonders if this is some sort of revenge or act of vigilantism.

As Maggie and Lucy, as well as the rest of the interdisciplinary team, look into the lives of the victims, survivors and perpetrators, they become convinced that the killer has an agenda. NO SPOILERS

This was a fast-paced debut that highlighted a department that I don't know much about -- probation officers. I would definitely have liked to learn more about different aspects of the job and more about Lucy in that role. But, as she's a secondary character in this crime novel, most of the book focused on her personal dilemma as a woman subjected to domestic assault. It seems that Maggie's stint with the DAHU is over and she's going back to her previous job in homicide. Not sure what will happen with the many different characters that were introduced in this story but they had not really been fully developed or become relatable yet anyway. For awhile it seemed that Lucy was the main character and the reader learns more about her than about Maggie Jamieson! I would be interested in reading the second book in this series to see the direction it goes and who goes along!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for the e-book ARC to read and review. Domestic violence/abuse is everywhere and much too little help is given to those affected by it. Those who are subjected to it can't be safeguarded to any degree and those who perpetrate it can't seem to be cured of their anger and controlling tendencies. And those who witness it need help as well. This is a particularly difficult subject as there is such an inclination for people to judge and blame, excuse or condemn. I think most people don't believe it could happen to them and I surely hope it doesn't.

This is the first book in a new series.

Genre - Crime thriller - domestic violence

The Body in the Mist (DCI Craig Gillard #3) by Nick Louth

"...very few people are all good or all bad. That combination is what makes us human."

DCI Craig Gillard is about to find out just how messed up his family really is when he and his wife, Sam, visit his two aunts and uncle in Devon. The body of an unidentifiable male is discovered on a road south of Exmoor National Park. He appears to have been the victim of a hit and run -- and the suspect vehicle belongs to Gillard's Aunt Barbara. Gillard's aunts deny driving the vehicle that day as they claim to have been playing Monopoly with his Uncle Philip who lives in a care home and seems to have his own secrets. It's a complicated case outside of Gillard's remit, but he offers to help DI Jan Talantire of the Barnstaple police with the investigation since he wants to help his relatives. There's a lot going on in this police procedural and murder mystery -- NO SPOILERS.

This is the third book in the series and I didn't like it quite as much as the first two. It seemed to take me a huge effort to really get into the story and to keep all the different threads straight. I do like the main characters of Craig and Sam and will be interested in reading the next book which I hope is set back in their home turf, Surrey. DCI Gillard definitely has a dysfunctional family and Sam is about to find out more about her husband.

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

This book is part of a series, #3, and although I suppose they could be read as standalones, I prefer to read in order.
Genre - mystery and police procedural

Death at Beacon Cottage (Sukey Reynolds #3) by Betty Rowlands

Sukey Reynolds wanted to be a detective but then she married and spent some years raising her son. Now she works as a Scene of Crimes Officer for the local police and keeps her hand in the force, especially since she's dating DI Jim Castle. When she's called to the scene of a recent burglary, she gets caught up in the investigation of a series of art thefts that have also led to murder. The complicated case gets personal when one of the suspects thinks he knows who she is and calls her by the name, Pepita. NO SPOILERS.

I really enjoy this cozy mystery series and have read all 3 so far. I like the character of Sukey Reynolds -- she's a great mom and a smart woman who has the luxury of getting involved in criminal investigations through her job and via her love interest. Sometimes she's in danger but not usually because she does something stupid like many other female detectives who go off half-cocked. She cooks, takes great care of her 16-year-old son as a single mom, and is a very understanding girlfriend. I'm eager to see what she does next!

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

This is the third in a series. I suggest you read them in order.
Genre - cozy mystery, amateur sleuth

Death at Dearley Manor (Sukey Reynolds #2) by Betty Rowlands

Located in a wooded valley in the Cotswolds is a beautiful old home dating from the early 18th century. Dearley Manor and surrounding estate land is the home of Myrna Maxford and her husband, Paul Reynolds. Yes, the very same Paul who abandoned civilian Scene of Crimes Officer Sukey Reynolds and their son, Fergus, 5 years ago. Though some bitterness remains between them, Sukey has moved on to a new romantic relationship and is enjoying the resumption of her job with the Country Police Force. When she's assigned to work a barn fire at Dearley Farm, Sukey soon gets drawn into a much larger drama and a murder. It seems that someone has killed Myrna Maxford, and there's no shortage of suspects. Despite her personal connection to Paul and the police finding him a person of interest, Sukey discovers that many believed Myrna to be "a ruthless, power-hungry monster." Of course she's dismissed from any investigation so as not to taint the case, but that doesn't stop Sukey from trying to help her ex-husband and perhaps figure out who else had motive, means and opportunity. NO SPOILERS

This is the second in this cozy mystery series and I'm hooked. The story was fast, fun and kept me guessing. This is not a bloody thriller with lots of suspense, but it is a case that has a lot of red herrings, multiple possible suspects and more than one suspicious death. I enjoy the characters though, for heaven's sake, this penchant writers have for referring to a woman who is 60 years of age as an "old lady" sort of gets my back up! Seriously? I don't know anyone that age who is a doddering, gnarled pathetic wretch! Despite some stereotypical characters that have become cliche, the reader is beginning to see some real personality in Sukey though others need development. It will be interesting to see what new direction Sukey is going to take in subsequent books in the series given the hint at the end. Since I've got the third already queued up on my Kindle, I'll be finding out shortly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I'm looking forward to Sukey's next case.

This is #2 in a series. Read in order.
Genre - cozy mystery, police procedural

Death at Hazel House (Sukey Reynolds #1) by Betty Rowlands

Once upon a time, Sukey Reynolds had a promising career in the police. She had to abandon that dream when her husband left her for another woman on her son's 10th birthday. Fergus is now 16 and Sukey has recently returned to work as a civilian Scene of Crime Officer. She still has friends in the police, most notably a romantic interest, DI Jim Castle, and she receives assignments to take photographs and obtain other crime data or information as needed. This cozy murder mystery opens with Sukey attending at Hazel House in Marsdean to gather information at the scene where the body of Lorraine Chant is found in the master bedroom.

This is a well-plotted mystery with plenty of red herrings and a complex set of related crimes involving a group of people connected to a past bank robbery. Although Sukey is the main character, and a woman I'd like to get to know better, there are other points of view within the narration as the investigation into the murder leads to evidence of other nefarious activities. Since this is the first of a long-running series originally published in the 90s, the technology and investigative methods are a bit dated but that doesn't negatively affect the outcome of the case. This isn't the grisly chiller thriller type of book, nor is it really suspenseful, but demonstrates overtones of a police procedural where dogged detectives and serendipitous findings lead to the solve.

I enjoyed this change of pace and I look forward to reading the next few in the series that I happen to have on my TBR. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the first in a series -- I intend to read them in order.
Genre - cozy mystery, police procedural

The Dancing Girls (Lt. Jo Fournier #1) by M.M. Chouinard

Recently promoted Lieutenant Josette (Jo) Fournier of the Oakhurst Country State Police Detective Unit in Massachusetts is keen to get back to what she does best, investigating crimes. But directing a team is her assignment and she longs to sink her teeth into a crime that looks to her as the work of a serial killer.

