Zero Days by Ruth Ware

 Not the thriller I was expecting.

I was bored with this by the second chapter -- but I always try to finish something I've agreed to read and review. I should have DNF.

The plot is blah and predictable -- woman's husband is killed, she is a suspect, she tries to find out who killed him. Of course she succeeds. 

In this story, Jack (Jacintha) Cross is looking for the persons responsible for murdering her husband, Gabe. She can't trust anyone (and the reader will spot that immediately) and she's on the run enduring impossible scenarios of peril and being pursued by police. Her constant stream of internal dialogue, moaning and groaning, and repetitive thoughts drove me nuts. Without all the descriptive words used to describe her wound pain, how cold and tired she was, and how much she loved her husband -- well maybe this would have been a short story or novella. I found it boring.

Finished it, can't recommend it. Won't be rushing to obtain this author's next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for providing this e-book ARC.

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

Not really a thriller to me, mystery. 

A Killer’s Game (#1 Daniela Vega) by Isabella Maldonado

 Action-packed thriller pits an ex-Ranger against a criminal bent on revenge.

Dani Vega is currently an FBI agent working in New York when she sees an unusual assassination on the sidewalk. The dead man had political connections and soon the hit man has been turned into an informant and will need to work with Dani to uncover a wide-ranging conspiracy. Can Dani trust Toro? As they infiltrate a group of hired assassins to obtain the truth, they soon find themselves trapped in a game of survival. 

I was not expecting the events and narrative that this book provided. For some reason, I was reminded of Hunger Games and Squid Games instead of the actual spy story that I was prepared for. It was fast-paced and easy to read with few surprises. I didn’t feel any tension or suspense and I doubt I’d reach for another in this series. The main character, Dani, was quite stereotypical of the genre — at least there was no romance. 

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

This is the first in a series.

Genre - thriller, action, FBI, 

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies (#1) by Alison Goodman

 Absolutely delightful historical mystery!

I fell in love with Lady Augusta (Gus) Colebrook and her twin sister, Lady Julia, in the first chapter of this novel set in Regency London. Both are unmarried ladies of a certain age and have been dismissed by most of the ton as old spinsters. Despite their younger brother's efforts to control them, the ladies put themselves into the position of rescuing women in distress. Their adventures are both dangerous and require clever ruses to outwit those who would hinder their efforts. Along the way, Gus meets her new partner in peril, Lord Evan Belford, shortly escaped from his prison sentence and on the run from Michael Kent, of Bow Street. 

The plot was great, and the narrative was full of great details and dialogue. I liked the main characters and those associated with them as well. Truly an enjoyable read with just enough romance though the three different situations that Gus and her sister get involved in were dark, suspenseful, and dramatic. I believe this is the first in a new series that I will be following as I wait for the second installment with high anticipation. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. Don't miss this if you enjoy intriguing historical mysteries with unlikely heroines.

This may be the first in a new series!

Genre - historical mystery, suspense, Regency London, romance

I Will Find You by Harlan Coben

 Mystery thriller that requires more suspension of disbelief than I could manage.

A man serving a life sentence in prison is confronted with a photograph that suggests that the son he was convicted of killing is still alive. 

I haven't read Coben in some time despite really enjoying his first books. I picked this one to give the author another chance but ended up almost marking it DNF. The plot was riddled with so many holes and instances of ludicrousness that I was mostly shaking my head. I didn't care about the characters and the ending was so predictable -- it was only a matter of how far things would twist to get it done. 

In the end, the book met my every expectation. The story line was unbelievable and not at all compelling. I'm sure many Coben fans will disagree with me and that's fine -- to each their own. I won't be trying another. 

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

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre: mystery thriller

Rogue Justice (Avery Keene #2) by Stacey Abrams

 Compelling and suspenseful legal thriller.

"Sabotage, espionage, system disruption, and propaganda" propel the highest levels of government into near meltdown as an unknown and malignant entity comes under the radar of Avery Keene in this second book in the series written by former Georgia State Representative, Stacey Abrams.  

Avery Keene is a young law clerk for the comatose Justice Howard Wynn who is sidelined from her job after discoveries caused a political crisis that brought the President to impeachment proceedings. While cooling her heels attending seminars, she receives information about a deep fake video and some suspicious deaths. With little else to do while testifying in hearings related to the disgraced President Stokes, Avery starts digging. The brilliant Avery with her eidetic memory immediately sees the potential for devastating effects related to massive blackmail, tech hacking, and malware. It seems that the USA's "secret court" has been granting an unusual amount of surveillance requests. Something or someone very well-financed is poised to disrupt the nation in a spectacularly destructive fashion. 

This was fast-paced and extremely interesting with a twisty plot and clever revelations no doubt enhanced by Ms. Abrams having a great insider's perspective. I like the main characters previously met in the first book, and especially the way that Avery's mind works. The writing is excellent and the story so plausible. I suggest that any reader considering this read the first in the series before tackling this one. I look forward to the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is the second in a series that should be read in order.

Genre - legal, crime thriller, politics

Dogboy v Catfish by Luke Gracias

 An addictive page-turner of domestic drama and crime fiction.

Lindsay Kramer (AKA Dogboy) is the second husband of Katherine (Catfish) Fisher. Kath's first husband, and the father of her daughter, Emma, had died in Bangkok, but she found and married the wealthy Lindsay shortly after. Now after 18 months of marriage, and well versed in Australian law, Katherine visits a family law specialist to initiate a separation. Kath's behavior in the attorney's office is so unpleasant that Freya Keogh, wary and suspicious, ultimately declines to pursue the case. It's then that Lindsay goes missing. 

This conniving woman is not the mourning wife that she pretends to be on social media. She's got her fingers in a lot of, shall we say, illegal business interests. But, thinking she is much smarter than the police, she attempts to carry on her activities involving drugs, money laundering, and counterfeit designer goods. She leads all on a merry chase with the big question always there -- where is Lindsay? 

This was great fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Found it hard to put down as I wanted to see how this would all end. So different to this author's previous two books, I was a bit nervous about reading this one since I had really loved the others. No worries. The characters were great, and it was easy to root for the good guys all the while wondering how Australia can have what seems to be terribly unjust divorce and property laws. The details about the scam were intricate and extremely interesting and the reader can tell that the author did a lot of research as always. I liked the writing style and the clever plot. Enjoy!

I definitely recommend this one!

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

Genre - domestic drama, crime fiction

The Lie Maker by Linwood Barclay

 Fast and fun, a thriller with some great twists.

Many years ago, Jack’s father was put into the Witness Security Program after testifying against his former boss. Although Jack Givens and his mother could have gone with him, they did not and rebuilt their lives. Jack, however, has always missed his father and has channeled his emotional pain into writing. When he’s approached by a US Marshal to write backstories for people in the protection program, Jack begs Gwen to help find his dad.

The narrative introduces the reader to several different characters whose presence in the novel is not initially clear but it all comes together as revelations and discoveries are made. The main characters are well-developed and Jack was certainly a likeable protagonist. I always enjoy Barclay’s writing style and plot lines. Found this one hard to put down. 

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

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

Genre - suspense thriller

Intrigue in Istanbul (Jane Wunderly #4) by Erica Ruth Neubauer

 Historical mystery set in and around Istanbul in 1926.

Jane Wunderly and her new fiancé, Redvers, are on a mission to track down her father before their row house in the USA is repossessed by the bank. Her father is abroad, apparently determined to find an ancient Ottoman relic — the lost heart of Sultan Suleiman. Unfortunately, they can’t find Jane’s father and are being stalked and watched as they travel from Turkey to Hungary in search of Henry. Jane and Redvers are joined in their adventures by her Aunt Millie and Lord Hughes. Another surprise for Jane awaits along with danger on the Orient Express.

This was the 4th in series and the first I’ve read. I admit I wasn’t enamored with the characters and find Jane quite irritating for several reasons — mostly she seemed immature. I doubt I will go back to the beginning installment and not sure if I will read another in the future. The details about the places and such were interesting, but the story just was not that exciting or compelling and very predictable.

