Allison’s last words to Aaron as she leaves for the day are “come with me”. It was the last time he saw his wife alive. Wracked with guilt and grief, Allison’s last words to Aaron as she leaves for the day are “come with me”. It was the last time he saw his wife alive. Wracked with guilt and grief, while moving through his days in a fog, he talks to her in the first person and sees reminders of her everywhere he turns.
When Aaron finds clues among her possessions that suggests she had a life he knew nothing about, he finds a new purpose in life. What was Allison keeping from him? Aaron decides to follow the clues to find out. As he does, he uncovers surprising secrets that makes him wonder if he ever truly knew his wife.
I’m being deliberately vague, as the delight is thinking the story is going in one direction, only to have it veer off in another. For once, the Goodreads description involves no spoilers and you won’t get one from me.
Well-written, with excellent character development, I especially adored the way Aaron talks to Allison throughout the story (it sounds cheesy but it is not). This is a creepy, atmospheric tale, full of suspense and menace. There is a very slight hint of the supernatural, but it’s well done and grounded in reality. All in all, this was a very satisfying read that was fresh and unique.
*Don’t miss the heart wrenching author’s note at the end. *The narrator of the audiobook, Joe Hempel, did a phenomenal job, nailing his character perfectly....more
This is a clever whodunit with enough layers and suspects to keep me guessing right up to the end. A teenage boy has a secret habit that unknowingly eThis is a clever whodunit with enough layers and suspects to keep me guessing right up to the end. A teenage boy has a secret habit that unknowingly exposes his neighbor’s darkest secrets. When his mother sends anonymous notes to her neighbors warning them, she stirs up a hornet’s nest of secrets and lies.
Then a neighbor’s wife is found dead. Are the two events related? As the police investigate it becomes clear that lies are being told, but who is lying and why? The dynamics among the small pool of suspects kept me on my toes.
This is short and propulsive, just how I like my neighborhood mysteries. I enjoy how Lapena slowly doles out the reveals right up to the end, when all the pieces clicked into place.
Audiobook whodunits are saving my life right now, and Lapena has quickly become a favorite listen. This one was narrated by Kirsten Potter, who did an excellent job....more
Three-year-old Lottie disappears at a beach wedding, and the worst is feared. Before long the court of public opinion falls on the mother, Alex. What Three-year-old Lottie disappears at a beach wedding, and the worst is feared. Before long the court of public opinion falls on the mother, Alex. What kind of mother is she to lose sight of her daughter? Spoiler alert: normal. Until you find out what Alex was doing and then she loses some sympathy. But still. I’m a mom, and know you can lose sight of your toddler in the blink of an eye.
I appreciated the message that highlights the pressure on women to be the perfect mother, and the commentary on the criticisms women receive on their parenting skills. While I have empathy, I have zero tolerance for whining and melodramatic prose where a reader is subjected to every overwrought thought of a character. For years. Repetitively. The same thoughts. Over and over.
A narrator who thinks it’s a good idea to ACT out her overwrought emotions in the audio production is like nails on a chalkboard to me. Her breathy emotional narrative made me want to poke a hole in my eardrums.
I was invested enough to finish it, to find out what happened to Lottie, but I didn’t love it. The introduction of a couple of hot button social issues didn’t endear this story to me, nor did the wildly out-of-nowhere implausible ending.
• I received a copy of the audiobook via HarperCollinsUK audio. All opinions are my own....more
Cassie, a disgraced lawyer, finds herself working as a legal temp performing document review for a firm gathering evidence on an impending case. It’s Cassie, a disgraced lawyer, finds herself working as a legal temp performing document review for a firm gathering evidence on an impending case. It’s boring, mind-numbing work. Until a personal e-mail from Forest, a corporate attorney, pops up. Cassie is supposed to flag it as irrelevant but just one look wouldn’t hurt would it?