Janine Hammond was found in a hotel room. She'd been strangled. No signs of any type of assault. Since she was visiting from out of town, the detectives have few clues. The only thing that seems to be missing is her wedding ring. Jo senses that something is off about the whole set-up with the victim in the room. Little does she know that this case is going to become an obsession for her and her team. NO SPOILERS.

What a fun police procedural and crime thriller! I enjoyed the writing even though I couldn't care less about online gaming or WoW. The dialog and character development made me quite interested in learning more about Jo Fournier and I can't wait to see what happens in the follow-up book as this one has a cliffhanger of an ending. And, believe it or not, this actually has a twist that came as a complete surprise. It's not often that happens, so I definitely have to hand it to this author for her deft sleight of hand. The narrative shifts in time and point of view between the characters and the reader gets some insight into the mind and motives of the killer along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review. I will be looking for #2 in the series.

This is book #1 in a new series.
Genre - police procedural/crime thriller

American Princess by Stephanie Marie Thornton

"...never envy anyone who has led an easy life...nothing in the world is worth having if it doesn't mean effort, pain, or difficulty."

I took a break from my usual suspense and thriller reading addiction for this foray into the world of historical fiction and specifically the life and times of Alice Roosevelt Longworth. The eldest daughter of our nation's 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt, was a force to be reckoned with through her youthful antics, her middle-aged stunts, and her many civic passions until her death in 1980. She was 96 years old when she died in 1980. She had lived through decades of White House intrigue, countless years of political upheaval, and far too many years of personal struggle and heartbreak -- much of it her own making --but she soldiered on emulating the many strengths of her adored father. She was a fascinating woman, far ahead of her time. She wasn't afraid to voice her opinions and to be true to herself even as the press both admired and denigrated her. She lived much of her life in the public eye and met most of the important leaders of her time. I laughed, I rolled my eyes, and I cried as Alice Roosevelt Longworth navigated her stormy and well-lived days as "America's Princess."

This was an excellent book about a fascinating woman. It was extremely well-written and extensively researched. I've read all of this author's previous books and was thrilled to read this in a more contemporary setting. I understand Stephanie Thornton's next project will be a book about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. I can't wait to read it. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is one you won't want to miss.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Author's other books written as Stephanie Thornton
Genre -- historical fiction

What She Saw by Wendy Clarke

Domestic drama set in the picturesque Lake District of Cumbria. A mother, Leona Travis, has gone to great lengths to create a normal, happy home for her teenaged daughter, Beth. They live with Leona's boyfriend, Scott Newman, and have a quiet, private little family. Their life, however, is a bit of a sham and held together by secrets and lies that Beth has told in an attempt to keep them safe. It's unfortunate that everything starts to unravel and the truth comes out. NO SPOILERS

The scenic views and vistas are described in loving detail and it is definitely a landscape that calls to many. The setting is quite an important part of the story given its isolation and magesty. Beauty is a central theme as both mother and daughter are talented in the arts. The characters are stereotypical and were a bit hard for me to relate to. There is quite a bit of repetition of feelings and angst with the main points of the plot dribbled out slowly across the chapters that are told in alternating points of view. The revelations did not come as any surprise and there was only minor suspense and thrill, but it kept me entertained for a couple of hours even though I'd figured out everything shortly into my reading.

This is a debut in the psychological category and I think the writing shows promise so I'd read another book by this author in the future. It may be that this genre is getting old as so many books like this have already been published. I don't think the synopsis as given on this page is very accurate.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic drama, psychological

The Paris Diversion by Chris Pavone (Kate Moore #2)

"...kids know this better than anyone, that you have to do it all right now, everything, because this can always happen without any warning whatsoever: you're out of time."

First of all, if you haven't read the first book in the Kate Moore duet, THE EXPATS -- STOP. This book won't make as much sense to you without doing so. Second, the synopsis provided by the publisher is clear in describing the topic and plot. I don't want to give any spoilers so won't go into anymore detail about it.

This thriller was a great follow up novel and every bit as good as the first. Ex CIA agent Kate Moore is quite an interesting character and I enjoy her personal reflections almost as much as I admire her calculating mind. She's a quick study and her ambivalence about being a stay-at-home mom vs pursuing her former career makes what she actually does with her time even more absorbing. Kate and her family are living an expat life in Paris when the events of this particular day jar her from what has become a nearly happy and satisfying semblance of domesticity. There are many characters, red herrings, cross and double cross, and a lot of action. Great tension. Remarkable writing. I really enjoyed it. You definitely won't want to miss this sequel and, dare I hope, there will be more?

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

This is a sequel and should not be read unless you've read #1.
Genre - espionage thriller

The Expats by Chrisopher Pavone (#1 Kate Moore)

"She will reboot herself. Relaunch. She will become, at last, a woman who is not constantly lying to her husband about what she really does, and who she really is."

The synopsis provided gives an excellent overview of the plot of this well-written novel of domestic and international suspense. I could barely put it down once I got used to the flips in time period and locations! I read it because I have the second in the series, THE PARIS DIVERSION, to review and had to get the backstory before I did so.

Kate Moore and her family -- husband, Dexter, and her sons Jake and Ben, relocate to Luxembourg when Dexter gets a great job offer to provide electronic systems security to banks in a city where there is lots of money and many who want to avoid paying taxes. Being an expat in a foreign country is quite the experience for Kate and she has a lot to get used to there. But some new friends seem to have a questionable agenda and Kate becomes suspicious of her husband. There have been so many lies throughout their marriage -- is it time to come clean before it's too late? NO SPOILERS

The story takes the reader from Washington, D.C., to Luxembourg and to Paris and the 3 time settings can be a bit overwhelming as pieces of what appears to be a very complicated story are revealed out of sequence. It all comes together in a great conclusion, however, and provides a very satisfying reading experience. I loved all the details about Luxembourg and Paris as well as those descriptions in places that the family went on holiday. I only wish my French was a bit better as everything isn't translated though you can figure out the gist in context. I'm definitely looking forward to starting the second book this evening.

This is the first in a series featuring Kate Moore
Genre-labels - spy thriller, international, domestic drama

Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay

"Actions have consequences. Maybe not overnight. Maybe not in a week, or a month or even a decade...Eventually, things have a way of balancing out."

Things become anything but normal in New York when there are 3 separate incidents involving elevators located inside Manhattan skyscrapers that result in deaths. The city's residents are mildly interested and guess there's some sort of connection between these events but total panic really ensues when Mayor Richard Wilson Headley orders that all of them be put out of service until they can be checked. In a vertical city, this can lead to disaster. But that's not the only concern of Detectives Jerry Bourque and Lois Delgado -- they're wondering if these engineered elevator episodes are targeted murders or if they're related to a domestic extremist group known as the "Flyovers." Homeland security is investigating as a possible act of terrorism. But no one claims responsibility. And might the elevator tampering be related to the death of a man found bludgeoned and without fingertips on the High Line? Or how about that taxi bombing?

