Fifteen years after fleeing Memphis in the dead of night, Mitch and Abby McDeere are finally back in the United States living in Manhattan. After spenFifteen years after fleeing Memphis in the dead of night, Mitch and Abby McDeere are finally back in the United States living in Manhattan. After spending some time flitting from island to island, they landed in London where Mitch took a job with the renowned law firm, Scully & Pershing, where he’s now proud to say he’s a fully fledged partner in the New York office. One of the world’s largest international law firms, they represent clients from all over the globe, including a few that take him far from home.
So when his boss asks him meet with the head of their Italian division, Mitch is happy to jet off to Rome without a second thought. It is there, however, that a huge request is made. Will Mitch do an old man a favor and take over a case for him based in the perilous deserts of Libya? Eager for a little adventure, Mitch agrees and finds himself in the middle of a land held by an unpredictable regime and warlords who circle like carnivores licking their chops.
Not twenty-four hours after entering the country, however, Mitch is in the hospital and his colleague has been kidnapped by a shadowy enemy. Suddenly, and without his knowledge, he’s been caught in the net of a nefarious plot. And much like his time at Bendini, Lambert & Locke, Mitch realizes that he and everyone around him are in very real jeopardy. Of course, he’s been in this position before—but will he be able to outsmart yet another dangerous opponent? Or has he met his match in the ultimate chess game that could leave his life in peril once more?
Unlike The Firm, which had ratcheting suspense and an epic climax followed by a near perfect conclusion, The Exchange instead felt more like John Grisham was simply phoning it in. Don’t get me wrong, it had his characteristic flair for building suspense, but that was only found within the first third of the book. From there on out, the plot was one meeting after another where very little seemed to get done.
But let me start with the pluses first, though, shall I? First of all, I was swept up right from the start by the international intrigue and overhanging threat of doing business in Libya. Fast-paced and well-written, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. When it finally did, I was on the edge of my seat flipping pages faster and faster—for the first third, that is. And the fact that it was told via multiple, omniscient POVs? Well, it couldn’t have been better.
Another aspect I thoroughly enjoyed was the inclusion of Mitch’s past in Memphis. Personally, I would’ve preferred for the saga that started in The Firm to continue into this sequel, but then, you can’t get everything you want, can you? Frankly, however, the direction in which the plot was headed was gripping and filled with tension, but, unfortunately, it just didn’t last.
Now onto what didn’t quite work, starting with the lack of any big twists or even any kind of resolution to who was behind the abduction plot to begin with. I mean, when I reached the final page, I actually said, “Wait, that’s it?” as it felt as though a final chapter was missing from the book. In all honesty, this one felt much more like a dry version of a crime fiction novel where the internal work is being done than anything like a legal thriller at all.
All said and done, this Grisham novel just didn’t do it for me. There were so many opportunities for a thoroughly epic game of cat-and-mouse, yet instead it all felt sadly anticlimactic and underwhelming. At the same time, parts of the plot were entirely plausible as individuals attempted to raise monies from unwilling sources. However, with little action and almost no character development, my disappointment was palpable. That being said, if you’re a lover of Grisham’s prior novels, I would still give this one a go, just don’t expect a heart-pounding, hair-raising journey around the globe. Rating of 3 stars (due in large part to the first one hundred pages).
Thank you to John Grisham and Doubleday Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Mitch McDeere is about to graduate third in his class from Harvard Law School. Now his goal is finding the best job with the most eye-watering salary Mitch McDeere is about to graduate third in his class from Harvard Law School. Now his goal is finding the best job with the most eye-watering salary and benefits that he can. So when he has secured not one but three offers from exclusive law firms in New York City and Chicago, he believes his future is on the fast track to success. Just the same, an offer from the small but lucrative firm of Bendini, Lambert & Locke in Memphis, Tennessee has gotten him curious, so he agrees to an interview with the partners on a whim.
When he meets with them face-to-face just months before his graduation, the offer they make is truly a dream come true. Instead of having to wait years for the big money and amazing benefits, they’re offering everything right from the start. Granted, his follow up visit to the law firm’s headquarters gives both Mitch and his wife, Abby, somewhat of an uneasy feeling, but who could possibly walk away from this chance of a lifetime.
Once in town, the couple finds themselves living in a home they never thought they could afford so soon and driving a BMW that Mitch adores. But just as quickly as his life seems to be ticking off all of his desires, he’s approached by FBI Special Agent Wayne Tarrance. It seems that the firm Mitch has ensconced himself within is in the middle of a harrowing investigation that links his employer with none other than that of the Mafia.
Not exactly the gleaming pinnacle of ethics that he had hoped for, Mitch finds himself in a nightmare of his own making. Now the freshly minted, strait-laced attorney must pit his own smarts and principles against that of his bosses. He is not, however, the first to do this dance with the firm and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Chess move after chess move, Mitch must watch his own back. After all, if he’s not careful, he just might not make it out alive.
Having watched the movie adaptation of The Firm, which starred none other than Tom Cruise as Mitch McDeere, I generally knew what to expect from the book. What I was unprepared for, however, was the perfect plotting, convincing characters, and one thoroughly epic game of cat-and-mouse.
Starting at the top, I do have to say that while each of the characters were genuine and true-to-life, they were hardly engaging. Told in a round robin way via multiple, omniscient POVs, every perspective was covered. At the same time, though, it was delivered in a someway dry manner that kept me from really connecting with any of them along the way. Don’t get me wrong, I was rooting for Mitch and Abby every step of their journey, but their sense of desperation was missing just a tad.
What I absolutely loved, however, was the dynamite plot filled with one astounding twist after another. How Mitch could stay one step ahead of the game was beyond me, but I was fully invested just the same. Even better, I loved the fact that Grisham managed to explain the goings on without getting too bogged down in legal jargon or the extremely complicated illegal acts. Did I need to pay a bit more attention than I normally do in a thriller? Well, yes, but much of that was due to how fast-paced the whole book felt.
With dynamic, sharp writing that had me sitting beside Mitch in his office or getting off of a plane in the Caymans, it was imbued with palpable tension throughout. What really got me, though, was how downright plausible it all felt. A legal thriller that raced along with nary a courtroom in sight, my fingers flew as fast as they possibly could. And that climax! What can I say? I could almost hear the building tempo of the music playing around me.
