7.31.2022 - Alias Emma

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful debut book by Ava Glass - 5 stars!

Emma Makepeace is a spy, working for The Agency, on her first big mission.  She must track down and convince an innocent doctor, wanted by the Russian government, to come with her to MI6 to safety.  Michael, a doctor, doesn't want to go with her or believe he's threatened.  But convincing him is just the first hard task.  She must somehow bring him in while avoiding all the CCTV cameras in London because they've been hacked and the Russians chasing them.

This book is apparently the first in a series starring bad-ass Emma.  I loved her character and was rooting for her as I raced through this book.  This was a perfectly executed spy thriller that kept me intrigued as Emma and Michael raced through London, using only her skills and wit.  In between, you'll learn about Emma's past and why she's so driven to right the wrongs in the world.  It was all such fun too - I can't wait to read more.  Move over, James Bond!

7.30.2022 - The Stepson

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for gifting me an audio ARC of this psychological thriller by Jane Renshaw and wonderfully narrated by Mhairi Morrison, Katherine Littrell and Joshua Manning - 4 stars!

Lulu, a psychotherapist, rather quickly married Nick after a chance meeting.  Nick has a troubled past; his entire family (dad, mom and baby stepsister) disappeared when he was a teenager and he was sent away to boarding school.  So Lulu is understanding when he is scared of losing her and tends to be too controlling.  Lulu decides that Nick needs to confront his demons and they travel back to where he grew up, only to have another person go missing.

The story is told from 2 POVs - Maggie (Nick's stepmom) back in 1997 and Lulu in 2019.  While there weren't a lot of twists and turns in this one, this was a well-written thriller that kept me intrigued.  The cast of narrators was excellent and helped up the tension of the book.  

7.29.2022 - A Tidy Ending

 Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for gifting me a digital copy of the latest novel by Joanna Cannon - 5 stars!

Linda lives a quiet life, working at a charity shop, going home to boring husband, Terry.  But she wishes for the kind of life she glimpses in the catalogs that arrive in the mail addressed to the former owner, Rebecca.  Linda becomes quite obsessed with Rebecca and the life she lives.  Meanwhile, Terry starts acting odd - coming home late, being mysterious, right when girls go missing in the neighborhood.

Wow - this book was so good!  Told in the first person perspective of Linda, both in the past and in the present when she is in a mental health facility, you will laugh at the dark humor and feel for Linda as she copes with her past and tries to make a better life for herself.  Go into this one as blind as possible because it will be worth it!  

7.27.2022 - Long Gone

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press Minotaur Books and Dreamscape Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the second book in the Detective Annalisa Vega series by Joanna Schaffhausen, audiobook perfectly narrated by Kelsey Navarro - 4.5 stars!

Detective Vega is trying to get her life back after turning in her ex-cop father for a murder.  She is at odds with her family and her coworkers don't trust her.  When fellow detective Leo Hammond turns up dead, she has nothing to lose by looking into his death and his past.  Annalisa thinks that Mo Bocks, a suspect in a cold case, may have something to do with it.  Mo is also dating Annalisa's best friend, so no one is happy with her investigations.  But there may be more than hard feelings coming Annalisa's way.

I loved falling back into the Chicago PD detective squad world with Annalisa and her partner and ex-husband, Nick.  While you should definitely read the first in this series, the author gives plenty of back story to catch you up if you read it as a stand alone.  This one is a bit complicated, with multiple investigations going on, including old cases, but it's another great police procedural and mystery.  Annalisa is a wonderful character, always following her strong moral compass.  I alternated between the audio, which was narrated so well, and the digital book because I needed to know how it was all going to end!  Can't wait for more books in this series!

7.26.2022 - The Couple at Number 9

 

Many thanks to Harper Collins/Harper Perennial for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Claire Douglas - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Young couple Tom and Saffron, who is newly pregnant, move into a house given to them by their mother, Lorna, who inherited from her mother, Rose.  Tom and Saffron are excited about the house and are busy making changes, including an addition to the kitchen which required excavation.  When two bodies are found buried in the yard, everything changes.  The bodies appear to have been buried over 30 years.  The person with the most knowledge would be Rose, but she is currently in a care home with dementia.  

What a great story, told from multiple POVs and timelines, as the mystery deepens around who the bodies are and how they got there.  The fact that Rose had dementia made easy answers out of the question, so the reader, along with the characters, have to do some detective work.  One of the best parts for me was the personal interaction between the characters - there are lots of back stories explored and relationships between couples and parents are intriguing.  Lots of twists but all perfectly executed!

