It’s Valentine’s Day 2020 in Ebbing, and Karen Simmons is looking for love on a night reserved for couplDon’t Talk to Strangers sang Rick Springfield!
It’s Valentine’s Day 2020 in Ebbing, and Karen Simmons is looking for love on a night reserved for couples. But it’s slim pickings at her local pub that night, so a depressed and lonely Karen heads home alone.
The next day, Karen’s body is found in Ebbing Woods – still wearing her red dress from the night before – suffocated, propped up against a tree. Why did Karen go out again after she got home? Who was she meeting? Most importantly, who killed her, and why? And Karen’s isn’t the first murder to occur in those woods…
The second book in the series is set a year after the events of the first and can be enjoyed as a standalone. I feel horrible saying this because #1, Local Gone Missing, was one of my top reads in 2022, but unfortunately, Talking to Strangers was average by comparison. The first half moved at a snail's pace, and even though the plot did pick up after that, it wasn’t by much. I kept finding other things to occupy my time, and it's never a good sign when you’d rather do the vacuuming over reading a book. I think two POVs investigating/researching Karen’s murder was one too many, as things tended to get repetitive. Annie’s POV was the most intriguing. My second complaint is that the mystery was pretty predictable, and the epilogue came as no surprise – the myriad of subtly placed clues that the first book contained were absent from this one. I preferred the secondary crime involving online dating apps and misogynous men. That plot was tense, emotive, informative, and disturbing – several times I wanted to punch my kindle screen imagining it was these disgusting male’s faces. If I didn’t already loathe dating apps, I would now. Also, I’d never heard of cyber-flashing used in this context and immediately checked my Apple AirPlay privacy settings – so thanks for the info, Fiona Barton.
I enjoyed spending time with Elise, Kiki and company; just wish the main crime and pacing had been more to my liking. I will continue to read the series because I loved the first book, this author, and the recurring characters.
I want to thank NetGalley UK, Random House UK Transworld Publishers, and Fiona Barton for the e-ARC.
The outlier soars in on a black tailed Cooper’s hawk!
First Half –A solid 4 stars. Last Half – Had dropped to 3 by 60%, and 2.5 closer to 2 following thThe outlier soars in on a black tailed Cooper’s hawk!
First Half –A solid 4 stars. Last Half – Had dropped to 3 by 60%, and 2.5 closer to 2 following the conclusion of the mystery.
The summer of 1995 is a tragic one for the small town of Cedar Creek, Nevada.
24th June – A local man is the victim of a hit-and-run on a lonely stretch of road.
4th July – The Margolis Family – father, mother, and baby – vanish without a trace, last seen at the Split the Creek Gala.
13th July – The Cedar Creek Sheriff drowns when his car crashes into Cedar Lake.
Fast forward to Raleigh, North Carolina, 2024. Sloan Hastings’s life is turned upside down when she submits a DNA test to a genealogy site. Sloan has always known she was given up for adoption as an infant – but her test results reveal something shocking – Sloan is the baby who disappeared from Cedar Creek all those years ago.
Well, this was certainly a book of two halves for me. The prologue was disturbing and emotional, and my heart was in my mouth the entire time. I enjoyed the premise and beginning and thought the lead-up and way Sloan discovered her true identity was unique. At first, I really warmed to Sloan as a character, until she started making stupid decisions that is. I liked the setting of Cedar Creek and could completely picture it in my head. The flashbacks were utilised well (again only for the first 50%), and I liked how we were given POV’s from bit characters – the truck driver, executive assistant, etc.
But the last half… honestly, I’m still shaking my head in disbelief over how everything could’ve crumpled so fast. There’s no way I can say it nicely – the plot was ludicrous. Mild spoilers for my rant just to be on the safe side. (view spoiler)[The mystery was extremely predictable and underwhelming. I had most of it worked out by 60%, as there just weren’t that many suspects to go around. And where was the emotion – characters didn’t seem to give a toss once everything came out. There was one storyline which led nowhere, so I’m not sure why it was included. I don’t understand why two characters didn’t come forward with what they knew in 1995. A weak reason was given for one, but they willingly opened up in 2024, even though nothing had changed, the killer was still out there, and they were in just as much danger as they were back in 1995. And I guess even the author forgot about the second character as they weren’t even part of the 2024 timeline. Further to this, why did the killer do away with some key witnesses, and not others? Why were some characters oblivious to the obvious danger they were in? Why did characters antagonise, confront, and reveal all to the killer, when the killer didn’t know they knew they had murdered? And don’t get me started on the final 1995 scenes – they were the worse! And the final standoff in 2024 – not much better… (hide spoiler)]
I can’t possibly recommend Long Time Gone, but given the many positive reviews, I say go for it, and hopefully your experience will be better than mine. Glad mine was a library book....more
A heroic act brings unwanted attention for a high school teacher!