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

This is the 4th in a series.

Genre - historical mystery

Fit to Die by Daniel Kalla

 Contemporary issue in a fast-paced thriller.

What price are you willing to pay to lose weight and be fashionably thin? Are you willing to die to be fit? Detectives in LA and Vancouver are racing to find the supplier of diet pills and supplements that contain DNP -- a weight loss agent that has significant toxicity. 

The son of a senator and a social media influencer are found dead due to overdose of the toxin DNP, a deadly chemical that was once used as an explosive agent during WWI. When more body builders and people with eating disorders come to emergency rooms with high fevers and uncontrollable seizures, the hunt is on to find out where those people are getting DNP and to stop the supply chain. 

This was another great read by an author who has become a favorite of mine. He always finds an issue that needs to be addressed and I love the medical aspects and details. The characters in this were not really as well developed but the focus was on the drug and its effects as well as shedding light on the difficulties in managing eating disorders. Many people have an obsession with fitness and weight so definitely a timely topic -- and who doesn't want a fast and easy way to shed those extra pounds. Unfortunately, there is no method that works like that, and definitely it's not one that is healthy. 

Thank you to the publisher for granting access to this ARC for me to read, review, and recommend. Looking forward to Kalla's next book. 

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

Genre - medical thriller, drug abuse, weight loss, eating disorders

The Marriage Act by John Marrs

 Excellent speculative fiction that will make you pay much closer attention to what's going on in the tech industry and the political arena.

In the near future, in Britain, The Sanctity of Marriage Act is law. Everything possible is done to encourage marriage and those who sign up are rewarded while those who refuse are punished. Everyone is strongly urged to marry and to get the maximum benefits by agreeing to a Smart Marriage. A wide chasm between the haves and have-nots has formed and growing larger every day. The government controls the lives and relationships of those citizens and monitors them 24 hours a day. Several couples whose activities and communication indicate that they are in trouble will soon learn just how far the proponents will go and how impossible it is to escape. 

This was super good and I really enjoyed it. It is sort of a companion to the previous novels by this author, The One (DNA love match), and The Passengers (autonomous vehicles). The character development was excellent, and the writing style and pace were perfect. I had such a powerful reaction to the situations that occurred in the novel and fearful about how much of the plot could be taken from the headlines today. Scary stuff here. As someone who is very leery of AI and its potential for misuse, my fears were not alleviated but heightened. I am already also concerned with government intrusion and overreach into personal and private life. This was all too believable and the absolute chill I felt while reading the last paragraph was undeniable and alarming. 

What a great discussion this would create for book clubs and I highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press for this e-book ARC to read and review. Don't miss it!

This is a standalone but a companion to the two novels mentioned in my review. It is not absoltely necessary, however, to have read them. 

Genre - speculative fiction, thriller, futuristic, 

Murder at the Beauty Pageant (Miss Kitty Underhay #12) by Helena Dixon

 Exciting installment in this cozy mystery series.

It's springtime, 1935, and newlyweds Kitty and Matt are settling in to married life and their joint detective agency operations. Despite her protestations, Kitty is busy helping Mrs. Craven organize a beauty pageant for the royal jubilee celebrations when she and Matt are asked to investigate a particular friend of the stepdaughter of a famous Egyptologist. On the day of the pageant, one of the pageant contestants is found dead -- but no one seems too broken up about it. Seems that no one really cared much for Peggy Blaine. Why? As revelations about the young woman's behavior and character come to light, there is no shortage of suspects. Kitty and Matt involve the police and find out more, and there is another death -- yet another of the pageant competitors. What is going on?

This was one of the more exciting episodes in this great series that I have followed since the beginning. Drugs, theft, blackmail, romance, sex, pregnancy -- dripping with scandal. I highly recommend all of the books to anyone who enjoys a solid historical cozy mystery. It has great characters with juicy stories and lots of period detail. Definitely you'll want to start from the beginning as the installments really aren't meant as standalones. Looking forward to the next one!

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

This is the 12th in a series that should be read in order from the beginning.

Genre - bozy historical mystery, 1935, Dartmouth

Blind Spots by Thomas Mullen

 Science fiction plus crime/detective story is original and unsettling. 

When everyone in the world lost vision and became totally blind in a matter of months, the chaos and destruction resulted in a tremendous loss of life and an uncertain future for all who struggled to survive. Eventually scientists and business interests were able to restore sight through an invention known as the vidder. Implanted on the side of the head and able to interact with the brain, these devices gave people the ability to see again. As life returned slowly to something approaching normal (much like we experienced during and after the coronavirus pandemic), Detective Mark Owens makes a startling discovery. Someone is manipulating the vidders. What happens to world order when you can't trust what you see?

A unique concept developed into a narrative that was quite entertaining and interesting. I enjoyed the story even though it mostly played out as expected. I tend to like dystopian scenarios and this did not disappoint. The pace was good and there was plenty of action and a wide variety of characters. I could see this easily as a film adaptation. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.  3.5 stars rounded up.

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

Genre - crime fiction, dystopian, science fiction, detective

To Catch a Storm by Mindy Mejia

 Winter ice storm in Iowa. An atmospheric physicist. A psychic. A missing husband. 

Dr. Eve Roth is desperate to find her husband, Matthew Moore, whose car was found burning in the parking lot next to the woods. His disappearance is just the beginning of an action-packed search for the missing and answers to many questions. She's assisted by Jonah Kendrick, a psychic, who claims he has the ability to dream of the lost. He's on a mission of his own, looking for a young woman he says is trapped in a barn -- the same one that now holds Matthew. 

This is fast and enjoyable especially if you are able to suspend disbelief. The narrative shifts between points of view as the story unfolds with some twists here and there. I see that this may be the first in a new series, so I may have to check out the next installment though I typically don't care for mysteries to have any paranormal elements. I love science and facts and those details in this book were quite interesting. I was surprised at the direction it took with the reveal of the "why" and also of who was responsible. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this ARC to read and review.

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

Genre - mystery, action, science, drugs, murder

Bones on Ice (17.5 Temperance Brennan) by Kathy Reichs

 A forensic investigation into the death of a body returned from Mount Everest reveals a shocking crime.

I'm a huge fan of this series and have read most all of the books yet had not heard about this novella. I just finished another book that had lots of details about the hazards and peril of summiting Everest, so this added to the fun factor with additional facts that always pique my interest. Climbing that mountain is extremely hazardous and the survival rate is such that many dead remain frozen in place, never to be recovered. Fascinating even if you aren't planning a trek or climb.

Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist, is asked to confirm the identity and cause of death of a mummified and frozen corpse for a wealthy Charlotte family who believes it may be their daughter. The body was recently recovered from Mount Everest after an earthquake allowed retrieval. What was meant to be a quick favor turns quickly when Dr. Brennan finds evidence that the death of this young woman was no accident.

A fast and fun mystery with lots of forensic detail. I borrowed it from the library and enjoyed it. This can be read as a standalone as the focus is really in the particulars of this case and not much character development.

This is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.

Genre - mystery, medical, forensics

The Girl Who Lived Twice (#6 Millennium) by David Lagercrantz

 This 6th book in the Millennium series featuring Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist focuses mainly on events that transpired years ago involving a disastrous Mount Everest expedition, politics, and Russian troll factories. 

The other line of the plot deals with Lisbeth and her twin sister, Camilla. It seems that Camilla wants revenge by killing her. 

The story is told in alternate viewpoints and skips all over the place from past to present. Unfortunately, this whole concept was not as exciting as I have come to expect from this series and I was a bit disappointed at the pace. The plot was quite convoluted and it seemed that Lisbeth and Mikael were only minor side characters involved in old spy stuff.

I got this book from a friend and have the next installment (by a new author) in my TBR, but I think I need a break.

This is the 6th book in the series but the third one by this author. I have read them all, in order, and suggest you do the same as they are not good as standalone.

Genre - mystery, thriller, Sweden, Spies, Mouth Everest 

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

Domestic drama and a mystery with a touch of the supernatural.

