FIVE STARS
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I don’t know their secret, but whatever it is (SUPREME TALENT), authors Pekkanen and Hendricks need to bottle up their magic MojoFIVE STARS
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I don’t know their secret, but whatever it is (SUPREME TALENT), authors Pekkanen and Hendricks need to bottle up their magic Mojo and spread it like fairy dust over readers around the world. Their ingenious writing technique is guaranteed to pull you up by the bootstraps - out of any debilitating reading slump you may occasionally find yourself in. Believe the hype. It is real. The dynamic duo is currently hard at work on a sure-to-be third mega hit-- 🙏PRAISE YEEZUS!
This is what you need in your life, people. Their blockbuster debut,The Wife Between Us, is a soon to be feature film and this currently unreleased An Anonymous Girl is already in development for a television series by the same people that slayed HBO's Sharp Objects. And as readers know, YOU MUST READ THE BOOK FIRST TO HAVE PROPER BRAGGING RIGHTS TO YOUR FAVORITE SCENES! So hop to it.
Synopsis: When Jess signs up for the psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. But as the questions grow more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking…and what she’s hiding. As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.
Oh my gawwd, read the fine print before you innocently sign up for a paid research survey! Even if you really need the cash. Especially if you really need the cash.
This book is I M P O S S I B L E to put down! You will be sneak reading it under your work desk and dining table, it is so freakin’ addictive! I swear I developed a physical need to figure out what was going on and solve this puzzling plot. There aren’t huge in your face twists, but subtle ones that lead you in different directions than you thought you were going in…an anagram of a story that is told in a refreshingly modern and streamlined way.
Unreliable narrators, interesting and unlikable characters, and a realistically creepy story of obsession (without graphic violence)- these things I love. I know you will love it, too. It is set for release on January 8, 2019. Pre-order yourself a New Year’s gift!
Thank you to my book fairy, Jordan, at St. Martin’s Publishing for my early copy. You guys are killing it over there! As always, all opinions are my own and you know I’m not afraid to write a negative review🔪....more
Sean Suh. His name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but that doesn’t matter. It works. Sean Suh is the main character, otherwise known aFIVE STARS
Sean Suh. His name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but that doesn’t matter. It works. Sean Suh is the main character, otherwise known as the UNRELIABLE NARRATOR, in debut author Wendy Heard’s novel, Hunting Annabelle. Is he a serial killer? Is he insane? Or just a one-time killer? You won’t know until the very end…(tease tease)!
You will know that he is an odd duck. I guarantee he will command your full attention from page one. Delectably untrustworthy, yet incredibly sympathetic…what is this madness???? Sean is an admitted killer, but just try and resist his charm and vulnerable personality! He’s fresh out of an institution for the criminally insane. A Korean-American, living in a very white, good ole boy type- Austin, TX, in the 1980’s. Sean’s mother is an overbearing neurosurgeon that constantly disapproves of Sean, mainly his choice of goth style clothing—strangely enough. You can’t help but feel Sean’s pain and confusion through the many psychotropic meds his own mom dispenses to him every day. Is Sean really a schizophrenic? Or is it just the drugs making him feel crazy? Ahhhh, these things I pondered for pages!
Sean is a gifted artist and completely friendless until he meets college student, Annabelle, at the amusement park where he spends his days secretly drawing the patrons he watches. Annabelle’s glowing copper aura (yes, Sean, has the fascinating ability to hallucinate color into life) is the most beautiful sight Sean has ever seen.
When Annabelle is suddenly kidnapped during, coincidentally, her first date with Sean, he is thrust into the relentless pursuit to find and save her. A good portion of the story is spent on Sean investigating Annabelle’s family and friends, trying desperately to figure out who would want to hurt her. Sean quickly catches the attention of law enforcement and of course, appears to be the most likely suspect.
The ending is crazy, but it had to be, otherwise the story wouldn’t work. So just go with it! I love this quirky novel and it was like sticky paper in my ears-I couldn’t put it down! The audio version is terrific! HUNTING ANNABELLE has been compared frequently to YOU by Caroline Kepnes, but I like it so much better than that one--mainly because of the finely drawn personality of Sean Suh. It is a closer cousin to the wonderful The Good Son by You-jeong Jeong.
