A luxury villa in the breathtaking, picturesque Tuscan countryside. Sounds sublime, right?
But for Anna Pace – early thirties, working a dead-end job aA luxury villa in the breathtaking, picturesque Tuscan countryside. Sounds sublime, right?
But for Anna Pace – early thirties, working a dead-end job at an ad agency in New York – a once in a lifetime vacation is upset by two major obstacles:
1. Her toxic and frustrating relationship with her dysfunctional family – her parents, twin brother Benny, sister Nicole, brother-in-law Justin, and Benny’s new boyfriend Christopher. The saving grace is Anna’s two nieces – Waverly and Mia.
2. From the moment Anna steps inside Villa Taccola she is plagued by an uneasy feeling. Cold spots, footsteps, strange voices speaking Italian, objects moving around, doors slamming, and every night brings vivid nightmares.
And then there’s the tower room – the door leading to the staircase is locked, concealed by a tapestry. The locals have warned the Pace family not to open it – ever! But the key is beckoning, calling out to them…
Diavola was unnerving, macabre, spine-tingling gothic horror at its finest. I loved the subtlety of it. And there were several nail-biting twists. It may not be fast-paced or exciting enough for some horror reader fans, as a lot of time was spent on the Pace Family’s vacation experience and familial drama. But for me the scariest part was them doing normal touristy things one minute and then being confronted with something supernatural the next. One of the creepiest notions was that the haunting probably couldn’t have taken hold if this family dynamic had of been healthier – their lack of communication, selfishness, and various resentments were their ultimate downfall.
Disturbing cover art aside, content-wise there was some body horror, blood, and descriptions of rotting food. I would characterise Diavola as mild horror, and any regular readers of thrillers who want to dip a toe into horror this October would be able to handle this just fine. The novel was narrated entirely by Anna, and I loved her particular brand of sarcasm and humour right down to the mocking chapter titles. Both her plights - family and paranormal - made her a sympathetic, relatable character, although not particularly likeable. No one was loveable in this, except for the two children, and the cats, neither of which were harmed in this book.
I know we are only thirteen days into the month, but Diavola is currently my top pick horror read, and it is a tale that will stay with me for a long time to come....more
One sibling in a large Catholic family has the potential to be a serial killer. Will they give in to their darker urges?
Elmira, New York – It’s 1951 wOne sibling in a large Catholic family has the potential to be a serial killer. Will they give in to their darker urges?
Elmira, New York – It’s 1951 when we first meet the Larkin Family – Donald 31, Ava 32, and their six children, Myra 13, Fiona 11, Alec 10, Joan 7, Lexy 4 and Archie 2 months.
Every Sunday after church Myra has an entire hour to herself, a reprieve from taking care of her younger brothers and sisters. While reading in a corner booth at the local diner, a handsome, charming, young stranger approaches Myra. They chat for awhile until it’s time for her to leave. On her walk home it starts to rain. A car approaches. It’s the stranger again, and he offers her a ride.
Myra doesn’t know it at the time, but it’s her first of the Larkin family’s many chance meetings with various serial killers. Myra was spared that fateful day. The family down the street from her were not so fortunate.
Wolf at the Table was a literary fiction, character study, family saga, spanning six decades between 1951 and 2010 and every chapter marked a defining moment, significant point of change, in one of the family members life. Every scene usually involved a conversation between two people, usually a one-off encounter with a never seen again character, or a first meeting with someone who would go on to become significant to them, making this a dialogue heavy novel. It was also a lengthy novel, clocking in at 480 pages. I thought it zipped by, that every sentence served a purpose, but you know me I love my long books.
It was also an in-depth examination of what shapes a predator and that no one single thing is responsible – that it’s a combination of many factors, bad choices, and risky behaviours. In this instance, genetics, upbringing, personality, lack of empathy, experiences, trauma, drugs and alcohol, lack of direction, loneliness, and boredom all contributed to create a monster. While Wolf at the Table wasn’t overly graphic given the distressing subject matter it was a disturbing, uneasy, bleak, and emotional read that has left its mark on me.
The characters were certainly memorable, and even though pretty much everything they went through was outside my experience it was relatable and understandable for these characters given their circumstances. Although I personally did not find any of these people particularly likeable, since they tended to focus on the negative aspects in their lives, given the hand they were dealt, I was unsurprised by the path each sibling chose.
It may seem a little far-fetched just how many serial killers this family stumbled upon, but there was a naivety to all these characters that made them either blind to or attracted or fascinated by the danger. And even though every family member had an inkling that a wolf resided at their family dinner table they were never prepared to acknowledge it out loud – some were scared, others oblivious, and the two really in the know were unwilling to accept it, or deal with it, and consequently all buried their heads in the sand.
The novel was beautifully written with exceptional dialogue and top-notch metaphors. The insertion of pop cultural references, historical events, and actual real serial killers made every year this was set feel authentic and nostalgic.
I toggled between the e-book and the audio, and I now worship the narrator, Paul Sparks. Any time he was reading a serial killer’s dialogue gave me goose-pimples as well as had me marvelling over how incredibly talented he was. His voices for any teenage and child featured within its pages was also amazing, and his varied American and English accents were faultless.
Given how depressing it was Wolf at the Table will not be for everyone. Although you could characterise it as uplifting because it will make you feel better about your own life. In that case, I 100% recommend this novel to everyone....more
An inviting and intriguing premise for both a mystery and a romance!
After a falling out with her childhood best friend/college roommate halfway througAn inviting and intriguing premise for both a mystery and a romance!