Most thrillers or mysteries start with secrets and lies. Many end with revelations that show exactly why things turned out as they did. This is the same. 

Pippa and Gabe Gerard live in their dream home on a cliff of a coastal town. Unfortunately, the cliff is a draw for those wanting to commit suicide by jumping off the edge. Gabe has become somewhat of a legend for talking them away from the ledge. Except for this time. A woman falls to her death. Turns out that this woman was no stranger to Gabe or Pippa. Did she fall or really jump, or was she pushed? Surely Gabe, Pippa's fantastically gorgeous and soulmate of a husband, didn't lie about what happened out there...

This was OK but not as compelling or thrilling as I had hoped. A couple of twists, sure, but it all boils down to some weirdness with this couple -- the biggest which is the mental illness angle. I never really liked any of the characters, and what I expected to happen, happened. An odd note that really jarred was the narration from the point of view of the dead woman. While that little trick works in some great novels (The Lovely Bones), it really didn't work for me here. The time shifts of then and now also disrupt the flow of the story a bit. And the conclusion seemed rushed and sort of a letdown after all the buildup, plus not really believable. Moral of this and every story - stop lying. 

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

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

Genre - domestic drama, mystery, mental illness 

Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421 by T.J. Newman

 Decent disaster novel.

A jet crashes off the coast of Oahu shortly after take-off and ends up in the ocean. Most of the survivors fled the burning plane, but 12 of the passengers were trapped inside as it sank into the depths. A massive rescue operation gets underway, but they are running out of time as the water rises inside the jet and the trapped oxygen is running low. Fortunately (and I really mean completely unrealistically), an elite underwater industrial diving and marine construction team owned by one of the surviving passenger's wives just happens to be right there on the job. Will Kent is in the nearly flooded jet with their daughter, Shannon, and Chris is arguing topside with the Navy and Coast Guard about how to proceed with the rescue. Whose plan will work and who will be saved?

This was OK but heavy on the emotional and relationship aspect of the crash calamity. It ends exactly how you expect it will. I liked the technical aspects of the rescue effort, but the characters were written as total stereotypes and the reader reacts to them exactly that way. You may need to suspend quite a bit of disbelief as the disaster drama plays out with all the coincidences in confluence. 

Also note -- the cover of this novel is nearly the same as the one used for her first book. That's rather weird and surely the designers have a little more imagination than that? Who knows, maybe they did it on purpose.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for this e-book ARC to read and review.

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

Genre: disaster drama novel

The New One by Evie Green

 A novel that seeks to be cutting edge sci-fi but misses the mark.

Two parents, living in poverty in a static caravan in Cornwall, find life nearly unbearable with their rebellious 14-year-old daughter, Scarlett. When there's a terrible accident and Scarlett is in a deep coma, Ed and Tamsyn are offered a miracle. They are going to get a new daughter, a replacement, a cyborg, a reanimation. All they have to do is move to Geneva and accept all the wonderful new things coming their way. 

This was OK but I really didn't care for it all that much as it was so predictable. There was no suspense, the big reveals were ho-hum expected, and the pace was super slow. The writing was adequate but this plot trope has been seen and done a million times. I guess it didn't help much that I have recently seen the movie, M3GAN, and watched the television series, Westworld. Of course this whole magic science thing is not going to go well. It never does, right? I was really hoping that, for once, the author would do something unique and make a clone a really cool thing! I had to really hold myself back from marking it DNF or just flipping through the pages. There was a lot of repetition in the narrative too, which also made the book seem longer. It ended exactly as you can guess right now. 

Thank you to Berkely and NetGalley for the ARC to read and review. I'd say pass on this.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre - science fiction, bad scientists, cloning

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay

 Unique and wholly original mystery that seeks to answer the question -- what really happened to jane Larkin?

An 11-year-old, Miranda Larkin, comes home one November afternoon to discover that her mother is missing. Two brothers, Alex and Jeff, along with their father, Dan, report Jane's absence to the police. For decades, there's nothing but the waiting. To tell anymore about this story would ruin it, but it is definitely one you will want to read.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book but it sure took me through the wringer as far as reactions and emotions. I flip-flopped all over the place trying to speculate, but I had no more evidence than did the family and law enforcement. Reading the various viewpoints took me on a ride -- while common sense told me one thing, my intuition spoke otherwise. The whole narrative spans more than 40 years and then...what an ending! Such excellent writing and memorable characters. The structure sort of gives the book a true crime vibe. I highly recommend it.

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

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

Genre - mystery, suspense, domestic drama, murder, legal

The Surgeon by Leslie Wolfe

 Fast-paced and convoluted psychological thriller.

Cardiac surgeon Dr. Anne Wiley’s life falls apart the day a patient dies during surgery on her table. Her peaceful and orderly world is shattered as she is put through the wringer, accused of causing the death by ceasing resuscitation efforts. Targeted and harassed by the State’s Attorney, Dr. Wiley undergoes scrutiny and suspicion even though she’s cleared of wrongdoing by her peers. No one can find out her secret — the dead patient is someone she knew.

I enjoyed this well enough until the climax and the ending — it was just a twist too far. After awhile, I found it hard to like any of the main characters with all their lies and cover-ups and bad behavior. The wrap up and conclusion just ruined the story for me but to say exactly why would be a big spoiler. The whole vendetta campaign by the attorney was hard to believe when the reason (which is meant to be another shocker) is revealed. I didn’t buy it and that dampened my enthusiasm for this book.

I did, however, thoroughly enjoy all the medical details as always so I tried to ignore the domestic drama and focused mostly on that.

Thank you to the author for gifting an ARC for me to read and review. If the ending had been different, I would have definitely been able to recommend. 

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

Genre - medical, psychological thriller, domestic suspense

Sea Castle (Underwater Investigation Unit #4) by Andrew Mayne

 This 4th installment in the series is entertaining and thrilling.

The UIU is on hiatus due to some political and jurisdictional problems, so Sloan McPherson is currently working for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement until all those issues are sorted. When she's called to the scene on a Fort Lauderdale beach, she becomes involved in what may be a serial killer case. She's paired with Gwen Wylder, an unpopular homicide detective from Miami, and they investigate various cold cases involving missing women and murder. 

This was very good and I really enjoy the character of Sloan McPherson. I like this author's writing style and the complicated and interesting plots. This was quite different to the previous books in the series, and that made it even better to show more dimensions of the main character. The narrative takes some unexpected turns and the conclusion was quite surprising. I definitely recommend this series and suggest it be read in order. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-book ARC to read and review. I look forward to the next book when the Underwater Investigation Unit might be back in action.

This is the 4th in a series that is best read in order/

Genre - thriller, police procedural

A Sinister Revenge (Veronica Speedwell #8) by Deanna Raybourn

 How I love returning to a familiar series with much-loved characters!

This 8th installment in the Veronica Speedwell series was quite clever and entertaining as always. Veronica and Stoker accompany his brother, Tiberius, back to the family seat on the Devon coast to flush out a murderer. It seems that Lord Templeton-Vane has received death threats and a number of his friend group called the Seven Sinners have already met untimely ends. Tiberius has decided to invite the remaining survivors to the estate for a reunion and remembrance party. Not all of those invited are accepting with good intentions.

Although Veronica and Stoker have hit a bump in their relationship, they are able to work together as they investigate the members of the house party at Cherboys. Although a bit predictable, I enjoyed as always and look forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for this e-book ARC. I encourage you to read this series in order from the beginning in order to enjoy it fully. Definitely recommend to any historical mystery lovers. 

This is the 8th book in a great series that should be read from the beginning, in order.

Genre - historical mystery, Victorian, amateur detectives 

Lying Beside Me (Cyrus Haven #3) by Michael Robotham

 A very compelling third installment in the Cyrus Haven psychological thriller series.

As forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven deals with the upcoming homecoming of his brother, Elias, he’s also helping the police with an investigation into a missing woman. Elias has been held and treated at a secure psychiatric facility since he murdered their parents and twin sisters over 20 years ago. Both Cyrus and his lodger, Evie Cormac, are a bit worried and concerned about Elias coming to live with them. 