Happy reading! If you love twisty serial killer stories, without too much graphic stuff and a little humor, try this one soon! I loved it!...more
If, like me, you were disappointed with Baby Teeth look no further than THE LIES WE TOLD! We have another Hann4.5 STARS
Loved this! My quick thoughts:
If, like me, you were disappointed with Baby Teeth look no further than THE LIES WE TOLD! We have another Hanna, but in this novel, she is truly a frightening, dangerous child--so much more realistic.
The mysterious tone reminds me of Fiona Barton's The Child but I like this story so much more. One of my favorites this year!
Very twisty a la Claire Macintosh. There are major reveals around the 65% mark, but keep on reading--twists abound until the last few pages. This is great storytelling by a fabulous author.
The audio is perfection! Definitely worthy of your valuable Audible credit!...more
FIVE STARS
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Just a simple story of a simple American couple. NOT!!!!! There is nothing simple about the couple featured in Thomas ChristopherFIVE STARS
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Just a simple story of a simple American couple. NOT!!!!! There is nothing simple about the couple featured in Thomas Christopher Greene's latest novel of psychological suspense. Husband and wife both have more than their share of secrets and lies. Which one is the perfect liar? Hmmmm.
This is a sexy, modern tale of murder and revenge. Only one-half of this couple is left standing in the end. Who will win out? I can't tell you. All the fun is in watching these two crazy characters try to out-manipulate each other and the world around them.
I LOVED THIS ADDICTIVE NOVEL!! It's twistaliciously written and surprising to the end. I don't know how Greene has escaped my radar all this time, but now I will be going back to read all of his novels.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the early galley. Note: my copy had multiple formatting issues and I sincerely hope the final product is broken into chapters!!! All opinions are my own....more
FIVE STARS- UPDATE: Happy Book birthday TODAY to this yummy thriller!
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You say Peter Swanson wrote it?... I say, yes, please, just give me thFIVE STARS- UPDATE: Happy Book birthday TODAY to this yummy thriller!
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You say Peter Swanson wrote it?... I say, yes, please, just give me that book! I don't even care what it's about. If Swanson writes it, I must read it. The man creates dark characters caught up in the most clever story lines you will ever come across in this genre.
I got no business reading this yet since it doesn’t come out for at least three months, BUT I COULDN’T WAIT ANY LONGER. And now that I finished it, my head is spinning and I just want to read it all over again. Very few thriller novels do I ever want to re-read, this is one of the first! There is such a great twist about ¾ of the way in…..I did not in a million years see it coming and now I want to go back and look for the clues…. ISN'T THAT THE MOST FUN?!!!!
Look up the term “psychological thriller” in the dictionary and I’m pretty sure Swanson’s face will be there. He has shown himself to be the true master of this subject with books like THE KIND WORTH KILLING and HER EVERY FEAR. What I love about Swanson is he takes a situation (like the quiet couple living next door to a nosy neighbor) and you think you know what is going to happen. But then, he turns that case upside down and heads the characters into a totally unpredictable direction. Brilliant. So very entertaining for the reader!
This book could deservedly have been called something like THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR, but there have been a slew of “neighbor” titles and I am glad he went with a different angle. Plus, that title is your first clue!
Hen is an emotionally fragile, young artist. She and her husband have just moved to a new house in the suburbs. They meet their next door neighbors at a block party and bond quickly as the only two childless couples in the hood. While dining at their neighbor’s house, Hen spots a fencing trophy in the den. This is a problem since it appears to be the exact trophy belonging to a man that had been brutally murdered a few years ago. Hen had developed an extreme obsession with the crime since it had occurred in her old neighborhood and the case had never been solved. This begins a kind of new obsession in Hen. She is convinced her new neighbor is a murderer and she sets out to watch and follow him. Did you read THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW? I was a tad disappointed with that one. This is the book I was hoping that one would have been more like. SO GOOD AND DELICIOUSLY TWISTED LIKE A PRETZEL.
Remember I said Hen is fragile? Yes, that makes her an unreliable narrator! Yippppppeeeeee. But, everyone in this novel is unreliable. I wouldn’t trust anyone in the bunch. That is all you need to know. Except this: Peter Swanson is the author and you are in capable hands. Now, just sit back and enjoy the ride!
If I’ve piqued your interest about Swanson and you have not read all his books, how I envy you! There are only a few of them, but each one is an addictive jewel. All dark suspense and exquisitely executed. You have time to read them all before this newest one comes out next year. I highly recommend each one if you are a fan of psychological thrillers.
