EDGE OF COLLAPSE by Kyla Stone has an excellent premise and provides plenty of page-turning tension.
MY TEASE…
Fate has been viciously cruel to Hannah EDGE OF COLLAPSE by Kyla Stone has an excellent premise and provides plenty of page-turning tension.
MY TEASE…
Fate has been viciously cruel to Hannah Sheridan.
For the last five years, a sadistic psychopath has held Hannah captive in a basement. Every weekend, he drives to his secluded cabin located deep within Michigan’s Manistee National Forest to see the woman he kidnapped.
In a twist of fate, the electronic bolt retracts on her basement door during an apocalyptic event that shuts down the grid. Hannah has a chance to escape, to run from her captor who isn’t at the cabin. A chance to run toward her former life.
But Hannah isn’t out of the woods. Not by a long shot. It’s a frigid winter. She’s in the middle of nowhere, her pregnancy is nearly full term, and a ferocious dog guards the cabin. Add to that, her captor is a skilled tracker who, no doubt, is determined to reach his property, his possession, in order to keep things exactly how he likes them…under his complete control.
Will Hannah have a turn of fate? Or has her destiny already been frozen in time?
THOUGHTS…
I really enjoyed the premise and tension of this book! A survival adventure story is right down my alley!
One factor in particular kept this from being a 5-star read.
EDGE OF COLLAPSE is the first of seven books, so I knew going into it that not all the story threads would be resolved. However, Book 1 ended with most threads left hanging. I get that this technique is meant to springboard me to the next book, but I prefer that each book I read, whether part of a series or not, has a 3-act structure with a satisfying dramatic arc. In other words, when I’m finished a book, I want to feel satisfied but wanting more (think THE HUNGER GAMES, the LINSENBIGLER series, or the ETHAN CHASE THRILLER series).
So, I was disappointed after finishing EDGE OF COLLAPSE.
However, the premise and tension kept me turning the pages, so I rated it with 3.5 stars and rounded up. If you’re looking for a series to stick with, I think this one has a really good, intriguing start!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 3 (Only because it was incomplete) Main character’s likability: 4 Development of supporting character(s): 3.5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4.5 Believability (in the context of the story): 3.5 Satisfying ending: 2.5 Tension of the story: 4.5 Stirs the heart (friendship): 3 (Involving characters other than the captor) Cover: EXCELLENT
OVERALL…
EDGE OF COLLAPSE strongly kicks off the series with an engaging, tension-filled read. Keep in mind, if you want answers to story threads in Book 1, you’ll have to move on to the next installment!...more
PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir is an amazing blast of character development and voice!
MY TEASE…
The sun is fading. Projections are dire. In 19 years, PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir is an amazing blast of character development and voice!
MY TEASE…
The sun is fading. Projections are dire. In 19 years, Earth will be iced over.
The best minds are being selected for a last-ditch effort: an international taskforce assembled to save the planet. A Hail Mary.
No way does Ryland Grace think he should be included in the chosen elite. He’s a junior high school science teacher whose academic clout is less than stellar. Significantly less. As in, his doctoral thesis was widely rejected. Laughable, in fact.
But Ryland can’t remember any of that when he wakes up. He can’t even remember his name or those of the two corpses near him.
Unsettling as his new reality is, three things are easily discernable: Ryland is alone, on a spacecraft, and somewhere beyond Earth’s solar system.
Will he remember what led to his circumstances? And is he capable of saving himself, let alone Earth which is light-years away?
THOUGHTS…
Wow, wow, wow! I love reading books that thoroughly engage me as a reader while modeling exceptional writing, inspiring me as an author. This book delivers big time—rockets blazing!
PROJECT HAIL MARY is a masterpiece on “voice.” The voices of the characters are so authentic, so captivating and endearing, that I didn’t care how many science principles were thrown at me. I was going to stick with these characters no matter what. That’s the sign of a talented author from whom I can learn!
This book has landed on my “favorites” shelf. For my tastes, it fires on all cylinders when it comes to engaging me in a survival story packed with originality and believability; one that’s expertly written and deeply connects me with the characters.