I love the characters that this author creates. Cyrus and Evie are so well-developed and complex, each having struggled with horrific pasts that add incredible depth and emotional resonance to this story. There is always so much going on within the pages of these books that keeps the reader glued to the pages. 

I could say more about the complicated plot, but would suggest that you don’t read this as a standalone. I really like this author’s writing style and can highly recommend the entire series. I look forward to reading more about these characters.

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

This is the third in a series that should be read in order from the beginning.

Genre: psychological thriller, forensic psychologist, child abuse, murder 

Death on Deck (Lady Eleanor Swift #13) by Verity Bright

 Another fun installment in this historical mystery series. 

Lady Eleanor Swift and her staff are enjoying a last minute luxury cruise to New York when she becomes involved with a murder investigation on board the Celestiana. 

You had me at “cruise” as I confess I love reading about ocean voyages aboard lavishly appointed ships during the Golden Age circa 1930s. I loved all the details and descriptions of everything from decor to food to dress. I enjoy the characters, especially Eleanor and her butler, Clifford, and their lively, humorous repartee. It was great to have Chief Inspector Hugh Sheldon along and to see their relationship finally progress. Lady Swift is definitely unconventional for the time and place, but she’s independent and tough and also incredibly kind. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC — I definitely recommend the entire series and encourage any curious readers to start at the beginning. I look forward to the next.

This is the 13th book in a series that should be read from beginning.

Genre -  history mystery, cozy, murder 1930s

When She Was Good (Cyrus Haven #2) by Michael Robotham

 This is the second installment in a very gripping psychological thriller series featuring forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven, and his unusual semi ward, Evie Cormac.

As Cyrus continues to delve into the events surrounding the discovery of Evie at the scene of a gruesome murder and the aftermath of her complicated history, Evie is still hiding and supposedly protected as she lives in the children's home. She is not safe anywhere, however, and the hunters will stop at nothing to find and kill her. She knows the secrets and the people they want to shield.

These characters are so complex and interesting, and you can't help but root for the totally damaged Evie. I love the author's writing style and the story was so engaging as some of the details about Evie are slowly revealed. As the pair continues to search for answers, Evie reluctantly divulges more about her past and the villains involved. Ancillary characters are also more fleshed out and the relationships that Cyrus has with them also show the scars he has from his own childhood trauma. These two messed up people, Cyrus and Evie, still have a long way to go but have forged an uneasy alliance that looks something like care and concern. I am looking forward to the third in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is the second in a series that definitely should be read in order.

Genre - psychological thriller -- trigger: child trafficking

Good Girl, Bad Girl (Cyrus Haven #1) by Michael Robotham

This is the first in a new crime thriller series by one of my favorite authors. 

Cyrus Haven, a criminal psychologist, tries to help a young girl with a horrifying past. The nearly feral child was found hiding in a secret room when authorities discovered her as they investigated a brutal murder. There are no clues as to her real identity, so she is taken in by social services. Now, Evie Cormac (a name she was given by the court) is petitioning to be released from a children's home and declared an adult. Cyrus Haven is meant to determine if she is ready to be on her own. He soon discovers that Evie has an unusual skill -- she's a human lie detector. As Cyrus becomes invested in Evie Cormac, he's also involved in a murder investigation of a local figure skater. 

This was quite entertaining and absorbing. The revelations about things that happened in the past for both Evie and Cyrus were interesting as were the secrets and lies exposed during the course of finding out what happened to Jodie Sheehan. I liked the alternating points of view as narrated by Evie and by Cyrus. Though I pieced together what and why and whodunit quite quickly, I still enjoyed reading the unraveling as the author peeled back the layers with such a clever plot.

Thank you to Scribner for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I'm off to start the second book in this series. 

This is the first in a series that should be read in order.

Genre - suspense, crime thriller, psychologist, sexual abuse

Of Manners and Murder: A Dear Miss Hermione Mystery #1 by Anastasia Hastings

 Historical mystery is the first in a new series.

In 1885, Violet Manville takes over the role of Miss Hermione, a popular Agony Aunt column in the local magazine, A Woman's Place. The usual advice author is Violet's own Aunt Adelia who has decided to take a trip with a current lover. Despite her protestations, Violet is well-suited for the job and finds the first letter from a young woman who is fearful for her life. Unfortunately, the newlywed in need of help ends up dead. And Violet, aided by the housekeeper, Bunty, is up to the task of discovering what happened. 

This was an easy read, typical of a cozy, with an independent protagonist in Violet -- someone who does not follow the typical societal norms of the time and place. Definitely level-headed and sensible, she's also the older, protective half-sister of Sephora, a particularly vacuous young girl set on finding the appropriate man to marry. Sephora is keeping a secret that may prove harmful to her hopes and dreams. 

I enjoyed the story well enough, but really did not like the chapters that were from Sephora's point of view. The plot was predictable and there were no surprises. I enjoyed the period details. Not sure if I am interested enough to read future installments of Victorian era amateur sleuthing. I honestly would have liked a lot more of the letter writing and advice responses. 

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

This is the first in a new series.

Genre - cozy mystery, murder, London, historical, 1885

Genetic World by Todd Easterling

 A rare 5 star review!

Wow. What an epic, absorbing, and incredible piece of fiction! I just finished reading and I already feel bereft. I was trying to remember if I have ever spent this much time and effort reading a book in my life. It wasn't so much just the huge amount of detail in the actual novel -- it was also my side activities feeling that I had to Google search every single possible fact within.

This is one of the longest books I have ever read at 440,000 words, 815 pages in a paperback print 8 by 10-inch format.

What is this book about? 

Two billionaire brothers, Winston and Ethan McCarthy, have bought 4 islands off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, and have built a huge theme park, Genetic World, and established research and development facilities. Dr. Francesca Ferrari, with her PhD from Oxford, is a researcher, scholar, and author -- an expert in religion and material culture studies. She's invited to the soft opening of the theme park along with her friend, NY Times journalist, Sawyer Clemens. The main reason for their invitation is centered on a controversial archeological discovery related to a documentary produced by film director, James Cameron. Although this novel covers just about every topic known, the main focus is religion. 

Will you enjoy it?

I dare say that the contents will challenge any long-standing beliefs you have. Keep reminding yourself that this is fiction, but also keep your search engine handy so you can go investigate some of the questionable details. In other words, a smart reader will be fact checking. "The history is real. The locations are real. The science is real."  I learned a lot. 

Why I recommend it. If you like Dan Brown and religious intrigue as well as Michael Crichton and DNA science, this is the book for you. It begs to be a film adaptation and the novel reads like a screenplay with short chapters and quick scene changes. 

I was glued to the pages of this book, and first of all, unless you like tiny print, big, heavy books, and marking up pages, you should get the e-book version. My local library was kind enough to purchase this upon my request, so I had the paperback, and it was tedious. Aside from slowing me down, I was unable to highlight passages or do minor internet searches from within the device. 

I could go on forever about all the things in this book that I would love to discuss with other readers so I welcome any and all comments. My favorite type of book is one that makes me question everything and analyze my true beliefs while absorbing new information. This was that.

This is a standalone and not part of any series. 

Genre - religious intrigue, technothriller, archeology, controversy 

The Sanctuary (Kørner and Werner #5) by Katrine Engberg

 Nordic crime thriller that brings the series to a conclusion.

A gruesome discovery -- half a body in a suitcase. Some sort of band saw cleaved the man into two complete halves...where's the rest of it and who is this person? 

Anette Werner is tasked with the investigation while Jeppe Korner is off trying to manage his broken heart and working as a lumberjack in nearby island of Bornholm. When clues about the body lead back to Bornholm, Werner calls upon Korner to help look into the case. Also on island, there is another familiar character, Esther de Laurenti, who has come to visit the home of an award-winning anthropologist, Margrethe Dybris. Esther is there with Margrethe's daughter, Ida, and is looking at the deceased anthropologist's letters and papers with the intent to write a biography of the icon. 