7.24.2022 - The New Neighbor

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me a copy of the latest novel by Karen Cleveland - 4 stars.

Beth seems to have it all - a job she loves as a CIA analyst, 3 children doing well, and the perfect house on a cul-de-sac with neighbors who have watched their children grow up.  But when Beth and her husband, Mike, return from dropping their youngest off at college, Mike tells her he's moving out on his own rather than to the apartment they were planning to share after their house sold.  Then at work, she's suddenly transferred from her long-time job to a teaching position.  Beth has spent her career searching for The Neighbor, an Iranian intelligence threat, and now she feels that the woman who bought her house might be who she has been searching for.  And her job change won't affect her search.

You kind of have to suspend belief as you read this book - Beth suddenly becomes suspicious of everyone and takes all kinds of chances to prove her changing theories.  People are quick to dismiss her because of her sudden life changes and far-fetched thoughts.  But with a cul-de-sac of suspects, it was still a good thriller with an ending that surprised me.  

7.24.2022 - Dirt Creek

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this debut mystery novel by Hayley Scrivenor, wonderfully narrated by Sophie Loughran - 4.5 stars!

In a small Australian town, during one of the hottest springs, young Esther disappears as she walks home from school.  Her best friend, Ronnie, is determined to find out what happened to her.  Detective Sergeant Sarah Michaels arrives in town to investigate the disappearance, which soon focuses on one person.  But everyone in this small town is keeping secrets.

What a wonderful debut!  This is a coming-of-age story, focusing on Esther, Ronnie, Lewis, but also voiced by a collective "we" of unnamed children.  It's also the story of how our past colors our future and our decision making.  One of the best themes to me was judgment - it's so easy for us as a society to judge others when, if truth be known, with one decision we could be one of the judged.  There were plenty of suspects in this crime and I never suspected the way it would turn out.  I loved how the author wrapped things up in the end, giving us a glimpse of the future of the characters.  Can't wait to read more from this author!

7.23.2022 - The Perfect Neighborhood

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books/Legend Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this domestic thriller by Liz Alterman - 4.5 stars!

Ahh...the perfect neighborhood.  The homes are beautiful, the people share the best gossip at the best parties.  It's perfect.  The latest gossip revolves around celebrity couple Allison and Christopher and the fact that Allison left their home in the middle of the night.  That's until 5-year-old Billy disappears as he walks home.  His babysitter, Cassidy, was late to meet him at home.  His mom, Rachel, was at work and now blames herself for letting him walk home and not being there for him.  But when another child disappears, the perfect neighborhood is anything but perfect.

This was a fast-paced thriller that kept me flipping the pages, even when I figured out early what was going on.  This story is told from the POV of Allison, Rachel and Cassidy, which really lets you feel for each of them.  There are lots of side dramas and angst, adding to the suspense.  But that ending - wow - didn't see that coming!  Can't wait to read more from this author!

7.20.2022 - The Pink Hotel

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, MCD and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this novel by Liska Jacobs, narrated by Tavia Gilbert - 3.5 stars!

Newlyweds Kit and Keight Collins are spending their honeymoon at the Pink Hotel, an exclusive hotel in Beverly Hills, partially paid for by the general manager.  Kit and Keith come from a small town where they work at a much-less glamorous hotel and they are not prepared for this opulent lifestyle or what it might do to their marriage.  Kit is ready to relax and enjoy and isn't comfortable with all the excess and classism apparent in the hotel.  Keith is viewing this as a job interview and the general manager uses him to help out, while promising him a future, one that Keith is desperate for.  Then wildfires sweep in and everyone is confined to the hotel.

While the narration was good and I liked the storyline, I found it hard to like any of the characters or be too interested in their lives.  The plot line of the staff vs guests was interesting, with so much elitism and classism on display.   The satire was enjoyable too, with dogs dressed up for events, and the wildfire was the perfect spark for changing course.  But all in all, I just wasn't real invested in this one, as much as I loved the cover and premise.  You may love it, so give it a go!

7.20.2022 - The Crane Wife

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this series of personal essays by CJ Hauser - 5 stars!

This book is made up of wonderful short essays that speak of love, loss, hope, happiness and, trust me, you will find stories that speak to your heart.  There are things here to ponder, go over, reread.  Things that will make you laugh, feel happy, feel blessed.  I loved all the X-Files references since that series has been a staple in my life as well, along with the John Belushi story.  While your life experience will no doubt look different than the author's, these common themes and feelings will resonate with all humans if you let them.  Please let them.  Also - shout out to Upstate New York!