There were some flies in the ointment, however. First off, it was obvious that this was written by a man in the very early 90s. With plenty of skirt chasing that included some rather sexist descriptions as well as an all too unenlightened view on race, the white, elite, Southern views rolled off of this one in spades. Granted, those were the kinds of individuals this plot centered around, but the book didn’t have to adopt them as well. I’m hoping that had it been written today, much of that would’ve been toned down. But then, you never really know, do you?
Secondly, while not a huge problem for me, the descriptions were often too long and with details that were unnecessary for the plot. Due to this, a good quarter of the over 400 pages could probably have been shaved off without damaging the storyline in the least. Did it greatly affect my opinion? No, not really, but I still found myself skimming here and there.
Ultimately, partly because a few things that were changed when it was adapted into a movie, I highly recommend reading this one before diving into the much anticipated sequel, The Exchange. A clever, original storyline packed with plenty of suspense, one gut-churning chase, and more mind games than you could ever imagine, I’m now eager to find out what Mitch has been up to for the last fifteen years. So while the movie is not one to be missed, I definitely suggest checking out the book first. After all, I, for one, had an absolute blast. Rating of 4 stars.
Temporarily back in her home town of Cedar Grove, Tracy and Dan have taken refuge from their Redmond home while it is being demolished and rebuilt. WhTemporarily back in her home town of Cedar Grove, Tracy and Dan have taken refuge from their Redmond home while it is being demolished and rebuilt. While there are plenty of bad memories attached to her childhood home, Tracy has begun to move beyond them now that she has had her young daughter, Daniella.
But when she just so happens to run into the town sheriff, Roy Calloway, while out on the town with Dan, Tracy is tempted by why he’s back in uniform. After all, he’d retired after all that had happened following the retrial of Tracy’s sister’s murderer. As it turns out, however, the recent death of the current sheriff’s wife has resulted in Calloway needing to put back on his spurs. Now that’s she’s back, Tracy just happens to be in the right place at the right time. Can she help him get to the bottom of it once and for all?
Meanwhile, Dan is looking into a potential fraud going on in Cedar Grove. It appears that the town’s much needed revitalization might be hiding a darker truth. But when Dan and Tracy’s investigations overlap, a new danger emerges. One that will bring back a long-buried unsolved murder and plenty of ghosts. Between the two of them, can they figure it all out before it’s too late? Or is Tracy’s new family already resigned to a deadly fate?
Where to begin? In typical Robert Dugoni style, A Cold Trail was quite the ride. Packed to the gills with plenty of secrets, lies, and dirty deeds, this winding tale of two interconnected cases blew me away. Back in Tracy’s childhood hometown of Cedar Grove, an old murder has reared its ugly head just as Dan is trying a fraud case. The entire time, I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out how the two could possibly meet, but when the revelation was finally made, I have to admit that I was floored. Even better, it felt completely plausible and true-to-life.
Probably my favorite aspect of this and any Tracy Crosswhite novel, though, was Tracy herself. This time around, her character grew even more as she became a mother to baby Daniella. Finally showing a bit of emotion, it rounded her out and humanized her even more. Where her detective skills gave her teeth, motherhood gave her a certain amount of warmth. But have no fear, Tracy’s guts and force of nature were still in great supply.
As for the plot, my only issue were the rather dry descriptions of the fraud behind Dan’s case. Intrinsically linked to the ultimate conclusion, it was, frustratingly, rather over my head and I found myself floundering to focus on the salient points. Thankfully, it was explained several times and I eventually figured it all out, but it was a definite struggle to be sure.
I can’t forget to mention, however, that home run of a climax. Delivered at just the right moment after the ever ratcheting suspense came to its apex, I raced through the pages just wanting to know how it would end. Surely Tracy would go unharmed, after all there are three more books in the series (so far), but you never know, right? Following it up, the conclusion was the perfect mix of happily ever after and unfinished business leading masterfully up to book number eight, which I already can’t wait to read.
All said and done, this thrilling police procedural was expertly mixed with just right amount of legal thriller. I never know what I’m going to get out of a Dugoni novel other than being sure that it will be a breathtaking ride. Unputdownable, complex, and with a doozy of a twist, this one absolutely did not disappoint. Already an auto-buy author of mine, A Cold Trail only cemented that fact even more. So if you haven’t dipped your toe into this series yet, take this as your siren’s song to do just that. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Trigger warning: arson, drinking and driving, alcoholism, fraud, blackmail, abortion, suicide, death by gunshot...more
Ten years ago, Alex Quinlan was the lone survivor of a horrendous crime that left her parents and brother dead. Found holding the shotgun that killed Ten years ago, Alex Quinlan was the lone survivor of a horrendous crime that left her parents and brother dead. Found holding the shotgun that killed them, she was quickly deemed responsible for the crime by the police. Even worse, she was nicknamed Empty Eyes after her perp walk following her arrest, a story that rapidly took on a life of its own. After being left to rot in a juvenile detention center and being vilified by the press, Alex sued and won a defamation lawsuit after eventually being cleared in the case.
Now, after working hard to leave the scared little girl in the dust, Alex has found a new life. With a new name and a job as legal investigator, she has begun to finally find her way in the world. She has not, however, forgotten that her family’s massacre has gone unsolved. Determined to root out the perpetrators, she has tried and failed over the years to close the case herself. All the while skirting the often frenzied true crime buffs and reporters who still, after all these years, are insistent that she is guilty of the crime.
But when she learns of the case against new client, Matthew Claymore, something feels not quite right about the facts. Suspected in the disappearance of his girlfriend, Laura McAllister, the old adage that it’s always the partner just might not be true this time. At least from Alex’s perspective. A student journalist who was about to come forward with a shocking story about a blatant cover-up of sexual assault on her university campus, there must be plenty of people happy to see Laura, even temporarily, silenced.
As Alex begins to dig into the case, one startling revelation after another comes to the surface. From the faculty to the fraternities, everyone seems to have something to hide. What Alex is not prepared to learn, however, is that Laura’s disappearance may just have an unexpected connection to the tragic deaths of her own family. How can this be? And what does it mean for Alex?
