Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publicat Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Sept. 10, 2024
“Death at the Sanatorium” is the new novel by Icelandic author Ragnar Jónasson, a spinoff from his record-breaking, soon-to-be-TV-series, “The Darkness”. (Before reading on, please note that it is not necessary to have read “The Darkness”, or to even be familiar with it in any way, to enjoy “Sanatorium”.)
In 1983, at a former TB sanatorium in upper Iceland, a nurse is found dead. After being hastily investigated by police detectives Hulda and Sverrir, the caretaker, Broddi, is charged with the crime although he is quickly released when the sanatorium’s doctor is also found dead in an apparent suicide. In 2012, nearly thirty years later, Helgi, a former police officer who is now writing his dissertation on the deaths at the sanatorium all those years ago, thinks that maybe the crimes were solved too easily and the case isn’t really closed after all. His theory looks more plausible when a nurse by the name of Tinna, who also worked at the sanatorium, is found dead in her apartment after receiving multiple threats. Helgi feels that he has stirred up secrets in his recent investigation, and he is desperate to solve it before another body drops.
“Sanatorium” is told in three different time frames, 1983 and 2012, with a few brief segments from 1951 which seem unrelated at first but do play a role in the ending of the novel. There are many narrators, although Helgi remains the protagonist, so readers can experience the entire story from different perspectives. The story is translated from the original Icelandic, but the translation is spot on and the novel is well-written and creative.
“Sanatorium” centres around the TB pandemic, when people were quietly shuffled away to institutions to spend their last days. Now, the TB sanatorium has been turned into a research hospital, but the figurative ghosts of the TB days remain. The quiet, desolate, nearly abandoned sanatorium is spooky and it was the perfect setting for murders to take place.
Helgi is both a student, working on his dissertation, and a new police investigator, and he is also dealing with an extremely toxic relationship in his home life (which is hinted at, but the real truth of this does not come out until the final pages and it’s just as devastating as you’d expect). I thoroughly enjoyed Jonasson’s characters, Helgi included.
The ending was surprising, although not entirely unexpected, and Jonasson wrapped up all of the plot lines in a conclusive way. His personal relationship is left unresolved, however, and that wraps up in a way that precludes another novel in this series is forthcoming. “Sanatorium” was a gripping police procedural, with a twist, and I look forward to seeing more of Helgi in the future. ...more
Lila Dalton is standing in a courtroom, defending a client charged with acts of terrorism. The problem? Lila can’t remember how she got there, or even where “here” is. In fact, Lila can’t even remember her name. Stranded on an island, with no memory and no one to help, Lila is left scrambling to figure out who she is. But then she starts receiving threats, insisting Lila clear her client of all charges, or risk losing her daughter (a daughter that Lila has no recollection of) forever. But how does she defend a client she doesn’t recognize, when she can’t even remember her own name?
“Trials” started off hot, with Lila facing a jury and a judge in a courtroom as a defense lawyer, defending the most popular case of the year. Lila has no memory of course, but her knowledge of the law has been retained, so she clumsily tries to fumble her way through while she searches for any clues as to how she ended up in her current situation. There’s no slowing down for Shepherd, as the plot hits hard and keeps on going, with twist after twist.
The first half of the novel is a legal thriller and the second half veers off into the world of government conspiracy and secret organizations. Both are intriguing, and Shepherd does a good job of connecting the two seamlessly. There are some confusing parts in the novel, especially in the latter half, when the conspiracy plotline takes over, but that did not stop me from enjoying “Trials”.
Shepherd has a background in law, as the courtroom segments make quite obvious, and I loved the premise of a lawyer who suffers memory loss in the middle of the hottest trial of her career. What was happening to Lila was not clear from the beginning, and I loved making guesses and trying to figure it out before Shepherd revealed it. When the truth comes out, I was taken by surprise, in a good way, and the ending was definitely a twist I did not expect.
“Trials” is unique and creative, and I look forward to future works from Shepherd. ...more
Local woman Karen Simmons is found the day after Valentines Day, obviously murdered, her body left against a tree. Detective Elise King and her team catch the case and immediately, Elise begins to wonder if Karen was killed by someone she met while online dating. Anyone who knew Karen spoke of her online dating activity and it seems to Elise that Karen was likely killed by someone she had recently met. But something isn’t adding up when local reporter, Kiki, brings information to Elise that ties Karen’s murder with the murder of a ten-year-old child from years ago. How are the two very different murders related?
“Talking to Strangers” has two other protagonists besides Elise, with complex and important roles in the plot. Kiki, a local reporter who is desperate for the story that will allow her to make her return to the journalism world in a big way and Annie, who is the mother of the young boy who was murdered in the same town years ago. All three women are connected arbitrarily to each other, and to the dead woman, but each one ends up helping the others out in crucial ways.
