1EadieB
January 2022
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
✔1. Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge -304 pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/2/2022
Colleen Cambridge has written a new historical series introducing Phyllida Bright, fictional housekeeper for none other than mystery novelist Agatha Christie. When a dead body is found during a house party at the home of Agatha Christie and husband Max Mallowan, it's up to the author's head of household, Phyllida Bright, to investigate. A former Army nurse, Phyllida has common sense and a great deal of curiosity. Another body is soon discovered, so Phyllida needs to act quickly to figure which of the guests is the killer before another body is found. I enjoyed the characters and it seemed like I was reading one of Christie's novels. The plot had lots of red herrings and an interesting solution. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, then you should check this one out.
2. Over My Dead Body by Jeffrey Archer - 384 pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/3/2022
The millionaire art collector, Miles Faulkner, was convicted of forgery and theft. He was pronounced dead two months ago. So why is his unscrupulous lawyer still representing a dead client? On an ocean liner heading towards New York, the battle for power is about to turn to murder. At the heart of the investigations are Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick and ex-undercover agent Ross Hogan. Can they catch the killers before it’s too late? This is a story of murder, revenge and betrayal and is well-written with interesting characters and twisting plots. Jeffrey Archer is a master storyteller and his books are always page turners. If you like murder and intrigue then you will enjoy this book.
3. ☊ The Book of Genesis by Gary A. Rendsburg - 375 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 1/3/2022
With Professor Rendsburg's teachings, we learn that the book of Genesis has not one but two creation stories and he shows us how we can determine authorship. Professor Rendsburg is mindful that the book of Genesis is a theological pillar of religious faith. He is both respectful of that reality and aware of it in an even broader historical, social, and archeological context. I enjoyed listening to his lectures and learned many interesting facts about the Book of Genesis even though I have read these verses many times. If you are a scholar of the Bible then you would benefit much from these lectures.
4. The Harlech Beach Killings by Simon McCleave - 394 pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/8/2022
2nd book in this series. I enjoyed this book but thought it was a bit dragged out. I’m wondering if the author is a recovering alcoholic as he sure likes writing about his characters’ drink problems. Delved a bit into Nick’s background & relationship with his father which seems to be the root of his drink problem. Ruth is still looking for Sarah but in new relationship.
5. ☊ Almost Dead by T. R. Ragan - 366 pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/9/2022
Lizzy Gardner's fiancee, Jared, is in a coma but a string of deaths has forced her to get back to work. The victims were all members of the Ambassador Club at a Sacramento high school. Lizzy will need her colleagues to help her track down the killer who has a deadly revenge list before the next name maybe hers. This is the 5th book of the series which seems to get better with each book. They have a bit of wit and humor which makes me laugh but can get a bit gritty too. The characters are well-developed and work together in a nice way. I'm looking forward to the 6th book which is the last book in the series. I will definitely be missing Lizzy and friends and their wild and crazy adventures. If you like mystery thrillers then I'm sure you would like this series.
6. ☊ Evil Never Dies by T. R. Ragan - 352 pages - ★★★★ - 1/11/2022
This is the last book in the Lizzy Gardner series. She believes in law and order and is tired of too many vicious predators gaming the system and walking free. Lizzy is tracking down a list of Sacramento’s worst offenders and dealing out the payback they deserve. The Sacramento Strangler is a ritualistic serial killer and is dropping corpses and cryptic clues at a shocking rate. He’s next on Lizzy's list. Even though this series is a bit gritty, I enjoyed the characters and the humor throughout. It's best to start with book 1 if you want to thoroughly enjoy the characters and storyline. I was happy that the series ended on a good note for Lizzy.
7. Desolation Canyon by P. J. Tracy - 352 pgs. - ★★★ - 1/12/2022
LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan is struggling to move forward after the death of her brother in Afghanistan. Her mother is also having a hard time and Margaret is afraid her parent's relationship is falling apart. Margaret goes to the Hotel Bel-Air for cocktails with a colleague and while there they discover a body in the lake on the grounds of the hotel. Nolan soon finds herself investigating a cabal that might just destroy her and everyone she loves. This is the 2nd book in Tracy's new series and it got off to a slow start. It wasn't until the last third of the book that it finally took off. I actually liked the first book better than this one. Hopefully, the next book will hold my interest more or I will have to give up on this series. I loved the Monkeewrench series with it's humor which this one seems to be missing. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ebook.
8. Find The Girl by Helen Phifer - 265 pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/13/2022
This was my first Helen Phifer book but won't be my last. When Sara Fletcher goes missing from a Forest Pines campsite it proves that women should not go camping alone. Three other women have disappeared in the past and The Traveling Man has been blamed. He usually waits 72 hours before killing his victim so time is running short. The book is full of suspense which makes this fast-paced plot unputdownable. I guessed the killer even though there were plenty of twists. I enjoyed learning about Det. Morgan Brooks and Det. Ben Matthews' relationship and look forward to the next book in order to see what develops. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy of the ebook for an honest opinion.
9. The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb - 352 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 1/15/2022
Ray McMillian is a young black man who has a gift for music and wants to become a classical musician. Ray's grandmother gives him her father's violin. He was a slave and would play the violin for the plantation owner and acquired the violin years ago. When Ray finds out that the violin is a Stradivarius worth $10 million dollars, he is sued by the Marks family who own the plantation. Ray's family is also suddenly interested in the violin's worth. On the eve of the world-class Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, the violin is stolen. This book is a fast-paced plot that held my attention all the way through. It is a coming-of-age inspirational story that keeps us in touch with Ray's feelings as he goes through lots of racial attacks. But Ray's determination to achieve his goal keeps us invested cheering for him. In the end, the mystery of who stole the violin is solved and is a complete surprise to me. If you like feel-good stories, then you should read this one. I would like to thank Knopf Doubleday Anchor and NetGalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.
10. ☊ On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah - 448 pages - ★★★★ - 1/17/2022
Annie Colwater has been married to Blake for 20 years but as their daughter, Natalie, leaves home for a trip to London and then onto college, Blake confesses that he is in love with a younger woman. Annie decides to go home and visit her father. She meets up again with her first love, Nick Delacroix, a recent widower, and his young emotionally scarred daughter, Izzy. Together they begin to heal but soon her world is turned upside down again. I found this book to be an emotional roller coaster and the twists and turns kept me turning the pages. It's a story of a 2nd chance at life where cleaning up the first one can be a bit messy. This is an early book from Kristin Hannah and you can see that she is winding up for some of her better stories. I love to watch how a writer's voice transforms and this is a good place to start with Kristin Hannah. If you like chick-lit, then you will enjoy this one!
11. Driftnet by Lin Anderson - 272 pages - ★★★★ - 1/18/2022
A teenage boy is found mutilated and murdered in an apartment building in Glasgow. Forensic scientist Rhona Macleod is called to the scene where she discovers that the boy resembles her. She gave up a baby boy for adoption 17 years before. She sets out to find the boy's killer and determine whether he is her long-lost son. She immerses herself in the sinister world of an internet pedophile ring. Some very powerful men have a lot to lose if she succeeds, and everything to gain if she dies. This is a gritty read on a sensitive subject matter - paedophilia and a warning of explicit sex scenes. The characters were well-drawn and the chapters and POV's switched between the main characters. There are lots of twists in the plot that keep the pages turning quickly until the end. I'm now looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you like gritty mystery/thrillers then I'm sure you will enjoy this one.
12. ☊ We Hope For Better Things by Erin Bartels - 400 pages - ★★★★★ - 1/19/2022
Detroit Free Press reporter Elizabeth Balsam meets James Rich. He requests that she look up a relative she didn't know she had in order to deliver an old camera and a box of photos. She learns the remarkable stories of two women who lived in a 150 year old farmhouse and their courage in the face of war and racism. This is Erin Bartels debut novel and it takes readers on a journey through the streets of 1960s Detroit to the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. I have read and enjoyed all of Bartels' novels and found this to be a very emotional read with excellent research of our American history and interesting characters. If you enjoy American history, then you will enjoy this book.
13. Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal - 384 Pages - ★★★ - 1/22/2022
1866. In a coastal village in southern England, Nell has birthmarks that speckle her skin. Nell's father sells her to Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders as his very own leopard girl. Nell feels betrayed but she is described as The Eighth Wonder of the World and her fame grows. She decides that this is the best thing that has happened to her. She falls in love with Jasper's brother, Toby, and he eventually has to decide between Nell and Jasper. Circus of Wonders is an astonishing story about power and ownership, fame and the threat of invisibility. I found this book to be interesting but it lacked the magic of The Night Circus, one of my favorite books about the circus. The characters were unique but not very likable. I thought it was a bit dark and the story dragged in the middle. I was glad that I did hang in there because the ending did redeem the story. I would like to check out the author's book, The Doll Factory, as I do think Elizabeth MacNeal is a talented writer. I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy of an ebook for my honest opinion. (4,648)
14. The Killer in the Snow by Alex Pine - 400 pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/23/2022
This is Alex Pine's 2nd book in his DI James Walker series. A farmer's body is found alongside his wife and daughter. It is the 2nd family who has been murdered at the farmhouse in 24 years. In order to solve this crime, DI James Walker needs to figure out what happened 24 years ago. This is a fast-paced plot that kept the pages turning to the very end. With plenty of suspects and lots of twists the murderer was hard to figure out but the two crimes were solved to everyone's satisfaction. I am now looking forward to the 3rd book of the series as I do enjoy the author's writing. His descriptions of the area made you feel like you were along for the ride. I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon books for a copy of the ebook for an honest opinion.
15. The Dee Valley Killings by Simon Mc Cleave - 364 Pages - ★★★★ - 1/28/2022
The Dee Valley Killings is the third book in the DI Ruth Hunter series. A man's body turns up torn to pieces. Ruth realizes that she is now tracking a deadly serial killer. When the killer begins to claim a personal connection to her, Ruth fears a grisly end to her and her family. Most of the main characters in this series are flawed. Ruth battles with her smoking and missing her partner Sarah who has not showed up yet. Nick is still going to AA and is helping his friend Amanda with her alcohol problem. I'm looking forward to see how their relationship develops. If you like dark, psychologically complex characters and a gripping rollercoaster of a plot, then this book is for you.
16. Torch by Lin Anderson - 272 Pages - ★★★★ - 1/29/2022
This is the 2nd book in the series. An arsonist is terrorizing Edinburgh. A young homeless girl dies in an attack. Dr. Rhona Macleod is called in and meets chief fire investigator, Severino Macrae, who is hot-tempered and doesn't like to lose face. There are more attacks and the arsonist begins to be infiltrate their personal lives and their work. This was a fast-paced interesting plot and a quick read. I'm looking forward to learning more about Rhona and her past. If you like gritty crime thrillers then you will enjoy this series.
17. ☊ The Thursday Murder Club Richard Osman - 382 pages - ★★★★★ - 1/30/2022
The Thursday Murder Club is four senior citizens who meet in The Jigsaw Room of the Cooper Chase Retirement Center. They discuss unsolved crimes until a local developer is found dead and they find themselves in the middle of their first live case. The club members are charming and likable characters who have great detecting skills and figure things out ahead of the police. I found this book to be very entertaining with clever twists which made the murder hard to solve. I listened to the audio and found the narrator very pleasant to listen to. I'm now looking forward to reading the 2nd book. I loved the short chapters and the witty and sometimes touching dialogue. If you love cozy mysteries, then I think you will enjoy this one.
18. ☊ The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks - 336 Pages - ★★★★★ - 1/30/2022
Marissa and Mathew Bishop seem like the golden couple until Marissa cheats. Marissa wants to repair her marriage because she loves her husband and for the sake of their 8-year-old son. Marissa takes a chance on Avery Chambers, a maverick therapist, who lost her license due to controversial methods. Avery claims she can fix their marriage in 10 sessions. But Marissa keeps secrets hidden from Matthew and this will endanger their healing. This is a fast-paced psychological thriller with alternate POV's between Avery and Marissa. I enjoyed listening to the audio's narrators. The story delves into Avery's backstory and previous clients. The twists made it hard to figure things out and the ending was a complete surprise. I read and enjoyed three other of the authors books. I'm looking forward to reading their next one. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ebook for an honest opinion.
19. ☊ The Hundredth Man by Jack Kerley - 528 pgs. - ★★★ - 1/31/2022
This is Jack Kerley's debut novel. A headless body is found with words inked on the skin. When another mutilated victim turns up, Carson Ryder determines that it is a serial killer and not a crime of passion. I found this book hard to get into and too many happenings going on at the same time. The dialogue also seemed a bit disjointed. Hopefully the plot will move along a little better in the second book.
20. ☊ Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney - 304 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 1/31/2022
Amelia and Adam Wright win a weekend away to Scotland. They are hoping that things will get better with their marriage. One of them knows that they didn't randomly win this trip. Someone doesn't want them to live happily ever after. Both of them have secrets and one of them will not be going home. This is the 2nd book by Alice Feeney that I have read. She is the queen of twists and this one does not disappoint. I found Amelia and Adam not very likable. The ending was a complete surprise to me. I now feel as though I need to read Feeney's other books. If you like domestic thrillers, then you will like this book. I found it very unpredictable.
(7,234)
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
✔1. Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge -304 pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/2/2022
Colleen Cambridge has written a new historical series introducing Phyllida Bright, fictional housekeeper for none other than mystery novelist Agatha Christie. When a dead body is found during a house party at the home of Agatha Christie and husband Max Mallowan, it's up to the author's head of household, Phyllida Bright, to investigate. A former Army nurse, Phyllida has common sense and a great deal of curiosity. Another body is soon discovered, so Phyllida needs to act quickly to figure which of the guests is the killer before another body is found. I enjoyed the characters and it seemed like I was reading one of Christie's novels. The plot had lots of red herrings and an interesting solution. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, then you should check this one out.
2. Over My Dead Body by Jeffrey Archer - 384 pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/3/2022
The millionaire art collector, Miles Faulkner, was convicted of forgery and theft. He was pronounced dead two months ago. So why is his unscrupulous lawyer still representing a dead client? On an ocean liner heading towards New York, the battle for power is about to turn to murder. At the heart of the investigations are Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick and ex-undercover agent Ross Hogan. Can they catch the killers before it’s too late? This is a story of murder, revenge and betrayal and is well-written with interesting characters and twisting plots. Jeffrey Archer is a master storyteller and his books are always page turners. If you like murder and intrigue then you will enjoy this book.
3. ☊ The Book of Genesis by Gary A. Rendsburg - 375 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 1/3/2022
With Professor Rendsburg's teachings, we learn that the book of Genesis has not one but two creation stories and he shows us how we can determine authorship. Professor Rendsburg is mindful that the book of Genesis is a theological pillar of religious faith. He is both respectful of that reality and aware of it in an even broader historical, social, and archeological context. I enjoyed listening to his lectures and learned many interesting facts about the Book of Genesis even though I have read these verses many times. If you are a scholar of the Bible then you would benefit much from these lectures.
4. The Harlech Beach Killings by Simon McCleave - 394 pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/8/2022
2nd book in this series. I enjoyed this book but thought it was a bit dragged out. I’m wondering if the author is a recovering alcoholic as he sure likes writing about his characters’ drink problems. Delved a bit into Nick’s background & relationship with his father which seems to be the root of his drink problem. Ruth is still looking for Sarah but in new relationship.
5. ☊ Almost Dead by T. R. Ragan - 366 pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/9/2022
Lizzy Gardner's fiancee, Jared, is in a coma but a string of deaths has forced her to get back to work. The victims were all members of the Ambassador Club at a Sacramento high school. Lizzy will need her colleagues to help her track down the killer who has a deadly revenge list before the next name maybe hers. This is the 5th book of the series which seems to get better with each book. They have a bit of wit and humor which makes me laugh but can get a bit gritty too. The characters are well-developed and work together in a nice way. I'm looking forward to the 6th book which is the last book in the series. I will definitely be missing Lizzy and friends and their wild and crazy adventures. If you like mystery thrillers then I'm sure you would like this series.
6. ☊ Evil Never Dies by T. R. Ragan - 352 pages - ★★★★ - 1/11/2022
This is the last book in the Lizzy Gardner series. She believes in law and order and is tired of too many vicious predators gaming the system and walking free. Lizzy is tracking down a list of Sacramento’s worst offenders and dealing out the payback they deserve. The Sacramento Strangler is a ritualistic serial killer and is dropping corpses and cryptic clues at a shocking rate. He’s next on Lizzy's list. Even though this series is a bit gritty, I enjoyed the characters and the humor throughout. It's best to start with book 1 if you want to thoroughly enjoy the characters and storyline. I was happy that the series ended on a good note for Lizzy.
7. Desolation Canyon by P. J. Tracy - 352 pgs. - ★★★ - 1/12/2022
LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan is struggling to move forward after the death of her brother in Afghanistan. Her mother is also having a hard time and Margaret is afraid her parent's relationship is falling apart. Margaret goes to the Hotel Bel-Air for cocktails with a colleague and while there they discover a body in the lake on the grounds of the hotel. Nolan soon finds herself investigating a cabal that might just destroy her and everyone she loves. This is the 2nd book in Tracy's new series and it got off to a slow start. It wasn't until the last third of the book that it finally took off. I actually liked the first book better than this one. Hopefully, the next book will hold my interest more or I will have to give up on this series. I loved the Monkeewrench series with it's humor which this one seems to be missing. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ebook.
8. Find The Girl by Helen Phifer - 265 pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/13/2022
This was my first Helen Phifer book but won't be my last. When Sara Fletcher goes missing from a Forest Pines campsite it proves that women should not go camping alone. Three other women have disappeared in the past and The Traveling Man has been blamed. He usually waits 72 hours before killing his victim so time is running short. The book is full of suspense which makes this fast-paced plot unputdownable. I guessed the killer even though there were plenty of twists. I enjoyed learning about Det. Morgan Brooks and Det. Ben Matthews' relationship and look forward to the next book in order to see what develops. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy of the ebook for an honest opinion.
9. The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb - 352 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 1/15/2022
Ray McMillian is a young black man who has a gift for music and wants to become a classical musician. Ray's grandmother gives him her father's violin. He was a slave and would play the violin for the plantation owner and acquired the violin years ago. When Ray finds out that the violin is a Stradivarius worth $10 million dollars, he is sued by the Marks family who own the plantation. Ray's family is also suddenly interested in the violin's worth. On the eve of the world-class Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, the violin is stolen. This book is a fast-paced plot that held my attention all the way through. It is a coming-of-age inspirational story that keeps us in touch with Ray's feelings as he goes through lots of racial attacks. But Ray's determination to achieve his goal keeps us invested cheering for him. In the end, the mystery of who stole the violin is solved and is a complete surprise to me. If you like feel-good stories, then you should read this one. I would like to thank Knopf Doubleday Anchor and NetGalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.
10. ☊ On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah - 448 pages - ★★★★ - 1/17/2022
Annie Colwater has been married to Blake for 20 years but as their daughter, Natalie, leaves home for a trip to London and then onto college, Blake confesses that he is in love with a younger woman. Annie decides to go home and visit her father. She meets up again with her first love, Nick Delacroix, a recent widower, and his young emotionally scarred daughter, Izzy. Together they begin to heal but soon her world is turned upside down again. I found this book to be an emotional roller coaster and the twists and turns kept me turning the pages. It's a story of a 2nd chance at life where cleaning up the first one can be a bit messy. This is an early book from Kristin Hannah and you can see that she is winding up for some of her better stories. I love to watch how a writer's voice transforms and this is a good place to start with Kristin Hannah. If you like chick-lit, then you will enjoy this one!
11. Driftnet by Lin Anderson - 272 pages - ★★★★ - 1/18/2022
A teenage boy is found mutilated and murdered in an apartment building in Glasgow. Forensic scientist Rhona Macleod is called to the scene where she discovers that the boy resembles her. She gave up a baby boy for adoption 17 years before. She sets out to find the boy's killer and determine whether he is her long-lost son. She immerses herself in the sinister world of an internet pedophile ring. Some very powerful men have a lot to lose if she succeeds, and everything to gain if she dies. This is a gritty read on a sensitive subject matter - paedophilia and a warning of explicit sex scenes. The characters were well-drawn and the chapters and POV's switched between the main characters. There are lots of twists in the plot that keep the pages turning quickly until the end. I'm now looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you like gritty mystery/thrillers then I'm sure you will enjoy this one.
12. ☊ We Hope For Better Things by Erin Bartels - 400 pages - ★★★★★ - 1/19/2022
Detroit Free Press reporter Elizabeth Balsam meets James Rich. He requests that she look up a relative she didn't know she had in order to deliver an old camera and a box of photos. She learns the remarkable stories of two women who lived in a 150 year old farmhouse and their courage in the face of war and racism. This is Erin Bartels debut novel and it takes readers on a journey through the streets of 1960s Detroit to the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. I have read and enjoyed all of Bartels' novels and found this to be a very emotional read with excellent research of our American history and interesting characters. If you enjoy American history, then you will enjoy this book.
13. Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal - 384 Pages - ★★★ - 1/22/2022
1866. In a coastal village in southern England, Nell has birthmarks that speckle her skin. Nell's father sells her to Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders as his very own leopard girl. Nell feels betrayed but she is described as The Eighth Wonder of the World and her fame grows. She decides that this is the best thing that has happened to her. She falls in love with Jasper's brother, Toby, and he eventually has to decide between Nell and Jasper. Circus of Wonders is an astonishing story about power and ownership, fame and the threat of invisibility. I found this book to be interesting but it lacked the magic of The Night Circus, one of my favorite books about the circus. The characters were unique but not very likable. I thought it was a bit dark and the story dragged in the middle. I was glad that I did hang in there because the ending did redeem the story. I would like to check out the author's book, The Doll Factory, as I do think Elizabeth MacNeal is a talented writer. I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy of an ebook for my honest opinion. (4,648)
14. The Killer in the Snow by Alex Pine - 400 pgs. - ★★★★ - 1/23/2022
This is Alex Pine's 2nd book in his DI James Walker series. A farmer's body is found alongside his wife and daughter. It is the 2nd family who has been murdered at the farmhouse in 24 years. In order to solve this crime, DI James Walker needs to figure out what happened 24 years ago. This is a fast-paced plot that kept the pages turning to the very end. With plenty of suspects and lots of twists the murderer was hard to figure out but the two crimes were solved to everyone's satisfaction. I am now looking forward to the 3rd book of the series as I do enjoy the author's writing. His descriptions of the area made you feel like you were along for the ride. I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon books for a copy of the ebook for an honest opinion.
15. The Dee Valley Killings by Simon Mc Cleave - 364 Pages - ★★★★ - 1/28/2022
The Dee Valley Killings is the third book in the DI Ruth Hunter series. A man's body turns up torn to pieces. Ruth realizes that she is now tracking a deadly serial killer. When the killer begins to claim a personal connection to her, Ruth fears a grisly end to her and her family. Most of the main characters in this series are flawed. Ruth battles with her smoking and missing her partner Sarah who has not showed up yet. Nick is still going to AA and is helping his friend Amanda with her alcohol problem. I'm looking forward to see how their relationship develops. If you like dark, psychologically complex characters and a gripping rollercoaster of a plot, then this book is for you.
16. Torch by Lin Anderson - 272 Pages - ★★★★ - 1/29/2022
This is the 2nd book in the series. An arsonist is terrorizing Edinburgh. A young homeless girl dies in an attack. Dr. Rhona Macleod is called in and meets chief fire investigator, Severino Macrae, who is hot-tempered and doesn't like to lose face. There are more attacks and the arsonist begins to be infiltrate their personal lives and their work. This was a fast-paced interesting plot and a quick read. I'm looking forward to learning more about Rhona and her past. If you like gritty crime thrillers then you will enjoy this series.
17. ☊ The Thursday Murder Club Richard Osman - 382 pages - ★★★★★ - 1/30/2022
The Thursday Murder Club is four senior citizens who meet in The Jigsaw Room of the Cooper Chase Retirement Center. They discuss unsolved crimes until a local developer is found dead and they find themselves in the middle of their first live case. The club members are charming and likable characters who have great detecting skills and figure things out ahead of the police. I found this book to be very entertaining with clever twists which made the murder hard to solve. I listened to the audio and found the narrator very pleasant to listen to. I'm now looking forward to reading the 2nd book. I loved the short chapters and the witty and sometimes touching dialogue. If you love cozy mysteries, then I think you will enjoy this one.
18. ☊ The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks - 336 Pages - ★★★★★ - 1/30/2022
Marissa and Mathew Bishop seem like the golden couple until Marissa cheats. Marissa wants to repair her marriage because she loves her husband and for the sake of their 8-year-old son. Marissa takes a chance on Avery Chambers, a maverick therapist, who lost her license due to controversial methods. Avery claims she can fix their marriage in 10 sessions. But Marissa keeps secrets hidden from Matthew and this will endanger their healing. This is a fast-paced psychological thriller with alternate POV's between Avery and Marissa. I enjoyed listening to the audio's narrators. The story delves into Avery's backstory and previous clients. The twists made it hard to figure things out and the ending was a complete surprise. I read and enjoyed three other of the authors books. I'm looking forward to reading their next one. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ebook for an honest opinion.
19. ☊ The Hundredth Man by Jack Kerley - 528 pgs. - ★★★ - 1/31/2022
This is Jack Kerley's debut novel. A headless body is found with words inked on the skin. When another mutilated victim turns up, Carson Ryder determines that it is a serial killer and not a crime of passion. I found this book hard to get into and too many happenings going on at the same time. The dialogue also seemed a bit disjointed. Hopefully the plot will move along a little better in the second book.
20. ☊ Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney - 304 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 1/31/2022
Amelia and Adam Wright win a weekend away to Scotland. They are hoping that things will get better with their marriage. One of them knows that they didn't randomly win this trip. Someone doesn't want them to live happily ever after. Both of them have secrets and one of them will not be going home. This is the 2nd book by Alice Feeney that I have read. She is the queen of twists and this one does not disappoint. I found Amelia and Adam not very likable. The ending was a complete surprise to me. I now feel as though I need to read Feeney's other books. If you like domestic thrillers, then you will like this book. I found it very unpredictable.
(7,234)
2EadieB
February 2022
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
21. ☊ Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford - 353 pgs - ★★★★ - 2/2/22
William Eng is a 12 year old Chinese/American boy living in an orphanage in Seattle in the 1930's. The orphans go to the historical Moore Theatre where William watches an actress named Willow Frost and is convinced that she is his mother, Liu Song. William and his friend Charlotte escape the orphanage so he can look for his mother. The story then shifts to the 1920's and we get the backstory of William's mother. It is an emotional journey of seeking lost and found love. The writing is beautiful and I found the era of the 1930's black and white movie industry very interesting. I definitely will be reading soon the Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet which is Jamie Ford's debut novel. It has been on my TBR shelf for a long time.
22. ☊ The Christie Affair Audiobook by Nina de Gramont - 368 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/3/22
In 1926 Nan O'Dea became Archie Christie's mistress, luring him away from his devoted and well-known wife, Agatha Christie. This leads to eleven mysterious days that Agatha Christie went missing after Archie asks her for a divorce. This book is part truth and part fiction. First of all, Nancy Neeley was Archie's paramour's name. The book is written from Nan's point-of-view and she is a bit unreliable. I've read other books about this situation and there is a mystery about what really happened when Agatha went missing. When Agatha is found, she claimed amnesia and has never admitted to what really happened. In this book there are a couple twists at the end which I enjoyed and I like the spin that was put on this story. If you enjoy missing person books, then I believe you will enjoy this one. I would like to thank MacMillan for a copy of the audio for an honest opinion. I enjoyed the narrator who made listening to this book a pleasant experience for me.
23. ☊ Commonwealth by Ann Patchett - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/4/22
This is a novel about how an unexpected romantic encounter changes members of the Cousins and Keating families. It is a coming-of-age story about parent/child relationships and the bonds between siblings told in a succession of vignettes. Ann Patchett has admitted that the book is autobiographical. Although it is a mixture of satire, compassion and humor, it has great emotional depth. I enjoyed her writing and I look forward to reading a few more of her books. If you enjoy books about blended families then I think you will enjoy this book.
24. ☊ Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - 336 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/5/22
Based on true story in Peru in 1996, when rebels from the leftist Tupac Amaru movement raided a party at the Japanese ambassador's residence and took hundreds of civilians hostage including American opera star Roxane Coss, and Mr. Hosokawa, a Japanese CEO and her biggest fan. It is a captivating story of strength and fragility, love and imprisonment. It was interesting to read about the different relationships that formed between the terrorists and the hostages of different backgrounds and languages. We quickly learn that music is their only common language. The tragic ending was a bit of a surprise and the epilogue seemed like an abrupt change back to normal life. If you are a music lover then I think you would enjoy this award-winning book.
25. One Night on the Island by Josie Silver - 384 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/6/2022
Cleo Wilder is a dating columnist in London who escapes to Sullivan Island, a remote Irish island, for a solo retreat of self-care in order to refresh herself. Mack Sullivan from Boston USA goes to the same island as he needs some time to himself for soul-searching as his marriage is breaking up. A mix-up with the bookings means both have reserved the same one-room hideaway on exactly the same dates. They are not happy about having to share the room but as days go by, they start to enjoy each other's company. This is not your typical romance novel. It is a very low-key story of two people needing some positive attention at a bad time in their life. You, the reader, get to witness these two characters fight their feelings and finally come up with a solution of why they should have a holiday relationship. Things get to a teary-eyed climax when Mack decides he needs to go back to Boston to spend time with his two sons. This was my first Josie Silver's book but won't be my last. If you like feel-good stories, then you will love this one. Don't forget the tissues. I would like to thank NetGalley and Ballentine Books for a ebook copy for an honest opinion.
26. Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett - 402 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/6/2022
Late 1960's California. Rose Clinton flees to St. Elizabeth's home for unwed mothers in Habit Kentucky. She doesn't want her mother or her husband to know she is pregnant as she wants to give up her baby. While at the home working as a cook she meets Son, the handyman. Rose decides she will keep her baby as Son has agreed to marry her. Marrying Son is just for show as she has never gotten a divorce from her first husband. The reader gets to watch Rose make a mess of her life and I have to admit that I just could not like Rose at all. The book is a page-turner and is broken down into 3 sections (Rose, Son and Cecilia her daughter). I found this Ann Patchett book to be similar to an Anne Tyler book. I liked Patchett's writing but was disappointed in her very abrupt ending which left a lot of loose ends. I would say that the novel cries for a sequel. If you like books about families then I believe you will like this book.
27. The Paris Network by Siobhan Curham - 414 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/12/2022
Paris 1940. This book was inspired by true events during World War II. Laurence Sidot's family bookstore in LaVallee du Cerf, France is being used as a French Resistance location during Germany's occupation of France. A book club is formed to read and discuss the banned books. Some of the books carry coded messages. In America 1993, after her mother's death, Jeanne learns that she has inherited a bookstore in a French village from a woman named Laurence. She travels to France with her father, finds a silver pendant under the floorboard of the bookstore and learns who her mother really was. This was my first book by Siobhan Curham but won't be my last. It is a beautiful story about the power of books. The characters were very believable and well-drawn. The book held my interest from start to finish. If you love historical wartime novels, you will love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookcouture for a copy of the audio for an honest opinion.
28. Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead - 417 pgs. ★★★★★ - 2/13/2022
This is Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize winning rendition of the Underground Railroad. It follows Cora, a young slave's adventures as she seeks freedom in the antebellum South. Caesar, a recent arrival from Virginia, tells her about the Underground Railroad and they flee together. Whitehead's conception of the Underground Railroad is more part fact and part fiction. It is a secret network of tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil. The first stop is South Carolina but Ridgeway, the slave catcher, is close on their heels and they are forced to flee again. We get to follow Cora from state to state and experience the terrors of the black people in the pre-Civil War era. It is a tragic, heartbreaking view of how the slaves were brutally treated by the plantation owners. On the other hand, there were very good people along the real underground railroad who risked their lives in order to help the slaves escape to the north. This was my 7th Whitehead book and his writing gets better and better with each book. If you enjoy alternative reality books then I think this book would be for you.
29. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward - 352 pgs. - ★★★ - 2/14/2022
A teenage girl, a man who drinks, and a talking house cat live in a boarded-up house at the edge of the wild Washington woods. An unspeakable secret binds them together, but when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch trees may come back to haunt them all. With a totally unreliable narrator, this book was hard to get into and I thought about bailing but decided to hang in until the very end. I was glad I did because it is not until the very end that the reader finds out what is really going on. If you like strange mystery books then this book is for you.
30. Bad Actors by Mick Herron - 360 pgs. ★★★★★ - 2/14/2022
In London's MI5 headquarters a scandal is brewing that could disgrace the entire intelligence community. A specialist who advises the Prime Minister's office has disappeared without a trace. Claude Whelan has been tasked with tracking her down. Diana Taverner is the chief suspect. The slow horses are doing what they do best with adding a little bit of chaos to an already unstable situation. This is a political story about lying, cheating and backstabbing. The book has fun-loving characters with dialogue of great wit and humor. The captivating plot is very believable. The twists at the end kept the pages turning. I have read 5 other Herron books and have enjoyed them all. His writing is entertaining. I would like to thank SoHo Crime and NetGalley for an audio copy for an honest opinion. Loved the narrator too!
31. ☊ One-Hit Wonder by Lisa Jewell - 466 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/15/2022
Ana Wills arrives in London to clean out her half-sister's apartment after her death. Bee was a pop-singer and Ana dreamed of living that lifestyle. Ana decides to investigate Bee's secret life of a remote country cottage and an ex-boyfriend. Will what Ana finds out about Bee's death change her forever? This was an interesting read about the sisters' relationship and family happenings. I enjoyed the characters of Zander, Lol and Flint and their witty discussions. Lisa Jewell is an entertaining writer and I plan on reading more of her books. If you like chic-lit then I think you will enjoy Lisa Jewell's books.
32. The Harbor by Katrine Engberg - 22 Feb 2022 - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/16/2022
This is the 3rd book in the Korner and Werner series which is set in Copenhagen Denmark. Fifteen-year-old Oscar Dreyer-Hoff disappears. The police think it is a typical runaway case but his family fear the worst as Oscar left a peculiar note. I found the reference quote to Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray interesting. Detectives Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner uncover lots of secret happenings which keep the pages turning. Jeppe and Anette also have to deal with their personal relationships which sometimes interferes with their investigations. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. If you like fast-paced thrillers then I am sure you will enjoy this series. I would like to thank NetGalley and Gallery/Scott Press for a copy of the ebook for an honest review. 11,790
33. ☊ Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman - 422 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/18/2022
This is the second book in the Thursday Murder Club series. Elizabeth receives a letter from a man with whom she has a long history. He needs her help involving stolen diamonds, a violent mobster, and a very real threat to his life. As bodies start piling up, Elizabeth enlists Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron in the hunt for the ruthless murderer. Can The Thursday Murder Club find the killer (and the diamonds) before the killer finds them? Four lively septuagenarians with witty dialogue make for another entertaining story. Lots of twists and turns kept the paging turning until the very end. I love the short chapters. I'm now looking forward to the 3rd installment. If you love cozy mysteries, then you will definitely enjoy this series.
34. ☊ The Innocent by Harlan Coben - 528 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/18/2022
Some mistakes can change your life forever. Matt Hunter is learning this lesson as he innocently tried to break up a fight and ended up a killer. Nine years after his release from prison, he is now an ex-con who takes nothing for granted. His pregnant wife, Olivia, goes to Boston on a business trip and Matt receives a shocking video call from her and his life begins to unravel. Soon Matt is a wanted man after a mysterious man ends up dead and a nun is murdered. Matt and Olivia are forced to run in a desperate attempt to save their future together. The plot was twisting and emotionally charged. The characters were believable and well-developed. Coben is an excellent writer and tied everything up in the end. I have read all of his Myron Bolitar books and enjoyed them very much. I look forward to reading another standalone next and would recommend this book to those who like mystery/thrillers.
35. ☊ Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott - 368 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/19/2022
This book is a mixture of history and fiction. It's about Isaac Newton's suspicious circumstances surrounding his appointment as a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1667. I learned about Newton's involvement with glassmaking and alchemy. The book switches back and forth between the present and the 17th century. Elizabeth Vogelsang, a Cambridge historian, is writing a book about Newton but she has been found drowned in the Cam River. Her son, Cameron, asks Lydia Brooke to finish his mother's novel. There are some present day murders which may link to happenings from the 17th century. Elizabeth's friend, Dilys Kite, reawakens ghosts from the past in order to solve the mysterious deaths. I found this book to be clever and intriguing. The supernatural occult mixed with scientific knowledge was entertaining. The twist at the end was surprising. I enjoyed the author's writing and need to read The Coral Thief, her book about Napoleon. If you like history and the supernatural then you may enjoy Ghostwalk.
36. The Blood Tide by Neil Lancaster - 23 Feb 2022 - 384 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/19/2022
This is the 2nd book in the Max Craigie Scottish Crime series. Max Craigie, Janie Calder and Ross Fraser are the main police characters back again. It's best to start with Book 1 to get the background on these characters. Tom Hardie was arrested and was sent to prison in book 1. He is plotting and planning to get back at Max. Tom is also heavy into dealing his drugs from his prison cell. A fisherman goes missing, a young man jumps from a bridge and commits suicide and a Police Constable is murdered. Are these events related? When Tom escapes from prison is Max's life in jeopardy? Is there a traitor in the police department? The plot is gripping and twists and turns kept the pages turning. The author's descriptions of Scottish scenery make you feel like you are actually there. The dialogue between characters felt very real to me. I will definitely continue with this series in the future. If you like mystery thrillers set in Scotland then I'm sure you will enjoy this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins HQ for a copy of the ebook for an honest review.
37. ☊ The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon - 362 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/20/2022
1968. This is a story about Lynnie and Homan who live in abusive and inhumane conditions at the Pennsylvania School for the Incurable and Feebleminded. Lynnie is probably autistic but the term in 1968 was retarded. Homan is hearing-impaired. They fall in love and Homan helps Lynnie escape to the widow Martha's home. Lynnie has just given birth to a little girl. She was raped at the home and does not want her child to be brought up in the home. She asks Martha to hide her child. Lynnie is captured and taken back to the home but Homan has escaped. This is a well-written book that touches your heart. The book follows the main characters for the next 40 years and we are given POV's from Lynnie, Homan, Martha and Julie (Lynnie's daughter). Thanks to Geraldo Rivera for exposing the horrible conditions at these institutions as people with these problems are now treated with dignity. I found the book hard to put down and will read the author's other book called Riding The Bus with my Sister.
38. ☊ Radar Girls by Sara Ackerman - 400 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/21/2022
This book was inspired by the real WARDS (Women's Air Raid Defense) which was a top secret program replacing male soldiers in the war zone during WWII. Daisy Wilder loves horses more than people until the attack on Pearl Harbor. She joins the WARDS which many people resist but Daisy is determined to prove her worth. This book transports the reader to wartime Hawaii. It is a tale of pioneering unsung heroines and I enjoyed reading about the women's courage, strength and sisterhood. I look forward to reading another book by Sara Ackerman as her books are about strong women. I would recommend this book to those who like to read a captivating story with a little bit of romance.
39. The Rising Tide by Sam Lloyd 01 Mar 2022 - 400 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/22/2022
Lucy and Daniel Locke and their two children, Billie and Fin, live in a big house on top of a hill overlooking the Devon coast. A monster of a storm is brewing and Daniel, Billie and Fin are lost at sea after taking the family yacht out. Daniel is rescued but Billie and Fin are still missing. DI Abraham Rose and his team are investigating and Lucy and Daniel become suspects. This clever and unique book starts out fast-paced and the reader is forced to keep turning pages in order to find out some answers. In the middle, the book slows down and gets a bit repetitive. Towards the end there are heart-pounding twists and turns culminating into an exciting surprise ending. I liked Sam Lloyd's writing and will be looking forward to reading his next book. If you enjoy mystery/thrillers, then you will enjoy this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for an e-book for an honest review.
40. ☊ The last thing he told me by Laura Dave - 320 pgs. ★★★★★ - 2/15/2022
Hannah Hall thinks she's found the love of her life until he disappears. Owen Michaels leaves Hannah a note that says, "Protect her." The note refers to Owen's sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child and wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother. Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn't who he said he was and Bailey may hold the key to figuring out Owen's true identity and why he disappeared. The characters felt real and believable and the plot was very intriguing with lots of twists and turns. The story was told in first person by Hannah and had me hooked from the very beginning. It alternated between the past and the present. It will not be my last read by Laura Dave as I enjoyed her writing. If you like domestic thrillers then I am sure you will enjoy this book.
41. The Lightning Rod by Brad Meltzer - 672 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 2/28/22
This is the 2nd installment of Brad Meltzer’s Zig and Nola series. Archie Mint has been hiding military secrets. When he is killed, his family is shattered. Zig, a military mortician, works on his body and discovers something he was not suppose to see. Nola and Zig uncover a guarded secret that holds the key to a hidden group that could compromise safety and security of America. Zig and Nola are flawed characters that you can’t help but love. We get more interesting background information on their lives. The plot is well-paced and kept the pages turning until the very end. Plenty of twists and turns add to the enjoyment. If you enjoy mystery thrillers, then I believe you will enjoy this series. I would like to thank NetGalley and Willam Morrow Custom House for the opportunity of reading this book for an honest review.
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
21. ☊ Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford - 353 pgs - ★★★★ - 2/2/22
William Eng is a 12 year old Chinese/American boy living in an orphanage in Seattle in the 1930's. The orphans go to the historical Moore Theatre where William watches an actress named Willow Frost and is convinced that she is his mother, Liu Song. William and his friend Charlotte escape the orphanage so he can look for his mother. The story then shifts to the 1920's and we get the backstory of William's mother. It is an emotional journey of seeking lost and found love. The writing is beautiful and I found the era of the 1930's black and white movie industry very interesting. I definitely will be reading soon the Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet which is Jamie Ford's debut novel. It has been on my TBR shelf for a long time.
22. ☊ The Christie Affair Audiobook by Nina de Gramont - 368 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/3/22
In 1926 Nan O'Dea became Archie Christie's mistress, luring him away from his devoted and well-known wife, Agatha Christie. This leads to eleven mysterious days that Agatha Christie went missing after Archie asks her for a divorce. This book is part truth and part fiction. First of all, Nancy Neeley was Archie's paramour's name. The book is written from Nan's point-of-view and she is a bit unreliable. I've read other books about this situation and there is a mystery about what really happened when Agatha went missing. When Agatha is found, she claimed amnesia and has never admitted to what really happened. In this book there are a couple twists at the end which I enjoyed and I like the spin that was put on this story. If you enjoy missing person books, then I believe you will enjoy this one. I would like to thank MacMillan for a copy of the audio for an honest opinion. I enjoyed the narrator who made listening to this book a pleasant experience for me.
23. ☊ Commonwealth by Ann Patchett - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/4/22
This is a novel about how an unexpected romantic encounter changes members of the Cousins and Keating families. It is a coming-of-age story about parent/child relationships and the bonds between siblings told in a succession of vignettes. Ann Patchett has admitted that the book is autobiographical. Although it is a mixture of satire, compassion and humor, it has great emotional depth. I enjoyed her writing and I look forward to reading a few more of her books. If you enjoy books about blended families then I think you will enjoy this book.
24. ☊ Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - 336 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/5/22
Based on true story in Peru in 1996, when rebels from the leftist Tupac Amaru movement raided a party at the Japanese ambassador's residence and took hundreds of civilians hostage including American opera star Roxane Coss, and Mr. Hosokawa, a Japanese CEO and her biggest fan. It is a captivating story of strength and fragility, love and imprisonment. It was interesting to read about the different relationships that formed between the terrorists and the hostages of different backgrounds and languages. We quickly learn that music is their only common language. The tragic ending was a bit of a surprise and the epilogue seemed like an abrupt change back to normal life. If you are a music lover then I think you would enjoy this award-winning book.