It's a very complicated scenario affecting many jurisdictions and the situational response is being followed very closely by journalist and reporter, Barbara Matheson. She has her own personal reasons for examining all the players and especially those in the Mayor's office. Who is doing this, and why? NO SPOILERS.

What a wild ride of suspense! I could barely stop reading once I opened the book. The narrative is told in alternating points of view, but the motives are only slowly revealed with red herrings that caused my guessing talent to flounder several times. The characters are well-developed and engaging with enough historical detail to make them relatable -- even the ones you won't like so much. The writing is excellent and I've long been a Barclay fan. There are plenty of grisly descriptions and enough deaths to make this a thriller while also serving as a bit of a morals directive. There are twists and surprises. I enjoyed it immensely and fans will be clamoring to get their hands on this one.

Thank you to HarperCollins Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review. This jumped to the top of my extensive TBR list as soon as I received it.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Themes - suspense, thrills, murder, revenge, terrorism

A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson *translated

"We were a perfectly ordinary family, and then everything changed."

The Sandalls are a nice, fairly well-off family. Dad is a pastor for the Church of Sweden and mom is an attorney. Stella is almost 18 and experiencing that lull of boredom between adolescence and adulthood. Longing for her life to begin. Her best friend, Amina, seems to have her life planned out but Stella only yearns for a trip on her own to Asia. That's when the girls meet 32-year-old Christopher Olsen, a wealthy and handsome playboy, while they are out dancing and partying one night. Though both girls are actually initially enthralled by his interest, it's Stella who starts spending time and having sex with him. And then he's dead. Murdered. And the police arrest Stella. NO SPOILERS.

How far will a parent go to save their child? This legal thriller is told from the point of view of each member of the Sandall family. Adam, whose morals are above reproach, goes first. His shock is palpable but as he dissects their family life together, he can see where Stella could indeed be responsible. How can he help his daughter now when he's failed her before? Stella's voice describes how she met Christopher and their relationship. She's remanded with severe restrictions that require her to be held in isolation so she can't even see or talk with anyone other than her attorney. The walls are closing in and she's extremely confused even as she attempts to figure things out and plan a strategy with her lawyer. But she may be hiding some truths. Lastly, Ulrika Sandall, the mom who knows exactly how little justice is actually served in the courtroom describes how "people are prepared to put aside everything in the way of ethics and morals to protect their families." The conclusion may surprise you.

It's interesting because I can't help but compare this book to another I recently read - QUICKSAND --as it also is set in Sweden and features the trial of a teenager. I found it quite absorbing to read about the courtroom process which is quite different to that with which I am more familiar in the USA. I enjoyed it for the most part, but I had a very hard time relating to the characters within the pages. I understand parental responsibility and the lengths that a parent goes through to ensure a successful and happy future for a child. I'm not sure why the disconnect and I can't say more without giving spoilers. I'll be eager to read more reviews as I analyze the novel in my mind over the next several hours.

Thank you to the publisher, Celadon Books, for the ARC to read and review. I think it's one that most fans of legal drama won't want to miss.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre-themes: legal and courtroom drama, murder, teenager, Sweden, parental role

Some Choose Darkness by Charlie Donlea

Sometimes you don't want to see the truth, even if it is right in front of you.

Rory Moore followed in her father's footsteps and became an attorney. She doesn't, however, practice law as she has some personal issues that led her instead to a career as a forensic reconstructionist and she works exclusively for the Murder Accountability Project (yes, that's a real thing) and the Chicago Police Department. Her job is to figure out details about a murder that others involved might have missed to bring a killer to justice. As she beings to investigate the death of 22-year-old Camille Byrd, Rory is pulled away to take care of her father's legal practice after he dies suddenly of a heart attack. Rory used to do some limited work for the Moore Law Group as it was a one-man firm and sometimes her father needed help with research or trial prep. Now she has to clear his cases - the pending, the retired and the open ones. Unfortunately, one of the cases relates to "The Thief", a man convicted of murdering his wife and sentences to 60 years in prison. After decades, he's finally coming up for parole and the judge is that Rory work with the convict to manage his release from the prison where he's been for 40 years.

A new voice -- that of Angela Mitchell from the past. She's a young housewife with autism, OCD and anxiety. She becomes fixated on a series of murders that occurred locally in 1979 and pursues the details, draws up charts and makes connections that make her suspect that it is the work of a serial killer. There were 5 victims, disappearances of women, and the bodies were never found though all are considered dead. No one was convicted. Angela can't let it go and becomes totally obsessed. With her issues and essentially without anyone to believe her, she figures out what she must do. She believes she has the answers. Then she, too, disappears. Is she another victim of "The Thief"? NO SPOILERS.

This was an extremely fast-paced and suspenseful story that gripped me from the beginning and FORCED me to read in one sitting. I loved the flip back and forth between 1979 and present day, and the different points of view throughout the narrative. I had guesses and more guesses and couldn't wait to get to the revelations with the conclusion quite satsifactory. The characters were very interesting and I really got into the fact that they both were on the spectrum but were able to function despite their limitations. I love Donlea's writing style and I've read all his previous books as well -- I urge you to pick one up and see if you don't enjoy them too!

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. I'll definitely be recommending it to anyone who enjoys this genre and likes a great mystery with a deftly crafted plot.

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

Genre - forensic reconstruction, serial killer, mystery, autism

The Dare (DI Natalie Ward #3) by Carol E. Wyer

 Three young teenaged girls go missing and are soon found dead near rubbish heaps. DI Natalie Ward and her team are sorting leads and interviewing witnesses. A tip leads them to the notion that the girls were attempting to take part in an online dare that they found on a website called DISAPPEAR. As Natalie, DS Lucy Carmichael, DS Murray Anderson and PC Ian Jarvis, along with the Samford Police bring in potential suspects and examine all the clues, they can't seem to pin down the "Warfield Monster". Will the killer of Savannah Hopkins, Harriet Long and Katy Bywater get away with murder? And then the worst possible thing happens: Natalie's own daughter, 14-year-old Leigh, skips out of school and doesn't come home. NO SPOILERS.

Although a police procedural and solid detective mystery, this is also a character driven series with the reader learning more about the main players with each book. I like the protagonist, Natalie Ward, as she seems to be strong and mostly together without the "hot mess" back story so common in this genre. She has personal problems with her family, but good working relationships at the cop shop. The secondary characters are becoming more well known and fleshed out as well with each subsequent book. The writing is engaging and the pace is fast. Plenty of red herrings that allow the reader to experience the frustration of the police as they keep searching and finding no answers. I like the series and plan to continue reading.

The topic of social media is quite commonly tackled across all genres of reading material these days. Rightfully so as the dangers to the young and immature can't be overemphasized. As parents or as responsible adults, we need to keep a close eye on and monitor the internet activity of those for whom we care. Just as the adolescent naturally tries to gain privacy and draw away from guardians is the main time we need to increase our vigilance. Trust, but verify!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I'd urge you to read the series in order.