Many thanks to the author and Edelweiss for my advance copy. All opinions are my own....more
THE SILENT PATIENT is a deep, dark tale of murder, love and revenge. This is a contemporary story steeped in a deliciously gothic tone. At tFIVE STARS
THE SILENT PATIENT is a deep, dark tale of murder, love and revenge. This is a contemporary story steeped in a deliciously gothic tone. At the beginning of the book, we have a vicious murder, a frightening asylum setting for the criminally insane, and a suspect who refuses to speak. When Theo steps in to save the day as psychotherapist to the silent Alice, well….you are in for a twisted treat, so I can’t divulge anymore!
I went into this book with expectations it would be similar to Alice Feeney’s Sometimes I Lie or one of my old favorites Before I Go to Sleep. I was wrong, it is so much better! The main characters of Theo and Alice are richly layered with just enough reveals leaked out over time that you will constantly wonder “who is the unreliable narrator here?” (You will doubt yourself over and over and I LOVE THAT!!!).
Truly, one of the best books I’ve read this year! I absolutely devoured it. Theo takes you into his head, explaining the psychology involved in certain situations, as if the reader is part conspirator, part solution. There are Freudian quotes sprinkled liberally throughout this mystery--pure delight for armchair psychologists!
I listened to the Audible version--Outstanding!...more
For domestic suspense fun, it doesn't get much better than this! SOMETHING IN THE WATER is Numero Uno on the NYT bestseller list this week, FIVE STARS
For domestic suspense fun, it doesn't get much better than this! SOMETHING IN THE WATER is Numero Uno on the NYT bestseller list this week, a Reese's bookclub selection and the movie rights have long been snatched up!
All that buzzy attention heaped on one lil ole debut novel can make some of us (okay.....me😂)a tad skeptical. No need to worry. You are in expert hands with Catherine Steadman. Maybe you live on a deserted island and haven't heard, but Steadman is a fabulous, gorgeous actress working in the U.K. She, most notably, was a cast member of Britain's Downton Abbey. She can also write like the pros, if not better. What the heck? So much talent in one person! Quit your day job or not, Ms. Steadman, you are a superstar either way!
There are tons of summaries out there. Please don't read them. Listen, I accidentally read the "spoilest spoilers" EVER in the New York Times and Kirkus Reviews. Geez. Don't look for more about the story. I would have enjoyed it so much more if I didn't already know what the something in the water was! Take my word for it.
The pacing is brisk, the narrator is unreliable (BUT NOT A DRUNK!) and the story translates quite believably as a realistic situation. You guys know how much I abhor the hand-wringing heroine. But here, our protagonist is VERY pro-action. True, she doesn't always make the best decisions (omg!), but she tries her best and I, for one, felt a weird kind of kinship with our main character.
It's my favorite kind of suspense-building story. One bad decision leads to another, leads to one more and so on.....It's the ultimate "what would you do" situational structure. Steadman writes in a slick, sophisticated manner. I'm completely infatuated with her wit and style.
The audiobook is stellar! Steadman acts as her own icy, sexy narrator and you will quickly understand why she is such a wonderful actress! Highly recommend! I am so excited to discover this new, gifted author. Looking forward to her career in this difficult-to-write genre....more
I felt the author's previous book, The Girl Before was written well; but, for an architectural mystery based on minimalism, it waFOUR STARS
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I felt the author's previous book, The Girl Before was written well; but, for an architectural mystery based on minimalism, it was a big ole mess --structurally speaking, of course.😊
I really like BELIEVE ME. I was absolutely crazy about the first 2/3 of this addictive story. The plot had me second guessing my way through. Sadly, the last 1/3 just went so overboard it got ridiculous. I have a hard time understanding why the author (actual name: Tony Strong) wants to throw in everything he knows about his subject. It's too much. He overshot that line of believability and my five star rating dropped to a four.
This novel is mostly set in the theater world and our main character, Claire, is a young actress trying to make a living in NYC and eager to do anything to pay her rent. I think Claire is one of my most favorite unreliable narrators in recent memory. She's not a drunk or a sociopath or is she? We never know because she is ALWAYS acting. How CLEVER is that?
The performance aspect of her personality is a refreshingly innovative way to style an unreliable narrator! Hmmmm. Talk about "method actor method actor method actor".
Some scenes come alive in Claire's head in the form of an actual written play. At first this can be confusing, but you'll catch on quickly. When she gets into serious trouble by being accused of murder, the real fun begins! This is a cat and mouse game with lots of twists.