25. One Night on the Island by Josie Silver - 384 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/6/2022
Cleo Wilder is a dating columnist in London who escapes to Sullivan Island, a remote Irish island, for a solo retreat of self-care in order to refresh herself. Mack Sullivan from Boston USA goes to the same island as he needs some time to himself for soul-searching as his marriage is breaking up. A mix-up with the bookings means both have reserved the same one-room hideaway on exactly the same dates. They are not happy about having to share the room but as days go by, they start to enjoy each other's company. This is not your typical romance novel. It is a very low-key story of two people needing some positive attention at a bad time in their life. You, the reader, get to witness these two characters fight their feelings and finally come up with a solution of why they should have a holiday relationship. Things get to a teary-eyed climax when Mack decides he needs to go back to Boston to spend time with his two sons. This was my first Josie Silver's book but won't be my last. If you like feel-good stories, then you will love this one. Don't forget the tissues. I would like to thank NetGalley and Ballentine Books for a ebook copy for an honest opinion.
26. Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett - 402 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/6/2022
Late 1960's California. Rose Clinton flees to St. Elizabeth's home for unwed mothers in Habit Kentucky. She doesn't want her mother or her husband to know she is pregnant as she wants to give up her baby. While at the home working as a cook she meets Son, the handyman. Rose decides she will keep her baby as Son has agreed to marry her. Marrying Son is just for show as she has never gotten a divorce from her first husband. The reader gets to watch Rose make a mess of her life and I have to admit that I just could not like Rose at all. The book is a page-turner and is broken down into 3 sections (Rose, Son and Cecilia her daughter). I found this Ann Patchett book to be similar to an Anne Tyler book. I liked Patchett's writing but was disappointed in her very abrupt ending which left a lot of loose ends. I would say that the novel cries for a sequel. If you like books about families then I believe you will like this book.
27. The Paris Network by Siobhan Curham - 414 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/12/2022
Paris 1940. This book was inspired by true events during World War II. Laurence Sidot's family bookstore in LaVallee du Cerf, France is being used as a French Resistance location during Germany's occupation of France. A book club is formed to read and discuss the banned books. Some of the books carry coded messages. In America 1993, after her mother's death, Jeanne learns that she has inherited a bookstore in a French village from a woman named Laurence. She travels to France with her father, finds a silver pendant under the floorboard of the bookstore and learns who her mother really was. This was my first book by Siobhan Curham but won't be my last. It is a beautiful story about the power of books. The characters were very believable and well-drawn. The book held my interest from start to finish. If you love historical wartime novels, you will love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookcouture for a copy of the audio for an honest opinion.
28. Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead - 417 pgs. ★★★★★ - 2/13/2022
This is Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize winning rendition of the Underground Railroad. It follows Cora, a young slave's adventures as she seeks freedom in the antebellum South. Caesar, a recent arrival from Virginia, tells her about the Underground Railroad and they flee together. Whitehead's conception of the Underground Railroad is more part fact and part fiction. It is a secret network of tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil. The first stop is South Carolina but Ridgeway, the slave catcher, is close on their heels and they are forced to flee again. We get to follow Cora from state to state and experience the terrors of the black people in the pre-Civil War era. It is a tragic, heartbreaking view of how the slaves were brutally treated by the plantation owners. On the other hand, there were very good people along the real underground railroad who risked their lives in order to help the slaves escape to the north. This was my 7th Whitehead book and his writing gets better and better with each book. If you enjoy alternative reality books then I think this book would be for you.
29. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward - 352 pgs. - ★★★ - 2/14/2022
A teenage girl, a man who drinks, and a talking house cat live in a boarded-up house at the edge of the wild Washington woods. An unspeakable secret binds them together, but when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch trees may come back to haunt them all. With a totally unreliable narrator, this book was hard to get into and I thought about bailing but decided to hang in until the very end. I was glad I did because it is not until the very end that the reader finds out what is really going on. If you like strange mystery books then this book is for you.
30. Bad Actors by Mick Herron - 360 pgs. ★★★★★ - 2/14/2022
In London's MI5 headquarters a scandal is brewing that could disgrace the entire intelligence community. A specialist who advises the Prime Minister's office has disappeared without a trace. Claude Whelan has been tasked with tracking her down. Diana Taverner is the chief suspect. The slow horses are doing what they do best with adding a little bit of chaos to an already unstable situation. This is a political story about lying, cheating and backstabbing. The book has fun-loving characters with dialogue of great wit and humor. The captivating plot is very believable. The twists at the end kept the pages turning. I have read 5 other Herron books and have enjoyed them all. His writing is entertaining. I would like to thank SoHo Crime and NetGalley for an audio copy for an honest opinion. Loved the narrator too!
31. ☊ One-Hit Wonder by Lisa Jewell - 466 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/15/2022
Ana Wills arrives in London to clean out her half-sister's apartment after her death. Bee was a pop-singer and Ana dreamed of living that lifestyle. Ana decides to investigate Bee's secret life of a remote country cottage and an ex-boyfriend. Will what Ana finds out about Bee's death change her forever? This was an interesting read about the sisters' relationship and family happenings. I enjoyed the characters of Zander, Lol and Flint and their witty discussions. Lisa Jewell is an entertaining writer and I plan on reading more of her books. If you like chic-lit then I think you will enjoy Lisa Jewell's books.
32. The Harbor by Katrine Engberg - 22 Feb 2022 - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/16/2022
This is the 3rd book in the Korner and Werner series which is set in Copenhagen Denmark. Fifteen-year-old Oscar Dreyer-Hoff disappears. The police think it is a typical runaway case but his family fear the worst as Oscar left a peculiar note. I found the reference quote to Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray interesting. Detectives Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner uncover lots of secret happenings which keep the pages turning. Jeppe and Anette also have to deal with their personal relationships which sometimes interferes with their investigations. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. If you like fast-paced thrillers then I am sure you will enjoy this series. I would like to thank NetGalley and Gallery/Scott Press for a copy of the ebook for an honest review. 11,790
33. ☊ Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman - 422 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/18/2022
This is the second book in the Thursday Murder Club series. Elizabeth receives a letter from a man with whom she has a long history. He needs her help involving stolen diamonds, a violent mobster, and a very real threat to his life. As bodies start piling up, Elizabeth enlists Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron in the hunt for the ruthless murderer. Can The Thursday Murder Club find the killer (and the diamonds) before the killer finds them? Four lively septuagenarians with witty dialogue make for another entertaining story. Lots of twists and turns kept the paging turning until the very end. I love the short chapters. I'm now looking forward to the 3rd installment. If you love cozy mysteries, then you will definitely enjoy this series.
34. ☊ The Innocent by Harlan Coben - 528 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 2/18/2022
Some mistakes can change your life forever. Matt Hunter is learning this lesson as he innocently tried to break up a fight and ended up a killer. Nine years after his release from prison, he is now an ex-con who takes nothing for granted. His pregnant wife, Olivia, goes to Boston on a business trip and Matt receives a shocking video call from her and his life begins to unravel. Soon Matt is a wanted man after a mysterious man ends up dead and a nun is murdered. Matt and Olivia are forced to run in a desperate attempt to save their future together. The plot was twisting and emotionally charged. The characters were believable and well-developed. Coben is an excellent writer and tied everything up in the end. I have read all of his Myron Bolitar books and enjoyed them very much. I look forward to reading another standalone next and would recommend this book to those who like mystery/thrillers.
35. ☊ Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott - 368 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/19/2022
This book is a mixture of history and fiction. It's about Isaac Newton's suspicious circumstances surrounding his appointment as a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1667. I learned about Newton's involvement with glassmaking and alchemy. The book switches back and forth between the present and the 17th century. Elizabeth Vogelsang, a Cambridge historian, is writing a book about Newton but she has been found drowned in the Cam River. Her son, Cameron, asks Lydia Brooke to finish his mother's novel. There are some present day murders which may link to happenings from the 17th century. Elizabeth's friend, Dilys Kite, reawakens ghosts from the past in order to solve the mysterious deaths. I found this book to be clever and intriguing. The supernatural occult mixed with scientific knowledge was entertaining. The twist at the end was surprising. I enjoyed the author's writing and need to read The Coral Thief, her book about Napoleon. If you like history and the supernatural then you may enjoy Ghostwalk.
36. The Blood Tide by Neil Lancaster - 23 Feb 2022 - 384 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/19/2022
This is the 2nd book in the Max Craigie Scottish Crime series. Max Craigie, Janie Calder and Ross Fraser are the main police characters back again. It's best to start with Book 1 to get the background on these characters. Tom Hardie was arrested and was sent to prison in book 1. He is plotting and planning to get back at Max. Tom is also heavy into dealing his drugs from his prison cell. A fisherman goes missing, a young man jumps from a bridge and commits suicide and a Police Constable is murdered. Are these events related? When Tom escapes from prison is Max's life in jeopardy? Is there a traitor in the police department? The plot is gripping and twists and turns kept the pages turning. The author's descriptions of Scottish scenery make you feel like you are actually there. The dialogue between characters felt very real to me. I will definitely continue with this series in the future. If you like mystery thrillers set in Scotland then I'm sure you will enjoy this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins HQ for a copy of the ebook for an honest review.
37. ☊ The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon - 362 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/20/2022
1968. This is a story about Lynnie and Homan who live in abusive and inhumane conditions at the Pennsylvania School for the Incurable and Feebleminded. Lynnie is probably autistic but the term in 1968 was retarded. Homan is hearing-impaired. They fall in love and Homan helps Lynnie escape to the widow Martha's home. Lynnie has just given birth to a little girl. She was raped at the home and does not want her child to be brought up in the home. She asks Martha to hide her child. Lynnie is captured and taken back to the home but Homan has escaped. This is a well-written book that touches your heart. The book follows the main characters for the next 40 years and we are given POV's from Lynnie, Homan, Martha and Julie (Lynnie's daughter). Thanks to Geraldo Rivera for exposing the horrible conditions at these institutions as people with these problems are now treated with dignity. I found the book hard to put down and will read the author's other book called Riding The Bus with my Sister.
38. ☊ Radar Girls by Sara Ackerman - 400 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/21/2022
This book was inspired by the real WARDS (Women's Air Raid Defense) which was a top secret program replacing male soldiers in the war zone during WWII. Daisy Wilder loves horses more than people until the attack on Pearl Harbor. She joins the WARDS which many people resist but Daisy is determined to prove her worth. This book transports the reader to wartime Hawaii. It is a tale of pioneering unsung heroines and I enjoyed reading about the women's courage, strength and sisterhood. I look forward to reading another book by Sara Ackerman as her books are about strong women. I would recommend this book to those who like to read a captivating story with a little bit of romance.
39. The Rising Tide by Sam Lloyd 01 Mar 2022 - 400 pgs. - ★★★★ - 2/22/2022
Lucy and Daniel Locke and their two children, Billie and Fin, live in a big house on top of a hill overlooking the Devon coast. A monster of a storm is brewing and Daniel, Billie and Fin are lost at sea after taking the family yacht out. Daniel is rescued but Billie and Fin are still missing. DI Abraham Rose and his team are investigating and Lucy and Daniel become suspects. This clever and unique book starts out fast-paced and the reader is forced to keep turning pages in order to find out some answers. In the middle, the book slows down and gets a bit repetitive. Towards the end there are heart-pounding twists and turns culminating into an exciting surprise ending. I liked Sam Lloyd's writing and will be looking forward to reading his next book. If you enjoy mystery/thrillers, then you will enjoy this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for an e-book for an honest review.
40. ☊ The last thing he told me by Laura Dave - 320 pgs. ★★★★★ - 2/15/2022
Hannah Hall thinks she's found the love of her life until he disappears. Owen Michaels leaves Hannah a note that says, "Protect her." The note refers to Owen's sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child and wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother. Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn't who he said he was and Bailey may hold the key to figuring out Owen's true identity and why he disappeared. The characters felt real and believable and the plot was very intriguing with lots of twists and turns. The story was told in first person by Hannah and had me hooked from the very beginning. It alternated between the past and the present. It will not be my last read by Laura Dave as I enjoyed her writing. If you like domestic thrillers then I am sure you will enjoy this book.
41. The Lightning Rod by Brad Meltzer - 672 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 2/28/22
This is the 2nd installment of Brad Meltzer’s Zig and Nola series. Archie Mint has been hiding military secrets. When he is killed, his family is shattered. Zig, a military mortician, works on his body and discovers something he was not suppose to see. Nola and Zig uncover a guarded secret that holds the key to a hidden group that could compromise safety and security of America. Zig and Nola are flawed characters that you can’t help but love. We get more interesting background information on their lives. The plot is well-paced and kept the pages turning until the very end. Plenty of twists and turns add to the enjoyment. If you enjoy mystery thrillers, then I believe you will enjoy this series. I would like to thank NetGalley and Willam Morrow Custom House for the opportunity of reading this book for an honest review.
3EadieB
March 2022
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
42. A Change of Circumstance by Susan Hill - 336 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/13/2022
I would like to thank NetGalley and The Overlook Press for an advanced copy of A Change of Circumstance by Susan Hill for an honest review. This is the 11th installment of the Simon Serrailler series. I have read the whole series thus far and can honestly say that it is one of my favorite series that I look forward to reading. Susan Hill is a master of characterization and storytelling. The Serrailler Family characters seem like members of your own family. Simon, a son of two doctors, is a Detective Chief Superintendent of the Lafferton Police. Simon's sister, Cat Deerbon, has three children and is now married to Chief Constable Kieron Bright. She is a General Practitioner in the National Health Society. When a young man dies of a heroine overdose, Simon realizes that a drug network has infiltrated the local schools. Will Simon be able to crush this network and keep Lafferton save from the drugs? The plot is dark and gripping and the story keeps the pages turning until the very end. Simon's personal life is also a major part of the book as Rachel Wyatt, Simon's ex-lover, returns to Lafferton. Can't wait to read the next installment in order to see where this relationship is going. Susan Hill knows how to keep you invested in this series. If you like crime novels with family drama, then you will enjoy this series.
43. Blackout by Simon Scarrow - 432 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/14/2022
It's 1939 and brutally cold in Berlin and a serial killer is stalking women. The Third Reich has forced nightly blackouts and Germany has crushed Poland. Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke of Berlin's Kripo has been chosen to solve the murder of Gerda Korzeny, a film star and once lover of Josef Goebbels.. Schenke's views of The Fuhrer and The Third Reich are at odds with the Nazis. Will Schenke be able to fight for justice over the power of the Nazis? This is a heart-pounding, gripping thriller that makes you race to the end to find out the answers. It is not your typical WWII novel about the war. It is an authentic account of the Nazi party and their attempt to cover up the truth about what is really happening. Unputdownable! If you love historical crime thrillers then you will enjoy this book. I will definitely be seeking more books by Scarrow as he is a very talented writer. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advanced copy for an honest review.
44. ☊ Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight - 405 pgs. - ★★★★ - 3/15/2022
Kate Baron gets a phone call from her daughter's private school telling her that Amelia has been caught cheating. When Kate arrives at the school, she finds out that Amelia has jumped from the school's roof and is dead. Kate is bound and determined to find out the truth about Amelia's death. This is a scary debut about secrets and lies, friends and bullies. The story is told with POV's from Kate and Amelia. It is sad and heart-breaking but seems a bit contrived and not realistic to me. The twists and turns have lots of red-herrings and lead to a surprise ending which seems too rushed. All and all, I did enjoy the book and will read more books by Kimberly McCreight. If you have a daughter in high school, then you need to read this book.
45. Sea Glass Cottage by Irene Hannon - 352 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/16/2022
Hope Harbor is a small coastal town in Oregon. When Christi Reece shows up to ask Jack Colby for a loan, he is shocked as Christi broke his heart ten years ago. Beth and Steve Adams are estranged after their son's unexpected death. Can these two couples reconcile and forgive each other? The story is told by Christi, Jack, Beth and Steve's POV's. I found Hannon's writing to be very believable and made you want to read on in order to find out what happens with these relationships. I could feel all their frustrations as they worked for forgiveness. Although the book is the 8th in the series, it can be read as a standalone. I have read another book by Hannon and enjoyed that one too. I will be seeking to read more by her. I would like to thank LibraryThing and Revell books for a chance to read this book for an honest review.
46. ☊ The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott - 320 pgs. - ★★★ - 3/19/2022
Paris, 1815. Daniel Connor, a young medical student from Edinburgh, has arrived to study anatomy at the Jardin des Plantes only to realize that his letters of introduction and precious coral specimens, on which his tenure with the legendary Dr. Cuvier depends, have been stolen. His thief turns out to be a beautiful woman who lives in a shadowy realm of outlaws, philosophers, and emigres. As Daniel falls in love with her, he discovers a radical theory of evolution that irrevocably changes his conception of the world. I found the scientific information and the revolution in France interesting but I found the character development and plot too weak. I enjoyed learning about transformism and how it changed views on religion and the origin of species before Charles Darwin's book about evolution. I read and enjoyed Stott's novel Ghostwalk but enjoyed it more than this book. If you like historical and science mixed together then you may enjoy this book.
47. ☊ Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight - 352 pgs. ★★★★ - 3/19/2022
In Ridgedale, New Jersey, the body of a newborn is found in the woods fringing the campus of the town's prestigious university. No one knows the identity of the baby or what ended her very short life. Freelance journalist Molly Anderson is called upon to cover the disturbing news for the Ridgedale Reader, the town's local paper. A severe depression followed the loss of her own baby and this assignment could unearth memories she has tried so hard to bury. Her investigation unravels a decades-old trail of dark secrets hiding behind Ridgedale's white picket fences. Told from the perspectives of three Ridgedale women, Kimberly McCreight's book shows us that the past eventually catches up to all of us. I found the characters to be well-developed and the plot was very interesting. All the twists culminate into a surprise ending. I have also read McCreight's "Reconstructing Amelia" and enjoyed that book too. If you like psychological suspense then you will enjoy this book.
48. ☊ The Lost Relic by Scott Mariani - 450 pgs. - ★★★★ - 3/20/2022
While visiting a former SAS comrade in Italy, Ben Hope is persuaded to attend a valuable gallery exhibition where a gang of criminals is seeking to steal a worthless Goya sketch. Ben is quickly drawn into a world of treachery and danger where nothing is what it seems. In the midst of secret political forces, Ben finds himself wrongly accused of the murder of an Italian politician and becomes a fugitive. This is an action-packed page turner. It is a very well-written storyline which is very entertaining and fast-paced. It is the 6th book in the series and I look forward to reading the next one. If you like historical thrillers then I am sure you will enjoy this series.
49. ☊ The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James - 350 pgs. - ★★★★ - 3/20/2022
1977, Claire Lake, Oregon, The Lady Killer Murders: Two men were murdered. 23 year old Beth Greer was the suspect known at The Lady Killer but she was acquitted.
Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist but she runs a true crime website, the Book of Cold Cases. She was almost abducted as a child. She meets Beth Greer and Shea asks her for an interview. They meet at Beth's mansion and items move when she's not looking, and she could swear she's seen a girl outside the window. Shea senses something isn't right. Is she making friends with a manipulative murderer, or are there other dangers lurking in the darkness of the Greer house? This book is full of creepy paranormal activity. It has great character development and is very hard to put down. It is suspenseful with interesting plot twists that keep the pages turning until the very end. The story is told with Shea and Beth's POV in different timelines. I always look forward to the next Simone St. James release as I know it will be a creepy ghost story with mystery and this one did not disappoint.
50. Lacie's Secrets by Teresa Sorkin, Tullan Holmqvist - 308 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/26/2022
Kate Williams returns to Villa Magda, her family’s summer home on the coast of Maine, after her estranged mother’s death. She has inherited the estate but has not visited for the past 18 years. Kate decides to sell the house and takes her family and their close friends, Molly and Sam Evans and their son, Ben to visit Villa Magda for a week to clean out the house. After arriving they experience unexplainable incidents and suspicious visitors who threaten to expose Kate’s deepest secrets about a fateful summer that ripped her family apart. The visitors friendships begin to unravel when a body is found floating in the pool. What really happened at Villa Magda 18 years ago? How much does Kate remember and can the house be stopped from claiming its next victim? This is a psychological thriller that keeps you invested until the very end. It is a very well-written ghost story with surprising twists. I found the ghosts to be very believable as the house has a spooky feeling as soon as the visitors arrive. The characters were well-drawn and Kate starts to wonder who she can really trust. I think this book would make a great movie and hope that it moves in that direction. I’m looking forward to reading the authors’ first book, The Woman in the Park, as I really like Teresa Sorkin and Tullan Holmqvist’s writing. I would like to thank Beaufort Books and LibraryThing for sending me a copy of an ARC for an honest review. The book is due to be published April 12, 2022 and I would suggest you get a copy if you enjoy ghost stories with a mix of mystery.
51. Wraith by Mark Wheaton - 284 pgs. - ★★★★ - 3/26/2022
Cecily LeClerq hids herself away in the Carolina wetlands after her mother dies. She goes to Paris when she is told that a relative is dying and she learns of an ancient curse of a ghostly wraith that has consumed generations of her ancestors and emerges from the forest when the death of a LeClercq is near. This is a gothic tale of horror of a ghostlike image of evil. I found this book to be creepy and suspenseful with vivid descriptions. The characters are well-developed and the plot was intense. This book would make an awesome movie as it was hard to put down. If you like supernatural fantasy with bits of sci-fi and mystery, then you would enjoy this book. I would like to thank Southbound Films and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review. This book will be published on 4/13/22.
52. Watch Out for Her by Samantha M. Bailey - 336 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/27/2022
Sarah, Daniel and Jacob Goldman move from Vancouver to Toronto to get away from their babysitter, Holly Monroe. The relationship started when Daniel suggested that Sarah needed more time to herself for her photography. Jacob adored Holly and Holly found in Sarah a mother she never had. When Holly gets too involved in the Goldman's lives, they decide to suddenly move to Toronto. In Toronto, Sarah finds hidden cameras and starts to receive strange text messages. Has Sarah's past caught up to her? Who's watching her now? This is a spine-chilling family drama that kept me on the edge of my seat. It is a suspenseful tale of trust, voyeurism and obsession. It is told in 2 points of view - Sarah (Now) and Holly (Before). The characters are well-drawn and the plot is intense. Lots of great twists culminate into a surprise ending that I didn't see coming. If you love psychological suspense then you will enjoy this book. I would like to thank Simon and Shuster, Canada and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review. To be published on 4/19/22.
53. The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ - 3/29/2022
Vermont 1978: Dr. Helen Hildreth, psychiatrist, is acclaimed for her work with the mentally ill at her renowned treatment center. At home, she is just Gran when taking care of Vi and Eric, her grandchildren. One day Gran brings home a child to stay with the family but Iris does not behave like a normal girl. Vi and Eric invite Iris to join their Monster Club. They catalogue all kinds of monsters and makeup ways to defeat them. Iris begins to come out of her shell.
2019: Lizzy Shelley is the host of the popular podcast, Monsters Among Us. A young girl has been abducted. A monster has been sighted in the town. Lizzy is determined to hunt the monster down. Lizzy knows better than anyone that monsters are real because one of them is her very own sister.
This is a story about monsters. I enjoyed the references to Mary Shelly's Frankenstein novel. The characters were unique and the plot has a very surprising twist in the end. The story is told in two timelines (1978 Vi and 2019 Lizzie). I have read all of Jennifer McMahon's books and have enjoyed each one. I look forward to reading her next book as I do enjoy her writing. If you like monster stories then you will enjoy this one. I would like to thank Gallery/Scott Press and NetGalley for a ebook for an honest review.
54. ☊ The Truth About Melody Browne by Lisa Jewell - 349 pgs. - ★★★★ - 3/31/2022
This book is about a young woman searching for answers about her mysterious past. Melody Browne’s house burned down when she was a child. All her family’s possessions and her memories were destroyed. Melody has had no recollection of her life before the fire. She is now a single mother in her early 30's living in London with her teenage son. She hasn’t seen her parents since she left home at fifteen.
While attending a hypnotist show with a date, she faints. When she comes around, she suddenly remembers her life before the fire. The story has a complex plot with multiple storylines and believable characters. There are lots of secrets with shocking twists that kept the pages turning until the very end. If you enjoy stories about family then you will enjoy this book. I have read many of Lisa Jewell's novels and have enjoyed them all.
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
42. A Change of Circumstance by Susan Hill - 336 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/13/2022
I would like to thank NetGalley and The Overlook Press for an advanced copy of A Change of Circumstance by Susan Hill for an honest review. This is the 11th installment of the Simon Serrailler series. I have read the whole series thus far and can honestly say that it is one of my favorite series that I look forward to reading. Susan Hill is a master of characterization and storytelling. The Serrailler Family characters seem like members of your own family. Simon, a son of two doctors, is a Detective Chief Superintendent of the Lafferton Police. Simon's sister, Cat Deerbon, has three children and is now married to Chief Constable Kieron Bright. She is a General Practitioner in the National Health Society. When a young man dies of a heroine overdose, Simon realizes that a drug network has infiltrated the local schools. Will Simon be able to crush this network and keep Lafferton save from the drugs? The plot is dark and gripping and the story keeps the pages turning until the very end. Simon's personal life is also a major part of the book as Rachel Wyatt, Simon's ex-lover, returns to Lafferton. Can't wait to read the next installment in order to see where this relationship is going. Susan Hill knows how to keep you invested in this series. If you like crime novels with family drama, then you will enjoy this series.
43. Blackout by Simon Scarrow - 432 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/14/2022
It's 1939 and brutally cold in Berlin and a serial killer is stalking women. The Third Reich has forced nightly blackouts and Germany has crushed Poland. Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke of Berlin's Kripo has been chosen to solve the murder of Gerda Korzeny, a film star and once lover of Josef Goebbels.. Schenke's views of The Fuhrer and The Third Reich are at odds with the Nazis. Will Schenke be able to fight for justice over the power of the Nazis? This is a heart-pounding, gripping thriller that makes you race to the end to find out the answers. It is not your typical WWII novel about the war. It is an authentic account of the Nazi party and their attempt to cover up the truth about what is really happening. Unputdownable! If you love historical crime thrillers then you will enjoy this book. I will definitely be seeking more books by Scarrow as he is a very talented writer. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advanced copy for an honest review.
44. ☊ Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight - 405 pgs. - ★★★★ - 3/15/2022
Kate Baron gets a phone call from her daughter's private school telling her that Amelia has been caught cheating. When Kate arrives at the school, she finds out that Amelia has jumped from the school's roof and is dead. Kate is bound and determined to find out the truth about Amelia's death. This is a scary debut about secrets and lies, friends and bullies. The story is told with POV's from Kate and Amelia. It is sad and heart-breaking but seems a bit contrived and not realistic to me. The twists and turns have lots of red-herrings and lead to a surprise ending which seems too rushed. All and all, I did enjoy the book and will read more books by Kimberly McCreight. If you have a daughter in high school, then you need to read this book.
45. Sea Glass Cottage by Irene Hannon - 352 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/16/2022
Hope Harbor is a small coastal town in Oregon. When Christi Reece shows up to ask Jack Colby for a loan, he is shocked as Christi broke his heart ten years ago. Beth and Steve Adams are estranged after their son's unexpected death. Can these two couples reconcile and forgive each other? The story is told by Christi, Jack, Beth and Steve's POV's. I found Hannon's writing to be very believable and made you want to read on in order to find out what happens with these relationships. I could feel all their frustrations as they worked for forgiveness. Although the book is the 8th in the series, it can be read as a standalone. I have read another book by Hannon and enjoyed that one too. I will be seeking to read more by her. I would like to thank LibraryThing and Revell books for a chance to read this book for an honest review.
46. ☊ The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott - 320 pgs. - ★★★ - 3/19/2022
Paris, 1815. Daniel Connor, a young medical student from Edinburgh, has arrived to study anatomy at the Jardin des Plantes only to realize that his letters of introduction and precious coral specimens, on which his tenure with the legendary Dr. Cuvier depends, have been stolen. His thief turns out to be a beautiful woman who lives in a shadowy realm of outlaws, philosophers, and emigres. As Daniel falls in love with her, he discovers a radical theory of evolution that irrevocably changes his conception of the world. I found the scientific information and the revolution in France interesting but I found the character development and plot too weak. I enjoyed learning about transformism and how it changed views on religion and the origin of species before Charles Darwin's book about evolution. I read and enjoyed Stott's novel Ghostwalk but enjoyed it more than this book. If you like historical and science mixed together then you may enjoy this book.
47. ☊ Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight - 352 pgs. ★★★★ - 3/19/2022
In Ridgedale, New Jersey, the body of a newborn is found in the woods fringing the campus of the town's prestigious university. No one knows the identity of the baby or what ended her very short life. Freelance journalist Molly Anderson is called upon to cover the disturbing news for the Ridgedale Reader, the town's local paper. A severe depression followed the loss of her own baby and this assignment could unearth memories she has tried so hard to bury. Her investigation unravels a decades-old trail of dark secrets hiding behind Ridgedale's white picket fences. Told from the perspectives of three Ridgedale women, Kimberly McCreight's book shows us that the past eventually catches up to all of us. I found the characters to be well-developed and the plot was very interesting. All the twists culminate into a surprise ending. I have also read McCreight's "Reconstructing Amelia" and enjoyed that book too. If you like psychological suspense then you will enjoy this book.
48. ☊ The Lost Relic by Scott Mariani - 450 pgs. - ★★★★ - 3/20/2022
While visiting a former SAS comrade in Italy, Ben Hope is persuaded to attend a valuable gallery exhibition where a gang of criminals is seeking to steal a worthless Goya sketch. Ben is quickly drawn into a world of treachery and danger where nothing is what it seems. In the midst of secret political forces, Ben finds himself wrongly accused of the murder of an Italian politician and becomes a fugitive. This is an action-packed page turner. It is a very well-written storyline which is very entertaining and fast-paced. It is the 6th book in the series and I look forward to reading the next one. If you like historical thrillers then I am sure you will enjoy this series.
49. ☊ The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James - 350 pgs. - ★★★★ - 3/20/2022
1977, Claire Lake, Oregon, The Lady Killer Murders: Two men were murdered. 23 year old Beth Greer was the suspect known at The Lady Killer but she was acquitted.
Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist but she runs a true crime website, the Book of Cold Cases. She was almost abducted as a child. She meets Beth Greer and Shea asks her for an interview. They meet at Beth's mansion and items move when she's not looking, and she could swear she's seen a girl outside the window. Shea senses something isn't right. Is she making friends with a manipulative murderer, or are there other dangers lurking in the darkness of the Greer house? This book is full of creepy paranormal activity. It has great character development and is very hard to put down. It is suspenseful with interesting plot twists that keep the pages turning until the very end. The story is told with Shea and Beth's POV in different timelines. I always look forward to the next Simone St. James release as I know it will be a creepy ghost story with mystery and this one did not disappoint.
50. Lacie's Secrets by Teresa Sorkin, Tullan Holmqvist - 308 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/26/2022
Kate Williams returns to Villa Magda, her family’s summer home on the coast of Maine, after her estranged mother’s death. She has inherited the estate but has not visited for the past 18 years. Kate decides to sell the house and takes her family and their close friends, Molly and Sam Evans and their son, Ben to visit Villa Magda for a week to clean out the house. After arriving they experience unexplainable incidents and suspicious visitors who threaten to expose Kate’s deepest secrets about a fateful summer that ripped her family apart. The visitors friendships begin to unravel when a body is found floating in the pool. What really happened at Villa Magda 18 years ago? How much does Kate remember and can the house be stopped from claiming its next victim? This is a psychological thriller that keeps you invested until the very end. It is a very well-written ghost story with surprising twists. I found the ghosts to be very believable as the house has a spooky feeling as soon as the visitors arrive. The characters were well-drawn and Kate starts to wonder who she can really trust. I think this book would make a great movie and hope that it moves in that direction. I’m looking forward to reading the authors’ first book, The Woman in the Park, as I really like Teresa Sorkin and Tullan Holmqvist’s writing. I would like to thank Beaufort Books and LibraryThing for sending me a copy of an ARC for an honest review. The book is due to be published April 12, 2022 and I would suggest you get a copy if you enjoy ghost stories with a mix of mystery.
51. Wraith by Mark Wheaton - 284 pgs. - ★★★★ - 3/26/2022
Cecily LeClerq hids herself away in the Carolina wetlands after her mother dies. She goes to Paris when she is told that a relative is dying and she learns of an ancient curse of a ghostly wraith that has consumed generations of her ancestors and emerges from the forest when the death of a LeClercq is near. This is a gothic tale of horror of a ghostlike image of evil. I found this book to be creepy and suspenseful with vivid descriptions. The characters are well-developed and the plot was intense. This book would make an awesome movie as it was hard to put down. If you like supernatural fantasy with bits of sci-fi and mystery, then you would enjoy this book. I would like to thank Southbound Films and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review. This book will be published on 4/13/22.
52. Watch Out for Her by Samantha M. Bailey - 336 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 3/27/2022
Sarah, Daniel and Jacob Goldman move from Vancouver to Toronto to get away from their babysitter, Holly Monroe. The relationship started when Daniel suggested that Sarah needed more time to herself for her photography. Jacob adored Holly and Holly found in Sarah a mother she never had. When Holly gets too involved in the Goldman's lives, they decide to suddenly move to Toronto. In Toronto, Sarah finds hidden cameras and starts to receive strange text messages. Has Sarah's past caught up to her? Who's watching her now? This is a spine-chilling family drama that kept me on the edge of my seat. It is a suspenseful tale of trust, voyeurism and obsession. It is told in 2 points of view - Sarah (Now) and Holly (Before). The characters are well-drawn and the plot is intense. Lots of great twists culminate into a surprise ending that I didn't see coming. If you love psychological suspense then you will enjoy this book. I would like to thank Simon and Shuster, Canada and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review. To be published on 4/19/22.
53. The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ - 3/29/2022
Vermont 1978: Dr. Helen Hildreth, psychiatrist, is acclaimed for her work with the mentally ill at her renowned treatment center. At home, she is just Gran when taking care of Vi and Eric, her grandchildren. One day Gran brings home a child to stay with the family but Iris does not behave like a normal girl. Vi and Eric invite Iris to join their Monster Club. They catalogue all kinds of monsters and makeup ways to defeat them. Iris begins to come out of her shell.
2019: Lizzy Shelley is the host of the popular podcast, Monsters Among Us. A young girl has been abducted. A monster has been sighted in the town. Lizzy is determined to hunt the monster down. Lizzy knows better than anyone that monsters are real because one of them is her very own sister.
This is a story about monsters. I enjoyed the references to Mary Shelly's Frankenstein novel. The characters were unique and the plot has a very surprising twist in the end. The story is told in two timelines (1978 Vi and 2019 Lizzie). I have read all of Jennifer McMahon's books and have enjoyed each one. I look forward to reading her next book as I do enjoy her writing. If you like monster stories then you will enjoy this one. I would like to thank Gallery/Scott Press and NetGalley for a ebook for an honest review.
54. ☊ The Truth About Melody Browne by Lisa Jewell - 349 pgs. - ★★★★ - 3/31/2022
This book is about a young woman searching for answers about her mysterious past. Melody Browne’s house burned down when she was a child. All her family’s possessions and her memories were destroyed. Melody has had no recollection of her life before the fire. She is now a single mother in her early 30's living in London with her teenage son. She hasn’t seen her parents since she left home at fifteen.
While attending a hypnotist show with a date, she faints. When she comes around, she suddenly remembers her life before the fire. The story has a complex plot with multiple storylines and believable characters. There are lots of secrets with shocking twists that kept the pages turning until the very end. If you enjoy stories about family then you will enjoy this book. I have read many of Lisa Jewell's novels and have enjoyed them all.
4EadieB
April 2022
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
55. ☊ The Diamond Eye A Novel by Kate Quinn - 448 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - 4/9/2022
This book is based on a true story. Mila Pavlichenko was a librarian and a history student. During World War II she became the deadliest female sniper during Hitler's invasion of Ukraine and killed over 300 Nazis and was known as Lady Death. She becomes a national heroine and is sent to Washington D.C. on a goodwill tour to meet First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She soon finds herself battling her own demons and enemy bullets in the deadliest duel of her life which will change the course of history. This book shows the horrors of war. The characters were believable and seemed very real. The great writing allowed me to picture what Mila was experiencing. The story is told from Mila's POV and official memoir entries with her humorous observations also notes from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. I have read The Alice Network and The Rose Code and enjoyed those books. I am now looking forward to reading The Huntress. The Diamond Eye is a must read for historical fiction readers.
56. ☊ The Woods by Harlan Coben - 509 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 4/10/2022
Paul Copeland, county prosecutor, is grieving over the murder of his sister. He is now working on a murder investigation that could be related to his sister's case. Twenty years ago, four young people went missing in the woods while at a summer camp. Two were found murdered and two are still missing. Can Paul's sister, Camille, still be alive? This book hooked me from the start. I found it to be a fast-paced suspenseful read. Harlan Coben is the master of the twist and this book does not disappoint. If you like stories about family secrets then you will enjoy this one. It is definitely one of his better stories. I am now looking forward to reading another of his books as Coben always delivers.
57. ☊ 31 Dream Street by Lisa Jewell - 480 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 4/11/2022
Leah lives across the street from Toby and his eccentric house where Toby has a lot of misfit tenants. Leah finally meets Toby and somehow with fate, romance and a helping hand, Toby and Leah's relationship show the makings of a dream come true. I love the characters in this book. It was fun to read about them and their quirky ways and see what was in store for them. I found it to be a feel-good story laced with Jewell's warmth and humor. I have read many of her books and have enjoyed them all. If you like touching and entertaining books then I am sure you will enjoy this one.
58. An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher - 336 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 4/12/2022
Rainy lives at the top of Tiger Mountain and she is hiding from the disturbing past she wants to forget. She agrees to a girls’ weekend in Vegas but after a wild night, her friend Braithe doesn’t come back to the hotel room. Then Rainy gets a text message sent from Braithe’s phone: someone has her. But Rainy is who they really want, and Rainy knows why. Does Rainy need to step back into the past in order to save Braithe? Are the girls that Rainy meets really her friend? This is a heart-pounding and suspense-filled plot that started out slow but heated up and kept me turning pages until the very end. The timeline switches back and forth between now and then. There were a few twists that I didn't see coming but only enhanced the story. If you like psychological thrillers then I am sure you will like this one. I would like to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review. To be published 4/26/22.
59. ☊ True Colors by Kristin Hannah - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 4/17/2022
The Grey sisters' mother died years ago and their father doesn't give them much attention. Winona needs her father's approval. Aurora is the peacemaker. ViviAnn is the star of the family but when she follows her heart, events will test the love and loyalties of the Grey sisters. A shocking crime will shatter their town and secrets will be revealed. This is a novel about sisters, vengeance, jealousy, betrayal and what truly means to be a family. It is well paced with interesting characters. If you love stories about sisters and family, then you will enjoy this one.
60. The Vanishing Triangle by Claire McGowan - 192 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 4/17/2022
In the 1990's, Ireland seemed a safe place for women. It was easy to ignore non-political murders and sexual violence. Claire McGowan delivers a candid investigation into the culture of secrecy, victim-blaming and shame. McGowan reveals an Ireland of outdated social and sexual mores, perceived propriety and misguided politics. Was an unknown serial killer at large or was there something even more insidious at work? Eight women went missing from an area roughly 80 miles around Dublin. This is a fascinating read and well-researched by McGowan. I enjoyed this book as it was very passionate to McGowan to write. I would like to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK Little A for a copy for an honest review.
61. ☊ The Woman in the Park by Sorkin, Teresa - 207 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 4/17/2022
When Manhattanite Sarah Rock meets a mysterious and handsome stranger in the park, she is drawn to him. Sarah wants to get away from her daily routine, her cheating husband and his crazy mistress, her frequent sessions with her heartless therapist, and her moody children. But nothing is as it seems. Her life begins to unravel when a woman from the park goes missing and Sarah becomes the prime suspect in the woman's disappearance. Her lover is nowhere to be found, her husband is suspicious of her, and her therapist is talking to the police.
A thriller that questions what is real, with its shocking twists, secrets, and lies. The plot is a fast-page turner that had me trying to figure out what was going on. If you like riveting psychological thrillers, then you will like this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Beaufort Books for a copy for an honest review.
62. My Wife Is Missing by D.J. Palmer - 384 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 4/17/2022
A family vacation turns into a nightmare for Michael Hart when he discovers his wife and two children have disappeared from their New York City hotel room. Horrified, he fears they've been kidnapped. Are her fears about Michael valid or a symptom of her condition? But who can she trust when she can't even trust herself?
This is a well written, fast paced story. The novel alternates between Michael and Natalie's POVs. Secrets and a tangled web are revealed. I have read DJ Palmer's other book and have enjoyed it too. I can't wait to see what DJ Palmer comes out with next. If you love thrillers, then you will love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy for an honest review.
63. It Could Be Anyone by Jamie Lynn Hendricks - 312 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 4/23/22
It Could Be Anyone is a deadly tale of death written by Jamie Lynn Hendricks. Trevor and Fiona’s wedding was held in Miami FL and Ethan, Emma, Dutch, VeeJay and Allie were invited from New York. The friends were forced to convince Fiona into marrying Trevor. During the wedding, Trevor dies of an allergic reaction. He was allergic to tree nuts and he had an EpiPen not too close by. Was he killed by a guest? He was not too liked by Trevor. Ethan has bought a bootle of Tree Nut Oil but left it in his room. Someone else had killed Trevor. He has five POV’s and after a few twists and turns, the murderer was told in the end. Thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers, Scarlett for a copy for an honest review.
64. The Dark Tide by Simon McCleave - 384 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 4/23/22
DCI Laura Hart was the top Hostage and Crisis Negotiator for the Greater Manchester Police. Her then husband was kidnapped and then brutally murdered. She's living now on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. She gets a call that armed drug dealers have seized a tourist boat and her ten-year-old son Jake is on board. Laura is living her worst nightmare with the life of a loved one yet again on the line. Can she lay to rest the ghosts of her past in time to save her son? This is the first book of the Anglesey Series. It has a well crafted set of characters and a plot that is cleverly written. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. If you love action thrillers then you will love this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a copy for an honest review.
65. Elysium Tide by James R. Hannibal -352 pgs - ★★★★ - 4/29/22
Peter Chesterfield is ordered by the Royal London Hospital to take a week off in Maui to attend a conference in Hawaii. He is a neurosurgeon which happens upon a murder and becomes obsessed with finding the killer. Lisa Kealoha join forces with Peter Chesterfield as they uncover a plot that runs far deeper than either of them could have imagined.
This is a book that is filled with family ties, twists and turns that keep the pages turning. The plot with plenty of action moves the story. You will be able to read it in one sitting. The ending set up for a sequel to follow. If you like to read action books, then you will enjoy this book. I look forward to reading another book by this author. Thanks to LibraryThing and Revell books for a copy for an honest review.
66. The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark - 350 pgs. - ★★★★ - 4/30/22
Who is Meg Williams? She is a con artist who tricks a high school principal, Cory Dempsey, into buying her a car and steals his money. She is in Reading, PA and is golfing with Phillip Montgomery who is about to divorce Renata Davies. Meg asks him to sell his $250,000 home to her for $20,000. Ten years later she is posing as a real estate agent and living with Scott Griffin. Kat Roberts is a journalist and is wondering what Meg is up to. She signs up to become a buyer and Scott warns her not to become friendly with Meg. The book is well plotted and the ending is satisfying. If you like books about con artists, then you will enjoy this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy for an honest review.
