This book is a prime example of what a psychological suspense thriller should be! By far, it’s my favorite thriller read so far this year.
The4.5 stars
This book is a prime example of what a psychological suspense thriller should be! By far, it’s my favorite thriller read so far this year.
The publisher blurb:
"Twelve hours earlier, she was... Hopeful. Excited. Safe. Now she's gone."
Now that is a perfect blurb! It’s best to go into this read with as little information as possible.
Laura goes on a date with a man she met on an online dating site and doesn’t return home. From there, the story alternates between the ‘night before’ chapters narrated by Laura, and chapters featuring her sister Rosie, who attempts to piece together the clues in an increasingly desperate attempt to locate her sister. Interspersed throughout the book are chapters detailing sessions between Laura and her therapist. I love how the author brings a psychological slant to all her books.
I picked this up early one morning to read and three hours later I was still in the same spot. If life had not intervened I would have read this cover to cover in one sitting. The pacing is perfect and the author reveals additional information at just the right times to keep the tension and suspense high. The ending had my pulse racing and I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough.
If you’ve given up on thrillers because many are less than thrilling my advice is to put this on your radar for the May 2019 publication date. It will restore your faith in the genre!
*thanks to St Martin's Press for an e-galley of the book in exchange for an honest opinion. *Many thanks to the Traveling Sisters here on Goodreads, for the pleasure of reading and discussing this book as a group....more
There’s a proverb that says ambition “is like putting a ladder against the sky. It’s a pointless waste of energy."
Told in three parts, this book showsThere’s a proverb that says ambition “is like putting a ladder against the sky. It’s a pointless waste of energy."
Told in three parts, this book shows the complete degradation of a person when blind ambition is coupled with psychopathic tendencies. An author must be a keen observer of people and events. They can take a nugget of an idea, then use their imagination to turn it into a story. But what happens when the only person you are interested in is yourself? When your interest in people is only a means to an end? When you are a parasite, an empty shell of a man, without an original idea in your head? How far will you go when your only goal in life is to become a celebrated novelist?
I won’t give away the plot because it would ruin the delicious surprises in store for the reader. The writing is stellar, and the character development is excellent. Be prepared to be in the hands of a master wordsmith as you read this book. Be patient as you read, and be prepared to be shocked. The ending was simply brilliant.
I was left wondering if John Boyne is poking fun at himself and his fellow authors. Is Maurice a composite of authors he has known? Did he start out poking a little fun at himself and other authors, then took the character of Maurice to the extreme? Know going into it that if you need your fictional characters to be sympathetic or likable, this isn’t the book for you.
This was my first Boyne book but his book, The Heart’s Invisible Furies, is on my bookshelf and just made it to the top of my short list of books to be read.
My recommendation: Read it! It would make a great book club book with much to discuss.
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review * to be published November 13, 2018 * Thanks to the Traveling Sisters who joined me in reading and discussing this book....more
Grit Lit, Southern Noir, Appalachian Noir…whatever you call it, I call it terrific writing. There's not a wasted word and so much is said without extrGrit Lit, Southern Noir, Appalachian Noir…whatever you call it, I call it terrific writing. There's not a wasted word and so much is said without extraneous details. It takes skill to develop characters so well in a relatively short book.
The novel opens with an accidental death and a cover-up. Soon things spin out of control and Dwayne, the victim’s brother, won’t rest until he has avenged his brother’s death. They grew up in an abusive home and Dwayne felt it was his duty to protect his brother, described as a “half-wit”. His brother was the only person or thing he loved.
Dwayne has a strong moral code, but it’s one he wrote himself. He’s not in any way a good guy, but he has a soft spot, a tenderness within him. Early in the book we see him defend a boy who was being bullied. His tactics are not ones we can condone but to Dwayne, this is just how it is. People are rarely all bad or all good and we see glimpses of the good in Dwayne. Although, all too soon, we see his mind is deteriorating as quickly as the decomposing body of his brother (which needs a strong stomach as it is described in detail).
