The synopsis of When the Night Bells Ring appealed to me so much. Dystopian North America, a ghost town, a supernatural presence in anOoh scary – not!
The synopsis of When the Night Bells Ring appealed to me so much. Dystopian North America, a ghost town, a supernatural presence in an abandoned mine, the American West during the height of the gold rush – one of my favourite eras, not to mention gothic tones.
In the near future climate catastrophe has brought on the apocalypse. Following the Great Valley Fire, Mads and Waynoka have fled Los Angeles in search of a more stable environment on the East Coast. They stop to rest in Virgil, Nevada. Upon realising it was once a thriving mining town, they venture deep into the mine in search of a water source. An accident leaves Mads injured, cutting off their only exit route. They are trapped way beneath the surface! Then, Waynoka finds a diary, first entry dated July 26th, 1869. It tells the story of Lavinia, her husband, and two children, newly arrived in Virgil. Lavinia immediately notices there is something off about the town. And, as it turns out, she is right to be worried. Because there is something truly evil lurking in the mine. And, Waynoka and Mads are about discover that it’s still there.
Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? I had such high hopes for this horror read only to have them dashed. My main issue was the writing. Both timelines felt rushed, and lacked tension or suspense. Consequently, I never felt creeped out or unperturbed, let alone scared. It also meant I failed to connect with any of the characters, and wasn’t emotionally invested. I also had an issue with the diary entries as there was too much telling and not enough showing. When Lavinia writes about a young couple she met upon arriving in Virgil as ‘acting oddly’ and ‘they seemed spooked’ does nothing for me. I want that conversation relayed, so I can witness their body language and facial expressions for myself. Heaps of authors include diary entries that read like flashbacks, or start as diary entries and then morph into flashbacks. This entire novel just left too much to the imagination. No spooky or gothic vibes whatsoever.
Writing is subjective though, and When the Night Bells Ring has received rave reviews, and freaked readers out. Maybe the audiobook will work better? If you do decide to try it, I hope it’s a winner. For me, this was not a great start for my first lead-up-to-Halloween read.
I’ll like to thank Edelweiss, CamCat Books, and Jo Kaplan for the e-ARC.
This sure was a hard review to write, and one I've kept putting off.
A group of strangers are on a cross-country road trip. They've hired a bus, and inThis sure was a hard review to write, and one I've kept putting off.
A group of strangers are on a cross-country road trip. They've hired a bus, and intend to spend their days and nights, sightseeing, partying, and having fun.
Their end destination is San Francisco. And, in this case, ‘end’ means driving their bus off a bridge in a final farewell.
Hard hitting. Honest. Powerful. Heart-Wrenching. This was one intense read that posed many, difficult, thought-provoking questions and scenarios. Surprisingly upbeat and positive given it’s dark, controversial themes. Not saying I wasn't uncomfortable, but the tone was lighter than I expected it to be. I was quickly immersed in the plot, and there were plenty of twists and shocking reveals to keep me engrossed.
All the characters were unique, strong, and complex, with a lot of depth. Being privy to their inner most thoughts had me aching for their emotional, psychological, and physical pain, suffering and scars. After feeling alone, misunderstood, and unseen all their lives they had finally found a safe space where they could let loose, be themselves, and open up, without fear of judgement and criticism. The premise mentioned The Breakfast Club, and there were similarities, but this was bleaker.
The novel utilized the epistolary format, meaning it was written as a series of online diary entries interspersed with text messages, emails, and recorded audio conversations, and it worked well, given the multiple POV's.
Given the sensitive and disturbing subject matter, this isn't a novel for everyone, and I will be careful who I recommend it to, but I'm not sorry I read it. It was completely worth my time.
I'd like to thank Edelweiss, Gallery/Scout Press, and J. Michael Straczynski for the e-ARC....more
Raven Hall – A beautiful stately, yet gloomy, isolated mansion, complete with turrets, situated deep in t4.5
‘Just think of it as – a little game.'
Raven Hall – A beautiful stately, yet gloomy, isolated mansion, complete with turrets, situated deep in the marshlands and fields of eastern England.
1988 – Recently orphaned 14-year-old Beth is thrilled to escape the children's home and spend the summer at Raven Hall as a companion for the owners teenage daughter. But carefree days of swimming, picnics, exploring, and fun and games soon turn into a game of a different sort. One Beth's not sure she wants to play along with.
2019 – Struggling actor Sadie is hired to take part in a trial run murder mystery weekend at Raven Hall. And she’s relishing the idea of a two-day getaway starting with a chauffeured Mercedes, vintage clothing, and a dinner party complete with a parlor game. But someone has a far deadlier game planned for an unsuspecting Sadie and the other unfortunate guests.
The Perfect Guests was an enticing blend of multi-generational sordid secrets and lies, dysfunctional families, obsession, loneliness and trickery. And at the heart of it all, lies Raven Hall, in all its magnificent, haunting, gothic glory. Beth's story made me think of Heidi crossed with VC Andrews while the present storyline gave me all the And Then There Were None spooky vibes. Both timelines were engrossing and mysterious and I connected with the two main characters right away, and quickly became invested in their individual plights. I loved the parallel of Beth and Sadie both approaching their new adventures at Raven Hall with enthusiasm and excitement but soon finding their situations uncomfortable and disconcerting.