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
55. ☊ The Diamond Eye A Novel by Kate Quinn - 448 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - 4/9/2022
This book is based on a true story. Mila Pavlichenko was a librarian and a history student. During World War II she became the deadliest female sniper during Hitler's invasion of Ukraine and killed over 300 Nazis and was known as Lady Death. She becomes a national heroine and is sent to Washington D.C. on a goodwill tour to meet First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She soon finds herself battling her own demons and enemy bullets in the deadliest duel of her life which will change the course of history. This book shows the horrors of war. The characters were believable and seemed very real. The great writing allowed me to picture what Mila was experiencing. The story is told from Mila's POV and official memoir entries with her humorous observations also notes from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. I have read The Alice Network and The Rose Code and enjoyed those books. I am now looking forward to reading The Huntress. The Diamond Eye is a must read for historical fiction readers.
56. ☊ The Woods by Harlan Coben - 509 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 4/10/2022
Paul Copeland, county prosecutor, is grieving over the murder of his sister. He is now working on a murder investigation that could be related to his sister's case. Twenty years ago, four young people went missing in the woods while at a summer camp. Two were found murdered and two are still missing. Can Paul's sister, Camille, still be alive? This book hooked me from the start. I found it to be a fast-paced suspenseful read. Harlan Coben is the master of the twist and this book does not disappoint. If you like stories about family secrets then you will enjoy this one. It is definitely one of his better stories. I am now looking forward to reading another of his books as Coben always delivers.
57. ☊ 31 Dream Street by Lisa Jewell - 480 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 4/11/2022
Leah lives across the street from Toby and his eccentric house where Toby has a lot of misfit tenants. Leah finally meets Toby and somehow with fate, romance and a helping hand, Toby and Leah's relationship show the makings of a dream come true. I love the characters in this book. It was fun to read about them and their quirky ways and see what was in store for them. I found it to be a feel-good story laced with Jewell's warmth and humor. I have read many of her books and have enjoyed them all. If you like touching and entertaining books then I am sure you will enjoy this one.
58. An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher - 336 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 4/12/2022
Rainy lives at the top of Tiger Mountain and she is hiding from the disturbing past she wants to forget. She agrees to a girls’ weekend in Vegas but after a wild night, her friend Braithe doesn’t come back to the hotel room. Then Rainy gets a text message sent from Braithe’s phone: someone has her. But Rainy is who they really want, and Rainy knows why. Does Rainy need to step back into the past in order to save Braithe? Are the girls that Rainy meets really her friend? This is a heart-pounding and suspense-filled plot that started out slow but heated up and kept me turning pages until the very end. The timeline switches back and forth between now and then. There were a few twists that I didn't see coming but only enhanced the story. If you like psychological thrillers then I am sure you will like this one. I would like to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review. To be published 4/26/22.
59. ☊ True Colors by Kristin Hannah - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 4/17/2022
The Grey sisters' mother died years ago and their father doesn't give them much attention. Winona needs her father's approval. Aurora is the peacemaker. ViviAnn is the star of the family but when she follows her heart, events will test the love and loyalties of the Grey sisters. A shocking crime will shatter their town and secrets will be revealed. This is a novel about sisters, vengeance, jealousy, betrayal and what truly means to be a family. It is well paced with interesting characters. If you love stories about sisters and family, then you will enjoy this one.
60. The Vanishing Triangle by Claire McGowan - 192 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 4/17/2022
In the 1990's, Ireland seemed a safe place for women. It was easy to ignore non-political murders and sexual violence. Claire McGowan delivers a candid investigation into the culture of secrecy, victim-blaming and shame. McGowan reveals an Ireland of outdated social and sexual mores, perceived propriety and misguided politics. Was an unknown serial killer at large or was there something even more insidious at work? Eight women went missing from an area roughly 80 miles around Dublin. This is a fascinating read and well-researched by McGowan. I enjoyed this book as it was very passionate to McGowan to write. I would like to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK Little A for a copy for an honest review.
61. ☊ The Woman in the Park by Sorkin, Teresa - 207 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 4/17/2022
When Manhattanite Sarah Rock meets a mysterious and handsome stranger in the park, she is drawn to him. Sarah wants to get away from her daily routine, her cheating husband and his crazy mistress, her frequent sessions with her heartless therapist, and her moody children. But nothing is as it seems. Her life begins to unravel when a woman from the park goes missing and Sarah becomes the prime suspect in the woman's disappearance. Her lover is nowhere to be found, her husband is suspicious of her, and her therapist is talking to the police.
A thriller that questions what is real, with its shocking twists, secrets, and lies. The plot is a fast-page turner that had me trying to figure out what was going on. If you like riveting psychological thrillers, then you will like this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Beaufort Books for a copy for an honest review.
62. My Wife Is Missing by D.J. Palmer - 384 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 4/17/2022
A family vacation turns into a nightmare for Michael Hart when he discovers his wife and two children have disappeared from their New York City hotel room. Horrified, he fears they've been kidnapped. Are her fears about Michael valid or a symptom of her condition? But who can she trust when she can't even trust herself?
This is a well written, fast paced story. The novel alternates between Michael and Natalie's POVs. Secrets and a tangled web are revealed. I have read DJ Palmer's other book and have enjoyed it too. I can't wait to see what DJ Palmer comes out with next. If you love thrillers, then you will love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy for an honest review.
63. It Could Be Anyone by Jamie Lynn Hendricks - 312 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 4/23/22
It Could Be Anyone is a deadly tale of death written by Jamie Lynn Hendricks. Trevor and Fiona’s wedding was held in Miami FL and Ethan, Emma, Dutch, VeeJay and Allie were invited from New York. The friends were forced to convince Fiona into marrying Trevor. During the wedding, Trevor dies of an allergic reaction. He was allergic to tree nuts and he had an EpiPen not too close by. Was he killed by a guest? He was not too liked by Trevor. Ethan has bought a bootle of Tree Nut Oil but left it in his room. Someone else had killed Trevor. He has five POV’s and after a few twists and turns, the murderer was told in the end. Thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers, Scarlett for a copy for an honest review.
64. The Dark Tide by Simon McCleave - 384 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 4/23/22
DCI Laura Hart was the top Hostage and Crisis Negotiator for the Greater Manchester Police. Her then husband was kidnapped and then brutally murdered. She's living now on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. She gets a call that armed drug dealers have seized a tourist boat and her ten-year-old son Jake is on board. Laura is living her worst nightmare with the life of a loved one yet again on the line. Can she lay to rest the ghosts of her past in time to save her son? This is the first book of the Anglesey Series. It has a well crafted set of characters and a plot that is cleverly written. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. If you love action thrillers then you will love this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a copy for an honest review.
65. Elysium Tide by James R. Hannibal -352 pgs - ★★★★ - 4/29/22
Peter Chesterfield is ordered by the Royal London Hospital to take a week off in Maui to attend a conference in Hawaii. He is a neurosurgeon which happens upon a murder and becomes obsessed with finding the killer. Lisa Kealoha join forces with Peter Chesterfield as they uncover a plot that runs far deeper than either of them could have imagined.
This is a book that is filled with family ties, twists and turns that keep the pages turning. The plot with plenty of action moves the story. You will be able to read it in one sitting. The ending set up for a sequel to follow. If you like to read action books, then you will enjoy this book. I look forward to reading another book by this author. Thanks to LibraryThing and Revell books for a copy for an honest review.
66. The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark - 350 pgs. - ★★★★ - 4/30/22
Who is Meg Williams? She is a con artist who tricks a high school principal, Cory Dempsey, into buying her a car and steals his money. She is in Reading, PA and is golfing with Phillip Montgomery who is about to divorce Renata Davies. Meg asks him to sell his $250,000 home to her for $20,000. Ten years later she is posing as a real estate agent and living with Scott Griffin. Kat Roberts is a journalist and is wondering what Meg is up to. She signs up to become a buyer and Scott warns her not to become friendly with Meg. The book is well plotted and the ending is satisfying. If you like books about con artists, then you will enjoy this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy for an honest review.
5EadieB
May 2022
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
67. Abiding Conviction by Stephen M. Murphy - 320 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/1/2022
Dutch Francis, an attorney, trying a court case of Honorable Carlos Garcia who killed his wife. Ginnie Turner is Dutch Francis's wife who was kidnapped on the day the trial. Will the court case be solved while Ginnie is missing? This is a mind-blowing situation as Dutch carries on being an attorney while trying to find Ginnie. If you like court cases mixed with kidnapping then you will love this book. I'm now looking forward to the next book by Stephen M. Murphy. I would like to thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for a copy for an honest review.
68. The Hidden One by Linda Castillo - 320 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/2/2022
Amish bishop Amanias Stoltzfus disappeared without a trace. Skeletal remains show evidence of foul play. The town elders arrive in Painters Mill to ask chief of police Kate Burkholder for help. She realizes that she has a personal connection to the crime. Jonas Bowman is the Amish man who stands accused of murder. He was Kate's first love. Kate travels to Pennsylvania's Kishacoquillas Valley. Though Bishop Stoltzfus was highly respected, she soon hears about a dark side to this complex man. What was he hiding that resulted in his own brutal death? This is the 14th book of the series. You can read each book as a standalone but it is best to read it as a series. The twists keep the pages turning. The ending is a complete surprise. I am now looking forward to the next book in the series. If you like the action then you will love this book. l am thankful to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a copy for an honest review.
69. The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunmsvold - 368 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/5/2022
Aidyn Kelley agrees to help a hospice patient prepare her obituary. Clara Kip has some incredible stories. Some surprises promise to make this throwaway assignment a life-changing one. This was an incredible read. Clara told Aidyn about her husband who died 8 months after they were married. Aidyn wondered why she hadn't married again. While attempting to read about his death, Aidyn found out that he was Laotian and was in a car accident. Clara Kip asked Aidyn to make her obituary sound like something extraordinary. Aidyn did an investigation and found out that the Laotian refugee resettlement effort in 1975 brought about the immigration of Laotian people into America. Though the resettlement effort is long over, many organizations today carry on the legacy of caring for the physical, spiritual and educational needs of refugees and immigrants in Kansas City. After Clara died, they did a special party for her on the grass and read her obituary. It was a special tribute to Clara Kip and a good time for all. I would like to thank LibraryThing Early Reviewer and Revell Publishing for a copy for an honest review.
70. A Handful of Heaven by Kristin Hannah - 451 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/7/2022
Yukon Territory was a gold miner's heaven, and Devon O'Shea had come to claim her share. But instead of a thriving store in a boom town, Devon discovered she was part owner of a filthy, disorganized tent with a bunch of gold diggers and a mountainous slap of animosity for a partner: Stone Man McKenna. Gathering mop, pail and sheer determination, Devon vowed to make this post the best in the Yukon Territory. Stone Man didn't scare her. But his kiss -- a gruff attempt to convince her that the Yukon was no place for a lady -- left her feeling, for the first time in her life, feminine and alive.
This was an interesting story. It was more of a romance than a mystery. It had a good feeling about it and changed the way I saw the Yukon Territory. It was a good Kristin Hannah story and left me a bit surprised at the ending. It was one of the first books that Kristin Hannah wrote and I would have to say that I loved it a lot.
71. ☊ Run Away by Harlan Coben - 338 pgs. - ★★★ - 5/8/2022
You've lost your daughter. She's addicted to drugs and to an abusive boyfriend. And she's made it clear that she doesn't want to be found. Then, quite by chance, you see her busking in New York's Central Park. But she's not the girl you remember. This woman is wasted, frightened and clearly in trouble. You don't stop to think. You approach her, beg her to come home. She runs. And you follow her into a dark and dangerous world you never knew existed. Where criminal gangs rule, where drugs are the main currency, and murder is commonplace. Now it's your life on the line. And nowhere and no one is safe.
This is a book that I felt sorry for Simon. He was chasing his daughter throughout the whole book. We found out that she was hooked on drugs and a bit frightened. It wasn't until the end that he caught up to her and changed her mind. She made him promise not to tell her mother that she killed her friend. It was ok but not one of his best.
72. The It Girl by Ruth Ware - 432 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/9/2022
April Clark-Clivedon and Hannah Jones were roommates at Oxford. But by the end of the year, April was dead. The Oxford porter, John Neville, killed her. Ten years later, Hannah and Will are married and expecting a child. John Neville has died in prison. A young journalist has brought forth new evidence that John Neville may be innocent. Is one of her friends guilty of murder? I really enjoyed this book. The characters were so life-like and the plot was fast-paced. There were plenty of twists and lots of red herrings. By the end of the book, I had changed my mind three times. Ruth Ware is surely clever and the book is unputdownable. I would like to thank NetGalley and Galley/Scout Press for a copy for an honest review.
73. Dark Objects by Simon Toyne - 400 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/14/2022
Laughton Rees' novel was found at the murder scene. Kate Muller was killed. Did her husband do it? Laughton's mom was murdered when she was fifteen. She cut off contact with her dad, a police commissioner, whom she blamed for failing to prevent the murder. The crime scene had some disturbing personal elements for Laughton. Is someone sending her a message?
I enjoyed this book and found the plot intriguing. The characters were well-drawn and complicated. The twist at the end was a complete surprise and very satisfying. If you like crime thrillers with hidden messages, then you will enjoy this book. I would like to thank William Morrow and Net Galley for a copy for an honest review.
74. The Birdcage by Eve Chase - 400 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/15/2022
Three sisters meet in north Cornwall for a confront of the past. They are sisters on their father side but have different mothers. The story is told in 3 POV's. There are plenty of secrets and they are haunted by what happened twenty years ago. It has a well crafted set of characters and a plot that is cleverly written. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. If you love action thrillers then you will love this one. II would like to thank G.P. Putnam Sons and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review.
75. Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier - 352 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/16/2022
Paris Paralta is charged with murder after she finds her celebrity husband dead in the bathtub. Ruby Reyes was charged with murder twenty-five years ago. Reyes knows who Paris really is and she threatens to expose all of Paris’ secrets. This is a heart-pounding and surprise-filled plot that started out slow but heated up and kept me turning pages until the very end. The timeline switches between the past and present. If you love action thrillers then you will enjoy this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a copy for an honest review.
76. A Simple Choice by David Pepper - 432 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/17/2022
Palmer Knight, a fast-rising TV news correspondent, is sent to cover a mysterious death of a senator who jumps from a cliff in Maine,. Army veteran and former Supreme Court, Amity Jones, finds herself enmeshed in a political conspiracy and ultimately into Palmer's investigation of the senator's death. This is a political book that did not disappoint. It it a medical research of what to do to save a loved one. It is a plot that takes us on a roller coaster ride as we weave through a conspiracy to figure out who is behind the death. If you like political thrillers then you will love to read this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and P.G. Putnam Sons for a copy for an honest review.
77. Stay Awake by Megan Goldin - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/18/2022
Liv Reese doesn't remember anything. What did she do last night? Why does she remember nothing from the past two years? Liv finds herself on the run for a crime she doesn't remember committing. There's someone who does know exactly what she did, and they'll do anything to make her forget permanently. This has a well-crafted set of characters and a plot that is cleverly written. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. If you love complex thrillers, then you will love this one.I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy for an honest review.
78. Dear Little Corpses by Nicola Upson - 227 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/20/2022
As the mass evacuation takes place across Britain, thousands of children leave London for the countryside. When a little girl vanishes without a trace, the reality of separation becomes more urgent and more deadly for those who love her. This is the first book of the ten books of Josephine Tey series that I have read. It can be read as a standalone so that is not a problem. The setting, characters, and plot were intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages until the very end. If you like Golden Age mystery with a timeless fears of a child’s abduction, then you will love this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy for an honest review.
79. Never Go Home A Novel by Christopher Swann - 288 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/21/2022
Susannah Faulkner grew up wild. Her brother, Ethan, needs her so she returns home to Altanta. In the airport, she finds her Uncle Gavin suffering a heart attack. Gavin whispers a single word to Suzie: Peaches. She's determined to uncover the meaning of the cryptic message but then Ethan is also deep in trouble. An ex-soldier Finn appeared on his doorstep with a disturbing story: fifteen years earlier, Finn served with their father in Iraq, where they stole millions in cash. Now the money is missing and Finn wants his share - or else.
This is the 2nd book of the series. I didn't read the first but it can be read as a standalone. The characters and plot line were interesting and kept the pages turning until the very end. If you like action thrillers, then you will enjoy this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy for an honest review.
80. The Rising Tiide by Ann Cleeves - 368 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/27/2022
For fifty years a group of friends have been meeting for reunions on Holy Island, celebrating the school trip where they met, and the friend that they lost to the rising tide five years later. Now, when one of them is found hanged, Vera is called in. Learning that the dead man had recently been fired after misconduct and allegations, Vera knows she must discover what the friends are hiding, and whether the events of many years before could have led to murder then, and now.
This is book number 10 in the Vera series. I have read all the others before so I am very familiar with the series. It is a series of characters that speak for the author and the plot is such that I have kept the pages turning until the very surprising ending. It is very hard to guess the killer as Ann Cleeves does not leave anything unturned until the very end. I look forward to the next book as I have enjoyed each one. If you love thrillers then you will love this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a copy for an honest review.
81. Fox Creek by William Kent Krueger - Aug 23, 2022 - 400 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/29/2022
The latest in the New York Times bestselling Cork O’Connor Mystery Series from the “master storyteller” (Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author) follows Cork in a race against time to save his wife, a mysterious stranger, and an Ojibwe healer from bloodthirsty mercenaries.
The ancient Ojibwe healer Henry Meloux has had a vision of his death. As he walks the Northwoods in solitude, he tries to prepare himself peacefully for the end of his long life. But peace is destined to elude him as hunters fill the woods seeking a woman named Dolores Morriseau, a stranger who had come to the healer for shelter and the gift of his wisdom.
Meloux guides this stranger and his great niece, Cork O’Connor’s wife, to safety deep into the Boundary Waters, his home for more than a century. On the last journey he may ever take into this beloved land, Meloux must do his best to outwit the deadly mercenaries who follow.
Meanwhile, in Aurora, Cork works feverishly to identify the hunters and the reason for their relentless pursuit, but he has little to go on. Desperate, Cork begins tracking the killers but his own skills as a hunter are severely tested by nightfall and a late season snowstorm. He knows only too well that with each passing hour time is running out. But his fiercest enemy in this deadly game of cat and mouse may well be his own deep self-doubt about his ability to save those he loves.
This is book 19 in the Cork O'Connor series. I have read all the other books and have loved them too. The characters feel so real and the plot is an excellent story to keep the pages turning until the very end. I am now looking forward to the next installment. I am thankful to NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy for an honest review.
82. Mystic Wind by James Barretto - 400 pgs. ★★★★ - 5/29/2022
Mystic Wind is a legal thriller and an outstanding debut. Interesting plot with intriguing characters enough to keep me turning the pages until the very end. It is a fast-paced well-written book about a courtroom drama. If you like legal thrillers then you will enjoy this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishers for a copy for an honest review.
83. Landslide by Adam Sikes - 368 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/29/2022
US Marine veteran Mason Hackett moved to London to start his life over, and he’s done his best to convince himself that what happened fifteen years ago doesn’t matter—the people he killed, the men he lost, the lives he ruined. But when Mason sees the face of a dead friend flash on a television screen, and then receives a mysterious email referencing a CIA operation gone bad, he can no longer ignore his inner demons.
Driven by loyalty and a need to uncover the truth, Mason launches on a perilous journey from the Czech Republic to Romania toward the war-torn separatist region in eastern Ukraine to honor a fifteen-year-old promise. The answers he seeks—the fate of a friend and his connection to the underworld of international arms dealers and defense corporations—throw Mason into the cauldron of a covert war where no one can be trusted.
This is a debut and a very good one! It is a good read about war in and around Mariupol, Ukraine. The characters are unique and the plot is such that kept me turning pages until the very end. If you love action thrillers, then you will love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for a copy for an honest review.
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
67. Abiding Conviction by Stephen M. Murphy - 320 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/1/2022
Dutch Francis, an attorney, trying a court case of Honorable Carlos Garcia who killed his wife. Ginnie Turner is Dutch Francis's wife who was kidnapped on the day the trial. Will the court case be solved while Ginnie is missing? This is a mind-blowing situation as Dutch carries on being an attorney while trying to find Ginnie. If you like court cases mixed with kidnapping then you will love this book. I'm now looking forward to the next book by Stephen M. Murphy. I would like to thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for a copy for an honest review.
68. The Hidden One by Linda Castillo - 320 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/2/2022
Amish bishop Amanias Stoltzfus disappeared without a trace. Skeletal remains show evidence of foul play. The town elders arrive in Painters Mill to ask chief of police Kate Burkholder for help. She realizes that she has a personal connection to the crime. Jonas Bowman is the Amish man who stands accused of murder. He was Kate's first love. Kate travels to Pennsylvania's Kishacoquillas Valley. Though Bishop Stoltzfus was highly respected, she soon hears about a dark side to this complex man. What was he hiding that resulted in his own brutal death? This is the 14th book of the series. You can read each book as a standalone but it is best to read it as a series. The twists keep the pages turning. The ending is a complete surprise. I am now looking forward to the next book in the series. If you like the action then you will love this book. l am thankful to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a copy for an honest review.
69. The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunmsvold - 368 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/5/2022
Aidyn Kelley agrees to help a hospice patient prepare her obituary. Clara Kip has some incredible stories. Some surprises promise to make this throwaway assignment a life-changing one. This was an incredible read. Clara told Aidyn about her husband who died 8 months after they were married. Aidyn wondered why she hadn't married again. While attempting to read about his death, Aidyn found out that he was Laotian and was in a car accident. Clara Kip asked Aidyn to make her obituary sound like something extraordinary. Aidyn did an investigation and found out that the Laotian refugee resettlement effort in 1975 brought about the immigration of Laotian people into America. Though the resettlement effort is long over, many organizations today carry on the legacy of caring for the physical, spiritual and educational needs of refugees and immigrants in Kansas City. After Clara died, they did a special party for her on the grass and read her obituary. It was a special tribute to Clara Kip and a good time for all. I would like to thank LibraryThing Early Reviewer and Revell Publishing for a copy for an honest review.
70. A Handful of Heaven by Kristin Hannah - 451 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/7/2022
Yukon Territory was a gold miner's heaven, and Devon O'Shea had come to claim her share. But instead of a thriving store in a boom town, Devon discovered she was part owner of a filthy, disorganized tent with a bunch of gold diggers and a mountainous slap of animosity for a partner: Stone Man McKenna. Gathering mop, pail and sheer determination, Devon vowed to make this post the best in the Yukon Territory. Stone Man didn't scare her. But his kiss -- a gruff attempt to convince her that the Yukon was no place for a lady -- left her feeling, for the first time in her life, feminine and alive.
This was an interesting story. It was more of a romance than a mystery. It had a good feeling about it and changed the way I saw the Yukon Territory. It was a good Kristin Hannah story and left me a bit surprised at the ending. It was one of the first books that Kristin Hannah wrote and I would have to say that I loved it a lot.
71. ☊ Run Away by Harlan Coben - 338 pgs. - ★★★ - 5/8/2022
You've lost your daughter. She's addicted to drugs and to an abusive boyfriend. And she's made it clear that she doesn't want to be found. Then, quite by chance, you see her busking in New York's Central Park. But she's not the girl you remember. This woman is wasted, frightened and clearly in trouble. You don't stop to think. You approach her, beg her to come home. She runs. And you follow her into a dark and dangerous world you never knew existed. Where criminal gangs rule, where drugs are the main currency, and murder is commonplace. Now it's your life on the line. And nowhere and no one is safe.
This is a book that I felt sorry for Simon. He was chasing his daughter throughout the whole book. We found out that she was hooked on drugs and a bit frightened. It wasn't until the end that he caught up to her and changed her mind. She made him promise not to tell her mother that she killed her friend. It was ok but not one of his best.
72. The It Girl by Ruth Ware - 432 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/9/2022
April Clark-Clivedon and Hannah Jones were roommates at Oxford. But by the end of the year, April was dead. The Oxford porter, John Neville, killed her. Ten years later, Hannah and Will are married and expecting a child. John Neville has died in prison. A young journalist has brought forth new evidence that John Neville may be innocent. Is one of her friends guilty of murder? I really enjoyed this book. The characters were so life-like and the plot was fast-paced. There were plenty of twists and lots of red herrings. By the end of the book, I had changed my mind three times. Ruth Ware is surely clever and the book is unputdownable. I would like to thank NetGalley and Galley/Scout Press for a copy for an honest review.
73. Dark Objects by Simon Toyne - 400 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/14/2022
Laughton Rees' novel was found at the murder scene. Kate Muller was killed. Did her husband do it? Laughton's mom was murdered when she was fifteen. She cut off contact with her dad, a police commissioner, whom she blamed for failing to prevent the murder. The crime scene had some disturbing personal elements for Laughton. Is someone sending her a message?
I enjoyed this book and found the plot intriguing. The characters were well-drawn and complicated. The twist at the end was a complete surprise and very satisfying. If you like crime thrillers with hidden messages, then you will enjoy this book. I would like to thank William Morrow and Net Galley for a copy for an honest review.
74. The Birdcage by Eve Chase - 400 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/15/2022
Three sisters meet in north Cornwall for a confront of the past. They are sisters on their father side but have different mothers. The story is told in 3 POV's. There are plenty of secrets and they are haunted by what happened twenty years ago. It has a well crafted set of characters and a plot that is cleverly written. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. If you love action thrillers then you will love this one. II would like to thank G.P. Putnam Sons and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review.
75. Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier - 352 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/16/2022
Paris Paralta is charged with murder after she finds her celebrity husband dead in the bathtub. Ruby Reyes was charged with murder twenty-five years ago. Reyes knows who Paris really is and she threatens to expose all of Paris’ secrets. This is a heart-pounding and surprise-filled plot that started out slow but heated up and kept me turning pages until the very end. The timeline switches between the past and present. If you love action thrillers then you will enjoy this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a copy for an honest review.
76. A Simple Choice by David Pepper - 432 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/17/2022
Palmer Knight, a fast-rising TV news correspondent, is sent to cover a mysterious death of a senator who jumps from a cliff in Maine,. Army veteran and former Supreme Court, Amity Jones, finds herself enmeshed in a political conspiracy and ultimately into Palmer's investigation of the senator's death. This is a political book that did not disappoint. It it a medical research of what to do to save a loved one. It is a plot that takes us on a roller coaster ride as we weave through a conspiracy to figure out who is behind the death. If you like political thrillers then you will love to read this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and P.G. Putnam Sons for a copy for an honest review.
77. Stay Awake by Megan Goldin - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/18/2022
Liv Reese doesn't remember anything. What did she do last night? Why does she remember nothing from the past two years? Liv finds herself on the run for a crime she doesn't remember committing. There's someone who does know exactly what she did, and they'll do anything to make her forget permanently. This has a well-crafted set of characters and a plot that is cleverly written. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. If you love complex thrillers, then you will love this one.I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy for an honest review.
78. Dear Little Corpses by Nicola Upson - 227 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/20/2022
As the mass evacuation takes place across Britain, thousands of children leave London for the countryside. When a little girl vanishes without a trace, the reality of separation becomes more urgent and more deadly for those who love her. This is the first book of the ten books of Josephine Tey series that I have read. It can be read as a standalone so that is not a problem. The setting, characters, and plot were intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages until the very end. If you like Golden Age mystery with a timeless fears of a child’s abduction, then you will love this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy for an honest review.
79. Never Go Home A Novel by Christopher Swann - 288 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/21/2022
Susannah Faulkner grew up wild. Her brother, Ethan, needs her so she returns home to Altanta. In the airport, she finds her Uncle Gavin suffering a heart attack. Gavin whispers a single word to Suzie: Peaches. She's determined to uncover the meaning of the cryptic message but then Ethan is also deep in trouble. An ex-soldier Finn appeared on his doorstep with a disturbing story: fifteen years earlier, Finn served with their father in Iraq, where they stole millions in cash. Now the money is missing and Finn wants his share - or else.
This is the 2nd book of the series. I didn't read the first but it can be read as a standalone. The characters and plot line were interesting and kept the pages turning until the very end. If you like action thrillers, then you will enjoy this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy for an honest review.
80. The Rising Tiide by Ann Cleeves - 368 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/27/2022
For fifty years a group of friends have been meeting for reunions on Holy Island, celebrating the school trip where they met, and the friend that they lost to the rising tide five years later. Now, when one of them is found hanged, Vera is called in. Learning that the dead man had recently been fired after misconduct and allegations, Vera knows she must discover what the friends are hiding, and whether the events of many years before could have led to murder then, and now.
This is book number 10 in the Vera series. I have read all the others before so I am very familiar with the series. It is a series of characters that speak for the author and the plot is such that I have kept the pages turning until the very surprising ending. It is very hard to guess the killer as Ann Cleeves does not leave anything unturned until the very end. I look forward to the next book as I have enjoyed each one. If you love thrillers then you will love this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a copy for an honest review.
81. Fox Creek by William Kent Krueger - Aug 23, 2022 - 400 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/29/2022
The latest in the New York Times bestselling Cork O’Connor Mystery Series from the “master storyteller” (Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author) follows Cork in a race against time to save his wife, a mysterious stranger, and an Ojibwe healer from bloodthirsty mercenaries.
The ancient Ojibwe healer Henry Meloux has had a vision of his death. As he walks the Northwoods in solitude, he tries to prepare himself peacefully for the end of his long life. But peace is destined to elude him as hunters fill the woods seeking a woman named Dolores Morriseau, a stranger who had come to the healer for shelter and the gift of his wisdom.
Meloux guides this stranger and his great niece, Cork O’Connor’s wife, to safety deep into the Boundary Waters, his home for more than a century. On the last journey he may ever take into this beloved land, Meloux must do his best to outwit the deadly mercenaries who follow.
Meanwhile, in Aurora, Cork works feverishly to identify the hunters and the reason for their relentless pursuit, but he has little to go on. Desperate, Cork begins tracking the killers but his own skills as a hunter are severely tested by nightfall and a late season snowstorm. He knows only too well that with each passing hour time is running out. But his fiercest enemy in this deadly game of cat and mouse may well be his own deep self-doubt about his ability to save those he loves.
This is book 19 in the Cork O'Connor series. I have read all the other books and have loved them too. The characters feel so real and the plot is an excellent story to keep the pages turning until the very end. I am now looking forward to the next installment. I am thankful to NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy for an honest review.
82. Mystic Wind by James Barretto - 400 pgs. ★★★★ - 5/29/2022
Mystic Wind is a legal thriller and an outstanding debut. Interesting plot with intriguing characters enough to keep me turning the pages until the very end. It is a fast-paced well-written book about a courtroom drama. If you like legal thrillers then you will enjoy this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishers for a copy for an honest review.
83. Landslide by Adam Sikes - 368 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/29/2022
US Marine veteran Mason Hackett moved to London to start his life over, and he’s done his best to convince himself that what happened fifteen years ago doesn’t matter—the people he killed, the men he lost, the lives he ruined. But when Mason sees the face of a dead friend flash on a television screen, and then receives a mysterious email referencing a CIA operation gone bad, he can no longer ignore his inner demons.
Driven by loyalty and a need to uncover the truth, Mason launches on a perilous journey from the Czech Republic to Romania toward the war-torn separatist region in eastern Ukraine to honor a fifteen-year-old promise. The answers he seeks—the fate of a friend and his connection to the underworld of international arms dealers and defense corporations—throw Mason into the cauldron of a covert war where no one can be trusted.
This is a debut and a very good one! It is a good read about war in and around Mariupol, Ukraine. The characters are unique and the plot is such that kept me turning pages until the very end. If you love action thrillers, then you will love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for a copy for an honest review.
6EadieB
June 2022
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
84. The Daughters of Foxcote Manor by Eve Chase - 386 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/11/2022
Outside a remote manor house in an idyllic wood, a baby girl is found.
The Harrington family takes her in and disbelief quickly turns to joy. They're grieving a terrible tragedy of their own and the beautiful baby fills them with hope, lighting up the house's dark, dusty corners. Desperate not to lose her to the authorities, they keep her secret, suspended in a blissful summer world where normal rules of behavior - and the law - don't seem to apply.
But within days a body will lie dead in the grounds. And their dreams of a perfect family will shatter like glass. Years later, the truth will need to be put back together again, piece by piece . . .
From the author of Black Rabbit Hall, The Daughters of Foxcote Manor is an emotional, thrilling book about family secrets and belonging - and how we find ourselves when we are most lost.
This is an emotional book about family secrets. The characters are unique and the plot is one that kept the pages turning until the very end. There are multiple POV's that go from past to present. It is a well-written story and worth the time to read it. The setting provided a mysterious and spooky element to the story. If you love mystery then you will enjoy it. I'm looking forward to another book by Eve Chase.
85. The Rosary Bride by Luisa Buehler - 282 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/12/2022
Ghostly sightings of a lady in white roaming the chapel of Regina College have persisted for more than half a century. Grace Marsden, working on the school's massive library renovation, has always been drawn to the mystery and makes the horrifying discovery of bones buried in the rubble. Is there a connection between the skeleton and the specter in the alcoves? Or, more shockingly, to skeletons in Grace's own family closet?
Soon, it's dangerously clear that someone is determined to stop the dead woman from giving up her secrets. That someone thinks Grace, now digging up old records and tracking down a nun who may hold the crucial piece of the puzzle, would be better of in a grave of her own...than unearthing a fifty-year-old legacy of violence and death.
This was a good mystery that held my interest throughout. Great characters and interesting plot that kept me turning pages until the very end. Bits of humor interspersed throughout the story. Looking forward to reading more from Luisa Buehler.
86. The Best Friend by Shalini Boland - 275 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/13/2022
Toxic school mums, money worries, paranoia, and murder... The Best Friend is a chilling psychological thriller from the Bestselling Author of The Girl from the Sea.
They say to keep your friends close and your enemies closer ... Wrong.
Louisa's new best friend has it all - the house, the status, the money. But she's also hiding a dark secret. And as Louisa is drawn deeper into her friend's life, events take a chilling turn . . .
"Sit on the edge of your seat and prepare for the ride!"
This is a fast-paced intense story. The characters are friends to begin with until things turn nasty. The plot is such that keeps me looking at my friends rather closely. This one had me on the edge of my seat. If you like psychological thrillers then you will enjoy this one. Can't wait to read another one by Shalini Boland.
87. The Perfect Family by Shalini Boland - 284 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/14/2022
‘Mummy, she’s gone…’
Gemma Ballantine is getting ready for work one morning when her eldest child comes running down the stairs, saying the words every mother dreads.
The front door is open. And her six-year-old daughter has disappeared. Frantic with fear, Gemma starts a nail-biting search for her little girl.
After what feels like forever, her mother-in-law Diane finds Katie wandering lost a few streets away. Relieved to have her youngest child back in her arms, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair, Gemma thinks the nightmare is over.
But then her perfect family starts to fall apart.
And she realizes it’s only just beginning…
This is an addictive psychological thriller of secrets, lies and betrayal. It has interesting characters and a plot with a heart stopping final twist. This may be Shalini Boland's best book ever. If you love psychological thrillers then this book is for you. I would recommend this book as a great read that you will love.
88. The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell - 388 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/15/2022
Meet the Bird family. They live in a honey-colored house in a picture-perfect Cotswolds village, with rambling, unkempt gardens stretching beyond. Pragmatic Meg, dreamy Beth, and tow-headed twins Rory and Rhys all attend the village school and eat home-cooked meals together every night. Their father is a sweet gangly man named Colin, who still looks like a teenager with floppy hair and owlish, round-framed glasses. Their mother is a beautiful hippy named Lorelei, who exists entirely in the moment. And she makes every moment sparkle in her children's lives.
Then one Easter weekend, tragedy comes to call. The event is so devastating that, almost imperceptibly, it begins to tear the family apart. Years pass as the children become adults, find new relationships, and develop their own separate lives. Soon it seems as though they've never been a family at all. But then something happens that calls them back to the house they grew up in -- and to what really happened that Easter weekend so many years ago.
Told in gorgeous, insightful prose that delves deeply into the hearts and minds of its characters, The House We Grew Up In is the captivating story of one family's desire to restore long-forgotten peace and to unearth the many secrets hidden within the nooks and crannies of home.
This is a family drama about the Bird family's loss and love. It covers a span of 30 years between the present and past days. There is Mom, 65 years old Lorelei, and dad, Colin, and the 4 children, Meg, Beth, Rory and Rhys. They all seem to leave home after the suicide of Rhys. They finally return home to all the family secrets there. If you love books about family drama, you will really enjoy this book. Can't wait to read another Lisa Jewell book.
89. Plague Maiden by Kate Ellis - 362 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/16/2022
When a letter arrives at Tradmouth police station, addressed to a DCI Norbert it causes quite a stir. For though DCI Norbert has long since moved on, the letter claims to have evidence that the man convicted of murdering the Rev. Shipbourne, Vicar of Belsham, during the course of a robbery in 1991, is innocent. Despite having a full case load, including investigating a series of vicious attacks on a local supermarket chain, DI Wesley Peterson is forced to at least follow up on the letter writer's claims. Meanwhile archaelologist Neil Watson is excavating as site in Pest Field near Belsham church. He discovers a mass grave that leads him to conclude that the site - earmarked for development - is one of an ancient medieval plague pit. But, more disturbing, is the discovery that the grave is home to a more recent resident.
This is a blend of archaeological history and crime. It switches between the past and the present. It takes place in plague-ridden Devon in a spot where a lot of bodies were buried. Bodies from the past but one more body of a more recent death. It has a great cast of characters and a plot that has a twist at the end. Can't wait to read another book by Kate Ellis.
90. Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach - 353 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/17/2022
Ava doesn't believe it when the email arrives to say that her twin sister is dead. It's not grief or denial that causes her scepticism - it just feels too perfect to be anything other than Zelda's usual manipulative scheming. And Ava knows her twin.
Two years after she left, vowing never to speak to Zelda again after the ultimate betrayal, Ava must return home to retrace her errant sister's last steps. She soon finds notes that lead her on a twisted scavenger-hunt of her twin's making.
Letter by letter, Ava unearths clues to her sister's disappearance: and unveils harrowing truths of her own. A is for Ava, and Z is for Zelda, but deciphering the letters in-between is not so simple...
This is a very unique book. I didn't like it from the beginning but it later grew on me. It was the author's debut novel so I blamed it on that fact. As I read further, I became really engrossed in Zelda's alphabet game and ended up really loving the book. You will just have to read it for yourself if you can get past the slow-burn beginning. Looking forward to the next book by this author.
91. The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson - 419 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 6/17/2022
From the author of the acclaimed The Girl with a Clock for a Heart—hailed by the Washington Post as crime fiction’s best first novel of 2014”—a devious tale of psychological suspense involving sex, deception, and an accidental encounter that leads to murder that is a modern reimagining of Patricia Highsmith’s classic Strangers on a Train.
On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the stunning and mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing very intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage that’s going stale and his wife Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him. Ted and his wife were a mismatch from the start—he the rich businessman, she the artistic free spirit—a contrast that once inflamed passion, but has now become a cliché.
But their game turns a little darker when Ted jokes that he could kill Miranda for what she’s done. Lily, without missing a beat, says calmly, “I’d like to help.” After all, some people are the kind worth killing, like a lying, stinking, cheating spouse. . . .
Back in Boston, Ted and Lily’s twisted bond grows stronger as they begin to plot Miranda's demise. But there are a few things about Lily’s past that she hasn’t shared with Ted, namely her experience in the art and craft of murder, a journey that began in her very precocious youth.
Suddenly these co-conspirators are embroiled in a chilling game of cat-and-mouse, one they both cannot survive . . . with a shrewd and very determined detective on their tail.
This book is really good. They met in an airport bar and planned to murder his wife. It's a bit like the Stranger on the Train but so much more. You really need to read this book as I don't want to spoil it for you so that is all I am going to say. This is my first Peter Swanson book but won't be my last.
92. The Things We Do For Love by Kristin Hannah - 466 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 6/19/2022
The youngest of three daughters, Angela DeSaria Malone was always “the princess” of the family, a girl who thought she knew how her life would unfold. High School. College. Marriage. Motherhood. That was how it had gone for her sisters, her cousins, her friends. But it didn’t work out that way for Angie. She and her husband tried desperately to have a child; year after year, their perfectly decorated nursery remained empty. Finally, their marriage collapsed under the weight of lost dreams.
After the divorce, Angie moved back to her hometown and rejoined her loud, loving, slightly crazy family. In West End, a place where life rises and falls in time with the tides, she will find the man who once again will open her heart to love . . . and meet the girl who will change Angie’s life.
Lauren Ribido lives in a rundown apartment in a bad part of town with a mother who cares more about her next drink than about her daughter. At seventeen, Lauren knows that her aspirations in life may never come to pass.
From the moment they meet, Angie sees something special in Lauren. They form a quick connection, this woman who is desperate for a daughter and the girl who has never known a mother’s love. When Lauren is abandoned by her mother, Angie doesn’t hesitate to offer the girl a place to stay. But nothing could have prepared Angie for the far-reaching repercussions of this act of kindness. In a dramatic turn of events, she and Lauren will be tested in a way that mothers and daughters seldom are. Together they will embark on an intensely moving, deeply emotional journey to the very heart of what it means to be a family.
This was a really great Kristin Hannah story. It was touching and heartfelt. I didn't think I was going to like it but I really got into the story and when I finished it, I was glad I read it until the end. I only have a few more Hannah books to read but I haven't read a bad one yet. Looking forward to my next Hannah book!
93. Bring Them Home by D.S. Butler - 304 pgs. ★★★★ - 6/24/2022
A perfect village. A perfect crime.
When two young girls disappear from their primary school, the village of Heighington is put on high alert—and not for the first time. Called in to investigate, Detective Karen Hart is sure that parallels with a previous disappearance are anything but coincidental.
DS Hart is still reeling from a case she tried and failed to solve eighteen months ago, when a young woman vanished without a trace. She’s no nearer to the truth of what happened to Amy Fisher, but with two children missing now too, the stakes have never been higher. As she looks to the past for clues, she must confront her own haunting loss, a nightmare she is determined to spare other families.
Hart soon realizes that nothing in this close-knit Lincolnshire community is what it seems. Pursuing the investigation with personal vengeance, she finds herself in conflict with her scrupulous new boss, but playing by the rules will have to wait. Because while there’s no shortage of suspects, the missing girls are running out of time…
This is the first book in the Detective Karen Hart series. It is a police procedural and 2 young girls have gone missing from their school. Another girl 19 years old is missing too. She is helped in her quest for the truth by DC Rick Cooper and Sophie Jones. The mystery is solved after a few twists. This is an excellent book by a police detective who has lost her husband and daughter in a car accident years ago. I enjoyed this book and it won't be my last D.S. Butler read.
94. The Girl With a Clock for a Heart by Peter Swanson - 304 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 6/25/2022
George Foss never thought he'd see her again, but on a late-August night in Boston, there she is, in his local bar, Jack's Tavern.
When George first met her, she was an eighteen-year-old college freshman from Sweetgum, Florida. She and George became inseparable in their first fall semester, so George was devastated when he got the news that she had committed suicide over Christmas break. But, as he stood in the living room of the girl's grieving parents, he realized the girl in the photo on their mantelpiece - the one who had committed suicide - was not his girlfriend. Later, he discovered the true identity of the girl he had loved - and of the things she may have done to escape her past.
Now, twenty years later, she's back, and she's telling George that he's the only one who can help her...
George Foss thought Liana Dexter was dead. She shows up at the bar and asks him to help her. He does help her and everything turns crazy. This is a psychological thriller that is a haunting debut. It is full of twists that make you want to read to the end. This is my 2nd Swanson book but won't be my last. Great book!
95. Styx and Stone by James W. Ziskin - 285 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/26/2022
Ellie Stone is a professed modern girl in 1960s' New York City, playing by her own rules and breaking boundaries while searching for a killer among the renowned scholars in Columbia University's Italian Department.
"If you were a man, you'd make a good detective."
