1.31.2023 - Angeline

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing and the author for gifting me both a digital and electronic ARC of the gorgeous new novel by Anna Quinn - 5 stars!

When Meg was a teenager, she was the only survivor of a car accident that killed her entire family.  Devastated by grief and guilt, she joined a cloistered convent hoping to alleviate both by silence and prayer, becoming Sister Angeline.  When the Chicago Diocese closes the convent due to lack of funds, she is sent to a progressive community on an island off the coast of Washington.  Sister Angeline struggles with the radical differences from her former life but slowly begins opening up to a new life.

I devoured this book and loved Quinn's beautiful, poetic writing.  As a Catholic, I loved reading about the prayers and rituals that are so much a part of the faith.   I'll think about Sister Angeline's prayer - "Whatever awaits outside this door, give me courage to face it with strength and love and calm."  It's a story of coping with grief and trauma, moving forward again through the help of community.  These women were so strong in standing up for each other and their beliefs.  I also loved the mysticism in Angeline's gift and how she viewed the light of God.  The writing is just so beautiful - every line is perfection.  A must read!

1.29.2023 - The Drift

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for gifting me a digital ARC of the new thriller by CJ Tudor - 4 stars!

Three distinct storylines:  Hannah and her fellow students from The Invicta Academy awake after a terrible bus crash in the middle of a snowstorm with no way to escape.  What's worse, some of the passengers may be infected with a deadly virus.  Meg, an ex-police officer, awakens in a cable car, suspended over the ground, trapped, with a group headed towards what is known as The Retreat.  Carter works with a group at an abandoned ski chalet, manufacturing vaccines, trying to eke out an existence.

CJ Tudor has again created a scary story, this one veering more towards the horror, although you'll find dark humor moments as well.  However, in light of the scary world we now live in with viruses and pandemics, this dystopian world seems a little too close at times.  The snowstorm and bleak environment are as much a story as the characters and definitely heightens the tension.  I had a bit of trouble switching between these three storylines and different characters, but that was probably just me.  A great ending even though not everything was resolved.  Another winner by this author!

1.25.2023 - Sam

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Dial Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Allegra Goodman - 4.5 stars!

When we meet Sam, she is 7 years old, living with mom, Courtney, and younger stepbrother, Noah.  Courtney works two jobs to make ends meet and Sam's dad, whom she adores, is gone more than he is around.  She doesn't fit in at school and struggles to find her place until her dad introduces her to climbing.  She struggles to get the attention of her coach but then his attention becomes an issue.  As Sam grows up, we watch her deal with life, people's expectations of her, her own dreams, and love.

I thought this was a wonderful coming-of-age story.  It starts out with simple language that becomes more complex as Sam matures.  Sam tries to do what's expected of her, but struggles with her own dreams.  I loved the character of Ann, an elderly woman who subtly encourages Sam to follow her heart.  This book will touch your heart - while it's filled with struggles and issues of addiction, poverty, classism, abuse, it's also full of encouragement, hopes and dreams.  I also think it's a great shout out to what the right words from a teacher can do to a student.

1.24.2023 - The Twyford Code

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Janice Hallett - 5 stars!

Forty years ago, Steven Smith found a children's book, written by Edith Twyford, that he showed to his remedial English teacher.  His teacher, Miss Iles, thought it contained a secret code and took the children in the class on a field trip to a relevant location for Twyford.  When Miss Iles didn't come back from the trip, Steven believed the code was real.  After being released from prison, and with the help of an old iPhone from his son, Steven decides to investigate the mystery.  He tracks down his old classmates, has help from a librarian, and documents all his conversations and thoughts about his past on the phone.

Janice Hallett has done it again.  In The Appeal, the book was told through a series of text messages.  This one is done through a transcription app of Steven's conversations.  So it's written as a phonetic interpretation, complete with redacted swear words and funny spellings (missiles instead of Miss Iles, for example).  Such a creative way to tell this mystery story and I loved it!  It will take some time to settle into the way the story is told, but it is well worth it.  It's sad, funny, exceptionally clever, and full of heart - and that ending - perfection!

