3.31.2024 - Where the Crawfish Swim

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Books Go Social for gifting me a digital ARC of this true-crime inspired fiction story by Andrea Smith - 4 stars!

Inspired by the real life 2016 Pike County, OH, massacres, this is a fictionalized story of the killings of one family by another.  In this story, DEA Agent Dalton Edwards is tasked with fitting in with the locals in order to uncover possible drug operations.  Dalton discovers the community is tight-knit and strangers aren't trusted.  But he works hard and soon becomes privy to more than a few secrets.   

The author uses the notorious names of the Hatfields and McCoys to show how these two neighboring clans fought for what they thought was rightfully theirs.  And what they would do to make sure they got it.  It's a sad reflection on what money and power can do to an evil heart.  Well written, this book will keep your interest and you'll be hoping the bad guys get theirs in the end.  

3.30.2024 - How to Solve Your Own Murder

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for giving me a digital ARC of this fabulous mystery by Kristen Perrin - 5 stars!

In 1965, Frances is at a county fair with her two best friends, Emily and Rose, when a fortune teller tells her that she will be murdered.  From then on, she's obsessed with preventing her murder as well as suspicious of those around her.  In present day, Frances' great niece, Annie, is summoned by Frances' lawyer to Castle Knolls where Frances has a grand estate to discuss her inheritance.  Annie is the one to find Frances dead, the long-ago prophecy come true - she has been murdered.  And the changes in the will say that the one who solves Frances' murder is the one to inherit everything.  

Told in dual timelines from the 1960s to present, we learn Frances'  story, Emily's disappearance, how Frances came to live at Castle Knolls.  Annie, an aspiring mystery writer, is determined to solve the mystery and figure out how killed her great aunt.  There's a big cast of interesting characters, lots of clues, and you're a better person than I if you are able to figure out who did it!  But it was such a fun ride - I was totally invested in both timelines - perfectly written and executed!  Bravo!

3.30.2024 - Good Half Gone

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing Graydon House for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Tarryn Fisher - 4 stars!

Iris Walsh saw her twin sister, Piper, get kidnapped, but no one except her Gran believed her and the case quickly went cold.  Iris always felt like Piper was the good half of the twins - pretty and popular where Iris stayed in the shadows.  As an adult, Iris is obsessed with finding out what happened to Piper.  To do that, she gains an internship at the Shoal Island Hospital for the criminally insane, off the shores of Washington, accessible only by ferry and water taxi.  Will she finally find her answers to what happened?

What a creepy location for a thriller - a remote hospital for the criminally insane!  You could feel the horror and isolation in the writing, on the sides of both patients and staff.  Iris' grief and obsession are so strong, and her Gran is an amazing person as well, having to take the place of the twins' mother in raising them.  This book was filled with tension and twists and another great read by Fisher!

3.29.2024 - Fill For Me, Kill For You

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful stand alone thriller by Steve Cavanagh - 5 stars!

Amanda is grieving the loss of her daughter and husband.  The police are unable to pin her daughter's murder on the suspect, and Amanda can't rest until he pays for what he did.  When she meets Wendy at a grief support group, they form an alliance.  Just like in the movie, Strangers on a Train, they come up with a foolproof plan to enact their revenge against the men that destroyed their lives.  In another part of the city. Ruth is viciously attacked in her home by a man with startling blue eyes.  She is left traumatized, affecting every part of her life. 

This book was pitch perfect.  Told from multiple POV, each chapter ended with a cliff hanger that kept me turning the pages as fast as I could.  All the storylines converged in a perfect way and I never saw any of the twists coming.  And that ending!  Whew!  This is an absolute must read thriller!

3.24.2024 - The Truth About the Devlins

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam GP Putnam Sons for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by an all-time favorite, Lisa Scottoline - 5 stars!

TJ is the black sheep of the Devlin family.  His parents, brother and sister are all lawyers in the family firm, Devlin & Devlin, while he is an ex-con only working in the firm because he is family.  Everything gets turned upside when his older brother, John, comes to TJ and tells him that he needs his help.  John has accidentally murdered one of his clients that he had accused of embezzlement.  TJ throws himself into the investigation to help John, but soon realizes that trouble runs very deep and he's in the middle of it.