Ellie Stone is sure that Sgt. McKeever meant that as a compliment, but that identity-a girl wanting to do a man's job-has throttled her for too long. It's 1960, and Ellie doesn't want to blaze any trails for women; she just wants to be a reporter, one who doesn't need to swat hands off her behind at every turn.
Adrift in her career, Ellie is back in New York City after receiving news that her estranged father, a renowned Dante scholar and distinguished professor, is near death after a savage bludgeoning in his home. The police suspect a routine burglary, but Ellie has her doubts. When a second attempt is made on her father's life, in the form of an "accident" in the hospital's ICU, Ellie's suspicions are confirmed.
Then another professor turns up dead, and Ellie's investigation turns to her father's university colleagues, their ambitions, jealousies, and secret lives. Ellie embarks on a thorny journey of discovery and reconciliation, as she pursues an investigation that offers her both a chance at redemption in her father's eyes, and the risk of losing him forever.
This author is an excellent writer. It's 1960 and Ellie's father, a University Italian Studies professor, has been attacked. It is the study of Dante that brings the reader to the brink of this mystery. I'm looking forward to the 2nd book in the series. You need to check out Ziskin for an extraordinary gift and use of the language.
96. River Rising by Athol Dickson - 304 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/27/2022
Welcome to Pilotville, Louisiana, 1927, isolated outpost on the Mississippi River--a stilt village bounded by swampland to the horizon, accessible only by boat, an island of brotherly love in a sea of racism. Meet Hale Poser, a stranger with a bad hip who's come looking for his roots--a humble man, a righteous man, a miracle man. In the swamp beyond the cypress and the tupelo and veiled by Spanish moss lies a lingering evil. For years it slept in dreadful isolation. Now comes Hale Poser, and it will sleep no more. It will rain down on Pilotville, it will rise up like a river, and nothing but a miracle can stop this awful flood.
This is a very interesting book. It is about slavery in 1927 and the flood and the building of the levees by the slaves. Rev. Hale Poser is on a mission to find the missing babies. He also finds Hannah living among a plantation of slaves. A very different type of a book but a very good read.
Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart
97. Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict - 416 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/29/2022
In 1909, Clementine Churchill steps off a train with her new husband, Winston. An angry woman emerges from the crowd to attack, shoving him in the direction of an oncoming train. Just before he stumbles, Clementine grabs him by his suit jacket. This will not be the last time Clementine Churchill saves her husband.
This was an interesting book about Mrs. Churchill. She was said to have had the most influence during World War I and World War II. This was a story of the brilliant and ambitious woman beside Winston Churchill, the story of a partner who did not flinch through the sweeping darkness of war, and who would not surrender either to expectations or to enemies. I enjoyed reading this book and will look for another book by Marie Benedict to read.
98. Vince and Joy by Lisa Jewell - 512 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/30/2022
Remember falling in love for the first time? Remember thinking, This is The One? Remember life getting in the way? From adolescent snogging to apartment shares, relationships, career crises, and children, Vince & Joy is the unforgettable story of two lives lived separately but forever entwined.
Back in the 1980s, teenagers Vince and Joy met, fell desperately in love, and never quite said good-bye. Now nearly twenty years later they've both begun to ask themselves if that long-ago romance was the enduring love that they've been searching for.
This is a good one about Vince and Joy. They met as teenagers and after following them around separately they finally come together after some hard knocks. I have enjoyed this one and I am almost finished all of Lisa Jewell's novels. She's great!
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
84. The Daughters of Foxcote Manor by Eve Chase - 386 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/11/2022
Outside a remote manor house in an idyllic wood, a baby girl is found.
The Harrington family takes her in and disbelief quickly turns to joy. They're grieving a terrible tragedy of their own and the beautiful baby fills them with hope, lighting up the house's dark, dusty corners. Desperate not to lose her to the authorities, they keep her secret, suspended in a blissful summer world where normal rules of behavior - and the law - don't seem to apply.
But within days a body will lie dead in the grounds. And their dreams of a perfect family will shatter like glass. Years later, the truth will need to be put back together again, piece by piece . . .
From the author of Black Rabbit Hall, The Daughters of Foxcote Manor is an emotional, thrilling book about family secrets and belonging - and how we find ourselves when we are most lost.
This is an emotional book about family secrets. The characters are unique and the plot is one that kept the pages turning until the very end. There are multiple POV's that go from past to present. It is a well-written story and worth the time to read it. The setting provided a mysterious and spooky element to the story. If you love mystery then you will enjoy it. I'm looking forward to another book by Eve Chase.
85. The Rosary Bride by Luisa Buehler - 282 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/12/2022
Ghostly sightings of a lady in white roaming the chapel of Regina College have persisted for more than half a century. Grace Marsden, working on the school's massive library renovation, has always been drawn to the mystery and makes the horrifying discovery of bones buried in the rubble. Is there a connection between the skeleton and the specter in the alcoves? Or, more shockingly, to skeletons in Grace's own family closet?
Soon, it's dangerously clear that someone is determined to stop the dead woman from giving up her secrets. That someone thinks Grace, now digging up old records and tracking down a nun who may hold the crucial piece of the puzzle, would be better of in a grave of her own...than unearthing a fifty-year-old legacy of violence and death.
This was a good mystery that held my interest throughout. Great characters and interesting plot that kept me turning pages until the very end. Bits of humor interspersed throughout the story. Looking forward to reading more from Luisa Buehler.
86. The Best Friend by Shalini Boland - 275 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/13/2022
Toxic school mums, money worries, paranoia, and murder... The Best Friend is a chilling psychological thriller from the Bestselling Author of The Girl from the Sea.
They say to keep your friends close and your enemies closer ... Wrong.
Louisa's new best friend has it all - the house, the status, the money. But she's also hiding a dark secret. And as Louisa is drawn deeper into her friend's life, events take a chilling turn . . .
"Sit on the edge of your seat and prepare for the ride!"
This is a fast-paced intense story. The characters are friends to begin with until things turn nasty. The plot is such that keeps me looking at my friends rather closely. This one had me on the edge of my seat. If you like psychological thrillers then you will enjoy this one. Can't wait to read another one by Shalini Boland.
87. The Perfect Family by Shalini Boland - 284 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/14/2022
‘Mummy, she’s gone…’
Gemma Ballantine is getting ready for work one morning when her eldest child comes running down the stairs, saying the words every mother dreads.
The front door is open. And her six-year-old daughter has disappeared. Frantic with fear, Gemma starts a nail-biting search for her little girl.
After what feels like forever, her mother-in-law Diane finds Katie wandering lost a few streets away. Relieved to have her youngest child back in her arms, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair, Gemma thinks the nightmare is over.
But then her perfect family starts to fall apart.
And she realizes it’s only just beginning…
This is an addictive psychological thriller of secrets, lies and betrayal. It has interesting characters and a plot with a heart stopping final twist. This may be Shalini Boland's best book ever. If you love psychological thrillers then this book is for you. I would recommend this book as a great read that you will love.
88. The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell - 388 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/15/2022
Meet the Bird family. They live in a honey-colored house in a picture-perfect Cotswolds village, with rambling, unkempt gardens stretching beyond. Pragmatic Meg, dreamy Beth, and tow-headed twins Rory and Rhys all attend the village school and eat home-cooked meals together every night. Their father is a sweet gangly man named Colin, who still looks like a teenager with floppy hair and owlish, round-framed glasses. Their mother is a beautiful hippy named Lorelei, who exists entirely in the moment. And she makes every moment sparkle in her children's lives.
Then one Easter weekend, tragedy comes to call. The event is so devastating that, almost imperceptibly, it begins to tear the family apart. Years pass as the children become adults, find new relationships, and develop their own separate lives. Soon it seems as though they've never been a family at all. But then something happens that calls them back to the house they grew up in -- and to what really happened that Easter weekend so many years ago.
Told in gorgeous, insightful prose that delves deeply into the hearts and minds of its characters, The House We Grew Up In is the captivating story of one family's desire to restore long-forgotten peace and to unearth the many secrets hidden within the nooks and crannies of home.
This is a family drama about the Bird family's loss and love. It covers a span of 30 years between the present and past days. There is Mom, 65 years old Lorelei, and dad, Colin, and the 4 children, Meg, Beth, Rory and Rhys. They all seem to leave home after the suicide of Rhys. They finally return home to all the family secrets there. If you love books about family drama, you will really enjoy this book. Can't wait to read another Lisa Jewell book.
89. Plague Maiden by Kate Ellis - 362 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/16/2022
When a letter arrives at Tradmouth police station, addressed to a DCI Norbert it causes quite a stir. For though DCI Norbert has long since moved on, the letter claims to have evidence that the man convicted of murdering the Rev. Shipbourne, Vicar of Belsham, during the course of a robbery in 1991, is innocent. Despite having a full case load, including investigating a series of vicious attacks on a local supermarket chain, DI Wesley Peterson is forced to at least follow up on the letter writer's claims. Meanwhile archaelologist Neil Watson is excavating as site in Pest Field near Belsham church. He discovers a mass grave that leads him to conclude that the site - earmarked for development - is one of an ancient medieval plague pit. But, more disturbing, is the discovery that the grave is home to a more recent resident.
This is a blend of archaeological history and crime. It switches between the past and the present. It takes place in plague-ridden Devon in a spot where a lot of bodies were buried. Bodies from the past but one more body of a more recent death. It has a great cast of characters and a plot that has a twist at the end. Can't wait to read another book by Kate Ellis.
90. Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach - 353 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/17/2022
Ava doesn't believe it when the email arrives to say that her twin sister is dead. It's not grief or denial that causes her scepticism - it just feels too perfect to be anything other than Zelda's usual manipulative scheming. And Ava knows her twin.
Two years after she left, vowing never to speak to Zelda again after the ultimate betrayal, Ava must return home to retrace her errant sister's last steps. She soon finds notes that lead her on a twisted scavenger-hunt of her twin's making.
Letter by letter, Ava unearths clues to her sister's disappearance: and unveils harrowing truths of her own. A is for Ava, and Z is for Zelda, but deciphering the letters in-between is not so simple...
This is a very unique book. I didn't like it from the beginning but it later grew on me. It was the author's debut novel so I blamed it on that fact. As I read further, I became really engrossed in Zelda's alphabet game and ended up really loving the book. You will just have to read it for yourself if you can get past the slow-burn beginning. Looking forward to the next book by this author.
91. The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson - 419 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 6/17/2022
From the author of the acclaimed The Girl with a Clock for a Heart—hailed by the Washington Post as crime fiction’s best first novel of 2014”—a devious tale of psychological suspense involving sex, deception, and an accidental encounter that leads to murder that is a modern reimagining of Patricia Highsmith’s classic Strangers on a Train.
On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the stunning and mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing very intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage that’s going stale and his wife Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him. Ted and his wife were a mismatch from the start—he the rich businessman, she the artistic free spirit—a contrast that once inflamed passion, but has now become a cliché.
But their game turns a little darker when Ted jokes that he could kill Miranda for what she’s done. Lily, without missing a beat, says calmly, “I’d like to help.” After all, some people are the kind worth killing, like a lying, stinking, cheating spouse. . . .
Back in Boston, Ted and Lily’s twisted bond grows stronger as they begin to plot Miranda's demise. But there are a few things about Lily’s past that she hasn’t shared with Ted, namely her experience in the art and craft of murder, a journey that began in her very precocious youth.
Suddenly these co-conspirators are embroiled in a chilling game of cat-and-mouse, one they both cannot survive . . . with a shrewd and very determined detective on their tail.
This book is really good. They met in an airport bar and planned to murder his wife. It's a bit like the Stranger on the Train but so much more. You really need to read this book as I don't want to spoil it for you so that is all I am going to say. This is my first Peter Swanson book but won't be my last.
92. The Things We Do For Love by Kristin Hannah - 466 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 6/19/2022
The youngest of three daughters, Angela DeSaria Malone was always “the princess” of the family, a girl who thought she knew how her life would unfold. High School. College. Marriage. Motherhood. That was how it had gone for her sisters, her cousins, her friends. But it didn’t work out that way for Angie. She and her husband tried desperately to have a child; year after year, their perfectly decorated nursery remained empty. Finally, their marriage collapsed under the weight of lost dreams.
After the divorce, Angie moved back to her hometown and rejoined her loud, loving, slightly crazy family. In West End, a place where life rises and falls in time with the tides, she will find the man who once again will open her heart to love . . . and meet the girl who will change Angie’s life.
Lauren Ribido lives in a rundown apartment in a bad part of town with a mother who cares more about her next drink than about her daughter. At seventeen, Lauren knows that her aspirations in life may never come to pass.
From the moment they meet, Angie sees something special in Lauren. They form a quick connection, this woman who is desperate for a daughter and the girl who has never known a mother’s love. When Lauren is abandoned by her mother, Angie doesn’t hesitate to offer the girl a place to stay. But nothing could have prepared Angie for the far-reaching repercussions of this act of kindness. In a dramatic turn of events, she and Lauren will be tested in a way that mothers and daughters seldom are. Together they will embark on an intensely moving, deeply emotional journey to the very heart of what it means to be a family.
This was a really great Kristin Hannah story. It was touching and heartfelt. I didn't think I was going to like it but I really got into the story and when I finished it, I was glad I read it until the end. I only have a few more Hannah books to read but I haven't read a bad one yet. Looking forward to my next Hannah book!
93. Bring Them Home by D.S. Butler - 304 pgs. ★★★★ - 6/24/2022
A perfect village. A perfect crime.
When two young girls disappear from their primary school, the village of Heighington is put on high alert—and not for the first time. Called in to investigate, Detective Karen Hart is sure that parallels with a previous disappearance are anything but coincidental.
DS Hart is still reeling from a case she tried and failed to solve eighteen months ago, when a young woman vanished without a trace. She’s no nearer to the truth of what happened to Amy Fisher, but with two children missing now too, the stakes have never been higher. As she looks to the past for clues, she must confront her own haunting loss, a nightmare she is determined to spare other families.
Hart soon realizes that nothing in this close-knit Lincolnshire community is what it seems. Pursuing the investigation with personal vengeance, she finds herself in conflict with her scrupulous new boss, but playing by the rules will have to wait. Because while there’s no shortage of suspects, the missing girls are running out of time…
This is the first book in the Detective Karen Hart series. It is a police procedural and 2 young girls have gone missing from their school. Another girl 19 years old is missing too. She is helped in her quest for the truth by DC Rick Cooper and Sophie Jones. The mystery is solved after a few twists. This is an excellent book by a police detective who has lost her husband and daughter in a car accident years ago. I enjoyed this book and it won't be my last D.S. Butler read.
94. The Girl With a Clock for a Heart by Peter Swanson - 304 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 6/25/2022
George Foss never thought he'd see her again, but on a late-August night in Boston, there she is, in his local bar, Jack's Tavern.
When George first met her, she was an eighteen-year-old college freshman from Sweetgum, Florida. She and George became inseparable in their first fall semester, so George was devastated when he got the news that she had committed suicide over Christmas break. But, as he stood in the living room of the girl's grieving parents, he realized the girl in the photo on their mantelpiece - the one who had committed suicide - was not his girlfriend. Later, he discovered the true identity of the girl he had loved - and of the things she may have done to escape her past.
Now, twenty years later, she's back, and she's telling George that he's the only one who can help her...
George Foss thought Liana Dexter was dead. She shows up at the bar and asks him to help her. He does help her and everything turns crazy. This is a psychological thriller that is a haunting debut. It is full of twists that make you want to read to the end. This is my 2nd Swanson book but won't be my last. Great book!
95. Styx and Stone by James W. Ziskin - 285 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/26/2022
Ellie Stone is a professed modern girl in 1960s' New York City, playing by her own rules and breaking boundaries while searching for a killer among the renowned scholars in Columbia University's Italian Department.
"If you were a man, you'd make a good detective."
Ellie Stone is sure that Sgt. McKeever meant that as a compliment, but that identity-a girl wanting to do a man's job-has throttled her for too long. It's 1960, and Ellie doesn't want to blaze any trails for women; she just wants to be a reporter, one who doesn't need to swat hands off her behind at every turn.
Adrift in her career, Ellie is back in New York City after receiving news that her estranged father, a renowned Dante scholar and distinguished professor, is near death after a savage bludgeoning in his home. The police suspect a routine burglary, but Ellie has her doubts. When a second attempt is made on her father's life, in the form of an "accident" in the hospital's ICU, Ellie's suspicions are confirmed.
Then another professor turns up dead, and Ellie's investigation turns to her father's university colleagues, their ambitions, jealousies, and secret lives. Ellie embarks on a thorny journey of discovery and reconciliation, as she pursues an investigation that offers her both a chance at redemption in her father's eyes, and the risk of losing him forever.
This author is an excellent writer. It's 1960 and Ellie's father, a University Italian Studies professor, has been attacked. It is the study of Dante that brings the reader to the brink of this mystery. I'm looking forward to the 2nd book in the series. You need to check out Ziskin for an extraordinary gift and use of the language.
96. River Rising by Athol Dickson - 304 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/27/2022
Welcome to Pilotville, Louisiana, 1927, isolated outpost on the Mississippi River--a stilt village bounded by swampland to the horizon, accessible only by boat, an island of brotherly love in a sea of racism. Meet Hale Poser, a stranger with a bad hip who's come looking for his roots--a humble man, a righteous man, a miracle man. In the swamp beyond the cypress and the tupelo and veiled by Spanish moss lies a lingering evil. For years it slept in dreadful isolation. Now comes Hale Poser, and it will sleep no more. It will rain down on Pilotville, it will rise up like a river, and nothing but a miracle can stop this awful flood.
This is a very interesting book. It is about slavery in 1927 and the flood and the building of the levees by the slaves. Rev. Hale Poser is on a mission to find the missing babies. He also finds Hannah living among a plantation of slaves. A very different type of a book but a very good read.
Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart
97. Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict - 416 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/29/2022
In 1909, Clementine Churchill steps off a train with her new husband, Winston. An angry woman emerges from the crowd to attack, shoving him in the direction of an oncoming train. Just before he stumbles, Clementine grabs him by his suit jacket. This will not be the last time Clementine Churchill saves her husband.
This was an interesting book about Mrs. Churchill. She was said to have had the most influence during World War I and World War II. This was a story of the brilliant and ambitious woman beside Winston Churchill, the story of a partner who did not flinch through the sweeping darkness of war, and who would not surrender either to expectations or to enemies. I enjoyed reading this book and will look for another book by Marie Benedict to read.
98. Vince and Joy by Lisa Jewell - 512 pgs. - ★★★★ - 6/30/2022
Remember falling in love for the first time? Remember thinking, This is The One? Remember life getting in the way? From adolescent snogging to apartment shares, relationships, career crises, and children, Vince & Joy is the unforgettable story of two lives lived separately but forever entwined.
Back in the 1980s, teenagers Vince and Joy met, fell desperately in love, and never quite said good-bye. Now nearly twenty years later they've both begun to ask themselves if that long-ago romance was the enduring love that they've been searching for.
This is a good one about Vince and Joy. They met as teenagers and after following them around separately they finally come together after some hard knocks. I have enjoyed this one and I am almost finished all of Lisa Jewell's novels. She's great!
7EadieB
July 2022
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
99. Deadly Code by Lin Anderson - 272 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/1/2022
"The left foot had been severed from the leg ten centimetres below the patella. Both fibula and tibia bones were divided at the same place. All the toes were intact, although the nails had disintegrated or been eaten off during the foot's time in the water." Dr Rhona Macleod travels north to investigate a grisly discovery - a severed foot, caught in a fishing net off the Isle of Skye. Where is the rest of the body, and who is the dead man? What links him to a sinister secret society in America? And why is the Ministry of Defence so keen to shut down the case? Rhona's investigations embroil her in an international conspiracy from which she will be lucky to escape unharmed..
Rhona MacLeod is a forensic scientist who is investigating a severed foot on a fishing net off the coast of Scotland. It is dark and violent but an interesting read and centers in America and the Isle of Skye. The story is good enough to keep turning the pages until the very end. I look forward to reading more of Lin Anderson's books soon.
100. Just Tyrus by Tyrus - 240 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/2/2022
Pro wrestler and political commentator Tyrus goes deep into his wild but triumphant life story, from his painfully dysfunctional upbringing to bodyguarding for Snoop Dogg, to becoming a wrestling icon and one of the most provocative on-air voices today.
The product of a 1970s mixed marriage, George Murdoch learned to fight early in life, fending off both race-baiting bullies and the demons of a dysfunctional home. Couch surfing all through high school and most of college, the quick-witted, sharp-tongued giant played football, ran drugs, and bounced at clubs to try to survive. After a false start with the WWE, he eventually became Snoop Dogg's bodyguard and traveled the world with the hip hop legend, biding his time and honing his rap. When the WWE urged him to return, George became "Brodus Clay" and, for the next several years, reinvented himself numerous times under the watchful mentorship of the legendary Dusty Rhodes, "the American Dream." He was eventually christened "Tyrus," and shortly after, a chance social media encounter with Greg Gutfeld at Fox News resulted in Tyrus finding a new skill: sage social commentator. Ferociously funny, blunt, and tenacious, Just Tyrus traces his unlikely and spectacular rise. As always with Tyrus, it's in-your-face and offers no apologies.
I loved this book. It is the true story of how Tyrus took what happened to him when he was younger and turned it around to become who he is today. He really loved his mom so much that he tried to protect her from herself. It was very interesting that he was Snoop Doog's bodyguard and worked with kids about football. He became a wrestler with the WWE. He is now co-host with Gutfeld at Fox News. He is ferociously funny and blunt and allowed to be himself on Fox News. I'm glad I got to know someone like Tyrus and loved reading his book. Thanks to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for a copy for an honest review.
101. Dark Flight by Lin Anderson - 400 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/3/2022
Stephen, a six-year-old boy, has vanished, his mother and grandmother horrifically murdered. At the scene forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod finds a chilling African talisman, made from the bones of a child. Can she decipher its meaning and track Stephen down before he becomes the next link in the killers' chain?
This is an interesting thriller. It is the 4th book in the Rhona MacLeod series. Stephen is missing and his mother and grandmother have been killed. This book takes us to Glasgow and Nigeria where juju is practiced what is commonly known as voodoo. It is the best of the series so far. A bit gruesome with sexual content but still a good book to read to the end. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
102. Killer Story by Matt Witten - 320 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/4/2022
How far will she go to catch the killer—and make her podcast a hit?
Petra Kovach, a talented and idealistic young reporter, is on the brink of being laid off from her third failing newspaper in a row. To save her job, she pitches the launch of a true crime podcast about a sensational, unsolved murder.
Years earlier, an alt-right YouTuber was killed in her Harvard dorm room, and the case went cold. Petra knew the victim—she was once her camp counselor and loved her like a little sister, despite their political differences.
Petra's investigation gets off to a rocky start, as her promising leads quickly shrivel up. In her passionate quest for justice—and clicks—Petra burns sources and breaks laws, ultimately putting her own life on the line. Even as her star rises, she worries it could all come crashing down at any moment if her actions are exposed.
When her machinations start to backfire, there's only one way to fix everything and solve the murder—even though it may cost her everything she loves.
Since I had read The Necklace, I was eager to read Killer Story. It did not disappoint. Petra Kovach is the type of person who knows what a podcast needs and she is bound and determined to make it work. She ends up vying for her job with Natalie and Dave working against her. I got caught up with Petra's story from the beginning and finished reading it in one sitting. I am looking forward to my next Matt Witten story as he is a remarkable writer. Thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for a copy for an honest review.
103. The Last Way Home by Liz Johnson - 368 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/6/2022
"A disgraced former NHL player and a local artist are thrown together when her pottery studio burns to the ground on the day he returns to Prince Edward Island. But as they work together to rebuild, their secrets will come out, putting even their hearts on the line"--
This is an interesting read. It had great characters and a plot with twists that kept me reading until the very end. Eli came home after 11 years and found Violet hurting as bad as he was. When Eli's story was told and Violet revealed her innermost sorrow, the family came together and helped them. I am now looking forward to another great Liz Johnson book in the future. I would like to thank Revell Publishing and LibraryThing for a copy for an honest review.
104. The Devil's Cliff Killings by Simon McCleave - 402 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/9/2022
This book was action packed. A missing teenager, a prison corruption and human trafficking. Can Ruth Hunter solve this crime in time? Can Sarah be found? If you like chilling police procedurals, true-to-life characters, and psychological twists, then you will love this one! Looking forward to reading the next book in Simon McCleave‘s page-turning thrill ride!
105. Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson - 368 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/10/2022
I totally loved this book. Hen and her husband, Lloyd, moved into a quiet life in a suburban house outside of Boston. Her neighbor invites them over for dinner. She spots a familiar object in the husband's office that is connected to a killing that happened years ago. She immediately claims that he is a murderer. Could her neighbor Matthew be a killer? Then one night, when she comes face-to-face with Matthew in the dark, she realizes that he knows she's been watching him, that she is on to him. And that this is the start of a horrifying nightmare she may not live to escape. There are lots of twists that happen and make me read to the very shocking end. A tantalizing story of obsession and manipulation and is sure to please a lover of psychological suspense. I'm looking forward to my next Peter Swanson book.
106. Easy Kill by Lin Anderson - 432 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/16/2022
A disturbing discovery is made in a Glasgow cemetery in Easy Kill, the fifth novel in Lin Anderson's forensic crime series featuring Rhona MacLeod. A vulnerable young woman has been brutally slain and left on a grave in Glasgow's sprawling cemetery, the Necropolis. Upon examining the body, forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod has no doubt that the depraved killer's motives were sexual in nature. The case takes on an even more disturbing dimension when the removal of the girl's body reveals a second victim, who has recently been buried in a shallow grave underneath. When yet another sex worker is reported missing, there are fears that a serial killer is at large in the city. This man has killed before - and will again unless Rhona can break the chain and track him down before any more lives are lost . . .
This book picks up where the last one left off. A young prostitute woman has been brutally slain and left in a grave in a Glasgow cemetery. Rhona MacLeod is called in to carry out the forensic details. Another woman is found recently buried underneath the city of the dead. Will Rhona be able to track down the killer and stop the pattern from repeating itself? There is a lot more going on in this story but you will have to read it to find out. I look forward to reading the next book.
107. My Little Brother by Diane Saxton - 420 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/17/2022
Two siblings, both missing for 20 years turn up within one day of each other. One dead. One alive.
It was an ordinary school day, the day I lost my little brother.
One moment he was on the roundabout and then was gone. Gone. Missing.
They all blamed me. I was in charge. Even though I was only ten years old.
They sent me away. The hurt, the shame, the questions. The not knowing.
I tried to move on.
It’s been nineteen years in exile and now somebody wants me back.
Someone with a dark secret. They hold the keys, they know the truth.
So, I need to return to the Welsh village of my childhood to find out who, because I have a secret, too…
I did something bad.
Caryn Peeke has arrived home after 20 yrs. She has received messages about her brother. He was 6 when he went missing from the school playground. Caryn was blamed and sent away to a boarding school. This book is an unbelievable roller coaster. The characters are unique and the plot is such that keeps you reading until the very end. The murderer is a complete surprise that I did not see coming. Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review.
108. The Perfect Friend by Barbara Cooperthwaite - 320 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/18/2022
She’ll do anything for you…
My name is Alex, and my world has been shattered.
My husband has left me.
My children won’t speak to me.
My friend Carrie is the only person I have.
She’s the only one I can trust to keep all my secrets.
She’d never do anything to let me down.
Would she?
This dark, gripping psychological thriller will have you holding your breath until the very last page. Fans of Behind Closed Doors, Sometimes I Lie, and The Girl on the Train will be captivated.
Alex Appleby and Carrie Goodwin meet at a trauma support group meeting. They tell lies to each other about all things. It has a slow beginning but the middle is where it gets really good. By the ending it was time to recount the story and explain all the lies. I'm glad I read this one and look forward to the next Barbara Copperthwaite's book.
109. The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain - 416 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/19/2022
It's 1944 and Tess DeMallo is pregnant with Henry Kraft's baby but she is engaged to Vincent Russo. She is riddled with guilt and decides to break her engagement and marry Henry. She moves to the rural town of Hickory, N.C. She leaves Vincent a note and doesn't tell him anything. Vincent is working as a doctor and hasn't been home in months. Tess goes to Washington D.C. with her friend, Gina, and she goes out to dinner with two guys who are staying in Gina's aunt's house. They have some martinis at dinner and Tess gets drunk and Henry takes her home, kisses her and they have sex. Tess wakes up next morning and can't believe that she just had sex with a man she just met. Next, she discovers that she is pregnant. She confronts Henry and he suggests that they get married to make things better for the baby. Tess quickly realizes that she is trapped in a strange and loveless marriage with no way out. The people in Hickory see Tess as an outsider and treat her with suspicion and disdain. Henry is secretive and everyone seems to know something about him that Tess does not. When a sudden polio epidemic strikes Hickory, the townspeople band together to build a hospital. Tess decides to work at the hospital as a nurse much to her husband's dislike. As Tess works to save the lives of her patients, can she untangle the truth behind her husband's mysterious behavior and find the love and the life she was meant to have?
The Stolen Marriage is an emotionally captivating novel of secrets, betrayals, prejudice, and forgiveness. It is Diane Chamberlain at her best. I read this book in one sitting and really enjoyed it. The characters were very real to me and the plot was one that kept the pages turning until the very end. There were shocking twists that kept the story moving and Henry's secret was unbelievable. I am now looking forward to my next Diane Chamberlain novel.
110. Mercy Killing by Lisa Cutts - 432 pgs. ★★★★ - 7/20/2022
The death of a local sex offender places the police officers at East Rise incident room under immense pressure - they must treat this case like any other murder, but they know what Albie Woodville did and can feel little sympathy. Except, as the investigation progresses, it becomes clear this isn't just a one-off killing - someone is out for revenge...
This is a police procedural about sex offenders. Albie Woodville was murdered and the killers are unknown until the very end. I enjoyed the book but it did get boring in parts. It had good characters and a good plot but not what I was looking for. It had a few twists that were unique and I didn't guess the killers until the very end of the book. I'm not going to read another book by this author.
111. Talking To The Dead by Harry Bingham - 385 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/21/2022
First off Fiona Griffiths finds a young woman undone by drugs and prostitution, her six-year-old daughter dead alongside her. Then she finds the platinum credit card of a very wealthy--and long dead--steel tycoon. What is a heroin-addicted hooker doing with the credit card of a well-known and powerful man who died months ago? Fiona Griffiths is a bit odd and suffers from Cotard's Syndrome, which is a condition of depression and psychosis. She is immediately drawn to the crime scene, and to the tragic face of the six-year-old girl, who she is certain has something to tell her . . . something that will break the case wide open. When she uncovers another dead prostitute, Fiona knows that she's only begun to scratch the surface of a dark world of crime and murder.
This book is an excellent start to a new series. It has a clever plot with original characters that starts out slowly but develops into an intense drama. I am going to investigate the rest of the series and I'm happy to find a new series to read.
112. The Berwyn River Killings by Simon McCleave - 344 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/22/2022
A double suicide. A dark investigation into historic abuse. Can DI Ruth Hunter link the present killings to secrets of the past before the killer strikes again? When two seemingly routine suicides start to look suspicious, Ruth is keen to throw herself into a new investigation, lead her CID team and solve what appears to be a complex case.
While solving these murders, Ruth is contacted by a woman who tells Ruth that Sarah has had an affair with her husband in 2013. Ruth talks with her husband and finds out this is the truth. Afterwards the man does leave and Ruth follows him and he meets up with Kessler whom Ruth is suspicious that he is involved with Sarah's disappearance. She follows Kessler unto a train and the book cuts off right there and we will have to read the next book in order to find out what happens next. I am looking forward to the next book and I am glad that I have that one in my possession.
113. The Winter Sister by Megan Collins - 352 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/23/2022
16 years ago, Persephone went out with her boyfriend and never came home and years later, her murder is still unsolved. In the present day, Sylvie returns home to care for her estranged mother, Annie, as she undergoes treatment for cancer. Prone to unexplained “Dark Days” even before Persephone’s death, Annie’s once-close bond with Sylvie dissolved in the weeks after their loss, making for an uncomfortable reunion all these years later. Adding to the discomfort, Persephone’s former boyfriend is now a nurse at the cancer center where Annie is being treated. Sylvie has always believed Ben was responsible for the murder—but she carries her own guilt about that night, guilt that traps her in the past while the world goes on around her.
Lots and lots of secrets abound here. We learn about the mother's secrets and then the book takes off. It started out slow and then took off and never returned. The characters were secretive and so was the plot that took me to the surprising ending. This is a great debut and I will look forward to another book by this author.
114. Final Cut by Lin Anderson - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/23/2022
When Claire regains consciousness after a stranger causes her car to crash in a snowstorm, she is frantic to discover her nine-year-old daughter Emma missing from the back seat. Then Emma is found in the woods nearby, unharmed but cradling a child's skull.
This book was very interesting. It dealt mostly with the dead child that Emma has seen. The dead child is explained and now makes sense but the real issue is McNab. Is he gone or is he back? I guess we will find out in the next book.
115. The Darkest Lies by Barbara Copperthwaite - 433 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/24/2022
A mother desperate for the truth. A daughter hiding a terrible secret.
Melanie Oak appeared to have the perfect life. Married to her childhood sweetheart, Jacob, the couple live with their beautiful, loving, teenage daughter, Beth, in a pretty village.
Nothing can shake her happiness - until the day that Beth goes missing and is discovered beaten almost to the point of death, her broken body lying in a freezing creek on the marshes near their home.
Consumed with grief, Melanie is determined to find her daughter’s attacker. Someone in the village must have seen something. Why won’t they talk?
As Melanie tries to piece together what happened to Beth, she discovers that her innocent teenager has been harbouring some dark secrets of her own. The truth may lie closer to home and put Melanie’s life in terrible danger…
A completely gripping psychological thriller with a twist you won’t see coming.
This book is a parent's worse nightmare. Your child is lying in a coma in a hospital. Melanie Oaks is bound and determined to find out who did this to her daughter. The characters were interesting and the plot was solved by a complete surprise twist in the end that I did not see coming. I will look forward to my next Copperthwaite book in the near future.
116. The White Forest Killings by Simon McCleave - 238 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/28/2022
A dangerous Islamic terrorist. A safe house in the middle of Snowdonia. Can DI Ruth Hunter and DS Nick Evans deliver the suspect safely before there is a deadly rescue attempt?
This book is a fast-paced terroristic threat and very different then the familiar police procedural we are used to. It was a rollercoaster ride and totally gripping. Nick Evans wife, Amanda, is about to give birth to their child. Will Nick make it home in time? Ruth is taken off to a secret location and is finally rescued. I'm now looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
117 The Reborn by Lin Anderson - 432 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/28/2022
The clown suddenly appeared beside a group of kids at the candy floss van, bringing Kira to an abrupt halt. Then it began. The rapid heartbeat, the burst of perspiration, the gasping breath. The baby lurched inside her, as though sharing her panic. When the body of a pregnant teenager is found in a Hall of Mirrors with the full-term foetus surgically removed, forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod is called in to assist the police. Suspicion falls on Jeff Coulter, a psychotic inmate at a nearby hospital whose hobby is making Reborns ' chillingly realistic baby dolls intended for bereaved parents or those unable to conceive. But how could he have orchestrated the murder from a secure mental facility? The investigation leads to a group of teenage girls who seem to have all got pregnant at the same time. Then a Reborn doll is discovered near the crime scene and a second girl from the group is found dead.. Creepy, compelling and heart-stoppingly tense, The Reborn is Lin Anderson's most powerful novel yet.
This was a good book but a disturbing read. Reborn babies being hand made and babies taken from the womb of women. We found out the truth about McNab which is a nice replacement for Sean. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
118. Behind The Red Door by Megan Collins - 336 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/30/2022
When Fern Douglas sees the news about Astrid Sullivan, a thirty-four-year-old missing woman from Maine, she is positive that she knows her. Fern‘s husband is sure it‘s because of Astrid‘s famous kidnapping—and equally famous return—twenty years ago, but Fern has no memory of that, even though it happened an hour outside her New Hampshire hometown. And when Astrid appears in Fern‘s recurring nightmare, one in which a girl reaches out to her, pleading, Fern fears that it‘s not a dream at all, but a memory. Returning to her childhood home to help her father pack for a move, Fern purchases a copy of Astrid‘s recently published memoir—which may have provoked her original kidnapper to abduct her again—and as she reads through its chapters and visits the people and places within it, she discovers more evidence that she has an unsettling connection to the missing woman. With the help of her psychologist father, Fern digs deeper, hoping to find evidence that her connection to Astrid can help the police locate her. But when Fern discovers more about her own past than she ever bargained for, the disturbing truth will change both of their lives forever.
This is a dark and disturbing story which is plot driven and character driven. It is a very well-written book with twists that were unexpected. If you like dark thrillers then you will love this one. I‘m now looking forward to my next Megan Collins book.
119. Long Road To Mercy by David Baldacci - 592 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/30/2022
Her name is Atlee Pine, the latest creation from bestselling author David Baldacci. She has unstoppable tenacity, always a fighter who is unwilling to cede any ground. She has endured real nightmares and she has the emotional and physical scars to show for it. And she got that long before she became an adult. She is a FBI Special Agent assigned to the wilds of the western US. She has to cover, often solo, vast tracts of area: Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona. Small towns, impossibly long distances in-between, isolation like most on the East Coast have never experienced, and an environment where anything can and does happen. Working with the locals who respect, and also sometimes fear her, and have never really been allowed to know her, Atlee Pine turns her vast investigative skills and unmatched drive to find out the truth. Along the way she will revisit painful memories of her own, come to grips with what she is and what she might one day aspire to be. But in the end, she will have to confront not only a new monster, but also the old one of her nightmares. Atlee Pine is a great debut for Baldacci. She is a tough FBI agent who is looking for her twin sister, Mercy, who has been taken from their bedroom at age six. In this book, she is working the Grand Canyon area and is searching for a Priest brother. It is a great introduction to Atlee Pine and a mystery to match. If you like action thrillers then you will like this one. Looking forward to my next Atlee Pine novel in the future.
120. Twain's End by Lynn Cullen - 368 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/31/2022
In March of 1909, Mark Twain cheerfully blessed the wedding of his private secretary, Isabel V. Lyon, and his business manager, Ralph Ashcroft. One month later, he fired both. He proceeded to write a ferocious 429-page rant about the pair, calling Isabel “a liar, a forger, a thief, a hypocrite, a drunkard, a sneak, a humbug, a traitor, a conspirator, a filthy-minded and salacious slut pining for seduction.” Twain and his daughter, Clara Clemens, then slandered Isabel in the newspapers, erasing her nearly seven years of devoted service to their family. How did Lyon go from being the beloved secretary who ran Twain’s life to a woman he was determined to destroy?
In Twain’s End, Lynn Cullen “cleverly spins a mysterious, dark tale” (Booklist) about the tangled relationships between Twain, Lyon, and Ashcroft, as well as the little-known love triangle between Helen Keller, her teacher Anne Sullivan Macy, and Anne’s husband, John Macy, which comes to light during their visit to Twain’s Connecticut home in 1909. Add to the party a furious Clara Clemens, smarting from her own failed love affair, and carefully kept veneers shatter.
Based on Isabel Lyon’s extant diary, Twain’s writings, letters, photographs, and events in Twain’s boyhood that may have altered his ability to love, Twain’s End triumphs as “a tender evocation of a vain, complicated man’s twilight years and a last chance at love”
This book is very interesting and has changed my way of thinking about "America's Sweetheart" Mark Twain. It is about the relationship between Isabel Lyon and Samuel Clemens which turned sour after she married his business manager, Ralph Ashcroft, which he blessed. After one month, he fired both and wrote a ferocious 429 page rant and slandered Isabel and erased her seven years of devoted service to their family. If you love historical biographies, then you would love this book.
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
99. Deadly Code by Lin Anderson - 272 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/1/2022
"The left foot had been severed from the leg ten centimetres below the patella. Both fibula and tibia bones were divided at the same place. All the toes were intact, although the nails had disintegrated or been eaten off during the foot's time in the water." Dr Rhona Macleod travels north to investigate a grisly discovery - a severed foot, caught in a fishing net off the Isle of Skye. Where is the rest of the body, and who is the dead man? What links him to a sinister secret society in America? And why is the Ministry of Defence so keen to shut down the case? Rhona's investigations embroil her in an international conspiracy from which she will be lucky to escape unharmed..
Rhona MacLeod is a forensic scientist who is investigating a severed foot on a fishing net off the coast of Scotland. It is dark and violent but an interesting read and centers in America and the Isle of Skye. The story is good enough to keep turning the pages until the very end. I look forward to reading more of Lin Anderson's books soon.
100. Just Tyrus by Tyrus - 240 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/2/2022
Pro wrestler and political commentator Tyrus goes deep into his wild but triumphant life story, from his painfully dysfunctional upbringing to bodyguarding for Snoop Dogg, to becoming a wrestling icon and one of the most provocative on-air voices today.
The product of a 1970s mixed marriage, George Murdoch learned to fight early in life, fending off both race-baiting bullies and the demons of a dysfunctional home. Couch surfing all through high school and most of college, the quick-witted, sharp-tongued giant played football, ran drugs, and bounced at clubs to try to survive. After a false start with the WWE, he eventually became Snoop Dogg's bodyguard and traveled the world with the hip hop legend, biding his time and honing his rap. When the WWE urged him to return, George became "Brodus Clay" and, for the next several years, reinvented himself numerous times under the watchful mentorship of the legendary Dusty Rhodes, "the American Dream." He was eventually christened "Tyrus," and shortly after, a chance social media encounter with Greg Gutfeld at Fox News resulted in Tyrus finding a new skill: sage social commentator. Ferociously funny, blunt, and tenacious, Just Tyrus traces his unlikely and spectacular rise. As always with Tyrus, it's in-your-face and offers no apologies.
I loved this book. It is the true story of how Tyrus took what happened to him when he was younger and turned it around to become who he is today. He really loved his mom so much that he tried to protect her from herself. It was very interesting that he was Snoop Doog's bodyguard and worked with kids about football. He became a wrestler with the WWE. He is now co-host with Gutfeld at Fox News. He is ferociously funny and blunt and allowed to be himself on Fox News. I'm glad I got to know someone like Tyrus and loved reading his book. Thanks to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for a copy for an honest review.
101. Dark Flight by Lin Anderson - 400 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/3/2022
Stephen, a six-year-old boy, has vanished, his mother and grandmother horrifically murdered. At the scene forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod finds a chilling African talisman, made from the bones of a child. Can she decipher its meaning and track Stephen down before he becomes the next link in the killers' chain?
This is an interesting thriller. It is the 4th book in the Rhona MacLeod series. Stephen is missing and his mother and grandmother have been killed. This book takes us to Glasgow and Nigeria where juju is practiced what is commonly known as voodoo. It is the best of the series so far. A bit gruesome with sexual content but still a good book to read to the end. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
102. Killer Story by Matt Witten - 320 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/4/2022
How far will she go to catch the killer—and make her podcast a hit?
Petra Kovach, a talented and idealistic young reporter, is on the brink of being laid off from her third failing newspaper in a row. To save her job, she pitches the launch of a true crime podcast about a sensational, unsolved murder.
Years earlier, an alt-right YouTuber was killed in her Harvard dorm room, and the case went cold. Petra knew the victim—she was once her camp counselor and loved her like a little sister, despite their political differences.
Petra's investigation gets off to a rocky start, as her promising leads quickly shrivel up. In her passionate quest for justice—and clicks—Petra burns sources and breaks laws, ultimately putting her own life on the line. Even as her star rises, she worries it could all come crashing down at any moment if her actions are exposed.
When her machinations start to backfire, there's only one way to fix everything and solve the murder—even though it may cost her everything she loves.