Cassie becomes infatuated and obsessed with Forest and his wife, Annabelle. They are living the dream, the life she wants. The one she deserves. She stalks them over the internet, and keeps a 3-ring binder of information she discovers. She knows intimate details about their life: what wine they like, what perfume Annabelle wears, their favorite restaurant, the gym they frequent, and more. But just knowing isn’t enough. Cassie knows what will make Forest happy and Cassie is just a tad unhinged. Well, ok maybe more than a tad. We know this won’t end well.
This is a stalker/obsession story and Cassie’s actions are creepy, and I mostly enjoyed being inside her head for the majority of the novel. The details of her previous life are slowly revealed, making her a little sympathetic. Readers looking for a straight-up thriller will be disappointed as those elements don’t come into play until later in the book. But readers who enjoy being inside the head of a delusional woman will enjoy it.
For a smart guy Forest wasn’t very smart about what he included in his personal e-mails to his wife.
"Eyes aren't the windows to the soul. Emails are."
But are they? This was one part of the novel I struggled with. Does anyone really e-mail their spouse personal pithy messages? I don’t know about you, but I text my husband, family, and friends for quick communications. Or we call. We never use e-mail for casual communication/conversations.
Still, this was a quick read with short chapters that kept the pages flipping, and I loved the ending. The author is a former corporate attorney, which gives authenticity to this part of the story. I look forward to what she writes next!
• I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own....more
2.5 stars I’m a fan of podcasts, usually book-related or true crime, so when I see it mentioned in a book’s blurb my interest is piqued. Unfortunately2.5 stars I’m a fan of podcasts, usually book-related or true crime, so when I see it mentioned in a book’s blurb my interest is piqued. Unfortunately, the plot device is starting to wear thin.
This starts out with an interesting premise. Marti's sister, Maggie, disappeared when she was eight years old after getting into a car with a stranger. Now an adult, Marti won’t rest until her sister is found, and leaves no stone unturned. She isn’t coping well and infidelity, along with drinking to excess, leaves her personal life in a mess. Despite all of that, she is able to start a true-crime podcast after the latest of sightings and clues to her sister's disappearance led to yet another dead end.
While she truly wants to help all the "lost girls" and their families through her podcast, her ultimate mission is finding her sister. One day she gets a call from Ava, who believes her brother, Colin, is imprisoned for a murder he didn’t commit. She claims to have evidence related to her sister’s disappearance, and they team up to try and solve both cases.
Marti’s self-destruction and angsty melodramatic musings were difficult for me to stomach, and ultimately the story fell short for me as one I didn’t much enjoy. I can't always pinpoint why. I didn’t connect to the MC or the story, and I’m tiring of narrators who drink to excess and are angsty messes. Sometimes those elements work well for me but this wasn't one of those times. There are plenty of reviews from readers who enjoyed this book more than I did so do check them out.
* I received a digital copy of the book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own...more
This scratched the itch I’ve had since Desperate Housewives came to an end. What a fun, frothy read, perfect for summer.
Presidio Terrace, an exclusivThis scratched the itch I’ve had since Desperate Housewives came to an end. What a fun, frothy read, perfect for summer.
Presidio Terrace, an exclusive gated community in San Francisco, where the lives of the rich and famous play out, is home to Erin, Georgia, and Brooke, the newest of the wives. There’s plenty of dirty little secrets hiding behind the perfect façade of these well-manicured lawns.
A trophy wife used to be considered a much younger wife of an older, very wealthy man, a status symbol of his power, virility, and attractiveness. But it’s 2021, and the meaning now includes women who are attractive, yes, but also successful: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-ne...
And that is what we have here with two of our three main characters. - Georgia, aka, The Black Widow, so named after two of her husbands conveniently turned up dead shortly after the vows were exchanged. She’s the more stereotypical trophy wife. - Erin, a local news anchor, is constantly trying to keep her youth and stay relevant in a cutthroat industry where someone smarter, younger and prettier stands ready to take her place. - Brooke, the new wife on the block, is a successful novelist, busy at work on her second book.