3.5.
When a former student, Mark LeDrew, enters Lodge High where Richard Boyle works, A heroic act brings unwanted attention for a high school teacher!
3.5.
When a former student, Mark LeDrew, enters Lodge High where Richard Boyle works, wearing explosives, Richard manages to talk him down. But while retreating Mark accidentally removes his finger from the trigger, detonating the bomb, killing only himself in the blast. Richard is unwittingly a hero – praised by his family, school and community for his actions and bravery.
But his moment in the spotlight brings enemies out of the woodwork, all of whom hold grievances against Richard. To protect his reputation, Richard attempts to resolve the matters himself. It's his first of many mistakes, because Richard has much more to lose than just his reputation.
I Will Ruin You (love the title) was an exhilarating, fast-moving, exciting, quick read. Honestly, Linwood Barclay has always reminded me of Harlan Coben, and vice versa – not enough for me to mix up the two authors – but their writing styles and types of plots share commonalities. There were some rollercoaster chapters cliffhangers, but unfortunately the final reveal was kind of obvious. Also, there were several sub-plots that were either resolved too easily or fizzled out which made me wonder if they were only included to distract from the perpetrator and add more suspects. Which didn’t work on me. Even though drug-dealing isn’t my preferred plot in a domestic thriller there were some great twists in that storyline.
All in all, an above average read which kept me entertained and glued to its pages....more
The third rule of Camp Emerson is the most important, ‘When lost sit down and yell.’
Just like the battle cry of Pan: The Greek God of the Woods.
SituatThe third rule of Camp Emerson is the most important, ‘When lost sit down and yell.’
Just like the battle cry of Pan: The Greek God of the Woods.
Situated in the Adirondack Mountains is the Van Laar Preserve. Atop its ridge is the Van Laar’s colossal summer home, named Self-Reliance. Far below, is the camp they own, Camp Emerson, which is open to campers eight weeks of the year (June to August).
July 1961: 8-year-old, Peter “Bear” Van Laar the fourth (the only child of Peter the third and his wife Alice) vanishes without a trace while hiking with his grandfather (Peter II) in the Adirondacks near the family home Self-Reliance. Following an extensive search no trace of him is ever found.
August 1975: The girls in Balsam cabin, Camp Emerson, awaken to find 13-year-old Barbara’s bunk bed empty. Barbara’s surname is also Van Laar – she’s Bear’s younger sister, born after his disappearance, to replace the void he left.
Is the Van Laar line cursed?
Surely it can’t be a coincidence that they’re two children from the same privileged family!
Or are they simply two separate unrelated tragedies?
What happened to Bear, and then Barbara?
If I could rate The God of the Woods 14 stars (for the 14 cabins of Camp Emerson) then I absolutely positivity would, but I guess 5 stars is enough to convey just how immersive, momentous, and affecting it was. A flawlessly written epic masterpiece of literary suspense fiction, and deep dive character study. There were twists that left me reeling over how shockingly clever they were, and Liz Moore’s use of misdirection and carefully concealed clues were meticulously placed. Every once and a while there is a book that comes along that is so special that I find myself taking much longer than normal to read it, inhaling every word, and taking frequent breaks to reflect on the plot, and characters, to prolong the experience, and The God of the Woods was one such example.