Since I had read The Necklace, I was eager to read Killer Story. It did not disappoint. Petra Kovach is the type of person who knows what a podcast needs and she is bound and determined to make it work. She ends up vying for her job with Natalie and Dave working against her. I got caught up with Petra's story from the beginning and finished reading it in one sitting. I am looking forward to my next Matt Witten story as he is a remarkable writer. Thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for a copy for an honest review.
103. The Last Way Home by Liz Johnson - 368 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/6/2022
"A disgraced former NHL player and a local artist are thrown together when her pottery studio burns to the ground on the day he returns to Prince Edward Island. But as they work together to rebuild, their secrets will come out, putting even their hearts on the line"--
This is an interesting read. It had great characters and a plot with twists that kept me reading until the very end. Eli came home after 11 years and found Violet hurting as bad as he was. When Eli's story was told and Violet revealed her innermost sorrow, the family came together and helped them. I am now looking forward to another great Liz Johnson book in the future. I would like to thank Revell Publishing and LibraryThing for a copy for an honest review.
104. The Devil's Cliff Killings by Simon McCleave - 402 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/9/2022
This book was action packed. A missing teenager, a prison corruption and human trafficking. Can Ruth Hunter solve this crime in time? Can Sarah be found? If you like chilling police procedurals, true-to-life characters, and psychological twists, then you will love this one! Looking forward to reading the next book in Simon McCleave‘s page-turning thrill ride!
105. Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson - 368 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/10/2022
I totally loved this book. Hen and her husband, Lloyd, moved into a quiet life in a suburban house outside of Boston. Her neighbor invites them over for dinner. She spots a familiar object in the husband's office that is connected to a killing that happened years ago. She immediately claims that he is a murderer. Could her neighbor Matthew be a killer? Then one night, when she comes face-to-face with Matthew in the dark, she realizes that he knows she's been watching him, that she is on to him. And that this is the start of a horrifying nightmare she may not live to escape. There are lots of twists that happen and make me read to the very shocking end. A tantalizing story of obsession and manipulation and is sure to please a lover of psychological suspense. I'm looking forward to my next Peter Swanson book.
106. Easy Kill by Lin Anderson - 432 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/16/2022
A disturbing discovery is made in a Glasgow cemetery in Easy Kill, the fifth novel in Lin Anderson's forensic crime series featuring Rhona MacLeod. A vulnerable young woman has been brutally slain and left on a grave in Glasgow's sprawling cemetery, the Necropolis. Upon examining the body, forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod has no doubt that the depraved killer's motives were sexual in nature. The case takes on an even more disturbing dimension when the removal of the girl's body reveals a second victim, who has recently been buried in a shallow grave underneath. When yet another sex worker is reported missing, there are fears that a serial killer is at large in the city. This man has killed before - and will again unless Rhona can break the chain and track him down before any more lives are lost . . .
This book picks up where the last one left off. A young prostitute woman has been brutally slain and left in a grave in a Glasgow cemetery. Rhona MacLeod is called in to carry out the forensic details. Another woman is found recently buried underneath the city of the dead. Will Rhona be able to track down the killer and stop the pattern from repeating itself? There is a lot more going on in this story but you will have to read it to find out. I look forward to reading the next book.
107. My Little Brother by Diane Saxton - 420 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/17/2022
Two siblings, both missing for 20 years turn up within one day of each other. One dead. One alive.
It was an ordinary school day, the day I lost my little brother.
One moment he was on the roundabout and then was gone. Gone. Missing.
They all blamed me. I was in charge. Even though I was only ten years old.
They sent me away. The hurt, the shame, the questions. The not knowing.
I tried to move on.
It’s been nineteen years in exile and now somebody wants me back.
Someone with a dark secret. They hold the keys, they know the truth.
So, I need to return to the Welsh village of my childhood to find out who, because I have a secret, too…
I did something bad.
Caryn Peeke has arrived home after 20 yrs. She has received messages about her brother. He was 6 when he went missing from the school playground. Caryn was blamed and sent away to a boarding school. This book is an unbelievable roller coaster. The characters are unique and the plot is such that keeps you reading until the very end. The murderer is a complete surprise that I did not see coming. Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review.
108. The Perfect Friend by Barbara Cooperthwaite - 320 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/18/2022
She’ll do anything for you…
My name is Alex, and my world has been shattered.
My husband has left me.
My children won’t speak to me.
My friend Carrie is the only person I have.
She’s the only one I can trust to keep all my secrets.
She’d never do anything to let me down.
Would she?
This dark, gripping psychological thriller will have you holding your breath until the very last page. Fans of Behind Closed Doors, Sometimes I Lie, and The Girl on the Train will be captivated.
Alex Appleby and Carrie Goodwin meet at a trauma support group meeting. They tell lies to each other about all things. It has a slow beginning but the middle is where it gets really good. By the ending it was time to recount the story and explain all the lies. I'm glad I read this one and look forward to the next Barbara Copperthwaite's book.
109. The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain - 416 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/19/2022
It's 1944 and Tess DeMallo is pregnant with Henry Kraft's baby but she is engaged to Vincent Russo. She is riddled with guilt and decides to break her engagement and marry Henry. She moves to the rural town of Hickory, N.C. She leaves Vincent a note and doesn't tell him anything. Vincent is working as a doctor and hasn't been home in months. Tess goes to Washington D.C. with her friend, Gina, and she goes out to dinner with two guys who are staying in Gina's aunt's house. They have some martinis at dinner and Tess gets drunk and Henry takes her home, kisses her and they have sex. Tess wakes up next morning and can't believe that she just had sex with a man she just met. Next, she discovers that she is pregnant. She confronts Henry and he suggests that they get married to make things better for the baby. Tess quickly realizes that she is trapped in a strange and loveless marriage with no way out. The people in Hickory see Tess as an outsider and treat her with suspicion and disdain. Henry is secretive and everyone seems to know something about him that Tess does not. When a sudden polio epidemic strikes Hickory, the townspeople band together to build a hospital. Tess decides to work at the hospital as a nurse much to her husband's dislike. As Tess works to save the lives of her patients, can she untangle the truth behind her husband's mysterious behavior and find the love and the life she was meant to have?
The Stolen Marriage is an emotionally captivating novel of secrets, betrayals, prejudice, and forgiveness. It is Diane Chamberlain at her best. I read this book in one sitting and really enjoyed it. The characters were very real to me and the plot was one that kept the pages turning until the very end. There were shocking twists that kept the story moving and Henry's secret was unbelievable. I am now looking forward to my next Diane Chamberlain novel.
110. Mercy Killing by Lisa Cutts - 432 pgs. ★★★★ - 7/20/2022
The death of a local sex offender places the police officers at East Rise incident room under immense pressure - they must treat this case like any other murder, but they know what Albie Woodville did and can feel little sympathy. Except, as the investigation progresses, it becomes clear this isn't just a one-off killing - someone is out for revenge...
This is a police procedural about sex offenders. Albie Woodville was murdered and the killers are unknown until the very end. I enjoyed the book but it did get boring in parts. It had good characters and a good plot but not what I was looking for. It had a few twists that were unique and I didn't guess the killers until the very end of the book. I'm not going to read another book by this author.
111. Talking To The Dead by Harry Bingham - 385 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/21/2022
First off Fiona Griffiths finds a young woman undone by drugs and prostitution, her six-year-old daughter dead alongside her. Then she finds the platinum credit card of a very wealthy--and long dead--steel tycoon. What is a heroin-addicted hooker doing with the credit card of a well-known and powerful man who died months ago? Fiona Griffiths is a bit odd and suffers from Cotard's Syndrome, which is a condition of depression and psychosis. She is immediately drawn to the crime scene, and to the tragic face of the six-year-old girl, who she is certain has something to tell her . . . something that will break the case wide open. When she uncovers another dead prostitute, Fiona knows that she's only begun to scratch the surface of a dark world of crime and murder.
This book is an excellent start to a new series. It has a clever plot with original characters that starts out slowly but develops into an intense drama. I am going to investigate the rest of the series and I'm happy to find a new series to read.
112. The Berwyn River Killings by Simon McCleave - 344 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/22/2022
A double suicide. A dark investigation into historic abuse. Can DI Ruth Hunter link the present killings to secrets of the past before the killer strikes again? When two seemingly routine suicides start to look suspicious, Ruth is keen to throw herself into a new investigation, lead her CID team and solve what appears to be a complex case.
While solving these murders, Ruth is contacted by a woman who tells Ruth that Sarah has had an affair with her husband in 2013. Ruth talks with her husband and finds out this is the truth. Afterwards the man does leave and Ruth follows him and he meets up with Kessler whom Ruth is suspicious that he is involved with Sarah's disappearance. She follows Kessler unto a train and the book cuts off right there and we will have to read the next book in order to find out what happens next. I am looking forward to the next book and I am glad that I have that one in my possession.
113. The Winter Sister by Megan Collins - 352 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/23/2022
16 years ago, Persephone went out with her boyfriend and never came home and years later, her murder is still unsolved. In the present day, Sylvie returns home to care for her estranged mother, Annie, as she undergoes treatment for cancer. Prone to unexplained “Dark Days” even before Persephone’s death, Annie’s once-close bond with Sylvie dissolved in the weeks after their loss, making for an uncomfortable reunion all these years later. Adding to the discomfort, Persephone’s former boyfriend is now a nurse at the cancer center where Annie is being treated. Sylvie has always believed Ben was responsible for the murder—but she carries her own guilt about that night, guilt that traps her in the past while the world goes on around her.
Lots and lots of secrets abound here. We learn about the mother's secrets and then the book takes off. It started out slow and then took off and never returned. The characters were secretive and so was the plot that took me to the surprising ending. This is a great debut and I will look forward to another book by this author.
114. Final Cut by Lin Anderson - 352 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/23/2022
When Claire regains consciousness after a stranger causes her car to crash in a snowstorm, she is frantic to discover her nine-year-old daughter Emma missing from the back seat. Then Emma is found in the woods nearby, unharmed but cradling a child's skull.
This book was very interesting. It dealt mostly with the dead child that Emma has seen. The dead child is explained and now makes sense but the real issue is McNab. Is he gone or is he back? I guess we will find out in the next book.
115. The Darkest Lies by Barbara Copperthwaite - 433 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/24/2022
A mother desperate for the truth. A daughter hiding a terrible secret.
Melanie Oak appeared to have the perfect life. Married to her childhood sweetheart, Jacob, the couple live with their beautiful, loving, teenage daughter, Beth, in a pretty village.
Nothing can shake her happiness - until the day that Beth goes missing and is discovered beaten almost to the point of death, her broken body lying in a freezing creek on the marshes near their home.
Consumed with grief, Melanie is determined to find her daughter’s attacker. Someone in the village must have seen something. Why won’t they talk?
As Melanie tries to piece together what happened to Beth, she discovers that her innocent teenager has been harbouring some dark secrets of her own. The truth may lie closer to home and put Melanie’s life in terrible danger…
A completely gripping psychological thriller with a twist you won’t see coming.
This book is a parent's worse nightmare. Your child is lying in a coma in a hospital. Melanie Oaks is bound and determined to find out who did this to her daughter. The characters were interesting and the plot was solved by a complete surprise twist in the end that I did not see coming. I will look forward to my next Copperthwaite book in the near future.
116. The White Forest Killings by Simon McCleave - 238 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 7/28/2022
A dangerous Islamic terrorist. A safe house in the middle of Snowdonia. Can DI Ruth Hunter and DS Nick Evans deliver the suspect safely before there is a deadly rescue attempt?
This book is a fast-paced terroristic threat and very different then the familiar police procedural we are used to. It was a rollercoaster ride and totally gripping. Nick Evans wife, Amanda, is about to give birth to their child. Will Nick make it home in time? Ruth is taken off to a secret location and is finally rescued. I'm now looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
117 The Reborn by Lin Anderson - 432 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/28/2022
The clown suddenly appeared beside a group of kids at the candy floss van, bringing Kira to an abrupt halt. Then it began. The rapid heartbeat, the burst of perspiration, the gasping breath. The baby lurched inside her, as though sharing her panic. When the body of a pregnant teenager is found in a Hall of Mirrors with the full-term foetus surgically removed, forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod is called in to assist the police. Suspicion falls on Jeff Coulter, a psychotic inmate at a nearby hospital whose hobby is making Reborns ' chillingly realistic baby dolls intended for bereaved parents or those unable to conceive. But how could he have orchestrated the murder from a secure mental facility? The investigation leads to a group of teenage girls who seem to have all got pregnant at the same time. Then a Reborn doll is discovered near the crime scene and a second girl from the group is found dead.. Creepy, compelling and heart-stoppingly tense, The Reborn is Lin Anderson's most powerful novel yet.
This was a good book but a disturbing read. Reborn babies being hand made and babies taken from the womb of women. We found out the truth about McNab which is a nice replacement for Sean. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
118. Behind The Red Door by Megan Collins - 336 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/30/2022
When Fern Douglas sees the news about Astrid Sullivan, a thirty-four-year-old missing woman from Maine, she is positive that she knows her. Fern‘s husband is sure it‘s because of Astrid‘s famous kidnapping—and equally famous return—twenty years ago, but Fern has no memory of that, even though it happened an hour outside her New Hampshire hometown. And when Astrid appears in Fern‘s recurring nightmare, one in which a girl reaches out to her, pleading, Fern fears that it‘s not a dream at all, but a memory. Returning to her childhood home to help her father pack for a move, Fern purchases a copy of Astrid‘s recently published memoir—which may have provoked her original kidnapper to abduct her again—and as she reads through its chapters and visits the people and places within it, she discovers more evidence that she has an unsettling connection to the missing woman. With the help of her psychologist father, Fern digs deeper, hoping to find evidence that her connection to Astrid can help the police locate her. But when Fern discovers more about her own past than she ever bargained for, the disturbing truth will change both of their lives forever.
This is a dark and disturbing story which is plot driven and character driven. It is a very well-written book with twists that were unexpected. If you like dark thrillers then you will love this one. I‘m now looking forward to my next Megan Collins book.
119. Long Road To Mercy by David Baldacci - 592 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/30/2022
Her name is Atlee Pine, the latest creation from bestselling author David Baldacci. She has unstoppable tenacity, always a fighter who is unwilling to cede any ground. She has endured real nightmares and she has the emotional and physical scars to show for it. And she got that long before she became an adult. She is a FBI Special Agent assigned to the wilds of the western US. She has to cover, often solo, vast tracts of area: Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona. Small towns, impossibly long distances in-between, isolation like most on the East Coast have never experienced, and an environment where anything can and does happen. Working with the locals who respect, and also sometimes fear her, and have never really been allowed to know her, Atlee Pine turns her vast investigative skills and unmatched drive to find out the truth. Along the way she will revisit painful memories of her own, come to grips with what she is and what she might one day aspire to be. But in the end, she will have to confront not only a new monster, but also the old one of her nightmares. Atlee Pine is a great debut for Baldacci. She is a tough FBI agent who is looking for her twin sister, Mercy, who has been taken from their bedroom at age six. In this book, she is working the Grand Canyon area and is searching for a Priest brother. It is a great introduction to Atlee Pine and a mystery to match. If you like action thrillers then you will like this one. Looking forward to my next Atlee Pine novel in the future.
120. Twain's End by Lynn Cullen - 368 pgs. - ★★★★ - 7/31/2022
In March of 1909, Mark Twain cheerfully blessed the wedding of his private secretary, Isabel V. Lyon, and his business manager, Ralph Ashcroft. One month later, he fired both. He proceeded to write a ferocious 429-page rant about the pair, calling Isabel “a liar, a forger, a thief, a hypocrite, a drunkard, a sneak, a humbug, a traitor, a conspirator, a filthy-minded and salacious slut pining for seduction.” Twain and his daughter, Clara Clemens, then slandered Isabel in the newspapers, erasing her nearly seven years of devoted service to their family. How did Lyon go from being the beloved secretary who ran Twain’s life to a woman he was determined to destroy?
In Twain’s End, Lynn Cullen “cleverly spins a mysterious, dark tale” (Booklist) about the tangled relationships between Twain, Lyon, and Ashcroft, as well as the little-known love triangle between Helen Keller, her teacher Anne Sullivan Macy, and Anne’s husband, John Macy, which comes to light during their visit to Twain’s Connecticut home in 1909. Add to the party a furious Clara Clemens, smarting from her own failed love affair, and carefully kept veneers shatter.
Based on Isabel Lyon’s extant diary, Twain’s writings, letters, photographs, and events in Twain’s boyhood that may have altered his ability to love, Twain’s End triumphs as “a tender evocation of a vain, complicated man’s twilight years and a last chance at love”
This book is very interesting and has changed my way of thinking about "America's Sweetheart" Mark Twain. It is about the relationship between Isabel Lyon and Samuel Clemens which turned sour after she married his business manager, Ralph Ashcroft, which he blessed. After one month, he fired both and wrote a ferocious 429 page rant and slandered Isabel and erased her seven years of devoted service to their family. If you love historical biographies, then you would love this book.
8EadieB
August 2022
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
121. The Island by Adrian McKinty - 512 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/1/2022
After moving from a small country town to Seattle, Heather Baxter marries Tom, a widowed doctor with a young son and teenage daughter. A working vacation overseas seems like the perfect way to bring the new family together, but once they’re deep in the Australian outback, the jet-lagged and exhausted kids are so over their new mom.
When they discover remote Dutch Island, off-limits to outside visitors, the family talks their way onto the ferry, taking a chance on an adventure far from the reach of iPhones and Instagram.
But as soon as they set foot on the island, which is run by a tightly knit clan of locals, everything feels wrong. Then a shocking accident propels the Baxters from an unsettling situation into an absolute nightmare.
When Heather and the kids are separated from Tom, they are forced to escape alone, seconds ahead of their pursuers.
Now it’s up to Heather to save herself and the kids, even though they don’t trust her, the harsh bushland is filled with danger, and the locals want her dead.
Heather has been underestimated her entire life, but she knows that only she can bring her family home again and become the mother the children desperately need, even if it means doing the unthinkable to keep them all alive.
This was an action-packed thriller with interesting characters. The page-turner plot was very entertaining. There were twists and turns that I did not see coming that pushed things over the edge. If you like action thrillers then you would enjoy this one.
122. The Solace Farm Killings by Simon McCleave - 330 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/2/2022
A fanatical religious cult. A growing list of missing teenagers. Can DI Ruth Hunter and DS Nick Evans uncover the dark secrets of Solace Farm before there is another ritual killing? D.I. Ruth Hunter has made a new life in North Wales, although an unexplained event from her past keeps drawing her back to her past life in London. Ruth and her partner, DS Nick Evans, discover a series of missing teenagers and are forced to investigate a local religious sect who inhabit the remote Solace Farm. When Ruth realizes that the enigmatic cult leader isn't all that she seems to be, she has a race against time to save the vulnerable inhabitants from total destruction.
I enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end. It had interesting characters and a good plot with twists and turns. If you like action thrillers then you would enjoy this one. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
123. Picture Her Dead by Lin Anderson - 448 pgs. - ★★★ - 8/4/2022
When art student Jude Evans disappears on a photographic visit to a derelict Glasgow cinema, her friend Liam he enlists the help of his birth mother, forensic scientist Dr. Rhona MacLeod, in his search for Jude. Visiting other derelict cinemas on her list, they find clues to her disappearance and to the horrifying secret she may have discovered behind those walls. Throughout the investigation, Rhona must deal with the news that a face from her past is literally back from the dead—but for how long?
Jude Evans has disappeared into thin air. Rhona now has to discover who took her and why. The characters were unique and the plot and twists and turns were such that kept me reading until the end. This book is quite long and could have been shorter.
124. The Sewing Girl's Tale by John Wood Sweet - 384 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 8/6/2022
The Sewing Girl's Tale is a true historical drama of the first published rape in American history when in September 1793, Lanah Sawyer charged Harry Bedlow with rape. This book is very well-researched and reads like a narrative with factual information. I enjoyed this book very much and liked the trail notes as the author goes over how the trail came down. Alexander Hamiltown was one of the lawyers working on her stepfather's seduction case in order to get justice for Lenah. Hamilton has had problems with women in his past. Not much has changed from 1793 rape cases to the present time. Rape cases are very hard to prosecute as it is one person against another and the truth is somewhere in the middle. I would like to thank LibraryThing and Henry Holt Books and Co for a copy of a book for an honest review.
125. Menai Bridge Killings by Simon McCleave - 314 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/13/2022
A young couple on the run. A trail of death and destruction. Can DI Ruth Hunter stop Snowdonia's answer to Bonnie and Clyde before another innocent victim is murdered?
This is the 8th book in the DI Ruth Hunter series. It is a definite page-turner. The characters are believable and I had a hard time putting the book down. The plot pace kept me reading until the very end. Sian's death is keeping Ruth and Nick reeling. Ruth's search for Sarah is still going on and the excellent cliffhanger keeps us looking forward. Finn and Kat made for an empathetic Bonnie and Clyde type read. I'm looking forward to the next installment to check out what happens with Nick, Amanda and Georgia. If you love action thrillers then you will love this series. Check it out!
126. Body of Evidence by Irene Hannon - 361 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 8/14/2022
Forensic pathologist Grace Reilly begins to notice a curious pattern in autopsies of elderly residents whose demise appears to be natural. Sheriff Nate Cox is convinced her theory is credible and they join forces to investigate. This is the third book in the Triple Threat series. I have read the other two books and loved them both. It is a great read with interesting characters and plot. There is absolutely no clue about who is the killer is and I was completely surprised in the end. If you like suspense with a bit of romance added in then you will love this series. I look forward to reading more from Irene Hannon as this book was well-written and hard to put down. I think this book is the best book of the series. Thanks to LibraryThing for a copy for an honest review.
127. Distant Shores by Kristin Hannah - 368 pgs. - ★★★ - 8/15/2022
Elizabeth and Jackson Shore married young, raised two daughters, and weathered the storms of youth as they built a family. From a distance, their lives look picture perfect. But after the girls leave home, Jack and Elizabeth quietly drift apart. When Jack accepts a wonderful new job, Elizabeth puts her own needs aside to follow him across the country.
Then tragedy turns Elizabeth's world upside down. In the aftermath, she questions everything about her life--her choices, her marriage, even her long-forgotten dreams. In a daring move that shocks her husband, friends, and daughters, she lets go of the woman she has become--and reaches out for the woman she wants to be.
This is not one of Kristin Hannah's better books. The characters were interesting but the plot was slow in the beginning and dragged in places. I thought the 2nd half was poorly written and a bit confusing. I felt Jack should have told Elizabeth about his cheating during the separation. Other than that, the book did have some good parts but too few to really mention. I look forward to my next Hannah book because it's gotta be better than this one.
128. The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill - 292 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/16/2022
The ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is quiet, until the tranquility is shattered by a woman's terrified scream. Security guards take charge immediately, instructing everyone inside to stay put until the threat is identified and contained. While they wait for the all-clear, four strangers, who'd happened to sit at the same table, pass the time in conversation and friendships are struck. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning—it just happens that one is a murderer.
This book is two separate storylines written in an unusual format. It is a complex story with surprising twists that held my attention and kept me guessing until the very end. Harriet is an Australian author who seeks a review from Leo who is from Boston. Four members meet and form an immediate friendship. They are Marigold, Whit, Cain or Freddi. They hear a woman scream. Which one is the murderer? I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading another book by Sulari Getill. If you love mystery thrillers then you will love this one.
129. The Family Plot by Megan Collins - 320 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/17/2022
At twenty-six, Dahlia Lighthouse has a lot to learn when it comes to the real world. Raised in a secluded island mansion deep in the woods and kept isolated by her true crime-obsessed parents, she has spent the last several years living on her own, but unable to move beyond her past—especially the disappearance of her twin brother Andy when they were sixteen.
This is a dark, gripping thriller with fascinating characters who are named for true crime killers and those who have been killed. The story is told with Dahlia's POV and the plot is a creepy, twisted story with a shocking finale in the end. I'm looking forward to my next book by Megan Collins. If you like creepy, dark mystery, then you will love this book.
130. The Conway Harbour Killings by Simon McCleave - 281 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 8/18/2022
A murdered sports coach. A missing girl. Can DI Ruth Hunter unpick a web of lies and betrayal before the killer escapes?
Detective Ruth Hunter’s ongoing quest for her missing partner has taken a dramatic twist as she continues to live her life away from London in Snowdonia. When a popular rugby coach is brutally murdered, and a young woman vanishes, Ruth must examine the secret lives of a local community in shock.
As Ruth, and her sidekick DS Nick Evans, begin to uncover a confusing mesh of dark deception, she realizes that the answer might lie in the victim’s own clandestine life. However, every time Ruth thinks she has the killer in her sights the case turns to implicate another suspect.
I enjoyed this book. There are a large number of suspects and DI Ruth Hunter and DS Nick Evans are looking for motives from their suspects. The murder of the rugby coach is finally solved in the end. Rhona is still looking for Sarah and the search may be coming to an end. I'm looking forward to the next book as it will be centered in France looking for Sarah. If you like chilling police procedurals, true-to-life characters, and psychological twists, then you’ll love Simon McCleave’s page-turning thrill ride.
131. Paths of the Dead by Lin Anderson - 432 pgs. ★★★ - 8/19/2022
It was never just a game . . .
When Amy MacKenzie agrees to attend a meeting at a local spiritualist church, the last person she expects to hear calling to her from beyond the grave is her son. The son whom she'd only spoken to an hour before.
Then the body of a young man is found inside a neolithic stone circle high above the city of Glasgow and forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod is soon on the case. The hands have been severed and there is a stone in the victim's mouth with the number five scratched on it. DI Michael McNab is certain it's a gangland murder, but Rhona isn't convinced. When a second body is found in similar circumstances, a pattern begins to emerge, of a killer intent on masterminding a gruesome Druidic game that everyone will be forced to play.
This book is completely different than the other books in the series. It feels like I'm reading a different series. McNab seems to be the interest in this book. I'm not sure where this series is going but I'm not sure that I like it. It was a bit boring at times and a bit too long. Hopefully, the next book will be better.
132. The Villa by Rachel Hawkins - 288 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/20/2022
I really enjoyed this book. It was inspired by the writing of Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein." It takes place at a Villa in Italy. The book is told with Mari and Emily's POV switching back and forth from 1974 to the present. Emily and Chase are both writers and have gone to the Villa to relax and write their books. I have read two other books by Rachel Hawkins, The Wife Upstairs and Reckless Girls. I have noticed that Rachel's writing is very good and kept me interested. In this story, Emily is writing a book about the mystery of what happened at the Villa in the 70's. If you like books about things that happen in the past, then you will love this book. It is a must read when it comes out in January 2023.
133. The Maze by Nelson DeMille - 448 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/21/2022
Nelson DeMille returns with his best thriller yet featuring former homicide detective John Corey who is called out of retirement to investigate a string of searing, grisly murders that take place a little too close to home. Corey is now in forced retirement and is asked by his former lover in Plum Island, Detective Beth Penrose, to help search for a serial killer who has murdered nine prostitutes and hidden their bodies in the thick undergrowth on a lonely stretch of beach.
This is my first John Corey book. I am enjoying John Corey's dry sarcastic humor which gives the book an extra boost. The book seems to be inspired and based on the unsolved Gilgo Beach murders. I want to go back and read the other books in the series. I found all the characters to be interesting and the plot action is such that it kept me reading until the very end of the book. I would highly recommend The Maze and find that if you like mystery thrillers, then you will love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Scribner for a copy for an honest review.
134. The Prisoner by BA Paris - 304 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/21/2022
Amelie has always been a survivor, from losing her parents as a child in Paris to making it on her own in London. As she builds a life for herself, she is swept up into a glamorous lifestyle where she married the handsome billionaire Ned Hawthorne.
But then, Amelie wakes up in a pitch-black room, not knowing where she is. Why has she been taken? Who are her mysterious captors? And why does she soon feel safer here, imprisoned, than she had begun to feel with her husband Ned?
This is a great thriller, a perfect escape read. It is a fascinating tale of mystery and intrigue. It is a character study of human behavior. The unexpected twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning until the very end. The pacing was lightening fast and kept me reading. This is definitely the best B.A. Paris book and I would highly recommend it to others. If you like mystery thrillers then you will love this book. I would like thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy for an honest review.
135. Mothered by Zoje Stage - 318 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/26/2022
It is the beginning of Covid19 in April 2020 and Grace and Jackie are living together. They’ve never had a great relationship, and Grace likes her space, especially now that she’s stuck at home during a pandemic. But living with Mother isn’t for everyone. Good intentions turn bad soon after Jackie moves in. Grace starts having nightmares about her disabled twin sister, who died when they were kids.
This book was a slow burn but turned into a nightmare towards the end. Grace just purchased her home and is not sure how to make ends meet with just losing her job. Her mother, Jackie, just lost her husband and Grace is going mental and doesn't know what is real or not real. It definitely is a crazy time for all. If you like books written during Covid 19, then you will love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for a copy for an honest review.
136. The River Seine by Simon McCleave - 225 Pgs - ★★★★ - 8/27/2022
A Missing Ex-Partner. A Web of Corruption. Can DI Ruth Hunter locate and rescue the woman she loved before she vanishes again, this time forever?
This book takes place on The River Seine in France where Sarah is being held captive. Ruth finds herself embroiled in the dark underbelly of French political and police corruption and the world of sex trafficking. Ruth is wondering who she can trust, who is following her and if she will ever see Sarah again. If you like chilling police procedurals, then you will love this book.
137. Shadow Falls by Wendy Dranfield - 364 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/28/2022
You thought your little girl was safe at summer camp. You were wrong…
The little girl drags her eyes open, realizing she’s starting to fade. She tries calling out,“Daddy?” using all her remaining strength. But she’s too late and her voice just isn’t loud enough…
Madison Harper and Nathanial Monroe are both police officers who were imprisoned for crimes they didn't commit. After their release, they have teamed up to become private investigators for a 12 year old girl missing from summer camp. There were lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. When the murderer was found out, I was completely shocked. I enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading the 2nd book in the series. If you like mystery that completely shocks you, then you will love this book.
138. Cry For Help by Wendy Dranfield - 320 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/29/2022
This is book 2 of The Detective Madison Harper series. Detective Nate Monroe is helping detective Madison Harper as she has returned home to bury her best friend, Stephanie Garcia, who has recently been murdered. She also is looking for her son, Owen, who has been put in a foster home upon her arrest. All things have turned out well as they have solved the mystery. Read this book and find out who has done all the recent murders in Detective Madison Harper’s hometown. If you like mysteries with a twist then you will love this book.
139. Little Girl Taken by Wendy Dranfield - 379 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/31/2022
Detective Madison Harper is back working from home. She discovers a baby wrapped up in the back of a car that was in an accident. Where are the baby girl's parents? She then finds a white sneaker belonging to Kacie Larson that her boss saw her wearing while working as a waitress. Lots of secrets and twists occur to keep things interesting throughout the rest of the book. Nate is being accused of the murder of his best friend. Madison knows that he is innocent and that the police will pick the most likely suspect. This series is getting better and better. I need to read the next book in the series. If you like mystery thrillers then you will love this book.
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
121. The Island by Adrian McKinty - 512 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/1/2022
After moving from a small country town to Seattle, Heather Baxter marries Tom, a widowed doctor with a young son and teenage daughter. A working vacation overseas seems like the perfect way to bring the new family together, but once they’re deep in the Australian outback, the jet-lagged and exhausted kids are so over their new mom.
When they discover remote Dutch Island, off-limits to outside visitors, the family talks their way onto the ferry, taking a chance on an adventure far from the reach of iPhones and Instagram.
But as soon as they set foot on the island, which is run by a tightly knit clan of locals, everything feels wrong. Then a shocking accident propels the Baxters from an unsettling situation into an absolute nightmare.
When Heather and the kids are separated from Tom, they are forced to escape alone, seconds ahead of their pursuers.
Now it’s up to Heather to save herself and the kids, even though they don’t trust her, the harsh bushland is filled with danger, and the locals want her dead.
Heather has been underestimated her entire life, but she knows that only she can bring her family home again and become the mother the children desperately need, even if it means doing the unthinkable to keep them all alive.
This was an action-packed thriller with interesting characters. The page-turner plot was very entertaining. There were twists and turns that I did not see coming that pushed things over the edge. If you like action thrillers then you would enjoy this one.
122. The Solace Farm Killings by Simon McCleave - 330 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/2/2022
A fanatical religious cult. A growing list of missing teenagers. Can DI Ruth Hunter and DS Nick Evans uncover the dark secrets of Solace Farm before there is another ritual killing? D.I. Ruth Hunter has made a new life in North Wales, although an unexplained event from her past keeps drawing her back to her past life in London. Ruth and her partner, DS Nick Evans, discover a series of missing teenagers and are forced to investigate a local religious sect who inhabit the remote Solace Farm. When Ruth realizes that the enigmatic cult leader isn't all that she seems to be, she has a race against time to save the vulnerable inhabitants from total destruction.
I enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end. It had interesting characters and a good plot with twists and turns. If you like action thrillers then you would enjoy this one. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
123. Picture Her Dead by Lin Anderson - 448 pgs. - ★★★ - 8/4/2022
When art student Jude Evans disappears on a photographic visit to a derelict Glasgow cinema, her friend Liam he enlists the help of his birth mother, forensic scientist Dr. Rhona MacLeod, in his search for Jude. Visiting other derelict cinemas on her list, they find clues to her disappearance and to the horrifying secret she may have discovered behind those walls. Throughout the investigation, Rhona must deal with the news that a face from her past is literally back from the dead—but for how long?
Jude Evans has disappeared into thin air. Rhona now has to discover who took her and why. The characters were unique and the plot and twists and turns were such that kept me reading until the end. This book is quite long and could have been shorter.
124. The Sewing Girl's Tale by John Wood Sweet - 384 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 8/6/2022
The Sewing Girl's Tale is a true historical drama of the first published rape in American history when in September 1793, Lanah Sawyer charged Harry Bedlow with rape. This book is very well-researched and reads like a narrative with factual information. I enjoyed this book very much and liked the trail notes as the author goes over how the trail came down. Alexander Hamiltown was one of the lawyers working on her stepfather's seduction case in order to get justice for Lenah. Hamilton has had problems with women in his past. Not much has changed from 1793 rape cases to the present time. Rape cases are very hard to prosecute as it is one person against another and the truth is somewhere in the middle. I would like to thank LibraryThing and Henry Holt Books and Co for a copy of a book for an honest review.
125. Menai Bridge Killings by Simon McCleave - 314 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/13/2022
A young couple on the run. A trail of death and destruction. Can DI Ruth Hunter stop Snowdonia's answer to Bonnie and Clyde before another innocent victim is murdered?
This is the 8th book in the DI Ruth Hunter series. It is a definite page-turner. The characters are believable and I had a hard time putting the book down. The plot pace kept me reading until the very end. Sian's death is keeping Ruth and Nick reeling. Ruth's search for Sarah is still going on and the excellent cliffhanger keeps us looking forward. Finn and Kat made for an empathetic Bonnie and Clyde type read. I'm looking forward to the next installment to check out what happens with Nick, Amanda and Georgia. If you love action thrillers then you will love this series. Check it out!
126. Body of Evidence by Irene Hannon - 361 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 8/14/2022
Forensic pathologist Grace Reilly begins to notice a curious pattern in autopsies of elderly residents whose demise appears to be natural. Sheriff Nate Cox is convinced her theory is credible and they join forces to investigate. This is the third book in the Triple Threat series. I have read the other two books and loved them both. It is a great read with interesting characters and plot. There is absolutely no clue about who is the killer is and I was completely surprised in the end. If you like suspense with a bit of romance added in then you will love this series. I look forward to reading more from Irene Hannon as this book was well-written and hard to put down. I think this book is the best book of the series. Thanks to LibraryThing for a copy for an honest review.
127. Distant Shores by Kristin Hannah - 368 pgs. - ★★★ - 8/15/2022
Elizabeth and Jackson Shore married young, raised two daughters, and weathered the storms of youth as they built a family. From a distance, their lives look picture perfect. But after the girls leave home, Jack and Elizabeth quietly drift apart. When Jack accepts a wonderful new job, Elizabeth puts her own needs aside to follow him across the country.
Then tragedy turns Elizabeth's world upside down. In the aftermath, she questions everything about her life--her choices, her marriage, even her long-forgotten dreams. In a daring move that shocks her husband, friends, and daughters, she lets go of the woman she has become--and reaches out for the woman she wants to be.
This is not one of Kristin Hannah's better books. The characters were interesting but the plot was slow in the beginning and dragged in places. I thought the 2nd half was poorly written and a bit confusing. I felt Jack should have told Elizabeth about his cheating during the separation. Other than that, the book did have some good parts but too few to really mention. I look forward to my next Hannah book because it's gotta be better than this one.
128. The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill - 292 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/16/2022
The ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is quiet, until the tranquility is shattered by a woman's terrified scream. Security guards take charge immediately, instructing everyone inside to stay put until the threat is identified and contained. While they wait for the all-clear, four strangers, who'd happened to sit at the same table, pass the time in conversation and friendships are struck. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning—it just happens that one is a murderer.
This book is two separate storylines written in an unusual format. It is a complex story with surprising twists that held my attention and kept me guessing until the very end. Harriet is an Australian author who seeks a review from Leo who is from Boston. Four members meet and form an immediate friendship. They are Marigold, Whit, Cain or Freddi. They hear a woman scream. Which one is the murderer? I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading another book by Sulari Getill. If you love mystery thrillers then you will love this one.
129. The Family Plot by Megan Collins - 320 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/17/2022
At twenty-six, Dahlia Lighthouse has a lot to learn when it comes to the real world. Raised in a secluded island mansion deep in the woods and kept isolated by her true crime-obsessed parents, she has spent the last several years living on her own, but unable to move beyond her past—especially the disappearance of her twin brother Andy when they were sixteen.
This is a dark, gripping thriller with fascinating characters who are named for true crime killers and those who have been killed. The story is told with Dahlia's POV and the plot is a creepy, twisted story with a shocking finale in the end. I'm looking forward to my next book by Megan Collins. If you like creepy, dark mystery, then you will love this book.
130. The Conway Harbour Killings by Simon McCleave - 281 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 8/18/2022
A murdered sports coach. A missing girl. Can DI Ruth Hunter unpick a web of lies and betrayal before the killer escapes?
Detective Ruth Hunter’s ongoing quest for her missing partner has taken a dramatic twist as she continues to live her life away from London in Snowdonia. When a popular rugby coach is brutally murdered, and a young woman vanishes, Ruth must examine the secret lives of a local community in shock.
As Ruth, and her sidekick DS Nick Evans, begin to uncover a confusing mesh of dark deception, she realizes that the answer might lie in the victim’s own clandestine life. However, every time Ruth thinks she has the killer in her sights the case turns to implicate another suspect.
I enjoyed this book. There are a large number of suspects and DI Ruth Hunter and DS Nick Evans are looking for motives from their suspects. The murder of the rugby coach is finally solved in the end. Rhona is still looking for Sarah and the search may be coming to an end. I'm looking forward to the next book as it will be centered in France looking for Sarah. If you like chilling police procedurals, true-to-life characters, and psychological twists, then you’ll love Simon McCleave’s page-turning thrill ride.
131. Paths of the Dead by Lin Anderson - 432 pgs. ★★★ - 8/19/2022
It was never just a game . . .
When Amy MacKenzie agrees to attend a meeting at a local spiritualist church, the last person she expects to hear calling to her from beyond the grave is her son. The son whom she'd only spoken to an hour before.
Then the body of a young man is found inside a neolithic stone circle high above the city of Glasgow and forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod is soon on the case. The hands have been severed and there is a stone in the victim's mouth with the number five scratched on it. DI Michael McNab is certain it's a gangland murder, but Rhona isn't convinced. When a second body is found in similar circumstances, a pattern begins to emerge, of a killer intent on masterminding a gruesome Druidic game that everyone will be forced to play.
This book is completely different than the other books in the series. It feels like I'm reading a different series. McNab seems to be the interest in this book. I'm not sure where this series is going but I'm not sure that I like it. It was a bit boring at times and a bit too long. Hopefully, the next book will be better.
132. The Villa by Rachel Hawkins - 288 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/20/2022
I really enjoyed this book. It was inspired by the writing of Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein." It takes place at a Villa in Italy. The book is told with Mari and Emily's POV switching back and forth from 1974 to the present. Emily and Chase are both writers and have gone to the Villa to relax and write their books. I have read two other books by Rachel Hawkins, The Wife Upstairs and Reckless Girls. I have noticed that Rachel's writing is very good and kept me interested. In this story, Emily is writing a book about the mystery of what happened at the Villa in the 70's. If you like books about things that happen in the past, then you will love this book. It is a must read when it comes out in January 2023.
133. The Maze by Nelson DeMille - 448 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/21/2022
Nelson DeMille returns with his best thriller yet featuring former homicide detective John Corey who is called out of retirement to investigate a string of searing, grisly murders that take place a little too close to home. Corey is now in forced retirement and is asked by his former lover in Plum Island, Detective Beth Penrose, to help search for a serial killer who has murdered nine prostitutes and hidden their bodies in the thick undergrowth on a lonely stretch of beach.
This is my first John Corey book. I am enjoying John Corey's dry sarcastic humor which gives the book an extra boost. The book seems to be inspired and based on the unsolved Gilgo Beach murders. I want to go back and read the other books in the series. I found all the characters to be interesting and the plot action is such that it kept me reading until the very end of the book. I would highly recommend The Maze and find that if you like mystery thrillers, then you will love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Scribner for a copy for an honest review.
134. The Prisoner by BA Paris - 304 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/21/2022
Amelie has always been a survivor, from losing her parents as a child in Paris to making it on her own in London. As she builds a life for herself, she is swept up into a glamorous lifestyle where she married the handsome billionaire Ned Hawthorne.
But then, Amelie wakes up in a pitch-black room, not knowing where she is. Why has she been taken? Who are her mysterious captors? And why does she soon feel safer here, imprisoned, than she had begun to feel with her husband Ned?
This is a great thriller, a perfect escape read. It is a fascinating tale of mystery and intrigue. It is a character study of human behavior. The unexpected twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning until the very end. The pacing was lightening fast and kept me reading. This is definitely the best B.A. Paris book and I would highly recommend it to others. If you like mystery thrillers then you will love this book. I would like thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy for an honest review.
135. Mothered by Zoje Stage - 318 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/26/2022
It is the beginning of Covid19 in April 2020 and Grace and Jackie are living together. They’ve never had a great relationship, and Grace likes her space, especially now that she’s stuck at home during a pandemic. But living with Mother isn’t for everyone. Good intentions turn bad soon after Jackie moves in. Grace starts having nightmares about her disabled twin sister, who died when they were kids.
This book was a slow burn but turned into a nightmare towards the end. Grace just purchased her home and is not sure how to make ends meet with just losing her job. Her mother, Jackie, just lost her husband and Grace is going mental and doesn't know what is real or not real. It definitely is a crazy time for all. If you like books written during Covid 19, then you will love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for a copy for an honest review.
136. The River Seine by Simon McCleave - 225 Pgs - ★★★★ - 8/27/2022
A Missing Ex-Partner. A Web of Corruption. Can DI Ruth Hunter locate and rescue the woman she loved before she vanishes again, this time forever?
This book takes place on The River Seine in France where Sarah is being held captive. Ruth finds herself embroiled in the dark underbelly of French political and police corruption and the world of sex trafficking. Ruth is wondering who she can trust, who is following her and if she will ever see Sarah again. If you like chilling police procedurals, then you will love this book.
