Irreparable Harm (Sasha McCandless #1) by Melissa F. Miller

First in legal thriller series does not disappoint -- I'm ready to read the rest of them!

Sasha McCandless, an associate at a prestigious law firm, is working hard to make partner. When one of the firm's biggest clients needs help after a commercial airline flight crashes unexpectedly, she is immediately involved in defending them when a class action lawsuit is filed. It turns out that this crash may have been deliberate, caused by a piece of rogue technology. As Sasha unearths incriminating information, she tries to get answers and finds that a federal air marshal is also investigating this case. Not sure who to trust, and with people involved suddenly dying, Sasha knows she has to get to the truth before someone gets her.

I downloaded this as a freebie from Amazon a long time ago and was not in the mood for anything in my review queue, so I picked it up and started reading. A couple hours later, I put it down having read in a single sitting. I was thoroughly entertained with the main character and the story. I do love a good legal thriller and hope to see more courtroom action in the subsequent installments. Sasha is a tiny woman and knows Krav Maga which really helps her out against the bad guys trying to get her. Perhaps less fighting in the next one? On to #2 as this had all the elements I was wanting in my current frame of mind - lots of action action, good plot, minimal romance, no domestic drama, no psychological twisting, no supernatural, and no horror.

This is the first of 14 titles and I plan to read them all, in order.

Genre - legal thriller

Sundial by Catriona Ward

 Ghastly horror in the desert.

Rob and her husband are trying to hold their life together with their two daughters, Callie and Annie. It’s unfortunate, however, that soon Rob understands that the darkness is in Callie and knows she needs to take care of it. Rob goes to the place where it all began, a huge ranch in the Mojave Desert, her childhood home named Sundial. 

I almost DNF this but I have a thing where I have to if I start. This was not the book ever meant for me. Too many huge triggers including animal abuse and really disturbing psychological stuff. Some of the book was actually slow and boring with this insert of a book that Rob is scribbling. The narrative flips back and forth in time and as the climax draws near, the expected twist appears. The ending was totally out there crazy. But I see from other reviews that this appeals to others in a way it never could for me. 

Despite the fact that I don’t recommend this to anyone I know, I would like to thank NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the e-book ARC to read and review.

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

Genre - horror, animal abuse, psychological, thriller

The Heights by Louise Candlish

 A beautiful family broken. An anguished mother. A quest for revenge. Domestic drama that brings you into the heart of a tragedy.

I really enjoyed this book and the characters were very well-developed and realistic. The narrative is told from several points of view, and each brings a different perception to all of the events that transpired. I don't get this hating on Ellen; I felt mostly sympathy and pity for her and I don't think you can judge her until you have experienced and felt what she went through. Would most of us make the same choices she did -- probably not -- but the quest for revenge is as old as time and the grief of losing a child can't be quantified.

The thing that always gets me in these family dramas is how pitiful the parenting seems to be. I don't know any teen parent that would allow all this running around, drinking, and drug use in their child when said child is still in school and living in the home. Are people really this permissive?

More so -- the concept of the bad friend. The kid who incites the others to get into trouble, flaunt parental authority, experiment with dangerous drugs. What is a parent to do with this negative influencer? And what makes others fall in with this sort of kid instead of staying outside of it?

At the end of the day, a child is dead and the person who allegedly caused it won't or can't give a full accounting. The punishment is minimal and the parents can't accept it. Ellen, the mother, wants more. She tries to put some serious plans in motion to extract her pound of flesh -- she is not able to even think about anything else as long as he is still alive and living his best life.

The writing and the way the story is told was engaging and I was unable to put the book down until I'd finished in a single sitting. Whether or not you like Ellen or agree with what she did, the theme begs the question of what does pain make a person do.

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

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

Genre - domestic drama, tragedy, revenge

Tell Me an Ending by Jo Harkin

 This debut science fiction thriller is complex and completely absorbing.

If our personality and state of mind is dependent on our memories, experiences, and relationships then what happens if part of those is erased? A clinic offers a service to particular clients interested in deleting traumatic recent memories. Napenthe supposedly does careful psychological evaluation of potential patients before performing the procedure. All does not go well, however, and some of those who had undergone the memory removal experience trace recall. When a class action lawsuit is brought against the company due to this side effect, some of those affected are offered memory restoration. 

The narrative is polyphonic with a collection of very interesting characters all connected through Nepenthe. All are struggling with the concept of the memory deletion and how it has strained their current lives. Since none of them know exactly what has been removed from their consciousness, they don’t understand their feelings and behavior. 