Holy guacamole! I honestly don’t know if I can express how utterly perfect Those Empty Eyes was from start to finish. A complicated combination of psychological thriller, legal thriller, and crime fiction, this novel had me from hello. Even better, the hefty doses of red herrings, jaw-dropping twists, and epic subplots left me reeling throughout.
Starting off with a bombshell first chapter told from the murderer’s POV, it was followed up by a constantly morphing storyline that demonstrated a plot that only a master could’ve created. Well-written and expertly organized, the meandering story took me across ten years and two continents following a truly magnificent protagonist. Through it, Alex transformed from a innocent young child clearly in shock into a strong, unstoppable character that I wholeheartedly fell in love with.
While this novel was one epic stand-alone novel, there’s a huge part of me crossing my fingers that it’s just book one of a series. After all, there were quite a few characters within these pages that would provide quite the ongoing story. From the fearless legal investigator turned private eye to the determined FBI agent who investigates politicians, I’d be thrilled to follow either of them almost anywhere. Even better, they’re not the only two, so please, Mr. Donlea, say it’s so!
If there was one microscopic flaw, though, it was the altogether massive character list. Given the long timeline, it wasn’t surprising, but if I hadn’t taken notes, I might have gotten a tad bit confused. Despite this, however, I honestly wouldn’t change a thing as it gave me the ultimate rollercoaster ride from the first page until the very last.
All said and done, I simply could not put this one down. Guaranteed to bust any reading slump, it was certainly filled with nerve-shredding dread. The first I’ve read by Donlea, I’m over-the-moon to see he has quite the back list of books. So now I just need to figure out which one to grab next because I most certainly have become a hardcore fan! Rating of 5+ stars.
Trigger warning: shooting deaths, blackmail, sexual assault, being roofied, child pornography, strangulation, carbon monoxide poisoning, pedophilia, mention of: suicide...more
Until recently, Lizzie Kitsakis was an underpaid but well fulfilled federal prosecutor working to stop fraud in its tracks. But that was before her woUntil recently, Lizzie Kitsakis was an underpaid but well fulfilled federal prosecutor working to stop fraud in its tracks. But that was before her world with her handsome, journalist turned writer husband Sam fell apart before her eyes. Now, she finds herself burning the midnight oil at the very sort of corporate law firm she never thought she’d find herself working for just trying to put money in the bank.
So when Lizzie gets a phone call from her old law school friend, Zach Grayson, late that night, it can’t be a good thing. It surely isn’t to catch up or reminisce. No, he’s been arrested and is being held at the notorious Rikers Island without bail. But that’s not even the worst news. For Zach’s wife was found dead at the base of their stairs and the police have their sights firmly set on him as their one and only suspect in her murder. All Zach knows is that Lizzie is the one person he can trust. Will she please take his case?
As the noose tightens around Zach’s neck, Lizzie begins to delve into the Graysons’ world. But the more she learns, the more she begins to realize that nothing is as it seems and even the wealthy, picture perfect couple were hiding a few secrets. On top of that, the glittery crowd to which the couple belonged are hiding plenty of their own. Can Lizzie get Zach out of this troubling situation? Or is he not quite as innocent as he seems? Marriage is never perfect, after all, but can it also be deadly?
Holy cannoli! What a truly epic bookA Good Marriage was! Now I’m left wracking my brain for why it has taken me so long to read one of Kimberly McCreight’s novels. All I know is, it certainly won’t be my last.
So what was quite so mind-blowing about this one? Well, just for starters, the characters and their development were top-notch. Both wholly believable and ingeniously true-to-life, I could see this entire premise playing out for the public on one of those delicious true crime shows. Maybe with just a bit of extra flare for the twists and turns that every good psychological thriller is known for, but that’s only another plus, right?
Next up was the certifiably unguessable bad guy. Despite my serious armchair sleuthing attempts, I came up with exactly nada. Not even a flicker of an idea as to who could be behind the murder. Still better, when the truth finally was revealed, it slotted perfectly into place without even an iota of it being a step too far. No, instead I felt shocked that I had missed it in the first place.
Need one more reason to read this book? Well, ok, if you insist. From the gradually escalating tension that raised the stakes with every page to the perfectly intertwined dual POVs and timelines, this book was both well-written and beautifully organized. I don’t quite know how the author pulled it off, but I want to thank her from the bottom of my heart for the amazeballs ride this book took me on.
So, if you are like me and have yet to delve into the fantastic mind of Ms. McCreight, take this review as your impetus to do so ASAP. I have no doubt that your brain will thank you. Rating of 5+ stars.
Keera Duggan has recently switched sides of the law. Formerly a rising star in the Seattle prosecutor’s office, she was forced to leave and join her fKeera Duggan has recently switched sides of the law. Formerly a rising star in the Seattle prosecutor’s office, she was forced to leave and join her family law firm after a relationship with a colleague went south. Not exactly thrilled by the change in scenery, Keera finds herself back in the belly of family drama which mainly centers around her father’s lifelong alcoholism.
Determined to wet her feet now that she’s a defense attorney, Keera’s excited to prove herself after being hired by the prominent and wealthy Vincent LaRussa. Charged with the senseless murder of his handicapped wife, Anne, he is adamant that he has nothing to do with her death. Unfortunately, however, the case against him appears to be a slam dunk.
After all, it seems that Anne believed that Vince had been cheating on her, which may have been leading to a rather vicious divorce. On top of that, the circumstantial evidence against Vince places him squarely in the frame for Anne’s murder and he faces the very real chance of ending up behind bars for life.
Only adding to Keera’s worries, however, is who will be prosecuting Vince’s case. Miller Ambrose, an arrogant yet highly successful attorney in the prosecutor’s office also happens to be Keera’s former lover. The very same one that led her to switch to defending clients instead of prosecuting them. Now, he’s all but too hungry to get back at Keera by destroying her in court.
But as the case gets going and Keera begins to try to piece together the evidence, a deadly game is revealed. It seems someone out there may have information pertinent to her case. Are they trying to help or hurt her chances in the courtroom? Suddenly, however, Keera’s faced with some bombshell information which turns the entire case upside down and she must decide how it fits into the bigger picture. Because the deeper she gets into the puzzle of what happened that night in June, the more she realizes that the price of winning just might be too high.