The characters are complex and for such a gritty book it’s very philosophical, which saves it from being just a simple tale of vengeance. These are not characters I will soon forget. Be aware it’s not for the faint of heart. There were parts where I cringed, parts where I became teary-eyed, and the ending is so tense I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough.
The setting is Appalachia where people do what they do in order to survive. It’s a harsh life and the people are tough. Family and friendship ties are very strong. What happens when something happens to a loved one that forces us to make a choice? What are the consequences?
The writing is beautiful. Here are a few of my favorite lines:
“You still can't see it and it's right in front of your eyes. It's the reason we're gathered here. The only reason we're here is because of the ones we loved. That the line that held us.”
“For whom are you willing to lay down your life? Till a man knows that, he doesn’t know anything.”
“Empathy's not standing over a hole looking down and saying you understand. Empathy is having been in that hole yourself.”
“Dwayne understood that his brother was not meant for this place, that some people were born too soft to bear the teeth of this world. There was no place for weakness in a world like this. Survival was so often a matter of meanness.”
“For as tough as the men were in these mountains, the women had always been stone. They were used to loss, accustomed to never having enough. They were fit for the harshness of this world.”
**Many thanks to Edelweiss for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review **I read this with the Traveling Sister group. As always. our discussion was a pleasure....more
This was a Traveling Sister group read and we were split fairly evenly. Some enjoyed it, but it didn't work for the rest of us. The story had a stron This was a Traveling Sister group read and we were split fairly evenly. Some enjoyed it, but it didn't work for the rest of us. The story had a strong start with an interesting premise, and the author did a good job capturing the initial panic and confusion that would naturally occur after a terrorist attack. There were passages that made me pause, and an excellent point was made about how the media's 24-hour news cycle has changed the way news is reported, with too much opinion, not enough facts. The book ended on an excellent note with thoughts to ponder.
But none of these things saved the book for me. Unfortunately, I found the plot execution and the character's actions somewhat ludicrous, with melodramatic, overwrought story-telling. It's just not a style I enjoy which made it difficult for me to suspend disbelief. I found myself skimming a lot yet not missing much. I guessed the outcome, but that alone is never enough to ruin the story for me.
Other readers have enjoyed this book and have written many excellent reviews.
*I received a copy of this book from Edelweiss. All opinions are my own....more
Sweet and heartwarming! I enjoyed this book very much. This was a Traveling Sister read, and, as always, it made the experience even more enjo3.5 stars
Sweet and heartwarming! I enjoyed this book very much. This was a Traveling Sister read, and, as always, it made the experience even more enjoyable.
The story is told from the POV of 10-year-old Zac, his mother Juliet, and his grandfather Mick. I enjoyed all three perspectives. Zac has never met his father, who “did a runner” before he was born. Zac decides he will undertake a super-secret 'Find Dad Mission', and he recruits his best friend Teagan to help him. The plan, of course, is not just to find his father, but to re-unite his parents.
Zac...what a sweet boy with a big heart. Although Zac’s insights seemed particularly astute given his age, I fell in love with him and my heart broke over the bullying he endured over his weight. His hope and optimism were endearing. I loved how he collected facts, and they were quoted at the beginning of chapters. I really loved his best friend Teagan too....what a great friend she was.
Juliet is a single mom whose heart was broken when Zac’s dad abandoned them, but she is doing the best she can. I was a little frustrated with her at times but I also thought she was portrayed realistically. Her love for her son knew no bounds, something that as a mom I can relate to. Juliet’s own mother is still grieving the death of her son, Juliet’s brother, who died 10 years ago, and their relationship is somewhat strained.
Mick, the grandfather, is holding onto an explosive secret that he'd rather not reveal. Juliet and Mick both love Zac deeply but each of them has kept secrets from each other and from Zac. Secrets that, if revealed, have the potential to cause a lot of damage.