Another fabulous thriller by Scottoline - I couldn't put this one down because I was so invested in TJ!  I kept rooting for him to be okay, to stay sober, and to do the right thing.  This is family drama at its best, with sibling and parent turmoil aplenty.  I was also horrified by the medical experiments inflicted on inmates at the Holmesburg Prison. and loved Gabby's passion towards social injustice.  This book addresses this issue, along with addiction issues, sensitively but truthfully.  Highly recommended!

3.20.2024 - The Trail of Lost Hearts

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the new book by Tracey Garvis Graves, perfectly narrated by Eric Meyers; Kate Handford - 4.5 stars!

Wren believes that if you pay attention, the universe will send you exactly what you need.  But she's struggling with that now when her world comes crashing down.  Suddenly, she's feeling bereft and shameful.  When she discovers geocaching, it helps give her motivation to get out of bed and be outside.  She decides to take a weeklong solo geocaching trip in Oregon.  She soon meets Marshall on the trail and he saves her from a scary encounter.  Marshall is dealing with his own issues, but they soon decide to team up.  Is the universe finally sending her what she needs?

Just like in her previous book, Heard it in a Love Song, this one features likable and relatable characters that you will be rooting for to find their way.  They are both dealing with grief and need time and understanding to process and move on.  I'm a big fan of this author's writing style, featuring mature characters dealing with real life.  Extra points for this one because of the locations - Wren is from Dayton OH, where I grew up, and Marshall from Portland, where my husband and I honeymooned.  Not sure I've read a book that mentioned Skyline Chili before!  Narration was great - mostly from Wren's POV with Marshall's voice filling in his story.  Great read and audiobook!

3.20.2024 - Never Better

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this memoir by Gonzalo Riedel - 5 stars!

Less than a year after their youngest son was born, Gonzalo's wife, Erica, died from appendix cancer.  He was suddenly a single dad, raising two small boys, grieving the love of his life.

This was such a brutally honest and open memoir about grief.  Gonzalo gives us lots of "before" memories of life with Erica, while showing us the huge holes left behind afterwards.  I so appreciated the fact that he didn't sugarcoat all the emotions he felt in the height of his grief, while still having to get up every day as a single dad.  It will rip your heart apart but also give you hope, because life is always hopeful.  There's enough humor and self-deprecation to not push this book over into depressing, and I loved that he acknowledged all of his feelings.  I will return to this book again and wish nothing but happiness ahead for this family.

3.19.2024 - Mother of the Bride

 

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

Lizzie is so excited to be getting married to Owen, but worried that her mother will ruin everything with her controlling ways.  Plus, the memory of her sister's husband dying on the day of their wedding hangs over the family.  Lizzie doesn't trust her mother and fears for Owen's safety.

Go into this one as blindly as possible, to more thoroughly enjoy all the twists and turns.  The relationship between Lizzie and her mom is so full of drama, and her dad is in a psychiatric facility.  You won't be sure who you can trust along the way, since everyone is keeping a secret or two or more.  Once you start reading, you'll have to finish, so block off some time and enjoy!  I thought the narration of the audiobook was perfect, and enjoyed having both versions so I could keep reading.

3.19.2024 - Still See You Everywhere

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Lisa Gardner - 4 stars!

Frankie Elkin has made it her mission to find lost people, those who no one else is really looking for.  When she gets a call to look for the missing sister of a woman on death row set to be executed in weeks, she has no time to even think about her decision.  Dubbed the Beautiful Butcher, Kaylee Pierson confessed to unspeakable crimes, filled with a rage instilled in her from childhood.  She now has a letter from her long-lost sister and is desperate to find her before she is executed.   Lea now appears to be living with Kaylee's ex, wealthy Sanders MacManus, on an atoll he owns in the Pacific Ocean.  Frankie must go undercover at the base camp to locate Lea, trying to convince the dozen members living there.

This was one of the most atmospheric novels I've read - you will definitely find yourself transported to a different world, and I'll bet you'll google those creepy crabs and even what an atoll is, or at least I did!  This is the third book in the Frankie Elkin series and I have to admit that I missed the first two, but Gardner gives you plenty of back story and this works perfectly as a stand alone.  You may have to suspend reality a bit, but it sure is a wild ride.  Frankie is a great character, and I loved her dark humor.  Can't wait to read more in this series!

3.18.2024 - The Mystery Writer

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Dreamscape Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by Sulari Gentill, with the audiobook narrated by Katherine Littrell - 4 stars!