To be honest, I was expecting something a bit darker, but the more I thought on it have decided that I was not disappointed over how it all came together in the end. I enjoyed reading it immensely, and always looked forward to picking it up. So maybe some of the reveals were a tad unbelievable and convenient, but they were surprising and the little clues and hints, and how it all wove together, were cleverly done. As you've probably guessed chapters alternated between Beth and Sadie, but there was also a third italicized unknown POV that I had no clue about, and as much as I tried to puzzle it out, things did not start to make any kind of sense until about half-way through.
For those who want a break from being scared to death, or who prefer psychological thrillers that are tense and foreboding rather than terrifying, with characters you care about, and content that packs an emotional punch, then look no further than The Perfect Guests. And since this was Virginia Andrews-esqe, pay attention YA readers, because this one's for you too.
P.S. The title couldn't be more appropriate.
I’d like to thank Edelweiss, Berkley Penguin Publishing Group, and Emma Rous for the e-ARC.
Play to win… or lose everything. The rules are simple – toy with, torment, and then destroy.
HAPPY US RELEASE DAY!
Amy Whey has the perfect suburban setPlay to win… or lose everything. The rules are simple – toy with, torment, and then destroy.
HAPPY US RELEASE DAY!
Amy Whey has the perfect suburban set-up – husband, stepdaughter, new baby, friends, career.
And then a knock at the door changes everything.
New neighbour, Angelica Roux (call me Roux like the kangaroo) swoops into book club night, and immediately takes over, charming the other housewives. When she suggests a game of Never Have I Ever, the women are or for it, except for Amy, because the secrets she keeps are worse than most.
But Roux already knows them, and threatens to tell-all, if Amy doesn’t submit to her demands.
So now they’re playing a new, deadlier, game, and if Amy doesn’t win, it could cost her everyone she loves.
Domestic noir meets psychological warfare, and I was all in from the opening hook – a revealing, drunken, seemingly innocent – but not!, game of Never Have I Ever among married mums. What could go wrong? As it turns out, everything! And from then on the race had begun – Amy versus Roux – where the juicy gossip, secrets and startling revelations became more shocking as the story progressed. Three magnificent twists in particular hit me like a ton of bricks and left me floored. What a rush!
Antagonist, Roux, was nasty, calculating, and took immense pleasure in being cruel. She was also fascinating, alluring, and quickly drew Amy into her web, and there were times I couldn't help but empathise with her. I won't reveal whether I was right or wrong in doing so. We soon learn that Amy has made some terrible mistakes, but I quickly grew attached to her, and admired the ways she had tried/kept trying to make up for her past actions. She was smart, devious, crafty, didn’t bow to Roux's will, fuelled by a fierce need to protect those she held dear, and never lost sight of her moral compass – the ultimate opponent to go up against someone like Roux.
I was also rooting for Amy because I cared about every member of her family. They were all such well-developed characters – even baby Oliver. I adored the relationship between husband and wife (Davis and Amy), father and daughter (Davis and Maddy) and especially stepmother and stepdaughter (Amy and Maddy). It was so refreshing to read about a healthy, loving, trusting relationship between a stepmother and a teenager, and how Amy saw Maddy as her daughter (not step), and Maddy felt the same way about Amy.
Amazon has billed this one as a cross between Desperate Housewives and Killing Eve, and I think that's an apt description.
I'd like to thank Edelweiss, William Morrow, and Joshilyn Jackson for the e-ARC.
US Release Date: 30th July, 2019. UK Release Date: 8th August, 2019....more
Forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven is hired to determined whether a troubled teenager should be released from care into society. Evie CorDisappointing!
Forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven is hired to determined whether a troubled teenager should be released from care into society. Evie Cormack has resided in a high-security children's home for six years, ever since she was discovered living in a hidden room of a residential house – feral, malnourished, uncommunicative. Cyrus is also fascinated by Evie's rare ability to pinpoint when someone is lying, a subject he wrote his thesis on.
Cyrus is also consulting on a murder investigation involving another teenager. Fifteen year-old champion figure-skater Jodie Sheehan – her body dumped in a wooded area near her home. Jodie is the complete opposite to Evie – beautiful, popular, with a bright future, and a family who cares. But, are the two girls really that different?
I was beyond excited to receive an advanced electronic copy of this book, as it not only sounded right up my alley, but I absolutely loved Michael Robotham’s previous novel The Secrets She Keeps last year. Sadly, this one just didn't deliver – I yawned my way through the first 30%, put it aside to read two other books, and even though things did improve, it wasn't amazing.
What I did enjoy was the relationship between Cyrus and Evie, and once the Jodie Sheehan subplot got going I found the storyline pretty intriguing with plenty of suspects, secrets, false leads, and a surprisingly outcome. The dual narration format (Cyrus and ‘Angelface’ – the name the police and press gave Evie when she was found) worked for me, and I found both characters interesting, multi-layered and well-developed.