When Georgia’s fiancé turns up missing, suspicious eyes turn towards her, the Black Widow. And, suddenly, this frothy read turns into a whodunit. The clues and secrets of these ladies are doled out strategically to keep me surprised and engaged throughout, flipping the chapters until the final shocking reveal. But lest you think this is all about the wives, the husbands have secrets of their own.
All of these are characters I would hate in my real life, but this isn’t real life. For a well-written, dishy soap opera that is over the top, and a dash of mystery, this is great fun!
• I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own • Published 7/20/21 by Ballantine Books • This was a buddy read with my friend Marialyce, one that we surprisingly enjoyed very much! For our duo reviews please visit:https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres......more
The not-so-happy-family here are the Mertons. Fred was a total jerk to everyone, but mostly to his children. Sheila, his wife, is a cold and 4.5 stars
The not-so-happy-family here are the Mertons. Fred was a total jerk to everyone, but mostly to his children. Sheila, his wife, is a cold and distant mother, and failed to protect the children from their father.
They gather together for the Easter dinner from hell, where Fred makes an announcement that has all the children leaving hurriedly, angry and upset. Even Irena, the housekeeper who had been the children’s nanny, leaves. Audrey, Fred’s sister, missed the dinner, but she has a complicated history with her brother, and was my favorite character. Her loathing of the Merton children was visceral.
When Irena returns in the morning to clean, she finds a brutal murder scene, with both Fred and Sheila dead. There's no shortage of suspects among the children, and rarely has there been a more detestable group. All had a motive, and all have secrets. But they aren't the only ones. There's plenty of suspicion to go around.
It’s been said there are four motives for murder: Lust, Love, Loathing, or Loot. There’s no shortage of the latter two here. There are no tears shed for Fred and Sheila, but plenty of anticipation and elation at the thought of the inheritance. I loved how the author dropped little secrets/bombshells throughout the book about the characters, that made me see each of them with new eyes.
The police have plenty of suspects, but few clues. This isn’t a new premise, but I loved how this story unraveled, including a few surprising twists and a surprise ending. I think this would make a terrific movie!
*I prefer listening to this genre and the audiobook was narrated by Ellen Archer, who did an excellent job....more
3.5 stars Esme is a journalist whose newly formed media company, producing true crime podcasts, is on the rise. However, her home life is far from the 3.5 stars Esme is a journalist whose newly formed media company, producing true crime podcasts, is on the rise. However, her home life is far from the best, with a son who has lingering physical and emotional issues from a hit-and-run accident, and a marriage that is in shambles.
Things begin to look up when she snags an exclusive interview with Simone, a woman convicted of murdering her abusive husband. It’s been 10 years and not everyone is happy about Simone coming forward to tell her story.
As Simone tells her story, it leaves Esme wondering about her own husband and marriage. Meanwhile, Esme’s life further unravels when Michelle, her sister and business partner, is brutally attacked and left for dead, clinging to life in the ICU. (Note: None of this is a spoiler as it all happens in the beginning) Was it related to their business venture? To add to the mix, the mother-in-law from hell, Brooke, arrives to make Esme’s life even more of a disaster.
The way these various story lines intersect was propulsive and well-done. The use of the podcast script to tell the story was brilliant and added interest. There are a lot of secrets, shady behavior, and revelations to keep the reader guessing. The story had a slow start that meandered along with some detestable characters, but then things took a turn and it ended strongly. I enjoyed the underlying themes in the story. All of this makes for an easy and entertaining popcorn thriller.
*I received a digital copy of the book via Netgalley. All opinions are my own....more
Oh, Teddy, you absolutely deserved the Teacher of the Year Award, and have the plaque to prove it. If only you received the respect and accolades you Oh, Teddy, you absolutely deserved the Teacher of the Year Award, and have the plaque to prove it. If only you received the respect and accolades you deserve. You devious, cunning man! You just took 1st place for my favorite psychopath!
