The Drowning Girls by Paula Treick DeBoard

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

4.0 out of 5 stars -- Paradise gone wrong

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

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

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

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

Guilty Minds (#3) by Joseph Finder

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

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

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

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

Die of Shame by Mark Billingham

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

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

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

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

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

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

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

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

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

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

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

The Girls by Emma Cline

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Woman with a Secret by Sophie Hannah

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

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

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

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

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

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

Library Book

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

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

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

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

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

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

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

Forgive Me by Daniel Palmer

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

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

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

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

The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Passenger by Lisa Lutz

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

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

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

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

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

 

Under the Harrow by Flynn Berry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Beauty of the End by Debbie Howells

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

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

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

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

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

No One Knows by J.T. Ellison

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

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

And Again: A Novel by Jessica Chiarella

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

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

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

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

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Ex by Alafair Burke

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

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

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

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

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

 

S. by JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

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

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

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

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

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

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