The story contained many gothic elements which increased my sense of unease and claustrophobia tenfold. A prickling sensation at the back of my neck permeated the novel from the very first page. First up, was the secluded setting, far enough away from the nearest town of Shattuck to be isolating, surrounded by endless wilderness and the looming Hunt Mountain, with Lake Joan cutting them off even further. Then there were the dilapidated log cabins, once used for hunting parties, complete with unused fireplaces, whose chimneys were occasionally inhabited by bats. Not to mention the origins of Self-Reliance – there was something off-putting and out-of-place about it previously being a Chalet in Switzerland, transported by ship to New York piece-by-piece and then reassembled on the Van Laar Preserve. As expected, there were numerous campfire style legends circulating – whispered stories warning of Slitter, of Scary Mary, and Old John. And last but not least, the plot was built around not one, but two disturbing enthralling mysteries.
Those who know me are aware that I love a summer camp setting and this novel contained everything I wanted in one – new friendships, secretive and untrustworthy behaviour, counsellors and campers sneaking around after dark, campfires, sing-a-longs, swimming, hiking, a camper survival trip in the woods, and an end of summer dance. The vivid and intricate descriptions of the campgrounds really brought Camp Emerson to life. There was also a handy map included at the front of the book, showing the layout of the grounds and buildings.
And I was thrilled that the author chose to set the camp story arc in the 70's – I adored the nostalgic trip, the slang, and pop culture references. The 1950’s/1960’s timelines were equally compelling. Instead of Camp Emerson, that plot focused on Self-Reliance and Peter and Alice's marriage within its walls, and of course, Bear's disappearance, and what lead up to it, and the fallout resulting from it.
The majority of the POV’s were pre-teen/teenage girls and twenty-something women (with the exception of Alice in 1975. She was 41 by this stage), and most of them were damaged or broken (and given what they'd been dealt in life I'm not surprised), beaten down and trapped by their circumstances. Back then women were considered inferior – utterly dependent on the men in their lives to make decisions for them regarding how to look, act, and behave. And a lot of the male characters in this book took advantage of this – were dismissive, controlling and abusive. Not only that when female characters were abused by men, they saw it as their failure, and thought it was them who needed to change, who needed to be more compliant. And those who did take a stand were belittled, mocked, and shunned, by both men and women, for not conforming to the norm.
Class, prejudice, injustice, and resentment was another prominent theme. With the Van Laar family and their rich, entitled friends on one side, and the locals from Shattuck (including camp staff, counsellors, household staff, and caretakers) on the other. Self-Reliance, sat high on the hill, on prominent display, lording it over everyone, literally and figuratively, looking down on people. Even its name, Self-Reliance, was an exclusion, a slap in the face for the townspeople, implying that the Van Laar’s had build it themselves with no assistance, when it had been the entire eligible male population of Shattuck who had done so, with no help from the Van Laar’s. And even the fact that the camp staff quarters were situated way down lake from Self-Reliance in the farthest south corner possible, placed in the half of the camp separated by a creek, spoke volumes.
The God of the Woods was in my opinion a smash-hit and I strongly urge everyone to read it and experience the magic for themselves. My top read for 2024 so far. Actually, a top read full stop....more
It’s no secret that I love this series, and I adored every moment I spent with these beloved characters in The Mercy Chair. I burst out laughing a3.5.
It’s no secret that I love this series, and I adored every moment I spent with these beloved characters in The Mercy Chair. I burst out laughing at pretty much every interaction between Washington Poe and ‘Snoopy’. And whooped with joy over a happy reveal in Poe’s personal life (finger bones ...more
3.5 Rounded Up to 4. As much as I enjoyed reading ‘If Something Happens to Me’, I had some issues with the plot that I just couldn’t overlook!
Leavenwo3.5 Rounded Up to 4. As much as I enjoyed reading ‘If Something Happens to Me’, I had some issues with the plot that I just couldn’t overlook!
Leavenworth, Kansas – Five years ago, Ryan Richardson and Alison Lane were two high school seniors in love, with their whole lives ahead of them. Until that faithful rainy night when while parked at Lovers Lane in Ali’s father’s BMW, Ryan was knocked unconscious by an unknown assailant, and when he regained consciousness, Alison, and the car, were gone.
At the time, no one believed Ryan’s story and since he was Alison’s boyfriend, as well as the last person to see her alive, all roads led to him as the prime suspect in her disappearance. Even when DNA evidence was later uncovered at the campsite of a known, and now deceased, serial killer, there were still those in Ryan’s small town (and beyond) who were still convinced he killed his girlfriend.