137. Shadow Falls by Wendy Dranfield - 364 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/28/2022
You thought your little girl was safe at summer camp. You were wrong…
The little girl drags her eyes open, realizing she’s starting to fade. She tries calling out,“Daddy?” using all her remaining strength. But she’s too late and her voice just isn’t loud enough…
Madison Harper and Nathanial Monroe are both police officers who were imprisoned for crimes they didn't commit. After their release, they have teamed up to become private investigators for a 12 year old girl missing from summer camp. There were lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. When the murderer was found out, I was completely shocked. I enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading the 2nd book in the series. If you like mystery that completely shocks you, then you will love this book.
138. Cry For Help by Wendy Dranfield - 320 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/29/2022
This is book 2 of The Detective Madison Harper series. Detective Nate Monroe is helping detective Madison Harper as she has returned home to bury her best friend, Stephanie Garcia, who has recently been murdered. She also is looking for her son, Owen, who has been put in a foster home upon her arrest. All things have turned out well as they have solved the mystery. Read this book and find out who has done all the recent murders in Detective Madison Harper’s hometown. If you like mysteries with a twist then you will love this book.
139. Little Girl Taken by Wendy Dranfield - 379 pgs. - ★★★★ - 8/31/2022
Detective Madison Harper is back working from home. She discovers a baby wrapped up in the back of a car that was in an accident. Where are the baby girl's parents? She then finds a white sneaker belonging to Kacie Larson that her boss saw her wearing while working as a waitress. Lots of secrets and twists occur to keep things interesting throughout the rest of the book. Nate is being accused of the murder of his best friend. Madison knows that he is innocent and that the police will pick the most likely suspect. This series is getting better and better. I need to read the next book in the series. If you like mystery thrillers then you will love this book.
9EadieB
September 2022
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
140. The Night Watch by Neil Lancaster - 461 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/5/2022
I have read all 3 books in this crime series. I have found them all to be enjoyable. This one is a bit different as the killer is someone they know within the police department. Scott Paterson is found dead on a golf course. Next, his lawyer, Fergus Grigor, is found dead of suspicious circumstances. DS Max Craigie from Edinburgh, Scotland is the detective that is working this case along with Ross and Janie. They are on the search for a vigilante, dispatching justice where the courts have failed. I loved the banter amongst the 3 individuals of Max, Ross and Janie. I found the book's plot to be fast paced, dark and gritty. I look forward to the next Neil Lancaster book as I have really enjoyed this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and HQ Digital for a copy for an honest review.
141. Gone To Her Grave by Wendy Dranfield - 370 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/9/2022
Terri Summers, is found dead in her home on the outskirts of Lost Creek, Colorado. The awkward way Terri’s body is positioned catches Madison’s attention. Can Madison stop this twisted killer before another precious life is taken? And at what cost?
This is the fourth book in the Detective Madison Harper series by author Wendy Dranfield. With plenty of twists and turns, Gone To Her Grave, was an enjoyable read. This was brilliant with a plot that kept me reading until the very surprised ending. I can't wait until the next book in the series. If you like mystery thrillers then you would love this book.
142. Catch Her Death by Wendy Dranfiield - 358 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/11/2022
The deeper Madison digs, the closer she gets to a serial killer her own father spent a lifetime chasing. Has the killer followed her father here? Could Madison, single mother to a son herself, be next?
This is the 5th book in the Detective Madison Harper series. It is a book that has interesting characters and lots of twists and turns that kept me reading until the surprised ending. Madison's father has been in Alaska but she finally meets up with him again when he follows the serial killer back to Lost Creek, Colorado. Find out what happens to him and the serial killer as they hunt him down. I'm looking forward to the next book of the series as Madison and Nate are drawing closer together. If you like mystery thrillers then you will love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy for an honest review.
143. The Lake Vyrnwy Killings by Simon McCleave - 307 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/17/2022
A missing husband, a gruesome discovery. DI Ruth Hunter and her partner, DS Nick Evans, must decide if the two are linked and if a local man is the victim of a Liverpool gangland hit.
The Lake Vyrnwy Killings is the 11th book in the DI Ruth Hunter Murder Case Snowdonia series. The characters were interesting and the plot was one that held my attention until the surprising ending. This book had great twists and turns and made it hard to guess the killer. I’m looking forward to reading the next book. If you like chilling police procedurals, true-to-life characters, and psychological twists, then you’ll love this book.
144. Funeral Train by Laurie Loewenstein - 318 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/18/2022
A passenger train derails in an Oklahoma town during the 1930 DustBowl and the hospital is taken over with the dead and maimed. Etha, the wife of Sheriff Temple Jennings is seriously wounded. The sheriff is now in charge of investigating the derailment which rapidly develops into a case of sabotage. The following night, a local woman is murdered. Temple has a hunch that the death is connected to the train wreck. Will the sheriff be able to find out who derailed the train? Is the murder victim related to the derailment?
Sheriff Temple Jennings is assisted in the investigation of the derailment by Claude Steele, a railroad detective. Etha was coming home from visiting relatives and was caught in the derailment. There was a whole carload of blacks in the first car that were killed because their car was made of wood and the other train cars were made of steel. I really enjoyed this book as it was very interesting. The murderer and train derailment were solved in the end. I would like to read the next book in this series as the historical mystery surrounding the Dust Bowl is brought to life.
145. The Chirk Castle killings by Simon McCleave - 300 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/20/2022
A fatal shooting. A vulnerable eyewitness. DI Ruth Hunter and her partner, DS Nick Evans, must track down the killers before they find a key witness - a ten-year-old boy, Daniel.
This is the 12th book in the DI Ruth Hunter series. It is a dramatic, tense and gripping read. Many twists and turns with a surprise ending. The comfortable characters are like old friends. I love following the character's family alongside the main storyline. The story has great pace with an unexpected final result and cliffhanger. I can't wait to read the next installment. If you like chilling police procedurals, true-to-life characters, and psychological twists, then you'll love this book.
146. Waiting for the Moon by Kristin Hannah - 378 pgs. ★★★ - 9/21/2022
1880. She doesn't remember who she is or how she came to the mansion on the isolated Maine coast. Lost in a strange world filled with even stranger faces, Selena finds comfort in a man whose eyes reflect her own aloneness.
This is a very dark story. The first half of the book is slow. It is a Hannah book but very early in her writing. The second half is better and explains everything about Selena. Still the writing is very slow and could be more interesting. To me it is probably more like a fantasy book until the ending when things are explained. I look forward to my next Hannah book but hope it won't be slow like this book. It's not what I was looking to read in a book.
147. The Portmeirion Killings by Simon McCleave - 277 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/22/2022
When a London journalist is run off the road and killed, it seems that his death might be linked to his investigation into plans for a nuclear plant. Is the murder linked to an American power company with a dark past who want to bury the story? There are also locals who stand to make millions from the plant’s construction. However, it soon appears there might be an event in Jake’s past that might provide the clue.
This is the 13th book in DI Ruth Hunter series. DI Ruth Hunter investigates a suspicious death. Twists and turns end in the fact that Nick is arrested and held in jail. Hopefully, he will be released in the next book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. If you love police procedurals, true-to-life characters, and psychological twists, then you’ll love this book.
148. Next In Line by Jeffrey Archer - 385 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/23/2022
This is the 5th book in the William Warwick series. I have read the whole series and also the Clifton Chronicles. Archer is very adept at storyteller so I have enjoyed all these books. Miles Faulkner has been imprisoned for art fraud. Princess Di is also in the book and The Royalty Protection Command is guarding her. There are many twists and turns make this an interesting read. I am now looking forward to the next book in the series. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins for a copy for an honest review.
149. Silent Angel by Helen Phifer - 327 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/25/2022
The body of a teenage girl is found in Rydal Falls’ churchyard. The autopsy identifies the girl as sixteen-year-old Shea Wilkinson. Another girl has gone missing, a young nurse called Milly. Milly was last seen chatting to one of Morgan’s colleagues on the force. Can she trace the clues and get inside the mind of the most cunning killer of her career?
This is the 7th book in the Detective Morgan Brookes series. I have read a few other books in the series but this book can be read as a standalone. This an intense read with twists and turns that cause you to keep wanting to read until the conclusion. I'm looking forward to the next read. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy for an honest review. If you love mystery thrillers then you will love this book.
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
140. The Night Watch by Neil Lancaster - 461 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/5/2022
I have read all 3 books in this crime series. I have found them all to be enjoyable. This one is a bit different as the killer is someone they know within the police department. Scott Paterson is found dead on a golf course. Next, his lawyer, Fergus Grigor, is found dead of suspicious circumstances. DS Max Craigie from Edinburgh, Scotland is the detective that is working this case along with Ross and Janie. They are on the search for a vigilante, dispatching justice where the courts have failed. I loved the banter amongst the 3 individuals of Max, Ross and Janie. I found the book's plot to be fast paced, dark and gritty. I look forward to the next Neil Lancaster book as I have really enjoyed this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and HQ Digital for a copy for an honest review.
141. Gone To Her Grave by Wendy Dranfield - 370 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/9/2022
Terri Summers, is found dead in her home on the outskirts of Lost Creek, Colorado. The awkward way Terri’s body is positioned catches Madison’s attention. Can Madison stop this twisted killer before another precious life is taken? And at what cost?
This is the fourth book in the Detective Madison Harper series by author Wendy Dranfield. With plenty of twists and turns, Gone To Her Grave, was an enjoyable read. This was brilliant with a plot that kept me reading until the very surprised ending. I can't wait until the next book in the series. If you like mystery thrillers then you would love this book.
142. Catch Her Death by Wendy Dranfiield - 358 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/11/2022
The deeper Madison digs, the closer she gets to a serial killer her own father spent a lifetime chasing. Has the killer followed her father here? Could Madison, single mother to a son herself, be next?
This is the 5th book in the Detective Madison Harper series. It is a book that has interesting characters and lots of twists and turns that kept me reading until the surprised ending. Madison's father has been in Alaska but she finally meets up with him again when he follows the serial killer back to Lost Creek, Colorado. Find out what happens to him and the serial killer as they hunt him down. I'm looking forward to the next book of the series as Madison and Nate are drawing closer together. If you like mystery thrillers then you will love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy for an honest review.
143. The Lake Vyrnwy Killings by Simon McCleave - 307 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/17/2022
A missing husband, a gruesome discovery. DI Ruth Hunter and her partner, DS Nick Evans, must decide if the two are linked and if a local man is the victim of a Liverpool gangland hit.
The Lake Vyrnwy Killings is the 11th book in the DI Ruth Hunter Murder Case Snowdonia series. The characters were interesting and the plot was one that held my attention until the surprising ending. This book had great twists and turns and made it hard to guess the killer. I’m looking forward to reading the next book. If you like chilling police procedurals, true-to-life characters, and psychological twists, then you’ll love this book.
144. Funeral Train by Laurie Loewenstein - 318 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/18/2022
A passenger train derails in an Oklahoma town during the 1930 DustBowl and the hospital is taken over with the dead and maimed. Etha, the wife of Sheriff Temple Jennings is seriously wounded. The sheriff is now in charge of investigating the derailment which rapidly develops into a case of sabotage. The following night, a local woman is murdered. Temple has a hunch that the death is connected to the train wreck. Will the sheriff be able to find out who derailed the train? Is the murder victim related to the derailment?
Sheriff Temple Jennings is assisted in the investigation of the derailment by Claude Steele, a railroad detective. Etha was coming home from visiting relatives and was caught in the derailment. There was a whole carload of blacks in the first car that were killed because their car was made of wood and the other train cars were made of steel. I really enjoyed this book as it was very interesting. The murderer and train derailment were solved in the end. I would like to read the next book in this series as the historical mystery surrounding the Dust Bowl is brought to life.
145. The Chirk Castle killings by Simon McCleave - 300 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/20/2022
A fatal shooting. A vulnerable eyewitness. DI Ruth Hunter and her partner, DS Nick Evans, must track down the killers before they find a key witness - a ten-year-old boy, Daniel.
This is the 12th book in the DI Ruth Hunter series. It is a dramatic, tense and gripping read. Many twists and turns with a surprise ending. The comfortable characters are like old friends. I love following the character's family alongside the main storyline. The story has great pace with an unexpected final result and cliffhanger. I can't wait to read the next installment. If you like chilling police procedurals, true-to-life characters, and psychological twists, then you'll love this book.
146. Waiting for the Moon by Kristin Hannah - 378 pgs. ★★★ - 9/21/2022
1880. She doesn't remember who she is or how she came to the mansion on the isolated Maine coast. Lost in a strange world filled with even stranger faces, Selena finds comfort in a man whose eyes reflect her own aloneness.
This is a very dark story. The first half of the book is slow. It is a Hannah book but very early in her writing. The second half is better and explains everything about Selena. Still the writing is very slow and could be more interesting. To me it is probably more like a fantasy book until the ending when things are explained. I look forward to my next Hannah book but hope it won't be slow like this book. It's not what I was looking to read in a book.
147. The Portmeirion Killings by Simon McCleave - 277 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/22/2022
When a London journalist is run off the road and killed, it seems that his death might be linked to his investigation into plans for a nuclear plant. Is the murder linked to an American power company with a dark past who want to bury the story? There are also locals who stand to make millions from the plant’s construction. However, it soon appears there might be an event in Jake’s past that might provide the clue.
This is the 13th book in DI Ruth Hunter series. DI Ruth Hunter investigates a suspicious death. Twists and turns end in the fact that Nick is arrested and held in jail. Hopefully, he will be released in the next book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. If you love police procedurals, true-to-life characters, and psychological twists, then you’ll love this book.
148. Next In Line by Jeffrey Archer - 385 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/23/2022
This is the 5th book in the William Warwick series. I have read the whole series and also the Clifton Chronicles. Archer is very adept at storyteller so I have enjoyed all these books. Miles Faulkner has been imprisoned for art fraud. Princess Di is also in the book and The Royalty Protection Command is guarding her. There are many twists and turns make this an interesting read. I am now looking forward to the next book in the series. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins for a copy for an honest review.
149. Silent Angel by Helen Phifer - 327 pgs. - ★★★★ - 9/25/2022
The body of a teenage girl is found in Rydal Falls’ churchyard. The autopsy identifies the girl as sixteen-year-old Shea Wilkinson. Another girl has gone missing, a young nurse called Milly. Milly was last seen chatting to one of Morgan’s colleagues on the force. Can she trace the clues and get inside the mind of the most cunning killer of her career?
This is the 7th book in the Detective Morgan Brookes series. I have read a few other books in the series but this book can be read as a standalone. This an intense read with twists and turns that cause you to keep wanting to read until the conclusion. I'm looking forward to the next read. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy for an honest review. If you love mystery thrillers then you will love this book.
10EadieB
October 2022
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
150. Gallery of the Dead by Chris Carter - 500 pgs - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 10/5/22
Thirty-seven years in the force, and if I was allowed to choose just one thing to erase from my mind, what’s inside that room would be it.
That’s what an LAPD Lieutenant tells Detective Hunter and Garcia of the Ultra-Violent Crimes Unit as they arrive at one of the most shocking crime scenes they have ever attended.
This was an excellent novel by Chris Carter. The scenes are grisly and the deaths are many and not for the faint of heart. Chris Carter tells the most terrifying stories as he is the best criminal psychologist out there and this one is sure to terrify you. If you love mystery thrillers that you can’t put down, then you will love this one
151. The Shadow Murders by Jussi Olsen - 464 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ - 10/15/22
The Shadow Murders is the 9th book of the 10-book series. The book is a whole set-up for the last book to come. It was a dark and violent book with chapters switching back and forth between the good and bad guys. The story had multiple POV's. The cliffhanger at the end will lead into the last and final book of the series. I have read the other books of the series but this book is only 3 stars for me. I do look forward to the last book and hopefully will enjoy that one more. If you love books about cold-cases then you would love this book. I would like to thank Penquin Group Dutton and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review.
152. The Lost Colony Murder on the Outer Banks by John Railey - 208 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 10/24/22
This is the true story of a murder that happened in the summer of 1967 when Brenda Joyce Holland disappeared on the OuterBacks on North Carolina. She was a mountain girl who had come to Mantco to work in the outdoor drama The Lost Colony. Her body was found five days later, floating in the sound.
This riveting narrative, built on unique access to the state investigative file and multiple interviews with insiders, searches for the truth of her unsolved murder. This island odyssey of discovery includes seances, a suicide and a supposed shallow grave. Journalist John Railey cuts through the myths and mistakes to finally arrive at the long-hidden truth of what happened to Brenda Holland that summer on Roanoke Island.
This was a very good book and one that leaves me thinking about her and her unfortunate murder. I look forward to reading another book by this author as he did a great job writing about this mystery long after it happened.
153. Her Frozen Heart by Stacy Green - 253 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 10/17/22
Special Agent Nikki Hunt receives a call on Christmas Day. 17 year old missing teenager Kesha Williams has been found in a frozen lake. This is an unputdownable book that grabs you from the start and doesn't let up until the surprise ending. The story was well plotted and the characters were such that you liked each one. You should read this series in order but it can be read as a standalone. If you like mystery thrillers then you will love this book. I cannot wait for the next book in the series and I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review.
154. The Winter Killer by Alex Pine - 384 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 10/16/22
Christmas has arrived in Cumbria and a wedding is happening on New Year's Eve. Rachel, the bride's sister, is the maid of honor but is missing right before she makes her speech.. DI James Walker gets a phone call to come to the Fels Hotel to investigate the murder. This is the 3rd book in the series and the story moved forward and never let up until the surprised ending. I read the 2 other books in the series and they were great! This is another great read by the author. If you love mystery thrillers then you will love this book. I look forward to the next book in the series and I would like to thank Avon Books and NetGalley for a chance to read this book for an honest review.
155. Between Sisters by Krisitin Hannah - 463 Pgs - ★★★ - 10/18/22
Years ago, Meghann Dontess made a terrible choice that cost her everything, including the love of her sister, Claire. Now, Meghann is a highly successful attorney who doesn’t believe in intimacy—until she meets the one man who can change her mind. Claire Cavenaugh has fallen in love for the first time in her life. As her wedding day approaches, she prepares to face her strong-willed older sister. Reunited after more than two decades apart, these two women who believe they have nothing in common will try to become what they never were: a family. Tender, funny, bittersweet, and moving, Between Sisters skillfully explores the profound joys and sorrows shared by sisters, the mistakes made in the name of love, and the promise of redemption.
This book is a 2003 rendition of a Kristin Hannah book. It’s one that has more romance than the newer Kristin Hannah books such as The Great Alone or The Nightingale. It has a plot that kept me reading until the very end. The ending was very good and made the book worth reading. If you enjoy romance with your fiction then you will enjoy this book.
156. The Engine House by Rhys Dylan - 351 pgs. - ★★★★ - 10/20/22
When a landslip on Pembrokeshire’s stunning coastal path reveals the harrowing remains of two bodies, ex-DCI Evan Warlow’s quiet retirement is shattered. Evan is recalled to help with what is now a murder inquiry. Working with a new young team, Warlow peels away the layers to reveal the dark and rotten heart that beats beneath the chocolate box tranquillity of an area renowned for its quiet beauty. But does he still have what it takes to root out the monstrous truth before all hell lets loose?
This is a dark, gripping atmospheric tale which sent me reading into the night. I especially enjoyed reading about DCI Evan Warlow, retired at age 50 and who walks his dog, Cadi, on the Pembrokeshire coast of Wales. The story has twists and turns that kept me guessing about The Engine House. I can't wait to read the next in the series. If you like mystery with humor with your thrillers, you will enjoy this book.
157. The Perfect Son by Lauren North - 360 pgs. ★★★★★ - 10/22/22
When Tess Clarke wakes up in the hospital the day after her son Jamie's eighth birthday, she's sure of these things: She's been stabbed, her son is missing, her brother-in-law and her grief counselor are involved. But no one is listening to her.
After her husband, Mark, died suddenly in a terrible accident a few months earlier, the only thing keeping Tess together is Jamie. As they struggle to make sense of their new life without Mark, they find joy in brief moments of normalcy like walking to school and watching television together. Life is hard without Mark, but Tess has Jamie, and that's what matters.
But in the hospital, confused and surrounded by people who won't listen, Tess’s world falls apart. To save her son, she must piece together what happened between Mark's death and Jamie's birthday, but the truth might just be too much for her to bear.
This book is amazing and the plot is such that kept me reading to the shocking ending. The book has a twist that will shock you so much that it will leave you reeling. I can't wait for the author's 2nd book as the first one was great. If you love psychological thrillers then you will love this book.
158. The War Nurse by Tracey Enerson Wood - 326 Pgs - ★★★★ - 10/28/22
Dozens of young women were asked to lay their lives on the line during the Great War. Can she protect them ?
Julia Stimson, Superintendent of Nurses, recruited 64 nurses to relieve the battle-worn British, months before American troops are ready to be deployed. The young nurses will face a challenging situation.
The primitive conditions, a convoluted supply system and horrific battle wounds are enough to discourage the most hardened nurses. This book is based on a true story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to my next book by this author. If you enjoy historical books then you would love this book. It is a historical novel by Tracey Emerson wood that takes readers on an unforgettable journey through WW1 in France.
159. Grimm Up North by David J. Gatward - 287 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 10/19/22
DCI Harry Grimm is being sent North by his boss. Harry now feels his life will be spent handing out speeding tickets. When a local teen goes missing, Harry finds himself pulled into the investigation. The nicer the place, the darker the secrets. Wensleydale in North Yorkshire is beautiful. Everyone is friendly and welcoming and people don't get murdered...do they?
This is a mystery story with dry British humor. Harry has a serious facial disfigurement from being in the paratroopers. A well put together plot grew on me as I read. There was a surprise murder that I didn't see happening but made good sense in the end. I am now looking forward to the next book in the series. If you love humor with your mystery thrillers then you would like this book.
160. Granite Kingdom by Eric Pope - 274 pgs. - ★★★★ - 10/29/22
With an engaging cast of characters, Granite Kingdom is a complex yet balanced look at the granite industry and newspaper business in rural Vermont in the early 1900s.
It is 1910, and the northern Vermont village Granite Junction is the nation’s largest supplier of finished granite for construction. Newspaper reporter Dan Strickland, a stonecutter’s son who hopes to find the right wife and climb the social ladder, finds himself caught between the village’s two big granite producers, George Rutherford and Ernest Wheeler.
This book was very interesting and I learned a lot about the granite industry while reading the book. The newspaper business in rural Vermont also played a big part in the granite industry with Dan Strickland as a stonecutter's son. I look forward to reading another book by Eric Pope as this one was very well research. If you are interested in The Granite Industry then you would like reading this book.
161. The New Rector by Rebecca Shaw - 276 pgs. ★★★★ - 10/30/22
The New Rector introduces Peter and his wife Caroline to the village. Peter is the new rector. He is young, vigorous and very handsome. The problems of the village become his concern and one in particular as the newly widowed Suzy Meadows turns to him for comfort.
This was a very enjoyable read about all the characters in a small English village. There are lots of problems with the people who live here and the rector helps solve some of the problems but some of the problems are concerned with him and his wife. If you enjoy reading about small English villages then you will love this book. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series as it picks up right where the last book left off.
162. All The Wicked Girls by Chris Whitaker - 448 pgs. - ★★★★ - 10/31/22
Raine sometimes complains that nothing exciting is ever gonna happen in Grace again. Daddy told her careful what you wish for. Everyone loves Summer Ryan. She‘s a ray of light in the struggling small town of Grace, Alabama- especially compared to her troubled sister, Raine. Then Summer goes missing. This is a dark and atmospheric novel with POV by Summer and Chief Black and Raine. Raine is bound and determined to find her sister. The local Sheriff‘s Department is looking for her too. If you love mysteries with a dark atmospheric theme, then you will love this book. I look forward from this author a new book with the same type of features that keep me hooked until the end.
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
150. Gallery of the Dead by Chris Carter - 500 pgs - ★ ★ ★ ★ - 10/5/22
Thirty-seven years in the force, and if I was allowed to choose just one thing to erase from my mind, what’s inside that room would be it.
That’s what an LAPD Lieutenant tells Detective Hunter and Garcia of the Ultra-Violent Crimes Unit as they arrive at one of the most shocking crime scenes they have ever attended.
This was an excellent novel by Chris Carter. The scenes are grisly and the deaths are many and not for the faint of heart. Chris Carter tells the most terrifying stories as he is the best criminal psychologist out there and this one is sure to terrify you. If you love mystery thrillers that you can’t put down, then you will love this one
151. The Shadow Murders by Jussi Olsen - 464 pgs. - ★ ★ ★ - 10/15/22
The Shadow Murders is the 9th book of the 10-book series. The book is a whole set-up for the last book to come. It was a dark and violent book with chapters switching back and forth between the good and bad guys. The story had multiple POV's. The cliffhanger at the end will lead into the last and final book of the series. I have read the other books of the series but this book is only 3 stars for me. I do look forward to the last book and hopefully will enjoy that one more. If you love books about cold-cases then you would love this book. I would like to thank Penquin Group Dutton and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review.
152. The Lost Colony Murder on the Outer Banks by John Railey - 208 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 10/24/22
This is the true story of a murder that happened in the summer of 1967 when Brenda Joyce Holland disappeared on the OuterBacks on North Carolina. She was a mountain girl who had come to Mantco to work in the outdoor drama The Lost Colony. Her body was found five days later, floating in the sound.
This riveting narrative, built on unique access to the state investigative file and multiple interviews with insiders, searches for the truth of her unsolved murder. This island odyssey of discovery includes seances, a suicide and a supposed shallow grave. Journalist John Railey cuts through the myths and mistakes to finally arrive at the long-hidden truth of what happened to Brenda Holland that summer on Roanoke Island.
This was a very good book and one that leaves me thinking about her and her unfortunate murder. I look forward to reading another book by this author as he did a great job writing about this mystery long after it happened.
153. Her Frozen Heart by Stacy Green - 253 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 10/17/22
Special Agent Nikki Hunt receives a call on Christmas Day. 17 year old missing teenager Kesha Williams has been found in a frozen lake. This is an unputdownable book that grabs you from the start and doesn't let up until the surprise ending. The story was well plotted and the characters were such that you liked each one. You should read this series in order but it can be read as a standalone. If you like mystery thrillers then you will love this book. I cannot wait for the next book in the series and I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review.
154. The Winter Killer by Alex Pine - 384 Pgs. - ★★★★★ - 10/16/22
Christmas has arrived in Cumbria and a wedding is happening on New Year's Eve. Rachel, the bride's sister, is the maid of honor but is missing right before she makes her speech.. DI James Walker gets a phone call to come to the Fels Hotel to investigate the murder. This is the 3rd book in the series and the story moved forward and never let up until the surprised ending. I read the 2 other books in the series and they were great! This is another great read by the author. If you love mystery thrillers then you will love this book. I look forward to the next book in the series and I would like to thank Avon Books and NetGalley for a chance to read this book for an honest review.
155. Between Sisters by Krisitin Hannah - 463 Pgs - ★★★ - 10/18/22
Years ago, Meghann Dontess made a terrible choice that cost her everything, including the love of her sister, Claire. Now, Meghann is a highly successful attorney who doesn’t believe in intimacy—until she meets the one man who can change her mind. Claire Cavenaugh has fallen in love for the first time in her life. As her wedding day approaches, she prepares to face her strong-willed older sister. Reunited after more than two decades apart, these two women who believe they have nothing in common will try to become what they never were: a family. Tender, funny, bittersweet, and moving, Between Sisters skillfully explores the profound joys and sorrows shared by sisters, the mistakes made in the name of love, and the promise of redemption.
This book is a 2003 rendition of a Kristin Hannah book. It’s one that has more romance than the newer Kristin Hannah books such as The Great Alone or The Nightingale. It has a plot that kept me reading until the very end. The ending was very good and made the book worth reading. If you enjoy romance with your fiction then you will enjoy this book.
156. The Engine House by Rhys Dylan - 351 pgs. - ★★★★ - 10/20/22
When a landslip on Pembrokeshire’s stunning coastal path reveals the harrowing remains of two bodies, ex-DCI Evan Warlow’s quiet retirement is shattered. Evan is recalled to help with what is now a murder inquiry. Working with a new young team, Warlow peels away the layers to reveal the dark and rotten heart that beats beneath the chocolate box tranquillity of an area renowned for its quiet beauty. But does he still have what it takes to root out the monstrous truth before all hell lets loose?
This is a dark, gripping atmospheric tale which sent me reading into the night. I especially enjoyed reading about DCI Evan Warlow, retired at age 50 and who walks his dog, Cadi, on the Pembrokeshire coast of Wales. The story has twists and turns that kept me guessing about The Engine House. I can't wait to read the next in the series. If you like mystery with humor with your thrillers, you will enjoy this book.
157. The Perfect Son by Lauren North - 360 pgs. ★★★★★ - 10/22/22
When Tess Clarke wakes up in the hospital the day after her son Jamie's eighth birthday, she's sure of these things: She's been stabbed, her son is missing, her brother-in-law and her grief counselor are involved. But no one is listening to her.
After her husband, Mark, died suddenly in a terrible accident a few months earlier, the only thing keeping Tess together is Jamie. As they struggle to make sense of their new life without Mark, they find joy in brief moments of normalcy like walking to school and watching television together. Life is hard without Mark, but Tess has Jamie, and that's what matters.
But in the hospital, confused and surrounded by people who won't listen, Tess’s world falls apart. To save her son, she must piece together what happened between Mark's death and Jamie's birthday, but the truth might just be too much for her to bear.
This book is amazing and the plot is such that kept me reading to the shocking ending. The book has a twist that will shock you so much that it will leave you reeling. I can't wait for the author's 2nd book as the first one was great. If you love psychological thrillers then you will love this book.
158. The War Nurse by Tracey Enerson Wood - 326 Pgs - ★★★★ - 10/28/22
Dozens of young women were asked to lay their lives on the line during the Great War. Can she protect them ?
Julia Stimson, Superintendent of Nurses, recruited 64 nurses to relieve the battle-worn British, months before American troops are ready to be deployed. The young nurses will face a challenging situation.
The primitive conditions, a convoluted supply system and horrific battle wounds are enough to discourage the most hardened nurses. This book is based on a true story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to my next book by this author. If you enjoy historical books then you would love this book. It is a historical novel by Tracey Emerson wood that takes readers on an unforgettable journey through WW1 in France.
159. Grimm Up North by David J. Gatward - 287 Pgs. - ★★★★ - 10/19/22
DCI Harry Grimm is being sent North by his boss. Harry now feels his life will be spent handing out speeding tickets. When a local teen goes missing, Harry finds himself pulled into the investigation. The nicer the place, the darker the secrets. Wensleydale in North Yorkshire is beautiful. Everyone is friendly and welcoming and people don't get murdered...do they?
This is a mystery story with dry British humor. Harry has a serious facial disfigurement from being in the paratroopers. A well put together plot grew on me as I read. There was a surprise murder that I didn't see happening but made good sense in the end. I am now looking forward to the next book in the series. If you love humor with your mystery thrillers then you would like this book.
160. Granite Kingdom by Eric Pope - 274 pgs. - ★★★★ - 10/29/22
With an engaging cast of characters, Granite Kingdom is a complex yet balanced look at the granite industry and newspaper business in rural Vermont in the early 1900s.
It is 1910, and the northern Vermont village Granite Junction is the nation’s largest supplier of finished granite for construction. Newspaper reporter Dan Strickland, a stonecutter’s son who hopes to find the right wife and climb the social ladder, finds himself caught between the village’s two big granite producers, George Rutherford and Ernest Wheeler.
This book was very interesting and I learned a lot about the granite industry while reading the book. The newspaper business in rural Vermont also played a big part in the granite industry with Dan Strickland as a stonecutter's son. I look forward to reading another book by Eric Pope as this one was very well research. If you are interested in The Granite Industry then you would like reading this book.
161. The New Rector by Rebecca Shaw - 276 pgs. ★★★★ - 10/30/22
The New Rector introduces Peter and his wife Caroline to the village. Peter is the new rector. He is young, vigorous and very handsome. The problems of the village become his concern and one in particular as the newly widowed Suzy Meadows turns to him for comfort.
This was a very enjoyable read about all the characters in a small English village. There are lots of problems with the people who live here and the rector helps solve some of the problems but some of the problems are concerned with him and his wife. If you enjoy reading about small English villages then you will love this book. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series as it picks up right where the last book left off.
162. All The Wicked Girls by Chris Whitaker - 448 pgs. - ★★★★ - 10/31/22
Raine sometimes complains that nothing exciting is ever gonna happen in Grace again. Daddy told her careful what you wish for. Everyone loves Summer Ryan. She‘s a ray of light in the struggling small town of Grace, Alabama- especially compared to her troubled sister, Raine. Then Summer goes missing. This is a dark and atmospheric novel with POV by Summer and Chief Black and Raine. Raine is bound and determined to find her sister. The local Sheriff‘s Department is looking for her too. If you love mysteries with a dark atmospheric theme, then you will love this book. I look forward from this author a new book with the same type of features that keep me hooked until the end.
11EadieB
November 2022
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
163. The Last Party by Clare MacIntosch - 432 pgs. - ★★★★ - 11/5/2022
On New Year’s Eve, Rhys Lloyd has a house full of guests. His vacation homes on Mirror Lake are a success, and he’s generously invited the village to drink champagne with their wealthy new neighbors. But by midnight, Rhys will be floating dead in the freezing waters of the lake. This is a psychological thriller that shifts from the past to the present. We hear from all the different suspects. Lots of secrets are being kept. The plot was such that kept me reading all the way to the very surprised ending. If you like atmospheric psychological thrillers then you would love this book. I would like to thank Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review.
164. The Railway Murders by J.R. Ellis - 272 pgs. ★★★★ - 11/6/2022
A puzzling locked-room mystery that puts someone Oldroyd loves in terrible danger. One of the film’s stars has been shot dead in a train carriage while the cameras rolled outside. Scouring the victim’s past for clues, Oldroyd soon unearths a string of heartbroken lovers and a mountain of unpaid debts, each adding to the growing list of suspects.This was not my first book in this series. I have also read book 1 of the series which was a great introduction to the series. I enjoyed this book as much as book 1. This book was a locked-room mystery which was most interesting and really threw them a curve ball. I did enjoy the beginning of each chapter where they described different movies with railways in them. In the end, the mystery was solved and I was satisfied how the book turned out. If you like locked-room mysteries then you will love this book. I would like to thank Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review.
165. Mystery at Southwood School by Clare Chase - 269 pgs. **** 11/19/2022
Eve Mallow is happy when she’s asked to cater Founders’ Day at Southwood School. Natalie Somerson, ex-pupil and professional gossip, is the guest of honor, but nobody seems to want her there. So why was she invited? Natalie is soon found dead in a locked attic room. Eve’s boyfriend, Robin, becomes the police’s prime suspect. Eve starts to investigate everyone with a stake in the school. Is it the prudish principal, worried about Natalie’s influence? Her former teacher, whose life Natalie made miserable? Or the head girl, who seemed to hate Natalie one day and adore her the next?
This is the 9th book in the Eve Mallow series. I haven't read another book in the series but that's not a problem as you can read them as a standalone too. I soon found that I was not able to put the book down as it was a cozy mystery that kept me on my toes. There were plenty of plot twists and I kept changing my mind about who the murderer was. I found Clare Chase to be an excellent writer. I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review. If you like cozy mysteries then I know you would love this one!
166. The Family at No. 12 by Anita Waller - 336 pgs. - **** 11/20/2022
When Janette answers the door to a potential customer looking to board his dog, she never imagines he has nefarious plans. But minutes later he’s dead and in her cellar. Weeks later she realizes she’s pregnant. And so she becomes Mother and the baby Child, and a hidden life begins. But all secrets come out eventually.
This was a very interesting book. It had me gripped from the start. The brutal rape of Janette and then the birth of her baby which she kept in a small bedroom. Janette was a complex and evil character to her child. I found the book well-written with an amazing twist in the end. The unusual plot was written in three parts. First part talked about the rape and the murder. Second part was about her pregnancy and birth of the child. The third part was about the child's teenage years. The book had a slow start in the beginning but later took off. The psychological and physical abuse played a big part of the story. If you love books about psychological abuse then you would love this book. I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review.
167. Emma In The Night by Wendy Walker - 308 pgs. - **** 11-21-2022
One night three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared: fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma. Three years later, Cass returns, without her sister Emma. Her story is one of kidnapping and betrayal, of a mysterious island where the two were held. But to forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter, something doesn't add up. Looking deep within this dysfunctional family Dr. Winter uncovers a life where boundaries were violated and a narcissistic parent held sway. And where one sister's return might just be the beginning of the crime.
This is a psychological suspense novel about the Tanner sisters disappearance. It is a slow-reveal as Cass comes home to tell the story. Cass is an unreliable narrator as she isn't telling the truth. The story is about narcissistic personality disorder and how it manifests in a dysfunctional family. The characters are very manipulative and the plot is one that keeps you reading to the satisfying ending. You just need to read this book. If you love psychological suspense then you will love this book.
168. It's Always the Husband by Michele Campbell - 352 pgs. *** 11/22/2022
Kate, Aubrey, and Jenny. They first met as college roommates and soon became inseparable, even though they are as different as three women can be. Twenty years later, one of them is standing at the edge of a bridge... and someone else is urging her to jump. How did things come to this?
As the novel cuts back and forth between their college years and their adult years, you see the exact reasons why these women love and hate each other—but can feelings that strong lead to murder? Or will everyone assume, as is often the case, that it’s always the husband?
This is a psychological suspense novel. It is a twisty page thriller that kept me reading. It alternates between the time at college and the present time. The characters are not nice and you don't know if you can believe them. It's slow in the beginning but then turns quicker towards the end. I didn't really care about any of the characters and therefore didn't really enjoy the book that much.
169. Same Beach, Next Year by Dorothea Benton Frank - 390 pgs. **** - 11/25/2022
This was a very interesting book. It’s two couples who meet at the beach for 20 years. It starts off with Adam mentioning to his wife that he has known Eve as a friend from years ago. Eliza and Carl talk a lot about Adam and Eve’s relationship from years ago. Over the years things start to get out of hand and things get serious and Eliza and Carl are beside themselves.
But the two couples really love each other and things turn out great afterwards. Adam realizes that Eve is really too much for him to handle and Eliza is really the one he loves for real.
170. The Night The Lights Went Out by Karen White - 432 pgs - 11/24/2022 - ****
Recently divorced, Merilee Talbot Dunlap moves with her two children to the Atlanta suburb of Sweet Apple, Georgia. It's not her first time starting over, but her efforts at a new beginning aren't helped by an anonymous local blog that dishes about the scandalous events that caused her marriage to fail.
In a town like Sweet Apple, where sins and secrets are as likely to be found behind the walls of gated mansions as in the dark woods surrounding Merilee's house, appearance is everything. But just how dangerous that deception can be will shock all three women.
The Night The Lights Went Out alternates between 1930's depression era Georgia and 2016 Sweet Apple Georgia. There are 3 leading ladies; Merilee Talbot Dunlap, divorced single mom, Alice Prescott Bates, Landlady Sugar Prescott, and Heather Blackford, socialite and beautiful. It is full of humor, southern charm and wisdom. It is also engaging and entertaining. There are friends to meet, stories to uncover, secrets to share and mysteries to solve. A really great book.
171. Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena - 349 pgs- **** 11/23/2022
In this family, everyone is keeping secrets--especially the dead. Brecken Hill in upstate New York is an expensive place to live. You have to be rich to have a house there. And they don't come much richer than Fred and Sheila Merton. But even all their money can't protect them when a killer comes to call. The Mertons are brutally murdered the night after an Easter Dinner with their three adult kids. Who, of course, are devastated.
Or are they? They each stand to inherit millions. They were never a happy family, thanks to their capricious father and neglectful mother, but perhaps one of them is more disturbed than anyone knew. Did one of them snap after that dreadful evening? Or was it someone else that night who crept in with the worst of intentions? It must be. After all, if one of your siblings was a psychopath, you'd know. Wouldn't you?
This book is a major family drama. They are all lying and could have killed their parents. Your job is narrowing it down to find out who did it. There are chapters with POV's from each character and I kept changing my mind. They are all guilty as far as I was concerned but in the end it is a surprise who did it! Loved this book and you will too if you love mysteries that keep you guessing.
172. DaisyDarker by Alice Feeney - 294 Pgs - ***** - 11/26/2022
This is a psychological suspense thriller with a spectacular twist at the end. Daisy arrives at her Nana’s house in the Cornish area for her 18th birthday and it is also Halloween. I didn’t expect the ending as it was a complete surprise to me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as Alice Feeney has outdone herself with this one. If you love psychological suspense then you will love this book.
173. Kiss River by Diane Chamberlain - 384 pgs. **** - 11/27/2022
The arrival of Gina Higgins, a mysterious stranger who is determined to restore Kiss River's historic nineteenth-century lighthouse, profoundly impacts the lives of Lacey O'Neill, a talented stained-glass artist with a dark past, and her brother Clay, who is trying to rebuild his life after a devastating tragedy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the story about saving the fresnel light.
174. Blood Line by James Rollins - 636 pgs. - ***** - 11/28/2022
James Rollins takes you to the edge of modern medicine, genetics, and technology, revealing the next evolutionary leap forward: Immortality — a future conceived through the monstrous ingenuity of man...
Galilee, 1025. A cunning Templar knight uncovers a holy treasure: the Bachal Isu — the staff of Jesus Christ — a priceless icon that holds a mysterious and terrifying power that will forever change humanity if unleashed.
A millennium later, Somali pirates hijack a yacht off the coast off the Horn of Africa, kidnapping a young pregnant American woman and brutally killing her husband. Painter Crowe and his SIGMA team are enlisted for the top secret rescue mission. The kidnapped woman is Amanda Gant-Bennett, the daughter of U.S. president James Gant. Crowe is more than a little suspicious that the kidnapping masks a far more nefarious plot.
In the field, Commander Gray Pierce leads his small team of operatives into the treacherous African jungle to find the missing woman. But what should be a straightforward rescue turns into a fiery ambush and a deadly act of betrayal. As Commander Pierce and his team discover, the hostage is a pawn in a shattering act of terrorism with dark and shocking repercussions. And the danger is only beginning...
Read this in a group read and really enjoyed it! Thanks James for such a great book!
175. Characters of Huffinfield by Tina Marie L. Lamb - 332 pgs. *** 11/29/2022
With the crazy edicts of the new Police Superintendent, Inspector Deighton is counting the days until he can retire. Then he is assigned to investigate what sounds like a prank, something about a bird tethered to a little girl’s hat. The complainant is Lady Carmella, new in town.
Deighton pays Lady Carmella a visit. Her story prompts his recollection of the Circus Troupe. He explains the people she saw were her neighbors, a retired circus troupe, engaging in stage pranks. He relates how their antics caused quite a stir when they first moved to town. Lady Carmella wants to believe him.
Two days later, the Chief Inspector returns the case to Deighton when Lady Carmella is found unconscious.
The craziness ramps up. Hijinx, hardened criminals, meat pies, racist violence, ex-KGB, blackmail, vigilantes, cockroaches, human cadavers, police corruption, beheaded sheepdogs, candle light vigils, water hoses and greenhouses…all begin to emerge. Deighton needs to figure out what is happening in the Town of Huffinfield.
Not everyone wants the truth uncovered.
This book starts out like a quiet little book but the further you get into it, the further it proves to be a crazy book about drugs, police corruption etc. The people that Lady Carmella go to visit are a retired circus troupe posing as drug dealers and they drug her. There are other things going on in town as the book moves on but the drugs are the most important thing going on. The Town of Huffinfield is like any other town with crazy characters and you soon realize that as you read on. In the end a new police chief comes in and things settle down and it's time for the next book in the series.
176. Caution Death at Work by Rhys Dyland - 319 pgs. ***** - 11/30/2022
A dark past casts a deep shadow.
Evan Warlow is back in the saddle as a DCI, though he isn’t yet sure he deserves to be, and there are others who share his doubts.