There are thick, emotional themes in Barton’s “Strangers”, including misogyny and the ‘incel’ lifestyle, sexual assault, child molestation and, of course, murder. Although the topics are heavy, Barton is fair in her depiction while leaving out the graphic details. I was able to feel the emotions of everyone involved, without having to hear the play-by-play of the vilest parts, and, in this case, I appreciated it.
Each woman narrates a chapter, which ends in a suspenseful way, such that I kept reading cliffhanger after cliffhanger until the end of the novel. “Strangers” was compulsively readable, as are the majority of Barton’s books that I have read. I enjoyed the characters, the complicated relationships and the female camaraderie that led to the resolution of not one, but two, murders (no spoilers given).
I am not sure if “Strangers” is going to go the way of other police novels and spawn a series, but I enjoyed Elise King enough to keep reading if Barton chooses to go that route. If not, Barton’s psychological suspense novels will always appeal to me, so I’ll be reading her next one, whatever the subject matter....more
Russel Archey’s newest novel, “Ashes of Aldyr” is a collection of short stories, all with a dark fantasy vibe, all taking place in the same location, Russel Archey’s newest novel, “Ashes of Aldyr” is a collection of short stories, all with a dark fantasy vibe, all taking place in the same location, featuring different characters.
The Land of Alda has been torn apart by “The Rupture” and now every town within its boundaries is suffering. The aldyr trees, once magical and powerful, have all but become extinct and no elf, dwarf or human is immune to its destruction. Each one of Archey’s stories features a character (or two) who are dealing with the darkness in their own way- whether it’s fighting it, coping with it or creating it and in this manner, the reader gets to experience the “Rupture” and the cold-hearted, malevolent beings behind its Creation.
“Ashes” has a “A Game of Thrones” or “The Lord of the Rings” vibe, with its mythical creatures and its magical sects. However, the fact that this novel was a collection of stories took away some of its potential sway and power. I did not get a chance to bond with one character over another, and therefore I was not invested in the outcome. The Rupture itself and its Creators were intriguing enough for me to keep reading, as I wanted to know more of those details, but I could not connect to any of the characters.
Archey begins the book with a plethora of fancy, thick and pretty language, and it feels like the beginnings of a poetry novel where nothing of substance is said, but the words are big and long and flowy. Archey gets over this manner of writing rather quickly, thank goodness, and I was able to become more engaged in the novel.
“Ashes” is the first book in “The Obscured Throne Trilogy” and I’m intrigued as to what the other two novels will look like. The ending of “Ashes” gave some hints as to a potential character who could take over a storyline, but to me, the novel was completely wrapped up in one shot, and any further novels would be superfluous (although I’d love to be proven wrong!).
“Ashes of Aldyr” is a dark, fantasy novel full of magi, elves and humans with magical powers that takes place in a land that has seen an epic level of destruction. There are some stories in this novel I enjoyed more than others, and it was these that I wanted more of. I could not relate to any of the characters as I did not get a long enough time with them to bond, but they were all likable on the surface. The environment of Alda is unique and creative, and the writing flows well. Archey’s “Ashes” checks all the boxes of a fantasy novel, and die-hard fans of the genre will definitely enjoy this dark trilogy.
Merged review:
Russel Archey’s newest novel, “Ashes of Aldyr” is a collection of short stories, all with a dark fantasy vibe, all taking place in the same location, featuring different characters.
The Land of Alda has been torn apart by “The Rupture” and now every town within its boundaries is suffering. The aldyr trees, once magical and powerful, have all but become extinct and no elf, dwarf or human is immune to its destruction. Each one of Archey’s stories features a character (or two) who are dealing with the darkness in their own way- whether it’s fighting it, coping with it or creating it and in this manner, the reader gets to experience the “Rupture” and the cold-hearted, malevolent beings behind its Creation.
“Ashes” has a “A Game of Thrones” or “The Lord of the Rings” vibe, with its mythical creatures and its magical sects. However, the fact that this novel was a collection of stories took away some of its potential sway and power. I did not get a chance to bond with one character over another, and therefore I was not invested in the outcome. The Rupture itself and its Creators were intriguing enough for me to keep reading, as I wanted to know more of those details, but I could not connect to any of the characters.
Archey begins the book with a plethora of fancy, thick and pretty language, and it feels like the beginnings of a poetry novel where nothing of substance is said, but the words are big and long and flowy. Archey gets over this manner of writing rather quickly, thank goodness, and I was able to become more engaged in the novel.
“Ashes” is the first book in “The Obscured Throne Trilogy” and I’m intrigued as to what the other two novels will look like. The ending of “Ashes” gave some hints as to a potential character who could take over a storyline, but to me, the novel was completely wrapped up in one shot, and any further novels would be superfluous (although I’d love to be proven wrong!).