The overriding themes were love and forgiveness. But the sheer number of issues threaten to overwhelm the story. These include bullying, weight and body image, grief, family secrets, alcoholism/addiction, asthma, and unhealthy living conditions. This makes the book sound rather grim, but there is enough humor and sweetness to offset the seriousness. The story has some unexpected twists and ended on a hopeful note. This is the type of book that demands that type of ending and I was satisfied. I admit that at one point my eyes welled up.
Recommended for fans of heartwarming and sweet family stories. It was a perfect read for me in between some heavier reads.
*Many thanks to Elisha at Berkley Publishing for a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own. * you can see this and other Sister book reviews at https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2......more
What a wild ride that was! So many twists and turns I had whiplash. This was a Traveling Sisters read and it made for a fun discussion with a lot of sWhat a wild ride that was! So many twists and turns I had whiplash. This was a Traveling Sisters read and it made for a fun discussion with a lot of speculation as we read.
Claire is an aspiring actress hired by the police to work as a civilian undercover in a sting to catch a suspected serial killer. Or is she? Is she an actress playing a part in her own movie where only she writes the script? Is she unhinged or is this all really happening? Is she the ultimate unreliable narrator or is she just playing a part? Is she the hunted or the hunter? I was never sure. The story kept me off balance and questioning everything.
The book also features poetry by Charles Baudelaire, a French poet known for his controversial volume of poems, Les Fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil). The serial killer is thought to be re-enacting the perverted scenes from the poems. I didn’t enjoy the poems and skimmed most of them.
There are a few plot holes with many twists and turns, and a surprising conclusion. If you can suspend disbelief and just go where the story takes you, it will be a fantastic read. For me, less is more. I would have preferred a few less twists and turns and it needed to be a little higher on the believability scale.
*many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. ...more
This is a beautiful book, both visually and in it's content. It’s a slow burn, a quiet novel with such beautifully expressed thoughts that it would beThis is a beautiful book, both visually and in it's content. It’s a slow burn, a quiet novel with such beautifully expressed thoughts that it would be impossible to read without being deeply affected. I’m in awe that this is a debut novel of a 26-year-old author. Believe all the hype and glowing reviews – this book is deserving of all of it.
The book opens in California with the wedding of Hadia, the eldest of 3 siblings in an Indian-American Muslim family. The estranged brother, Amar, surprisingly attends and stirs up deep-seated complicated family relationships. It is clear something has happened in this family to create a rift, and the reasons are slowly revealed as the story seamlessly toggles back and forth in time, in a non-chronological order. The reader wanders through the memories of this family as we experience them through various points of view. Each memory, each perspective, gives us more insight.
The last 100 or so pages are devoted to a first-person account from Rafiq, the father, and they are riveting. Reading this section tore my heart out and stomped on it, not in a manipulative way, but in a contemplative way. It’s been a long time since a book affected me this deeply.
Although an Indian Muslim family is at its center, there’s such a universality to Mizra’s writing that each reader will find it relatable in some way. Some of the themes include family dynamics, unmet expectations, betrayal, forgiveness, and acceptance. Also explored are the seemingly small, inconsequential decisions that are made every day but which have the power to create a devastasting ripple effect through the decades. It’s about bridging the gap between tradition and the modern world, and the children’s struggle to find a place in the family, in their home, and in the world. The author explores all of these themes with a tenderness and compassion that is extraordinary.
This debut of 26-year-old Mirza is the first book from Sarah Jessica Parker's imprint at Hogarth. I can’t wait to see what the author and the imprint publishes next.