This is #3 in a series. Please read in order.
Genre -- detective and police procedurals

The Family Lie by Jake Cross

Anna Carter wakes in the middle of the night to find that her daughter, 5-year-old Josie, and her husband, Nick are missing from the house. Though Nick later returns home, it appears that Josie has been kidnapped and a ransom demanded. Who has taken her and why? NO SPOILERS.

This was pretty typical domestic drama with characters I found annoying and dialogue that I found pretty lame. Who calls their child "little lady" and which police officers use the word, "dear" when addressing victim families? Constantly. I didn't care for either Anna or Nick and there were no big twists or surprises that make this stand out from all the rest of the stories that have a missing or kidnapped child. The premise for the plot was quite thin and I didn't much care for the conclusion.

So, this was not a favorite but I might be willing to try another book by this author as long as it wasn't more of the same style and topic.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- meant to be psychological thriller but I would say domestic drama

Quicksand by Malin Persson Giolito

"Interpretations are not so simple if you want them to correspond with the truth."

Sebastian Fagerman and Maja Norberg are the exclusive Djorsholm school's hottest couple. He's the son of one of the richest men in Sweden but money can't buy everything. One morning, shots ring out in a classroom at Djorsholm Upper Secondary School in classroom 412. As the result of the massacre, Maja is incarcerated awaiting trial. This novel attempts to explain what happened on that fateful day as well as to examine the nature of relationships, of love and the concept of justice. NO SPOILERS.

This was a fast-paced and well-written story that takes the reader into Maja's heart and mind. While waiting for her trial and preparing for her testimony, Maja describes her thoughts and feelings about Sebastian and about her classmates and friends. She delves into the class differences between rich and poor as well as the dynamics of the family unit and her friendship with Amanda. The characters come to life on the pages and the empathy meter rises. The ultimate question of "why" the event happened can only be assumed through the filter that Maja uses to both feel the pain as well as to protect herself.

I can't wait to see the movie adaptation and I enjoyed this book very much though it's a very tough subject to tackle. It would be a great one for a book club discussion and I'm looking forward to hearing what others think of it. As this horrible tragedy seems to occur with frightful regularity, the examinations must continue in order for anyone to begin to understand that emotional instability and mental health issues must surely be at the root of it all.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.
Genre - courtroom drama/trial

Wolfhunter River by Rachel Caine (Stillhouse Lake #3)

Though Gwen Proctor, originally Gina Royal, the wife of notorious and recently dead Melvin Royal, thinks that she and her kids can finally settle in at Stillhouse Lake with her new boyfriend, Sam Cade. Recently, however, social media and the press have resumed attacks on her character, accusing her of being complicit in the serial killings her husband was responsible for and convicted of.

Since Melvin Royal is gone and can't torture them any longer, Gwen and her little family are trying to restart their lives, making friends and just living normally. Unfortunately her notoriety hasn't waned and she's contacted by a woman who says there is trouble in a small town in Tennessee known as Wolfhunter. Despite it probably not being in her own best interests, Gwen, Sammy, Connor and Lanny head that way. And, they get involved in much more than they could have ever anticipated. NO SPOILERS.

This is definitely bloody and action-packed with Gwen, Sam and the kids helping to save the day in Wolfhunter. The threat of Melvin is gone, but there is still evil out there. Now it seems that the series may continue with Gwen going in a new direction though it's probable that there will still be more of the fallout from her being the wife of a mass murderer and her still trying to escape her past. Gwen does a lot of internal angsting that seems to go on and on and gets old but I am curious to see what she makes with her new relationship and for her family. She's definitely no wallflower.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the 3rd book in series. I believe they need to be read in order to appreciate.
Genre - thriller

The Girl in the Painting by Renita D'Silva

..."true mettle is doing what is right despite the circumstances...It is being true to oneself, one's principles."

Emma, betrayed by her partner (David) takes their daughter, Chloe, to India at the behest of her dying grandmother. Emma has been tasked with a mission, to find a woman named Archana, and to give her a painting along with a request for forgiveness. Emma knows very little about her grandmother's former life in India as a young English bride married to an Indian lawyer -- only that something had happened and that her grandmother, Margaret, returned home to England alone.

Margaret Thronber was born and raised in England and in 1913 her world came crashing down with the war. She finds a way to nurture her artistic talent at University where she meets and falls for the enigmatic and mysterious Suraj. Her experiences with him allow her to feel known and give her a sense of belonging she has lost. Can she do the unthinkable and marry him, go to India and create a life for herself after all?

Told in alternating points of view and flipping back and forth in time, this beautiful story examines the emotions of guilt, anger ambition, grief and unbelonging. It challenges our personal beliefs in notions such as the bonds of duty and obedience to our family and our culture. As Emma, Margaret and Archana reveal their heartaches, we also must see them tackle the biggest hurdle of all -- forgiveness.

I really enjoyed this novel and could almost picture myself in every scene as the characters come to life on the pages. Beautifully written it will tug at the heart and give much for thought. I really do love the setting of India and learning about the country and culture. The concept of sati was hard to swallow, being the feminist I am. I think it would make a great book club selection as there is so much to discuss.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- historical fiction early 1900s through present day, India, England

Final Betrayal (Detective Lottie Parker #6) by Patricia Gibney

Two young women are murdered after a night out. It so happens that someone they both knew had just been released from prison -- Conor Dowling -- and they were the ones who'd identified him and secured his conviction for assault and robbery ten years ago. Is this revenge? Then two other young women are found dead.

Meanwhile, Detective Lottie Parker of the Ragmullin guard and her team are pulled this way and that by other events and complicated situations. Not only with her job, but Lottie is also having some series issues in her personal life -- and then her two daughters go missing. NO SPOILERS.

This is the 6th book in the series and I've read all but one. I think it's getting a bit stale as this wasn't as good as the previous. Lottie's family is totally messed up and she has a lot of issues, not the least of which is her total focus on work and her haphazard mothering and family life. Don't even get me started on her current romance. This plot wasn't very exciting or thrilling and if there was any twist, I missed it as nothing about it surprised me much. I had to force myself to finish, which is unusual as I typically like long-running detective series so maybe I'm just tired of the same old, same old. I'm not sure if I'll keep on with Lottie or not at this point.

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

This is #6 in a series and books should be read in order.
Genre -- police procedural, detectives, murder

Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson

"People are defined by their actions. What they do is who they are."

Hen (Henrietta) Mazur and Lloyd Harding have just moved into a new home in West Dartford and are settling in when they're invited to a neighborhood block party. That's when they meet the couple next door -- Matthew and Mira Dolamore -- and soon after meet for dinner at the Dolamores' house. While on a casual home tour during an otherwise fairly boring evening, they end up in Matthew's office and that's when Hen spies a fencing trophy on the fireplace mantel. She recognizes it immediately and suddenly knows the truth about their new neighbor. But, Hen has had some mental health issues in her past and is now being treated successfully for her bipolar disorder. When she goes to the police about her concerns, they don't believe her. Soon Hen and Matthew are in a delicate game of cat and mouse. Is she in danger? NO SPOILERS.