What better place to use your finely honed skills than a private elite school? No one escapes your solution to problems. You will do anything for your students. At least the ones who deserve it. It’s all for their own good, even if they don’t understand. Right? Whoops, you sometimes make a little mistake but collateral damage is nothing to worry about. You will fix it.
And that’s all I will say about the plot! It’s such fun to discover it for yourself. Just know Teddy isn’t the only devious character at play here at #HomicideHigh
It was SO FUN to be inside Teddy’s head, and listen to his thought processes. The other characters were just as fun and over-the-top as Teddy, and kept me laughing at the dark humor. I haven’t had this much fun reading about a group of characters in a very long time.
I listened to the audio and the narrator was EXCELLENT in the role, making a terrific book even better. I struggled to press pause and went looking for projects around the house just to get more listening time. This unique and deliciously devious story grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go until the very last page, and then I was sorry it was over.
I don’t give out 5 stars lightly, and this will be on my list of top books of 2021.
* thanks to Regina for pointing out the narrator is David Pittu, who also narrated The Goldfinch, another book I could not stop listening to. He truly is incredible!
• This was a buddy read with Marialyce and one we both loved!...more
Hollow’s Edge is such a quiet place. Or it used to be. Until Ruby was sentenced to 20 years for the murder of her neighbors, the Truetts. Set free on Hollow’s Edge is such a quiet place. Or it used to be. Until Ruby was sentenced to 20 years for the murder of her neighbors, the Truetts. Set free on a technicality after serving only 14 months, she appears on Harper’s doorstep, her old roommate. Most of her neighbors thought she was guilty and testified against her. All except Harper, who isn’t so sure.
Ruby’s appearance in the neighborhood has everyone abuzz on the community chat board. Is she back for revenge against those who testified or is she willing to let bygones be bygones? Everyone is on edge.
The first half is atmospheric, setting the perfect tone for the small-town feel of the neighborhood with the gossip and speculation in the chats, which opens each chapter. I thought this was a fun aspect of the story. No one is particularly likable and no one was trustworthy. I had fun speculating who was the guilty party, and was happy to find out I was wrong.
Some readers find the beginning slow but I enjoy a character-driven mystery where the mood is set and the tension slowly builds. The tension ramps up after the 4th of July neighborhood party when someone turns up dead. Kudos to the author for surprising me with the final reveal. This was my first Megan Miranda novel, and it won’t be my last.
• I received an e-book copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own....more
The story starts off strongly with a prologue about young indigenous girls who are missing and/or killed along Cold Creek Highway in British Columbia, The story starts off strongly with a prologue about young indigenous girls who are missing and/or killed along Cold Creek Highway in British Columbia, and the murders that are rarely acknowledged or solved. The fictional story in Dark Roads is inspired by these events. I applaud the author for bringing awareness to this subject.
But then. No indigenous characters? Or if they were, they were so generic as to be unidentifiable as such. Perhaps the author was fearful of repercussions from the cancel culture since she herself is not indigenous. Whatever the reason, I felt the story would have been stronger if the main character had been indigenous.
Hailey, whose parents have died, is living in an untenable situation. I don’t want to give away too much about Hailey’s story line, but I found it compelling and interesting, even if drawn out a bit too long. I did enjoy the wilderness survival scenes, and those that involved her dog, Wolf (my favorite character!), but I was not convinced Hailey had the skills to pull off such an endeavor.
Then the story line changed to Beth, who arrives in town to attend a memorial for her sister Amber, Hailey’s best friend, who was thought to be the victim of the area’s serial killer. She stays and decides to find out exactly what happened to her sister and my interest flagged, but I was interested enough to continue reading to see how the stories intersected.
This is a character-driven mystery that had a bit of a YA flavor, perhaps because Hailey was a teenager. I listened to the audiobook and while the narrators were excellent, the story was either way too long, or it just felt that way. I wish the author had chosen to leave out the romantic relationships, as I felt they detracted from the story.