There is quite a lot to absorb in this novel as it touches on moral and philosophical questions about self and how the brain deals with traumatic incidents. How important is memory, which is often not as accurate as we would like to believe, in shaping how we respond to life. Assuming this ability to erase specific, targeted events is possible, then is it a good thing or a bad thing — and why or why not. As one character says, it’s important to ask questions. 

I really enjoyed this and it has given me much to ponder. It would make an excellent choice for discussion with a book club interested in going deep. The author writes well and the story drew me in keeping me engrossed for hours. I will definitely look for another title in the future. 

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

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

Genre - science fiction, medical, philosophical

The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson

 A gruesome thriller that combines elements of science fiction and domestic drama to create a study of family, abusive situations, and survival. 

A new disease has emerged in a post Covid world and it quickly becomes a pandemic that causes sudden and inexplicable violent outbursts. Usually someone or something ends up dead. The rager has no control over his or her behavior and returns to normal after the episode is over. People are fearful of the condition and of each other. No place and no one is safe as little is known about its epidemiology. The story is told through the eyes of 3 generations of woman — a grandmother, a mother, and two young daughters. All have experienced domestic abuse and all need to be saved.

Although quite graphic and very disturbing at times, this was a well-written exploration of the cycles of abuse as seen through the eyes of the main characters. The descriptions of how they dealt with the trauma of trying to survive The Violence were inspiring and the level of tension was high. The people they met along the way provided a reminder that there are still many good and decent folks left in the world despite harrowing times. Love, protection, and support become the true holy grail. Each woman shows determination and courage as she navigates this scary pandemic hoping to be freed from everything they had known before and create a new family where everyone feels valued and heard. Lots of social commentary and a few political asides were blended into the narrative as well.

I actually liked this one quite a bit but admit to glossing over the really gory hideous details. Did the women achieve the redemption and regain the self-esteem they wanted — you will have to read it to find out.

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

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

Genre - Science fiction thriller and drama, very grisly violence

Girl in Ice by Erica Ferencik

 Atmospheric setting brings the Artic chill as this story unfolds.

A linguist noted for her study of dead Nordic languages, Val Chesterfield, is invited to a remote island off the coast of Greenland to see if she can find a way to communicate with a young girl who apparently has been thawed after found frozen in ice. She decides to go, though she has severe fear anxiety, because her twin died there a year ago and Val wants to talk about him with his mentor and project leader, Wyatt Speeks. The weirdness begins as soon as she gets off the plane in this barren, unforgiving landscape.

What I liked most about this book: the details and descriptions of the Arctic outpost and the way the author used it to set the tone and mood. The reader can almost actually feel the extreme cold and the minimalist conditions under which the team is meant to live. The close proximity of the characters to one another in the crowded spaces with nothing but endless snow and wind as the light diminishes each day. I also was very interested in the language aspect and the translation of the words as Val struggles to communicate with Sigrid. And, I was eager to discover the truth about the girl who had come to life after being frozen -- the how, especially. The writing style of the author was engaging and absorbing.

What I didn't like -- the actual unfolding of the story was a disappointment especially the last third of the book when all falls apart and becomes predictable as far as outcome. The characters were such stereotypes and the plot basically seemed to turn into Helen Keller on ice. I found it difficult to relate to any of them, Val included, and some of what happened created difficulty for me to sustain my ability to buy into all that transpired.

The underlying theme is focused on climate change and all that entails -- very scary to be sure. I found myself fascinated by the ice wind phenomenon described. I even googled it to see if it was a real thing (not as far as I could tell). Also, quite enthralled with the topic of thawing a frozen person or other living thing to bring them back to life and wish there had been more focus on that in the novel. In all, however, the book left me with more questions than answers because I do like science fiction when it can be made plausible with explanation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for this e-book ARC to read and review. I will be thinking about this one for awhile.

This is a standalone and is not part of the series. I may check out the author's other books because of the different settings in each and the author's writing style is compelling.

Genre - sci fi thriller, atmospheric

A Royal Murder (Lady Eleanor Swift #9) by Verity Bright

 A delightful cozy mystery series circa 1920s is familiar and comforting.

In this 9th book, Lady Eleanor Swift and her trusty companions are engaged to find out who poisoned a minor royal at the regatta. She's given a list of potential suspects but her love interest, Detective Inspector Hugh Seldon, is told by the head of Royal Police to stay off the case. Interesting. Eleanor and her butler/bodyguard, Clifford, speak to many who were in attendance -- a collection of shady characters with opportunity and motive. Seems that the dead man had lots of secrets. But who wanted him dead?