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5+ Main character’s likability: 5+ Development of supporting character(s): 5+ Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4.5 Believability (in the context of the story): 5 Satisfying ending: 4.5 Tension of the story: 4.5 Stirs the heart (friendship): 5+
OVERALL…
PROJECT HAIL MARY soars to my favorites shelf! Packed with originality, this book shines brightly when it comes to character development and voice. I highly recommend it!...more
THE SEPTEMBER HOUSE by Carissa Orlando is a tension-filled crossover, combining ghost horror and psychological suspense, that will keep readers guessiTHE SEPTEMBER HOUSE by Carissa Orlando is a tension-filled crossover, combining ghost horror and psychological suspense, that will keep readers guessing where the story is heading!
MY TEASE…
Margaret had developed a personal philosophy to deescalate domestic contentions: Follow the rules and “everything is survivable.” For the most part, her philosophy has worked.
But when Margaret and her husband, Hal, moved into a beautiful Victorian mansion on Hawthorn Street, little did she know that her philosophy would be tested like never before—certainly the “survivable” part. Turns out, the ghostly inhabitants of their new residence, built in 1882, have their own set of rules, especially in the month of September when their paranormal activity is off the charts.
Hal, who had always been the rule setter, wasn’t accustomed to following the rules of others, let alone rules imposed by a horde of disfigured, temperamental ghosts. He fled, leaving Margaret to fend for herself as September closed in on the house.
Being the quintessential rule follower, Margaret would’ve been fine. Except, her daughter Katherine wouldn’t be denied a first-time visit to the house any longer. After all, her father hasn’t been seen or heard from since he left, and Katherine is determined to find out why.
Will Hal be found? And will Margaret and Katherine survive the perfect storm that is about to engulf the mansion?
The walls are already bleeding and that’s only the start…
THOUGHTS…
THE SEPTEMBER HOUSE was an awesome read! It wasn’t bite-your-nails scary; instead, it was a tension filled walk on thin, cracking ice. I give a thumbs up to the author for making sure I was never on sure-footing! I knew the cracks were coming, I just wasn’t sure from which direction. This made for a very engaging story!
There’s quite a bit of narrative in this novel, but this didn’t lessen my enjoyment at all. Margaret has a dry sense of humor which was subtle perfection! Like this example:
“I barely got the door settled back against the doorframe before it screamed open, shoving me aside with a strength one rarely sees in doors.”
I also appreciated how the author infused difficult topics such as… (view spoiler)[domestic abuse. Margaret’s journey from enabling to “enough” felt authentic. Abusers can be anywhere: in real life and in the afterlife. The author also thoughtfully incorporated Katherine’s concerns that her mother might be in the throes of dementia. (hide spoiler)]
When it came to the paranormal, the author asked a lot of me in the area of suspension of belief. However, there was so much to enjoy in this book that the story won me over anyway. This was Orlando’s debut, and I can’t wait to read what she does next!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5+ Main character’s likability: 4.5 Development of supporting character(s): 4.5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5+ Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 5 Believability (in the context of the story): 3- Satisfying ending: 4.5 Tension of the story: 5+ Stirs the heart (romantic elements): N/A Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? There were some twists that I suspected and others that totally surprised me!
OVERALL…
THE SEPTEMBER HOUSE is an addictive read that will expertly keep you off balance and guessing! This book has earned a spot on my favorites shelf and I highly recommend it!...more
THE WINTER PEOPLE is an expertly crafted, supernatural mystery that will leave a frosty chill deep within your bones.
MY TEASE…
Death was present when STHE WINTER PEOPLE is an expertly crafted, supernatural mystery that will leave a frosty chill deep within your bones.
MY TEASE…
Death was present when Sara Harrison Shea entered the world at a farmhouse in rural West Hall, Vermont. Her mother died during childbirth. From then on, death rarely left Sara’s side. It clung to her like an infant for all the days of her life.
Ordinary people might’ve been driven mad by death’s relentless proximity, but Sara was far from ordinary. In fact, a sorceress had even taught her how to raise the dead and she had penned the incantation into her diary.
