This is my favorite out of all the Colleen Hayes books so far! I've said it before and I'll say it again...If you haven't read this series yet, you'reThis is my favorite out of all the Colleen Hayes books so far! I've said it before and I'll say it again...If you haven't read this series yet, you're really missing out. This one is dark and disturbing, but I appreciate the chuckles that are included through Colleen's thoughts and words spoken. I am already eagerly awaiting book #6!! ...more
I was dreading this one after reading some reviews from some of my best book buddies...but I was NOT disappointed. I found the story to be compelling I was dreading this one after reading some reviews from some of my best book buddies...but I was NOT disappointed. I found the story to be compelling and dark, with an unexpected ending. Per usual, Charlie Donlea has me eagerly awaiting his next book. ...more
My favorite 70’s PI, Colleen Hayes, is back and better than ever in a truly dark mystery!
The year is 1979, and ex-con Colleen is still in the processMy favorite 70’s PI, Colleen Hayes, is back and better than ever in a truly dark mystery!
The year is 1979, and ex-con Colleen is still in the process of obtaining her PI license. Unfortunately, the issuers of a private investigator license don’t take kindly to convicted felons…even though Colleen had a noble reason for committing murder 10 years earlier. The lack of license doesn’t stop Colleen though.
She has just rented a small office for her business, Hayes Confidential, when she is approached by a German woman named Ingrid, who needs help looking for her supposed nephew. Colleen not only finds Ingrid’s nephew, but also finds out that he’s part of a group that hunts down former Nazis.
While Colleen uncovers more clues, she finds herself threatened by a neo-Nazi group who tell her to stop digging. When she refuses to stop, they attack Colleen’s pregnant daughter. Little do they know that you do NOT want to mess with Colleen. Now she’s pissed and ready to fight back and uncover whatever the heck is going on.
Colleen’s search takes her from the streets of San Francisco to the ledged roads of Rome, where she discovers her case has ties to 1942 and concentration camps. What follows is a dark and twisted story as Colleen sets out to right wrong, fight for justice…and fight to stay alive.
This is the 4th novel in the Colleen Hayes series, and it is the best (along with book #1). It’s also the darkest. The mystery is complex and twisted…not to mention heartbreaking as the novel goes back and forth from “present day” 1979 to 1942 and those who were imprisoned and killed in the concentration camps.
What I appreciate about these novels is that even though they are part historical fiction, author Max Tomlinson bases them in truth. There are certain situations that actually occurred, as he points out in his riveting author’s note at the end.
I was surprised by how “dangerous” the tone in this book felt. Not that any of the previous books are light and fluffy, but using the Nazi/neo-Nazi storyline really gave a chill to the bone and went deep. Luckily, Colleen is still a badass, and her snarky attitude and one-liners manage to keep an even balance.
I highly recommend this series to those who love strong, badass main characters and are looking to read something a bit different. I love detective books that take place before cell phones and GPS, making things harder to crack. If that sounds like something you’d like, go ahead and start with book #1, Vanishing In The Haight. In the meantime, I eagerly await Colleen’s next case.
Thank you to Oceanview Publishing and Edelweiss for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 8/16/22.
Del Sol, New Mexico Sheriff Sunshine Vicram thinks the worst part of her day is the hangover she has after too many tequila drinks the night before. SDel Sol, New Mexico Sheriff Sunshine Vicram thinks the worst part of her day is the hangover she has after too many tequila drinks the night before. She’s in for a rude awakening.
This is book #3 in the Sunshine Vicram series, and it takes place just days after the previous installment’s events.
A young woman is found over the edge of a cliff. She’s barely alive, and looks to have been sexually assaulted. Sun and her team get her to the hospital, but she’s unconscious. Meanwhile, Sunshine’s daughter, Auri, can’t help but investigate the case from her angle as a freshman in high school. And she’s quite good at it too. Auri becomes aware of a missing girl who possibly may have been en route to the area. Could that be the Jane Doe that is currently in the hospital? And if so, who put her there?
While all of this is going on, Sun is also dealing with Levi Ravinder, the man she has been in love with forever! She previously learned quite a bit more about him and recently dropped some bombshells on him. Now it turns out his life may be in danger…and hers too if she tries to help him with his predicaments.