Holy cannoli! What a stunningly good bookHer Deady Game was! While I was already an avid fan of Robert Dugoni’s Tracy Crosswhite series, this novel was truly a work of art. Between the family dynamics at play and the truly epic plot, I was blown away. Even better, the character development was top-notch, crafting wholly believable and three-dimensional individuals that felt fully fleshed out.
I was also particularly partial to the riddle of a case that was at the center of the plot. Entirely unguessable, I raced through the pages (reading altogether too late just to learn what happened) surprised time and time again by the twists and turns. Addictive and perfectly paced, this was absolutely my favorite by Dugoni to date. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tracy dearly, but Keera’s the ultimate female protagonist in my opinion. Fierce, dogged, and sharp, she gets the job done and I am crossing my fingers that this is just the start of her literary journey.
As I closed the book (with a definite book hangover), I was left unbelievably satisfied. Especially since I had absolutely no clue where this ride was taking me. But between some superlative courtroom drama on top of a healthy pinch of delicious police procedural action, Her Deadly Game was the epitome of perfection.
Quite frankly, I honestly don’t know how it could possibly have been improved and I can only imagine that no one but Dugoni could have pulled it off. I’m already eagerly awaiting book two in what I pray is a new series by this literary master. If you’re searching for a new first-rate legal thriller, look no further. You’ve found it. Rating of 5+ stars.
Scroll for my trigger warning if you don’t mind a potential spoiler…
The Sophie Foundation is thought highly of in the charity world. It is known as a champion of women’s health and empowerment. And perhaps the larger cThe Sophie Foundation is thought highly of in the charity world. It is known as a champion of women’s health and empowerment. And perhaps the larger charity does just that. But the seven woman committee who meet on the second Tuesday of every month…they have an rather more extreme stance on the type of help they administer. Seeing themselves as jury, judge, and executioner all wrapped up into one, they take justice into their own hands, making sure appallingly behaved men finally pay for their actions.
Jessa Hall is a high-priced divorce attorney for the wealthy movers and shakers of the D.C. Metro area. And, while she doesn’t love her job, she does believe the system works properly majority of the time. So when she’s asked to act as guardian ad litem for Curtis Bartholomew, she takes her position seriously. She doesn’t, however, realize just how different the rules are for someone like Curtis’s father, Darren. Until it’s too late.
As the walls begin to close in around her, Jessa is invited to join The Sophie Foundation. And, while she understands that what she’s signing up for is far from legal, she is willing to try almost anything to take her power back from a situation that is both unfair and unfounded. And tied tightly to the boy’s club who runs the city, specifically Darren Bartholomew.
Agreeing to the terms, she finds herself a probationary member. Once she is on the inside, however, Jessa realizes just how much danger she’s in…and how impossible it is to get out. So she turns to the one individual who might be able to help her. Former friend turned enemy, Gabby Fielding. Gabby herself has focused her attention on the Sophie Foundation as she has dug around in the death of her ex-husband Baines, another wealthy, influential man who died suddenly. Just like a handful of others. A death Gabby is sure wasn’t suicide. Together, they decide to do what neither can do alone. To take down the foundation. Just because they need each other, however, hardly means either one trusts the other. Or that both will live to tell the tale.
I keep wondering when my streak of phenomenal books is going to end. Well, it certainly won’t be with The Last Invitation. Centering around revenge, justice, men behaving badly, and female empowerment (albeit done in an abhorrent, illegal way), nothing is missing from this novel. And there’s nothing that is gratuitous. From the opening quote, I was in love with the newest work from Darby Kane and, throughout this nearly 400 page book, that admiration only grew. I mean, even the last chapter didn’t disappoint, finally wrapping everything up with a neat, satisfying, little bow.
One of the most interesting aspects of the plot was my constantly switching allegiances that changed just as many times as there were twists (big, gigantic twists). In the beginning, my antipathy was with fired squarely at the Sophie Foundation and the vigilante squad in the background. But as the storyline evolved, becoming more complex and elaborate (have no fear, at no point is it confusing), I found myself both supporting them as well as finding myself disturbed by their actions. Both can easily also be said for Jessa and Gabby’s characters as well. What a certainly pleasant “problem” to have.
Now onto the subject matter of the book. Despite tackling some truly heavy topics of divorce, sexual assault, molestation, spousal abuse, and the men behaving badly behind it all (please see the trigger warning), it was easy to love this book. As, especially since the “Me Too” movement, it was nice reading about women who stand up for both themselves and their beliefs. Even if it is in a slightly (ok, very) illegal manner…and fictional.
To be blunt, this was a damn good novel. One that I already wish I could read again for the first time. Fast-paced and compulsively addictive, it reminded me of a cross between All Her Little Secrets (the law aspect) and Please Join Us (the women’s empowerment angle). And comparison to either is high praise. If you haven’t read Kane’s newest yet, put it on your TBR. Now. Rating of 5+ starts.
Trigger warning: divorce, death of a parent, infidelity, spousal abuse, mention of: grooming, molestation, sexual assault...more
Cassie Quinn, member of the obscenely wealthy Stockton-Quinn family, receives an urgent phone call from her older brother, Nate. She is floored to heaCassie Quinn, member of the obscenely wealthy Stockton-Quinn family, receives an urgent phone call from her older brother, Nate. She is floored to hear that Billy, her younger brother, has been accused of and arrested for raping his ex-girlfriend, Diana Holly. All of the Quinns, knowing that she’s a compulsive liar who has been violent and manipulative in the past, wonder if this is just another way to pay Billy back for whatever slight she may have imagined this time.
The case, however, isn’t quite so cut and dry. Because Billy Quinn is white, handsome, rich, and athletic, which all adds up to one thing in the eyes of the public…he’s a guilty, entitled jock who took what he wanted regardless of whether or not he heard yes. And this combination is known to lead to convictions unaffected by the defendant’s guilt or innocence.
Banding together, the members of the Quinn family are determined to keep the youngest golden boy out of prison. But as the media catches hold of the story, the Quinns finds themselves battling one against the other, all thinking they know how to protect Billy the best. Especially Cassie. Will her devotion to exonerating her brother result in all of her secrets coming to light? And, most importantly, is Billy truly innocent?