“Ashes of Aldyr” is a dark, fantasy novel full of magi, elves and humans with magical powers that takes place in a land that has seen an epic level of destruction. There are some stories in this novel I enjoyed more than others, and it was these that I wanted more of. I could not relate to any of the characters as I did not get a long enough time with them to bond, but they were all likable on the surface. The environment of Alda is unique and creative, and the writing flows well. Archey’s “Ashes” checks all the boxes of a fantasy novel, and die-hard fans of the genre will definitely enjoy this dark trilogy....more
Mina Murray is a psychologist, helping women suffering from trauma disorders. After suffering a trauma herself as a young woman, Mina left her hometown of Wales, leaving her mother, lover and best friend behind without a word. Now, years later, Mina’s former best friend, Lucy, reaches out with a desperate cry for help and, of course, Mina races to her side. After seeing Lucy and her illness in the flesh, Mina begins to recognize Lucy’s distinctly odd symptoms as they were also experienced by a patient of hers in London. But how have two very different women, who have never met, have in common? What is causing them to be so ill and how does it relate to the hundreds of other missing women around the globe?
“The Madness” is a modern retelling of “Dracula”, but Kurtagich brings her own brand of flair and passion to the pages. In this version, Jonathan Harkness is a jilted lover, gravely disfigured by a “dog” attack years before. Mina, too, has been traumatized so severely that she suffers from tics and compulsions in order to seek control. Take these two struggling, yet fascinating characters, add some age-old vampires (my favourite) and top it off with a sprinkle of the dangerous power of the patriarchy and you have “The Madness” in all of its glory.
Mina is the protagonist, and we learn, slowly, about who she is and what she went through in her past. But there is also an unidentified (at the beginning, anyway) woman who tells her story of what goes on behind the walls of the nightclub with no name and the strange but beautiful Castle in Wales. There are brief moments of female camaraderie in the darkness, and my heartstrings were definitely pulled.
“Madness” is a gothic horror, with a psychological twist. Vampires have been inundating our fiction for the last few years, but it is rare to come across a vampire story that is so creepy and entertaining and Kurtagich was able to pull it off. I hope to see more from Kurtagich, especially if she is going to continue to put her own spin on classics like “Dracula”, because she absolutely rocked it out of the park. ...more
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publi Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Aug. 20, 2024
“City of Secrets” is the fourth novel in the Detective Margaret Nolan series by author P.J. Tracy, best known for her Monkeewrench series of novels. I was introduced to Tracy and her Nolan series with the third novel, “The Devil You Know”, so I have some background although I have no doubt missed major plot points by not reading the first or second Nolan novels.
Margaret Nolan and her partner are called out to a car jacking in a derelict part of Los Angeles, however when they arrive, Nolan immediately recognizes that something is way off. The murder victim is the multi million-dollar owner of a pet foods company and, when his business partner and his business partner’s wife are abducted the next day, Nolan knows something deeper is going on. As the investigation brings in many other police and federal agencies, the dangers only increase and it is up to Margaret and her team to solve it before more bodies fall.
As stated, it is highly recommended that these novels be read in chronological order. Although I read the third and fourth one as stand-alones, it’s entirely possible, but I always felt a step behind as I made my way through book four. Margaret is a strong protagonist, and if you’re familiar with female-detective police procedurals, “Secrets” is in your wheelhouse.
There are a multitude of characters in “Secrets”, beyond the detectives, officers and government agency officials. The criminal collection alone is rather lengthy, so be prepared to pay close attention to the who’s-who. Although Margaret is the primary narrator, other characters (some shady and some not) will get their chance in the spotlight, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story from both sides.
The ending has some nice twists, unexpected and not, and there is non-stop action to get you there. The plot of “Secrets” is wrapped up nicely, with all the I’s dotted and t’s crossed.
Margaret and her team are brave, funny, emotional and human (I love Ike and his passion for red licorice) and I enjoyed following their journey. I look forward to more Nolan, and hopefully in the meantime I’ll have time to catch up on the Tracy books I have missed! ...more
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publi Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Aug. 20, 2024
“Sacrificial Animals ” is the debut novel by Kailee Pedersen. With components of the Chinese myth of the nine-tailed fox, “Animals” is a book that ended far differently than it began.
After promising himself he would never return to his abusive father and their Nebraska farmstead, that is exactly what happens when Nick receives a phone call from his father, who claims to be dying. Nick’s estranged brother, Joshua, returns reluctantly as well, after being disowned by his father years ago for marrying a woman, Emilia, outside his race. Despite the complicated family dynamics, Nick finds himself rekindled with old feelings toward the woman who is now his brother’s wife and they are reciprocated- until Nick finds out Emilia’s true intentions.
The novel itself used verbose language and, as is the most annoying (to me) trend, no quotation marks. I also had no idea what the book was supposed to be about, as nothing happened until the novel was nearly over (around the 80% remaining mark). When those final chapters hit, there was terrifying, gory and sensational, in the best way, but I wanted that from the first page, and I did not get it.