I enjoyed the first book in the series, but thought it was just a tad too much on the silly side. I’m happy to say that each one gets better and better, and I absolutely loved this one! The characters are charming and wacky, yet lovable. The tension is legit. The humor hits the mark every time. I’m invested in the happenings of Del Sol now, and I can’t get enough.
This one is a bit more graphic than I expected…in terms of underlying plot, violence, and death. Nevertheless, it is the strongest…answering lots of questions us readers have been waiting for. One plot device moves WAY too abruptly, rapidly, and perfectly for my taste, but I can’t give it away to those who haven’t read the first two. Hopefully, this isn’t a case of “jumping the shark”.
I think fans of the series are going to be THRILLED with this installment (as I was), and I can’t WAIT to see what happens to Sunny and the Del Sol folks next!
4.5 stars
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Edelweiss for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 12/6/22.
Alice Lee has literally just turned 18. With only $600 in her pocket, she leaves her small Wisconsin toA powerfully haunting and heartbreaking story.
Alice Lee has literally just turned 18. With only $600 in her pocket, she leaves her small Wisconsin town for the Big Apple, in hopes of creating a better future for herself. Just 30 days later, she is brutally raped and murdered, becoming the latest Jane Doe to hit the New York news.
Ruby Jones is a 36-year old Australian woman who needs a change. She decides to take a year off from work and responsibilities and spend her time in New York. She finds herself extremely lonely, and copes by running. One day on her run, she finds Alice’s body by the river.
Ruby is shocked and saddened, and can’t believe this young girl is a Jane Doe who nobody has reported missing. Alice’s spirit hasn’t crossed over. In fact, she attaches herself to Ruby. Through her grief, she knows that Ruby is sincere in wanting to find out who Alice was, make her name known, and figure out who did this to her.
“This is not just another novel about a dead girl.”
That’s what the blurb states, and it is correct. It’s so much more. This is astonishingly well written, and the character development is on point. I cared so much about Alice and Ruby. We learn from Alice’s post-death POV about what led her to leave Wisconsin. It’s certainly sad and unjust, even if that part of the story has been told before and parts can drag. I loved hearing about her first 30 days in New York, and couldn’t help but feel sadness as I knew her life had an expiration date. Ruby had her reasons for leaving Australia, and I felt her immense loneliness in my bones. She struggles with discovering Alice, and her view of New York has changed. She finds herself terrified by the trauma until she finds a group of friends she can talk to about it.
There is mystery since we know someone caused Alice’s demise, but that’s not the focal point. When all is revealed, it probably won’t be very surprising…and that’s okay because the mystery aspect is only a means to an end in discussing much more important topics.
A very intense and moving story that really delves deep into the dangers that women might face every day, the consequences of trauma, and the resilience of the human spirit.
4.5 stars.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for a widget of the ARC through NetGalley and Edelweiss. Expected Publication Date: 11/1/22.
Livia Cutty, a fellow in forensic examination, can’t help feeling like one day she will be performing an autoOne got away. What happened to the other?
Livia Cutty, a fellow in forensic examination, can’t help feeling like one day she will be performing an autopsy on someone just like her sister, Nicole, who went missing 14 months prior. Nicole and her high school classmate, Megan McDonald, both disappeared one night at a beach party, launching a massive search. Two weeks later, Megan escaped…but had no idea what happened to Nicole.
In the present day, Megan is a bit of a celebrity, after writing and releasing a memoir about her ordeal. It’s quickly climbing the charts.
One day, Livia examines the body of a male found in the river. She has no idea that this body ties in with her missing sister, Nicole. Once she does, she enlists Megan to figure out what exactly happened the night they disappeared.
Livia will do anything to find Nicole. As Megan starts remembering more of her ordeal, they realize this story might be more sinister and less isolated than they originally thought.
This is the second Charlie Donlea book I’ve read, and I really need to go and read the rest. He knows how to grip readers with smooth writing and atmospheric descriptions from page 1. He sprinkles in PLENTY of suspects and scenarios, and I have to say I quite enjoyed trying to guess who did what. I found it pretty unpredictable and gripping.