7.18.2022 - The Swell

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, GP Putnam Son's for gifting me a digital ARC of the sophomore book by Allie Reynolds - 5 stars for another book from this author that I couldn't put down!

Kenna travels from London to Australia to see her old friend, Mikki, who she fears is being abused by her fiancé, Jack.  When she gets there, she joins the couple at their hidden beach location, met by friends they call The Tribe.  These friends live to surf at this private location and will do whatever is necessary to keep the public away.  But can all these people be trusted?  Because some of the group have met with tragedy.

Allie Reynolds is the queen of the atmospheric/locked room theme thriller - her debut was set in the French Alps during a snowstorm and this one on a deserted beach, surrounded by treacherous waves and way too many creepy crawlies!  I loved that no one could be trusted so everyone was suspect - and there were a lot of interesting characters here.  The author is both a snowboarder and surfer so she definitely writes what she knows.  Highly recommended!

7.17.2022 - Corinne

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Rebecca Morrow - 4.5 stars!

Corinne met the love of her life when she was a teenager and one night caused her to be cast out from her fundamentalist church and family.  Years later, when she came back to Kansas to help her mom, her family slowly allows her to be a part of their lives.  But she also meets back up with Enoch, the boy that changed everything.

I really loved the slow burn of this novel.  I thought it was so interesting how the church ruled so much of their lives and made them question their very core.  Typically, the way that the women and men were treated so differently in the church was highlighted here.  I loved the interaction between Corinne and Enoch, from the games they played to the rules they set for each other.  I think the graphic sex could have been edited down - it was very repetitive and didn't add anything to the intimacy between these characters.  But I was drawn into this book and the beautiful, funny, touching world the author created.

7.15.2022 - Helltown

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for gifting me a digital ARC of this true crime book by Casey Sherman - 4 stars.

In the late 1960s, in Provincetown, MA, a killer is on the loose and women are disappearing.  Charismatic Tony Costa seems to allude suspicion but is eventually the leading suspect.  Tony has a group of followers, in young women who call him Sire and believe in witchcraft.  Add to this that authors Norman Mailer and Kurt Vonnegut are living in Provincetown and are rivals, both somewhat obsessed with Tony's story.  

I love true crime (no matter what that may say about me!) and thought this book told the story of Tony Costa well.  But it definitely blurred the lines between fact and fiction.  Plus it was very long and I'm not sure how much the story of the famous authors really added to the narrative and may cause people to lose interest, especially in the beginning when everything is coming together.  But it kept me intrigued and wanting to read to the end, despite the very graphic descriptions of the crimes.  

7.15.2022 - What Moves the Dead

Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Tor/Forge Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the new book by T. Kingfisher and narrated by Avi Roque - 4 creepy stars!

Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that his childhood friend, Madeline Usher is dying and races to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside.  What he finds is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed hares, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her brother Roderick is sick with a mysterious nervous issue.  Alex meets a British mycologist and an American doctor who help him solve the secret of the House of Usher before they all succumb.

This is a retelling of Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher" and it is such a slow-burn but increasingly tense, creepy tale.  The narrator's voices really added to the creepy factor and I couldn't stop listening to this one.  

7.13.2022 - Our Wives Under the Sea

Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books and Dreamscape Media for gifting me an audio ARC of this intriguing book by Julia Armfield, hauntingly narrated by Annabel Baldwin & Robyn Holdaway- 3.5 stars rounded up!

Leah is a marine biologist and left for an expedition.  There were issues and the submarine sank to the bottom of the sea.  When she finally resurfaces and returns home, wife Miri knows that something is badly wrong.  Leah is physically ill, barely eats and spends all her time in the bathroom, with taps constantly running.  Miri is desperate for answers.

Told in alternate POV and timelines - Leah during her expedition and Miri at home.  The tone of the writing took on a Gothic flair and there was an underlying creepy feeling throughout.  The narrators' voices were perfect for this writing style as well.  But although it was short, I felt that the book dragged for me and I couldn't get too invested.  Loved the creepy ending though!

7.13.2022 - Any Other Family

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Eleanor Brown - 5 stars!

Family means many different things.  In this family, four children of Briana, unable or unwilling to raise them, are adopted by three different families after Briana's mother, who had been raising the children, died.   Ginger, single, has the oldest sibling; Tabitha and Peter, raising the twins; and Elizabeth and John, the baby.  All three families are determined to be part of a larger family so that the siblings will always be close and stay as close to Brianna as she wants.  So holidays, birthdays, Sunday dinners are a must on all their calendars.  When on their first big family vacation together, Briana calls to announce that she is again pregnant and hopes that Elizabeth and John will also take the new baby, the family is thrown into turmoil.