The story is told by Nick, in two timelines; his childhood and later when he returns to the farm as an adult. Both storylines focus on farming and hunting, and the verbal and physical abuse suffered by Nick and Joshua at the hands of their father. Although the hunting segment showed its importance in the final pages, I found it really difficult to endure the rest of the story, as nothing of particular interest happened.
The Chinese myth was fascinating, but I wasn’t given enough of it in “Animals”. Instead of a “supernatural horror” as it is depicted, I was left with an atmospheric novel that choked me with its prose and structure.
Pedersen is talented, and she definitely has the vocabulary, so I’m sure this novel will be a hit with some readers, but it definitely isn’t for everyone. I was intrigued enough to finish the story, but it left me wanting. ...more
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publi Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 30, 2024
Nothing ever happens in the small farm town of Fairhill, Vermont. Until the murder of local high school girl, Diana Brewer, that is. When her body is discovered in a local field by an unsuspecting farmer, everyone starts to point fingers and ask questions. Questions that one person in particular does not want answered. Who killed Diana Brewer? Why? Have they killed before? And most importantly, will they kill again?
“What Have You Done?” is the newest pulse-pounding suspense novel from Shari Lapena. To say I’m a fan, both of Lapena and her current novel is an understatement. With the full-throttle tension and epic twists and turns, “Done” is one of her very best.
The entire town of Fairhill, or so it seems, takes turns narrating the novel. In truth, it’s a few of Diana’s friends, her bereaved mother, a few suspects thrown in for good measure and the school principal (even Diana herself makes a cameo posthumously). These characters all play an important role though, and their appearance is necessary, adding the ultimate level of suspense to the powerful plot. Not only are there plenty of possibilities to keep readers guessing, but Lapena takes it one step farther with a paranormal component, just to add another layer of complexity to the bewitching whodunnit.
“Done” is heartbreaking, especially the portions narrated by Diana’s mother and best friends, but it’s also deeply unsettling, entertaining and addicting. The first few pages are focused on the discovery of Diana’s dead body, and it only gets darker and more twisted from there.
I expected that I would be able to guess the ending, as a diehard fan of this genre, and I thought that I had. But Lapena delivers an ending, and then comes back and hits hard with a final twist that left me gasping.
“What Have You Done” should be at the top of your to-read list, especially if you are a Lapena fan. ...more
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publi Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Aug. 13, 2024
Zoje Stage hit it out of the park with “Baby Teeth”, one of my favourite novels from a few years ago. I’ve followed her career religiously since then, adoring “Mothered” and “Getaway” (although they didn’t strike the same chord as “Baby Teeth”). So, imagine my surprise in 2024, when Stage delivers “Dear Hanna”, a SEQUEL to “Baby Teeth”?! Could it be TRUE? Well, I couldn’t read this novel fast enough.
Hanna is now twenty-four years old, wife to real estate agent, Jacob, and stepmother to his daughter, Joelle. After years of residential treatment and intensive therapy, Hanna knows just how to act so that she appears “normal” to other people. In fact, Hanna even admits to loving her stepdaughter and living a content, satisfying life, reaching out to her brother when she needs reassurance and comfort. But when her stepdaughter falls pregnant, Hanna knows that the life she built for herself is about to change forever. As a result of her past, Hanna knows she cannot be trusted around young children, and definitely not fragile babies, but her husband and stepdaughter do not know the secrets of Hanna’s upbringing so how can she return things to the way they were before, without completely uprooting the life she worked to hard to build?
“Dear Hanna” is a sequel, yes, but it can absolutely be read separately. The author herself states that both “Baby Teeth” and “Dear Hanna” do not need to be read together, or in any particular order, and I wholeheartedly agree. “Hanna” has the same characters as “Teeth”, obviously, but this novel takes place decades later so almost everything about Hanna’s circumstances have changed.
Hanna narrates, although each chapter begins with letters between Hanna and her brother (affectionately nicknamed, Goose), where Hanna shares her true thoughts and talks out her plans and schemes without fear of judgment. These letters are crucial to understanding Hanna’s adult character, whether you’ve read “Teeth” or not.
Right away, I guessed the truth about Hanna’s brother. I don’t know if this is because I’ve read “Teeth”, or because I read this genre almost exclusively, but either way, this knowledge did nothing to damper my enjoyment of the plot. I loved every minute of Hanna’s dark and twisted mind and was invested in the outcome from the first page.