BELIEVE ME is sophisticated, slick, beautifully written. It's a dark and addictive book, just know an over the top ending is waiting for you!
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book before publication on July 24, 2018. All opinions are mine....more
When Sam inherits a cottage in the Sweden countryside, he and his wife, Merry, pack up their hectic lives in NYC and begin a brand new life i4.5 STARS
When Sam inherits a cottage in the Sweden countryside, he and his wife, Merry, pack up their hectic lives in NYC and begin a brand new life in an cold, isolated country with their infant baby.
In Sweden, they are the very picture of domestic contentment. Merry gardens and bakes with a fervor that would put Martha Stewart to shame. Sam begins working at his dream career as a film documentarian. Their adorable baby is a fat little cherub, at the family’s center of adoration and devotion.
Sounds so beautiful and la-dee-da perfect. However, after this setup, we are in for a shock as Merry and Sam take turns narrating their own short chapters. Buckle up. What you are about to learn becomes more alarming with each page. (This may be a good time to warn you there are definite triggers throughout for a sensitive reader.) Dark, twisted, painfully disturbing.
Just as we are learning about Sam and Merry’s shaky foundation, Merry’s best friend from childhood arrives for a visit with the young family in Sweden. Her name is Frank (Frances) and she knows Merry better than anyone else in the world. She immediately sees right through Merry’s phony happy homemaker act. At this point, Frank joins in the narration with her own chapters and we start to see that Frank has her own ugly secrets. These three characters are positively nasty and the perfect storm is set into motion. AS THE UNRELENTING SUSPENSE BEGINS, YOU CANNOT TURN YOUR EYES AWAY FROM THE PAGE. I LOVE IT!
Michelle Sacks has written an almost perfect psychological thriller. She writes in a fluid, spare manner- the kind of dialogue without quotation marks, yet it is absolutely cloaked in a haunting, dread-filled mood. Sacks is an intelligent writer and I have great appreciation for her sophisticated style. You know how I love to go deep in these sicko character profiles, and Sacks boldly goes to the deepest corruptions possible. And she doesn't even blink.
YOU WERE MADE FOR THIS hits the shelves June 19, 2018. Thanks so much to Little, Brown Publishers for my gorgeous copy! All opinions are my own....more
I’m trying my best to contain my excitement and review Riley Sager’s new book in a professional manner.
YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
See that? I oFIVE STARS
I’m trying my best to contain my excitement and review Riley Sager’s new book in a professional manner.
YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
See that? I only used one exclamation point. I want at least 300 more! It is a spanking good, cracker jack of a novel that I could not stop reading for two days.
THE LAST TIME I LIED is a brilliant and campy (pun intended) mystery for all you grown up fans of Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys.
It will be the 2018 summer-beach-novel-must-read! This is a nostalgic and twisted look back at your own summer camp memories. It’s terrific fun!
I'm crazy about Sager’s deceptively easy writing style. He breezes right through the telling of the story, all the while creating mood, atmosphere and the fun kind of dread you get in the pit of your stomach while watching a horror flick. The pages suck you in and Sager holds your hand as he walks you through the creepy story that began 15 years ago at Camp Nightingale.
Three out of four girls disappeared from the Dogwood cabin and that fourth girl? She suffered a nervous breakdown in the months following the disappearance of her friends. In a way, she is the SOLE SURVIVOR, and if you loved Final Girls you know what that means. Yes, Emma is a Final Girl and she is a sympathetic and very unreliable narrator. Emma has a chance to return to the camp fifteen years later, and of course, in Riley Sager’s world, she goes back to teach art at the camp. Oh, and to solve the old mystery while confronting her many demons.
Please don’t bother to read the overly long and convoluted book jacket synopsis. It almost scared me away. So many names that are meaningless until you read the story. If you liked FINAL GIRLS, you will love THE LAST TIME I LIED. It is also delicious reading for fans of The Chalk Man or Good Me, Bad Me.
THE LAST TIME I LIED is not going to be published until July 2018, I'm sorry to say. However---it is sooooooo worth the wait! It’s a completely different story from FINAL GIRLS, but the same brilliant author supervising the fun.
Many thanks to Dutton Publishers and Edelweiss for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own....more
What is it about obsessive friendships between women that are so appealing to read about? I’m always drawn to books that feature this type 4.25 STARS
What is it about obsessive friendships between women that are so appealing to read about? I’m always drawn to books that feature this type of female-frenemy-relationship. I think there is so much more that can be added to the plot than just the usual he/she torrid love/hate affair that dominate this genre’s selections.