*I read this book with the Traveling Sisters group, and it inspired deep discussions. This would make an excellent book club selection. For the review of this book and others please visit https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
*I received both an e-galley and a print copy from the publisher. Thanks to Netgalley, SJP for Hogarth, the author Fatima Farheen Mirza, and Penguin Random House for providing the ARCs in exchange for an honest review...more
I buddy read this with Brenda in our Traveling Sister group. This is a slim volume but it packs a lot of heart in achingly beautiful, simple prose. ThI buddy read this with Brenda in our Traveling Sister group. This is a slim volume but it packs a lot of heart in achingly beautiful, simple prose. The book opens with the pregnant Dora's first act of defiance in choosing a copy of Van Gogh's “Sunflowers” as her raffle prize over the whiskey her husband wanted. It transformed her drab existence...."this was the life she wanted: Freedom, Possibility. Beauty”.
Fast forward decades and the next section of the book begins with Dora’s son, Ellis, who lost his wife and best friend 5 years ago. He is still in the depths of despair, and his grief and loneliness is heavy. We travel back and forth in time as Ellis gives us background into his childhood, his friendship with Michael, and his wife Annie.
Regarding the title: several references were made in the book about how Ellis needed to be better - better at showing emotion, making human connections. Is he the Tin Man? A reference not just to his job in an auto body shop, but to his heart?
The last half of the book is told in first person narrative by Ellis's friend Michael, who fills in the large gaps in time and fits the pieces of the puzzle together for the reader.
This is in many ways a story of contrasts. Drab loneliness vs the color and beauty found in nature and art. It’s a story of bonding and friendship, but also one of love and loss, loneliness vs. simple human kindnesses. Its about acceptance and finding a place in the world. People are complicated...there are often stark contrasts within a person: Ellis wonders "how flowers and care can reside equally in a man of such rage".
And love, it’s about love in all it’s forms: among friends, romantic love, the love between parent and child, and unrequited love. The love and kindness shown to others. It’s about the beauty and hope that can be found in a simple piece of art. The belief that “men and boys are capable of beautiful things.” And overshadowing it all is the tragic AIDS epidemic.
A few favorite quotes: “I haven't cried. But sometimes I feel as if my veins are leaking, as if my body is overwhelmed, as if I'm drowning from the inside.”
“But it was my humanness that led me to seek, that’s all. Led us all to seek. A simple need to belong somewhere.”
“I see how decisions are made, in moments like that, that change the trajectory of ones life.” How those decisions can change how one defines oneself.
“Autumn knocks on the window. I pull back the sliding doors and let it in. Lights from the meat market flicker and car light streak the gloom. Overhead the pulse of aeroplane wings replaces the stars. The flat is quiet. This is loneliness.”
“I wonder what the sound of a heart breaking might be. And I think it might be quiet, unperceptively so, and not dramatic at all. Like the sound of an exhausted swallow falling gently to earth.”
As haunting and sad as this book was, it ends on hopeful note. I really liked the message about belonging, acceptance and love and human kindness. This story and the characters are ones that will stay with me for a long time to come.
* I received my copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to EW, the publisher, and the author....more
Excellent heartfelt story about the troubled dynamics of the mother/daughter bond and the relationship between two sisters. Sisters Meredith and Nina Excellent heartfelt story about the troubled dynamics of the mother/daughter bond and the relationship between two sisters. Sisters Meredith and Nina couldn't be more different from one another, and have difficulty bridging the gap to find common ground. Their Russian-born mother, Anya, however, has always been cold and distant and the girls have felt unloved, affecting each of them in different ways. Their fragile bond is further threatened after the death of their father, who was the glue that held them all together.
But the girls made a promise to their dying father and they gradually begin to draw the truth out of their mother through the fairy tale she's been telling for years, but never finished it to the end. Alternating chapters tell her story of growing up in Russia and her experiences in Leningrad during the war. And what a heartbreaking story it is as her sweet fairy tale turns into a horrifying tale of what was endured during the siege of Leningrad. More than a set of facts from a history book, Hannah makes you feel and I was brought to tears more than once.