1.22.2023 - Owner of a Lonely Heart

 

Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House Publishing/Dell/Ballantine for gifting me a digital copy of the new book by Eva Carter - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Gemma thought her life was totally on track until her beloved husband died.  Since then, she's been floundering.  Her rescue dog, Bear, and her volunteer work at the hospital have kept her moving along with still-hopeful plans of fulfilling one of their dreams.  Dan is a confirmed commitment-phone forced to become a dad when his estranged daughter, Casey, comes back into his life after 12 years.  Casey has a brain tumor and needs to have treatment at a local hospital.  But fate brings this trio together - can they get beyond their pasts to move forward?

Okay, it may be predictable but as in Casey's words, it gave me all the feels.  This is definitely a sweet story of second chances all around and moving forward from trauma and grief.  Told from the POV of all three of these characters, you got a chance to see what each one was thinking as these relationships come together.  I especially loved Casey, so excited to finally meet her dad, trying to still take care of her mom, and yet become her own person in the shadow of illness.  I was a big fan of Carter's first book and loved this one too!

1.20.2023 - Killer Story

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Matt Witten - 4.5 stars!

Petra Kovach is determined to succeed at her latest journalism job because she's been laid-off or fired too many times in the past.  But as she's being let go once again, she pitches the idea of a cold case podcast to her boss.  The story will be focused on the death of a popular alt-right YouTuber, Olivia, someone that Petra knew years ago as a camp counselor.  Her boss agrees and gives her a short deadline, but she has to bend a few of her ethical guidelines to get a story.  When the podcast becomes a hit, she crosses even more lines.

I thought this was an intriguing mystery - I didn't guess the culprit.  But it was also a somewhat disturbing look into what we as a society want from our news.  We want instant access, breaking news, all the gory details.  But are those stories published before all the facts can be verified just to ensure being the first to print?  Has social media blurred even more lines with the drive for more likes and shares?  And the sad state of print journalism - is it a dinosaur in today's instant access world?  I love a good mystery that also brings up pertinent issues that make you think - this one definitely fits the bill!

1.19.2023 - Starvation Heights

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thread Books for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest true-crime story by Gregg Olsen, wonderfully narrated by Stacey Glemboski - 4.5 stars!

In 1911, two wealthy women set out for the Pacific Northwest for a rest period at a sanitarium run by Linda Burfield Hazzard - a fasting treatment.  Within the month, both women were on the edge of death and their wealth was turned over to the "doctor."  The locals called the place Starvation Heights and nothing was truer.  The patients were subjected to extreme fasts, hours-long enemas, and painful massages.  

I'm a huge fan of Gregg Olsen and this book is one reason why.  He researches a case so thoroughly and brings light to such darkness as this.  It's important today because now medical charlatans have the internet to spew and spread their so-called medical cures that may cause both physical and financial issues.  In this book as in those cases, you can find people on both sides of the aisle either promoting or condemning.   It was also amazing to me how someone with no medical degree was allowed to treat patients in this manner.  A fascinating read.

1.18.2023 - Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Book Club Girl, and Harper Collins/Mariner Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Benjamin Stevenson - 5 stars!

Ern is the self-described black sheep of his family because he turned in his brother, Michael, after he killed and man and enlisted Ern's help.  When Michael is being released from prison, his Aunt Katherine organizes a family reunion at a remote ski lodge.  The reunion takes a dark turn when a body is found in the middle of a snowstorm.  

I adored the way this book was told and it's full of creativity, dry and dark humor, and I had loads of fun trying to figure out the mystery.  Ern is the narrator and speaks to the reader as he tells the story of his infamous family.  He is a self-published author on how to write murder mysteries, using Ronald Knox's 10 Commandments of Detective Fiction as his guide.  Ern provides the reader with hints, including page numbers, and comments on writing styles as he goes through each family member's story.  This is a locked-room mystery, similar in style to Knives Out, but definitely stands out among mysteries - I loved it and highly recommend it.  But if you can figure it all out, you're a genius!

1.16.2023 - The Engagement

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Samantha Hayes - 4.5 stars!

Hannah and Rob are throwing a surprise 18th birthday party for their daughter, Belle, as she returns home from a class exchange trip to France.  But the surprise is on them when she walks in with a much older man, Jack, and says she's engaged.  But Jack isn't a stranger to Hannah and she's terrified for her daughter.

Told from multiple POVs and from a past timeline, this book was well-written and kept me engrossed.  You can feel the fear in Hannah as she worries about her daughter, as well as Belle's desperate feelings on her first love.  While I figured some things out - I never saw that ending coming!  Bravo!