Tangerine is truly my idea of a dreamy, escapist novel. It is first and foremost a character analysis of two women that meet at a high-brow East Coast university as roommates. Lucy and Alice each depict two distinctive and contrasting personalities. One is meek, timid, hand-wringing. The other is brazen, steely, opportunistic. Mixed and stirred like an ice cold martini, the result is pure toxic poison with only one dreaded outcome.
TANGERINE takes place mostly in Tangier, Morocco, during a political uprising in the 1950’s. One year after university, the women meet in the exotic desert setting of Tangier. The word "atmospheric" is thrown around to describe a lot of fiction these days, but in this case, atmospheric is more than an accurate label.
Christine Mangan is a lovely, old-fashioned writer. She's a new author and I'm not exaggerating to say that TANGERINE will remind you of Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises and Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Mangan doesn’t linger on descriptions, but the reader is always very aware of the setting and mood and it feels authentic.
The book's cover is sheer perfection for setting the mood and, plus, it reads like film noir. This is a combination of several different stories (THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, SINGLE WHITE FEMALE come to mind) but it still feels fresh and original. It is light on action and I feel I should warn you, some readers will find this style of writing a little repetitive. However, I adore the slow burn and did find it suspenseful with tension growing throughout. It is a book for fans of Unraveling Oliver.
A quiet, beautifully written, fascinating portrayal of the complicated connection between sociopath and victim.
BONUS! The audiobook is exceptionally well done! Lucy sounds exactly like Scarlett Johansson (but it’s not her, I checked). However, the real ScarJo is already cast to play Lucy in the upcoming film production. Perfect choice!...more
Go ahead, click on Want to Read. Because you do. You will. You must.
I’m at a loss here. Positively verklempt. How do I tell you how FIVE PERFECT STARS
Go ahead, click on Want to Read. Because you do. You will. You must.
I’m at a loss here. Positively verklempt. How do I tell you how perfect this book is without gushing? When other books fail to reach my expectations, I can rattle off the reasons I didn’t like it. With great ones, I just stumble all over myself. I apologize.
I knew this book would be good, I just didn’t know how good. The answer is: LYING IN WAIT is the new standard that all psychological suspense and crime fiction novels should strive for. Liz Nugent just wrote the handbook and I fear that very few writers could achieve such perfection in this genre.
The thing is, if you found her debut UNRAVELING OLIVER too much of a slow burn -I know a ton of readers did, you will not find that with LYING IN WAIT. I read this book almost in one day. It is utterly addicting and you will be hooked at the very first line. The need to know what is happening becomes almost unbearable as you read.
Once again, Nugent has created an engrossing family drama that spans many years and is set in Dublin. It is simply the story of two families linked inexplicably by a murder. At the heart of the novel is a morbidly unhealthy, but completely fascinating, connection between a mother and son. There are only a few characters in this book and each one is fully dissected for the reader to analyze. Each character has a chance to tell their part in the story side by side with the others. I am in awe of how Nugent was able to superbly structure this story in such a natural flowing way. There is no flipping back and forth between timelines (ugh, I’m so over that).
Nugent is a master at pushing the uncomfortable envelope towards the reader, without going over the top. The story is tense and exciting, full of twists and unexpected turns. It's dark and dramatic. Gothic feeling and weird! That ending - all I can say is GENIUS. I can’t stop gushing, please forgive me.
Now, mark your calendar for June 12 or just go ahead and pre-order it. Place a hold or get in line at the library. You will not want to miss this one!
Thank you to Netgalley! I was given the galley to read and review, all opinions are my own....more
This book has been in my Audible wish list for at least three years. From the summary, it looks like a book I would enjoy: mystery, suspense, rave revThis book has been in my Audible wish list for at least three years. From the summary, it looks like a book I would enjoy: mystery, suspense, rave reviews for the storytelling. The only thing holding me back was the Vietnam War veteran as a character. How ridiculously picky is that? I was secretly afraid it would be too graphic in retelling old war stories. And it was a bit graphic, but thankfully very brief. As it turns out, Carl Iverson the paroled convict and war veteran, is a major reason this book is so lovable!
The heart tugging, suspenseful book centers around Joe, a street-smart college student. He has had to struggle for everything in his life. He never knew his dad, his mom is a raging alcoholic and his almost grown brother, Jeremy, is a perpetual seven year old due to his autism issues.