Then a grisly discovery shreds new light on the investigation. Alison’s car has been discovered submerged in Suncatcher Lake. And, in its backseat are two bodies, neither of which belong to Alison Lane.
If Something Happens to Me was fast-paced and action-packed – there was never a dull moment, and I was on an adrenaline high the entire time I was reading. At only 337 pages I zipped through this in record time, and when I was forced to put it down, the plot occupied my thoughts. The chapters were short and to the point, and nearly every single one ended on a cliffhanger, which definitely kept me turning the pages on my kindle’s touchscreen. All the characters were charismatic and unforgettable with compelling backstories, especially Ryan and Poppy. In fact, if Alex Finlay decides to turn this novel into a series featuring Poppy, Ryan, and others, in Leavenworth then I’m all for it. Just saying!
But unfortunately, I did have some issues with one twist, one plot line, and a plot thread that seemingly led nowhere and wasn’t wrapped up to my satisfaction. The latter two are spoilers so I can’t provide any more detail. The twist that was meant to be one of the novels biggest reveals I had worked out by the 30% mark. I wasn’t that bothered as it was a great twist, and to be fair I have read a lot of thrillers, but perhaps a couple of the clues were a tad obvious?
To sum up, I was thoroughly entertained overall, I guess that’s why I’m being so picky over details. After loving Every Last Fear and then being disappointed by The Night Shift, my positive experience with If Something Happens to Me means I will definitely continue to read this author. Especially if this is the first in a series. *Hint, hint!*
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Head of Zeus, and Alex Finlay for the e-ARC.
If Something Happens to Me is only six days away from being released in the US, but this edition (the UK one) is out 6th June 2024....more
The Housewife – Darcie Bonneville leads a privileged life, married to a handsome successful surgeon, living in a luxurious apartment, wA Firm 4 Stars!
The Housewife – Darcie Bonneville leads a privileged life, married to a handsome successful surgeon, living in a luxurious apartment, with plans to start a family.
But when Darcie saves a little girl’s life, and the video of her doing so goes viral, it places everything she holds dear in jeopardy. Because Darcie has a secret past, a past she has been hiding from for years, and her new notoriety is about to draw unwanted attention.
What I’ve always admired about the domestic suspense side of Anna-Lou Weatherley’s novels is her ability to create characters embroiled in the main mystery that you really sympathise with, and care about what happens to. It stands to reason that you’d be concerned about series regulars Dan Riley and his team (with the exception of Martin Delaney) but being emotionally invested in Darcie’s story arc meant the tension and the stakes were even higher.
The mystery was maybe a little on the predictable side as well as a tad repetitive, but they were tropes that I gravitate towards and enjoy reading about in the domestic noir genre and there were enough twists that I didn’t guess to keep me satisfied.
I anticipate a Dan Riley instalment every year, they’re a reliable, easy-to-read, easy-to-keep-track-of, not too many characters crime police procedural, perfect for those instances where you don’t have a lot of time and concentration to devote to reading. I alternated between the supplied e-book and the audible audiobook and read/listened to The Housewife’s Secret over a day, making this a quick, immersive read.
I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Bookouture, and Anna-Lou Weatherley for the e-ARC....more
I can only muster 3 stars rounded up to 3.5 for this Supernatural Murder Mystery!
*Happy Publication Day*
Deadhart, Alaska has a population of 673 livinI can only muster 3 stars rounded up to 3.5 for this Supernatural Murder Mystery!
*Happy Publication Day*
Deadhart, Alaska has a population of 673 living humans, and on its outskirts reside the undead (although technically they aren’t as these bloodsuckers are mortal, but you get my drift), a colony of vampyrs (the ancient word for vampires}.
In this version of 2024 (where everything remains the same with the exception of the introduction of vampyrs, who have been around since the beginning of time), vampyrs have been declared a protected species since 1983, although they are not permitted to live, work, or socialise among humans, hence the ‘colonies’ they inhabit, and as a result they are highly feared and prejudiced against by a lot of humans.
So, when a human teenager, 15-year-old Marcus Anderson, is murdered, and the evidence points to a vampyr attack, the town of Deadhart is hellbent on revenge and vigilantism. Enter Dr. Barbara Atkins, a New York based Forensic Vampire Anthopologist, who is called in to investigate, and naturally her arrival is met with hostility, suspicion and anger. It’s up to Barbara to find Marcus’ killer because if a vampyr is responsible then human law dictates that the entire Deadhart colony will need to be ‘culled’ (wiped out).