1.15.2023 - The Girl in the Pink Shoes

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this crime thriller by Stacy Green, narrated by Amelia Sciandra - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Private Investigator Lucy Kendall, disillusioned by her time working as a CPS case worker and by the loss of her own sister, is on a personal mission of vengeance against those who hurt small children.  When she learns about missing 8-year-old Kailey who never made it home after school, she is desperate to find her.  Lucy becomes fixated on one of Kailey's neighbors who is a convicted sex offender and who Lucy knows through her CPS work.  His brother is a police detective on the case, so Lucy is convinced he won't be considered a prime suspect.  And time is ticking to find Kailey.

What a riveting book!  Of course, the subject matter is disturbing but I couldn't stop listening.  There were so many characters that kept you guessing as to their real motives and plenty of plot twists along the way.  Lucy is an interesting character - you'll find yourself rooting for this self-proclaimed killer!  The narration was spot on and easy to follow.  This is the first in a series - I can't wait to read more of Lucy's adventures.

1.13.2023 - The Blue Window

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner/Marysue Rucci Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this beautifully-written novel by Suzanne Berne - 4 stars!

A family can hold so very many secrets.  Lorna, a therapist, is still trying to come to grips with the abandonment she felt when her mother, Marika, left their family when her and her brother were still young.  Lorna never knew the reasons for Marika's departure yet when she received a postcard letting her know that Marika was living in nearby Vermont, she traveled there with her young son, Adam, to try and reestablish a relationship.  When that didn't work, they had only yearly get-togethers at Thanksgiving from that point.  Adam, meanwhile, came home from college and won't talk about what happened there and why he won't go back.  So when Marika falls and needs help, Lorna and Adam head out to her cottage on the lake in the hopes of reconnection.

I loved the writing of this story, the atmospheric descriptions of the lake and surroundings.  It's a slow novel to sit and be still with, very character-driven full of family secrets, trauma, and hope.  The relationship between Marika and Adam is so sweet and changes both of them.  However, if you like endings tied neatly in a bow, this is not the book for you.  There are as many secrets at the end as there are with these characters themselves, but it was only wanting to spend more time with these people that left me wanting.

1.12.2023 - The Girls Who Disappeared

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Claire Douglas.  4 stars!

Twenty years ago, teenager Olivia was driving her three friends home after a night out when suddenly there was a man in the road.  She swerved, lost control, and crashed.  When she woke up, she was pinned in the car and her three friends were gone.  On the anniversary, Jenna is working on a podcast about the girls' disappearance and leaves her small boy at home with her estranged husband to spend 5 days doing interviews.  But has she put herself in danger?

This was a creepy, atmospheric thriller with strange happenings in the woods and on a road known as The Devil's Corridor.  The story is told from the POV of both Olivia and Jenna, with alternating chapters of a past timeline.  I was intrigued with this story and there are plenty of questionable characters.  The ending was a bit over the top for me but still another good read from this author.

1.11.2023 - A Quiet Retreat

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest thriller by Kiersten Modglin and narrated by Carly Robins - 4 stars!

Five successful writers are invited to a writer's retreat at Black Hills Manor - a chance to get away from the real world and work on their writing.  But things quickly seem amiss - property goes missing, there are mysterious lights and noises.  Suddenly, everyone is tense and distrusting of everyone else.  Until things get much, much worse.

I'm a sucker for a good, atmospheric locked room mystery.  Everyone is in the same location when things start happening, so everyone is suspect.  There is also an alternating storyline in the past that adds a question on how it will impact the present day action.  The narrator did a great job and helped to keep the tension high throughout.    A quick, entertaining read!

1.10.2023 - Small World

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ecco for gifting me a digital ARC of Laura Zigman's latest novel - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Joyce and Lydia grew up in a household with parents totally focused on their disabled daughter, Eleanor, who died when she was ten.  Both Joyce and Lydia are recently divorced and Lydia has moved from California to temporarily live with Joyce in Massachusetts.  Joyce works from home archiving family photos and has a hobby of making poems from Small World posts (similar to NextDoor).  Joyce is looking forward to developing a better relationship with Lydia.  But old relationship patterns are hard to change and the sisters are no exception.  Then when new neighbors move in upstairs, the relationship fractures further.