This is another great tale of domestic suspense told in alternating voices by one of my favorite authors. Because of Hen's past, there are issues that make her a bit unreliable as she gets more deeply involved with Matthew. Soon her marriage is in jeopardy and she isn't sure how she is going to extricate herself from a very dangerous situation. Although she does some pretty crazy things and takes extraordinary risks, I could relate to her. Matthew is very unique as a character and the reader gets drawn in very quickly trying to understand what is really going on between the two. This is more of a slow burner of a novel that builds through the different narrators to create tension and suspense until the showdown. I sort of figured where it was going, but that's probably because I've read so many thrillers that it's difficult to be surprised. I enjoyed it!

Thank you to HarperCollins Publishers for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.
Genre - domestic suspense, serial killer

Catch Your Death (Special Agent Jessica Bishop #3) by Kierney Scott

Special Agent Jessica Bishop..."couldn't make people feel better, but she could give people answers. That was her skill, the one thing she had to offer. She could investigate and give people truth."

When asked to check on the nephew of her boss, Jeanie Gilbert, Jessica doesn't hesitate to go directly to the posh Gracemount Academy to see why Levi Smith had called his aunt who happens to be out of town. Unfortunately, he's dead -- an apparent suicide -- when Jessica arrives. When evidence starts to disappear and questions aren't getting answered, Jessica discovers that there were 4 other boys who had also committed suicide during the course of the school year. Obviously something is very wrong at this exclusive boarding school and Jessica heads up the investigation only to uncover something far more sinister with far-reaching implications and decades of buried secrets. NO SPOILERS.

Typical boarding school cabal secret society stuff with the very damaged Jessica and her team trying to figure out who's involved but getting hindered or blocked every step of the way. Jessica goes rogue as always, turns into some sort of superwoman as she executes a crazy scheme, gets injured (again) and manages to save the day even though the press outs her and has a field day with her exposure as the daughter of a serial killer with certain weird proclivities in her personal life. This is the second book I've read that features Jessica, and honestly, she's just way too much of a hot mess for me. The situation and the resolution were so unrealistic and she's not getting any better which is worrisome since she just got promoted despite breaking about a hundred laws in the process. All's fair when solving a case in the FBI?

The book is short, fast-paced and entertaining if you think of it as a superhero novel but there's no depth here in the characters or any novelty in the plot. Those who've read the first 2 in the series will probably want to get this installment to see what happens within after how things ended in book 2.
I'm not sure I'll catch up with Jessica again.

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

This is the third book in a series that should definitely be read in order.
Genre - police and detective stories, secret society at posh school

Saving Meghan by D.J. (Daniel) Palmer

I was "all in" with this fast-paced story until the 70% mark. That's when it all fell apart and the complete and utter nonsense that turned into an unbelievable climax and ending occurred.
"NO WAY!" I screamed as everything I believed and felt was twisted into this bizarre and unrealistic conclusion with over-the-top motives and explanations that defy any kind of relationship to medicine or psychiatry. Nothing like what happened within these pages could or would happen in real life. So this is way beyond fantasy fiction.

I've been a nurse for over 40 years, have lots of experience with kids and psych issues and yes, with Manchausen's with and without the "proxy". This whole scenario was ridiculous and I really did not like this book. All the characters are horrible, the mother is a whack job, and though I can usually put that severe dislike aside for a good story, it sure didn't work here because of how it all played out. I can't get past it, over it, nor can I suggest that anyone with a functioning brain actually read it.
Should I tell you how I really feel? If I didn't want to avoid giving spoilers, I'd say even more.

I only finished it because I wanted to see just how far off crazy the author could make that ending.
I do thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting access to this title. I have read Daniel Palmer and Michael Palmer before -- yes, they've written good medical thrillers. But never before has one seemed so far off the mark of realism and accuracy that is essential to the science. As always, this is my honest opinion about what I've just read.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.
Genre -- family drama, meant to be medical thriller, psychological drama

Girl Most Likely by Max Allan Collins

Who loves a high school class reunion? It would probably be a lot more fun if murder wasn't on the agenda!

Chief of Police, 28-year-old, Krista Larson plans to attend the festivities for the Galena, Illinois, Class of 2009 reunion at Lake View Lodge, a little resort managed by one of the classmates. The event is well-attended with the highlight being the triumphant return of the "girl most likely", Astrid Lund. She's done very well for herself, as predicted, and people swarm to her all night long. Unfortunately, the next day, Astrid is found dead in her home. Combined with another murder of a classmate in Florida, Krista believes that there is someone targeting women in their class and enlists the help of her father, retired police detective Keith Larson, to help with the investigation. As they sort through alibis and history, there are many red herrings and possible suspects -- and then yet another woman is killed! The stakes are high and the pressure is on for Krista to find out exactly what is going on and take down a remorseless killer.

This was fast paced and fun though full of inane descriptions about everything from menu items to attire! Indeed, everything is detailed and you almost feel as if you're seeing it all yourself. Although the characters aren't too well-developed, you do get a sense of the father-daughter bond and the painstaking nature of a police procedural. I enjoyed it. Definitely kept my interest as I, too, couldn't wait for the revelation of the identity of the person committing these crimes though the end came fast and I'm not sure I fully understood the motives of the killer. I wonder if we will hear more about this duo in a future book?

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and not part of a series. Yet.
Genre - police procedural, crime thriller

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth

"It's all about support. Whether you want to give it or not...actually it's about whether to give money or not. And that's not the same thing."

Most of us have or ARE a mother-in-law. Depending on who you are and who she is, the relationship can be fraught with issues, it can be smooth and mutually beneficial, or it can be one of benign neglect. Of course you don't get to choose your mother-in-law, but it's often been said that you don't just marry the man (or woman) -- you also marry the family.

Lucy has a difficult relationship with her mother-in-law, Diana. When Lucy married Ollie, she really wanted to be close to Diana because Lucy's own mother had died when she was only 13. But Diana is aloof and opinionated and strong and doesn't seem to have much regard for Lucy -- or at least not in the way that Lucy would prefer. It's not just Lucy who perceives Diana as difficult -- Ollie's sister, Nettie and her husband, Patrick, also have their share of issues with Diana. Only Tom, Diana's husband, exudes the warmth and generosity that everyone really craves. Why won't Diana help them all out financially, it's not like she and Tom don't have plenty of money. It causes a lot of friction between them all and it seems pointless since they all know they'll inherit someday.

Well, apparently someone could not wait patiently for their share of the money. Diana is found dead, at first suicide is suspected, but then the autopsy has some startling revelations for them and the police have been calling them down to the station for interviews and questions. Did one of the family actually kill Diana? NO SPOILERS.