This novel is the perfect follow up to “Baby Teeth” and although I find childhood sociopaths slightly more interesting, I can honestly say that I was happy to see Hanna resurface as an adult. Thank you, Stage, for bringing Hanna back into my life! ...more
River Gold left home as a pregnant teenager, desperate to raise her child away from the prese See my full review on www.mysteryandsuspense.com
River Gold left home as a pregnant teenager, desperate to raise her child away from the presence of the Gold family. As the namesake behind the highly successful Gold Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens in Gold Creek, Michigan, the Gold family’s influence was felt everywhere, and she needed to escape it- even if the Gold family refused to accept her as one of their own. Now, River is called back to Gold Creek when her father, the elder Gregory Gold the first, dies in mysterious circumstances. The local sheriff is convinced that someone in the Gold family was behind the murder and his investigation reaches a new high when other bodies start piling up. Then, of course, there’s the old urban legend about the gravedigger who haunts the cemetery on the property. Would the Gold family actually kill one of their own? Or is there more truth behind the urban legend then everyone has been led to believe?
Lisa Childs is a multi-genre, bestselling author of over eighty novels. From contemporary romance, to women’s fiction to stories on the paranormal, there seems to be nothing that Lisa Childs can’t do. Her newest novel, “The House by the Cemetery” is part paranormal, part mystery, part family drama and completely engaging.
The Gold family is quite large, with the wives and ex-wives of the patriarch, as well as all of their combined children and grandchildren, so expect a large cast of characters. As powerful and rich owners of the only funeral home and cemetery in town, the Gold’s (most of them anyway) are shallow, vain and utterly intolerable, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to know who was killing them off, one by one. River is the protagonist, of course, but the novel also shares the perspective of Sarah (River’s daughter) and the local sheriff, as well as a few small passages from the unidentified murderer.
Due to the large cast of characters, there are infinite possibilities as to who (or what) is killing the Gold family members. After a constant journey of twists and turns, Childs delivers an ending that I didn’t see coming.
Toward the end of the novel, a second plotline is introduced, which has been hinted at throughout the novel, which surrounds the mystery of Sarah’s father and what caused his disappearance seventeen years ago. This plot angle is cleverly interwoven with the Gold family mystery, and Childs gives just enough of this one in the final pages to hint at another story with River and Sarah at the helm. I hope this is the case, as I enjoyed the mother-daughter dynamic and I would love to see more from them.
Lisa Childs “Cemetery” has exactly the right amount of intrigue, suspense, family dysfunction and murder, set in a large estate on a creepy cemetery. If you’re looking for a locked-in mystery with an extra dose of creepiness, “The House by the Cemetery” is the perfect choice!...more
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publi Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Aug. 13, 2024
Adam Mitzner is a lawyer and author of ten novels, including his newest, “The Brothers Kenney”. I have to admit that I was unfamiliar with Mitzner before this, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. “Brothers” is a thought-provoking and emotional suspense novel centred around failure, forgiveness and family, and it is a unique read in a class all its own.
Sean Kenney is a former track star, whose only childhood dream was to compete in the Olympics. Now, that dream is unrealized, Sean is divorced and estranged from his family. Until the day his sister calls him to tell him horrible news- Sean’s brother, Michael, has died by suicide. Although estranged from Michael until very recently, Sean is convinced that Michael would never take his own life. Going against the wishes of his own family, Sean chooses to investigate on his own, determined to prove that his brother was murdered. If Sean is wrong, however, he risks losing the family he has left- forever.
Told through Sean’s perspective, “Brothers” touches on deeply emotional and sensitive topics, especially pertaining to suicide. Is Sean in denial, refusing to accept what his family and the police have already decided- that Michael took his life? Or is something else afoot and Sean is the only one who can find out the truth? As the story goes on, both sides could be true, and Mitzner makes sure that the reader is left speculating until the very, twisty, turny, end.
There is some minor financial language that will require some deeper concentration if you are not money-knowledgeable (like me), but it did not deter me from wanting to know how the novel ended. It is relevant, so Mitzner needed to include it, but he summarized it in the easiest way possible, making this particular topic generalizable for readers.
Sean is relatable to anyone who has unrealized dreams. They may not be Olympics-level, but any of Sean’s struggles will touch a nerve with readers. Through it all, however, he is still a character I was invested in and I wanted to succeed. The ending was unexpected and bittersweet, but I felt satisfied in the conclusion of Sean’s plotline.
Overall, Mitzner’s writing is creative and well-developed and the plot is intriguing and unique. I’m not sure how to classify “Brothers”, as it falls somewhere in the family drama/mystery/domestic suspense category, but it is a great read worth exploring! ...more
Special thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expe Special thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Aug. 6, 2024
“A World of Hurt” is the sequel to Mindy Mejia’s novel, “To Catch a Storm”. It follows Iowa Police officer Max Summerlin, who is paired up with young, tattooed, Kara Johnson in order to take down a drug ring, or so they both think.