• I received an audio digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own • Publication date August 3, 2021 by St Martin’s Press...more
Ike is a black ex-con who is on the straight and narrow path, living respectably as the owner of a landscaping business. Buddy Lee is white, a racist Ike is a black ex-con who is on the straight and narrow path, living respectably as the owner of a landscaping business. Buddy Lee is white, a racist ex-con who seeks escape in the bottle.
They have little in common except as fathers to their gay sons, Derek and Isaiah, who were married. Their sons were viciously murdered, execution style, leaving behind their 3-year-old daughter Arianna.
When the case grows cold, Ike and Buddy Lee band together to seek vengeance for their sons’ murder. It’s too late to atone for their homophobia and their failures as fathers, but they can avenge their sons’ deaths.
As they travel a path to learn what happened to their sons, they both embark on a journey of introspection and inner growth. They have many discussions about racism, sexuality, prejudice and regrets for the past. Witty dialogue and pithy one-liners balance the heavy themes.
You will need a strong stomach for this one. The violence is graphic, often sickeningly so, and the body count is high. The conversations between Buddy and Ike sometimes sound like a “woke” monologue, and many of the characters are stereotypical, but I appreciated that the author tackled prejudice and LGBQT themes in such a unique way. I loved Ike and Buddy Lee’s redemptive journey from prejudice to love. Ike and Buddy Lee are anti-heroes whose methods can’t be condoned, but whose hearts are in the right places. Finally.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
*This was a buddy read with Marialyce, and while we both enjoyed the book we both viewed the telling of the story differently. Do check out her review! For our duo reviews please visit https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
*The audiobook was flawlessly narrated by Adam Lazarre-White. *I received a digital audio for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own....more
If you are in the mood for an homage to campy B-movie thrillers where the pages practically turn themselves, then this is the book for you!
A serial muIf you are in the mood for an homage to campy B-movie thrillers where the pages practically turn themselves, then this is the book for you!
A serial murderer, dubbed The Campus Killer, is still on the loose, and his latest victim was Charlie’s best friend, Maddy. Charlie (named for a Hitchcock heroine) is too guilt and grief-stricken to stay in school, and decides to visit her grandmother. She accepts a ride to Ohio with Josh, a complete stranger. While a murderer is on loose. This is Big Mistake #1. One of many made by Charlie, but think of a horror movie where you cover your eyes and yell at the heroine and you get the idea. Stupid, but fun nonetheless.
The trip is a 6-hour drive at night along long empty stretches of road. Before long Charlie finds inconsistencies in Josh’s story and begins to not only doubt who he really is, but suspect he is the Campus Killer. The problem? Charlie often lives in a fantasy world where she zones out and sees old movies playing in her mind. So, who is the unreliable narrator? Charlie or Josh - or both? The author keeps us guessing as Charlie debates her next move and finds herself in more than a few binds and missed opportunities for escape.
Trapped in a car with a possible murderer, Charlie has nowhere to go and no way to call for help. I loved the pre-cellphone/internet early 90s vibe, where Charlie has to become a bad-ass and use skills she didn’t know she possessed in order to survive the night. I also loved the nod to all the great movies and music of the past.
This was a buddy read with Marialyce, and we both had fun playing armchair detective, even though we failed once again. Set your critical hat aside and just go along for the ride with Charlie and Josh. The motives of one of the characters was unconvincing and the final reveal of the killer was a stretch, but as an homage, I didn’t take it too seriously. The epilogue was perfection, a rarity! There is a cinematic feel to the book that would make a terrific movie.
3.5 stars Sacrifice your child to save hundreds or sacrifice hundreds to save your child? Which would you choose?
That’s the choice before Mina, a flig3.5 stars Sacrifice your child to save hundreds or sacrifice hundreds to save your child? Which would you choose?
That’s the choice before Mina, a flight attendant. In an attempt to avoid marital conflict and get a break from domestic troubles, Mina volunteers to work the inaugural twenty-hour long-haul flight from London to Sydney.