I really enjoy the interaction between the characters and all the description and detail the author brings to the murder mystery. Clothes, food, and social customs are brought to life in the time period. Lady Eleanor isn't the typical upper crust woman; she has a great sense of humor and is quite down to earth despite her position -- much to the dismay of her household help who rues her independent streak. I always look forward to reading each new installment.

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

This is the 9th in a series that should be read from the beginning, in order.

Genre - cozy mystery

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

 

A washed up alcoholic actress lives alone in the family house on Lake Greene in Vermont. She spies on her neighbors using the binoculars left behind by her recently drowned husband, Len. As days go by, she becomes really interested in the couple who live directly across the lake - The Royces. Something strange is going on in that house and Casey Fletcher is determined to get to the bottom of it all. If you are looking for a straight forward suspense or psychological thriller, this is not the book for you. To say it bordered on the preposterous might be a little strong, since this is fiction after all, but toward the last third of the book the author really goes way out there. That twist is what turned me off to the rest of the book and I ended up severely disappointed despite having read and generally enjoyed all of this author’s previous stories. I can’t say more without spoilers, so just leaving it here that I wish I had not wasted my time.  I do appreciate NetGalley and Dutton for the e-book ARC to read and review. This is a standalone and is not part of any series.  Genre - suspense, supernatural

Wish You Were Gone by Kieran Scott

 Domestic drama full of the biggest collection of hideous people ever.

Emma's husband is dead. The drunken fool just rammed his expensive car into the back wall of their garage. As she reels in shock, Emma and her teenage children, Hunter and Kelsey, are comforted and helped by her friends Gray and Lizzie. But everyone has secrets and now that James is gone from their lives, it's all about to come out.

All I can say is that if I had friends and family like that I would be quite sorry. This was all quite predictable and some of the interaction between the main characters was a bit unbelievable in terms of how the women I know behave and treat each other. I was not able to feel anything but disgust for all of them in this novel. So perhaps this was just not something I should have picked up to read.

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

This was a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre - contemporary, domestic drama

The Christmas Killer (DI James Walker #1) by Alex Pine

 Details and descriptive prose in this police procedural.

A lovely Christmas card gives the plan: “Twelve Days. Twelve murders. Twelve Victims. And they all deserve what’s coming to them.”

DI James Walker and his wife, Annie, have recently relocated from London to the small village of Kirkby Abbey. Annie’s mother had left them the house and they both agreed that there was danger to them staying in London. At first it’s quiet and a far cry from what James had been used to in his job at the Met, but as a huge snowstorm heads their way, the police are confronted with a serial killer who has the intent to rid the community of certain townspeople. First one body is found and then another as the killer begins by leaving a dead partridge on James and Annie’s doorstep. 

This was rather slow moving with lots of red herrings as James and his fellow constables attempt to identify the killer and stop them from completing their mission. Although I liked him, Annie got on my nerves and for some reason their entire relationship seemed so blah. The investigation was plodding along and finally the identity of the villain is revealed. I have the second in the series to read, but might take awhile to circle back to it.

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

This is the first in a series to be read in order.

Genre - police procedural, murder mystery

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

 “The voice of blood is the strongest.”

A suspenseful mystery that starts out slowly and builds to a wild, unexpected climax.

When Jess arrives in Paris to crash at her brother’s apartment, she is running from her past with nowhere else to go. Although Ben had texted her the address, he’s not there when she arrives. Getting inside is a bit of a problem, but her concern deepens when Ben doesn’t answer any of her texts or calls. Where could he have gone? She meets and asks the fellow residents of this posh building if they knew him or know anything. They’re an odd bunch for sure — and what is the deal with the strange little hut and the concierge? 

This starts slowly as each of the main characters are introduced. Of course they all knew who Ben was and each had his/her own relationship of sorts with him. A bit unreliable, they narrate the events of the past several months leading up to the shocking details that explain what happened. I really liked the atmospheric description and the different points of view. I guessed a few minor things but was surprised as well at how cleverly the author set up the reader. I loved the setting and the insertion of French phrases and dialogue made it seem more authentic. 

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

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

Genre - mystery suspense

Bone Deep - Untangling the Bets Faria Murder Case by Charles Bosworth, Jr. and Joel Schwartz

 Oh, how I love a well-written true crime story and this one hits all the marks proving that truth is indeed stranger than fiction. If I had read this as a novel, I would be scoffing in disbelief at all that happened to those involved in this case, but, indeed it did. I hope to be able to see the 6-part TV series that is meant to debut in March, 2022, and plan to listen to the Dateline podcast shortly. So good to feel that justice was finally served.