I’m left somewhat speechless by this book. And not necessarily in a good way. First off, When We Were Bright and Beautiful is not really as advertised on the book jacket. It’s so much more… More uncomfortable. More disturbing. And more harrowing. I’m not sure if this was Jillian Medoff’s goal or just the by-product of a plot full of deeply distressing topics. Ultimately, however, this most certainly was not what I was expecting.
The storyline starts off introducing us to the Quinn clan: entitled, rich, elitist snobs who do not recognize the privilege they have. They are probably, to a certain degree, slightly histrionic portrayals of some über wealthy individuals (though I can definitely think of people in society like this, cough cough, Leona Helmsley). Medoff, however, was still somehow able to make them feel authentic and genuine. Then about two-thirds of the way through, the story morphs from one thing into something else entirely. Something even more uncomfortable. And one I completely didn’t see coming (major plus for shock value of the twist). It wasn’t until after I put the book down that I was able to retrace the plot in my head and spot the clues.
Something that another reviewer said in their critique, which I didn’t quite understand until I started reading, was that there were too many words for the story being told. Too many descriptions of unimportant details. Too many side stories. And too much background. Despite this, I was impressed with how, even with all of the characters being equally unlikeable, I still found myself rooting for Cassie. Handed a truly raw deal she, in the end, became a much more complex character than I originally thought. Fundamentally, however, I really wasn’t thrilled with the slut-shaming victim blaming (if you have any experience with sexual assault of any kind: Do. Not. Read. This. Book). Finally, although the trial is not the epic legal battle I was anticipating, it was, in my estimation from watching some Court TV here and there, extremely realistic without being tedious.
All said and done, I have to give this book props for a startling twist (albeit disturbing). And, once past the halfway point in particular, I found myself flipping pages faster and faster to find out how this uncomfortable story ends. I think this played a big part in the rating I ended up giving. Ultimately, When We Were Bright and Beautiful is a profoundly difficult read of lies, secrets, and the destruction of a formerly solid family. Most unsettling of all is how realistic the entire scenario truly is. Do I recommend it? If the idea of the plot taking an even darker turn doesn’t bother you, then ambivalently yes. Rating of 2.5 stars.
Trigger warning: violent sexual assault (duh), molestation, drug and alcohol use, stalking, gaslighting, death of a parent, addiction...more
A female attorney finds her dead boss, who also happens to be her married lover, dead in his office of an apparent suicide. Offered his job, she quickA female attorney finds her dead boss, who also happens to be her married lover, dead in his office of an apparent suicide. Offered his job, she quickly discovers a rampant conspiracy taking place within the walls of a company built on racism. Will she be able to uncover the truth before she’s either charged with murder or killed herself?
Ellice Littlejohn comes into work early one morning for a private “meeting” with her boss/lover, Executive VP and General Counsel for Houghton Transportation, Michael Sayles. Entering his office she finds him shot in the head and, without thinking twice, she turns and runs away, leaving someone else to report his body. Why? Because she’s been hiding a collection of secrets, most dating back to her childhood in rural Chillicothe, Georgia. Secrets she’s worked hard to bury and keep hidden since she was a teenager.
”Every lie you tell, every secret you keep, is a fragile little thing that must be protected and accounted for. One misstep, one miscalculation, and your safe little treasures can topple the perfect life you’ve built around them.”
Not twenty-four hours later, however, the Houghton’s CEO offers her Michael’s job. But when the police reveal that what appeared to be a suicide was actually murder, Michael’s widow enlists her to dig into some of her husband’s business. Ellice realizes, perhaps too late, that she’s trapped in an impossible ethical and moral situation and that, somehow, her brother Sam has become entangled in the conspiracy as well. Racing to discover the truth before anyone else gets hurt, Ellice’s past and present collide and her secrets may be revealed after her lies begin to catch up with her.
Wanda M. Morris’s debut novel is a suspenseful, yet eye-opening, legal thriller right up there with the illustrious John Grisham. Fast-paced and captivating, the reader is taken on twists and turns as Ellice tries to discover the details of the conspiracy looking to swallow her carefully reinvented life whole. Not just a strong thriller,All Her Little Secrets explores what it means to be Black and female in corporate America and the only person of color in the room. I’m not deluded enough to think that I caught every racist remark or action that Ellice and her brother Sam endured or how being a Black woman influenced her decisions, so it was enlightening to talk to friends who had also read this book for their thoughts. For that as well as the pure entertainment value, I strongly recommend it for book club reads. In addition to the nail-biting storyline, it brings to light revelations that are necessary for those of us privileged enough not to experience both “polite” and overt racism.
What makes this book truly spectacular, however, is that, on top of being a novel unapologetically discussing Black culture with astounding epiphanies for non-POC readers, it is a first-rate legal thriller packed full of suspense, conspiracy, secrets, and lies. Ellice is a strong, educated Black woman who has reinvented herself, but quickly learns, as things start to fall apart around her, that you can never truly escape your past and how it molds you into who you are. Moreover, while not quite as well-rounded as the protagonist, all of the characters present as authentic and tangible (including those that bring the Nazis to mind) in a way that many do not in a thriller. Told in three parts with two separate timelines (Ellice’s past in Chillicothe and her present), the language is beautifully descriptive without being flowery. It touches on a number of issues sharing some important truths about sexism, child abuse, racism, alcoholism, dementia, and, of course, racism. And the twists just kept coming, finishing with a superb ending that kept me turning pages faster and faster. If there was one issue I had with the plot, it was how fast the major plot twist was concluded. The rest of the novel had such depth to it and, while it was all nicely tied up, it lacked the complexity that the rest of the book had, although without taking away from the dénouement. Regardless, I’m already looking forward to the next novel (thankfully) coming out later this month entitled Anywhere You Run. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Trigger Warning: dementia, teen pregnancy, physical and sexual child abuse, abortion, alcoholism, police brutality, and racism...more
Olivia McAfee once had what seemed to be the perfect life. A brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon husband, a nice house, and their adorable son, Asher. BuOlivia McAfee once had what seemed to be the perfect life. A brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon husband, a nice house, and their adorable son, Asher. But appearances can be deceiving, as the saying goes. Following her divorce, Olivia finds herself back in the tiny New Hampshire town of Adams, where she grew up, running a small but successful bee farm. Despite never imagining she’d be back, she and her son have carved out a happy, second chance life together.