One minor quip I had was Megan’s dialogue. I found it very cheesy as she over-explained everything with many pauses thrown in. It was a bit exasperating.
Overall, this is another solid thriller that has already had plenty of love from the book community. Definitely an author and book I’d recommend.
Thank you to Pinnacle and Edelweiss for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Now available.
Two women’s lives will forever be changed after a shocking and terrible event occurs. Laura was on her first trip to France when the event took place.Two women’s lives will forever be changed after a shocking and terrible event occurs. Laura was on her first trip to France when the event took place. Now, the trauma eats away at her, and she’s finding it hard to pick up the pieces of her life.
She finds an online support forum and befriends Sandrine, but doesn’t know who she really is and what she wants with Laura.
Other reviewers have spoiled “the event”, but I’ll keep that out of my review. It’s also important to note that this is definitely not a mystery/thriller. It’s a drama with strong, and some disturbing, moments.
What I liked:
The writing is fantastic. I felt like we really got to feel the struggles of the two main characters. The whole scene of “the event” is incredibly powerful and tense, and it had me flipping the pages to see how it would unfold.
What I didn’t like:
There are so many issues that the characters face in the aftermath of a traumatic situation, and I feel like the story only scratches the surface. This could’ve and should’ve gone a lot deeper. Motivations for many actions weren’t clear to me, and I would’ve liked to have known more behind the “why” and “how”. The ending wraps up way too neatly, given what happens leading up to it. I found it a bit unbelievable.
I’m an outlier here, and many of my friends loved it. I just felt like it could’ve been more intense and soulful.
2.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to HQ Digital and Edelweiss for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Now available.
Would you ever go into a creepy, dilapidated house in the middle of the woods? I sure as sh*! wouldn’t...but Clare and her frienHAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Would you ever go into a creepy, dilapidated house in the middle of the woods? I sure as sh*! wouldn’t...but Clare and her friends did.
Not many people in Sumner’s Mills, a small town in New York, know about the Octagon House. It’s in the middle of a forest with no road to access it. It’s mostly boarded up, and has been empty since a man allegedly murdered his wife and daughters there in 1965.
Clare and Abby, along with their other friends, decide to go into the house one quiet summer day. What they think they see is hair-raising, but then Clare and Abby find themselves there again at night. Clare came out of the house mostly unscathed, but Abby came out scarred.
Twenty years later, Clare has put that night out of her mind. She receives word that Abby, whose had a troubled life in the years since, was found in the basement of the Octagon House after attempting suicide. Abby is now in a coma, but specifically asked for Clare when she was rescued from the house.
Now, Clare plans to uncover the dark secrets surrounding the Octagon House, and those inside it, so she can find out once and for all what Abby’s obsession with the house is.
This is a creepy and atmospheric mystery that I quite enjoyed, and it’s also an impressive debut. The story is told in multiple timelines and from a few different POVs. It can be a bit confusing at times, but manages to work itself out. I also liked that there were some “coming of age” vibes without it feeling YA. It was interesting to see how characters acted years prior vs. today.
The climax isn’t as thrilling as it could’ve been, and the last 15% really goes on more than it needs to. However, the writing and plot are very engaging. I really appreciated this overall, and author Jennifer Fawcett is now on my “one to watch” list.
Thank you to Atria Books and Edelweiss for sending me a widget of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 2/22/22.
Will Harding is the hottest thing to hit East Texas since, well, forever. The new stranger insHAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
There’s something about Mary Will.
Will Harding is the hottest thing to hit East Texas since, well, forever. The new stranger instantly makes heads turn with his European accent and brooding good looks. Jen gets the vapors when she thinks about him, and is thrilled when she finds out her new neighbor is smitten with her too. She’s had a hard time, recently divorced and with a teenager who resents that they moved back to her hometown.
Jen’s friends, Kittie and Cynthia, also have their eye on Will. They discuss him during their weekly wine nights, and they’re super happy for Jen to have found someone...or are they?
Will has a way of seducing women. By the time anyone figures out how sleazy he is, it may be too late...as danger lurks.
This was such a fun read. I was instantly engaged with the main characters and the “gossipy housewives” vibes. I really enjoy reading these soapy books, and author May Cobb has a knack for writing them.