Did you follow all of that?
An intriguing, original, and compelling premise, don’t you agree? I thought so too, but unfortunately one that didn’t entirely work for me. I enjoyed the fresh take on the vampire myth, and the changes to the lore, and the bigotry and discrimination against the vampyr race had me feeling a spectrum of emotions. But the fact that I sympathised with them and given that our race held all the power (political and technological) prevented the vampyrs from being scary and threatening for me, even when they were intended to be. And, when I think about the vampire fiction that has resonated with me in the past, the fanged monsters depicted were truly terrifying.
There were one or two decent twists, and I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the mystery was predictable, but at the same time the resolution was lacklustre. The characters weren’t bad, I liked Barbara and others well enough, but nor were they particularly memorable. Although I do commend authors like Tudor who, more and more, are using older women (50+) as their main protagonist as going back twenty, thirty years you rarely found a competent, respected female character over 35. Now to the setting – I just never felt that closed-in trepidation and tension. And I never got the impression that Barbara was in any real danger – the characters that tended to be targeted were the unlikeable ones. Overall, the dialogue was Tudor’s usual high standard, with the exception of (and this is going to sound picky, but it really irked me so I’m including it!) Barbara’s constant use of the word ‘Sir’ when addressing male characters – I understand it was meant to placate them, but honesty it was every second sentence, and it was distracting. Dare you not to notice it now! Maybe I can’t talk because I’ve used the words ‘human’ and ‘vampyr’ a lot in this review.
Anyway, to sum up, I think I went into this book with too higher expectations following the dizzying heights of last years The Drift (5 stars all the way baby!). And my disappointment is set to continue as it looks like The Gathering is the start of a series for C.J. Tudor, and I just can’t generate enough enthusiasm for a second instalment. Boo-hoo for me, but fantastic for those who loved it – which was the majority of early reviewers.
I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Michael Joseph Penguin Random House, and C.J. Tudor for the e-ARC....more
It was almost a 2/5 except the ending did throw some surprises my way, and wasn’t as predictable as I thought it was going to be. The rest of my time It was almost a 2/5 except the ending did throw some surprises my way, and wasn’t as predictable as I thought it was going to be. The rest of my time while reading was spent urging the pace to speed up and get going. I ended up switching from audio to physical book because Geez Louise listening was slow going. Not the narrators fault - she did her best. And, then there was all the fat shaming. RTC....more
A solid 4 stars for the 4th instalment in this addictive series.
At Warwick’s department store’s annual summer party, the recent murder of a former empA solid 4 stars for the 4th instalment in this addictive series.
At Warwick’s department store’s annual summer party, the recent murder of a former employee, Fern Lever, whose throat was slashed in her own home by an unknown assailant, is a hot topic of conversation. Daisey Garrett didn’t know Fern, as she worked for the company before Daisey’s time, and besides, she’s too preoccupied over thoughts of her ex-fiancé’s betrayal to pay much attention.
But, maybe she should have. Because in a few hours time, Daisey will also be attacked in her apartment in the exact same way Fern was. However, unlike Fern, and against all odds, Daisey survives her horrific ordeal. Unfortunately, she doesn’t remember a thing from that evening – not the work do, nor what happened after…
I’m really enjoying playing catch-up with the Detective Dan Riley police procedurals. Anna-Lou Weatherley always delivers an intriguing, compelling, twisty crime/mystery occurring in an everyday domestic setting, and The Woman Inside was no exception. Wow, those opening chapters sure were tense and edge-of-your-seat worthy. But there’s a but. As much as I enjoyed reading this, I was unable to award it 5 stars, as by the 50% mark I could clearly see where it was going – major bummer – guess I’ve read too many of these? Was bound to happen. I was fully invested in all three timelines – I cared about Daisey, was afraid for her, Dan’s personal life was heartwarming, even if I had spoilt it for myself somewhat by reading The Lie in Our Marriage first, and the flashbacks beginning in 1987 filled me with ominous dread.
All in all a quick, easy, satisfying read. Off to start #5, The Night of the Party.
Loading...