More than a century later, the Washburnes live in the same farmhouse and death’s icy grip has threatened to take hold of its residents once again. Ruthie’s mother has gone missing. In search of clues, 19-year-old Ruthie finds Sara’s 1908 diary, hidden in her mother’s bedroom, minus several key pages.
With time running out, can Ruthie find the missing pages, rescue her mother, and satiate death before more lives are lost? And will Ruthie finally realize that her connection to the past is far from ordinary?
THOUGHTS…
THE WINTER PEOPLE is my favorite book thus far in 2023. I love books where the answers to a present day, supernatural mystery can be solved by finding hidden archives from the past. McMahon is an expert in this style of storytelling and THE WINTER PEOPLE is a perfect example.
Consistent with other works I’ve read by this author, McMahon’s writing is impressive! Here are too examples:
“She lay on her back, looked up at the dark sky, the swirling snow that fell down on her like a million falling stars.
And…
“The trees were bent and twisted, the branches weighted down with snow. She felt the trees were watching her, a terrible army that stood in rows and reached for her with gnarled fingers.”
Nice, right? And here are more accolades…
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5+ Main character’s likability: 5 Development of supporting character(s): 5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5+ Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4.5 Believability (in the context of the story): 4 Satisfying ending: 4.5 Tension of the story: 5 Stirs the heart (romantic elements): 4 (The story didn’t have romantic elements, but it did include a love story.) Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? No!
OVERALL…
I highly recommend THE WINTER PEOPLE. It’s an exceptionally crafted story that will make you shiver with each page turned!...more
DAUGHTERS OF THE LAKE by Wendy Webb is a wonderfully crafted, 5-star read which I'm shelving in my favorites collection.
MY TEASE…
Kate Granger is droDAUGHTERS OF THE LAKE by Wendy Webb is a wonderfully crafted, 5-star read which I'm shelving in my favorites collection.
MY TEASE…
Kate Granger is drowning in her troubles.
Humiliated and betrayed, Kate leaves her job and her husband (a fellow co-worker) when she learns he is cheating on her with someone at the office.
Not even sleep brings her relief. Curiously, Kate keeps dreaming about a beautiful, mysterious woman—seeing through her eyes, feeling the love the woman shares with her husband.
As if that isn’t enough to deal with, the unthinkable happens.
While staying at her parents’ waterfront home, the woman Kate dreams about washes onto Lake Superior’s shore. She’s been murdered and a baby is tucked in the folds of her nightgown.
Kate can’t hold back her shock and despair when authorities arrive. Worse, except for the corpse’s name, Kate knows more about the woman than any innocent person should know about a deceased stranger.
Lonely, unemployed, confused, and now a person of interest in the case, Kate seeks refuge at her cousin’s bed and breakfast: Harrison’s House, a mansion which has been passed down through the family ever since Kate’s great-grandfather built it.
Will the house’s hidden secrets and Kate’s dreams help solve the mystery before she unravels?
THOUGHTS…
DAUGHTERS OF THE LAKE creatively brings together two generations of a family, separated by 100 years, through dreams, ghosts, legends, and artifacts, in order to correct history by bringing the truth to light.
The writing is eloquent. (And may I add, Wendy Webb knows how to do fog!) The toggles between the past and present are flawless. And I’m typically not a fan of an omniscient point of view, but I immediately found the all-knowing narrator endearing. Here’s a sample of the narrator’s voice:
“Kate’s wail finally found its voice and pierced the morning calm with a sound so fierce that all the animals within earshot fell silent to listen. There, nestled in the folds of the dead woman’s gown, was a baby. The tiny body was serene and still, as though it were sleeping, cradled in its mother’s arms.”
Every now and then, the book shared more information than I needed so I found myself skimming over those paragraphs. I also felt that the last 10% of the book had lost the narrator’s voice; however, the plot was still strong which is why this didn’t affect the book’s high marks!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5+ Main character’s likability: 5 Development of supporting character(s): 5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5+ Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4 Believability (in the context of the story): 4 Satisfying ending: 5 Tension of the story: 4 Stirs the heart (romantic elements): 3.5 Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? There’s a unique twist that keeps me from answering!