While there’s nothing Earth-shattering in the story, it’s still vibrant and suspenseful, with moments of dark humor and biting dialogue (I just adore F-bombs!!!).
This is a fast-paced neighborhood thriller that really benefits from the relationships of the three main characters, and I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen. The one little letdown was the epilogue. While I thought one was necessary in this book, I didn’t love the one provided.
Thank you to Berkley and Edelweiss for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 5/17/22.
In Jennifer McMahon’s latest novel, Vi and Eric sure think so. The year is 1978, and they are children...liviHAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Are monsters real?
In Jennifer McMahon’s latest novel, Vi and Eric sure think so. The year is 1978, and they are children...living with their grandmother, the esteemed psychiatrist Helen Hildreth. One Day, the caring doctor brings home a young girl named Iris. Iris is not like other girls, but Vi and Eric latch onto her, making her an honorary sister. They even let her join the Monster Club...which now consists of the three of them. They’re writing a book where they discuss monsters and how to make them vanish.
41 years later (2019), podcaster Lizzy Shelley travels to a town where a teenager has vanished...after the young woman claimed to have seen a monster. There have been similar cases over the years. Lizzy is determined to stay on top of this. She’s also very familiar with monsters…
...After all, her sister is one.
Inspired by Frankenstein, The Children on the Hill is atmospheric and richly written. I’ll be honest though. It took a bit for me to get into it. For one, it’s not scary. It’s also a bit more PG-13 than I expected.
However, I was quickly entranced with figuring out the mysteries of past and present, and McMahon is a master at eloquent prose and gripping plots. I never read or saw all of the original Frankenstein, but I know enough. Using that background was a clever touch. Even though I guessed one major twist early on, there were still a couple surprises in store.
Overall, this is an entertaining mystery that really won me over. I hope fans of the genre will be impressed, and rightly so. A captivating read and a faboosh match with fall weather, wine, and candles...but let’s be real: I’m about the wine and candles life all year long! ...more
Whitney has always been close to her daughter, Amelia...until recently. Now, 16-year old Amelia has been pulling away, trying to ascertain independencWhitney has always been close to her daughter, Amelia...until recently. Now, 16-year old Amelia has been pulling away, trying to ascertain independence, and sometimes acting downright rude. When she wants to spend the night at her friend Lauren's house, Whitney allows it only if she can drive her there.
Helicopter mom Whitney drops her off at Lauren’s, but when she comes back the next day, Amelia and her friend aren’t there. In fact, an elderly couple answers the door and says they have no idea who they are...and that nobody else is living there.
But that can’t be right. Whitney distinctly remembers the rose bushes in front of the house, and no other house in the vicinity has them in the same spot.
As she tries to find out what happened to Amelia, Whitney uncovers secrets that her daughter has been hiding from her. Whitney has some of her own as well, and she may have to face things head on if she expects to find out what happened to Amelia.
I really enjoyed author Amber Garza’s last release, When I Was You. It had a fantastic twist that blew my book friends and I away. Unfortunately, that level of twist is unaccounted for in Where I Left Her. Furthermore, this one doesn’t quite reach the same level of tension.
And yet, I basically liked it! The writing is superb, and the use of multiple POVs keeps things intriguing and forward-moving. There’s some decent red herrings and ambiguity throughout to hold interest. The “surprises'' are somewhat implausible, and I wasn’t thrilled with the ending. This book could have definitely benefited from a few more chapters.
Overall, an enjoyable enough read that kept me engaged, even if it won’t be particularly memorable.
TW (for me and me alone): One of the characters mentions the Paula Abdul song, “Opposites Attract”, and how it’s a nineties song. Um, it’s an 80’s song. Straight Up, you need to get it right! ...more
A book with ‘in-law’ in the title doesn’t sound very original, but I was pleasantly surprised.
The shenanigans begin right away HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
A book with ‘in-law’ in the title doesn’t sound very original, but I was pleasantly surprised.
The shenanigans begin right away as Harper arrives home to find that her husband, Ben, has killed himself. Instead of calling the police like a normal person, she calls her brother, Lane. He helps her stage the body to look like murder so that she can get Ben’s life insurance payout. Completely logical thinking, right?