The narrative flips back and forth in time and is primarily written from the points of view of Lucy and Diana. The reader learns some interesting truths about each of the two women as their vulnerabilities are revealed. I particularly enjoyed this device in this story because it tantalized me and I felt that I really got to know each woman quite a bit better and so could relate to them more easily. I wasn't sure who had 'done it' and I liked how the author reached the climax and how it yielded a very sad, but satisfying conclusion. Nicely done! This was most of all family drama with a bit of murder mystery, but I'd say a relationship novel most of all. I loved the end quote: "I worked hard for everything I ever cared about. And nothing I ever cared about cost a single cent."

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- family drama, relationships, women's fiction

Miracle Creek by Angie Kim

"Tragedies don't inoculate you against further tragedies, and misfortune doesn't get sprinkled out in fair proportions; bad things get hurled at you in clumps and batches, unmanageable and messy."

As I close my Kindle after reading the last few pages, I'm absolutely and totally satisfied with the beautiful and moving story I just finished. This type of book is a bit outside my usual genre, but I picked it up because it had several key elements that made it sound appealing: medical stuff (hyperbaric oxygen therapy), autistic children, death (accident, murder, arson?) courtroom drama and family saga. It's a complicated and heartbreaking novel with beautiful writing and well-drawn characters that I could completely relate to and empathize with. There are so many great quotes I could share from the novel, but I'll leave this here: "We all have thoughts that shame us. Hubris. The worst sin."

On a hot summer night, the Miracle Creek Submarine hyperbaric oxygen treatment center is up and running its last dive of the day. Inside are 3 disabled kids and 3 adults -- hooked up with astronaut-like helmets to tubing that connects to the tanks outside. A fire. An explosion. Death and disability. Who is to blame - was it an accident or something worse?

The owners are Korean immigrants trying to give their teenaged daughter a better life in America by setting up this therapy. The mothers who were there were just trying to help their children. The protesters were angry that the mothers wouldn't accept that HBOT was dangerous and experimental. An infertile couple desperate to try anything to conceive. "That was both the best and worst part, that all that happened was the unintended consequence of a good person's mistakes." NO SPOILERS.

Just read this. It would make a great book club selection as there are so many universal truths within to debate and discuss. I can even see this as a fantastic movie. Thank you to NetGalley and Sarah Crichton Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - literary fiction with elements as described in review.

The Woman at 46 Heath Street by Lesley Sanderson

Ella Rutherford loves the house she lives in with her husband, Chris, at 46 Heath Street. The couple came there to stay with the ailing Nancy, Chris's mother, until she died. Ella finds such comfort in the old family home having been raised in foster care and never having family ties. Her blissful life is shattered, however, when she finds that her husband is having an affair and when she is told she must move out. Ella is having none of that for the house was refinanced with her money so she's part owner, and she is happy when Chris leaves her there alone long enough for Ella to find a friend to move in with her temporarily to share expenses. Alice is such a blessing and helps Ella deal with all manner of things.  But nothing is as it seems and Ella soon discovers that the house holds secrets.

This is a mystery wrapped in domestic drama. Though predictable in every way and not really suspenseful, I enjoyed seeing how the narrative played out against my guesses. I do get irritated, however, when the female characters are so weak-minded and easy to push around as their emotions get the better of them. It's also annoying to have the main character go on and on with stream of consciousness angsting that is repetitive and pitiful. Instead of stirring up empathy, I just want to shake them. Since the main focus of the tale was wrongs done to women, the male characters as written were deliberately horrid jerks. All seemed one-dimensional and I found it hard to relate or to get too invested in the outcome. It was a quick, easy read that provided a few hours of entertainment.

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

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - psychological, mystery, domestic drama

The Bones She Buried (DI Josie Quinn #5) by Lisa Regan

"Sometimes people just got it wrong...It was so easy in hindsight to know what someone should have done."

Josie and Noah arrive for dinner at his mother's house to find her dead in the garden. Sure, Colette had been confused lately, but why did the house appear to have been ransacked? The cause of death appeared to be asphyxiation and Josie knows it was murder. This investigation is going to be extremely complicated as the team is short a detective (Gretchen is on desk duty) and this case is hitting way too close to home. Noah is a mess and soon his and Josie's relationship is in danger. (Probably due to Noah's pregnant sister being mean). It seems that Colette Fraley was keeping a secret -- one worth killing for. NO SPOILERS.

This was typical police procedural and the fifth in a series that I've read from the beginning. Lisa Regan gives the reader some backstory about the characters in the event that others are reading this as a standalone or out of order, and there's enough information for anyone to figure out most of the past even though it's all quite complicated, especially with regard to Josie's personal life, past marriage, and her familial situation. I must admit that I found the interaction and relationship situation between Josie and Noah to be quite jarring. I get it, he is grieving, but honestly he was acting like a jerk and so was his sister, and what didn't make any sense at all was him questioning what Josie was doing as far as trying to solve his mother's murder. I mean, he's a cop!!

The plot was complex and the case quite complicated and it took ages to get to the why and who of the crime and get that secret revealed. No real surprises at the conclusion and the explanation was quite a stretch considering all the deaths. I'll probably want to read further installments in this series but this particular book wasn't as exciting and thrilling as previous titles, at least for me.

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

This is the 5th book in a series featuring DI Josie Quinn of the Denton, PA Police Dept.
Genre -- police procedural and mystery

The Greenway by Jane Adams

Is there such a thing as co-incidence? Twenty years ago, Suzie Ashmore, 12 years old, vanishes while playing with her cousin, Cassie, in the Greenway (a pathway between two fields lined with impenetrable hedge). The body was never found and the case never solved. Fast forward to present day when Cassie Maltham has returned to Norfolk to lay her demons to rest after being plagued with mental illness since the day her cousin vanished. While she and her husband, Fergus, are holidaying with two of their close friends, a 10-year-old girl named Sara Jane Cassidy goes missing.

DI Mike Croft, new to the area, is put in charge of the investigation and the detective who was on the Suzie Ashmore case joins even though he's been retired because he's been haunted by the fact that he never found Suzie. Together they sift through the old and new information trying to piece together events though complicated by the fact that Cassie is experiencing some trigger that results in her developing some strange behavior and dreams. It's all odd: "First, there's Cassie Maltham being here again. Two, there's the disappearance of a kid from the same place. Three, it happened at almost the same time of day and practically in full view of others...Four, the kids even look similar..Five, there's no logical way either child could have left the Greenway." Is there an answer to this puzzle?

Although this debut (republished from 1995) has received many superlative blurbs, I felt a little let down by the way the story is written and how it plays out. I'm not a huge fan of dream sequences and don't let me get started on repressed memories. I never really got a true feel for any of the characters and the narrative flow sometimes made it hard to follow logically. The ending was a bit of a bust as it felt rushed and indequate as far as explanation and detail. I didn't feel the paranormal vibe either. It is, however, a quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the e-book ARC to read and review. I'm a fan of detective stories and mysteries, but don't know if I'd read another by this author.

As far as I know, this is a standalone although it was first published in 1995 and maybe it is going to be a new series featuring DI Mike Croft.
Genre- police procedural and mystery, missing girls

Heartlands (DI Jessie Blake #1) by Kerry Watts

"Shannon's disappearance gave him the chills. It was an echo of the Sophie Nicoll case from twenty years ago. Teenage girl. Didn't come home from school."