OVERALL…
DAUGHTERS OF THE LAKE is an engaging story with exceptional character development and outstanding atmosphere. I highly recommend it!...more
THE HAUNTING OF ASHBURN HOUSE by Darcy Coates is a 4-star mix of brilliance and implausibility.
MY TEASE…
At 22 years old, Adrienne is one heartbeat frTHE HAUNTING OF ASHBURN HOUSE by Darcy Coates is a 4-star mix of brilliance and implausibility.
MY TEASE…
At 22 years old, Adrienne is one heartbeat from destitute. She has no money. No car. No cellphone. No surviving relatives. No longstanding friends. And sporadic freelance employment.
Her possessions are meager. Just three changes of clothing, a dying laptop, and her beloved tabby cat, Wolfgang.
Turns out, all is not hopeless. A deceased great aunt, whom Adrienne never knew existed, bequeaths Ashburn House to her: a dilapidated mansion sitting on top of a steep hill overlooking the tiny, rural town of Ipson.
After Adrienne moves in, she quickly learns that Ashburn House isn’t the refuge she had hoped for. Strange carvings on the furniture and walls hint that the mansion harbors a horrifying past. One that wasn’t put to rest with Great Aunt Edith’s passing.
Quite the opposite, in fact. Without the proper rituals, the past is reawakening. And Adrienne is now its quarry.
THOUGHTS…
Hauntingly Brilliant…
There is a scene in this book when Adrienne is being chased through the woods by a terrifying entity. I kid you not: I actually screamed out loud! My heart was racing along with the main character’s. I was running beside her, stumbling, fighting to survive, and completely immersed in the action as if I was the one being chased.
I’ve been known to scream at the movie theatre…lol. Yeah, I’m that person! But I can’t remember ever screaming out loud when reading a book! I think Darcy Coates deserves a lot of kudos for bringing me into the story like that. WOW!
Hauntingly Implausible…
If only this book hadn’t veered into unbelievable territory. Granted, my preferences aren’t just to be shocked and scared. I want/need a story to be credible within its context. (That might just be me.)
Let me give you an example of the implausibility that I found frustrating.
One of the former house rituals was to light a candle in the attic every Friday (I have no clue why this wasn’t required every night). Consequently, there are boxes and boxes of candles and matches in the attic. Turns out, the light from one lit wick can keep the evil entity at bay.
Adrienne becomes trapped in the house with one oil lamp, a flashlight with weak batteries, and a diminishing supply of firewood for the fireplace. Darkness is the entity’s friend. You get the picture.
I kept urging Adrienne (lol) to bring down all those candles from the attic to the first floor. To light those suckers and be safe at night! Duh, right?
Not to mention… (view spoiler)[if the entity can be kept at bay by a smidgen of light from one candle, why oh why can the entity survive the daylight on the roof? (The sun is nothing more than a round wick engulfed with burning flames!) That was a head-scratcher for me. (hide spoiler)]
Nevertheless, there were bright spots in this book, and I never considered putting it down. In fact, overall, I gave it 4 stars. My screaming in that near perfect scene had to significantly count!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 4 Main character’s likability: 4 Development of supporting character(s): 3 Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4 Believability (in the context of the story): 2.0 - 2.5 Satisfying ending: 4 Tension of the story: 4.5 Stirs the heart (romantic elements): N/A Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? Yes, but I didn’t find that disappointing.
OVERALL:
THE HAUNTING OF ASHBURN HOUSE was a nicely paced read that included some brilliant moments, as well as some unbelievable ones....more
THE WIDOW’S HOUSE by Carol Goodman is a solid combination of mystery and ghost fiction.
MY TEASE…
Riven House, or the Widow’s House, has a troubling hiTHE WIDOW’S HOUSE by Carol Goodman is a solid combination of mystery and ghost fiction.
MY TEASE…
Riven House, or the Widow’s House, has a troubling history oozing from its crumbling bones. The men who have owned it have coveted their passions, no matter the cost. And the women who have loved them and followed them have unraveled because of the price they’ve had to pay.
The sordid past still haunts the mansion and its grounds.
Unfortunately for Clare Martin, she has always been a follower.