A little later, Harper doesn’t want to live in the house at the moment due to bad memories, but can’t sell it while the investigation into Ben’s death is ongoing. She decides that she and her two children, a daughter and a creepy son who likes to randomly appear right behind people, will stay with Lane for a while. Imagine Harper’s surprise when she finds out Lane is living with a woman named Candace...and that they are newlyweds.
Candace and Harper get off on the wrong foot...repeatedly. Harper doesn’t think Candace is good enough for Lane, and is pretty sure she’s hiding unsavory things from him...which she is. Candace can’t stand that Harper is trying to get in the way of her happiness, and will not put up with it.
Both of them have a lot to lose, and neither of them will give up.
This book is bonkers in the best type of way, and I am “bonkers for the books”! ...more
Emma Walsh is over her husband and his antics. James is hardcore alcoholic who becomes emotionally abusive, gets into fits of raHAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Emma Walsh is over her husband and his antics. James is hardcore alcoholic who becomes emotionally abusive, gets into fits of rage that scare Emma and their two teenaged children, and is generally not a nice person. After a major incident, Emma is ready to serve him with divorce papers.
Only now, she doesn’t have to do that as she finds his body in his car, in the garage and halfway through the back wall.
Reeling from the shock, Emma and her children try to come to terms with James’s death...which is hard to do when his secrets are coming to light.
Kieran Scott writes an engaging domestic drama/suspense story that easily kept me hooked through multiple POVs and dual timelines. There are plenty of revelations sprinkled throughout. Some of them, I fully suspected. Others, I did not. Despite not really liking any of the characters, I was compelled to find out what secrets they were keeping and how that would play into the story. And, pretty much everyone had a secret.
Overall, this is a compelling tale that moves at a steady pace. I just wouldn’t go into it expecting a full-throttle thriller.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to Gallery Books and Edelweiss for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The book will be published on: 11/2/21.
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY to one of my favorite books this year thus far!
All the stars for this book that is just oozing with suspense and secrets!
HollowHAPPY PUBLICATION DAY to one of my favorite books this year thus far!
All the stars for this book that is just oozing with suspense and secrets!
Hollow’s Edge is a gorgeous subdivision...the kind of place where everyone knows everyone, and they all have frequent BBQs, holiday parties, and pool parties together. It’s always been a safe community...
...Until a little over a year ago, when The Truetts, a married couple, were found murdered in their house. Next door neighbor Ruby Fletcher was convicted of the murder.
Present Day: Harper Nash and the rest of the community try to move on as best as possible. Unfortunately, none of them can sell their homes for profit with the murder still fresh in minds. Harper actually lived with Ruby, next door to the Truetts. Now, when Ruby’s conviction is overturned on a technicality, she comes back to the one place nobody ever expected to see her again: Hollow’s Edge. More specifically, Harper’s house.
With uncomfortably thick tension in the air, suspicious activity starts trending upward in the subdivision. It appears that some neighbors were hiding secrets about the night of the murder. Is there any chance Ruby is innocent of the crime? And if so, who is the real murderer?
Does anybody really know their neighbors?
Such A Quiet Place had me hooked from the first page. It’s suspenseful, atmospheric, and great fun! The characters are all easy to keep track of, and it gives off locked room mystery vibes at times. I could imagine the sweltering heat of the summer, as well as the deceivingly quiet nights as the neighbors made their rounds for Neighborhood Watch.
The book also touches on mob mentality, which I always find interesting and alarming. There are some unexpected twists that I truly didn’t expect. I suspected each neighbor of wrongdoing at one point or another, and ended up being pleasantly surprised by at least one aspect of the ending. I don’t think I could’ve asked for more.
I got vibes of early Louise Candlish here (á la The Swimming Pool), and that is a positive. I’ve heard that author Megan Miranda can be a bit hit or miss. This is only the 2nd book of hers that I’ve read, but you can definitely consider me a fan. I already can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster, who provided me with a physical ARC to review, and also provided me with digital ARCs via NetGalley and Edelweiss.
I read the physical copy, and couldn’t get over the gorgeous cover!
