I couldn’t put this down until the murder happened (not a spoiler, it’s in the description). There was enough going on that this part of the story wasI couldn’t put this down until the murder happened (not a spoiler, it’s in the description). There was enough going on that this part of the story wasn’t needed and just sent the whole book too over the top. It’s an outfit with one too many accessories.
The multiple family issues, interpersonal character stuff, and jewelry heist was more then enough. We didn’t need to kill a guy in a paragraph and then spend the rest of the book trying to make that work. Whether or not the relationships and jewelry situations worked out was engaging enough.
Overall I liked it but I could have liked it a lot more. Will still read this author.
SUMMARY: Kat and her mom Jaime have been living and working with a jewelry thief for the past decade. It’s supposed to be the famous last job—they’ll be legit and above board after this. The goal is to steal a necklace from a wealthy heiress at her rich dad’s birthday.
Problems first ensue when it’s revealed that Jaime’s ex-husband (a con man) is the boyfriend of the mark. (His mark too, obvs) His son, nearly the same age as kat, is also in tow and hates his dad.
Next problem is Jaime becomes rather ill and now teenage kat has to do the job. Unfortunately she runs into problems (I won’t say what to avoid spoilers but you can guess easily).
As you can see a lot is going on. You can also imagine the drama with all these people and their history. Plus Liam (the son) starts crushing on the marks nephew so we have that pot simmering too…
And now we have the ruiner for me: in the middle of the party, a richie relative is killed. Kat happens to be there but doesn’t have a good view. No she’s in danger!
The rest of the book is a mess with trying to solve the murder, not die, get the necklace, reveal multiple family secrets…
Like I said… take one of these accessories off girl!...more
I enjoyed this. Having just finished a long (and terrific) series involving nuclear ☢️ drama (here a plane hits a power plant, in the s3.8 rounded up
I enjoyed this. Having just finished a long (and terrific) series involving nuclear ☢️ drama (here a plane hits a power plant, in the series there was a nuclear war) I was worried it would feel a little stale or repetitive but aside from discussing a few medical issues it was very different.
I haven’t read any other book in this series and was surprised to learn it was a book #11. There wasn’t anything about it that suggested it was part oI haven’t read any other book in this series and was surprised to learn it was a book #11. There wasn’t anything about it that suggested it was part of a series. It was a true stand alone.
That said, the book was too long and “slow burn” for me. I eventually tired of it and stopped caring whether I finished or not. I’m not sure if I actually got to 100 percent or quit a tiny bit early once all was revealed.
Speaking of the reveal, it was a disappointment after waiting so long for it. ...more
Dear high school or college boyfriends, if you’re still in love with me, move on.
Initially I thought the oDNF @ 20%
I can’t do this troupe/story again.
Dear high school or college boyfriends, if you’re still in love with me, move on.
Initially I thought the one story was somewhat interesting (mostly around the boy) and the other a little bit but then it went sideways into the same ...more
This could have been a great story but was ruined with extremely implausible over the top scenarios/reveals. I am also aggravated2.8 stars rounded up
This could have been a great story but was ruined with extremely implausible over the top scenarios/reveals. I am also aggravated by how often adopted children or children from the foster system are vilified as if we are all sociopaths because we were fostered or adopted.
Other complaints: the dialogue between the husband and wife was unbelievable and ridiculous. No couple speaks the way they do. It was weird… almost as if a teenager was trying to write older adults.
I almost quit the book several times because of this and because both the husband and wife are awful, unlikable people. Since I didn’t have anything else to read and I was mildly curious about the husbands backstory, I pressed on. It finally started to get interesting around 40-50% but then sharply nosedived with multiple unnecessary and very implausible reveals that aren’t necessary.
I normally like these second wife tropes in the bad husband psych thriller but this was one I’d rather not have read.
My final annoyance was a French person in France said « this isn’t my first rodeo » LMAOOOOO stop.
Thanks netgalley for my ALC.
SUMMARY: husband is a sociopath narcissist sexist misogynistic POS. He’s 50 and thinks he looks like George Clooney. He’s been dating a 70-80yo for the last year and when she dies she leaves him 80 mil. At her funeral a pretty 30yo meets him and they get married shortly thereafter. He wants to control her and thinks women should be barefoot and pregnant with no rights or thoughts of her own. Major tradwife vibes…
Husband is now beginning to suspect she married him for his money. To the authors credit, the motive is interesting beyond gold digger but this reveal is sadly wasted.