But Mina receives a note from a passenger on the plane instructing her to follow instructions, or her daughter Sophia will be killed. Told from the POV of Mina, and her husband Adam on the ground, who has been taken hostage with their daughter Sophia, the tension is thick.
In the beginning, I was totally invested in the characters and plot, along with several subplots woven throughout. How would the author weave these disparate threads together? And therein lies the problem. When the motive for the hijacking was revealed, I wondered. Not that the issue isn’t a real threat, but I struggled with believing this group would take it THIS far. To take a plane down, murdering all on board? But it's very PC. After thinking about it and googling (yep, I’m that person), I decided it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility. The world is full of crazies. Probably they would. Sociopaths are capable of manipulating others into following their twisted thinking.
Secondly, I found it exhausting to live inside Mina’s head with the same thoughts/fears/resolve. Honestly, there were times I wanted to kill her myself just to shut her up. But then I considered how I would feel if I were her, and decided I’d be even more annoying so I forgave her. But why do we readers have to hear about it incessantly?
I wasn't a fan of the author throwing in a few hot button social issues of the day, which did nothing to move the plot forward. I would really urge authors to show restraint and simply focus on telling a good story.
The epilogue was fun, and if you can buy into the motives, and tolerate Mina’s thoughts (a tall order), this was a solid thriller with a couple of unexpected twists.
• I supplemented with the audio. Note re the audiobook: WHY would one narrator be used for all the different POV? It was impossible to tell whose POV I was listening to. I huge FAIL.
• I received a copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own....more
Does every book live up to the hype? No. And this is one of them. There’s probably a reason it was rejected forty-one times by publishing agents.
The Does every book live up to the hype? No. And this is one of them. There’s probably a reason it was rejected forty-one times by publishing agents.
The Dilemma: save your family or save all the passengers on a plane?
This isn’t a new premise this summer, but it’s the last of the three I read, and perhaps the weakest.
On the negative side, this is one of the worst examples of stereotypical villains I’ve read in quite a while. The characters, along with the plot developments, all require of high level of suspension of disbelief. Also, I was lured in by dramatic jaw-dropping opening scenes that (view spoiler)[ has shades of Dallas: never mind, it was all a dream. (hide spoiler)] The characters were stereotypical, and the events that unfold were unrealistic, inducing much eye-rolling. Get ready to pile on the guilt for living in a first-world country.
On the positive side, the premise is great, even if overdone this year. The inside info into the flight attendants and the lingo used is spot on according to those in the know. Kudos to the men and women who are flight attendants - thank you for your professionalism and your expertise!
Another positive is this will be a terrific movie. But, as a book this is an airport novel…oops…maybe I should say a beach read. In any case, for a propulsive book where you are able to suspend disbelief and keep flipping the pages, this one works if you don't want to think too hard....more
Stella and Violet, who met in college, are the best of friends despite coming from two very different backgrounds. They are necessary to one another fStella and Violet, who met in college, are the best of friends despite coming from two very different backgrounds. They are necessary to one another for very different reasons: Violet, who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, needs Stella for her wealth and connections, while Stella needs Violet for constant validation.
“There was the misery of having too little, but there was also the misery of living among those who believed there was no such thing as too much.”
But just how strong is their friendship? Is it true?
The friendship is tested when Stella returns from a post-college extended trip abroad, while Violet stayed behind, worked hard, and rose through the ranks at a cable news station. When Stella returns and sees how successful Violet is, guess who wants to steal the show away from her “friend”? With friends like these who needs enemies? As the story unfolds we see just how far the other will go to get what she wants.
“To be selfish. To be cruel, at times. To harden your heart so that you need no one else. When you realize how powerful this makes you, you keep it to yourself.”
I thought I had this one figured out pretty early on, but was pleasantly surprised to find out I was wrong. I loved the characterizations of both Stella and Violet and I loved the cut-throat newsroom setting. Very well-written, this was a thoughtful look at the haves and the have-nots, as well as ambition and drive and friendship and morals. The combination made for an explosive page-turner that I highly recommend for fans of character-driven thrillers. There is a lot of nuance and commentary that makes this deeper than it appears at first glance, while not letting up on the tension for one moment.