I really loved this book - I loved the views that motherhood is hard, that women feel judged by how they mother, how women don't ask for help or offer help that may not be wanted.  You will see parts of yourself in all these women in their struggles and triumphs.  This is also a very positive look at open adoption (be sure to read the author's note) and the struggles of infertility.  The chapters are interspersed with letters written by hopeful prospective adoptive parents, again showcasing that family can look very different.  It's serious, it's funny, and I loved these characters, real, flawed and hopeful!

7.12.2022 - Truly, Madly, Amy

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the new book by Kerry Wilkinson and perfectly narrated by Joey Jameson - 4 stars!

It's 1999 and Joe has finished with school and is awaiting his class results before trying to figure out his next steps.  His sister gets him a mostly volunteer job at a local summer camp to get him out of the house and it's there that he meets Amy.  All of a sudden, his days are brighter and he is becoming a different person because Amy gets him.  

This is a nostalgic, coming-of-age story filled with promise, hope and heartbreak.  Neither Joe nor Amy have easy home lives and they both fill a need in each other.  It's a fun look back to the past when summer romances can change your world.  A different type of novel from Kerry Wilkinson - be sure to listen to the author's note.

7.11.2022 - Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing Group for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Gabrielle Zevin - 4.5 stars!

Sam Masur and Sadie Green met by chance in their childhoods, when both were in the hospital for different reasons.  They bonded and healed by playing video games until a misunderstanding caused a rift.  Years later, when both were in college at different schools in Cambridge, they meet by chance once again.  This time, they forge a new relationship and partnership as they develop their own video game.  But the road ahead is not smooth for them.

If you would have told me that I would love a book that centers around video games, I wouldn't have believed you.  But besides from those weird chapters about Pioneer that I must admit I kind of skimmed, this book is about much more than games.  It's about friendship and love, hard work and dreams, grief and reinvention.  I loved the explanation of the title - that a game is "the possibility of infinite rebirth, infinite redemption.  The idea that if you keep playing, you could win.  No loss is permanent, because nothing is permanent, ever."  Kind of like life.  This is a must read!

7.10.2022 - Things We Do in the Dark

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and MacMillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest psychological thriller by Jennifer Hillier and wonderfully narrated by Carla Vega - 5 stars!

Paris Peralta is accused of killing her celebrity older husband - and things don't look good for her seeing as she was found with the murder weapon in her hand.  While the thought of going to jail terrifies her, so do the letters that she is receiving from Ruby Reyes, threatening to expose a secret from her past.

I don't want to give too much away because you must read this book yourself!  It is full of multiple storylines and timelines as well as stories that will break your heart.  There are the twists that you might see coming and those you won't - all adding up to a gripping story that I couldn't put down.  Jennifer Hillier has done it again - her writing and character development are top notch.  Highly recommended!

7.9.2022 - Upgrade

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest sci-fi thriller by the one and only, Blake Crouch - 5 stars!

In the future, humankind is struggling in the new world, caused by a combination of climate change and gene modification.  Logan Ramsay works for the GPA (Gene Protection Agency).  His plan of being a scientist was squashed when his mother unleashed a gene modification that caused devastation.  Because Logan worked with her, he ended up in prison.  In his new job, he apprehends those seeking to do dangerous genetic work.  On his last job, he is hit with an explosion that caused an upgrade to him - he is now capable of amazing intellectual and physical strength.  So much so that he becomes a target himself.  But the real target is still out there and Logan is on the hunt.

I'm not a huge sci-fan fan, but this is Blake Crouch!  His books are so amazing that they are absolute must reads for me.  I don't know how his brain works - he definitely got an upgrade at some point - because each book takes you on a different path that immerses you in some new science while taking you on a thrill ride with lots of heart as well.  This book will make you think and think hard - what have we done to our planet and species and can we right that ship without destroying ourselves?  Do the ends justify the means?  This book is highly recommended - don't miss it!

7.7.2022 - Keya Das's Second Act

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Sopan Deb - 4.5 stars rounded up!

The Das family is in crisis - when teenager Keya comes out as gay to her parents, their reaction crushes her.  When she dies, everyone blames themselves and the family dynamics are blown up.  Parents Shantanu and Chaitali, divorce which causes a separation from their Bengali community.  Older sister, Mitali, never gets close to anyone until she meets Neesh.  When Shantanu finds a box of love letters and an unfinished play in the attic that Keya wrote, Neesh comes up with an idea for redemption for all of them.