These three women slowly reconnect with one another during a trip to Alaska and the telling of their mother's story. There's a lot of universal truths contained within the pages of this book. So much of the personality quirks of each of the women is explained by delving into the dynamics of the family relationships. Lies and secrets can destroy relationships, but understanding a person's story gives clarity into their seemingly inconceivable ways of behaving in the present, bringing empathy and understanding.
Can we ever know our parents (or anyone?) without knowing their story? I confess that I felt differently about some of the characters by the end of the novel than I did at the beginning. And Anya's story demonstrates that we can be sad for the lost years but it is never too late to right wrongs and mend broken relationships. The ending had me sobbing, even though it was tied up a little too predictably and neatly with a couple of unlikely coincidences. But I didn't care. I needed that ending.
4.5 stars The narrator of the audio book was outstanding.
This is an excellent and thought-provoking collection of fictional short stories based on Mr. O'Brien's experiences in the Vietnam War. In an interestThis is an excellent and thought-provoking collection of fictional short stories based on Mr. O'Brien's experiences in the Vietnam War. In an interesting literary device, the author inserted himself in the stories in what he calls "story-truth". He is, in effect, a fictional character in his own book. In the end, it doesn't matter if everything happened exactly as written to this particular group of soldiers, because it is story-truth. The line is blurred between fiction and non-fiction and probably conveys truth better than a play-by-play factual accounting could.
The book opens with one of the most powerful stories, a listing of what the soldiers carried into war: the heavy gear and supplies, pictures of sweethearts, and other personal items, but they also carried heavy emotions, like fear, responsibility, courage, guilt, and the hardest of all, cowardice. These emotions couldn't be put down at the end of the day like the gear, but lived with them every moment of every day and night. A sobering thought, very powerfully conveyed.
What follows the opening story is superbly written and gut-wrenching. O'Brien captures the horrors of war, the never-ending fear, the camaraderie, the chaos, and, of course death, as well as the repercussions for so many of our soldiers. For me, I found this to be an eye-opening follow-up after watching the excellent Ken Burns PBS series, The Vietnam War. O'Brien is interviewed in the documentary. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. Then read this book.
I read this with the Traveling Sisters group that included Brenda, Nikki, Marialyce, Jaline, and Diane. We read it slowly, savoring the stories, and discussing it along the way. Ladies, I so enjoyed reading with all of you and our discussions added so much depth and meaning to our reading.
This was a mixed bag for me for the following reasons:
- I'm not a fan of the confession monologue as a means to solve a crime - I found it difficult tThis was a mixed bag for me for the following reasons:
- I'm not a fan of the confession monologue as a means to solve a crime - I found it difficult to keep the characters straight and needed to jot notes down as I read.
- But I loved the focus on motherhood and how difficult it is to balance those first few months. - I liked the focus on the part the media plays in sensationalizing crimes and their rush to judgement. - loved the the "Nancy Grace" character who vilified the moms for having a drink on a girl's night out. As if that makes them bad moms? - Such a good point on how misleading one picture can be when taken out of context, yet that's the picture that is splashed across newspapers and TV screens. There's a lot to unpack here and discuss. - the insensitivity of co-workers and bosses in the workplace when a new mom returns to work. I think our country could do better to support and enable women who return to work. What an awful position many women find themselves in. Again, a lot to unpack and discuss. - I found a character's story timely in this age of #MeToo and loved the point made of why do we call scandals by the woman's name, not the man's, especially when it's a young vulnerable woman who is preyed upon by a man in a position of power. The man pretty much gets away with it while the woman pays the price her entire life.
- there was a story arc for one of the male characters that didn't ring true for me. - I was invested in the story the first half but the author lost me in the second half. I thought there was an opportunity lost - the author made much of some of the marital difficulties that often come with new parenthood but didn't really explore them in depth - I know this wasn't a police procedural but I would have liked to have read the perspective from the detectives working the case. They seemed to be extremely inept.