When her husband, Jess, wanted to advance his writing career, Clare gave hers up and became his literary cheerleader. And now, when he decides that a change of scenery will fix his writer’s block, Clare agrees to move.
Jess takes a caretaker position at Riven House, the neglected home of his and Clare’s former writing professor, now retired. And as promised, Clare follows him there.
If only the house’s past wasn’t determined to repeat itself.
THOUGHTS…
THE WIDOW’S HOUSE was a solid read, excelling in the areas that contribute to great storytelling: excellent writing, a layered plot, solid pacing, and atmospheric tension.
A sample of the writing:
“I crossed the room and opened the closet door, but I didn’t see a dumbwaiter, only a bulge in the plaster, like a tumor growing from the inner organs of the house.”
Nice, right? In a perfectly creepy way!
At times, I found aspects unbelievable (in the context of the story), but this didn’t stop me from enjoying the book!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5 Main character’s likability: 4 Development of supporting character(s): 4 Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4 Believability (in the context of the story): 3- Satisfying ending: 5 Tension of the story: 4 Stirs the heart (romantic elements): N/A Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? Pretty much, but I didn’t find that disappointing.
OVERALL...
THE WIDOW’S HOUSE was a solid 4-star read, written by an expert author!...more
THE PLANNER by Brian M. Wiprud is a crime thriller that sparkles with twists and outstanding character development.
MY TEASE…
“My gun is not my weapoTHE PLANNER by Brian M. Wiprud is a crime thriller that sparkles with twists and outstanding character development.
MY TEASE…
“My gun is not my weapon of choice. I’m a talker.” ~ Detective Finn
NYPD’s Detective Finn is a lot like his father—he was a talker, too. Tragically, Finn’s dad died in the line of duty trying to verbally defuse a hostage situation. Only, talking didn’t work. Everyone was killed. Maybe that’s why Finn sabotages his career: to avoid the same deadly outcome. Consequently, he’s been relegated to running errands and attending meetings for his boss in NYPD’s International Relations.
Picking up Interpol’s Inspector Daniella “Dan” Vella at the airport is his latest dead-end assignment. Vella has arrived in the U.S. to track an international jewel thief known as Christo. Intel suggests that Christo (The Planner) is gathering a team for a gem heist in NYC over the Christmas holiday.
Perhaps it’s Finn’s chemistry with Vella, but for the first time in his lackluster career, he’s willing to take risks, to stick his neck out for law enforcement. To get involved.
Will he and Dan thwart the jewel heist? More importantly, will they survive being in the line of fire against someone as narcissistic and ruthless as Christo?
THOUGHTS…
I follow this author and really enjoy his novels. Like his Linsenbigler series, this one did not disappoint!
Detective Finn is a great main character! I appreciate that Finn isn’t the stereotypical alcoholic detective who is spiraling out of control until a case motivates him into sobriety (as can be a common trope in crime/detective thrillers). Instead, Finn’s emotional journey from apathetic playboy to invested detective feels believable and compelling.
The jewel heist scenes propel THE PLANNER into a page turning frenzy. Love, love, loved it! And I was surprised by the twists and revelations. Really exciting!
THE PLANNER has a large cast which can make character development challenging. However, I thought the author did a fantastic job fleshing out the uniqueness of each character. I must add that the name Daniella Vella is pretty darn awesome!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5 Main character’s likability: 5 Development of supporting character(s): 5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4 Believability (in the context of the story): 5 Satisfying ending: 5 Tension of the story: Overall: 4 and Heist: 5 Stirs the heart (romantic elements): 4.5 Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? No
OVERALL…
THE PLANNER was an excellent 5-star crime thriller that would make an excellent holiday gift! I loved it!...more
THE LIFE I LEFT BEHIND by Colette McBeth is an exceptional ghost fiction novel that makes my favorites' list.
MY TEASE… (no spoilers)
Two parallel livesTHE LIFE I LEFT BEHIND by Colette McBeth is an exceptional ghost fiction novel that makes my favorites' list.
MY TEASE… (no spoilers)
Two parallel lives. One mutual friend. One patient murderer.
Melody and Eve both know David Alden.
