A distress call from Lucy's husband comes into the Coastguard station. "Is he okay?" Lucy asks. She is told that he is still missA wild, intense ride!
A distress call from Lucy's husband comes into the Coastguard station. "Is he okay?" Lucy asks. She is told that he is still missing.
Something happened out there in the sea. Lucy has to face reality.
A gripping, fast paced story with a great cast of characters. I really enjoyed Detective Abraham Rose. He was authentic and suffered from his own state of denial.
The guessing and the twists don't let up until the last page, which seemed fitting.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy. OUT March 1, 2022...more
Grace McGill is a lonely girl who is a death cleaner. I googled death cleaner and it is a "real job"3.5 Stars
When everything's coming up daisies.....
Grace McGill is a lonely girl who is a death cleaner. I googled death cleaner and it is a "real job", ugh. They sanitize, disinfect and deep clean after bodies have remained undiscovered for a length of time. Some of the descriptions were just too much for me, so I did end up skimming over some descriptions (I knew this going in though, so it was expected).
Grace is definitely not like most people and she is very much aware of the fact. She feels that the dead have a "story to tell" and one of the dead she cleaned up keeps "whispering to her" and she can't let go. She feels the need to know more about his life and death.
There is a fair amount of telling, confessions, a first person narration with a lot of Grace's "inner thoughts". She certainly does have a story to tell.
I had mixed feelings throughout reading, I can't say it was enjoyable. It was a decent book, but for me it lacked in the "couldn't put it down-ness".
I may be an outlier, lots of higher reviews!
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy! OUT Jan 20,2022...more
Leah and McKenna have a lot in common, but they are complete strangers. One of them has Stand, run, or hide.
"It was like she was my friend, my ally."
Leah and McKenna have a lot in common, but they are complete strangers. One of them has a grand idea, and becomes a little obsessed with following the other one.
McKenna's neighborhood has streets named after fruit. She lives on Apple Blossom Lane. Leah begins watching McKenna from a distance, parking on Pear Tree Circle, she sees her husband come in, due to the open curtains and wall of windows. He brings an air of unease, and she can feel the tension rise as she watches on. She knows this feeling well. They seem to have similar lives, both women playing roles.
Leah and McKenna are educated, professional, intelligent and sophisticated. How is it they can't seem to break away?
The writing grabbed me from the start! The obsessive nature of the characters had me on edge much of the time. One scene was truly a shockeroo that made me blink twice and reread it! I think I was rooting for the wrong person, but it was hard not to.
Some Stranger on the Train vibes mixed with a bit of Behind Closed Doors.
The story deals with abusive relationships which I normally steer away from, but this one pulled me in. The author's note at the end reminded me of how common it really is and how much these women need support.
Thanks to SMP influencers program for my copy. OUT June 14, 2022...more
Well, that was a quick read. Is it so bad, that it's good?
A serial killer is on loose and taunting the passengers. Especially one. Maria Fontana- she Well, that was a quick read. Is it so bad, that it's good?
A serial killer is on loose and taunting the passengers. Especially one. Maria Fontana- she was on the jury that convicted him.
This was a train wreck that was a cruise ship!
From the beginning, I knew it was going to be like a B-rated horror movie that is just so bad, but you can't look away.
So gratuitous, graphic, and gory that I skimmed all the parts. I'm not a big horror fan, but what bothered me was the murderer was targeting kids. No-no!
I would try these two authors again to see if they can stay campy and forget the formula based, absurd plot. One of the authors is a TV producer, so maybe this is his wheelhouse.
Audible credit
Narrated by: Hugh Fraser
Series: Hercule Poirot, Book 20
Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
Enjoyed this narrator! One of his
Audible credit
Narrated by: Hugh Fraser
Series: Hercule Poirot, Book 20
Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
Enjoyed this narrator! One of his accents was a little heavy, but I adjusted to it.
A locked room murder! A family reunion at the mansion of Simeon Lee. He is a cantankerous old guy, a bit of a scrooge and has some revenge in his blood.
Maybe an unexpected guest?
As per Christie, we have interesting characters, red herrings scattered throughout, and Hercule doing his thing as he interviews family and staff. I couldn't figure it out, but it was a fun ride.
In the end, everything fits.... the culprit is caught and Poirot has done it again!