Theo has dropped out of college, determined to be a writer instead of an attorney as was the planned path for her.  She shows up on the doorstep of her brother, Gus, hoping that he will support her.  She begins writing in a cafe and meets a famous author.  They slowly begin a relationship but then she finds him brutally murdered right after signing on with a prestigious agency.  And now she is considered a suspect - until they start looking at Gus.  Enter Mac, Gus' friend and a private investigator, who comes from a family of conspiracy theorists.  

There's a lot to unpack in this book!  There is mixed media in the form of message boards between the theorists, which I always enjoy, but had me confused in the beginning.  The author has once again created an intriguing storyline, even though there were times I was yelling at Theo to open her eyes!  Kept me on my toes until the end.

3.16.2024 - Such a Lovely Family

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Aggie Blum Thompson - 4.5 stars rounded up!

The Calhouns are hosting their annual party at their home in Washington DC to celebrate the return of the cherry blossoms.  Their three children are all home and the house is full of friends and neighbors.  Everything is perfect until the party becomes a homicide scene.  Suddenly, all the family members are under suspicion and their secrets may soon come to light.

This was a delicious scandal of a book - you won't be sure who's the guilty party but you'll know that you can trust no one.  The Calhouns' children, Theo, Nate, and Ellie Grace have very complicated relationships with their parents, to whom appearance is the utmost importance.  I love a good dysfunctional family story and this was done to perfection.  Told from multiple POV, the secrets and twists kept coming.  This is a family you will love to hate!  Loved the cover too.

3.16.2024 - My Husband's Trying to Kill Me!

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this true crime story by Jim Schutze, narrated by Jonathan Sleep - 4 stars!

Linda DeSilva married her college boyfriend, Robert Edelman, who became a wealthy real estate tycoon.  To the outside, they were the perfect family, with two children, and led a glamorous life in Dallas.  But the reality was quite different behind closed doors, where Robert was cruel and violent.  Then she learned he hired a hit man to kill her.  This is the story of how Linda worked with the FBI to trap her husband in a sting operation that nearly went very badly wrong.  

I'm a big true crime reader and this book, like so many in this genre, was disturbing on so many levels.  This is a re-release of a book written in 1993 and while I would hope that we as a society have grown into a better understanding of domestic violence, these situations of course continue to happen.  In this book, neighbors and family knew and suspected of the abuse, but no one said or did anything until Linda went missing.  My only comment about this book was that I thought the transition between timelines was abrupt.  It could be because of listening to it rather than reading it, but I would have to pause to figure out where the story was taking place.

3.11.2024 - She's Not Sorry

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookish First, Harlequin Trade Publishing Park Row for gifting me both a digital and physical ARC of the latest thriller by the wonderful Mary Kubica - 5 stars!

Meghan Michaels works as a full-time nurse in intensive care as well as being a single mom.  When a patient comes into the hospital in a coma with a traumatic brain injury, Meghan has a hard time not getting personally involved with the patient, Caitlin, and her family.  But will it put her and her daughter in jeopardy?

There's a lot going on in this book, but in Kubica's capable hands, it all comes together perfectly.  I was completely engrossed in this book and these characters from the beginning.   There was palpable tension throughout the book and I wasn't sure who I could trust.   I was shocked at the twist and loved how all the storylines came together.  The end isn't completely wrapped up in a bow, but that's okay with me.  Highly recommended!

3.9.2024 - Murder Road

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Berkley, for gifting me a digital ARC of the new thriller by Simone St. James and allowing me to participate in the blog tour (watch my instagram on 3.13!) - 4.5 creepy stars!

It's the mid-1990s, and April and Eddie are on their honeymoon, heading for a hotel on Lake Michigan.  They get lost along the way, and find themselves on a deserted stretch of road when they see a young woman along the side.  When she gets in their car, the couple realize that she is badly injured.  They drop her off at the local hospital, only to find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation when she dies.  Apparently, there have been many deaths and disappearances along this stretch of the road, going back decades with the first disappearance of a woman dubbed The Lost Girl.  April and Eddie are intrigued enough to do some investigation on their own - at their own peril.

Typical of St. James' novels, this one is creepy and will keep you scared as you read along!  There are a ton of interesting characters here -April and Eddie are both keeping secrets from each other, I loved Rose, the owner of the inn where the couple stays; and the detectives on the case add yet another layer.  I liked the book's setting in the 1990s, before everyone was glued to their phones, and investigations were a totally different ballgame.  You'll love this scary, creepy book!

3.9.2024 - Baby X

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Kira Peikoff - 5 stars!