Six years ago, David was Melody’s friend. When Melody stumbled home from a bar one night, something went terribly wrong. She was found comatose in a wooded park, having been strangled and left for dead with a pendant of a caged bird in her hand. If only Melody could remember.
Melody’s life has resembled that caged bird after she woke up to learn evidence proved David was her attacker.
Fast forward, David has served his jail time but still professes his innocence. Eve specializes in overturning wrongful convictions and she believes she can help David. She interviews everyone connected to Melody.
If only Eve could’ve reported her findings. But she’s found strangled to death with the murder’s calling card pendant in her hand. Now she’s a restless spirit watching the truth try to flap its wings.
Will Melody unravel the mystery and free herself from the bird cage? Or will the murderer squeeze tighter until unfinished business has finally been successfully executed?
THOUGHTS…
Every aspect of THE LIFE I LEFT BEHIND was exceptionally done, especially the writing. For example, Melody has anxiety triggers from her attack, one of which is crowds. Here’s a writing sample:
“It was the shoes she noticed first. All black, like cockroaches scurrying around her. So many. Too many. They were going to start crawling over her body. Stamp, stand, stamp. The place was teeming with them.”
The author also used a narration strategy that I thought was fresh. Melody’s voice was told in third person, close. Eve’s voice is told in first person. I thought this was brilliant!
THE LIFE I LEFT BEHIND impressed me! I think it would make an awesome movie. I highly recommend this book and my quickfire ratings show why! This one makes my favorites list!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 5+ Main character’s likability: 5+ Development of supporting character(s): 5+ Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4.5 Believability (in the context of the story): 4.5 Satisfying ending: 5+ Tension of the story: 5+ Stirs the heart (romantic elements): N/A Note: There is plenty of relationship dysfunction, just no healthy romance to stir the heart! Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? No!
OVERALL:
THE LIFE I LEFT BEHIND made my favorites' list as it excels on all marks, including exceptional writing....more
THE RUTHLESS by David Putnam earned 5 high-caliber stars!
MY TEASE…
As an LA undercover deputy sheriff, all Bruno Johnson really wants is to enforce “blTHE RUTHLESS by David Putnam earned 5 high-caliber stars!
MY TEASE…
As an LA undercover deputy sheriff, all Bruno Johnson really wants is to enforce “blood and bone” (lethal retribution) on the thug named Derek Sams. As his daughter Olivia’s former boyfriend and father of her two sons, Derek knows more than he’s saying about Olivia's death and her missing son Albert. Bruno’s gut tells him Derek had a hand in both. And now with Derek’s release from prison for a different crime, the thug is threatening to get custody of Bruno’s only surviving grandson Alonzo.
The thought of blood and bone is what keeps Bruno out of the crosshairs of depression.
If only the criminals in LA would ease up and let Bruno focus on his directed target (Derek). But dealers keep dealing. Killers keep killing. And the street’s “eye for an eye” mentality continues to settle scores with violence.
Will Bruno ever get his blood and bone on the thug who cost Bruno his daughter and grandson? And could the drive for retribution turn Bruno into a hardcore criminal—one of The Ruthless?
THOUGHTS…
Bruno Johnson is a protagonist to love. Although emotionally wounded, he is brave, extremely loyal, thoughtful, and mostly level-headed. In addition, I really enjoyed Bruno’s relationship with his father and dog!
The author was also an expert at developing Bruno’s sidekicks. While Bruno is the thoughtful and measured turtle (figuratively speaking!), Putnam paired him with ramped-up rabbits, creating an engaging contrast. His sidekick on the streets, Nigel, is a meth addict who doesn’t know Bruno is an undercover cop. An oddly endearing character, Nigel is beyond fidgety, never able to sit still or stay focused. Then there is Wicks, Bruno’s old boss in the violent crimes division. Wicks is a loose cannon, as well as an adrenaline junkie, who typifies…shoot first and ask questions later.
I really appreciated the “voices” in this story. They felt so authentic.
One observation: There were many names in this book! I easily remembered the core characters. The criminals, however, had a real name and a street name so sometimes I was like…wait…is Sammy Ray…Little Genie or Jumbo? Even Bruno had an undercover name: Karl Higgins. I’m guessing this practice is authentic to the streets, but double names in the story made it challenging sometimes. For criminals who were secondary characters, their street name would’ve been sufficiently helpful for me.