Another shelf warmer that I picked up from the library.
Saw the cute little house cover with a blurb from Stephen King"A fantastic novel.....3.5 Stars
Another shelf warmer that I picked up from the library.
Saw the cute little house cover with a blurb from Stephen King"A fantastic novel.....You are going to like this a lot." I'd say, "I liked it, and I was thinking about it for a few days after I finished it."
Unique and a bit quirky.
Daniel suffers from a a progressive genetic disorder, spinal muscular atrophy. He is confined to a wheelchair, but is able to live in his home with the help of some care workers that visit daily. He also has a job, working social media for a commuter airline (interesting emails)!
One morning he sees a woman being pulled into a car.
He has seen her walking by his house every morning for the last two months. Same time, same place.
Later, he sees the news report of a missing woman, Ai-Chin. He remembers "That is the girl. And that was the car." He finds himself a "witness".
A lot of the story is explaining the debilitating disease and learning about how it affects his day to day life. The mystery is woven into Daniel's story.
The end felt sudden, rushed and was kind of shocking.
Pick it up for something different, some light suspense, learning about SMA and resilience, a quick and thought-provoking read.
Not a thriller, but has a "I can't stop reading it" kind of feel (even with some slow parts). It's different.
Powerful, courtroom/crime mystery involving sensitive subjects and family dynamics.
The second installment in the series Zara Kaleel by Kia Abdullah. SPowerful, courtroom/crime mystery involving sensitive subjects and family dynamics.
The second installment in the series Zara Kaleel by Kia Abdullah. She pulls off another emotional and thought provoking case putting the reader in the courtroom as the trial takes place. This could be a standalone, but there are spoilers regarding book one.
A drunken night of partying leads to questions, trama, accusations and an emotional filled trial. It involves two teenagers that attend an elite all boys boarding school in London. Claims of male rape (he said, he said).
The verdict is in.... Guilty or not guilty of rape? The foreman reads the verdict.
One breathes in deeply, the other is stunned! But, it isn't over yet.....
Tense, gripping and unpredictable read. Recommend for those who enjoy legal, courtroom dramas.
I can't wait to see where the series goes next!
A loan from a GR friend/ Read December 2021...more
I enjoyed this first installment of the series. A slow start for me, but once the trial started, I was hooked.
Zara Kaleel is anA good courtroom drama!
I enjoyed this first installment of the series. A slow start for me, but once the trial started, I was hooked.
Zara Kaleel is an attorney who gave up her prestigious career to help those less fortunate. She takes the case of 16 year old Jodie who has accused four classmates of rape. Zara is good at her job, but she has flaws too. Her personal life is a bit of a mess.
I had to finish, to know what happened, to see how it happened. Loved all the POV's included. Thanks Michael for bringing this author to my attention!
What an ending!
Recommend if you enjoy emotional and disturbing stories with a powerful message.
We are asked to uncover the truth behind a murder!
Did I solve it? A big NO. MOutlier opinion ahead....
The premise sounded so intriguing and addictive.
We are asked to uncover the truth behind a murder!
Did I solve it? A big NO. Maybe you'll be able to unwrap this mess one?
I became frustrated and annoyed early on (15 suspects)! A lot of rambling from a lot of characters, the mystery is just weighted down with message overload! My head was hurting. I didn't want to start "taking notes" just to keep up with all the busy bodies. Secrets, lies and misdirection are all embedded in emails, texts and documents (it felt like a stack of paperwork-nooooo).
The format was tedious (for me), though the pace does pick up around 80%. There are two themes (2 appeals), one surrounding a play that I found extremely dull and one dealing with a fund-raiser called A Cure For Poppy. They intertwine, but I was too distracted for the brain power needed (perhaps December was the wrong month for this one)!
I won't go on and on and on......
Its a clever idea, but I was never engaged, others have left 5 star reviews.
Just me perhaps ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Thanks to Atria and EWPlus for my early copy. OUT Jan 25, 2022...more
I've just finished Mr. Follett's latest epic novel, and just realized that the 816 pages really just flew by. That is how immersed I was in the story.I've just finished Mr. Follett's latest epic novel, and just realized that the 816 pages really just flew by. That is how immersed I was in the story. No counting pages, no gazing at the ceiling or checking my phone.