They are now in Paris for their first anniversary and things aren’t going to husbands plans at all. Gosh darn her for talking to other people and buying things without her permission!
The story goes between this day in Paris as well as months and days leading up to this day, including their courtship. It also flashes to both his past and hers where the reader learns their “dark secrets”
The story is told from his POV, her POV, and the POV of another character I can’t say more about without spoilers.
Bottom line: 50 shades meets gone girl without the sex. ...more
Wow! This was great! I couldn’t put it down. I hadn’t read the previous books in the series prior and am sorry I hadn’t. I will go back and read them Wow! This was great! I couldn’t put it down. I hadn’t read the previous books in the series prior and am sorry I hadn’t. I will go back and read them next. That said, this works fine as a stand alone.This story had me on the edge of my seat and I loved the MC. She was so realistic and relatable. I also loved all the showing and thinking it out by the MC without monologues.
I didn’t care so much about her personal life or the case her boyfriend was working on (mentioned briefly every 20-25% as a side plot) but know if I had read the prior books I probably would have appreciated the story movement there. Great narrator too. Highly recommend for fans of the Morgan Dane and Tracy crossright series’.
Note: this is a case of don’t judge a book by its cover! Or title. I wasn’t vining with either but tried the book when I had nothing else. Then just before starting it, I saw a high praise review here from a GR friend which was motivating… I am so glad I read this after a long string of DNFs.
UPDATE: apparently I had tried #1 some time ago and it was a DNF for me. Goes to show you can try a series again later!
I was pretty lukewarm about the story overall but it was quick and a fast read so I kept with DNF at 76%
The reveal slid into a topic I will not read.
I was pretty lukewarm about the story overall but it was quick and a fast read so I kept with it.
As of now, this is another book where the cover and title makes absolutely no sense (maybe it will by the end).
SUMMARY: MC feels very fatigued and tired but blood tests etc say she’s fine.
One night she falls asleep with her Fitbit on and wakes up to see she completed 40,000 steps. This leads her to set up a camera on herself and she discovers she is sleep walking. Despite all efforts to stop (eg pills; blocking her door with furniture) she continues to sleep walk and more disturbingly, she starts finding blood on her body and more and more injuries. She’s now afraid she’s a murderer.
Stop reading now to avoid any potential spoilers.
Eventually she traces her night steps from the Fitbit and finds piles and piles of dead cats from her neighborhood.
I tried a few times with this book. I liked the MC and setup but couldn’t stand to be around the male characters. They couldn’t help but grDNF at 21%
I tried a few times with this book. I liked the MC and setup but couldn’t stand to be around the male characters. They couldn’t help but grand stand and blabber on or “mansplain” there are enough of these guys already I don’t need more.
JM is a favorite author and I have read every book he’s written. This was just okay. It felt too long for one and had too many characters and stories;JM is a favorite author and I have read every book he’s written. This was just okay. It felt too long for one and had too many characters and stories; particularly since I didn’t connect or care about any of them. The story is also a blended drink of popular movies.
This story is very sad and there were a couple of times I didn’t think I could continue to read a story about a little baby that died. I did finish itThis story is very sad and there were a couple of times I didn’t think I could continue to read a story about a little baby that died. I did finish it and feel depressed. However, it was a true psychological thriller and I had no idea who to believe or what the answer was.
SUMMARY: Martha’s 8 week old daughter died in her sisters care. The sister is on trial for murder (suffocation) but is using the defense it was cot death (SIDS) or some kind of accident such as the baby turned over and smothered herself.
The entire book is the trial, with Martha sitting in the court room listening and trying to decide if her sister did it or not. Periodically the story flashes back to the days leading up to the baby’s death. The majority of the book is told from Martha POV but occasionally her sister Becky narrates (usually in the past) and there are one-off chapters where expert witnesses or the judge narrates.
I wasn’t sure what happened to the baby and once it was revealed I was shocked I hadn’t consisted that outcome. However on reflection if you read a lot in this genre you’ve probably heard it before and will guess.