Overall, I really liked the messages about new motherhood, the shaming of women caught in a scandal, the exploration of the media's role in sensationalizing a crime, and the rush to assign blame and convict in the court of public opinion. But the crime itself and the resolution left me feeling pretty meh. If I were rating that part only I'd give it a 2 (fair), but will bump it up because it's a debut novel and I did appreciate the point the author was trying to make on important and timely issues.
*many thanks to EW for an ARC of this novel given in exchange for an honest review. *this was a traveling sister read. For this and other review please visit their blog at: https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com...more
How do you move forward when life as you know it ends? Everything you had planned for, hoped for, and dreamed about is over. For Margaret, her life chHow do you move forward when life as you know it ends? Everything you had planned for, hoped for, and dreamed about is over. For Margaret, her life changes in an instant with a devastating accident that leaves her severely injured.
The focus of this heartwarming novel is how Margaret copes with the hand she's been dealt. And she has a colorful cast of characters that help her do just that. Some you will loathe, some will frustrate you, and others you will fall in love with. All are interesting, but her sister Kitty stole my heart.
I’m paraphrasing, but the ultimate message in the book is you have to live the life you were given, look for reasons to be grateful, work to create them while finding inspiration in the struggle, and pull joy out of hardship. “Because that’s all we can do: carry the sorrow when we have to and absolutely savor the joy when we can. Life is always, always both.”
I think the author successfully blended a happy feel-good story with the realities of life not always turning out the way we expect and she does it with humor and a lot of heart.
Recommended to readers who enjoy humorous character-driven feel-good novels.
*I received a copy of the book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review *this title will be published May 15, 2018 ...more
My advice when you pick this book up is to view it as you would a rom-com movie. Turn off your inner critic and just have fun with it.
I conf3.5 stars
My advice when you pick this book up is to view it as you would a rom-com movie. Turn off your inner critic and just have fun with it.
I confess I had a slight problem with the premise: a young couple panics when their doctor tells them they will likely live to be over 100, which would mean another 68 years together. If you're happily married who wouldn't be delighted at that news??? (True story: As I'm writing this review a news reporter is on TV interviewing a couple who have been married for 73 years! Synchronicity! )
But Ok, the couple decides to spice things up by planning surprises for one another. As you would imagine, things don’t always go as planned. Very amusing. The last half of the book turns a little more serious with lessons to be learned about married life, and the ending is as you would expect from this genre.
All in all, a light, enjoyable, predictable book and a nice break from more serious heavy reads. I liked it but not as much as the only other book I've read by this author, My Not So Perfect Life.
* thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an e-galley of the book in exchange for an honest review * I read this with the traveling sisters group here on GR. Their book reviews can be found on their blog at: https://twogirlslostinacouleereading.......more
I really enjoyed this story of two sisters, Miranda and Lucia, who immigrated with their mother from China to the U.S. Miranda was very young, and theI really enjoyed this story of two sisters, Miranda and Lucia, who immigrated with their mother from China to the U.S. Miranda was very young, and their mother was pregnant with Lucia. The girls have a close relationship as they grow up, but Lucia begins to exhibit troubling symptoms of mental illness as a young adult. The story spans decades and several continents, and we follow the sisters throughout their lives, as they deal with marriage, motherhood, jobs, moves to other countries, and, of course, mental illness.
I think the author's message was consistent throughout in exploring the effects of mental illness on an individual and their family. What can happen when treatment and compliance is lacking? How much autonomy and freedom should an ill adult have when other lives are affected? How much responsibility should family members take on? Especially when help isn’t wanted? How much should the family sacrifice? None of these questions have easy answers and I appreciated the author not dealing with them lightly and avoiding offering up pat solutions.
While I enjoyed the book, especially the themes of family bonds and mental illness, I did think the story lagged just a bit once the setting changed to Ecuador. And then at the end there was a sudden time jump of decades, which was a little jarring.