I loved his WWII thriller, The Eye of the Needle, this one is more terrifying because it imagines a WWIII scenario with nuclear weapons. It feels too close to home with all the world unrest. It was a bit too political for me.
It is a complex plot, with 3 different world scenarios converging into a hair-raising and alarming conclusion.
My favorite substory involved Abdul and Kiah, stuck traveling in the Sahara desert, trying to escape Africa and get to France. It is an intense, edge of your seat ride with many frightening moments.
There is a lot of political chapters highlighting the White House negotiations and the personal life of the fictional President and her family. This was my least favorite storyline and it felt somewhat overwritten.
I wasn't a fan of how the novel ended. It felt unfinished and left me wondering.
Recommend to fans of the author, spy/political thrillers, and action-packed plots, dictorial governments and power grabs full of greed and evil intentions.
Nell was sold to Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders.
She is the "leopard girl".
A circus of the unusual - many acts were referred to as "freak shows". T Nell was sold to Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders.
She is the "leopard girl".
A circus of the unusual - many acts were referred to as "freak shows". They attracted crowds who wanted to gawk at people because of birthmarks or other abnormalities. During the 1860's in Victorian England, the audience was obsessed with this type of entertainment that peddled physical differences for amusement. It brought in big money. The villages were struck with "circus fever"and the "giants and dwarfs, pig-headed boys and bear-girls".
A captivating story that follows Nell and her "journey".
There is jealousy, horror, power-struggles, identity crisis, family issues, brothers that have past ties and broken dreams.
Recommend to those who enjoy the circus setting, Historical/Literary Fiction, complex plots and a touch of fantasy or fairytale-ish stories. I felt some sadness, although there was also a ray of hope.
Thanks to NG and Atria for my early copy. OUT February 1, 2022...more
I loved Randy Susan Meyer's novel The Widow of Wall Street (read in 2017), and wanted to try this one, co-authored with M. J. Rose. A chi3.5 STARS
I loved Randy Susan Meyer's novel The Widow of Wall Street (read in 2017), and wanted to try this one, co-authored with M. J. Rose. A chick-lit theme highlighting fashion and family dynamics.
An easy, lighter read about two estranged half-sisters, Lulu and Gabrielle. They come together for the reading of their mother's will. They haven't always gotten along, but they are both anticipating a large inheritance and getting their lives back on track with the extra cash.
Sisterhood is at the heart of the novel. They have some fun while trying to navigate the mystery of the collection, dressing up in vintage Chanel, putting ensembles together and guessing how much any of it is worth. They get schooled with some "pearls of wisdom" from Coco Chanel, magical, thought-provoking messages their mom believed in.
Fashionistas will have fun with all the Chanel references. It has a whimsical, magical flair to it, and while I enjoyed parts, it became a bit to sappy for my taste.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy. OUT April 2022...more
This is a short book, but it took me a week to read it and a month to review it!
This girl definitely snapped one day.
A littleI'm an outlier, again....
This is a short book, but it took me a week to read it and a month to review it!
This girl definitely snapped one day.
A little vengeance story for those who have worked in retail. She gets tired of being treated badly and takes matters into her own hands. She has a streak of evil that leads her to deliver karma to the worst of the worst.
Of course this story is over the top and takes things to a shocking level, I'm not sure I expected all of it.
A short book with a hellish message that left me feeling a little speechless. It just wasn't for me and not one I enjoyed. Thanks to NG for my copy! OUT Jan 11, 2022...more
Mom of three adult children and Grandmother of twins.
The Clauster clan once It's the holiday season! whoop-de-do
Claire Clauster is busy, busy, busy.
Mom of three adult children and Grandmother of twins.
The Clauster clan once again is ready for their Christmas Eve Eve Eve tradition and Claire wants to make everyone's holiday magical. The family is coming over to partake. Her singing, and her casserole may be a bit "off" this year, but she won't let her family down no matter how exhausted she feels.
A short story (couldn't find the page count). It reminded me of how "all the fun" can be so overwhelming at times.
It's a "snack" to go with your holiday cheer and a reminder to notice those who go out of their way to make your day.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my early copy. OUT November 30, 2021...more
Just a short little Hercule Poirot mystery. All about his amazing ability to work those grey cells. Solving a mI didn't realize this was only 24 pages!