I'm only sorry I let this BOTM choice gather dust on my shelf for far too long....more
Mixed reviews, along with an unappealing cover, kept my expectations low, but I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Mariana, a psycholMixed reviews, along with an unappealing cover, kept my expectations low, but I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Mariana, a psychologist, is still in mourning over her husband’s untimely death. She’s truly all alone in the world, having also lost her parents and sister. Zoe, the niece she took in after her sister’s death, is all she has left.
When Zoe calls with news of her friend’s murder, Mariana travels to Cambridge, where Zoe is a student. A professional colleague of Mariana’s draws her into the investigation, and it doesn’t take long for all suspicions to be focused on Professor Fosca, the creepy but magnetic professor who is beloved by his students and has a secret society comprised of seven girls, the “maidens”. Mariana is convinced of his guilt and will stop at nothing to prove it, especially after another murder of one of the maidens.
I enjoyed the mystery but what the author pulled off so well was the atmosphere of Cambridge, as well as Mariana’s character with her troubled past and struggles with grief. I enjoyed the nod to a Greek tragedy, but it wasn’t overdone and there’s no need to be well versed in Greek mythology (I’m not!).
Red herrings abound, and I turned my suspicious eye on nearly every character at different parts of the story. Even if the reveal wasn’t a complete surprise there was still a twist that took me completely by surprise.
This was a fun book to play armchair detective with Marilayce, my friend and reading buddy. I dare say we weren’t very good at it with this one, but it was fun speculating!
· I received both the digital e-book as well as the audiobook via NetGalley. I ended up preferring the audio, narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith And Louise Brealey, because it was so well done....more
Allie Ross has just moved into an upscale neighborhood in the D.C. area with her lawyer husband and young son. At a neighborhood party a man begins toAllie Ross has just moved into an upscale neighborhood in the D.C. area with her lawyer husband and young son. At a neighborhood party a man begins to flirt with her, a man who says he knows her and calls her a nickname that she hasn’t heard in many, many years. The problem? She has never seen this man before, but he seems to know HER.
The next day the man is found murdered in his home, and Allie is soon the prime suspect. Someone is impersonating her online and has created fake profiles and interactions on social media, as well as Tinder. Her entire life, both professional and personal, is soon in a shambles with neighbors turning against her and even her own husband doubting her innocence. The evidence quickly mounts and increasingly strange occurrences are happening.
She, of course, knows this is someone who has ties to her past, a past she hasn’t shared with her husband. There’s no shortage of red herrings and suspects, and even some evidence that Allie is losing it because of her drinking (which honestly didn't sound that excessive). I don’t know about you but if I were living Allie‘s life I’d be tempted to open up a bottle of wine and grab a straw. But if I’m ever wrongly accused of a crime I read enough to know this would be a VERY bad idea.
The trope is a common one with a secret past, accusations of a crime, hacked social media accounts, gaslighting, a neighborhood clique, inept investigators, and no one believing the accused, including the husband. But there's only so many plots/themes you can write about without going out in left field, and losing credibility. If it's well done, then it's ok with me.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. The escalating tension with misdirections and red herrings, and her day-to-day routines as a mom and photographer, along with the complicated, dysfunctional relationship she had with her mother and sister made Allie seem real and authentic.
Another plus is I didn’t guess the final reveal, and I appreciated how the book ended without everything tied up in a neat bow. This is a quick entertaining debut, perfect for a lazy summer day (or any season!). I both read and listened, and highly recommend the audio version and narrator (Lauren Fortgang).
It has been acquired by Kapital Entertainment for adaptation into a TV series
* I received a copy of the book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own *Publication date June 8, 2021 by Forge Books ...more
Once again, here I am, an outlier. Most of my friends here enjoyed it, but I did not.