I loved this beautifully-written, somewhat quirky tale of these two sisters trying to make a new life from the ashes of their old ones.  The little poems of real life that Joyce fashions from the online posts provide another glimpse into people's lives and are a nice, typically humorous, contrast to the sisters' struggles to move on from their childhood trauma and patterns.  It's also a look into how families cope when a child has a disability and how the world views them as well.  I have loved Zigman's novels and am happy to recommend this one as well!

1.8.2023 - Off the Deep End

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Lucinda Berry - 4 stars!

Jules Hart is driving her son, Gabe, and a neighbor boy, Isaac, home from a basketball game when she swerves to avoid a deer and plunges her car into an icy lake.  She is able to rescue only one boy - Isaac.  Wracked with guilt, Jules mentally spirals downward.   Isaac is also struggling with survivor guilt and then suddenly disappears.  His mom, Amber, can't help but think that Jules is somehow responsible.  Or is it a serial killer who is targeting teenage boys?

I am a fan of Berry's writings and have thoroughly enjoyed her books.  I enjoyed this one as well, except the ending was a bit much.  The story is told from the viewpoints of both Jules and Amber - Jules' through conversations with her therapist.  This shows both mothers grappling with the aftermath of the accident and the resultant trauma on their families.  

1.6.2023 - The Summer Party

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Aria & Aries Head of Zeus for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Rebecca Heath - 4.5 stars!

Lucy Ross has to come back to her grandmother's cottage in South Australia to deal with her Nan's belongings after her death.  But soon after Lucy's arrival, a body washes up on the beach.  Everything in Queen Point revolves around the wealthy Whitlam family, whom Nan worked for as a housekeeper.  Lucy can't help but get pulled back into the past, that fateful summer she spent with Nan, and her obsession with the Whitlam's.   

I was pulled into this atmospheric mystery from the beginning.  The story unfolds from the past in different characters' voices, all leading up to a climatic party on the beach.  In the present, Lucy still wants to be accepted by the Whitlam's and is determined to come up with answers to what happened that summer.   You're never quite sure who to believe in this story, right up to that powerful ending.  Lots of interesting characters, including the dog, Hades.  I felt for both young, anxious to be accepted, Lucy, as well as older, still trying to cope Lucy.  A great debut - can't wait to read more from this author!

1.3.2023 - Picture in the Sand

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and Dreamscape Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this beautifully-written book by Peter Blauner, wonderfully narrated by Sean Rohani - 5 stars!

In the form of letters written to his grandson, Alex, Ali Hassan tells Alex about his own past, hoping to persuade Alex to come home.  Alex had been accepted to an Ivy League university when he left home and refused contact with his parents, instead taking up with a radical Muslim group fighting what they consider to be a holy war in the Middle East.  Ali tells Alex about his time as a young man in Egypt with his eyes on a movie career in Hollywood.  When Cecil B. DeMille comes to make The Ten Commandments, Ali gets a job as an assistant.  However, he unwittingly gets involved in political unrest, threatening his and his family's lives.

This was such a fascinating read - Ali's letters tell of a time of political turmoil and how easy it is to be persuaded to do the wrong things, while we alternately read Alex's letters to his grandpa showing him following a similar destructive path.  As one who always watched The Ten Commandments on Easter, I enjoyed reading about the making of the film and the portrayal of the actors and director.  All of these characters in this book are so well developed; I felt so much for them.  I also loved the relationship between Ali and Alex, a connection so different from a parental one.  Ali was desperate to get Alex to learn from his mistakes, but did it in a way that let Alex find his own way back.  Highly recommended - a blockbuster of a story! 

1.1.2023 - The Stay-at-Home Mother

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest psychological thriller by Nicole Trope - 4 stars!

Andrea is pregnant and has a small son.  Her and her husband, Terry, just moved into a new neighborhood because of money issues.  Gabby lives across the street and welcomes Andrea; both seem lonely and in need of a friend.  But both women are keeping secrets.

This is a book best gone into with as little knowledge as possible - especially because the synopsis doesn't really match up well with the book.  The story unfolds from the viewpoints of both Andrea and Gabby, with lots of twists along the way, especially that ending!  Also a relevant look at social media issues.  Another quick, engrossing read from Nicole Trope!