It has been quite awhile since I read, “To Catch a Storm”, and that story focused mostly on Eve and her psychic partner, Jonah. However, they do make more than a casual appearance in “Hurt”, and I was pleased to see them! Unlike most other novels of this genre, “Hurt” should be read by those who enjoyed, “Storm”, as reading out of order will lead to confusion and less enjoyment than Mejia deserves.
Kara and Max alternate narrating the novel. Kara is young, tattooed and caught up in a circle of drug traffickers that she can’t seem to shake. It’s only with the promise she makes to her girlfriend that she decides to turn a new leaf and work with the police, instead of against them. Max is a long-time police officer with a wife and teenage son and is reluctantly paired up with Kara as part of a covert operation. Both are the exact opposite of each other in every way, yet both are likable and human. Once they learn to trust each other, both Kara and Max make one heck of a team and I loved working the case alongside them!
Although it had been some time since I read “Storm”, Mejia’s creative and skillful writing brought it all back. The seamless flow and character development made her newest novel easy to read, and even harder to put down.
“Hurt” is action-packed and dramatic, with twists and turns on nearly every page. Dead bodies, gun fights and secret identities, “Hurt” has it all. Those who have been waiting for this eagerly anticipated second installment will not be disappointed- Mejia delivers! ...more
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publi Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Aug. 6, 2024
Jo Callaghan’s debut novel, “In the Blink of An Eye” is a fascinating police procedural that is as entertaining as it is modern and relevant.
Kat Frank is a single mother, recently widowed after the death of her husband, John, to cancer. As Kat tries to raise her teenage son, Cam, on her own, she also takes pride in being a DCS with the local police force. As part of a pilot project, Kat is paired with an AI investigator who goes by the name, “Lock”, to help look into cold cases and see what help, if any, an AI assistant can provide. Although Kat is reluctant to accept help from a machine, she soon realizes she will need all the help she can get when two missing persons cold cases are, all of a sudden, not so cold after all.
Callaghan’s “Eye” crosses the police procedural with science-fiction, and the combination is addicting and engaging. The story is narrated in the third person by Kat, although there are segments that are narrated by an unknown victim who is being held captive by the (also unknown) subject that the police force does not know they are supposed to be looking for. By the end of the novel, all the questions are answered but the segments where the victim tells his tale are suspenseful and only add to the mystery.
This, alone, would be enough to secure a firm plotline and an invested reader, but add to that the connection between the murder victims and the fact that Kat’s son meets the same criteria and soon becomes a victim himself and the hits just keep on coming. “Eye” was fast-paced right from the beginning, and it kept me on the edge of my seat.
There are numerous characters in this novel, which provides an ample selection from which to guess the identity of the kidnapper, but the end result was definitely unexpected. As this is a police procedural, there is at least one more book to come (and very likely more), and I found that the main characters in “Eye” were interesting enough that I want to read and learn more about them.
Callaghan’s debut novel is next-level in police investigation, and, no matter your thoughts on AI, “Eye” is captivating and thought-provoking. Creative and fresh, “In the Blink of an Eye” introduces a new police partnership that is unique and is definitely one I will be keeping my eye out for in future works! ...more
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publi Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Aug. 6, 2024
“The Outlier” is the debut novel by author Elisabeth Eaves. Intelligent, witty and razor sharp, this novel is two mysteries tied into one. With a protagonist who is more of an anti-heroine, “The Outlier” is a relevant story riddled with taut suspense and non-stop action.
Cate Winter is a neuroscientist and an entrepreneur. Alongside her business partner, Cate has developed a cure for Alzheimer’s and is on the cusp of selling her company and becoming a multi-millionaire. However, Cate is keeping a big secret. As a child, Cate grew up in the Cleckley Institute, a psychological institution for children with sociopathic tendencies. Although most of her classmates ended up in the prison system there is one other pupil that is similar to Cate- rich, successful and, as far as Cate knows, has stayed out of legal trouble. Cate is desperate to find her peer, in hopes of making a connection and finding someone else who is like her but her quest uncovers far more than Cate ever wanted to know.
“The Outlier” has an intriguing premise and I was immediately interested, especially in all things Cate and the mysterious Cleckley Institute. That being said, there is an alternate storyline in this novel and, although it does connect to Cate in the end and is, on its own, interesting and exciting, the two storylines were very different and made it seem as if I was reading two different novels, right up until the end. I would’ve loved the focus to remain on Cate, the Cleckley Institute and her peers, but Eaves manages to connect the two in a cohesive way by the time the end comes around.
Cate narrates her portions of the novel in the first-person, but we also hear from other characters that help to introduce the second storyline, which involves dying aquatic life and the generation of an alternate energy source. “The Outlier” can get very scientific in parts, but the language is not dense or too intellectual, so the story is able to flow without the reader getting hung up on tricky theories and dialect.