Lily Campanello is living her own second chance in Adams with her mom, Ava, far from her hometown of Seattle. Settling into her new life for her senior year of high school, she meets and falls in love with golden boy Asher Fields, who just happens to be Olivia’s son. But after the life she’s fled with her mom, can she trust this new love? Or will he disappoint her as well? For the secrets she holds could end their love story before it’s even begun.
Everything changes one night, however, when Asher is late getting home. Irritated, Olivia is contemplating punishments when she gets a frantic phone call from Asher. He’s being questioned at the police station after finding Lily dead at the bottom of her stairs. She races to the station to find her scared son covered in blood. And the focus is on Asher as the culprit of the crime. But Olivia firmly believes her sweet, loving son is innocent despite the flashes of her ex-husband’s temper that she has glimpsed from time to time. After all, he was head over heels in love with Lily. He wouldn’t possibly hurt her, would he?
The more the police probe, however, the more the secrets and lies seem to build up around Asher. With the walls closing in around them, the protective mother in Olivia wants to shield him from it all. But does she truly know her son? Or is he hiding more than she ever realized?
As Mad Honey is the first book by Jodi Picoult that I’ve read (in this instance also by Jennifer Finney Boylan), I didn’t quite know what to expect. Since it was labeled as a suspense book, I kept my mystery/thriller loving hat on while I read it (and while composing this review). Unfortunately, I found the bulk of the book severely lacking in terms of suspense. By the end, it became obvious that the better label would be a cross of women’s lit and mild domestic suspense with just a teeny pinch of legal thriller due to the extensive focus on Asher’s court trial. Despite this, however, I still, for the most part, found myself swept up by the plot.
There were aspects that I found flawed outside of the limited suspense however. Namely the near erotic focus on bee and musical information. Much of the time I found myself skimming through the extensive and extraneous factoids. This by no means ruined the book for me, so I don’t really hold this against the authors. It did, however, make this a very long-winded novel that was at least 100 pages too long.
Now onto the aspects that I absolutely loved despite the genre not being entirely in my wheelhouse. First off, the character development is marvelous. Usually only the narrators get this special treatment, but in this case we were lucky enough to get a fully fleshed out Asher on top of Lily and Olivia. I also truly loved the relationships that each child had with their mother, especially the lively dialogues filled with humor. I just wish there had been more of them.
As the suspense was minimal, the book was missing many gripping twists, but the few that are there are shockingly brilliant. But I guess, if I had the opportunity to turn this into a honest to goodness mystery/thriller myself, I would have focused more on the conflicts between Asher and Lily and less on the love story. And there would definitely be way more twists and turns as well as other potential suspects with plenty of red herrings. If you’re looking for all of those in this book, you’ll end up at least mildly disappointed as I was.
One aspect that I haven’t mentioned is the strength of the very serious issues that the plot revolves around. So, if you’re one to be impacted by triggers, please see my list of them at the end of this review. They’re nothing to sneeze at with considerable exploration of each. I also was pleasantly surprised by the number of people of color present in this story that takes place in New Hampshire (for anyone unaware, it’s a very white state) as well as the intense focus on gender identity issues. Slow clap for Picoult and Boylan.
As you can see, what made me perhaps not relish this book quite as much as I normally would have had more to do with my expectations than the quality of the writing or a poorly defined story. Because I still found myself deeply intrigued by the characters and couldn’t wait to find out what happened with them at the end of this very long slow burn of a book (a whipping 450 pages). If what I’ve described doesn’t put you off, I strongly recommend reading it. In hindsight, I might not have picked this up had a known how heavily this leaned towards romance, which would have, without a doubt, been my loss. Rating of 4 stars.
One evening D’Andre Miller, a young twelve year old African American boy, is killed in a hit-and-run accident on his way home from playing basketball One evening D’Andre Miller, a young twelve year old African American boy, is killed in a hit-and-run accident on his way home from playing basketball at the community center. The heartrending case lands on Detective Tracy Crosswhite’s desk. She and the brass quickly surmise that it could be a political powder keg just waiting to blow up in all of their faces.
The situation goes from bad to worse when Tracy and her partner, Kinsington Rowe, ascertain that the likely perpetrator of the crime is an active-duty Navy serviceman named Petty Officer Laszlo Trejo. Despite the potential fallout, Tracy wants this case in order to seek justice for D’Andre’s family. So, when the Navy decides to fight for jurisdiction, Tracy is far from happy. And then the unthinkable happens…a key piece of evidence disappears and Trejo is cleared of all charges.
Still bothered by the mishandled case, Tracy continues looking into Petty Officer Trejo. And what she finds is disturbing. As it appears that he may be at least partially responsible for the recent uptick of heroin overdoses in Seattle. And it no longer appears to be a simple case of the military brushing the case under the rug to protect its own. It’s much bigger than that with the circle of suspects even larger than originally suspected. For Tracy, whose colleague has just lost his niece to a heroin overdose, the investigation strikes a little too close to home.
As Tracy begins to uncover more and more disturbing information into what now appears to be a disturbing conspiracy, her own safety begins to come under fire. Who can she trust to help her? And will she manage to obtain the justice she so strongly wants to win? Or will the case lead to dangers that she will not be able to outrun this time?
Hot diggity! Yet another stellar novel! From the outset, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of Close to Home, which is the fifth book in the Detective Tracy Crosswhite series. It begins with two cases that can’t possibly be connected, but are, of course, linked in an ingenious way that felt entirely plausible and true-to-life. And this time we get even more for our money with not just the clever, determined Tracy as a narrator, but an equally quick-witted gamesman in JAG officer, Leah Battles. Two for the price of one!
Where I ran off the tracks a bit was when the Navy entered the picture. Thick with military lingo, it was fifty pages or so of slogging through a sort of legal thriller spin. But once the court case crumbled, the plot reverted back to what I would expect from a Robert Dugoni police procedural novel. This one, however, was easily my favorite by him, squeaking out a win over the previous book, The Trapped Girl.
One shining addition that I thoroughly enjoyed was how much focus there was on Delmo ‘Del’ Castigliano, Tracy’s colleague in the Major Crimes Unit. With the recent death of Del’s niece from a heroin overdose, the detectives begin looking into the circumstances of her passing. Through this we learn an awful lot more about him, creating a fully fleshed out character. It feels like with each book (at least so far) we learn more about Tracy and her coworkers, which is always a nice surprise.