Our guy, Joe, literally stumbles onto a mystery while writing a biography essay on a nursing home resident, Carl Iverson. If solved, the mystery may exonerate Carl of crimes that sent him to prison for 30 years. Carl doesn't particularly care if he is exonerated or not, which makes the mystery even more compelling. Joe, however, does care. That is the kind of guy he is. Principled, caring, compassionate. And tough as nails.
Allen Eskens is a first rate storyteller and a natural born writer! The story flows effortlessly from Carl's life story to Joe's back story. They seem to not have anything in common with each other, but as they talk, their stories become intertwined. The ending is a little bit of a twist and 100% reader satisfying.
I can't tell you how engrossed and invested I was while listening. I could not stop listening and the book made packing up for a big family move almost bearable! There was just enough of everything I love in a good story: mystery, suspense, likable (lovable) protagonists, real emotions and struggles, and a rewarding ending! I also adored the Minnesota setting, the cold, snowy weather provides the perfect tone to the story. I finished this little beauty in less than 2 days.
This book won all kinds of awards as a debut novel for Eskens. Deservedly so. You will not regret listening or reading this one!
The audio book is narrated by a talented actor, Zach Villa. I felt he perfectly captured the voice of Joe and Carl. Not an easy task, considering the age and life differences of the two characters. If you like audio books, I highly recommend this one! If not, you must read it!
Lucky for all readers, there are three more books in this Eskens series. They are touted as possible standalone books, but most of my Goodreads friends say the back stories are so interesting that you will want to read all of the books. That's enough for me, I already borrowed the next audiobook from the handy dandy Overdrive app (free!!!) and started listening to THE GUISE OF ANOTHER.
Sadly, we are still packing and moving, but thank God for writers like Eskens for making it less painful!...more
OH. MY. GOSHHHHHHHHHHH. I HAD TO ADD THIS TO MY TWISTER HALL OF FAME SHELF!
Where to start? This is hands down the twistiest, fastest, funnest-to-readOH. MY. GOSHHHHHHHHHHH. I HAD TO ADD THIS TO MY TWISTER HALL OF FAME SHELF!
Where to start? This is hands down the twistiest, fastest, funnest-to-read domestic suspense in ages!
Unreliable narrator? Check.
Breath taking plot twists? Check.
Fast turning addictive page turning? Check. check. check. check. check!
What else is there in life?
Unlike all the other domestic noir books that claim to be the next Gone Girl, THE WIFE BETWEEN US actually IS the next book that people will go crazy over. I'm so excited, I wish it were coming out before January, because I cannot wait for you and everyone I know to read it!
This is actually a very simple storyline, you've heard it before. Husband, wife, mistress. The difference is the clever, seamless way it is presented. Trust me, you've not ever read a story like this before. It's genius.
IMPORTANT PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT The authors just announced on Instagram that the book has already been optioned for film, by the same team at DreamWorks that brought us THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN movie. So exciting!
For now, I just want to encourage all you influential readers to try and get your hands on a copy of THE WIFE BETWEEN US. I'm grateful to the folks at Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review it months ahead of publication.
THE DRY deservedly won many prestigious awards and Federal Police AgentFIVE STARS SHE’S DONE IT AGAIN!
Jane Harper wrote THE best book I read in 2017.
THE DRY deservedly won many prestigious awards and Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk won the hearts of readers around the world.
When a debut work of fiction is nothing less than magnificent, the highly anticipated second novel looms large. Will it live up to the first? Is Harper a one trick pony? Do not fear, Dry fans!!! FORCE OF NATURE does not disappoint and will cement Harper as your go-to mystery/psychological suspense author. Bless!
Instead of the drought ridden Australian outback we got to know intimately in THE DRY, this book is set in the wet, cold and windy Giralang mountain range north of Melbourne. Let me tell you, when you turn that last page, you'll breathe a sigh of relief that you’re snugly wrapped in front of your fireplace and not out in the FORCE OF NATURE battling the elements.
Jane Harper is first and foremost a fabulous, effortless writer. I love her spare detailing, every word packs a punch. Nothing extraneous here. She also k n o w s people. What drives people, their fears, their downfalls. Her psychological skills are put to full use in FORCE OF NATURE.
Five women from the BaileyTennants financial firm are persuaded to take part in a back country team building exercise that will test their limits beyond imagination. The women have complicated relationships with each other, extending beyond their co-working status. When they emerge from the wilderness, one member of this not-so-happy group is missing.