Eaves absolutely did her research with this novel, and it is very evident right from the first page, and her writing is fluid and creative. Although “The Outlier” is a debut, Eaves writing is such that it is difficult to recognize this as a first-time novel. Thought-provoking and intelligent, “The Outlier” is unlike anything I’ve read before. The Cate storyline fascinated me, and I hope to see more of this from Eaves in the future. ...more
Maggie Moore is tattooed, pierced and a bit of a misfit, but she has a way with words and can solve just about any linguistic puzzle. Maggie has helped the local police force before, bringing a stalker-turned-rapist to justice so when the young daughter of a small-town mayor goes missing, Maggie is again asked to assist. However, Maggie feels that this case strikes a little close to home, bringing back reminders of the day when her childhood friend disappeared, and she is reluctant to help. But a little girl’s life may be at stake and everyone is desperate- can Maggie put her own past behind her to save a child’s life?
“Wordhunter” is smart and well-formed and Maggie gives off solid Lisbeth Salander vibes, with her tattoos and her brilliance. Right away, I was pulled into this novel, trying to solve the crimes alongside Maggie, and rooting for her eccentricities and talents.
I thoroughly enjoyed the puzzle solving component of this novel, as well as the police investigation and the kidnapping. There is a storyline that revolves around Maggie’s professor, which, although suspenseful and powerful, seemed irrelevant to the story. Socially awkward loner Maggie is recruited by two female friends who we haven’t before met, to go after a professor for reasons I won’t give away. Right around this part of the novel, Maggie’s conversational style changed, and it seemed that “Wordhunter” was going on an entirely different path. Once this storyline had been solved, I was pleased to return to the puzzle and crime solving aspect.
The novel hints that a second story, and possibly more, are incoming and I hope that that is the case. Although some of the conversations are simplistic and rudimentary, and some of the plotlines don’t quite fit, I think with some careful tweaking, Maggie and her wordhunting ways would be something I’d keep reading! ...more
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publi Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Aug. 6, 2024
Bad things always happen in threes. Or so the superstition goes. But in this case, there just might be some truth to it. Three girls, who lose both of their parents and then their only sibling, three years apart. Then, the girls mysteriously die, too. Unless one of them tries to stop it. But how do you stop something that no one believes even exists?
“The Rule of Three” by Sam Ripley is a slow-burn and it took awhile for me to get invested in the plot. In fact, as the ending drew closer, I worried that the plot would not be resolved, as it seemed there was too little left of the story to tie up loose ends. Ripley was able to assuage my anxiety, however. The final third of this novel packed more of a dramatic, tense punch than the first two thirds, but the urban legend component is what kept me going through to the end. I needed to know what happened to all of the girls and their families, and find out who was behind it (if anyone at all).
The story is narrated by three protagonists (of course), Amy, Ila and Eve, who each take their turn telling their own story. These three young women, suffering immeasurable grief and loss, are all different and yet terribly alike in the worst ways, but all of them are relatively likable and easy to build a rapport with. There is a plethora of supporting characters to add to the who-dunnit suspense, but the final reveal still managed to be shocking and unexpected.
“Three” was part twist-and-turn tension and part slow simmering thriller. Ripley’s writing takes some getting used to, at least in this novel, but if you can make it through to the final few chapters, Ripley makes it worth your while.
Sam Ripley is a new author for me, but I wasn’t about to pass up a novel about urban legends come to life. “The Rule of Three” is an intriguing concept, and, I have to admit, the premise captured my attention from the jump. I enjoyed the characters and their emotional journeys through tragic grief and loss, and the novel did flow well, with each portion of the novel clearly separated and labeled by narrator. It would have been easy to give up on this novel after the first half, but it was worth pulling through. ...more
Special thanks to NetGalley and the author for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publica Special thanks to NetGalley and the author for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 30, 2024
After Estela’s parents are killed in a mysterious subway accident, she is sent to live with her estranged aunt in a gothic castle in Spain, named la Sombra. Suffering from survivor’s guilt and immense grief, Estela is clinging to the only thing she has left- determining what killed her parents. Surrounded by strangers in a strange place where she doesn’t speak the language, Estela begins to notice strange things about la Sombra, including a silver-eyed young man that only Estela can see. As Estela questions her sanity more mysteries about the castle pile up until the only thing Estela can do is find out the truth, even if it means risking everything she has left.
Romina Garber's gothic, YA thriller, “Castle of the Cursed” is perfect for fans of “City of Bones” and “Twilight”. After losing everything, our young protagonist is faced with a new environment, living among strangers, where she seeks the truth of who she is and finds romance along the way. Garber fully embraces Estela’s Spanish history and culture, as many portions of the novel (mostly conversations and literature) are written in Spanish (translated to English underneath), which is both refreshing and unique. Garber fully embraces Estela as a Latinx protagonist, and this will definitely serve her well, reaching out to a more diverse YA audience.