When a brutal attack on two mountain bikers in the vast solitude of the Brechfa forest leaves one dead and the other badly injured, the hunt is on for the killer. And though the evidence points firmly in one direction, an open and shut case soon becomes murky and unclear.
It’s not the first time bad things have happened in these woods. Things that some have tried desperately to forget. But for the killer, it’s more a matter of unfinished business.
Unless Evan and the team can outwit a vengeful and clever murderer, someone else is going to die.
This is the 2nd book in the DCI Evan Warlow series. I read and enjoyed book 1 called The Engine House. Evan is walking his dog Cadi when he comes to Brechfa Forest and discovers a dead body of a motorcyclist, Andrew Geary, and another man, Rob Hopley, which is transported to the hospital and will be going home soon. DCI Evan Warlow is now involved with this murder. The plot is one that had me guessing throughout the book until the final ending which was a complete surprise. I really enjoyed reading this book and loved the humor and characters. I look forward to reading the 3rd book in the series, Ice Cold Murder. If you love books with humor and mystery then you will love this book
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
163. The Last Party by Clare MacIntosch - 432 pgs. - ★★★★ - 11/5/2022
On New Year’s Eve, Rhys Lloyd has a house full of guests. His vacation homes on Mirror Lake are a success, and he’s generously invited the village to drink champagne with their wealthy new neighbors. But by midnight, Rhys will be floating dead in the freezing waters of the lake. This is a psychological thriller that shifts from the past to the present. We hear from all the different suspects. Lots of secrets are being kept. The plot was such that kept me reading all the way to the very surprised ending. If you like atmospheric psychological thrillers then you would love this book. I would like to thank Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review.
164. The Railway Murders by J.R. Ellis - 272 pgs. ★★★★ - 11/6/2022
A puzzling locked-room mystery that puts someone Oldroyd loves in terrible danger. One of the film’s stars has been shot dead in a train carriage while the cameras rolled outside. Scouring the victim’s past for clues, Oldroyd soon unearths a string of heartbroken lovers and a mountain of unpaid debts, each adding to the growing list of suspects.This was not my first book in this series. I have also read book 1 of the series which was a great introduction to the series. I enjoyed this book as much as book 1. This book was a locked-room mystery which was most interesting and really threw them a curve ball. I did enjoy the beginning of each chapter where they described different movies with railways in them. In the end, the mystery was solved and I was satisfied how the book turned out. If you like locked-room mysteries then you will love this book. I would like to thank Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review.
165. Mystery at Southwood School by Clare Chase - 269 pgs. **** 11/19/2022
Eve Mallow is happy when she’s asked to cater Founders’ Day at Southwood School. Natalie Somerson, ex-pupil and professional gossip, is the guest of honor, but nobody seems to want her there. So why was she invited? Natalie is soon found dead in a locked attic room. Eve’s boyfriend, Robin, becomes the police’s prime suspect. Eve starts to investigate everyone with a stake in the school. Is it the prudish principal, worried about Natalie’s influence? Her former teacher, whose life Natalie made miserable? Or the head girl, who seemed to hate Natalie one day and adore her the next?
This is the 9th book in the Eve Mallow series. I haven't read another book in the series but that's not a problem as you can read them as a standalone too. I soon found that I was not able to put the book down as it was a cozy mystery that kept me on my toes. There were plenty of plot twists and I kept changing my mind about who the murderer was. I found Clare Chase to be an excellent writer. I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review. If you like cozy mysteries then I know you would love this one!
166. The Family at No. 12 by Anita Waller - 336 pgs. - **** 11/20/2022
When Janette answers the door to a potential customer looking to board his dog, she never imagines he has nefarious plans. But minutes later he’s dead and in her cellar. Weeks later she realizes she’s pregnant. And so she becomes Mother and the baby Child, and a hidden life begins. But all secrets come out eventually.
This was a very interesting book. It had me gripped from the start. The brutal rape of Janette and then the birth of her baby which she kept in a small bedroom. Janette was a complex and evil character to her child. I found the book well-written with an amazing twist in the end. The unusual plot was written in three parts. First part talked about the rape and the murder. Second part was about her pregnancy and birth of the child. The third part was about the child's teenage years. The book had a slow start in the beginning but later took off. The psychological and physical abuse played a big part of the story. If you love books about psychological abuse then you would love this book. I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a copy for an honest review.
167. Emma In The Night by Wendy Walker - 308 pgs. - **** 11-21-2022
One night three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared: fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma. Three years later, Cass returns, without her sister Emma. Her story is one of kidnapping and betrayal, of a mysterious island where the two were held. But to forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter, something doesn't add up. Looking deep within this dysfunctional family Dr. Winter uncovers a life where boundaries were violated and a narcissistic parent held sway. And where one sister's return might just be the beginning of the crime.
This is a psychological suspense novel about the Tanner sisters disappearance. It is a slow-reveal as Cass comes home to tell the story. Cass is an unreliable narrator as she isn't telling the truth. The story is about narcissistic personality disorder and how it manifests in a dysfunctional family. The characters are very manipulative and the plot is one that keeps you reading to the satisfying ending. You just need to read this book. If you love psychological suspense then you will love this book.
168. It's Always the Husband by Michele Campbell - 352 pgs. *** 11/22/2022
Kate, Aubrey, and Jenny. They first met as college roommates and soon became inseparable, even though they are as different as three women can be. Twenty years later, one of them is standing at the edge of a bridge... and someone else is urging her to jump. How did things come to this?
As the novel cuts back and forth between their college years and their adult years, you see the exact reasons why these women love and hate each other—but can feelings that strong lead to murder? Or will everyone assume, as is often the case, that it’s always the husband?
This is a psychological suspense novel. It is a twisty page thriller that kept me reading. It alternates between the time at college and the present time. The characters are not nice and you don't know if you can believe them. It's slow in the beginning but then turns quicker towards the end. I didn't really care about any of the characters and therefore didn't really enjoy the book that much.
169. Same Beach, Next Year by Dorothea Benton Frank - 390 pgs. **** - 11/25/2022
This was a very interesting book. It’s two couples who meet at the beach for 20 years. It starts off with Adam mentioning to his wife that he has known Eve as a friend from years ago. Eliza and Carl talk a lot about Adam and Eve’s relationship from years ago. Over the years things start to get out of hand and things get serious and Eliza and Carl are beside themselves.
But the two couples really love each other and things turn out great afterwards. Adam realizes that Eve is really too much for him to handle and Eliza is really the one he loves for real.
170. The Night The Lights Went Out by Karen White - 432 pgs - 11/24/2022 - ****
Recently divorced, Merilee Talbot Dunlap moves with her two children to the Atlanta suburb of Sweet Apple, Georgia. It's not her first time starting over, but her efforts at a new beginning aren't helped by an anonymous local blog that dishes about the scandalous events that caused her marriage to fail.
In a town like Sweet Apple, where sins and secrets are as likely to be found behind the walls of gated mansions as in the dark woods surrounding Merilee's house, appearance is everything. But just how dangerous that deception can be will shock all three women.
The Night The Lights Went Out alternates between 1930's depression era Georgia and 2016 Sweet Apple Georgia. There are 3 leading ladies; Merilee Talbot Dunlap, divorced single mom, Alice Prescott Bates, Landlady Sugar Prescott, and Heather Blackford, socialite and beautiful. It is full of humor, southern charm and wisdom. It is also engaging and entertaining. There are friends to meet, stories to uncover, secrets to share and mysteries to solve. A really great book.
171. Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena - 349 pgs- **** 11/23/2022
In this family, everyone is keeping secrets--especially the dead. Brecken Hill in upstate New York is an expensive place to live. You have to be rich to have a house there. And they don't come much richer than Fred and Sheila Merton. But even all their money can't protect them when a killer comes to call. The Mertons are brutally murdered the night after an Easter Dinner with their three adult kids. Who, of course, are devastated.
Or are they? They each stand to inherit millions. They were never a happy family, thanks to their capricious father and neglectful mother, but perhaps one of them is more disturbed than anyone knew. Did one of them snap after that dreadful evening? Or was it someone else that night who crept in with the worst of intentions? It must be. After all, if one of your siblings was a psychopath, you'd know. Wouldn't you?
This book is a major family drama. They are all lying and could have killed their parents. Your job is narrowing it down to find out who did it. There are chapters with POV's from each character and I kept changing my mind. They are all guilty as far as I was concerned but in the end it is a surprise who did it! Loved this book and you will too if you love mysteries that keep you guessing.
172. DaisyDarker by Alice Feeney - 294 Pgs - ***** - 11/26/2022
This is a psychological suspense thriller with a spectacular twist at the end. Daisy arrives at her Nana’s house in the Cornish area for her 18th birthday and it is also Halloween. I didn’t expect the ending as it was a complete surprise to me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as Alice Feeney has outdone herself with this one. If you love psychological suspense then you will love this book.
173. Kiss River by Diane Chamberlain - 384 pgs. **** - 11/27/2022
The arrival of Gina Higgins, a mysterious stranger who is determined to restore Kiss River's historic nineteenth-century lighthouse, profoundly impacts the lives of Lacey O'Neill, a talented stained-glass artist with a dark past, and her brother Clay, who is trying to rebuild his life after a devastating tragedy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the story about saving the fresnel light.
174. Blood Line by James Rollins - 636 pgs. - ***** - 11/28/2022
James Rollins takes you to the edge of modern medicine, genetics, and technology, revealing the next evolutionary leap forward: Immortality — a future conceived through the monstrous ingenuity of man...
Galilee, 1025. A cunning Templar knight uncovers a holy treasure: the Bachal Isu — the staff of Jesus Christ — a priceless icon that holds a mysterious and terrifying power that will forever change humanity if unleashed.
A millennium later, Somali pirates hijack a yacht off the coast off the Horn of Africa, kidnapping a young pregnant American woman and brutally killing her husband. Painter Crowe and his SIGMA team are enlisted for the top secret rescue mission. The kidnapped woman is Amanda Gant-Bennett, the daughter of U.S. president James Gant. Crowe is more than a little suspicious that the kidnapping masks a far more nefarious plot.
In the field, Commander Gray Pierce leads his small team of operatives into the treacherous African jungle to find the missing woman. But what should be a straightforward rescue turns into a fiery ambush and a deadly act of betrayal. As Commander Pierce and his team discover, the hostage is a pawn in a shattering act of terrorism with dark and shocking repercussions. And the danger is only beginning...
Read this in a group read and really enjoyed it! Thanks James for such a great book!
175. Characters of Huffinfield by Tina Marie L. Lamb - 332 pgs. *** 11/29/2022
With the crazy edicts of the new Police Superintendent, Inspector Deighton is counting the days until he can retire. Then he is assigned to investigate what sounds like a prank, something about a bird tethered to a little girl’s hat. The complainant is Lady Carmella, new in town.
Deighton pays Lady Carmella a visit. Her story prompts his recollection of the Circus Troupe. He explains the people she saw were her neighbors, a retired circus troupe, engaging in stage pranks. He relates how their antics caused quite a stir when they first moved to town. Lady Carmella wants to believe him.
Two days later, the Chief Inspector returns the case to Deighton when Lady Carmella is found unconscious.
The craziness ramps up. Hijinx, hardened criminals, meat pies, racist violence, ex-KGB, blackmail, vigilantes, cockroaches, human cadavers, police corruption, beheaded sheepdogs, candle light vigils, water hoses and greenhouses…all begin to emerge. Deighton needs to figure out what is happening in the Town of Huffinfield.
Not everyone wants the truth uncovered.
This book starts out like a quiet little book but the further you get into it, the further it proves to be a crazy book about drugs, police corruption etc. The people that Lady Carmella go to visit are a retired circus troupe posing as drug dealers and they drug her. There are other things going on in town as the book moves on but the drugs are the most important thing going on. The Town of Huffinfield is like any other town with crazy characters and you soon realize that as you read on. In the end a new police chief comes in and things settle down and it's time for the next book in the series.
176. Caution Death at Work by Rhys Dyland - 319 pgs. ***** - 11/30/2022
A dark past casts a deep shadow.
Evan Warlow is back in the saddle as a DCI, though he isn’t yet sure he deserves to be, and there are others who share his doubts.
When a brutal attack on two mountain bikers in the vast solitude of the Brechfa forest leaves one dead and the other badly injured, the hunt is on for the killer. And though the evidence points firmly in one direction, an open and shut case soon becomes murky and unclear.
It’s not the first time bad things have happened in these woods. Things that some have tried desperately to forget. But for the killer, it’s more a matter of unfinished business.
Unless Evan and the team can outwit a vengeful and clever murderer, someone else is going to die.
This is the 2nd book in the DCI Evan Warlow series. I read and enjoyed book 1 called The Engine House. Evan is walking his dog Cadi when he comes to Brechfa Forest and discovers a dead body of a motorcyclist, Andrew Geary, and another man, Rob Hopley, which is transported to the hospital and will be going home soon. DCI Evan Warlow is now involved with this murder. The plot is one that had me guessing throughout the book until the final ending which was a complete surprise. I really enjoyed reading this book and loved the humor and characters. I look forward to reading the 3rd book in the series, Ice Cold Murder. If you love books with humor and mystery then you will love this book
12EadieB
December 2022
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
177. The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri - 224 pgs. ***** 12/1/2022
The Shape of Water is the first in Andrea Camilleri's wry, brilliantly compelling Sicilian crime series, featuring Inspector Montalbano. The novel is set in the Sicialian town of Vigata, the body of engineer Silvio Luparello is found at the Pasture, a trash filled empty place populated only by whores and drug dealers. The coroner's verdict is that he died from natural causes that Salvo immediately discounts. The plot begins to unravel and I am quickly reading until the very end. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, The Terracotta Dog. Andrea Camilleri writes with humor that creates a funny police procedural. If you love humor with mystery then you would love these books.
178. The Angel Maker by Alex North - 325 pgs. - ***** 12/2/2022
This book is about the mysteries of fate, the unbreakable bond of siblings, and a notorious serial killer who was said to know the future. Katie Shaw lived a charmed life until the day a violent stranger changed the fate of her family forever. Years later, Katie gets a phone call: Chris has gone missing and needs his big sister once more. Detective Laurence Page is facing a gruesome crime. All leads point back to two old cases: the gruesome attack on teenager Christopher Shaw, and the despicable crimes of a notorious serial killer who, legend had it, could see the future. I really enjoyed reading this book. The plot was one that kept me reading until the satisfying ending. The characters were unique and very believable. I had read Alex North's other two books and was excited to receive an ARC in the mail for The Angel Maker. It lived up to be everything expected and then some. If you like paranormal books then you would love this book. Pick it up to read and see what you think. Not published until February 2023.
179. The Terracotta Dog by Andrea Camilleri 356 pgs. - ***** 12/3/2022
The Terracotta Dog, the second book in Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano series, opens with a mysterious tête-à-tête with a Mafioso, some inexplicably abandoned loot from a supermarket heist, and some dying words that lead Inspector Montalbano to a secret grotto in a mountain cave where two young lovers dead fifty years and still embracing are watched over by a life-size terracotta dog. Montalbano's passion to solve this old crime takes him, heedless of personal danger, on a journey through the island's past and into a family's dark heart amid the horrors of World War II.
This one is better than the first book even though I gave the first book 5 stars. I loved this book. It was a great story and the characters were quite unique. The plot was good and trying to figure out who placed the bodies in the cave was interesting. I love Montalbano and all his humorous antics and phrases. The Terracotta Dog is followed by the third title in this satirical and humorous series, The Snack Thief. I am really looking forward to the next installment. If you love humor with mystery then you will love these books.
180. Everything is Just Beginning by Erin Bartels - 352 pgs. ***** 12/4/2022
On the night of December 31, 1989--as the Berlin Wall is coming down, the Soviet Union is inching toward democracy, and anything seems possible--Michael will cross paths with the accomplished and enigmatic young heir to a fading musical dynasty, forever altering both of their futures.
This is a very interesting book by Erin Bartels about Michael who goes to a New Year's Eve party that his Uncle Mike was invited to and he meets his next door neighbor, Natalie, who is the daughter of Deb and Dusty Wheeler who are famous guitarest-turned-producer and singer and songwriters from the past. Natalie who is blind and Michael become great friends which lead to them starting a band and doing a concert. There is a plot that goes along with this that is one that kept me reading until the very end. It is a great story with great characters and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I'm now looking forward to reading the next Erin Bartels. This one will be published 1/17/23. If you love stories about music then I am sure you would love this book.
181. The Snack Thief by Andrea Camerilli - 308 pgs. - *****12/6/2022
In the third book in Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano series, the urbane and perceptive Sicilian detective exposes a viper's nest of government corruption and international intrigue in a compelling new case. When an elderly man is stabbed to death in an elevator and a crewman on an Italian fishing trawler is machine-gunned by a Tunisian patrol boat off Sicily's coast, only Montalbano suspects the link between the two incidents. His investigation leads to the beautiful Karima, an impoverished housecleaner and sometime prostitute, whose young son steals other schoolchildren's midmorning snacks. But Karima disappears, and the young snack thief's life as well as Montalbano's is on the line.
This is the 3rd book in the Montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri. It is located in Sicily where wine, women and mystery are plenty. There are two mysteries going on and the link of these mysteries is seen early on by Montalbano. There are plenty of humorous situations happening with lots of twists and turns throughout the book. Montalbano comes to terms with fatherhood and the death of his father and a young boy on the run from killers. The relationship between Livia and Montalbano is also discussed. Lots of entertaining fun and if you love crime with mystery then you will love these books.
182. The Sleeping and The Dead by Jeff Crook - 336 pgs. **** 12/8/2022
Jackie Lyons, a former vice detective is with the Memphis Police Department. Her husband has served her divorce papers. But a failed marriage, unemployment, and an incinerated home aren't her only problems: she also sees ghosts. Since Jackie left her job with the MPD, she's been photographing crime scenes for her friends on the force. When she's called to the murder scene of the famed Memphis Playhouse Killer's latest victim, her camera captures spectral images. Her camera brings her ghostly visitors into sharper relief and points her towards clues the ex-detective in her won't let go. Did the man she just started dating kill his wife? Is the Playhouse Killer someone in her inner circle?
This was a very interesting mystery. It was a great story with a plot that kept me reading until the very surprise ending. There were two killings she was trying to solve and they both came together in the end to a conclusion that I didn't expect. I will be looking into the next book in the series as Jackie Lyons is a very interesting character. If you love surprise endings then you would love this book. Pick it up and read it as it is a really good mystery.
183. Voice of the Violin by Andrea Camilleri - 276 pgs. **** 12/11/2022
Montalbano's gruesome discovery of a lovely, naked young woman suffocated in her bed immediately sets him on a search for her killer. Among the suspects are her aging husband, a famous doctor; a shy admirer, now disappeared; an antiques-dealing lover from Bologna; and the victim's friend Anna, whose charms Montalbano cannot help but appreciate. But it is a mysterious, reclusive violinist who holds the key to this murder. This is the fourth book in the Montalbano series. It is very humorous and entertaining as all his books. The characters are unique and the mysteries are ones that plots leave you wanting to read on. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series and if you love mysteries that keep you guessing then you would love these books.
184. When Maidens Mourn by C.S. Harris - 358 pgs. - ***** 12/13/2022
Regency England, August 1812. Sebastian's plans to escape the heat of London for a honeymoon are shattered when the murdered body of Hero's good friend, Gabrielle Tennyson, is discovered drifting in a battered boat at the site of a long-vanished castle known as Camlet Moat. A beautiful young antiquarian, Miss Tennyson had recently provoked an uproar with her controversial identification of the island as the location of Camelot. Missing and presumed also dead are Gabrielle's two young cousins, nine-year-old George and three-year-old Alfred.
This is the 7th book of the Sebastian St Cyr mystery series. I read this with a group on LibraryThing. This book was full of characters and likely suspects. It was so secretive that I did not guess the killer until it was revealed at the end of the book. The plot was terrific but the real reason for the murder was not revealed until the very end but even though we were not able to tell who the killer was and the reason for the murder, I still gave her 5 stars as the book was that good. So if you love book with hidden secrets than you would love this book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and I hope that Sebastian and Hero share secrets with each other.
185. Smith by Stewart Giles - 402 pgs. **** 12/14/2022
It is Christmas Day in York. A woman is found dead in her bed with a suicide note on her chest. It reads ‘I am so sorry Martin’. Hours later the police are called to a house a few miles away. A mother and her daughter have been brutally attacked; the mother is dead, and the daughter is barely alive. The father is found shaking uncontrollably in the corner of the room. He is covered in blood, but he is unharmed. His name is Martin Willow. Detective Sergeant Jason Smith is put in charge of the investigation. After reaching dead end after dead end, Smith starts to put the pieces together and figures out that Martin Willow is innocent, and the killer is still out there. If you like Police Procedurals full of adrenaline pumping suspense and that many twists and turns you think you are on a roller coaster. This series is a ‘must read’.
This is the first book in the Detective Jason Smith series. The book is a good story but certainly needs editing. I did enjoy the story once I got use to reading an unedited book and found the characters interesting. The plot was unique and made me want to keep reading until the end. I did finish the book but I did hope he would send it to a publisher to do some work on it. I look forward to trying the next book in the series. If you like to read a good story then you would like this book. Takes time to get used to but give it a try. It really is a good book.
186. Excursion to Tindari by Andrea Camilleri - 324 pgs, - **** 12/16/2022
A young Don Juan is found murdered in front of his apartment building early one morning, and an elderly couple is reported missing after an excursion to the ancient site of Tindari - two seemingly unrelated cases for Inspector Montalbano to solve amid the daily complications of life at Vigàta police headquarters. But when Montalbano discovers that the couple and the murdered young man lived in the same building, his investigation stumbles onto Sicily's brutal 'New Mafia', which leads him down a path more evil and more far-reaching than any he has been down before.
The fifth in the hit Italian crime series, Excursion to Tindari is another darkly comic detective story featuring Inspector Montalbano. Camilleri deals with the Mafia in this one but it is the new mafia not following the old rules. There is mystery and humor in this book along with snappy dialogue. I look forward to reading the sixth book in the series. The Scent of Night. If you love books of police procedural with laughter, then you would love these books.
187. Broadland by David Blake - 325 pgs. - ***** 12/17/2022
When a girl’s body is found strangled, raped, and horrifically mutilated by a boat’s propeller, deep in the heart of the Norfolk Broads, newly arrived Detective Inspector John Tanner is asked to assist with the investigation. At first, all the evidence points to a man who had a multi-million pound reason to kill her. But when an alibi is produced from an unexpected source, and another body appears at the base of a slipway, Tanner finds himself turning to local girl, Detective Constable Jenny Evans for help.
As a more intimate relationship begins between them, they find themselves facing a race against time to identify a lethal adversary, one with a lust for blood and a mind set on revenge.
This is the first book in the DI Tanner series. Set within the mysterious beauty of the Norfolk Broads, this fast-paced British detective series is a murder mystery that will have you guessing until the very end, when the last shocking twist is finally revealed. I loved all the twists and turns in the story. I also loved the banter between Tanner and Jenny and their new relationship. Tanner has a deep past with the death of his sister. I'm anxious to find out what happed to her. I'm starting the second book in the series, St. Benet's, and that one is pretty good too. So I'm happy to say that I have found a new series to delve myself in and I'm looking forward to reading all the books.
188. St. Benet's by David Blake - 334 pgs. ***** 12/18/2022
When the body of an old man is found lying in the ruins of St Benet's Abbey, his throat cut, a knife resting in his open hand, DI John Tanner and DC Jenny Evans are given no choice but to accept a ruling of death by misadventure. But when the body goes missing from its tomb, after a priest is found nailed to a cross, and another impaled on a stake, everything begins to point back to the murder of a teenage girl, thrown from the top of a church tower, some forty-three years before.
This is the second book of the Norfolk Broads crime thriller featuring DI John Tanner and DS Jenny Evans. The story has well-developed characters and a rollercoaster plot that kept me guessing. The book was full of twists and turns. A series of murders take place and DI Tanner and DS Jenny Evans work together to find the connection to the past. A gripping read with high recommendation. If you like books like crime thrillers, then you will love to read this book.
189. The House Sitter by Debbie Howells - 400 pgs. ***** 12/19/2022
Kat receives information that her husband has been involved in a car accident and has died. As Kat begins to investigate what has happened she finds out her husband has many secrets. This book is made up of two separate stories that are linked and come together in the end. One story has to do with Oliver's death and the other story has to do with a woman who changes her name and does housesitting living with the agenda, "Steal from the rich, and kill anyone who gets in your way." There is multiple POV's and the characters are flawed but believable. It is a fast-paced read with a plot that held my attention until the very end. I'm now looking forward to reading another Debbie Howells book. If you love psychological suspense books, then you would love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon Books for a copy for an honest review.
190. All The Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham - 336 pgs. **** 12/21/2022
One year ago, Isabelle Drake's life changed forever: her toddler son, Mason, was taken out of his crib in the middle of the night while she and her husband were asleep in the next room. With little evidence and few leads for the police to chase, the case quickly went cold. However, Isabelle cannot rest until Mason is returned to her—literally. Except for the occasional catnap or small blackout where she loses track of time, she hasn’t slept in a year. This book is told in two timelines: Present (now) Isabelle and Ben, Past (then) Isabelle and Margaret. It is a slow start but then moves into fast-paced. It is told in Isabelle's POV who is an unreliable narrator suffering from insomnia. It touches on motherhood emotions and is every mother's worst nightmare. The book has a major twist in the end that really surprised me. It has complex characters who make Isabelle feel overwhelming grief and guilt. She meets Waylon Spencer and does a podcast with him going over the past with her sister, Margaret, who had drowned in the marshes. If you love psychological suspense then you would love this book. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for a copy for an honest review.
191. The Emily Dickinson Cookbook 112 Pgs. **** 12/23/2022
I love reading cookbooks and if I find a great recipe all the more better. The book is a cookbook plus has poems and anecdotes based on the recipe and articles about her life. It’s a perfect gift for someone who loves Emily Dickinson. Some of the recipes I would like to try are: Baked Berry Pecan French Toast, Ham and Cucumber Tea sandwiches, and Pumpkin Corn Chowder. I would like to thank NetGalley and Quarto publishing for a copy for an honest review.
192. It Ends At Midnight by Harriet Tyce - 336 pgs. - **** 12/26/2022
It's New Year's Eve and the stage is set for a lavish party in one of Edinburgh's best postcodes. It's a moment for old friends to set the past to rights - and move on. The night sky is alive with fireworks and the champagne is flowing. But the celebration fails to materialize. Because someone at this party is going to die tonight. Midnight approaches and the countdown begins - but it seems one of the guests doesn't want a resolution. They want revenge.
Harriet Tyce is a gripping storyteller whose unreliable narrator and toxic friendship, Sylvia and Tess, have secrets and lies from the past. Sylvia is having a court case and she is bound and determined to become a Crown Court judge. There is a lot of suspense and tension that kept me reading until the very end. This well-plotted thriller is dark and atmospheric and set in London and Edinburgh. If you enjoy psychologic legal thrillers, then you would love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebook’s Landmark for a copy for an honest review.
193. The Princess Bride: Official Cookbook by Jenn Firjikwawa - 192 pgs. **** - 12/27/2022
This is a great cookbook for fans of the film, The Princess Bride. It features more than 50 recipes for dishes seen in, and inspired by, the film, including:
• Buttercup Buttermilk Scones
• Hash You Wish
• Farm Boy Breakfast
• Six-Fingered Sandwiches
• Chips of Insanity
• MLT
• The Grandson’s Soup and Sandwich
• Vizzini’s Sicilian Meatballs
• Fezzik’s Stew
• The Spaniard’s Paella
• Bread Pirate Roberts
• Twu Wove’s Kiss Cookies
• Iocane Powder Punch
• Inigo Montoya’s Taste of Revenge
It is a mixture of movie quotes, pictures and dishes inspired by different parts of the movie. This book would be a nice gift for a collector or movie fan. I would like to thank NetGalley and Ben Bella Books: Smart Pop for a copy for an honest review.
194. The Easy Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook by Molly Thompson - 160 pgs. ***** - 12/28/2022
Inflammatory reactions can have a debilitating effect on your daily life. Over time, inflammation can harm your organ functions, your energy levels, and cognitive abilities—but most inflammation can be healed. Anti-Inflammatory Recipes for Beginners, adapted from Molly Thompson’s The Anti-Inflammatory Diet Made Simple, is a collection of easy-to-make recipes with simple ingredients based on foods that are scientifically proven to reduce inflammation naturally. The right food choices can return your body function to its most efficient and ultimately eliminate symptoms associated with inflammatory disorders.
This cookbook has an anti-infammatory recipe key that uses symbols to see how each recipe adheres to the diet with markers such as refined sugar-free and incorporates other eating habits and allergies, such as vegan and gluten-free as well. The pictures are gorgeous and show you what the recipe should look like. I would like to try the Southwest Stuffed Peppers, One Pot Taco Pasta and Creamy Penne Arrabbiata. Thank you to NetGalley and New Shoe Press for a copy for an honest review.
195. Quick and Easy Gluten-Free Instant Pot by Jane Bonacci & Sara De Leeuw - 144 pgs. ***** 12/29/2022
This cookbook shows you how to cook gulten-free meals with ease in your Instant Pot. It is a pressure cooker which cooks with exceptional flavor and nutrition. It also cooks foods quickly. It is safe and uses less energy and cleanup is a breeze. It teaches you how the pressure cooker works. It teaches you about the parts of a pressure cooker. The outer housing unit or base, the inner cooking pot, the pressure release valve, the sealing ring and the display buttons on the control panel. Each recipe will cook up lightening fast in the electric pressure cooker and will have everyone asking for more. This cookbook is a great beginner's book for gluten-free meals. Thanks to NetGalley and New Shoe Press for a copy for an honest review.
196. Mind Over Batter by Jack Hazan - 272 pgs. *****
This is a great baker's cookbook. A self-care cookbook for using baking as therapy from licensed psychotherapist and master baker Jack Hazan with 75 simple, therapeutic recipes. It's healing recipes that can help you tap into whatever you might be going through that day. In need of connection? Make some Presto Pull-Apart Bread to share with your loved ones. Looking for a way to release some anxiety? Knead away your stress with a Chocolate Babka Crunch. Simply in need of some self-care? Whip us a single-serve indulgence like a Devil's Food Mug Cake. I am definitely buying this cookbook. The recipes look so delicious and sounds like a good way to indulge yourself. Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for a copy for an honest review.
197. Stuffed: The Sandwich Cookie Book by Heather Mubarek - 272 pgs. ***** 12/29/2022
Everyone loves cookies! Cookies are easy to bake and they're delicious. This book offers 65 original recipes that feature not one, but two cookies apiece.
Stuffed offers great overall value: 65 cookie sandwich recipes with recommended fillings plus more than 30 filling recipes (frostings, jams, ice creams, curds and ganaches).
This book is perfect for:
Cookie lovers of all ages.
Home bakers of all levels.
Shoppers looking for a fun birthday, hostess or holiday gift alongside a baking utensil, apron or bars of chocolate.
This is a fun, easy to use, with lots of pictures, cookbook. It gives tips on following the recipe, using cookies for swaps, storing and shipping cookies. I would like to thank NetGalley and Chronicle Books for a copy for an honest review.
198. 20-40-60 Minute Dinners 176 pg. **** 12/31/2022
This cookbook is organized into "available time" rather than "kind of dish." It is designed to help the time-conscious cook with dinner planning. In the "20 minutes or less" section you can create a "Mac and Cheese with Candied Sausage and Green Peas." In "40 minutes " you can create a hearty "Vegetable Stew with Blue Corn Chips and Poached Egg." If you have "60 minutes" you can make "Sweet and Spicy Turkey Taco Salad." It is easy to learn a new recipe with the ingredients paired side-by-side with the instructions. One thing I like about this cookbook is however much time you have, you can find a recipe to help you get dinner on the table in this busy world we live in. Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishers for a copy for an honest review.
199. A Table Set For Sisterhood by Ashley M. Schutz; Ashly Jernigan - 224 pgs. ***** 12/31/2022
This is a very unique cookbook. It features 35 females from different countries with a personal quote and story about them with a recipe and a question for the table. For instance, there is one from Buffy Sainte-Marie who is from Canada born in 1941 with a quote, "I'm trying to scatter what I can of beauty in the places I think need it, to get rid of the boredom and the meanness in the world." Then a story about her music and a recipe for Green Goddess Salad. Finally a question at the table, "When have you been silenced or told to lower your voice when you spoke about something important to you?" The women the cookbook highlights are:
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Leymah Gbowee
Ruth Coker Burks
Qui Jin
Wangari Maathai
Greta Thunberg
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Irena Sendler
Oprah Winfrey
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Zitkala-Sa
Megan Rapinoe
Marsha P. Johnson
Frida Kahlo
Ina May Gaskin
Sampat Pal Devi
Gloria Steinem
Brenda Berkman
Tawakkol Karman
Junko Tabei
Dickey Chapelle
Malala Yousafzai
Hedy Lamarr
Chimananda Ngozi Adichie
Sophie Scholl
Judy Chicago
Aretha Franklin
The Mirabal Sisters
Angela Davis
Jane Goodall
Claudette Colvin
Katrub Jakobsdottir
Lizzo
Amelia Earhart
Rupi Kaur
I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a copy for an honest review.
200. Tin to Table by Anna Hezel 192 pgs. ***** 12/31/2022
This book is an interesting cookbook with over 50 recipes offering an ocean of knowledge and cooking inspiration by using straight out of the can or using them as a base for fancy dinner party fare, including:
Triple Pickle Smoked Salmon Butter Sandwich
Canned Clam Garlic Bread
Sardine Curry Puffs
Caesar Popcorn (Negronis optional!)
Tuna Noodle Casserole 2.0 with Salt and Vinegar Crumbs
Vermouth Hour Potato Chips with Mussels, Olives, and Piparras
Mac and Mack(erel)
Use this cookbook to help you discover tasty meal inspiration and navigate you through the world of tinned seafood with handy field guides, smart pairing suggestions, and shopping resources, so you can live that breezy, tinned-fish life anywhere or anytime. These canned goods aren’t just for survivalists—they’re luxury imports, souvenirs, and collectibles. This unique guide covers a wide variety of tinned seafood rather than focusing solely on a single ingredient such as sardines or salmon. Full-color photographs showcase mouthwatering dishes while playful illustrations round out the fun foodie vibe throughout. Perfect for: Home cooks, college students, picnickers, and seafood lovers. Sail through the pages of this rich, briny guide to discover how to bring more tasty tinned seafood into your life and onto your plate. I would like to thank NetGalley and Chronicle Books for a copy for an honest review.
✔ ★ ☞ ☊
177. The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri - 224 pgs. ***** 12/1/2022
The Shape of Water is the first in Andrea Camilleri's wry, brilliantly compelling Sicilian crime series, featuring Inspector Montalbano. The novel is set in the Sicialian town of Vigata, the body of engineer Silvio Luparello is found at the Pasture, a trash filled empty place populated only by whores and drug dealers. The coroner's verdict is that he died from natural causes that Salvo immediately discounts. The plot begins to unravel and I am quickly reading until the very end. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, The Terracotta Dog. Andrea Camilleri writes with humor that creates a funny police procedural. If you love humor with mystery then you would love these books.
178. The Angel Maker by Alex North - 325 pgs. - ***** 12/2/2022
This book is about the mysteries of fate, the unbreakable bond of siblings, and a notorious serial killer who was said to know the future. Katie Shaw lived a charmed life until the day a violent stranger changed the fate of her family forever. Years later, Katie gets a phone call: Chris has gone missing and needs his big sister once more. Detective Laurence Page is facing a gruesome crime. All leads point back to two old cases: the gruesome attack on teenager Christopher Shaw, and the despicable crimes of a notorious serial killer who, legend had it, could see the future. I really enjoyed reading this book. The plot was one that kept me reading until the satisfying ending. The characters were unique and very believable. I had read Alex North's other two books and was excited to receive an ARC in the mail for The Angel Maker. It lived up to be everything expected and then some. If you like paranormal books then you would love this book. Pick it up to read and see what you think. Not published until February 2023.
179. The Terracotta Dog by Andrea Camilleri 356 pgs. - ***** 12/3/2022
The Terracotta Dog, the second book in Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano series, opens with a mysterious tête-à-tête with a Mafioso, some inexplicably abandoned loot from a supermarket heist, and some dying words that lead Inspector Montalbano to a secret grotto in a mountain cave where two young lovers dead fifty years and still embracing are watched over by a life-size terracotta dog. Montalbano's passion to solve this old crime takes him, heedless of personal danger, on a journey through the island's past and into a family's dark heart amid the horrors of World War II.
This one is better than the first book even though I gave the first book 5 stars. I loved this book. It was a great story and the characters were quite unique. The plot was good and trying to figure out who placed the bodies in the cave was interesting. I love Montalbano and all his humorous antics and phrases. The Terracotta Dog is followed by the third title in this satirical and humorous series, The Snack Thief. I am really looking forward to the next installment. If you love humor with mystery then you will love these books.
180. Everything is Just Beginning by Erin Bartels - 352 pgs. ***** 12/4/2022
On the night of December 31, 1989--as the Berlin Wall is coming down, the Soviet Union is inching toward democracy, and anything seems possible--Michael will cross paths with the accomplished and enigmatic young heir to a fading musical dynasty, forever altering both of their futures.
This is a very interesting book by Erin Bartels about Michael who goes to a New Year's Eve party that his Uncle Mike was invited to and he meets his next door neighbor, Natalie, who is the daughter of Deb and Dusty Wheeler who are famous guitarest-turned-producer and singer and songwriters from the past. Natalie who is blind and Michael become great friends which lead to them starting a band and doing a concert. There is a plot that goes along with this that is one that kept me reading until the very end. It is a great story with great characters and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I'm now looking forward to reading the next Erin Bartels. This one will be published 1/17/23. If you love stories about music then I am sure you would love this book.
181. The Snack Thief by Andrea Camerilli - 308 pgs. - *****12/6/2022
In the third book in Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano series, the urbane and perceptive Sicilian detective exposes a viper's nest of government corruption and international intrigue in a compelling new case. When an elderly man is stabbed to death in an elevator and a crewman on an Italian fishing trawler is machine-gunned by a Tunisian patrol boat off Sicily's coast, only Montalbano suspects the link between the two incidents. His investigation leads to the beautiful Karima, an impoverished housecleaner and sometime prostitute, whose young son steals other schoolchildren's midmorning snacks. But Karima disappears, and the young snack thief's life as well as Montalbano's is on the line.
This is the 3rd book in the Montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri. It is located in Sicily where wine, women and mystery are plenty. There are two mysteries going on and the link of these mysteries is seen early on by Montalbano. There are plenty of humorous situations happening with lots of twists and turns throughout the book. Montalbano comes to terms with fatherhood and the death of his father and a young boy on the run from killers. The relationship between Livia and Montalbano is also discussed. Lots of entertaining fun and if you love crime with mystery then you will love these books.
182. The Sleeping and The Dead by Jeff Crook - 336 pgs. **** 12/8/2022
Jackie Lyons, a former vice detective is with the Memphis Police Department. Her husband has served her divorce papers. But a failed marriage, unemployment, and an incinerated home aren't her only problems: she also sees ghosts. Since Jackie left her job with the MPD, she's been photographing crime scenes for her friends on the force. When she's called to the murder scene of the famed Memphis Playhouse Killer's latest victim, her camera captures spectral images. Her camera brings her ghostly visitors into sharper relief and points her towards clues the ex-detective in her won't let go. Did the man she just started dating kill his wife? Is the Playhouse Killer someone in her inner circle?
This was a very interesting mystery. It was a great story with a plot that kept me reading until the very surprise ending. There were two killings she was trying to solve and they both came together in the end to a conclusion that I didn't expect. I will be looking into the next book in the series as Jackie Lyons is a very interesting character. If you love surprise endings then you would love this book. Pick it up and read it as it is a really good mystery.
183. Voice of the Violin by Andrea Camilleri - 276 pgs. **** 12/11/2022
Montalbano's gruesome discovery of a lovely, naked young woman suffocated in her bed immediately sets him on a search for her killer. Among the suspects are her aging husband, a famous doctor; a shy admirer, now disappeared; an antiques-dealing lover from Bologna; and the victim's friend Anna, whose charms Montalbano cannot help but appreciate. But it is a mysterious, reclusive violinist who holds the key to this murder. This is the fourth book in the Montalbano series. It is very humorous and entertaining as all his books. The characters are unique and the mysteries are ones that plots leave you wanting to read on. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series and if you love mysteries that keep you guessing then you would love these books.
184. When Maidens Mourn by C.S. Harris - 358 pgs. - ***** 12/13/2022
Regency England, August 1812. Sebastian's plans to escape the heat of London for a honeymoon are shattered when the murdered body of Hero's good friend, Gabrielle Tennyson, is discovered drifting in a battered boat at the site of a long-vanished castle known as Camlet Moat. A beautiful young antiquarian, Miss Tennyson had recently provoked an uproar with her controversial identification of the island as the location of Camelot. Missing and presumed also dead are Gabrielle's two young cousins, nine-year-old George and three-year-old Alfred.
This is the 7th book of the Sebastian St Cyr mystery series. I read this with a group on LibraryThing. This book was full of characters and likely suspects. It was so secretive that I did not guess the killer until it was revealed at the end of the book. The plot was terrific but the real reason for the murder was not revealed until the very end but even though we were not able to tell who the killer was and the reason for the murder, I still gave her 5 stars as the book was that good. So if you love book with hidden secrets than you would love this book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and I hope that Sebastian and Hero share secrets with each other.
185. Smith by Stewart Giles - 402 pgs. **** 12/14/2022
It is Christmas Day in York. A woman is found dead in her bed with a suicide note on her chest. It reads ‘I am so sorry Martin’. Hours later the police are called to a house a few miles away. A mother and her daughter have been brutally attacked; the mother is dead, and the daughter is barely alive. The father is found shaking uncontrollably in the corner of the room. He is covered in blood, but he is unharmed. His name is Martin Willow. Detective Sergeant Jason Smith is put in charge of the investigation. After reaching dead end after dead end, Smith starts to put the pieces together and figures out that Martin Willow is innocent, and the killer is still out there. If you like Police Procedurals full of adrenaline pumping suspense and that many twists and turns you think you are on a roller coaster. This series is a ‘must read’.
This is the first book in the Detective Jason Smith series. The book is a good story but certainly needs editing. I did enjoy the story once I got use to reading an unedited book and found the characters interesting. The plot was unique and made me want to keep reading until the end. I did finish the book but I did hope he would send it to a publisher to do some work on it. I look forward to trying the next book in the series. If you like to read a good story then you would like this book. Takes time to get used to but give it a try. It really is a good book.
186. Excursion to Tindari by Andrea Camilleri - 324 pgs, - **** 12/16/2022
A young Don Juan is found murdered in front of his apartment building early one morning, and an elderly couple is reported missing after an excursion to the ancient site of Tindari - two seemingly unrelated cases for Inspector Montalbano to solve amid the daily complications of life at Vigàta police headquarters. But when Montalbano discovers that the couple and the murdered young man lived in the same building, his investigation stumbles onto Sicily's brutal 'New Mafia', which leads him down a path more evil and more far-reaching than any he has been down before.
The fifth in the hit Italian crime series, Excursion to Tindari is another darkly comic detective story featuring Inspector Montalbano. Camilleri deals with the Mafia in this one but it is the new mafia not following the old rules. There is mystery and humor in this book along with snappy dialogue. I look forward to reading the sixth book in the series. The Scent of Night. If you love books of police procedural with laughter, then you would love these books.