I do have to warn you, though, that the topics central to this book are as hard-hitting as they are relevant to current events, specifically heroin addiction and the current drug epidemic in which we find ourselves right now. I’m going to take a stab in the dark and say this would be incredibly difficult to read if you or your family has been touched by either. Forewarned is forearmed as they say.
With a very long list of characters, I found some I loved (um, hello, Tracy?) and a few that raised my hackles, but by the end of the book everything worked out in the wash with an incredibly satisfying conclusion. But it was getting to the end that made this a slam dunk favorite as there were mind-boggling twists that I never saw coming and a completely unanticipated murderer. You can’t get much better than that.
Except with this book you can. See the last 150 pages or so are packed full of action and suspense, which sent my fingers flying through the pages. Just you wait, you won’t be able to put this book down either. So despite the rather complex and intricate plot and unexpected military slant (with a conspiracy thrown in) that made it unlike others in the series, this book thrilled me to the core and made its way up to the very top of my rating system. I beg of you to check out this series if you haven’t already as this is a definite must read. Rating of 5+ stars.
Trigger warning: drug addiction, drug overdose death, hit-and-run death, fertility problems, loss of a child...more
Sylvie Munro is a full-time barrister, part-time deputy district judge. Flying high on a recent win in court, she is determined to send in her applicaSylvie Munro is a full-time barrister, part-time deputy district judge. Flying high on a recent win in court, she is determined to send in her application for judicial appointment. She also sees the impending case before her in the youth court as just another opportunity to feather her cap for her application, especially since it appears cut and dried to her eye.
That evening, at the promised drink with her oldest and most dear friend Tess, Sylvie hopes to celebrate her recent win. But her beloved friend seems rattled. When she asks what is wrong, a horrifying truth is revealed. Tess has a tumor in her brain.
Then things go from bad to worse. Tess wants to make amends with an old friend from their past. A woman they’ve both agreed never to speak of again lest it ruin both their lives. But, as Tess sees the clock on her life running out, she is determined to set things right before it’s too late. Will Sylvie help her? Tess has to know.
Their shared past, however, is a nightmare that Sylvie is far from ready to revisit. The more she drags her heels though, the more insistent Tess becomes. She must meet her maker with a clean slate. How will Sylvie both appease her friend and salvage her career? After all, she cannot imagine her life without Tess. Shouldn’t she pay her this one kindness?
Sigh. It Ends at Midnight was one difficult novel to review. On one hand, it was riveting and packed full of lies and deception that made it an epic thriller. On the other hand, it made me decidedly uncomfortable given the subject matter and seemingly unjust edge that ran throughout. I kept waiting for the evil-doer’s comeuppance, but when it finally arrived, right there at the end, it left me not smiling, but instead with a strong urge to hurl the book across the room.
Don’t get me wrong, there were some absolutely sublime elements to this one to be sure. I mean, even the desire to send the book flying wasn’t because the story was lacking in any way. No, from the gloriously detestable characters to the multitude of red herrings that made this one extremely hard to guess, it was a triumph of well-timed suspense. Granted, I did accurately predict a teeny, tiny piece of the conclusion, but certainly not enough to ruin it in the least. Even better, there was plenty that still managed to knock my socks off. And don’t get me started on the almighty big twist that turns the entire storyline on its head. I was 100% gobsmacked by that one.
So, if you enjoy toxic friendships, unreliable narrators, and deep, dark secrets, this one’s definitely for you. Despite some scenes that gave me pause, I was fully spellbound from start to finish. And don’t get me started with the genuine and wholly authentic events at the center of the plot. As twisted as it all was, I could completely imagine seeing these events gracing our nightly news. In the end, it was yet another success of a novel by Harriet Tyce who always seems to be able to take me to the edge of unease without forcing it even a smidge into DNF territory. Loud applause for that one. So please, give this (and any other by Tyce) a try. Your brain will thank you. Rating of 3.5 stars.
Trigger warning: cancer, robbery at knifepoint, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual assault, miscarriage, toxic friendship, sending sexually explicit pictures to a minor, gaslighting...more
A woman tries to start her life over with a new name and fresh career as an assistant district attorney. A hot-shot prosecutor with an outstanding recA woman tries to start her life over with a new name and fresh career as an assistant district attorney. A hot-shot prosecutor with an outstanding record who is fresh off of a successful murder conviction of a famous defendant. A mother stabbed to death. And a teenager who looks guilty of the crime. But both of the attorneys have significant secrets that they want to keep hidden, even from each other. And is the young woman truly guilty? Or was she framed?
Lauren Claybourne, a star public defender in Chicago, has left her name and career behind to become an assistant district attorney in Santa Cruz after being stalked by an ex. Now going under the assumed name of Charlie Blair, she is forced to become second chair on the murder case of Shelly Hansen which has already become a media circus. Terrified that ‘he’ will find her, she works hard to avoid the cameras, but when first chair Erika Lorman begins to act unethically, she finds herself perturbed. Does she chance revealing herself by publicizing what Erika is doing or does she look the other way? But, with Erika hiding her own secrets, it’s just a matter of time until one of their traumatic pasts catches up with them.
Running in conjunction to the exploration of both prosecutors pasts is the horrific murder of single mother, Shelly Hansen. She has been stabbed to death in her own home and all of the evidence points towards her daughter, Mia. But as more and more facts come to light, Lauren (aka Charlie) begins to question what really happened that night. Who murdered Shelly? And why is Erika acting so strangely?
This book is best approached cold, so I tried to give just the bare essential facts. If anything I’ve written sounds good to you, pick up this novel ASAP because it is a fantastic read! Clark has crafted an excellent legal thriller that is fast-paced, layered, and emotionally charged as we learn not only what has happened within the present murder trial, but the past traumas that still haunt both Erika and Lauren. Despite facing off with their approaches to the investigation, their backgrounds have created two women both battling issues of anxiety, paranoia, and the emotional scarring of significant trauma that still impacts them years later. Lives and lies are inexplicably intertwined around a murder trial until a breathtaking twist that I absolutely did not see coming. There were only two things that bugged me about this book. One was the circumstances around Lauren being able to practice law in a new state under an assumed name without anyone knowing her real identity. The other (and why I downgraded my rating from 5 to 4.5) was how the middle got bogged down with conspiracy theory. I don’t feel it was necessary to focus so heavily on the secrets that existed between Lauren/Charlie and Erika which ultimately played very little into the plot. It would have been better, in my opinion, to concentrate more on potential suspects for Shelly’s murder. But I won’t harp on that because the book was simply that good. Ended up reading way too late into the night because I could not put it down. This was the first Marcia Clark novel I’ve read, but will definitely not be the last! Rating of 4.5 stars....more
An elite woman’s empowerment group. A desperate female attorney. The benefits that joining brings her. But is there a catch?