DI Jessie Blake and her partner, DC Dylan Logan, of the Perthshire Police are sent to Inverlochty on the Scottish Borders to investigate the apparent murder of 15-year-old Shannon Ross, daughter of Jason and Louise. The town is full of secrets and, little do the residents know, but the place is also harboring a killer. As the police investigate, question suspects, and try to figure out what happened to Shannon, some long buried hatred simmers to the surface and erupts in some violent encounters between the characters.

The narrative is a bit disjointed and confusing as it flips back and forth in time and shifts in point of view, but eventually all becomes clear as the truth is revealed. I regret that I didn't become fully engaged with the story or the characters so not sure if I'll continue the series or not. The reader learns that Jessie Blake has some personal issues that are only hinted at in this book that will probably be explored further in the next, given the ending here. I can't say that this was suspenseful and there weren't any twists or surprises as the plot was quite predictable. I was disappointed in the outcomes for some of the characters and the conclusion was quite pat.

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

This is the first in a new series featuring DI Jessie Blake.
Genre- police and detective story, family secrets, murder

Winter in Paradise (Paradise #1) by Elin Hilderbrand

I don't know if I loved this book so much because it was set in St. John and I was reading it immediately after returning from a weeklong vacation in paradise, or if I just got sucked into the great storytelling by this very skilled author! In brief -- I'm devastated to have to wait for the next book not due out until October 2019 because I can't stand not knowing what happens next!

We all know that secrets turn into lies and that lies are very bad for relationships. What would you do if you were at home on New Year's Day in Iowa and you got a call that your husband had been killed in a helicopter crash in the Virgin Islands? OK, your husband does travel a lot for work, but he never said anything about St. John or the Caribbean islands so what is going on here? It turns out that your husband is a faithless cheat and a liar. He's been living a double life that you had no clue about. So, you pack your things, call your two grown sons and you all head down there to find out what you can. That's the premise of this excellent story about love and all its terrible complications.

Irene is nearly 60 and sons Baker and Cash are grown and on their own. She's stunned by the revelations that await in the beautiful islands and little does she know that her entire life is going to be changed as everything she knows is called into question. It's hard not to love St. John and the people they meet on their quest to find out exactly what Russ was doing down there and how he died. NO SPOILERS.

I really enjoyed this and it was so fun to be reading a book set in a locale that I actually was familiar with and had loved visiting. The beaches, the restaurants and the bars -- all great reminders of a fabulous trip and, indeed, St. John is a paradise and I can't wait to go back. I also can't wait for the next in this trilogy -- oh yes, I've already said that, so write faster Elin! My cousin got to meet you when she attended your book signing just last week and I'm so terribly jealous! My fellow travel companions are all reading this book now as well and we plan to have a little book club lunch together when everyone has finished.

Anyway, I somehow missed this one on NetGalley but that won't happen with WHAT HAPPENS IN PARADISE. Enjoy!!!

This is the first in a trilogy so read in order.
Genre - women's fiction, family drama, secrets and lies, St. John

The Night Window (Jane Hawk #5) by Dean Koontz

This is definitely a series that any fan of the techno thriller genre won't want to miss. Be sure to start at the beginning and read the books in order for maximum enjoyment. This title brings the fast and furious tale to a close and, as I've said since I finished THE SILENT CORNER, this collection should definitely be made into a miniseries or a single blockbuster movie on the big screen!

What's it about -- well, in a nutshell: "Nanoweb brain implants; adjusted people shorn of free will, memories edited; human beings turned into bio machines programmed to kill; thousands on the Hamlet list slated for extermination...the Arcadian story" of utopia with unimagined power and riches for those at the top tier. And only one woman, ex FBI agent, Jane Hawk, might be able to bring it all down. She's been on the run using every possible evasion technique and trick since her husband committed suicide. She's hidden her 5-year-old son, Travis, from those who seek to use him as a bargaining chip to trap her. She has a few good souls on her side, however, and perhaps she can come up with a plan to foil the rise of the Techno Arcadians and save America. NO SPOILERS.

The writing is typical Dean Koontz verbosity with endless detail, simile and metaphor but the pace is fast and the bad guys are REALLY bad. Lots of action, dramatic description of maiming and murder, and the eventual climactic struggle between good and evil where the good guys win! We hope.

I've really enjoyed this series and was happy with the author's departure from the supernatural bent as this was slightly more believable and I prefer tentative reality. I have read almost every book Koontz has written -- a huge collection with lots of variety and some quite interesting and strange characters. Although sorry to reach the end of a fun series, I'm looking forward to finding out what subject Koontz will tackle next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Books for the e-book ARC to read and review. Don't miss it!

This is the 5th and final book in a series. Read in order!
Genre - techno thriller and suspense

We All Fall Down by Daniel Kalla

In 1348 the Black Death came to Genova, Italy. A young barber surgeon, Rafael Pasqua, documents the effects of the terrible plague on his community. The epidemic ravaged most of Europe and left its population decimated. It's not been seen again for hundreds of years.

Present day Genoa: A construction worker dies suddenly and had first exhibited the classic symptoms of bubonic plague. Is this Patient Zero in a new outbreak of this dreaded disease? Before long, the city is inundated with more cases including the more lethal form, pneumonic plague. A team from the World Health Organization descends on the city along with Alana Vaughn, an infectious diseases expert with NATO who is summed there by an old paramour. It is indeed Black Death. Is this somehow a reoccurrence of the plague related to an old monastery that was being torn down or is it bioterrorism? The doctors, scientists and epidemiologists are in a race against time as the horrible plague spreads across Italy. NO SPOILERS.

If you know me, you know I absolutely love thrillers that involve some sort of medical condition and I'm totally obsessed with books written about the Black Death. This one did not disappoint and I devoured it in a few hours unable to set it down even for a second. I loved the scientific details and the descriptions in both past and present of how the disease affected the people and the communities in which it occurred. This is a story of disease, yes, but it's also a story about the individuals who travel to all parts of the world to contain and eradicate evolving bio threats. When a disease of this magnitude re-emerges, it can rapidly spread and develop into a pandemic and those infectious disease experts are there to prevent calamity and save lives. I liked the writing, the characters and the story and highly recommend it.

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

This is a standalone and not part of any series. I do intend to go search out this author's other books as I enjoyed this one so much.

Genre - medical thriller, epidemiology, Black Death

A Body in the Lakes (DC Beth Young #2) by Graham Smith

Four women found in similar circumstances -- naked, raped and dead. "The victims were old, young, tall, short, fat and thin. They were from different backgrounds, and while they were all working class. [sic] The only thing they had in common was their fate."

DC Beth Young and the team from the Force Major Investigation Team (or FMIT) are looking into the deaths caused by a serial rapist/murderer known as the "Lakeland Ripper." Although Beth is the youngest recruit, she's determined to use her "sideways-thinking brain" to solve the puzzle. Along with her boss, DI Zoe O'Dowd and team members DS Thompson and and DC Paul Unthank, they investigate this very complicated case. The last victim is found with items incriminating the local mayor, Derek Forster, a powerful and rich man who just might be the predator they're after. Alas, it also might be a case of someone putting him in the frame. Can Beth solve this one? NO SPOILERS.