I struggled to connect or like any of the characters. I found Martha especially annoying and unlikable. I also didn’t care for her portrayal/ narrator even though it’s a favorite narrator usually.
There’s a bag of problems for me: none of the characters are likable or people I want to spend time with. I can sometimes read a book with chDNF @ 25%
There’s a bag of problems for me: none of the characters are likable or people I want to spend time with. I can sometimes read a book with characters I don’t like if it’s relatable or I want them to eat a shit sandwich. That’s not happening here. I also find it rather slow moving and the narrative style isn’t working for me. Oh well.
I loved this! Ate it up! Couldn’t put it down! I went in totally blind and think that only benefited me so I won’t summarize here. Super sto4.4 stars
I loved this! Ate it up! Couldn’t put it down! I went in totally blind and think that only benefited me so I won’t summarize here. Super story, superb characters, superb narrator. Thanks netgalley! ...more
I am probably not the audience for this book… I have never watched survivor, big brother, the bachelor, American idol, COPS, etc. I also don’t watch tI am probably not the audience for this book… I have never watched survivor, big brother, the bachelor, American idol, COPS, etc. I also don’t watch those home flipper shows. In college I might have caught a few episodes of “the real world” or daytime talk shows because my roommate always had them on but I can’t remember watching any on my own (I did, however, watch soaps so I’m not here to judge anyone lol) I was also swept up in the early seasons of project runway and top chef.
The only “reality shows” I watch now are great British bake and ALONE. Admittedly, while recovering from a surgery, I did succumb to watching a few seasons of Love is Blind in the hospital, primarily so I had things to text my friends about. I hate myself for it and after the last season and the lawsuits now, I don’t know I can ever watch it again no matter how much I feel left out of a group text.
Background over…. REVIEW: I really enjoyed this book.
Overall it surprised me and in did alter my thoughts on reality tv.
For example, this book made me realize I watched far more reality than I thought. Example: I watched Americans funniest home videos as a child. That’s reality tv. I never would have thought about it or game shows in that way. Who of us didn’t watch jeopardy in the 80/90s? I also hadn’t considered things like Gordon Ramsay as reality but it is (not that I watch it).
I also didn’t realize reality tv went back as far as it did! I thought MTV created it in 1990s with real world but it’s been around much longer.
BOTTOM LINE: I think someone who watches reality shows will get a lot more out of this book than I did and will enjoy it more. That said I still found it interesting. I prefer a real documentary but I also won’t stop watching Alone anytime soon.
My feelings on whether reality tv is taking advantage of people still remains mixed....more
Just okay. I was pretty bored until about halfway. Even after the interesting reveal, I still found myself only mildly interested. I typically love thJust okay. I was pretty bored until about halfway. Even after the interesting reveal, I still found myself only mildly interested. I typically love this author but this is by far my least favorite of his. Far too many big confessionals.
SUMMARY: Martha, a newly wed, has become suspicious of her husband after finding blood on his shirt. She calls upon a friend from college to investigate him and find out if he is a serial killer as she fears. As the friend investigates she ends up in danger and also learns there is a connection no one else will figure out so it’s up to her to bring justice....more
This book kept me guessing. I really didn’t know who was the “bad guy” and was delighted by the refreshingly original reveal at the end.
I w3.6 stars!
This book kept me guessing. I really didn’t know who was the “bad guy” and was delighted by the refreshingly original reveal at the end.
I will definitely look for more books by this author.
SUMMARY: Tess is happily living with her partner, her teen son, his teen son, and their toddler daughter. Everything goes to shiitake when a family with a 6yo and teen girl moves in next door. The boys, who had been close, now find themselves in a bitter rivalry for the girls’ affections. Tess’s relationship suffers and she and her partner become divided standing up for their respective son. Then the teen girl falls out of her bedroom window and ends up in a coma, fighting for her life.
The police determine she was pushed and an investigation ensues. Both boys are suspects and the family becomes more fractured. Tess also starts to suspect her husband may have been involved when she learns he’s been keeping secrets from her. The neighbors and entire community blames Tess’s family and the stress mounts.
Eventually the teen wakes up and says she accidentally fell, but everyone knows she’s lying. Eventually it is revealed who pushed the teen and why. The story ends fairly happily.
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