Russ Faria came home from a game night with friends to find his wife, Betsy, dead. In his panic, he called 911 and told the dispatcher that he thinks she’s committed suicide. In fact, Betsy was murdered — stabbed over 55 times — and for some reason, the cops think Russ did it. Over the next few months, the police do everything they can to get him arrested and charged with first degree murder. In this pursuit, they are aided by the prosecuting attorney. All conveniently and willfully ignore evidence that exonerates Russ and actually might point to the true killer. It was a travesty that he was imprisoned, found guilty in his first trial, and was only eventually found innocent by the dedication and hard work of his defense attorneys and some steadfast supporters. 

If you enjoy this type of book, don’t miss this fascinating and frustrating tale of evil and greed, false accusations, and miscarriage of justice. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for inviting me to read and review this title. 

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

Genre - true crime

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf

 A snowstorm in winter. An isolated farmhouse. A woman alone — until she finds some unexpected visitors.

Wylie Lark is finishing her latest true crime novel when the blizzard hits. As she gathers wood to stoke the fire, she finds a child in the snow outside her door. The child’s mother soon makes her appearance and Wylie knows that these two are in danger. Can she help them?

Well. I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. The author tends toward long descriptions about things that really didn’t interest me as the story progressed. Told in 3 different time lines, I was wondering how it would all come together and it finally did. The least interesting part to me was that of the captivity. I like action and this was a lot of description instead. The plot was predictable and required a huge amount of suspension of disbelief at the amazing coincidences here. Though it all comes neatly together at the end, the novel really didn’t answer the questions I had. I can’t say I really liked the characters and it all seemed so contrived. It was a quick read over a couple of hours today. I never felt the tension or suspense typical of my reaction to a thriller but am looking forward to seeing other reviews. 

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

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

Genre - meant to be suspense thriller, drama

The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart

 A very original and unusual story involving time travel and unraveling a mystery.

The Paradox Hotel is the stopover destination for the ultra rich who intend to time travel via Einstein Intercentury  Timeport to particular historical places. The reason for their choices of where to visit are as individual as they are and accompanied by may different motivations. The rules are that nothing can be changed and people are only able to go into the past. 

January Cole is head of security at The Paradox and has recently become aware that she is becoming Unstuck — she’s experiencing ripples in the time paradigm — and is aware that her supervisors and the staff are noticing. And, what a bad time for this to happen. Apparently the time travel complex has come into hard times and is up on the auction block. Four billionaires have come to bid on the enterprise and that is when things start to deteriorate. 

Not an expert in physics or really understanding the whole concept presented here, but I felt that there was so much more that could have been done with this idea. January was a very complex character, and not easy to like. Her pet drone, Ruby, was very entertaining and the interaction between the two of them was the most authentic in this large cast. At times a bit confusing, the narrative keeps the reader on their toes as the action and events spiral out of control. Science fiction is always a challenge as we ponder the big question — what if?

I enjoyed this one but honestly had hoped to experience some actual time travel but most of the novel took place within the hotel as we watch January attempt to get things handled while she decompensates. I definitely will be interested to read what other reviewers have to say about it.

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

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

Genre - science fiction, time travel, mystery

Last Seen Alive (Ellery Hathaway #5) by Joanna Schaffhausen

 This 5th in the crime thriller series featuring Boston Detective Ellery Hathaway is fast-paced and a bit grisly — just the way we like it!

I had held off reading this because I was trying to find the 4th installment on my Kindle, but decided to go ahead without having read that one figuring that I wouldn’t be too left out. I was right, and this had enough backstory to remind me of all the pertinent details.

I like the main character, Ellery (formerly Abby) — she is a survivor and lives daily with all the scars to prove how far she’s come in the past 17 years since she was kidnapped by a monster now in prison. The man who found her in the closet, FBI Agent Reed Markham, is both rescuer and lover but they are taking a break at Ellery’s instigation. They reunite when her would-be killer, Francis Michael Coben, arranges that she visit prison so that he will reveal the location of some of his victims who’ve never been recovered. The pair is accompanied by some Hollywood types intent on making yet another docudrama about Ellery’s ordeal and rescue. How Coben loves being the center of attention! Little do all know that he has a plan and he’s had a very long time, and some help, to pull it together. 

Lots of thrills and suspense in the narrative with plenty of red herrings so there were surprises along the way. I got the impression from the conclusion that this might be the last in the series, but one never knows. I like this author’s writing style, so will definitely want to read whatever she writes next.

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

This is the fifth in a series, I had read all but #4 previously. Good to read in order.

Genre - suspense thriller, crime, murder

The Cage by Bonnie Kistler

 This legal thriller is a roller coaster ride from start to finish.

“There were only two people in that elevator and only two possibilities — suicide or homicide.”