The setting is the idyllic region around Lake Ullswater in the Cumbria area. I'm not familiar with the locale and if you're not, don't worry as the author describes it and the surrounding area in great detail. It's hot and the overworked detectives get warmer as the pressure to solve the case and find a suspect mounts. There are some things that are brought over from the first book in the series, but enough is explained that this one could be read as a standalone if you've missed it. Now that I'm seeing more of Beth Young in action, I'm not quite sure what to make of her character. There was quite a bit of repetition as Beth seems to keep focusing on the same tedious issues in her head but there are the usual chase and save scenes to provide some real action.

But here's the main problem. The book is basically a treatise on rape with a main female character but the author is a man. Now, I'm not saying that men don't really "get" the mindset of women on this subject, but yeah. All the right words and feelings and disgust for those who commit the crime are there, but some of the things that Beth says and does don't ring true to me. I may be off the mark with those comments, but it's such a hot button topic right now with the #metoo movement, I just felt that a lot of it was speechifying. Beth is just too-too gung-ho to be real, like overly zealous, and I can't figure out if I like her nor can I relate to her. I'm also sort of tired of her scar and what exactly does she plan to do when she finds the guy who she blames for it? Maybe English law is different and I just don't understand it.

That said, I did enjoy parts of the book but I didn't feel that there was a lot of suspense and certainly the twist was seen coming even though it took a long time to get there. I guess I've just read so many books in the genre that it takes a lot to surprise me as I solve the case along with the detectives. I will probably read the next in this series and hope that Beth calms down, matures a bit, controls her impetuous nature and reins in her temper.

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

This is the second book in the series featuring DC Beth Young. I suggest they be read in order.
Genre- police procedural, detective novel, series

The Husbands by T.J. Brearton

"...you can trace all human behavior to love or a lack thereof."

FBI Agent Kelly Roth of the Behavior Science Unit is sent to the town where she grew up to investigate a serial murderer known as the "Park Killer" (all the murders happened in some kind of state or local park). Three women have been killed, one pregnant and also a 10-year-old boy. The killer simply puts a single shot in each victim's head and apparently drives off leaving shell casings and the dead behind where they fell. As she navigates between police departments and the usual turf protectiveness, Kelly finds that the is definitely a case where her training in psychopathology will be put to use as the killer is using some sort of "no free will" manifesto to justify his behavior. As she interviews the devastated husband survivors, it is discovered that the killer is contacting the men and manipulating their minds. In a complicated investigation involving the FBI and local police, Kelly is confounded by contradictory evidence and frustrating interviews. Can they discover the killer's identity and stop him before he takes more victims? NO SPOILERS.

This was an interesting police procedural and crime thriller that focused primarily on the psychological aspects of a person devoid of some of the vital parts of humanity. The notion that pain is all in the mind and that people are reactive rather than liberated by thoughts and that control of anything is an illusion. The novel, however, was filled with characters who were only partially more than one-dimensional and I didn't feel as if Kelly Roth was fully developed. The book focused less on people than on theory to some degree. It was a quick read and I'll probably look for other books by this author in the future.

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

This is a standalone and not part of a series (yet?)
Genre- police procedural/crime thriller

The Housewife by Valerie Keogh

 Diane and Paul are married, live in a lovely home in London and have a 3-year-old daughter named Emma. All should be wonderful in their world, but alas, things are not what they seem. Diane is recently returned from a short stay in a psychiatric center after having a breakdown. She can't remember what put her in the place and her husband says that the doctors want Diane's memories to return at her own pace. Diane tries to get back into her role as wife and mother but strange things start happening. She sees a woman hovering nearby and believes that she is being stalked. She drinks a lot, forgets things, and can't sleep so she's exhausted all the time. She hears the sound of a baby crying. Her one-loved lounge is a room that now fills her with fear. Diane is a freaking mess but somehow she knows that her husband is behind all of this and wonders, to what end? NO SPOILERS.

You've read this book before and there are no surprises here. It's typical psychological fiction -- the kind where you want to shake the main character and scoff at the unrealistic situations that keep occurring. I didn't like Diane nor any of the other one-dimensional characters in the book. This one just didn't do it for me though I was able to get through it quickly. Lots of repetition and the incessant mental angsting that I find hard to swallow. I may be reaching my last straw with domestic and psychological fiction so perhaps it's just me feeling like there's nothing new in this sub genre.

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

This is a standalone and not part of a series.
Genre - domestic fiction, not very thrilling or suspenseful

After She's Gone (Hanne #2) by Camilla Grebe

"Those who sow the wind, harvest the storm."

Hanne Lagerlind-Schön and her partner, Peter Lindgren, from the National Operations Department in Stockholm, along with their colleague Manfred Olsson, are in Ormberg investigating a cold case involving the murder of a young girl who was never identified 8 years prior when her body was discover in a cairn. Two other more local police officers join in the squad, Andreas Borg and Malin Brundin. The group begins examining the little bit of information available about the discovery of the body and start to interview some of the local families in the very underpopulated town. The people have fallen on hard times with the closing of industry and many have moved away. Malin is asked to be on the task force for two reasons: 1. She was the one who actually found the little girl's body when she was a teenager and 2. She grew up in Ormberg and knows everyone. But things are about to get really crazy as shortly after the team gets going, Hanne and Peter disappear. Then Hanne is found wandering in the woods by a local teenager named Jake Birgersson. Hanne gets picked up by a Good Samaritan who happens to be driving by but leaves behind a very important part of herself - her diary. Because Hanne has early onset dementia, she writes everything in that notebook. Jake finds that diary and, instead of turning it over to police (for a very good reason), he reads it. NO SPOILERS.

I could go on and on describing what this book is about, but let me just say that this is excellent Nordic Noir with a very complex and absorbing plot. It has enough twists and turns to stymie even the most savvy crime thriller reader. The most difficult part of reading this book was its structure. It alternates in point of view and back and forth in time and also includes excerpts from the diary as Hanne can't remember anything about what happened to her or what became of Peter. The atmosphere is another character in the story as the setting and the cold temperature provides a chilling backdrop to this incredibly plotted tale. The reveals and the conclusion are well worth waiting for and I really sped through this fully invested in the characters and the events that occurred. Definitely recommend it!

I was lucky enough to read the first book in the series immediately prior to beginning this one so the characters mostly felt familiar. The book also has to do with the plight of refugees and asylum seekers who are re-homed and settled into this depopulated town in Sodermanland. In a final note from the author, she declares, "We live in a difficult time. More people have been displaced from their homes than ever before in history. And this stream of refugees has been met with xenophobia, conflict and fear." The main message that she wants to convey in this book is this: "It could have been you who had to feel from war and starvation."

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

This is the second book in the Hanne series and I suggest you read the first one prior to this.
Genre - Nordic noir, crime thriller, police, cold case