However, I did not like the fact that there were several loose tangents that weren't resolved by the end. I would've also liked more of an explanation regarding Evie's ‘truth wizard’ capability. Did she use visual cues, telltale body language, or was she some kind of psychic? With no explanation given it came across as more science fiction or fantasy than anything, and to be honest was rolled out too conveniently. I’m guessing this is the first book in a new series, and that these things are intended to be addressed in future installment/s, but I felt I was left hanging.
I'm definitely in the minority on this one, and I wish I wasn't as I had such high expectations going in. With so many other books on my tbr, it's doubtful I will read the next book in the series. Robotham is definitely a talented writer, and I'm still eagerly anticipating reading his Joe O’Loughlin novels, once I finish collecting the entire series, but this one just didn't cut it!
I'd like to thank Edelweiss, Simon & Schuster – Scribner, and Michael Robotham for the e-ARC.
In June 1976, teenage couple, April Cooper and Gabriel LeRoy went on a 13 day killing spree in California, ending in them both Five Stars all the Way!
In June 1976, teenage couple, April Cooper and Gabriel LeRoy went on a 13 day killing spree in California, ending in them both perishing in a fire.
Quentin Garrison is working on a podcast called Closure, based on the idea that even though the murders occurred more than forty years ago they still impact the lives of the survivors and their descendants. And, Quentin is one of them – his aunt was one of the victims.
Film columnist, Robin Diamond receives a strange phone call from Quentin. He's been contacted by a man claiming to have recognised her mother, Renee, from a Mother's Day video Robin posted for her column. The witness is convinced that Renee is April Cooper, that he knew her personally after she was presumed dead in a fire. Robin dismisses the notion as preposterous, but soon after her parents are victims of a home invasion. Could Renee Diamond really be notorious serial killer April Cooper?
Quentin and Robin each conduct their own investigations, determined to get to the truth. But doing so, will place their own lives in danger.
Tense, horrifying, fast-paced, and emotionally affecting, I quickly devoured this psychological suspenseful read. There were twists aplenty, and they keep on coming until the last page. Protagonists, Quinten and Robin, narrated the present, with the 1976 events unfolding via chilling, journal-style, "Letters to my Future Child", written by April Cooper. The opening pages, April's first entry, a written assignment for her freshman social studies class, hooked me immediately, and chapter two in Quentin's POV quickly endeared me to his character, and I felt the same way when Robin was introduced. The premise reminded me a of a novel I read last year, but that's where the similarities ended, this one was a lot better.
Content wise, there is nothing overly graphic or gruesome, no blow-by-blow of the murders April and Gabriel committed together. Instead, April's journals focus on her destructive and controlling, co-dependent relationship with Gabriel, and her secretive nature. I was expecting more of a focus on the podcast aspect, but the fact that there wasn't didn't make me feel like there was anything missing.
Alison Gaylin's 2018 novel, If I Die Tonight, was a huge hit for me, and Never Look Back will likely make my 2019, end-of-year, top favourites list. This one's out 2nd July, 2019, so make sure to mark your calendars, as it's not to be missed.
I'd like to thank Edelweiss, William Morrow Paperbacks, and Alison Gaylin for the e-ARC....more
Hen and Lloyd meet Matthew and Mira at a neighbourhood block party. This encounter leads to an iOh, who are the people in your neighborhood?
4.5 Stars!
Hen and Lloyd meet Matthew and Mira at a neighbourhood block party. This encounter leads to an invite to the latter couple’s for dinner, and at the close of the evening, Mira invites her guests on a tour the house. In Matthew's study, Hen notices a fencing trophy that looks exactly like the one that went missing when Dustin Miller – a young man from the neighbourhood she and Lloyd lived three years ago – was brutally murdered. Is it a coincidence, or, is she living next door to a killer? And, more importantly, does Matthew suspect that Hen knows what he is?
An entertaining, absorbing exploration into the damaged human psyche, with an emphasis on head games, deception, troubled and abusive relationships, and male dominance, all of which had me constantly questioning the reliability and trustworthiness of all the narrators.
Hen's history of bipolar, while it did factor in, I was pleased the author didn't have her spiralling into the depths of depression, desperately trying to convince those around her that she’s living next door to a murderer, and then not being believed due to her disorder. It's been done to death as of late. Instead her character sank to a whole new level of bad decisions and emotional instability, as she continuously took risks, placing herself in dangerous situations, falsely believing that she was safe.
The majority of the twists left me stunned and excited, wanting more, except for the reveal at the 70% mark which was somewhat deflating, and in my opinion not needed. It's not that it was bad per se, its subtlety impressed me, I didn't see it coming, and it was executed a lot better than another novel I've read with the same twist, but I preferred the direction I thought the book was heading.
All in all, near perfect, mind-bending, spine-tingling domestic noir.
I'd like to thank Edelweiss, Harper Collins Publishers, and Peter Swanson for the e-ARC .
US Release Date: 5th March, 2019. UK Release Date: 7th March, 2019....more
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