It’s late on a Sunday night when two women who work for Claudine de Martineau International (CDMI) get on the elevator in the high rise office building. The doors close and, as the elevator begins its descent, the power goes out. When the doors open into the lobby, only one of them is alive.

I really enjoyed this as it combines all the best elements of the world of company attorneys and their machinations along with a really good story. Though it was a bit predictable as a revenge tale, I liked the nuances of the main characters as they were developed into more than stereotypes. There were surprises along the way as the depth of the plot was fleshed out and the secrets of CDMI were revealed. The author gives the narrative legitimacy as she is a trial lawyer and that makes all the details feel more accurate and plausible. 

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

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

Genre - legal thriller, revenge, business law, human trafficking

Murder in First Class (Kitty Underhay #8) by Helena Dixon

 Another of my favorite cozy historical mystery series circa 1934 set in Dartmouth.

This 8th installment features Kitty Underhay and her fiance, Captain Matthew Bryant, unraveling the clues after the discovery of a murdered man in the first class compartment of a train from London. In addition, Kitty is waiting for word about a potential meeting with Ezekiel Hammet after he is finally captured and taken to prison.

Though the dead man in the first class carriage was found upon the train's arrival at the station, there are only 7 other passengers who could have been responsible. Kitty and Matt have an interesting investigation trying to figure out who did it and why.

I enjoy the interaction between Kitty and Matt and now they are saddled with the victim's dog that adds new consternation in their busy lives. I love the period details and look forward to seeing how Kitty changes as she will soon marry. As with any long-running series, I feel this doesn't work as a standalone as there is so much backstory to this pair with their previous adventures.

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

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

Genre - historical mystery fiction

An Impossible Imposter (Veronica Speedwell #7) by Deanna Raybourn

Set in London, 1880, Veronica Speedwell and her lover, Stoker, are sent on a mission to ascertain whether or not the heir to Hathaway Hall has returned at long last after having been believed killed in the eruption of Krakatoa. What the pair discover, however, is more than bargained for as Veronica comes face to face with a man from her past. Meanwhile, a priceless jewel goes missing and they have an investigation to conduct.

I really enjoy this historical mystery series. The time period provides so much interesting detail and I always like the way the author describes everything from fashion to food. The relationship between Veronica and Stoker has come a long way from the beginning of this series, and I am glad they are romantically involved (finally) and am satisfied with their current domestic bliss -- not that it stops them from their adventures. I look forward to the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. If you do decide to read this, do start with the first in the series.

This is #7 in a series best read from the beginning.

Genre - Historical fiction, mystery, adventure

Diablo Mesa (Nora Kelly #3) by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

 Another winner in this thriller series featuring archeologist Nora Kelly.

This is the third installment and I feel it best to read them all, in order, to understand the background of the characters and the previous cases. This particular one takes the reader on a wild ride as Nora accepts a job to excavate an area that may hold a secret linked to the Roswell Incident, more specifically alien technology in the form of a UFO. An object crashed on property that is out in the desert and a tech billionaire hires her and her brother, Skip, to join a team of scientists there in hopes of finally putting all the conspiracy theories and coverup rumors to rest with a huge discovery.

What a crazy tale firmly in the “we are not alone in the universe” camp, but quite interesting even if very bloody. The narrative includes multiple points of view from a variety of characters and often hits the incredulity scale but definitely entertaining and fast-paced. I always enjoy books by this author duo and they always surprise me. I like both Nora Kelly and FBI colleague, Special Agent Corrie Swanson. The setting of New Mexico is well described and I always like all the details. I definitely learn something new in each book and look forward to their next.

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

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

Genre - thriller, UFO, archeology 

When a Killer Calls by John E. Douglas

"A haunting story of murder, criminal profiling, and justice in a small town..."

Continuing my current true crime binge, I now focused on the kidnapping and murder cases of the serial killer Larry Gene Bell.

Shari Smith was abducted and killed in 1985; this investigation and trial was not on my radar so all of the information was new to me without that historical background. Almost immediately, profiler John Douglas was involved in the massive manhunt along with the FBI and local law enforcement in South Carolina. Shortly after  that murder, another local girl was kidnapped -- 9-year-old Debra May Helmick. The community was fearful and frantic and the police and forensic scientists worked nonstop to track the man behind these horrific crimes. The book details how the criminal justice system worked together to find and prosecute Larry Gene Bell.

Another excellent piece of writing by this author and I am happy to rediscover a genre that fits my reading mood right now. The descriptions and details about the profile and investigation are extremely meticulous and quite absorbing. I feel that I got the facts with a very satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dey Street Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. If you're tired of crime fiction, try this one for a change.

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

Genre - true crime