In the near-future, technology exists that can create egg or sperm from any person's cells, creating embryos that are then analyzed for health or personality issues.  Then the parents select the embryo they wish to implant.  But of course, technology can always be manipulated.  Enter The Vault, a company that steals DNA from celebrities, then asks for ransom money.  Popular singer Trace Thorne has been targeted before, so hires Ember Ryan, a bio-security guard, to make sure it doesn't happen again.  She's good at what she does, so when they are confronted by a pregnant woman, Quinn, who says that Thorne is the father, everyone is thrown.  

This is the way I like my sci-fi - set not too far in the future so things seem very possible, realistic, and frightening.  We already have the technology to produce "designer babies," so this isn't too much of a stretch.  But beyond the scary premise, this is such a good story!  Told in the POVs of Ember, Quinn and Lily, a journalist, each with their own past secrets they are holding onto, when all the storylines come together, you will be blown away!  If you like Blake Crouch, you will love this book - highly recommended!

3.6.2024 - Finding Sophie

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Bantam for gifting me a digital ARC of this novel by Imran Mahmood - 4 stars!

Harry and Zara King have revolved their life around their only child, Sophie.  As Sophie has gotten older and started to rebel, tension is high in the house.  One day, she leaves the house and doesn't come back.  The police have no clues and the couple are desperate.  They take matters into their own hand as far as investigating and soon are convinced of someone's guilt, and he's not talking.

This is a slow burn book, focusing more on how Harry and Zara deal with their grief and obsession over finding Sophie.  The story plays out through alternating POV of the couple, as well as scenes from a courtroom trial.  The writing is wonderful, and you feel the couple's angst over Sophie as well as the fact that their relationship is now falling apart.  I also liked how the courtroom decision played out.  It's a tense and gripping story until the last page!

3.6.2024 - Expiration Dates

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Rebecca Serle - 4.5 stars!

Daphne Bell is single and searching for love.  But she has long been receiving little slips of paper with a man's name and the length of time the relationship will last.  And they've all proven true.  So when she receives a paper with just the name Jake and no expiration date, she's confused.  Is he her forever one?

I have always loved Serle's books - a touch of magical realism and a lot of heart, and this one is no exception.  Her books never feel flowery or with eye rolling scenes.  This one is short and you won't want to stop reading once you start!  Daphne has only ever told Hugo, an ex and now her best friend, about the papers she receives, because who would believe her?  We go back in time to see how her past relationships played out, and I loved the growth of her character in the end.  It's all about being true to yourself and others.  Great book!

3.6.2024 - Help Wanted

Many thanks to NetGalley and WW Norton & Company for the opportunity to read the new book by Adelle Waldman - 4.5 stars!

At a big-box store in a small, depressed town in Upstate NY, the crew of Team Movement start their day before 4:00 AM to unload trucks and get merchandise out on the floor., leaving before the first customers appear.  When an opportunity for a promotion comes up, the team decide to put a plan in motion to get their boss promoted to store manager, leaving her spot open for one of them.  

I really liked this book and was instantly drawn into all these characters and their stories.  The setting is a Target-like store in the age of Amazon, in a town where big business has closed and there are very few job opportunities.  It's full of heart, dark humor, and will cause you to think about all those people behind the scenes that make our lives better.  I felt for these characters - trying to better their lives in tough situations, not always making the best of decisions.  

3.4.2024 - Listen for the Lie

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company, Celadon Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the adult debut novel by Amy Tintera - 5 stars!

Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy's blood.   Lucy has no memory of what happened, but everyone in their small town thinks she's a murderer.  She moved to LA to get away from everything and everybody and started a new life.  Then, true crime podcaster Ben Owens comes her her Texas town to investigate Savvy's murder for his second season.  Lucy is forced to return to TX to help solve Savvy's murder, even if it turns out that she's the guilty party.

All the buzz around this book is spot on - it's perfect!  Lucy is the best of characters - she's snarky, full of sass and dark humor, and her Grandma is the same.  You will find yourself laughing out loud more than you'll ever do in a thriller.  Plus, I love books that incorporate different media to tell the story, and this one uses Ben's podcast episodes to give us backstory and insight into Lucy and Savvy's relationships and her murder.  Plus, Lucy keeps hearing Savvy's voice in her head telling her to kill.  There are plenty of questionable characters that will keep you guessing as to the real story.  Listen for the Lie is just a phenomenal read - I couldn't flip the pages fast enough.  Highly recommended!