Our beloved Aaron Falk is called in with his new partner, Carmen Cooper, to assist with the investigation. The story is told from two views, one from the running investigation and the other in a slowed down reality of exactly what happened on this hike into hell.
The result is an addictive, page-turning story rich in atmosphere, mood and setting. It is easily a standalone novel, but there is so much back story on Aaron Falk that a new reader would be greatly missing out by reading the two books out of order. There is ample biographical info on Falk’s personality traits and what makes him tick—all to be discovered in THE DRY.
FORCE OF NATURE feels like a natural, organic follow-up to THE DRY. The premise of this book is brilliant, realistic and terrifically suspenseful.
Highly recommend!
Many thanks to FlatIron Books for the ARC copies. YES! This means I will be having a FORCE OF NATURE giveaway over on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/books_be_je... Watch for it soon and come play! ...more
Please move White Bodies to the top of your TBR. Read it now! It is so good, so good, so good! I checked the ratings onDear Influential Reader (YOU!),
Please move White Bodies to the top of your TBR. Read it now! It is so good, so good, so good! I checked the ratings on Goodreads about midway through this little gem and was shocked to see so few! It looks like most readers have it sitting on their e-reader, a gift from NetGalley, perhaps. It's time to read it, people! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.
I get it....I wasn't exactly excited to start another run of the mill (twins, again?) mystery, suspense whatever. But I saw the publication day is coming up (Sept.19, 2017) and I admittedly started reading with a bad attitude. I apologize, Jane Robins. You wrote such a beautiful, tight, twisted story, you deserve a parade thrown in your honor. With tons of streamers and confetti thrown from skyscrapers.
I got over myself and my bad attitude fast. This book is different right from the beginning. The characters are all weird. Really, every single one. Weird in a subtle way, that you would only notice if you had the chance to meet and observe them up close for awhile. That's why I love great psychological suspense books!
This story reads so fast, I did not want to stop reading. When I wasn't reading, I was thinking about Callie and Tildy, our twisted twins. Trying to figure out this story! Well, listen, I didn't figure it out until it was spelled out for me towards the end. Shocking, it is.
YES YES YES!! Last page turned. Cue the slow clap. This is a phenomenal character-driven mystery WITH A TWISTY, SATISFYING ENDING I will notFIVE STARS
YES YES YES!! Last page turned. Cue the slow clap. This is a phenomenal character-driven mystery WITH A TWISTY, SATISFYING ENDING I will not soon forget.
I don’t know who said “the devil is in the details” but if that’s true, then Chris Bohjalian is the devil himself. This plot is intricate and complex with well-researched details and data providing clues for the reader in this story of international suspense.
Yes, much of the story is set in cushy locales and sumptuous hotels, but the pull of the novel lies in our high-flying party girl. Our flight attendant, Cassie, is a psychologically damaged woman who single-handedly drinks more in an evening than I do in a year. She means well, loves her friends and family and volunteers at the animal shelter whenever she is at home in NYC. Awww, a detail that deff pulled at my heartstrings. Cassie, with all her flaws, is a human being as real as any fictional character can possibly become. She is endearing, maddening, and most of all, REAL! I loved her.
I don’t want to give away any of the story line, because it goes in places you will not expect. And you will love that. What I can say is... this is the book I wanted The Woman in Cabin 10 to be. It is a very strong and convincing plot with thoroughly fleshed out characters. Ruth Ware is a swell writer, but (forgive me for saying!) she could stand to learn a thing or two from Bohjalian when it comes to structure and plot.
You think you’ve heard all the gossipy stories about the crazy things passengers do on planes? Wait until you read some of the nuggets Cassie has to share about things she has seen in her career! I also loved reading about the flight schedules, the day-to-day life, THE DETAILS of what it's like to be a flight attendant. I found it riveting!!
An old-fashioned suspense thriller that reads as fast as an addictive domestic noir, it is simply terrific. All my respect to the brilliant Mr. Bohjalian! You will not want to miss this one. (Due to be released in US on March 13, 2018). You might want to pre-order your copy now....more
Armchair psychologists, REJOICE! This is your book! Take out your pen and paper because your skills are needed to DIAGNOSE a mental patient.FIVE STARS
Armchair psychologists, REJOICE! This is your book! Take out your pen and paper because your skills are needed to DIAGNOSE a mental patient. The only issue is to decide WHICH character is mentally obsessive and potentially homicidal.