187. Broadland by David Blake - 325 pgs. - ***** 12/17/2022
When a girl’s body is found strangled, raped, and horrifically mutilated by a boat’s propeller, deep in the heart of the Norfolk Broads, newly arrived Detective Inspector John Tanner is asked to assist with the investigation. At first, all the evidence points to a man who had a multi-million pound reason to kill her. But when an alibi is produced from an unexpected source, and another body appears at the base of a slipway, Tanner finds himself turning to local girl, Detective Constable Jenny Evans for help.
As a more intimate relationship begins between them, they find themselves facing a race against time to identify a lethal adversary, one with a lust for blood and a mind set on revenge.
This is the first book in the DI Tanner series. Set within the mysterious beauty of the Norfolk Broads, this fast-paced British detective series is a murder mystery that will have you guessing until the very end, when the last shocking twist is finally revealed. I loved all the twists and turns in the story. I also loved the banter between Tanner and Jenny and their new relationship. Tanner has a deep past with the death of his sister. I'm anxious to find out what happed to her. I'm starting the second book in the series, St. Benet's, and that one is pretty good too. So I'm happy to say that I have found a new series to delve myself in and I'm looking forward to reading all the books.
188. St. Benet's by David Blake - 334 pgs. ***** 12/18/2022
When the body of an old man is found lying in the ruins of St Benet's Abbey, his throat cut, a knife resting in his open hand, DI John Tanner and DC Jenny Evans are given no choice but to accept a ruling of death by misadventure. But when the body goes missing from its tomb, after a priest is found nailed to a cross, and another impaled on a stake, everything begins to point back to the murder of a teenage girl, thrown from the top of a church tower, some forty-three years before.
This is the second book of the Norfolk Broads crime thriller featuring DI John Tanner and DS Jenny Evans. The story has well-developed characters and a rollercoaster plot that kept me guessing. The book was full of twists and turns. A series of murders take place and DI Tanner and DS Jenny Evans work together to find the connection to the past. A gripping read with high recommendation. If you like books like crime thrillers, then you will love to read this book.
189. The House Sitter by Debbie Howells - 400 pgs. ***** 12/19/2022
Kat receives information that her husband has been involved in a car accident and has died. As Kat begins to investigate what has happened she finds out her husband has many secrets. This book is made up of two separate stories that are linked and come together in the end. One story has to do with Oliver's death and the other story has to do with a woman who changes her name and does housesitting living with the agenda, "Steal from the rich, and kill anyone who gets in your way." There is multiple POV's and the characters are flawed but believable. It is a fast-paced read with a plot that held my attention until the very end. I'm now looking forward to reading another Debbie Howells book. If you love psychological suspense books, then you would love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon Books for a copy for an honest review.
190. All The Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham - 336 pgs. **** 12/21/2022
One year ago, Isabelle Drake's life changed forever: her toddler son, Mason, was taken out of his crib in the middle of the night while she and her husband were asleep in the next room. With little evidence and few leads for the police to chase, the case quickly went cold. However, Isabelle cannot rest until Mason is returned to her—literally. Except for the occasional catnap or small blackout where she loses track of time, she hasn’t slept in a year. This book is told in two timelines: Present (now) Isabelle and Ben, Past (then) Isabelle and Margaret. It is a slow start but then moves into fast-paced. It is told in Isabelle's POV who is an unreliable narrator suffering from insomnia. It touches on motherhood emotions and is every mother's worst nightmare. The book has a major twist in the end that really surprised me. It has complex characters who make Isabelle feel overwhelming grief and guilt. She meets Waylon Spencer and does a podcast with him going over the past with her sister, Margaret, who had drowned in the marshes. If you love psychological suspense then you would love this book. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for a copy for an honest review.
191. The Emily Dickinson Cookbook 112 Pgs. **** 12/23/2022
I love reading cookbooks and if I find a great recipe all the more better. The book is a cookbook plus has poems and anecdotes based on the recipe and articles about her life. It’s a perfect gift for someone who loves Emily Dickinson. Some of the recipes I would like to try are: Baked Berry Pecan French Toast, Ham and Cucumber Tea sandwiches, and Pumpkin Corn Chowder. I would like to thank NetGalley and Quarto publishing for a copy for an honest review.
192. It Ends At Midnight by Harriet Tyce - 336 pgs. - **** 12/26/2022
It's New Year's Eve and the stage is set for a lavish party in one of Edinburgh's best postcodes. It's a moment for old friends to set the past to rights - and move on. The night sky is alive with fireworks and the champagne is flowing. But the celebration fails to materialize. Because someone at this party is going to die tonight. Midnight approaches and the countdown begins - but it seems one of the guests doesn't want a resolution. They want revenge.
Harriet Tyce is a gripping storyteller whose unreliable narrator and toxic friendship, Sylvia and Tess, have secrets and lies from the past. Sylvia is having a court case and she is bound and determined to become a Crown Court judge. There is a lot of suspense and tension that kept me reading until the very end. This well-plotted thriller is dark and atmospheric and set in London and Edinburgh. If you enjoy psychologic legal thrillers, then you would love this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebook’s Landmark for a copy for an honest review.
193. The Princess Bride: Official Cookbook by Jenn Firjikwawa - 192 pgs. **** - 12/27/2022
This is a great cookbook for fans of the film, The Princess Bride. It features more than 50 recipes for dishes seen in, and inspired by, the film, including:
• Buttercup Buttermilk Scones
• Hash You Wish
• Farm Boy Breakfast
• Six-Fingered Sandwiches
• Chips of Insanity
• MLT
• The Grandson’s Soup and Sandwich
• Vizzini’s Sicilian Meatballs
• Fezzik’s Stew
• The Spaniard’s Paella
• Bread Pirate Roberts
• Twu Wove’s Kiss Cookies
• Iocane Powder Punch
• Inigo Montoya’s Taste of Revenge
It is a mixture of movie quotes, pictures and dishes inspired by different parts of the movie. This book would be a nice gift for a collector or movie fan. I would like to thank NetGalley and Ben Bella Books: Smart Pop for a copy for an honest review.
194. The Easy Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook by Molly Thompson - 160 pgs. ***** - 12/28/2022
Inflammatory reactions can have a debilitating effect on your daily life. Over time, inflammation can harm your organ functions, your energy levels, and cognitive abilities—but most inflammation can be healed. Anti-Inflammatory Recipes for Beginners, adapted from Molly Thompson’s The Anti-Inflammatory Diet Made Simple, is a collection of easy-to-make recipes with simple ingredients based on foods that are scientifically proven to reduce inflammation naturally. The right food choices can return your body function to its most efficient and ultimately eliminate symptoms associated with inflammatory disorders.
This cookbook has an anti-infammatory recipe key that uses symbols to see how each recipe adheres to the diet with markers such as refined sugar-free and incorporates other eating habits and allergies, such as vegan and gluten-free as well. The pictures are gorgeous and show you what the recipe should look like. I would like to try the Southwest Stuffed Peppers, One Pot Taco Pasta and Creamy Penne Arrabbiata. Thank you to NetGalley and New Shoe Press for a copy for an honest review.
195. Quick and Easy Gluten-Free Instant Pot by Jane Bonacci & Sara De Leeuw - 144 pgs. ***** 12/29/2022
This cookbook shows you how to cook gulten-free meals with ease in your Instant Pot. It is a pressure cooker which cooks with exceptional flavor and nutrition. It also cooks foods quickly. It is safe and uses less energy and cleanup is a breeze. It teaches you how the pressure cooker works. It teaches you about the parts of a pressure cooker. The outer housing unit or base, the inner cooking pot, the pressure release valve, the sealing ring and the display buttons on the control panel. Each recipe will cook up lightening fast in the electric pressure cooker and will have everyone asking for more. This cookbook is a great beginner's book for gluten-free meals. Thanks to NetGalley and New Shoe Press for a copy for an honest review.
196. Mind Over Batter by Jack Hazan - 272 pgs. *****
This is a great baker's cookbook. A self-care cookbook for using baking as therapy from licensed psychotherapist and master baker Jack Hazan with 75 simple, therapeutic recipes. It's healing recipes that can help you tap into whatever you might be going through that day. In need of connection? Make some Presto Pull-Apart Bread to share with your loved ones. Looking for a way to release some anxiety? Knead away your stress with a Chocolate Babka Crunch. Simply in need of some self-care? Whip us a single-serve indulgence like a Devil's Food Mug Cake. I am definitely buying this cookbook. The recipes look so delicious and sounds like a good way to indulge yourself. Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for a copy for an honest review.
197. Stuffed: The Sandwich Cookie Book by Heather Mubarek - 272 pgs. ***** 12/29/2022
Everyone loves cookies! Cookies are easy to bake and they're delicious. This book offers 65 original recipes that feature not one, but two cookies apiece.
Stuffed offers great overall value: 65 cookie sandwich recipes with recommended fillings plus more than 30 filling recipes (frostings, jams, ice creams, curds and ganaches).
This book is perfect for:
Cookie lovers of all ages.
Home bakers of all levels.
Shoppers looking for a fun birthday, hostess or holiday gift alongside a baking utensil, apron or bars of chocolate.
This is a fun, easy to use, with lots of pictures, cookbook. It gives tips on following the recipe, using cookies for swaps, storing and shipping cookies. I would like to thank NetGalley and Chronicle Books for a copy for an honest review.
198. 20-40-60 Minute Dinners 176 pg. **** 12/31/2022
This cookbook is organized into "available time" rather than "kind of dish." It is designed to help the time-conscious cook with dinner planning. In the "20 minutes or less" section you can create a "Mac and Cheese with Candied Sausage and Green Peas." In "40 minutes " you can create a hearty "Vegetable Stew with Blue Corn Chips and Poached Egg." If you have "60 minutes" you can make "Sweet and Spicy Turkey Taco Salad." It is easy to learn a new recipe with the ingredients paired side-by-side with the instructions. One thing I like about this cookbook is however much time you have, you can find a recipe to help you get dinner on the table in this busy world we live in. Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishers for a copy for an honest review.
199. A Table Set For Sisterhood by Ashley M. Schutz; Ashly Jernigan - 224 pgs. ***** 12/31/2022
This is a very unique cookbook. It features 35 females from different countries with a personal quote and story about them with a recipe and a question for the table. For instance, there is one from Buffy Sainte-Marie who is from Canada born in 1941 with a quote, "I'm trying to scatter what I can of beauty in the places I think need it, to get rid of the boredom and the meanness in the world." Then a story about her music and a recipe for Green Goddess Salad. Finally a question at the table, "When have you been silenced or told to lower your voice when you spoke about something important to you?" The women the cookbook highlights are:
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Leymah Gbowee
Ruth Coker Burks
Qui Jin
Wangari Maathai
Greta Thunberg
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Irena Sendler
Oprah Winfrey
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Zitkala-Sa
Megan Rapinoe
Marsha P. Johnson
Frida Kahlo
Ina May Gaskin
Sampat Pal Devi
Gloria Steinem
Brenda Berkman
Tawakkol Karman
Junko Tabei
Dickey Chapelle
Malala Yousafzai
Hedy Lamarr
Chimananda Ngozi Adichie
Sophie Scholl
Judy Chicago
Aretha Franklin
The Mirabal Sisters
Angela Davis
Jane Goodall
Claudette Colvin
Katrub Jakobsdottir
Lizzo
Amelia Earhart
Rupi Kaur
I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a copy for an honest review.
200. Tin to Table by Anna Hezel 192 pgs. ***** 12/31/2022
This book is an interesting cookbook with over 50 recipes offering an ocean of knowledge and cooking inspiration by using straight out of the can or using them as a base for fancy dinner party fare, including:
Triple Pickle Smoked Salmon Butter Sandwich
Canned Clam Garlic Bread
Sardine Curry Puffs
Caesar Popcorn (Negronis optional!)
Tuna Noodle Casserole 2.0 with Salt and Vinegar Crumbs
Vermouth Hour Potato Chips with Mussels, Olives, and Piparras
Mac and Mack(erel)
Use this cookbook to help you discover tasty meal inspiration and navigate you through the world of tinned seafood with handy field guides, smart pairing suggestions, and shopping resources, so you can live that breezy, tinned-fish life anywhere or anytime. These canned goods aren’t just for survivalists—they’re luxury imports, souvenirs, and collectibles. This unique guide covers a wide variety of tinned seafood rather than focusing solely on a single ingredient such as sardines or salmon. Full-color photographs showcase mouthwatering dishes while playful illustrations round out the fun foodie vibe throughout. Perfect for: Home cooks, college students, picnickers, and seafood lovers. Sail through the pages of this rich, briny guide to discover how to bring more tasty tinned seafood into your life and onto your plate. I would like to thank NetGalley and Chronicle Books for a copy for an honest review.
13EadieB
Coffey & Hill by Mike Nappa
1. Annabel Lee (2016)
2. The Raven (2016)
3. A Dream within a Dream (2020) (with Melissa Kosci)
And the Trees Crept In Dawn Kurtagich
The Pact by Sharon J. Bolton
The Girl in the Woods by Camilla Läckberg
The Cult on Fog Island by Mariette Lindstein
The Dark Rose by Erin Kelly
Mercy Killing by Lisa Cutts
Albert Lincoln by Kate Ellis
7. A High Mortality of Doves (2016)
8. The Boy Who Lived with the Dead (2018)
9. The House of the Hanged Woman (2020)
10. Dead Wrong Bk. 1 by Helen H. Durrant - B&N
11. ☊ Dead Silent Bk. 2 by Helen H. Durrant - own
12. ☊ Dead List Bk. 3 by Helen H. Durrant - own
14. ☊ Where They Found Her: a novel by Kimberly McCreight
15. ☊ Call Me Zelda by Erika Robuck
16. ☊ The Warsaw Protocol (2020) by Steve Berry
18. ☊ Vince and Joy by Lisa Jewell
19. ☊ The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell
20. ☊ Lost Bk. 2 by Michael Robotham - CD's
Books I Own
6. Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani
12. The Scent of Death by Simon Beckett
13. A High Mortality of Doves by Kate Ellis
14. The Plague Maiden by Kate Ellis
15. The Lost Relic by Scott Mariani
Series Reads
16. Merciless by Richard Montanari
17. A Garden of Vipers by J. A. Kerley
18. Annexed by Sharon Dogar
19. The Missing Ones (2017)
20. The Stolen Girls (2017)
James Rollins
The Starless Crown (2021) by James Rollins
8. Bloodline (2012)
9. The Eye of God (2013)
10. The Sixth Extinction (2014)
10.5 The Midnight Watch (2015)
11. The Bone Labyrinth (2015)
11.5. Crash and Burn (2016)
12. The Seventh Plague (2016)
12.5. Ghost Ship (2017)
13. The Demon Crown (2017)
14. Crucible (2019)
15. The Last Odyssey (2020)
16. Kingdom of Bones (2021)
Audiobooks
11. ☊ The Address by Fiona Davis
12. ☊ The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis
13. ☊ The Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis
14. ☊ The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis
15. ☊ The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
16. ☊ In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
17. ☊ Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens CD’s
18. ☊ Those Girls by Chevy Stevens CD’s
19. ☊ Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
20. ☊ Suspect Bk. 1 by Michael Robotham - CD's
14. ☊ Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
17. ☊ The Wildling Sisters by Eve Chase - BCL
18. ☊ One day in December by Silver, Josie BCL
20. ☊ Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay
18. ☊ The Malta Exchange (2019) by Steve Berry
Series Reads
6. The Skin Gods by Richard Montanari
Hoopla
The Haunting on West 10th Street by Helen Phifer - ebook
For Reasons Unknown by Michael Wood - ebook
Dark Murder by Durrant, Helen H. - audiobook
The People Next Door by Kerri Bevis - audiobook
The Last Flight A Novel by Julie Clark - audiobook
The secretary: a novel by Knight, Renee
1. Gathering Dark by James Oswald
2. Cold As The Grave by James Oswald
3. No Time To Cry by James Oswald
4. Bury Them Deep by James Oswald
7. Home Again by Kristin Hannah
8. The Great Abraham Lincoln Conspiracy by Jacopo Della Quercia
11. ☊ Walk The Wire by David Baldacci
12. ☊ Long Road To Mercy Bk 1 Atlee Pine by David Baldacci
13. ☊ A Minute to Midnight Bk 2 Atlee Pine by David Baldacci
14. ☊ Daylight Bk 3 Atlee Pine by David Baldacci
15. ☊ Mercy Bk 4 Atlee Pine by David Baldacci
16. ☊ Now May You Weep by Deborah Crombie
17. ☊ In A Dark House by Deborah Crombie
18. ☊ Necessary As Blood by Deborah Crombie
19. ☊ No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie
20. ☊ The Sound of Broken Glass by Deborah Crombie
1. Losing You by Nicci French
2. Radar Girls by Sara Ackerman
3. A Cold Dark Place by Gregg Olsen
4. Raveling by Peter Moore Smith
5. Falling Glass by Adrian McKinty
6. The Buried Book by D. M. Pulley
7. Arrowood (2017)
8. The Murder Pit (2018)
9. Arrowood and the Thames Corpses (2020)
10.Arrowood and The Meeting House Murders (2021)
11. ☊ The Defector by Daniel Silva
12. ☊ The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva
13. ☊ Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva
14. ☊ The Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva
15. ☊ The English Girl by Daniel Silva
16. ☊ The Heist by Daniel Silva
17. ☊ The English Spy by Daniel Silva
18. ☊ The Black Widow by Daniel Silva
19. ☊ House of Spies by Daniel Silva
20. ☊ The Other Woman by Daniel Silva
Michele Ferrara
1. A Florentine Death (2007) by Michele Giuttari
2. A Death in Tuscany (2008) by Michele Giuttari
3. The Death of a Mafia Don (2009) by Michele Giuttari
4. A Death in Calabria (2010) by Michele Giuttari
5. The Black Rose of Florence (2012) by Michele Giuttari
6. The Dark Heart of Florence (2013) by Michele Giuttari
7. Death Under a Tuscan Sun (2015) by Michele Giuttari
8. The Jekyll Revelation by Robert Masello
9. The Lie (2015) by C. L. Taylor
10. The Missing (2016) by C. L. Taylor
11. ☊ The New Girl (2019) by Daniel Silva
12. ☊ The Order (2020) by Daniel Silva
13. ☊ The Cellist (2021) by Daniel Silva
14. ☊ Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh
15. ☊ The Plea by Steve Cavanagh
16. ☊ Murder in the 11th house by Mitchell Scott Lewis
17. ☊ Death in the 12th house by Mitchell Scott Lewis
Joe Dillard
1. An Innocent Client (2008) by Scott Pratt
2. In Good Faith (2009) by Scott Pratt
3. Injustice For All (2010) by Scott Pratt
4. Reasonable Fear (2011) by Scott Pratt
5. Conflict of Interest (2013) by Scott Pratt
6. Blood Money (2013) by Scott Pratt
7. A Crime of Passion (2014) by Scott Pratt
8. Judgment Cometh (2016) by Scott Pratt
9. Due Process (2017) by Scott Pratt
11. ☊ The First Order by Jeff Abbott
12. ☊ An Ambush of Windows by Jeff Abbott
13. ☊ Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay
14. ☊ Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay
15. ☊ Fear The Worst by Linwood Barclay
16. ☊ The Confessor by Daniel Silva
17. ☊ A Death in Vienna by Daniel Silva
18. ☊ The Messenger by Daniel Silva
19. ☊ The Secret Servant by Daniel Silva
20. ☊ Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva
1. Annabel Lee (2016)
2. The Raven (2016)
3. A Dream within a Dream (2020) (with Melissa Kosci)
And the Trees Crept In Dawn Kurtagich
The Pact by Sharon J. Bolton
The Girl in the Woods by Camilla Läckberg
The Cult on Fog Island by Mariette Lindstein
The Dark Rose by Erin Kelly
Mercy Killing by Lisa Cutts
Albert Lincoln by Kate Ellis
7. A High Mortality of Doves (2016)
8. The Boy Who Lived with the Dead (2018)
9. The House of the Hanged Woman (2020)
10. Dead Wrong Bk. 1 by Helen H. Durrant - B&N
11. ☊ Dead Silent Bk. 2 by Helen H. Durrant - own
12. ☊ Dead List Bk. 3 by Helen H. Durrant - own
14. ☊ Where They Found Her: a novel by Kimberly McCreight
15. ☊ Call Me Zelda by Erika Robuck
16. ☊ The Warsaw Protocol (2020) by Steve Berry
18. ☊ Vince and Joy by Lisa Jewell
19. ☊ The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell
20. ☊ Lost Bk. 2 by Michael Robotham - CD's
Books I Own
6. Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani
12. The Scent of Death by Simon Beckett
13. A High Mortality of Doves by Kate Ellis
14. The Plague Maiden by Kate Ellis
15. The Lost Relic by Scott Mariani
Series Reads
16. Merciless by Richard Montanari
17. A Garden of Vipers by J. A. Kerley
18. Annexed by Sharon Dogar
19. The Missing Ones (2017)
20. The Stolen Girls (2017)
James Rollins
The Starless Crown (2021) by James Rollins
8. Bloodline (2012)
9. The Eye of God (2013)
10. The Sixth Extinction (2014)
10.5 The Midnight Watch (2015)
11. The Bone Labyrinth (2015)
11.5. Crash and Burn (2016)
12. The Seventh Plague (2016)
12.5. Ghost Ship (2017)
13. The Demon Crown (2017)
14. Crucible (2019)
15. The Last Odyssey (2020)
16. Kingdom of Bones (2021)
Audiobooks
11. ☊ The Address by Fiona Davis
12. ☊ The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis
13. ☊ The Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis
14. ☊ The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis
15. ☊ The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
16. ☊ In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
17. ☊ Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens CD’s
18. ☊ Those Girls by Chevy Stevens CD’s
19. ☊ Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
20. ☊ Suspect Bk. 1 by Michael Robotham - CD's
14. ☊ Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
17. ☊ The Wildling Sisters by Eve Chase - BCL
18. ☊ One day in December by Silver, Josie BCL
20. ☊ Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay
18. ☊ The Malta Exchange (2019) by Steve Berry
Series Reads
6. The Skin Gods by Richard Montanari
Hoopla
The Haunting on West 10th Street by Helen Phifer - ebook
For Reasons Unknown by Michael Wood - ebook
Dark Murder by Durrant, Helen H. - audiobook
The People Next Door by Kerri Bevis - audiobook
The Last Flight A Novel by Julie Clark - audiobook
The secretary: a novel by Knight, Renee
1. Gathering Dark by James Oswald
2. Cold As The Grave by James Oswald
3. No Time To Cry by James Oswald
4. Bury Them Deep by James Oswald
7. Home Again by Kristin Hannah
8. The Great Abraham Lincoln Conspiracy by Jacopo Della Quercia
11. ☊ Walk The Wire by David Baldacci
12. ☊ Long Road To Mercy Bk 1 Atlee Pine by David Baldacci
13. ☊ A Minute to Midnight Bk 2 Atlee Pine by David Baldacci
14. ☊ Daylight Bk 3 Atlee Pine by David Baldacci
15. ☊ Mercy Bk 4 Atlee Pine by David Baldacci
16. ☊ Now May You Weep by Deborah Crombie
17. ☊ In A Dark House by Deborah Crombie
18. ☊ Necessary As Blood by Deborah Crombie
19. ☊ No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie
20. ☊ The Sound of Broken Glass by Deborah Crombie
1. Losing You by Nicci French
2. Radar Girls by Sara Ackerman
3. A Cold Dark Place by Gregg Olsen
4. Raveling by Peter Moore Smith
5. Falling Glass by Adrian McKinty
6. The Buried Book by D. M. Pulley
7. Arrowood (2017)
8. The Murder Pit (2018)
9. Arrowood and the Thames Corpses (2020)
10.Arrowood and The Meeting House Murders (2021)
11. ☊ The Defector by Daniel Silva
12. ☊ The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva
13. ☊ Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva
14. ☊ The Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva
15. ☊ The English Girl by Daniel Silva
16. ☊ The Heist by Daniel Silva
17. ☊ The English Spy by Daniel Silva
18. ☊ The Black Widow by Daniel Silva
19. ☊ House of Spies by Daniel Silva
20. ☊ The Other Woman by Daniel Silva
Michele Ferrara
1. A Florentine Death (2007) by Michele Giuttari
2. A Death in Tuscany (2008) by Michele Giuttari
3. The Death of a Mafia Don (2009) by Michele Giuttari
4. A Death in Calabria (2010) by Michele Giuttari
5. The Black Rose of Florence (2012) by Michele Giuttari
6. The Dark Heart of Florence (2013) by Michele Giuttari
7. Death Under a Tuscan Sun (2015) by Michele Giuttari
8. The Jekyll Revelation by Robert Masello
9. The Lie (2015) by C. L. Taylor
10. The Missing (2016) by C. L. Taylor
11. ☊ The New Girl (2019) by Daniel Silva
12. ☊ The Order (2020) by Daniel Silva
13. ☊ The Cellist (2021) by Daniel Silva
14. ☊ Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh
15. ☊ The Plea by Steve Cavanagh
16. ☊ Murder in the 11th house by Mitchell Scott Lewis
17. ☊ Death in the 12th house by Mitchell Scott Lewis
Joe Dillard
1. An Innocent Client (2008) by Scott Pratt
2. In Good Faith (2009) by Scott Pratt
3. Injustice For All (2010) by Scott Pratt
4. Reasonable Fear (2011) by Scott Pratt
5. Conflict of Interest (2013) by Scott Pratt
6. Blood Money (2013) by Scott Pratt
7. A Crime of Passion (2014) by Scott Pratt
8. Judgment Cometh (2016) by Scott Pratt
9. Due Process (2017) by Scott Pratt
11. ☊ The First Order by Jeff Abbott
12. ☊ An Ambush of Windows by Jeff Abbott
13. ☊ Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay
14. ☊ Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay
15. ☊ Fear The Worst by Linwood Barclay
16. ☊ The Confessor by Daniel Silva
17. ☊ A Death in Vienna by Daniel Silva
18. ☊ The Messenger by Daniel Silva
19. ☊ The Secret Servant by Daniel Silva
20. ☊ Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva
14Carol420
>1 EadieB:-Eadie my friend...I am more than impressed. Good luck but I know if anyone can do this...it'll be you. Stay safe and stay in touch. I miss hearing from you.
15EadieB
>14 Carol420: Thanks! Looks like I'll be hanging out here in 2022 so we will be able to communicate right here. I miss talking with you too! These are lists of books that I own and need to read. Not sure I will be able to read them all but it's an effort to make sure I don't forget about reading them. lol
16Carol420
>15 EadieB: I go through the groups several times a day...so I'll find you. Hope Andrew gets back to us soon. Miss him too. I know he hasn't had a great year by any means. Hope 2022 is better for him and his wife.
17EadieB
>16 Carol420: I'm sure 2022 will be a better year for him.
18EadieB
Best Mystery Thrillers 2021
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby
The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena
A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins
Every Last Secret by A.R. Torre
All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris
Best Historical Fiction 2021
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr.
Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia
Best Mystery Thrillers 2020
Unspeakable Things by Jess Lourey
Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby
And Now She's Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall
Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger
First Girl Gone by Lt Vargus and Tim McBain
Best Mystery Thrillers 2019
My Sister The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Run Away by Harlan Coben
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips
Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok
I'll Never Tell by Catherine McKenzie
The Night Wife by Samantha Downing
The Line Between by Tosca Lee
Best Mystery Thrillers 2018
The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson
The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
Jane Doe by Victoria Helen Stone
Wrecked by Joe Ide
Best Mystery Thrillers 2017
Mississippi Blood by Greg Iles
Silent Child by Sarah A. Denzil
The Ghost Writer by Alessandra Torre
The Night Bird by Brian Freeman
Righteous by Joe Ide
The Last Breath by Robert Bryndza
The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker
Best Mystery Thrillers 2016
All The Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
The Vanishing Year by Kate Moretti
Into The Light by Aleatha Romig
Best Mystery Thrillers 2015
Marrow by Tarryn Fisher
Mr. Kiss and Tell Veronica Mars by Rob Thomas
The Escape by David Baldacci
The Cartel by Don Winslow
Best Mystery Thrillers 2014
The Thousand Dollar Tan Line Veronica Mars by Rob Thomas
The Son by Jo Nesbo
The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly
Natchez Burning by Greg Iles
In The Blood by Lisa Unger
Mean Streak by Sandra Brown
The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh
Runner by Patrick Lee
Best Mystery Thrillers 2013
Police by Jo Nesbo
Touch and Go by Lisa Gardner
Convicted by Aleatha Romig
W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby
The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena
A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins
Every Last Secret by A.R. Torre
All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris
Best Historical Fiction 2021
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr.
Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia
Best Mystery Thrillers 2020
Unspeakable Things by Jess Lourey
Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby
And Now She's Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall
Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger
First Girl Gone by Lt Vargus and Tim McBain
Best Mystery Thrillers 2019
My Sister The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Run Away by Harlan Coben
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips
Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok
I'll Never Tell by Catherine McKenzie
The Night Wife by Samantha Downing
The Line Between by Tosca Lee
Best Mystery Thrillers 2018
The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson
The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
Jane Doe by Victoria Helen Stone
Wrecked by Joe Ide
Best Mystery Thrillers 2017
Mississippi Blood by Greg Iles
Silent Child by Sarah A. Denzil
The Ghost Writer by Alessandra Torre
The Night Bird by Brian Freeman
Righteous by Joe Ide
The Last Breath by Robert Bryndza
The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker
Best Mystery Thrillers 2016
All The Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
The Vanishing Year by Kate Moretti
Into The Light by Aleatha Romig
Best Mystery Thrillers 2015
Marrow by Tarryn Fisher
Mr. Kiss and Tell Veronica Mars by Rob Thomas
The Escape by David Baldacci
The Cartel by Don Winslow
Best Mystery Thrillers 2014
The Thousand Dollar Tan Line Veronica Mars by Rob Thomas
The Son by Jo Nesbo
The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly
Natchez Burning by Greg Iles
In The Blood by Lisa Unger
Mean Streak by Sandra Brown
The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh
Runner by Patrick Lee
Best Mystery Thrillers 2013
Police by Jo Nesbo
Touch and Go by Lisa Gardner
Convicted by Aleatha Romig
W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton
19EadieB
1. The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson (
3. The Violet Hour by Daniel Judson
4. Looking Good Dead by Peter James
5. Hidden River by Adrian McKinty
6. Easter Island by Jennifer Vanderbes
7. Killing Me Softly by Nicci French
8. Tahoe Death Fall by Todd Borg
9. The Memory Game by Nicci French
10. Criminal Enterprise (2013) by Owen Laukkanen
11. ☊ Kill Fee (2014) by Owen Laukkanen - own
12. ☊ Red Line by Brian Thiem
13. ☊ The Silent Girls by Eric Rickstad
15. ☊ That Churchill Woman by Stephanie Barron
16. ☊ The Sun is God by Adrian McKinty
17. ☊ Conspirata by Robert Harris
18. ☊ The Good Sister by Gillian McAllister
19. ☊ The Paragon Hotel by Lyndsay Faye
20. ☊ Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow
The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths (Dr Ruth Galloway) 28 Jun 2022
The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell (Family Upstairs, book 2) 9 Aug 2022
Woman on the Edge by Bailey, Samantha M.
5. When Blood Lies C S Harris (Book 17 Sebastian St. Cyr series) 5 Apr 2022
The Island by Adrian McKinty - 17 May 2022
2. The Long Weekend by Gilly MacMillan
1. I Looked Away by Jane Corry
2. I Made a Mistake by Jane Corry
3. The Lies We Tell by Jane Corry
4. The Limehouse Text Bk. 3 by Will Thomas
5. The Hellfire Conspiracy Bk. 4 by6 Will Thomas
6. Anatomy of Evil Bk. 7 by Will Thomas
7. Old Scores Bk. 9 by Will Thomas
8. Dance With Death Bk. 12 by Will Thomas
9. Fierce Poison Bk. 13 (2022) by Will Thomas
11. ☊ Some Danger Involved Bk. 1 by Will Thomas
12. ☊ To Kingdom Come Bk. 2 by Will Thomas
13. ☊ The Black Hand Bk. 5 by Will Thomas
14. ☊ Fatal Enquiry Bk. 6 by Will Thomas
15. ☊ Hell Bay Bk. 8 by Will Thomas
16. ☊ Blood is Blood Bk. 10 by Will Thomas
17. ☊ Lethal Pursuit Bk. 11 by Will Thomas
18. ☊ Shatter Bk. 3 by Michael Robotham CD's own
19. ☊ Bleed for Me (2010) by Michael Robotham - CD's
20. ☊ The Wreckage by Michael Robotham CD's
☊ Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by Willberg, T. A. - Hoopla
How The Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
His & Hers by Alice Feeney
I Know Who You Are by Alice Feeney - CD's
The Unquiet Bones | Mel Starr - Book 1 - Hoopla
The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick
The Replacement Wife: A Novel Darby Kane
The Maid by Nina Prose
Marie Benedict Books
The Other Einstein (2016)
Carnegie's Maid (2018)
The Only Woman in the Room (2019)
Lady Clementine (2020)
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie (2020)
The Personal Librarian (2021) (with Victoria Christopher Murray)
Her Hidden Genius (2022)
Library Books
Speaking For Myself by Sarah Huckabee Sanders
The Death Collectors by Jack Kerley
The Magician's Assistant by Patchett, Ann
Save Me From Dangerous Men by S. A. Lelchuk
When the Corn Is Waist High by Jeremy Scott
Hope Harbor - Irene Hannon
1. Hope Harbor (2015)
2. Sea Rose Lane (2016)
3. Sandpiper Cove (2017)
4. Pelican Point (2018)
5. Driftwood Bay (2019)
6. Starfish Pier (2020)
7. Blackberry Beach (2021)
8. Sea Glass Cottage (2022)
Clare and Malcolm
1. Still Mine (2016) by Amy Stuart
2. Still Water (2018) by Amy Stuart (own)
3. Still Here (2020) by Amy Stuart
4. Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty
5. The Date by Louise Jensen - others BCL
7. Lost Among the Living by Simone St. James
8. The Long Weekend by Gilly Macmillan - Pub 3/22
9. The Anatomy of Dreams by Chloe Benjamin
10. The Bed I Made by Lucie Whitehouse
11. ☊ Say You're Sorry by Michael Robotham - CD's
12. ☊ Watching You (2013) by Michael Robotham - CD's
13. ☊ Close Your Eyes by Michael Robotham - CD's
14. ☊ The Other Wife by Michael Robotham - CD's
15. ☊ Last Night In Twisted River by John Irving - CD's own
16. ☊ West of Sunset by Stewart O'Nan - CD's own
19. ☊ First frost: a novel Sarah Addison Allen
20. ☊ Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
1. Out by Natsuo Kirino
3. The Lion Tamer: A Caged Death Bk. 2 by Luisa Buehler
4. The Station Master: A Scheduled Death Bk. 3 by Luisa Buehler
5. The Scout Master: A Prepared Death Bk. 4 by Luisa Buehler
6. The Lighthouse Keeper: A Beckoning Death Bk. 5 by Luisa Buehler
7. The Inn Keeper: A Registered Death Bk. 6 by Luisa Buehler
8. The Reenactor: A Staged Death Bk. 7 by Luisa Buehler
11. ☊ To Dwell In Darkness by Deborah Crombie
12. ☊ The Garden of Lamentations by Deborah Crombie
13. ☊ A Bitter Feast by Deborah Crombie
14. ☊ Trust Me by Jeff Abbott
15. ☊ Blame by Jeff Abbott
16. ☊ Never Ask Me by Jeff Abbott
17. ☊ The Three Beths by Jeff Abbott
18. ☊ Adrenaline by Jeff Abbott
19. ☊ The Last Minute by Jeff Abbott
20. ☊ The Inside Man by Jeff Abbott
3. The Violet Hour by Daniel Judson
4. Looking Good Dead by Peter James
5. Hidden River by Adrian McKinty
6. Easter Island by Jennifer Vanderbes
7. Killing Me Softly by Nicci French
8. Tahoe Death Fall by Todd Borg
9. The Memory Game by Nicci French
10. Criminal Enterprise (2013) by Owen Laukkanen
11. ☊ Kill Fee (2014) by Owen Laukkanen - own
12. ☊ Red Line by Brian Thiem
13. ☊ The Silent Girls by Eric Rickstad
15. ☊ That Churchill Woman by Stephanie Barron
16. ☊ The Sun is God by Adrian McKinty
17. ☊ Conspirata by Robert Harris
18. ☊ The Good Sister by Gillian McAllister
19. ☊ The Paragon Hotel by Lyndsay Faye
20. ☊ Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow
The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths (Dr Ruth Galloway) 28 Jun 2022
The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell (Family Upstairs, book 2) 9 Aug 2022
Woman on the Edge by Bailey, Samantha M.
5. When Blood Lies C S Harris (Book 17 Sebastian St. Cyr series) 5 Apr 2022
The Island by Adrian McKinty - 17 May 2022
2. The Long Weekend by Gilly MacMillan
1. I Looked Away by Jane Corry
2. I Made a Mistake by Jane Corry
3. The Lies We Tell by Jane Corry
4. The Limehouse Text Bk. 3 by Will Thomas
5. The Hellfire Conspiracy Bk. 4 by6 Will Thomas
6. Anatomy of Evil Bk. 7 by Will Thomas
7. Old Scores Bk. 9 by Will Thomas
8. Dance With Death Bk. 12 by Will Thomas
9. Fierce Poison Bk. 13 (2022) by Will Thomas
11. ☊ Some Danger Involved Bk. 1 by Will Thomas
12. ☊ To Kingdom Come Bk. 2 by Will Thomas
13. ☊ The Black Hand Bk. 5 by Will Thomas
14. ☊ Fatal Enquiry Bk. 6 by Will Thomas
15. ☊ Hell Bay Bk. 8 by Will Thomas
16. ☊ Blood is Blood Bk. 10 by Will Thomas
17. ☊ Lethal Pursuit Bk. 11 by Will Thomas
18. ☊ Shatter Bk. 3 by Michael Robotham CD's own
19. ☊ Bleed for Me (2010) by Michael Robotham - CD's
20. ☊ The Wreckage by Michael Robotham CD's
☊ Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by Willberg, T. A. - Hoopla
How The Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
His & Hers by Alice Feeney
I Know Who You Are by Alice Feeney - CD's
The Unquiet Bones | Mel Starr - Book 1 - Hoopla
The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick
The Replacement Wife: A Novel Darby Kane
The Maid by Nina Prose
Marie Benedict Books
The Other Einstein (2016)
Carnegie's Maid (2018)
The Only Woman in the Room (2019)
Lady Clementine (2020)
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie (2020)
The Personal Librarian (2021) (with Victoria Christopher Murray)
Her Hidden Genius (2022)
Library Books
Speaking For Myself by Sarah Huckabee Sanders
The Death Collectors by Jack Kerley
The Magician's Assistant by Patchett, Ann
Save Me From Dangerous Men by S. A. Lelchuk
When the Corn Is Waist High by Jeremy Scott
Hope Harbor - Irene Hannon
1. Hope Harbor (2015)
2. Sea Rose Lane (2016)
3. Sandpiper Cove (2017)
4. Pelican Point (2018)
5. Driftwood Bay (2019)
6. Starfish Pier (2020)
7. Blackberry Beach (2021)
8. Sea Glass Cottage (2022)
Clare and Malcolm
1. Still Mine (2016) by Amy Stuart
2. Still Water (2018) by Amy Stuart (own)
3. Still Here (2020) by Amy Stuart
4. Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty
5. The Date by Louise Jensen - others BCL
7. Lost Among the Living by Simone St. James
8. The Long Weekend by Gilly Macmillan - Pub 3/22
9. The Anatomy of Dreams by Chloe Benjamin
10. The Bed I Made by Lucie Whitehouse
11. ☊ Say You're Sorry by Michael Robotham - CD's
12. ☊ Watching You (2013) by Michael Robotham - CD's
13. ☊ Close Your Eyes by Michael Robotham - CD's
14. ☊ The Other Wife by Michael Robotham - CD's
15. ☊ Last Night In Twisted River by John Irving - CD's own
16. ☊ West of Sunset by Stewart O'Nan - CD's own
19. ☊ First frost: a novel Sarah Addison Allen
20. ☊ Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
1. Out by Natsuo Kirino
3. The Lion Tamer: A Caged Death Bk. 2 by Luisa Buehler
4. The Station Master: A Scheduled Death Bk. 3 by Luisa Buehler
5. The Scout Master: A Prepared Death Bk. 4 by Luisa Buehler
6. The Lighthouse Keeper: A Beckoning Death Bk. 5 by Luisa Buehler
7. The Inn Keeper: A Registered Death Bk. 6 by Luisa Buehler
8. The Reenactor: A Staged Death Bk. 7 by Luisa Buehler
11. ☊ To Dwell In Darkness by Deborah Crombie
12. ☊ The Garden of Lamentations by Deborah Crombie
13. ☊ A Bitter Feast by Deborah Crombie
14. ☊ Trust Me by Jeff Abbott
15. ☊ Blame by Jeff Abbott
16. ☊ Never Ask Me by Jeff Abbott
17. ☊ The Three Beths by Jeff Abbott
18. ☊ Adrenaline by Jeff Abbott
19. ☊ The Last Minute by Jeff Abbott
20. ☊ The Inside Man by Jeff Abbott
20EadieB
1. The Stolen Ones (2015) by Owen Laukkanen
2. The Watcher in the Wall (2016) by Owen Laukkanen
3. The Forgotten Girls (2017) by Owen Laukkanen
Fiona Griffiths
4. Talking to the Dead (2012) by Harry Bingham - BCL book
5. Love Story, With Murders (2013) by Harry Bingham - own
6. Willnot by James Sallis
7. Inheriting Edith: a novel by Zoe Fishman
8. Three Days And A life by Pierre Lemaitre
9. Three Bullets by R. J. Ellory
10. Set In Stone by Robert Goddard
Louise Rick / Camilla Lind by Sara Blaedel
11. ☊ The Midnight Witness(2018)
12. Blue Blood
13. Only One Life (2012)
aka The Drowned Girl
14. ☊ The Night Women
15. ☊ The Running Girl (2018)
16. ☊ The Stolen Angel (2018)
17. The Forgotten Girls (2015)
18. The Killing Forest (2016)
19. ☊ The Lost Woman (2017)
20. A Harmless Lie (2022)
The Woman in the Hotel (2018)
The House In The Cerulean Sea TJ Klune
The Hotel Paragon by Lyndsay Faye
17. ☊ Conspirata by Robert Harris
18. ☊ The Good Sister by Gillian McAllister
19. ☊ The Paragon Hotel by Lyndsay Faye
20. ☊ Catch and Kill by Ronan Farr
2. The Watcher in the Wall (2016) by Owen Laukkanen
3. The Forgotten Girls (2017) by Owen Laukkanen
Fiona Griffiths
4. Talking to the Dead (2012) by Harry Bingham - BCL book
5. Love Story, With Murders (2013) by Harry Bingham - own
6. Willnot by James Sallis
7. Inheriting Edith: a novel by Zoe Fishman
8. Three Days And A life by Pierre Lemaitre
9. Three Bullets by R. J. Ellory
10. Set In Stone by Robert Goddard
Louise Rick / Camilla Lind by Sara Blaedel
11. ☊ The Midnight Witness(2018)
12. Blue Blood
13. Only One Life (2012)
aka The Drowned Girl
14. ☊ The Night Women
15. ☊ The Running Girl (2018)
16. ☊ The Stolen Angel (2018)
17. The Forgotten Girls (2015)
18. The Killing Forest (2016)
19. ☊ The Lost Woman (2017)
20. A Harmless Lie (2022)
The Woman in the Hotel (2018)
The House In The Cerulean Sea TJ Klune
The Hotel Paragon by Lyndsay Faye
17. ☊ Conspirata by Robert Harris
18. ☊ The Good Sister by Gillian McAllister
19. ☊ The Paragon Hotel by Lyndsay Faye
20. ☊ Catch and Kill by Ronan Farr