I really loved this group of flawed characters, desperate for second chances and their family whole in some fashion.  It's about grief and pain and those moments we wish we could take back.  But it's also about redemption and moving on, forgiving each other and ourselves.  Wonderful debut - can't wait to read more from this author!

7.6.2022 - The German Wife

Many thanks to NetGalley, Graydon House and Goodreads (I was a Goodreads Winner of a physical copy!) for the opportunity to read and review the latest historical fiction novel by Kelly Rimmer - 5 stars!

In 1930, in Berlin, Sofie and her husband, Jürgen, are doing well - Jürgen is an academic, Sofie's childhood friend, Mayim, lives with them and helps with their children, and their beloved aunt lives next door.  But when Hitler becomes in power, all changes.  Jürgen is offered a job that he can't refuse, working on rocket development.  But they soon learn that it comes at a cost.

In 1930 in Texas during the Dust Bowl, Lizzie and her family lose everything.  Trying to start over, Lizzy and her brother, Henry, find their way to Huntsville, Alabama.  In 1950, Operation Paperclip, a secret US plan to bring over German scientists to help further rocket and space research, ends up with both families living in the same community.  

It never ceases to amaze that we continue to learn of so much about WWII - I had never heard of Operation Paperclip and the way that governments are willing to look aside when it behooves them.  At first, I had a bit of a hard time with all the time and POV changes, but it ended up being perfect because we truly got to see both sides of this story.  It all boils down to doing what is right but many times that isn't easy or without cost.  A must read, highly recommended book!

7.5.2022 - Listen to Me

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest Rizzoli & Isles book by a favorite, Tess Gerritsen - 5 stars!

Detective Jane Rizzoli and Medical Examiner Maura Isles are on the scene of a seemingly senseless murder of a recently-widowed nurse who was loved by all.  A young girl who was the victim of a hit-and-run accident is apparently being stalked by a mysterious stranger.  Can there be any relation between these two?  Jane's mother is also on the trail of discovering what's behind events in her neighborhood - is she just nosy and bored or are things really not as they seem?

I loved falling back into the lives of Jane, her partner, Barry, Maura, and the rest of the characters - it's been way too long!  It was also fun to read more about Angela, Jane's mom, with typical mother-daughter moments as well as Angela finding ways to move on with her life.  There are lots of threads to follow, especially in the beginning, but they all come together perfectly in the end.  I hope there's not as long a wait for the next chapter in this series or a stand-alone - I love everything Gerritsen writes!

7.4.2022 - First Born

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me a digital and physical ARC of the new book by Will Dean.  I was a huge fan of The Last Thing to Burn and this book is so good as well - 5 stars!

Molly Raven is a young, single woman living in London.  She is ultra-sensitive and concerned about her safety and security to the extent that it controls every part of her life.  Her identical twin, Katie (Molly calls her KT), lives a much more outgoing life in NYC.  When their parents are visiting Katie in NY, she is found dead, possibly murdered, and Molly has to get past her obsessions to travel to be with her family.  Once there, she begins investigating the people in Katie's life and what could have led to her death.

Wow - I just love Dean's writing and this story kept me intrigued, gripped and gasping with the twists and turns.  With all the psychological thrillers I read, it takes a lot to really shock me but this book kept me in that state.  The skillful writing kept everything believable and had me questioning everything and everyone.  Don't miss this one - and if you haven't read The Last Thing to Burn, do it now!  Both books are highly recommended!

7.1.2022 - All the Dirty Secrets

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Forge Books and MacMillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the new book by Aggie Blum Thompson, beautifully narrated by Hillary Huber and Josephine Huang - 5 stars!  I loved this author's debut, I Don't Forgive You (must read, 5 stars as well!) and loved this one as well.

Twenty-five years ago, Liza and her friends were celebrating the end of high school at Beach Week, but one of her friends didn't make it out of the ocean.  Now, Liza is divorced and trying to reconnect with her daughter, Zoe, who is attending Beach Week with her friends from the upscale DC school they attend and where Liza works.  When Zoe's best friend dies, Liza is horrified that history has repeated.  Is there a connection?

This is a wonderfully-written, tense, fast-paced book that is tough to put down.  Told in the two different timelines from different POV, I raced through it until the very last satisfying page.  A wonderful mystery but also so many themes to digest - the elitism, classism, racism of wealthy, privileged schools; coming of age with all the peer pressure, especially now; how childhood trauma affects our adult lives; and even normal mother/daughter teenage issues.  Highly recommended!