Overall, this is a strong, thought-provoking debut and would make an excellent book club choice. I look forward to seeing what the author writes next.
I read this with the Traveling Sister group. The book inspired wonderful discussion. Their blog review of this book and others can be found at : https://twogirlslostinacouleereading.... Many thanks to Edelweiss, Penguin Random House and the author for an e-galley of the book for review....more
This was a terrific gothic mystery with great characters and writing. I loved the suspense and the creepy vibe and I couldn’3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
This was a terrific gothic mystery with great characters and writing. I loved the suspense and the creepy vibe and I couldn’t wait to get back to the story every time I put the book down.
Told with a dual story line, one is set in the 1950s, featuring four girls who live at Idlewild, a boarding school for troubled or unwanted girls. The girls’ stories were heartbreaking and they really captured my heart. They had no one except each other and their friendship was endearing. The 4 are inseparable until one of them disappears without a trace. The school is eventually closed and abandoned, and the mystery of the missing girl was never solved. Adding to the mystery swirling around Idlewild are rumors of the property being haunted by a mysterious woman in a veil and black dress, a ghost that knows how to prey on a person's weaknesses and deepest fears.
The second story line is set in 2014. There are plans afoot to rebuild Idlewild, and Fiona, an investigative journalist, is covering the story. The place has long fascinated her, ever since her sister Deb was murdered, and her body dumped on the grounds. Deb’s boyfriend was tried and convicted of the crime, but Fiona still has unanswered questions that plague her. During the excavation, the remains of a long-dead young girl is found, and with the help of her policeman boyfriend and retired journalist father, Fiona is more determined than ever to uncover the truth.
I enjoyed both story lines and was riveted to the page until the end. The characters were engaging and the ghost believable. There are secrets galore and supernatural occurrences that kept me flipping the pages as fast as I could.
There were perhaps just a few too many plot lines going on and things became a bit muddled toward the end. A confession monologue by a perp is my least favorite way of solving a crime and this knocked a star off my rating. Still, there’s much to enjoy in this deeply atmospheric story and fans of mystery novels with a side of supernatural won’t be disappointed.
*Book publishes on March 20, 2018. I received an e-galley of the book for review. Many thanks to Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing group, and the author.
I very much enjoyed The Kind Worth Killing and was eagerly awaiting this newest release.
The setting is Maine, and the story revolves around recent colI very much enjoyed The Kind Worth Killing and was eagerly awaiting this newest release.
The setting is Maine, and the story revolves around recent college grad Harry who goes back home after the unexpected death of his father. The publisher's blurb is the perfect description: "...a diabolically clever tale of obsession, revenge, and cold-blooded murder—a sly and brilliant guessing game." Add in a femme fatale stepmother and questionable identities and this sounds like the perfect thriller.
On a positive note, there were some surprising twists, and I eyed more than one person with suspicion, plus it was a fast-paced easy read. On the negative side, I found a few of the relationships distasteful, and some of the character's actions stretched credulity. The ending failed to satisfy me, and some of the motives failed to ring true.
So, in the end, it was a decent, but not outstanding entry in the psychological suspense category. I read this with the Traveling Sister group, and we were split on our final thoughts. Some enjoyed it more than I did. For this and other traveling sister reviews visit their blog at: https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....
*Thanks to Edelweiss, William Morrow publishing and Peter Swanson for a copy of the e-book for review...more
This was my first book by this author. I love her writing and will be looking for more of her books. This novel focuses on the Spanish flu pa4.5 stars
This was my first book by this author. I love her writing and will be looking for more of her books. This novel focuses on the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 that killed more people than WWI. “The flu took whoever it wanted, no matter what any of us did or didn’t do.” And often it took healthy young adults, which sounds scarily familiar to what we experienced this year. I knew about the Spanish flu as a fact I’d learned in history books but this book brings it up close and personal by looking at a family that owned a funeral home, the Brights.