This book is so deliciously dark, I'm tempted to say something corny like "Your only obsession will be with this novel." I would never say that.
BUT IT IS SO FREAKIN' GOOD! I could not do anything else except glue my eyeballs to every page until I finished it off. Whew! A mental rollercoaster like no other. This is my kind of book, a deep character study and a sense of dread coming with each plot turn. You have no idea how this will end, but you know it is not going to be a happy one. LISTEN! Until you read the VERY LAST PAGE, you don't even know the Mother of all Plot Twists that is waiting to make your day!
The novel starts innocently enough when Carly drunkenly asks her husband "Who else would you go for, if you could?" Oh Carly. Why did you ever have to ask that question? Rob's answer is like a dagger to her heart and brain. The die is cast, fates are sealed, destiny is determined. An obsession starts growing roots.
The story is presented from each of the four character's P.O.V. The chapters are short, but the book is long. Get ready to go in deep. Scandalous, frightening innermost thoughts are revealed and it's not pretty. Downright uncomfortable. I find it so fascinating to compare a person's thoughts with their contrasting behavior.
It's been awhile since I read a psychological suspense that contained so many graphic sex scenes. But I didn't find it to be gratuitous, since one of the characters suffers from a sex addiction and it is pertinent to telling the story. I just point it out as a minor warning if you don't want to read sex. Besides sex and drug addiction, you may be surprised to find yourself reading quite a bit about God and religion, medical professions, and child rearing. Hey, I told you! This book goes deep. No subject is too sensitive or off-limits for this author to tackle.
I'm really excited, if you couldn't tell, to recommend this book about two couples with a "schizophrenic" relationship between all four members. Just when you think you know who is obsessing, who is the unreliable narrator, who is just an ordinary flawed human, you have to start all over again because, like I said..... until the very last page, you don't know for sure. YASSSSS, I LOVE IT and I'M ADDING IT TO MY TWISTER HALL OF FAME RIGHT NOW!
This is Amanda Robson's phenomenal debut novel. It was the #1 e-book all summer in the U.K., Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. The US publication is scheduled for September 19, 2017.
ONE OF MY TOP TEN TWISTERS! See all my Tornado Warnings at www.booksbejeweled
“A tragic accident. It all happened so quickly. She couldn’t have preventONE OF MY TOP TEN TWISTERS! See all my Tornado Warnings at www.booksbejeweled
“A tragic accident. It all happened so quickly. She couldn’t have prevented it. Could she?”
Clare Macintosh, the author of I Let You Go, is the real deal. According to her Goodreads profile, she spent twelve years in the police force, including time in the criminal investigations unit (CID). She knows what she is writing about.
I Let You Go, her debut novel, was the fastest-selling title by a new crime writer in 2015 (U.K.). It won all kinds of awards and is still an extremely popular book. For good reason.
Here’s what it’s about: after a tragic accident, Jenna Gray’s only hope is to start afresh—and in a tiny, remote Welsh village it seems possible, just for a moment, that she might be able to find a new life. But her grief isn’t going to stay in the past for long… THAT IS ALL I CAN TELL YOU without spoilers.
This book checks all my required boxes for a top notch domestic thriller!
UK setting (SO MUCH LOVE) Heavy on the psychological aspects (YES) Just enough police procedural Sympathetic protagonist Unreliable narrators (MUST HAVE) Breath taking plot twists Compelling mystery (UNPUTDOWNABLE) Expertly-cleverly-plotted writing (TECHNICAL TERM)
DING DING DING…..We have a winner! The book takes a minute to set up and you may find it a bit slow, but relax, you’re in good hands. (And wake up! You might want to really pay attention at the beginning since there may or may not be a few clues already sprinkled in. )
I found this book compelling and irresistible. Although the subject matter is heavy, it carries an important message and Clare Macintosh is up to the challenge.
If you’re in the mood for a quick easy read, you might want to skip this This book just made it into my TWISTER HALL OF FAME at www.booksbejeweled.com
If you’re in the mood for a quick easy read, you might want to skip this one. A Reliable Wife deserves your time to digest, enjoy, study. Filled with symbolism and theme, it is one of my all time favorite books. It is a suspenseful, plot twisted story that takes place in the early American 1900’s. The setting is isolated, cold and creepy and the characters are wholly unpredictable. At the heart of the story is a smoldering power of sexuality. There are three main characters, all motivated by a kind of Victorian sexual lust you don’t see in modern books. It is truly a fascinating literary experience....more
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