Meanwhile, there are a lot of unsavory characters doing bad things and no one can seem to figure out where some missing men have gone or the identity of the person in the suitcase. It seems like there was a lot going on at the island over the years and the relationships of those who lived there became quite intertwined and proved dangerous for some. Anette goes to Bornholm and helps the local detectives track down suspects to try to piece together what had happened. 

I've read 3 of the 5 books in this series featuring Copenhagen police detectives Jeppe Korner and Anette Werner. It's been too long between installments, and I could have done with a bit of a refresher perhaps, but this moved at a slow pace and involved a lot of characters in a new setting. The plot was complex and a bit convoluted and it seemed as if all the loose ends weren't really tied up neatly for me at the conclusion. 

I'd like to give this 3.5 stars as I liked it but definitely, I think a person should not attempt this as a standalone. The two books I have not been able to acquire definitely should have been read as well. I always prefer to read a series in order. I never felt this rose to the level of a suspense thriller but seemed more of a police procedural. 

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

This is the 5th in a series that should be read in order from the beginning.

Genre - police procedural, crime thriller, mystery Nordic Noir

The House at the End of the World by Dean Koontz

Fast and fun suspense thriller. Reminds me of the early books in this author's catalog and I enjoyed it very much.

Everyone who reads Dean Koontz knows that he loves words and tends toward the verbose. The long passages of descriptive prose can get a bit much at times, but I do enjoy his imagination.  Memorable characters and lots of action makes the pages flip faster.

Katie has endured a terrible loss and now lives in a fortified house on her own island retreat. Unfortunately, her hermit-like existence comes to an abrupt end when the secret government research facility located a couple of miles away from her, Ringrock Island, experiences a catastrophic failure that allows a horrible entity to escape. 

Just enjoyed the ride, didn't try to make it political or analyze the text. The story was entertaining even if a bit far-fetched. I always like the way he involves animals in his stories, and this was no exception. All I did was root for the good guys to win! 

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

Genre - horror, suspense thriller

Those Empty Eyes by Charlie Donlea

 Rich, complex plotting makes this suspense thriller a must-read.

When Alex Armstrong was 17 years old, her parents and younger brother were killed in a home invasion. She was immediately arrested, in a state of complete shock, and the media named her Empty Eyes. She spent some time in juvie, eventually exonerated, but not before her young life was upended. She won a defamation lawsuit and changed her name from Alexandra Quinlan in order to escape further attention. Ten years have passed and Alex is working as an investigator for a legal firm. Still no idea why her family was murdered so she spends time doing her own deep dive looking for answers. What she finds are vague connections. She needs help and finds it from unexpected sources. No spoilers.

There is a lot going on in this book! Each little side bar shift into another set of characters and stories keeps the reader engaged and guessing as to how they connect. The revelations start coming fast and furiously in the last part of the book and all is revealed in a great climax that is followed by some surprises. I like the author's writing style and found this so hard to put down. Its best to read it within a short time frame so as to keep the plot and characters straight. I was a bit ambivalent about Alex/Alexandra and some of the action seemed a bit unrealistic. In truth, I had to reread a couple of chapters just to make sure I completely understood the conclusion. At any rate, it was fun and nicely paced with short chapters even though it jumped around a bit. Enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC to read, review, and recommend.

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

Trigger warning - sexual abuse, pedophila

Genre - suspense thriller

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

 Two best girlfriends take a summer trip to Orvieto, Italy -- but things don't go exactly as planned.

Emily and Chess are in their thirties now, but they have a bond that has kept them connected even with life's ups and downs. Emily is recovering from a broken marriage and is struggling to finish a cozy mystery installment she owes the publisher. It seems that Chess's star is on the rise as her self-discovery books have made her a supernova, but she's also dragging her heels to complete her own nonfiction book. 

As the women settle into Villa Aestas, they discover that their luxurious accommodation was once rented by a group of young people -- a famous rock musician and 4 others who were there to create music, write, and relax -- with the help of some drink, drugs, and sex. Their sojourn ends in tragedy and what happened there becomes part of the villa's history.

Emily is fascinated by the events from summer, 1974, and as she explores the villa and digs deeper into the past, she finds herself coming alive even as her relationship with Chess becomes strained.  Long held secrets come to light and it seems that there will be a reckoning between the two friends.

I enjoyed this novel that simmers with tension and a bit of gothic influence that enhances the suspense. The twists and turns were interesting as well as how the author wove the story of the past with what was occurring in the present. Although I really didn't care for either Emily or Chess as characters, the plot was interesting and kept me engrossed. I did wish for more details about the villa itself and about Orvieto. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read and review. 3.5 stars rounded up.

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

Genre - mystery, suspense, gothic, contemporary women's fiction

Brain Death (Luke Daulton #3) by John Benedict

 This is another installment in the medical thriller series featuring anesthesiologist Dr. Luke Daulton.

Although I enjoyed the medical details, the action and the story were just way too preposterous for me. All that Russian agent plot angle and Luke being brain dead but still managing to save the day was just too much.

Also, this should be labeled as Christian fiction. That element is quite pervasive in the book and frankly, I’m not a fan when authors include so much religion in a novel.

I am rating 2.5 stars but have to round. I won’t be reading any more having finished the 3 in this series. I don’t care for the character, his wife, his life, and the crazy stuff that happens. 

Sorry, but can’t recommend. 

This is the third in a series that should be read in order.

Genre - medical thriller, Russian agents, murder 

Bad Robot (Luke Daulton #2) by John Benedict

 This is the second in a medical thriller series featuring Dr. Luke Daulton, an anesthesiologist working at Swatara Regional Hospital. This story takes place a couple of years after the events in the first book, and Luke now has a two-year-old daughter. 

With the blend of medical and technical details, mad gossip about affairs, and the endless dynamics of hospital politics, there’s a lot happening. There’s the usual mix of bad guys and gals and it’s quickly clear that Brandt Stevens, a nurse in the SICU, is one to keep an eye on. Unfortunately, his girlfriend has a roving eye and has her sights set on the handsome new robotic heart surgeon, Dr. Dominic Salazar. My goodness — what jealousy will do.

I enjoyed this a bit more than the first one though I wasn’t that interested in the computer tech aspects of it as much as the hospital scenes and the medical parts. The love triangle stuff was completely ridiculous as were the endless pages describing how various men felt about women and sex. Ugh. 

On to the third installment. Let’s just say that there is indeed a lot of drama within and all these life and death scenarios are a bit far-fetched when they involve the medical personnel and not the patients!

This is the second in a series that should be read in order.

Genre - medical thriller, Techno, murder 

Fatal Complications (Luke Daulton #1) by John Benedict

 I'm a huge fan of the medical thriller, but the plot and action within these pages was quite far-fetched and left me a bit underwhelmed.

This is the first in a series featuring anesthesiologist Dr. Luke Daulton. He's just starting a new job and is also trying to make friends and prepare himself for the imminent birth of his daughter. During one of his first days in the OR, a colleague's patient dies from malignant hyperthermia. The experience makes Luke suspicious but he's unable to pinpoint the source of his concern. Meanwhile, there's a lot going on behind the scenes with a large cast of characters.

Many subplots and plenty of good and bad characters fill this story. The narrative jumps from person to person with Luke being the main character. Almost too much going on with limited detail as to how it all really ties together. Luke and others are put in extreme peril as the climax is reached. The story will require a great deal of suspension of disbelief. I do enjoy the medical details about conditions and treatment, but that whole side bar of the weird supernatural stuff and the excessive amount of religion were not aspects that intrigued me. The conspiracy stuff was just too far off an unexplained.

Will I read another by this author -- well I'm tied to the first 3 in this series so I guess I will give the second a try and hope for the best.

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

This is the first in a series that should be read in order.

Genre - medical thriller, conspiracy, murder for hire

Cobalt Blue by Matthew Reilly

 Fast and fun novella. Totally predictable in the superhero genre norm fashion, but entertaining nonetheless. Characters are stereotypes of good and bad with clear bias present at the outset. Seems like this would be more suited to a graphic novel or the screen. Not sure if there will be a follow-up or a series. Since I'm not really a huge fan of the whole superhero thing, I'll have to think about revisiting. Lots of bloody death in this.