In terms of the ending, closure for some story elements was implied versus acted out and wrapped up. I’m thinking this style might be consistent with other endings in the series. For example, the details (I was seeking at the end) might be part of the opening to the next book?
By the way, I did not feel at a disadvantage by not having read the series installments before THE RUTHLESS. However, wanting those “closure details” serves as a motivator for continuing with the series! Well done!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 4 Main character’s likability: 5 Development of supporting character(s): 5 Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 4 Believability of the story: 5 Satisfying ending: 3 Tension of the story: 4 Stirs the heart (romantic elements): NA Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? No (5)
OVERALL:
THE RUTHLESS was a well-written, insightful, emotionally-intimate, and authentic-feeling journey into the dangerous world of undercover policing. I highly recommend this 5-star police procedural/crime thriller!...more
As an apocalyptic event spreads—turning whole cities and towns into isolated “quiet zones,” Clare risks driving in a worsening snowstorm. SheMY TEASE…
As an apocalyptic event spreads—turning whole cities and towns into isolated “quiet zones,” Clare risks driving in a worsening snowstorm. She can’t deviate from the plan: After picking up her aunt, she’ll head to her sister’s house. Together, maybe they can survive “the stillness” in her sister’s fortified bunker.
Trouble is, Clare’s aunt lives on the other side of Banksy Forest. Trouble is, something in the forest doesn’t want her to make it through.
Clare wakes up in Winterbourne Hall, a massive estate hidden deep within the forest. The Morthorne family owns the century-old mansion and their youngest son has remained for the winter. In fact, Dorran is attending to Clare’s strange wounds.
“The stillness” has not spared the estate and Clare is about to learn that the house and grounds are anything but quiet.
Is survival even in her grasp?
THOUGHTS…
Things to use a cheerful voice about:
If I were to make up a comp mash-up to describe this story, I would say it’s: THE SHINING (minus ghosts) meets zombies. In other words, this story held a lot of promise. Who doesn’t like a gargantuan mansion that’s isolated in a blizzard with strange things happening?
Also, this book’s first chapter is one of the BEST hooks I’ve read in a long, long time. After Chapter 1, I was not going to put this book down. Kudos to the author!
Things to use a whiny voice about:
Have you seen the GEICO commercials that make a spoof about horror movies? Example: Teens are being chased by something evil on the grounds of a scary mansion. To get away, one teen suggests hopping into the idling car and driving to safety. But the majority say going into the basement or hiding in the cemetery would be safer! LOL!
Okay, so that’s Clare…running into the basement or attic or out into the snowstorm underdressed and injured. Yeah, those are great ideas when something is hunting you!
Things to use a snarly voice about:
I purchased this book because I wanted to read ghost fiction. On Amazon, VOICES IN THE SNOW is listed and rated in three genres, one of which is GHOST THRILLERS where it’s ranked #38. Yet, there is NOT ONE GHOST in this story. Not even a strange mist drifts across the snow that might resemble a ghost. I was not happy. I kept thinking…okay, maybe Clare is really a ghost. Or maybe her sidekick Dorran is. Or maybe a ghost is going to show up! Nope!
Hear me loud and clear about the voices: They do not belong to GHOSTS!!!
One more…grrrrrr!
I prefer reading about the aftermath of an apocalypse versus the events that led up to it. Having said that, I do want some understanding of what precipitated “the stillness” or “quiet zones” or turned some humans into “hollows.”
The explanation was as prominent as….wait for it….GHOSTS :)
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 3.5 Main character’s likability: 3 Development of supporting character(s): 3 Settings/Atmosphere: 5 Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 3.5 Believability of the story: 2 Satisfying ending: 3 Tension of the story: 3 Stirs the heart (romantic elements): 3 Did I solve the mystery/guess the ending before the reveal? Yes
OVERALL:
VOICES IN THE SNOW had SUCH potential. It was definitely enjoyable, but for me, it fell short of being so much more. I was disappointed. And let’s not forget: I thought I was getting GHOSTS!...more
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