Nicole Mueller is an attorAn elite woman’s empowerment group. A desperate female attorney. The benefits that joining brings her. But is there a catch?
Nicole Mueller is an attorney at a prestigious law firm in New York City, but her job may be in jeopardy. Willing to try anything to help, she accepts an invitation to Panthera Leo, an exclusive women’s networking group, that pledges to give women a leg up in the “boy’s club” corporate ladder. And shortly after joining, all of the promises come to fruition. But at what cost do these gains have? And what will happen if she doesn’t do what they want?
Wow! I’ve loved many of Catherine McKenzie’s books, but this one was a standout. A legal thriller reminiscent of John Grisham’s The Firm, Please Join Us is a twisty and unexpectedly dark novel with a tangled web of lies, cover ups and deception that you’ll never see coming. I don’t want to say too much about this book because the reading experience is better if you go in without any preconceived ideas, so I’ll keep this short and sweet. It was a book I was able to lose myself in which is often missing from great books and the ending was spectacular and not at all what I suspected (it shocked the pants off me). With characters that are well-drawn and multidimensional, I was able to understand their motivations and actively rooted for Nicole to persevere. Additionally, the subject matter of female empowerment and the #MeToo movement is one that many will relate to. This was a fast-paced thriller that I finished in just over a day and I already wish I could read again blind. Pick it up today! Rating of 5 stars (would rate it higher if I could)....more
One missing girl known as trouble. One dead girl who everybody loved. A woman grieving the loss of her husband. And an individual who will do anythingOne missing girl known as trouble. One dead girl who everybody loved. A woman grieving the loss of her husband. And an individual who will do anything to make sure they get away with murder.
When Morgan Dane returns to Scarlet Falls following the death of her husband in Iraq, she’s hoping to start fresh with a job in the District Attorney’s office. But just after accepting the new job, Morgan gets pulled into defending her neighbor, Nick, who immediately becomes the prime suspect. Assisting her with the investigation of the case is Lance, a former cop who has become a private detective until he’s capable of rejoining the police department. With the community horrified by the death of beloved Tessa, the inquiry ramps up as Morgan and Lance’s lives are threatened more than once.
I had a hard time putting this book down (as evidenced by finishing it in one day). The main characters were deep and endearing, especially Morgan, who, despite knowing that she will lose her recently accepted job with the DA, has to follow her belief in Nick’s innocence. With themes of loss and justice ever present in this novel, the only thing I wasn’t fond of was the intermittent romance-like feel between Morgan and Lance. I’m not a huge fan of romance, but I’m glad I didn’t know that this was classified marginally as one as I might not have read it and would have missed out on a fantastic thriller. Can’t wait to read the next book in this Melinda Leigh series! Rating of 4.5 stars....more
An attorney who has it all, including secrets she wants to keep hidden. A wife who has just been arrested for killing her controlling and sadistic husAn attorney who has it all, including secrets she wants to keep hidden. A wife who has just been arrested for killing her controlling and sadistic husband. A murder case that has more than meets the eye.
Alison Bailey, a successful criminal defense barrister with an adoring husband and lovable daughter, has just been given her first murder case. But her personal life is anything but perfect. She drinks too much and is having an affair, both things she wishes to keep hidden. But someone knows her secrets.
Alison’s client, Madeline, a wife and stay-at-home mother, is accused of stabbing her husband to death in a drunken rage. He was a controlling and cruel man who she doesn’t deny killing, but something about the story just doesn’t ring true to Alison. Saving Madeline may just well be the start of saving herself. But there’s someone who knows what Alison’s secrets are. It’s someone who wants revenge. Someone who won’t stop until Alison has lost everything.
Blood Orange, the debut novel by Harriet Tyce, is a compelling, addictive read centering around an unreliable narrator. Alison and Madeline’s characterization are deep and authentic (although the male characters are a bit stereotypical). With a plot that cleverly intertwines two stories, the ending comes with one whopping big twist. The only negative was that it was over too fast. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train and a great choice for first-time thriller readers. Rating of 4.5 stars....more
A twenty year old murder. A man imprisoned. A sister who is determined to find the truth. A town who wants to leave it all in the past.
Tracy CrosswhitA twenty year old murder. A man imprisoned. A sister who is determined to find the truth. A town who wants to leave it all in the past.
Tracy Crosswhite, a detective in Seattle, returns home after the discovery of her sister’s body in the hills above her hometown of Cedar Grove. For twenty years she has argued that the story surrounding her disappearance doesn’t fit the evidence and now she’ll finally be able to follow the facts through to a definitive end with the help of childhood friend, Dan O’Leary, who is now an attorney. Together they reveal long-held, deep, dark secrets that will twist everything that was believed into something different.
My Sister’s Grave is part police procedural, part legal thriller, and part romantic suspense (thankfully limited romance, however). The setting of the northern Cascades is picturesque and well-described and the plot is fast-paced with some major twists along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book despite a slightly slow start. And the ending was one whopping big surprise! The one part of this book that I wasn’t thrilled with is how, in the beginning, the story goes back and forth between present and Tracy’s past with her sister. It could have been written in a better way to make it less confusing (I was constantly trying to figure out when certain passages took place). Overall, I really enjoyed this book, however, and can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Her Final Breath. Rating of 4 stars....more
This is the first book I've read by Mitzner and it was wonderful. Deep characters that are explored from numerous sides due to multiple points of viewThis is the first book I've read by Mitzner and it was wonderful. Deep characters that are explored from numerous sides due to multiple points of view. It was a little slow in the very beginning (before the plot gets to the court case), but it picked up once there was a death and subsequent arrest. Did not end the way I expected and I always love when that happens!...more
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