This is a standalone so far, not part of any series.

Genre - superhero, world domination, Russia vs USA

The Drift by C.J.Tudor

Dystopic apocalyptic fiction with a touch of horror driven by a global pandemic.

Narrated by 3 different characters, the novel focuses on survival in a world that has been changed by a virus that keeps mutating and infecting. Students bound for safety are stranded in the snow after their bus crashes. A cable car with workers going up the mountain to volunteer at the Retreat stops halfway up to the control station. In the former chalet, the staff at the Retreat are tested by dwindling supplies and power failures. Hannah, Meg, and Carter are willing to do whatever it takes to stay alive. Everyone has a secret and all are lying. 

This was OK but I didn't find it suspenseful or compelling. Many characters, but they were dropping so fast that I didn't invest much into them and couldn't work up the empathy needed to care. The Whistlers were much more interesting to me and I would have preferred to read about them rather than the 3 sets of people in the bus, cable car, and chalet. The sketchy details about the virus and the pandemic left me wanting more. Much of the action and all that happened required a great deal of suspension of disbelief. Lots of blood and gore if that's your thing.  A few twists and turns along the way to a reveal and the sort of unsatisfying conclusion.

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

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

Genre - dystopian, virus, pandemic, horror 

The Forever Witness: How DNA and Genealogy Solved a Cold Case Double Murder by Edward Humes

 Fascinating true crime.

"Genetic genealogy...was the source that never lied, never faded with time, never forgot. It was the forever witness."

The murdered bodies of Tanya Van Cuylenborg and her boyfriend, Jay Cook, were found separately in isolated parts of Washington State in November, 1987. The lack of clues hampered the investigation and eventually the case went dormant without new leads. Decades later, in 2018, Detective Jim Scharf working the cold case in Snohomish County, Washington, would team up with genetic genealogist, CeCe Moore, to identify the killer. The man, William Talbott II, was subsequently tried and convicted using this new and powerful forensic tool -- but it has been widely misunderstood. 

Along with details about the Cuylenborg/Cook case, the book also focuses on the controversial use of genetic genealogy as a method of fighting crime and identifying criminals. The argument centers on privacy and the rights of those who submit their DNA to both public or private labs. Many of us have willingly put our saliva in a tube and mailed it to one of the ancestry sites looking for information. The question then is whether or not that voluntary surrender implies consent for police or other organizations to search those data bases for their own purposes -- mostly to secure and identify a suspect in a murder or other violent crime. Keep in mind that when you send off your DNA, you are also revealing that of your relatives and mostly without their knowledge or consent. It's definitely an interesting debate, and I know on which side I fall. Several US States have already begun the process of regulating and establishing clearcut laws about using genetic material. 

I found the entire book absorbing and extremely interesting. I was not aware of the cold case and was astonished to hear the outcome of the trial and subsequent appeal. I liked the way the author wrote the story of Tanya and Jay and the way the narrative included so much detail that created in me a desire for the couple to get some sort of resolution and ultimately, justice. Sometimes I forget how much I enjoy reading well-written true crime. I recommend it. 

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

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

Genre - true crime 

Stay Awake by Megan Goldin

 Fast and fun psychological thriller.

Liv Reese has a huge gap in her memory. The last thing she remembers is answering the phone at her office over two years ago. Every time she falls asleep and wakes up, she has forgotten everything that happened since. Obviously, this means she wanders around a lot trying to figure out where she lives, where she works, and why everything is so strange. She can't find her phone or her wallet. Her roommate and her boyfriend aren't answering her calls Then, she sees herself on TV as a suspect in a murder. All she has to do is STAY AWAKE in order to try to put the pieces of her fracture memory together and figure out what is going on. 

I had sworn to myself that I would not read any more books that had the words "amnesia" or "memory loss" in them. I'm not sure why this beckoned, but it did and I picked it up and was immediately hooked. Sure it was predictable, and this narrator was certainly unreliable, but it was entertaining, and I actually liked most of the characters. Even the flawed protagonist, Liv, wasn't as annoying as so many have been. 

I liked the fast pace and the narratives from the point of view of Liv and also of the police who are trying to investigate the murder. The time shifts can be a bit disconcerting and helps get the reader in the frame of mind of the dissociative fugue state that Liz is experiencing. I enjoyed it. 

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

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

Genre - psychological thriller, mystery, amnesia

Observer by Robert Lanza and Nancy Kress

 Mind-bending science fiction that blends physics and biology into an incredible tale of what could be the future.

Or, should I say, what I wish would be the future. This novel was completely absorbing, and it took me longer than usual to read because it required a lot of thinking as I tried to make sense of the science and the concept that is called, in the book, The Primacy of the Observer. This theory focuses on the suggestion that "instead of matter and evolution giving rise to consciousness, the truth is the other way around."  Yeah, this is deep and heavy stuff, but the authors did an incredible job turning all this into a story that is relatable and easier to understand.

When Dr. Caroline Soames-Watkins is forced from her job as a neurosurgeon after she reports an incidence of sexual harassment to the hospital board, she's invited to work for a distant relative she has never met -- the famous Nobel Prize winning scientist, Dr. Samuel Watkins, her great uncle. He and two other brilliant men have set up a medical compound in the Cayman Islands where they are doing groundbreaking research and experiments that involve deep brain stimulation. Their goal is to discover the nature of consciousness, reality, and possibly, life after death. 

Read this if you want to expand your mind and if you enjoy entertaining science fiction that seems plausible. I liked the characters, the science, the writing style, and the story itself. I only wish that new discoveries and inventions were not deemed so scary that they invite the attention of hate groups or the cancel culture. This would make a great film.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Story Plant for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

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

Genre - science fiction, medicine, surgery, physics

Murder at the Charity Ball (Miss Underhay #11) by Helena Dixon

 A Christmas cozy historical mystery in a favorite series.

It's almost time for Kitty Underhay and her fiance, Captain Matthew Bryant, to marry as scheduled on Christmas Eve in 1934. Excitement and anticipation build as Kitty's father, Edgar, is coming to visit and to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day.  But first, Kitty and Matt are to attend a charity ball at the home of Lady Eliza Foxley. An evening of entertainment turns deadly when the lady of the manor is found murdered in her room. Things take a sudden turn when Edgar, who was staying at the house of their hostess, is arrested. Then, an attempt is made to poison Eliza's sister. What is going on at Villa Lemora?

Along with their usual cohort of friends and family, Kitty and Matt help Inspector Greville question the suspects and try to solve the case in time to enjoy their wedding day. 

This series has long been a favorite and I urge those interested to start at the beginning. I like the characters and the story lines with all the period and historical details from food to fashion. I always enjoy going to visit at the Dolphin Hotel and am happy to finally see Kitty and Matt married. I look forward to the next installment with all the changes in their personal lives as they embark on a new business arrangement along with their domestic bliss.

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

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

Genre - historical cozy mystery, 1930s, Dartmouth

No One Knows Us Here by Rebecca Kelley

 Extremely disappointing mashup that is not suspenseful or entertaining. I should have stopped reading before the halfway point, but I stuck it out until the end hoping it would not go where it went. 

Why? The character of Rosemary was incredibly lame and every single decision she makes is the most wrong choice a person could make. She needs money so she agrees to be a billionaire's girlfriend. He's not nice. She keeps staying and collecting the money. She has grand schemes and intentions and does not follow through with any of them. Like she's pretending to be an actress in a movie of her own life, but doing a really bad job of it.  Of course he's hideous and controlling, that would be the expected stereotype so that Rosemary can rationalize what she does.  And, naturally, there's the boy next door trope and, gasp, is he going to save her?

All in all, this was a waste of my time and I can't think of a single person to recommend it to. The writing is repetitious and the narrative from Rosemary's point of view is irritating. The plot is predictable and unbelievable. There's nothing new to see here. 

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.

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

Genre - psychological, domestic drama, relationships

SKIP IT

Reef Road by Deborah Goodrich Royce

 An unsolved murder creates damage that reverberates through decades.