There are many mixed reviews to this novel and I can understand why. The beginning of the novel was slow to start as I could not connect with the main character (although I felt for her) and I struggled to make sense of what was happening. The Spanish castle, however, is terribly spooky and it was the absolute perfect setting for this creepy novel. The creativity of Garber’s living, castle is unmatched. There is a vampire, of course, as well as spirit possession and alternate universes, so Garber certainly has something for everyone.
Beyond the castle itself, “Castle of the Cursed” is not particularly unique, but it was a decent read. I was invested enough in the characters by the time I got to the mid-point that I wanted to find out how they fared. A lot of the action happened in the last third of the novel, so it was an easy journey to the ending after this. I have not read Garber before, but she is a relatively new author who is just finding her footing in the world of fiction writing, but it is obvious that she is a natural writer. “Cursed” will appeal to the audience for whom Garber is targeting, and I am intrigued enough to want to read more. ...more
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publi Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 23, 2024
A thrilling novel about familial sociopathy? Could Minka Kent actually be writing a novel just for me? Well, of course not, but “Imaginary Strangers” is a knock-me-down, blow-me-away, five-star page-turner and I couldn’t get enough.
Camille Prescott was diagnosed as a sociopath as a young child and after spending her formative years under the unloving and malicious care of her biological mother, Camille has severed all ties and is now living a full life of her own, as a wife and mother. Although she thought she put the past behind her, Camille’s daughter, Georgie, comes home from kindergarten telling stories and singing songs from Camille’s childhood, things that no one else knew except Camille and her mother. Then, Georgie starts talking about her new “friend” and Camille’s worst fear comes to life- has her biological mother returned and is she set on destroying Camille’s happiness once and for all?
The first section of the novel is a prologue, describing the formative event in Camille’s childhood that led her to leave her mother behind once and for all. From there, we get hints of Camille’s childhood through her chats with her psychologist and, occasionally, Camille’s own memories. Kent slowly teases readers by revealing one small detail at a time, and I was instantly hooked.
Could it be Camille’s mother, back to cause harm? Could it be something entirely innocuous? Could it be someone else, working for Camille’s mother? The possibilities for this novel were vast, but Kent seems to hone in on just the right plot points at just the right time, creating a taut, action-packed, well-flowing story. The ending made so much sense that it seemed to be the only way that Kent possibly would’ve went and, even though I did not figure it out as easily as I expected to, I was so excited when I discovered that this novel was the beginning in a series. More Camille? Um, yes please, where do I sign up?
Broken homes, mental illness, addiction, sociopathy, even Venus fly traps, “Imaginary Strangers” has all of this and more. This is a novel I plowed through in one day, because I just could not stop. I am anxiously awaiting more from Kent, and more from Camille! Bring on the second novel! ...more
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publi Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 2, 2024
“Death in a Lonely Place” is the second novel in the Jake Jackson police procedural series by Stig Abell. In “Place”, Jake is now a permanent resident in the small idyllic country village of Caelum Parvum, spending time caring for his chickens and living off the grid in the small home named Little Sky while maintaining a relationship with local vet, Livia. Although officially retired from the police force, Jake can’t seem to put the detective side of him to bed, and he finds himself embroiled in yet another investigation. A case from Jake’s past resurfaces and soon, Jake finds himself embroiled in the shady world of “No Taboo”, a clandestine group of uber wealthy elites, where anything they desire can be bought and sold, no matter how legal it is. Desperate to find out who’s behind No Taboo, and how to end it, Jake once again puts his life at risk to find the answers to questions important people do not want him asking.
Abell’s first Jake Jackson novel, “Death Under a Little Sky”, introduced readers to Jake Jackson and his reclusive ways. I thoroughly enjoyed “Sky”, the community and Jake’s off-the-grid ways, and was thrilled that Abell once again brought Little Sky to life with a new story. Like most police procedurals, “Place” is a novel you can read as a stand-alone, but it is best experienced as a series, read in order.
No Taboo is a terrifying group of super wealthy, uber elites who can have anything they want, including murder and any level of sexual gratification (with any gender or age), for the right place. Although for the sake of this story, this group is fictional, it is not much of a stretch to see the believability and realism in this group, which made me root for its demise even more. Jake and Livia have returned in this novel, now in a more permanent relationship, but there are some new characters that Jake introduces through his investigation, and I hope to be seeing more of them in future works as well!
It is difficult to make police procedurals stand out, as their layout is pretty much the same, but Abell has managed to do so. Little Sky and its community, off the grid and cut off from the world, is unique and Jake, and his reclusive ways, is a strong protagonist that is relatable and humble. This novel delivered an unexpected twist at the end as well, which took me by surprise. Abell brought the plot lines in “Place” to a succinct and complete conclusion, while still leaving just enough to tease readers for his next Jake Jackson novel, which I can’t wait to read. ...more
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