The first half focused on the pandemic itself, while the second half focused on the aftermath for the Bright family. I did enjoy the first half of the book a little more than the last, but other readers felt the opposite. The ending was a little too tidy, but sometimes I need that in my stories, and this was one of them. I was very moved emotionally throughout, often brought to tears. The author’s writing was beautiful and I cared deeply for this family. I learned things I didn’t know, it made me think, and it touched me emotionally.
"Death comes to all of us....meanwhile we fill the pages of our existence with all the love we can for as long as we can." "We only see a little bit of our stories at a time and the hard parts remind us too harshly that we’re fragile and flawed. But it isn’t all hard. Some of it is incredibly beautiful."
Highly recommended.
*I read this with the Traveling Sisters group and the book inspired great discussions. Thanks Sisters! You can find their blog with reviews to this book and others at: https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com...more
Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we begin to deceive. And never is that more evident than in the stories of these three women in the afterOh what a tangled web we weave when at first we begin to deceive. And never is that more evident than in the stories of these three women in the aftermath of an explosion that kills over 500 people.
Cecily was supposed to be in the building at the time the explosion took place but was running late and so was spared. Her husband and best friend were killed that day, and she is in mourning. Franny is a young woman who was in search for her birth mother, who was killed when the building exploded. And then we have Kate, the most mysterious of the three. She’s on the run and in hiding, but why? What is her story?
The story line toggles back and forth from before the explosion to the current day, the one year anniversary of the tragedy. All of these women are harboring secrets. Even the dead had secrets. Are some secrets worth keeping or is the price too high? When is a lie justified? Where is the line drawn? The twists and revelations continued right up to the last page. Who is lying and who is the best liar of them all? You will start to question just who the good liar is and your opinion may change several times as you read.
I found the author’s writing style engaging, her characters interesting, and the story line a page-turner. The characters were compelling and I admit to being shocked on more than one occasion. After I turned the last page I found myself going back and re-reading certain parts and questioning some of my assumptions. There are moral dilemmas to grapple with, and there are circumstances that are debatable, which is why I think this would make a thought-provoking book club choice.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Catherine McKenzie, and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of the e-book for review. This was a great discussion book with my fellow traveling sisters! https://twogirlslostinacouleereading.......more
A very quirky novel, Jess Kidd has a distinctive style that is difficult to describe. The tone and language were everything in thi4.5 stars rounded up
A very quirky novel, Jess Kidd has a distinctive style that is difficult to describe. The tone and language were everything in this novel. The humor lightened up what is a serious murder mystery and brought in much needed levity. The language and descriptions oozes charm.
And the characters were delightful! I absolutely loved the scene where books saved a character’s life - it may just be my favorite scene in the entire book, and you will just have to read it to find out how and who ...more
This was my first book by this author although I own I Let You Go, a book I've heard wonderful things about and plan to read soon. I really enjoyed thThis was my first book by this author although I own I Let You Go, a book I've heard wonderful things about and plan to read soon. I really enjoyed the beginning of this one and was very invested in the characters and the writing. I had enormous sympathy for Anna who lost both her parents to suicide within a year. When there are clues that perhaps her parent's deaths were not suicide, Detective Murray is brought in and re-opens the investigation. He was a welcome addition to the story, and ended up being my favorite character. I just loved him. I found the side story of his wife's struggles with mental illness to be sensitive and heartfelt. I applaud the author for wring a character that sheds light and understanding on mental health issues.
Unfortunately, back to the main characters, when the twists started coming, the story fell apart for me. There were too many and the story became a convoluted mess that didn't hold up to scrutiny. Sometimes, less is more. Truthfully, the resolution and the events that happened towards the end ruined the entire book for me. Some readers have enjoyed this book, so don't take my word alone for it - read those reviews too.
* Thank you to Edelweiss, the publisher and the author for an e-galley of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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