This is a mystery that reads like true crime and is very hard to put down. Even as you imagine you know where it's going, the writing style and the narrative told in alternating points of view will keep you pushing on, analyzing, and guessing all the while. 

The past: in 1948, Noelle Grace Huber was stabbed 36 times in the kitchen of her home while she was baking a cake. Her parents were not home at the time. She was 12 years old. No-one was ever arrested or convicted for the crime. It was senseless and tragic, and everyone who knew the family suffered for years. 

The present: it's 2020 and the COVID pandemic has created a lockdown in Palm Beach, Florida. A young wife discovers that her family has gone missing. A middle-aged writer is working on a book about the murder of her mother's best friend. Why is the writer so interested in Linda Alonso and her children? Then, a severed hand is found on the beach. 

Past and present collide in spectacular fashion as truth and lies are exposed. There are some great reveals and twists along the way. I enjoyed this very much though it is a bit of a slow burner as the author sets the stage. The two female characters have traits and behaviors that I both loved and hated, and they certainly challenge beliefs about justice and revenge. Looking forward to reading other reviews and comments on this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for this e-book ARC to read and review.

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

Genre = mystery, crime thriller, psychological, 

Devil's Way (Kate Marshall #4) by Robert Bryndza

 Entertaining thriller as Kate and Tristan investigate an old missing person case.

Kate and Tristan are running their fledgling detective agency on a shoestring and are always looking for new business. Kate, in the hospital after a near drowning incident, meets a fellow patient with a very sad story about her missing grandson. Even though it's been over 11 years, Jean can't accept that her 3-year-old grandson could really be dead. Kate and Tristan agree to start looking into old records and visit the location where Charlie vanished in the middle of the night. The more clues they discover, the more questions they have.

This is the 4th in a series that has really grown on me. I like the main characters -- Kate, a mature 47 mentoring Tristan, her former research assistant when she was professor in criminology. Her police background gives her credentials and respect, and he's a quick learner. Blessedly, no romance and Kate doesn't do stupid things to put herself in danger in this book. Nice and clever mystery with a predictable but satisfying outcome.

Thank you to NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I look forward to the next installment.

This is the 4th in a series that should be read from the beginning.

Genre - crime thriller, series, UK

The Third Instinct (Dan Clifford 2) by Kent Lester

 Action-packed sequel full of science, history, and moral/ethical dilemma is fast and fun.

This follow-up to THE SEVENTH SUN takes prediction scientist Dan Clifford and his girlfriend, Rachel Sullivan, to a new threat involving ancient, secret societies and the scary organism known as the Devil's Paradox. You will want to read the first book before opening this one. Full of realistic technology, conspiracy theories, political corruption, DNA hacking gone amuck, and all sorts of other interesting details, the story is a thriller as well as an adventure. There's even a bit of romance and the characters are unlikely, reluctant heroes who do their best to save the world. A bit of social commentary lends credence and believability to the narrative.

I enjoyed both books very much and recommend you read them back to back if possible. I like the writing style and the pacing that made this hard to put down. I'd love to see a film adaptation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the e-book to read, review, and recommend.

This is the second in a series so be sure to read the first one prior to starting this.

Genre - thriller, historical, science, technology

The Seventh Sun (Dan Clifford #1) by Kent Lester

 Action-packed sci-fi thriller that screams for a film adaptation.

Read this if you are interested in emerging diseases, corporate greed, and global implications of new technologies.

When an acquaintance disappears while researching extinction events, prediction scientist Dan Clifford joins Rachel Sullivan, a marine biologist, as they race to prevent worldwide annihilation by primordial  substances found in the ultimate extremes of the ocean. 

I picked this up because I have an ARC of the second in the series on my TBR to review. So glad I did as it was rife with cutting edge and realistic science, had a fast pace, and packed with interesting characters. Can't wait to start the next installment.

This is the first of two in a series.

Genre - sci fi, thriller, science, disease

Look Both Ways by Linwood Barclay

 Fast-paced and totally entertaining, this thriller about organized, malevolent motors will have you devouring the pages.

It was supposed to be a day of crowning achievement for Sandra Montrose and her small public relations firm on Garrett Island. Months earlier, the islanders had agreed to accept and test the latest in autonomous driving vehicles known as the Arrival. Sandra has planned a celebration of success for the CEO  and her cohort to highlight and demonstrate the program vehicles to list of invited media. Almost immediately things go wrong. The autonomous vehicles are no longer taking orders from their passengers and have apparently collectively decided to take out all the humans. 

Even with the high body count and gory descriptions of vehicle malice, this was a fun read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've long been a fan of Barclay and I like his writing style and his characters are always unique and a bit quirky. There's a lot more I could say about this book, but I do not want to spoil it for anyone. 

This is a standalone and not part of any series. I borrowed it from a friend.

Genre = thriller, suspense, scifi 

Three Widows (DI Lottie Parker #12) by Patricia Gibney

 Complex serial killer thriller will keep you guessing.

This twelfth book in one of my favorite detective series is longer and much more complicated than previous installments. Lots of characters to keep straight and a case that has more than the usual number of grisly murders. Lottie Parker and her colleagues are also experiencing some team infighting and drama that puts everyone at odds with others.

The Ragmullin team is investigating a series of disappearances with the beaten and mutilated bodies subsequently being found in unusual spots. It seems that the deaths are connected to a group of women who have come together to support each other after becoming widows. What secrets are they hiding that has made them a target for a deranged killer? 

I enjoyed this one but it is not one of my favorites in the series. Very convoluted motive for all the murders but the red herrings kept me trying to work out who was doing all the killing. I like the main character, Lottie, but her family annoys me and please -- let the woman bathe and eat once in awhile. It's past time for Lottie to get some happiness in her personal life as well.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read and review. I can recommend the series and would also suggest anyone interested start from the beginning and read them in order. 

This is the 12th book in a series. Not a standalone.

Genre - mystery thriller, crime thriller, police procedural

The Guilty Girl (Detective Lottie Parker #11) by Patricia Gibney

 The eleventh in an excellent crime thriller series.

Detective Lottie Parker, a senior member of An Garda Siochana in Ragmullin (a fictional town in Ireland), has a very complicated case on her hands. A young teenage girl, Lucy McAllister, has been murdered in her home after throwing a huge unsupervised party. As the investigation begins, there is no shortage of suspects and a ton of evidence that just doesn’t make any sense. Lottie and her colleagues question all the party guests and find that there is much more going on but they can’t get answers — one girl claims she remembers nothing — was she drugged? Others claim they did not see or hear anything. Several attendees saw Lucy’s body and did not report it. What a mess. And then another young teen is found dead. Worst of all, it comes to light that Lottie’s own son, Sean, was also there that night. 

This was a fast read with many characters and a complex plot. I have always enjoyed this series, and indeed, is one of the few that I still keep up with as I like Lottie Parker. She’s a middle aged mom of three with a grandson and a crazy backstory full of all kinds of heartache and drama, but Lottie is sensible most of the time and doesn’t constantly put herself in jeopardy as she solves her cases. I like the setting and the Garda at the station have become like old friends. I will continue with the next installment.

This is the 11th in a series that should be read from the beginning, in order.

Genre - crime thriller, police procedural, Ireland, female detective

Night Shift (Jack and Laurie #13) by Robin Cook

 A fast paced medical thriller with a set of favorite characters.

Dr. Jack Stapleton and Dr. Laurie Montgomery are married with a couple of special needs kids. In addition, both are medical examiners for the state of New York, with Laurie being the chief. This long running series features the pair of doctors examining cases that are atypical and confusing. In this thirteenth installment, Jack is tasked with an autopsy that should be routine but that turns into so much more than he anticipated.  It seems there is a medical serial killer loose in the hospital and Jack is determined to find out who it is and stop them. 