First the positives: I loved the beginning. Sorry, that's it, theOnce again, here I am, an outlier. Most of my friends here enjoyed it, but I did not.
First the positives: I loved the beginning. Sorry, that's it, there's only one positive that I can come up with.
Now the negatives:
If I listed all the implausible actions, reactions, events, scenarios, and conclusions I would re-write the entire book. I can’t give details as they would be spoilers.
BUT, the physician who performs an autopsy on a victim is a complete moron to miss obvious signs that it didn't happen the way he said it did. A CHILD could have seen what he missed.
A police officer hides a key piece of evidence, but since when is only ONE PERSON in an entire department privy to a key piece of evidence in a very high profile case (or any case)? It made me laugh, but it was supposed to be serious. Sorry.
When I found out what happened to the missing women my eyes practically rolled out of my head.
And the ending, all tied up in a pretty bow, with a character who has been severely traumatized for YEARS (given the location, that it had been going on for years without detection was laughably ridiculous) goes on to live a completely normal and happy life as if nothing had happened.
Plus, the scenes with the OB/GYN had no bearing on the story at all. It was an opportunity for the author to further a personal agenda and lecture us and I didn’t like it.
BUT, the worst offense was the writing style. I haven’t seen a reviewer mention this yet, so I’ll be the first. It drove me crazy! Does anyone remember the primers for first graders (yes, I'm old): “See Dick. See Dick run. See Jane. See Jane run”.
Yeah, that’s what we have here. Keep in mind I read an ARC but a friend who read the published copy confirmed the writing. A few examples:
It’s Bea’s birthday. Today Bea is thirty years old. They came to celebrate.”
“Bea makes dinner for Leo and me. She lets Leo help. They make pasta. Bea serves it with milk.”
“Kate and Bea are opposites. Kate is conventional. Bea is not. Kate doesn’t stand out the way that Bea does. Bea is arresting.”
Has she or the editor ever heard of conjunctions?! There are many more examples (the whole book).
I’m in the minority, so do check out the 4 & 5 star reviews, but for me, it's a very generous 2 stars.
• I received a digital copy via Edelweiss. All opinions are my own...more
I had such fun with this one! This book scratched the itch that I’ve had since Desperate Housewives ended. I envisioned these ladies all living on WisI had such fun with this one! This book scratched the itch that I’ve had since Desperate Housewives ended. I envisioned these ladies all living on Wisteria Lane.
Was it over-the-top? Yes. And I loved it.
Sophie, her husband Graham, and their young son have recently moved from Chicago to a small Texas town, to enjoy a quieter lifestyle. Sophie’s husband is perfect (seriously!), and she has a lifestyle blog that features gardening and food/recipes. But she’s bored and becomes completely enamored with the “in-crowd” of wealthy women. Before long she finds herself invited to be a part of their clique.
Be careful what you wish for. Sophie finds herself in the clutches of the Queen Bee, the completely amoral Margot. The Hunting Wives aren’t just in it for fun and games, they are in it to the death. As in a murder. And guess who the police have their eye on?
I loved that the author highlighted some of Sophie’s backstory which explained why she was vulnerable to the wily ways of the Hunting Wives, even if I did want to reach through the pages, slap her silly, and tell her to put the wine glass down!
I also appreciated that the wild and reckless lives of The Wives wasn’t glorified. (Also, be prepared for some uncomfortable scenes!) As foolish as Sophie was, I still found myself rooting for her with hopes she could escape their clutches and pull her life back together.
One of my favorite parts of the novels was Sophie’s gardening skills, since I have none (a moment of silence please for all the flowers/plants who have lost their lives in my care), and her prowess in the kitchen. I do enjoy cooking and trying new recipes so identified with this part of Sophie and it made her real and relatable. As did her sweet husband and adorable son.
This was a juicy romp that was completely FUN! The ending wasn't predictable, making it all that more satisfying. I could see this as a movie playing in my mind and I hope it’s optioned for film....more
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