Jamie and his partner, Clare, have gotten to know Kit and his girlfriend, Melia (who also works with Clare) over the past year.HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Jamie and his partner, Clare, have gotten to know Kit and his girlfriend, Melia (who also works with Clare) over the past year. Jamie and Kit almost always ride the riverboat to and from the city together on workdays...along with two others. The four of them call themselves the “water rats”, and occasionally have drinks together after returning to land.
After returning from Christmas break, Kit isn’t on the boat like he normally is. Odd, but not unheard of. What is odd is that Jamie finds two police officers waiting for him when he exits the boat in the city. Apparently, Kit hasn’t been seen since the Monday before Christmas. In fact, Jamie might’ve been the last person to see him. Another passenger spotted them fighting on the boat that day after returning from drinks, and the police find that suspicious.
Could Jamie have had a motive to make Kit disappear?
I am a HUGE fan of Louise Candlish, and she does a phenomenal job of building intrigue as unexpected secrets are revealed. The story goes back and forth from almost a year ago to present day, and I willed my mind to pay close attention to what I was reading so that I could crack the case before it was explained. My detective skills picked up on some minor clues, but the rest of the twists were quite a welcome surprise that I did not see coming. Nicely played, Louise. Nicely played. ...more
Ambrosia “Amb” Wellington receives a note regarding her 10-year college reunion. She is instantly appalled with The Girls Are All So Nice Here...NOT!!
Ambrosia “Amb” Wellington receives a note regarding her 10-year college reunion. She is instantly appalled with the thought of attending. She remembers being the new girl during freshman year, and somehow making friends with Sloane “Sully” Sullivan. The thing is, Amb was a decent human being before attending college...and Sully wasn’t. Caught up in the high of being noticed by Sully, they were both detrimental in the destruction of another college student.
Now, Amb is married to a great guy. The only reason she decides to go to the reunion is because of an anonymous note attached to one of the invites...
“We need to talk about what we did that night.”
Amb and Sully come face to face to figure out who sent that note...and to find out who knew what they did that night years prior.
This is a promising adult fiction debut by author Laurie Elizabeth Flynn (she previously wrote YA fiction), but while I was initially engaged, the thrill of the story didn’t last.
Writing a story about former (possibly former) mean girls has got to be tough. It’s a common topic. In the recently released GIRL GONE MAD by Avery Bishop, I felt for the main character. I felt her growth throughout the years, and found the twists surprising. In this one, I never really warmed to Amb. She is cold throughout, and only has remorse because of how it might affect her now. Interestingly enough, the book really loses steam as it races towards the conclusion. I wasn’t surprised by the turn of events, and eventually stopped caring.
That being said, it’s fairly enjoyable even though it doesn’t offer anything new. I look forward to seeing Flynn’s follow-up in adult fiction. A solid 3-star read, but I wish it was a bit more ‘fetch’. (And YES, I’m still trying to make ‘fetch’ happen.) ...more
“Forget Detective Lotham. Maybe I’m growing on the entire population of Mattapan.”
“What I lackHAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
“I’m growing on you, I can tell.”
“Forget Detective Lotham. Maybe I’m growing on the entire population of Mattapan.”
“What I lack in discipline I make up for in my personality.”
That is just SOME of the praise Frankie Elkin gives herself while talking to other characters in Lisa Gardner’s first standalone novel in 20 years...and her dialogue is a HOOT!
Frankie is an alcoholic who has been dry for years. What does she do in her free time? Investigate cold cases of missing people with the intention of solving them. She’s not a detective, police officer, or PI. She does this in part to absolve herself of her past, and also because she’s damn good at it. She searches for cases where police have given up and public outcry has diminished.
Her current case takes her to a rough part of Boston...Mattapan. It’s an area known for the high population of Haitians. Angelique “Angel” Badeau is a teenager who vanished from high school almost a year ago. Frankie gets word of this. Since nobody else seems to be tackling the case at this stage, she decides to give it a go.
First, she finds a home/job at a bar called Stoney’s. The owner, Stoney, rents her the room above the bar in exchange for working there 5 days a week...and sharing the space with a possibly homicidal cat named Piper. ...more