I’ve read Robin Cook forever and that is saying something as I am well past middle age. I absolutely love a good medical thriller and this author usually comes through with a good case scenario that I can dissect and enjoy. Can I help it if at times I don’t want Jack and Laurie to be rescued by a last minute miracle — but sorry — they do always manage to figure out what is going on, identify the dastardly criminal, and save the day. I always love the forensic details and the medical stuff, the interesting characters, and the plots. 

Even if you haven’t kept up with the series, you can pick this one up and read as a standalone for the mystery and the intrigue alone. I do look forward to the next one by one of my favorite authors in this genre. 

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. 

This is the 13th in a series that is best read in order but do what you want!

Genre - medical thriller (Robin Cook is a master)

Murder in an Irish Castle (Lady Eleanor Swift #12) by Verity Bright

 A perfect cozy mystery for the holidays.

I just really enjoy this series featuring Lady Eleanor Swift, her butler and partner in crime solving, Clifford, and her bulldog, Gladstone. This particular installment, the twelfth, is set in the tiny village of Derrydee in west Ireland. It’s Christmas, 1924, and Lady Swift has decided to visit a castle there that she has recently inherited. Along the snowy road right outside the estate, Ellie and Clifford nearly run over a body in the middle of the lane. They immediately obtain aid for the man, but he dies before they find out who he was and what he was doing way out there in the country. This is just the first of the mishaps, calamities, and dangerous situations that Ellie and Clifford will confront during their Christmas holiday in Derrydee. 

As always, the plot was well developed and it was extremely nice to get a conclusion that I’ve longed to see since I started the series. I always enjoy coming home to visit these characters and find them quite entertaining and often very funny. I like the writing style and all the period details so important in any historical fiction. This is definitely a good one to curl up with on a cold winter night.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. This is one of the few series I still care to read and I can’t wait for #13.

This is #12 in a long running series that definitely should be read in order.

Genre - cozy mystery, historic circa 1920s

Hunting Time (Colter Shaw #4) by Jeffery Deaver

 Fourth in series is action packed and full of clever twists and turns.

Colter Shaw, the son of survivalists, works as a reward seeker and goes where the money leads. This time, he’s hired to find Allison Parker, a brilliant nuclear engineer, and her daughter, Hannah. They are on the run from her abusive ex-husband, John Merritt, who’s just been released early from prison. Shaw runs into a situation almost immediately — it seems that there are two hitman who are also tracking Allison. 

This was well written and kept me entertained. I like the main character, Colter Shaw, who is enigmatic and competent while also often proving to be the romantic interest of at least one woman or two. The details about Colter’s childhood training up in the mountain wilderness with his family are also interesting and educational. I like the series and definitely will continue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ebook ARC to read, review, and recommend. 

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

Genre - action packed mystery suspense thriller

Livid (Dr. Kay Scarpetta #26) by Patricia Cornwell

 Crime thriller series that continues its strong storyline and memorable characters.

I've read most all of the books featuring Dr. Kay Scarpetta, the medical examiner and forensic pathologist who has always intrigued me. The plots veered a bit off the rails for awhile, but now seem to be back on track as Scarpetta does her job and focuses on interesting cases. She's back in Virginia testifying at a murder trial in Old Town Alexandria when the sister of the judge is found dead in their old family home. Soon there's an alphabet soup of agencies probing the killing and suspicions indicate that the villain might be a terrorist with an agenda. The murder weapon is unusual...and very scary. 

Always enjoy reconnecting with Kay and her gang including husband, niece, sister, and long time partner and sidekick, Marino. The science and medical details always fascinate and keep me coming back time and again to each new installment. I really like the writing style and the wide range of topics covered.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is the 26th in a long running series that should be read in order from the beginning.

Genre - mystery, crime thriller

Secrets of the Nile (Lady Emily Ashton #16) by Tasha Alexander

 An historical mystery set in parallel timelines -- 1904 and ancient Egypt circa 1500 BCE.

Lady Emily and her husband, Colin Hargreaves, are on a holiday to visit Lord Bertram Deeley and visit the ancient tombs and view the treasures of Egypt. Along with other family and friends, they join Lord Bertram at his residence in Luxor after cruising the Nile. On that very eve, after a magnificent meal at his home, Lord Bertram dies of cyanide poisoning. Which of those in attendance could have killed him and why. Everyone is a suspect.

In the alternate story line, a family of artisans tasked with decorating the Pharaoh's tomb experience personal betrayals. Some ancient sculptures belonging now to Lord Bertram prove to be a way to help Lady Emily connect the dots and solve the crime.

Although this is the 16th in a series that I have never read, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I love historical fiction and am particularly partial to ancient times and Egypt. I liked what I learned of the main character, Lady Emily, definitely a forward thinking woman of her time. Now I really want to go back and start this series with all of the previous installments read in order. I like a cozy mystery with period details and descriptions of everything from food to clothes to social mores. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read, review, and recommend this book. 

This is the 16th in a series that I should have read from the beginning but this worked OK as a standalone though I definitely want more backstory.

Genre  -- historical mystery, Egypt

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urguhart

 Short but intense first installment of a serial killer thriller mystery.

Dr. Wren Muller is a forensic pathologist working for the Medical Examiner's office in Louisiana. The city is plagued with a psycho murderer who is leaving some grisly scenes for the local police. The many victims have been tortured in ways that seem like medical experimentation gone wrong. Soon it is obvious to Wren that she has met the killer before. 

This was narrated from two points of view - that of the criminal and that of Wren. The story was fast and there was not much depth or history given of the main characters. The writing was a little stilted and the author had several phrases that became repetitive, especially when characters were snickering, snarling, or sniggering -- seemed really out of place. Not a fan of the writing and the ending was incomplete and abrupt thus paving the way for the next installment. Not sure if I will read it or not. The plot is predictable and there was no huge tension or suspense so I doubt I will bother as the conclusion seems obvious. Nothing new here.

Not really recommending. 

This is the first in a series.

Genre - serial killer thriller, crime

The Prisoner by B.A. Paris

 Convoluted psychological thriller that is much too improbable to be believable.

The narrative starts from the point of view of a young woman held captive in a pitch black room. Her husband is in another area of the same house and a ransom has been sent to his wealthy father. Amelie and Ned Hawthorpe have been kidnapped. By whom and why? Sure, their marriage was unusual and recent events have brought things to a breaking point, but things are just not making any sense.

Ah, why do I get sucked in to opening books like this. It was almost painful to read because the whole premise was so implausible and the plot went from one preposterous event to another. The characters were stereotypical and predictable. I did not care for any of them and, no matter how much I was meant to like Amelie, she got on my last nerve. I actually considered marking it DNF at about 25% but I forced myself to go on. I hoped that the story would eventually come together and make sense. Disappointed to report that even after all the revelations, it just required way too much of a buy in that I was not willing to afford. Also, I do not like reading about people held in captivity and the long, drawn out details about where they are being held and the conditions and how they search for escape, etc. The rags to riches bit I also could have done without. Too much in this tale was contrived and I can't recommend it. I will be taking a pass on future work by this author.

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

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

Genre - psychological thriller

The Other Side of Night by Adam Hamdy

 A mystery with philosophical and psychological aspects that intrigue and linger.

A very unique novel that introduces the reader to interesting characters who dominate the story. There's Harriet Kealty, a disgraced and fired police officer, who finds a cryptic note inside a book that leads her to initiate a personal investigation that has mind blowing consequences. Harri is surprised when her sleuthing brings her to Ben Elmys, a man she had fallen for and been dumped by, only to discover that he is now the guardian of a boy related to the person who wrote that note. Intrigue and suspense as Harri tries to figure out what is really going on.

The story was interesting as I kept trying to guess and speculate what was really going on. Although slow at times and occasionally a bit confusing, I can't say more due to spoilers and it's best the reader know as little as possible to appreciate the twist advertised although I am sure some will see it coming. I am not a poetry person so those snippets did not appeal. There's lots of foreshadowing and hinting about further action in the narrative that I found tedious, and it took me much longer than usual to read, but I was entertained. Far-fetched? Yeah. Overly sentimental? Yeah. But I am sure the whole of it will appeal to many readers.

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

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

Genre - mystery, thriller, science fiction