Just a short little Hercule Poirot mystery. All about his amazing ability to work those grey cells. Solving a murder before it happens!
Enjoyable, but too short for me. I always want more.
Fast-paced, he knows how to get you hooked beginning!
My first by this author and it is the first in his new series. What a beginning, heart-p3.5 STARS
Fast-paced, he knows how to get you hooked beginning!
My first by this author and it is the first in his new series. What a beginning, heart-pounding and gripping. A small military plane is plummeting and everyone is scrambling to survive. They are heading to a private army base in the Alaskan wilderness- so private that it doesn't appear on maps and is permanently blurred on Google.
A government conspiracy may be the cause and someone is trying to pull off a "great escape" reminiscent of Harry Houdini. I've always been fascinated by Houdini and his life of tricks. Cool fact- I learned Houdini may have served as a spy for the US government. Lots of Google info on it.
Enjoyed it for the most part, could have done without the chapters that took us to the overdone backstories of the main characters - Nola ( the army artist) and Zig ( the army mortician). They are both flawed characters that get tangled up in a Government cover-up. Also, felt the book was too drawn out and should have been shorter.
Recommend if you enjoy conspiracy mysteries, action-packed chapters, mistaken identity, flashbacks, unusual jobs, assassins, character development and action filled chases.
I enjoyed it enough to try Book 2 in this new series. It comes out in March 2022
Narrated by: Rory Kinnear
Series: A Hawthorne and Horowitz Mystery, Book 2
Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins
Audio Edition/ Library loan
Narrated by: Rory Kinnear
Series: A Hawthorne and Horowitz Mystery, Book 2
Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins
This is #2 in the series. This one uses the same meta-fiction technique as his novel The Magpie Murders and the first in this series The Word is Murder. It is a unique narrative technique and it works with these novels.
We have Hawthorne and Horowitz teaming again to solve the murder of Richard Pryce, an esteemed divorce attorney. Someone has whacked him in the head with a $2,000.00 bottle of wine. I'm not sure if he had a chance to sample it, but he lays dead.
Hawthorne is sharp, but oh so annoying, he isn't a humble one! These two like to rib each other a bit.
A good mystery-- much to unravel, a crying widow, red-herrings, scattered bread crumbs and lingering clues. The narrator was fantastic with his British accent, although he gets rather squeaky and high toned with DI Cara Granshaw's voice (She was a hoot).
Recommend if you enjoy British mysteries, detectives, whodunnits with many suspects, Sherlock Holmes style and a tiny bit wacky!
My first by this author. It's a complex plot with different POV's and timelines. I was intrigued at the beginning, but with all the interchanging charMy first by this author. It's a complex plot with different POV's and timelines. I was intrigued at the beginning, but with all the interchanging characters and timelines, it became a little too drawn out and long-winded.
I think I enjoyed the synopsis more than the book. At 400 pages, I was ready for it to end. There are crumbs to follow, but the over telling had me wanting to accelerate the pace, I don't enjoy repetition or too many back stories.
There is a really good twist, it still felt formulaic for the most part. The characters and the story bored me.
Just okay for me, I may be in the minority. This one was just too easy to put down and I made myself finish it. ...more
*Narrated by: Kimberly Woods, Suzanne Elise Freeman, James Anderson Foster, Selah Victor, Jack Turner and Seth Podowitz *Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
Bet *Narrated by: Kimberly Woods, Suzanne Elise Freeman, James Anderson Foster, Selah Victor, Jack Turner and Seth Podowitz *Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
Bet you can't keep a secret!
This was an Audible purchase and I also had the kindle copy from Amazon Prime First Read. The narrators were so good that I ended up listening to almost the entire book!
For me it was a crazy, fast-paced, easy to get hooked on the plot kind of book (say that fast 3x)!
Holly's husband dies in front of her during a hit and run. Someone knows who the guilty driver is and sends in a "fixer". No worries he promises and the scene is set.
The twists come rolling in and the last chapter has a sense of urgency as things are revealed.
"If it is true, do I want to know?" Interesting question and we will soon find out.
I questioned a few things as always, but I enjoyed it a lot! Sign me up for Susan Walter's next novel.
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