After a falling out with her childhood best friend/college roommate halfway through the semester, Freshman Aleeza Kassam is forced to change not only rooms, but campus dormitories.
Unbeknownst to her, her new digs in Room 225 of East Hall, was formerly occupied by Sophomore Jay Hoque, a student who has been missing for the past 5 months, last seen in the very building Aleeza now lives in.
If that wasn’t disconcerting enough, Aleeza opens the campus resident app – ResConnect – only to find a message from Jay demanding to know what she’s doing in his room. At first Aleeza thinks it’s a prank, a joke, a technical glitch – but the more they chat, Aleeza soon realises she’s talking to Jay several weeks before he went missing, and that he has no idea he’s in danger. They need work together to get to the truth of what happened to Jay that fateful night, and prevent it from happening, before Jay disappears again.
Remember Me Tomorrow was a heartfelt, poignant, emotional roller coaster, time-crossed romance, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, and magical realism in an academia setting with themes of independence, identity, friendship and toxic friendship, race, prejudice and discrimination, class, privilege, and secrets. The slow burn romantic plot was everything I could’ve wished for – every message exchanged between Aleeza and Jay was either sweet, sexy, fun, amusing, natural, profound, or a mix – I felt their chemistry, and understood why they were drawn to each other from the get-go and the bond between them that strengthened over time was lovely. The time-shift and mystery subplots contained twists aplenty, a myriad of clues, and subtle use of foreshadowing. It was also uniquely clever having Jay the victim able to assist (and hopefully alter) present-day Aleeza’s investigation in the past, and it definitely added another layer of tension, perplexity, and urgency to the novel. I’ve marked this as magical realism, but I liked how both Aleeza and Jay were initially skeptical regarding the magical elements, that they both sought to uncover rational explanations, and halfway through the book Aleeza still had her doubts.
Every character was relevant, with distinctive traits and personalities, and age-appropriate behaviours and actions. I warmed to sole narrator Aleeza within the first paragraph, and to Jay from his first introduction, as well as the side characters. Since the character’s were college-aged I would subcategorise this novel as New Adult, but to be honest given the tame nature of the story overall it read more like YA, therefore I feel it would be fine for teenagers. My only trigger warning would be for swearing, but bad language is a part of pretty much every YA book these days. The setting, particularly the architecture of East Hall, a building steeped in history, was atmospheric and ominous.
I urge you to sqeeze Remember Me Tomorrow into your busy reading schedule, as it is a must read. Farah Heron is a new-to-me author that I’m thrilled to have discovered....more
Cornwall Inn, Newport, Rhode Island – Welcome to Lila’s six-day Wedding Extravaganza! The bride has mPhoebe Stone is the coincidental Wedding Crasher!
Cornwall Inn, Newport, Rhode Island – Welcome to Lila’s six-day Wedding Extravaganza! The bride has meticulously planned every detail, with no expense spared. Nothing can go wrong!
Until the arrival of Phoebe Stone – a stranger who has somehow managed to book the best room in the place, even though the entire inn was supposed to be reserved for Lila’s Wedding People. Phoebe has hit rock bottom – unable to see a way forward. But all Lila can see is a person whose mere presence has the potential to sabotage her dream wedding. And she won’t stand for it! So, Lila inserts herself into Phoebe’s life, and from that moment on, nothing will ever be the same.
Because, just maybe, Phoebe Stone is exactly who Lila and The Wedding People need in their lives.
The Wedding People was a harmonious blend of serious, raw, and honest combined with playful, fun, cheeky, and hilarious. The author didn’t shy away from characters having tough conversations and her depth of understanding of human behaviour and thought processes was insightful and relatable. I could be laughing out loud one moment, and moved to tears the next. Every character was well fleshed out, and Phoebe’s deep conversations, witty banter, and chemistry with other characters, and the relationships she witnessed between others felt genuine, realistic, and entertaining. Surprisingly, given the serious subject matter this novel never felt depressing or bleak – there was always hope and light to be found. It really was a book about never giving up, even when you feel like you’ve lost everything, and that there’s joy and positivity in the smallest of things, and the most annoying of people.The wedding setting really appealed to me – all the lavish details, the activities, and outings, as did the cozy feel of an Inn setting where everyone kept running into one another, had a shared event, and couldn’t escape each other.
When I reached 64%, I remember feeling sad that I only had 36% to go, because I loved spending time with Phoebe and this group of Wedding People. I wish I could delve more into the plot, and characters, and how special it all was, but I’d be spoiling things, so I’ll conclude by saying that I loved all the directions it went in.
I’ve just realised that another of this author’s books, Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance, is on my list, so I’ll be reading that sooner rather than later. The Wedding People will definitely make my end of year top favourites list, no question....more
The Lost Story was Inspiring and Imaginative, Wondrous and Beautiful. What a Heartfelt Story of Pure Escapism.
In May 2007, two 14-year-old boys, best The Lost Story was Inspiring and Imaginative, Wondrous and Beautiful. What a Heartfelt Story of Pure Escapism.
In May 2007, two 14-year-old boys, best friends Jeremy Cox and Ralph (Rafe) Howell, went missing from Red Crow State Forest in West Virginia. Later that same year they suddenly reappeared, as if from thin air, found by two hikers in a spot that had been searched dozens of times. Rafe had no memory of those lost six months. Jeremy recalled it all but was bound by a promise to keep it secret, even from Rafe. His doing so drove a wedge between the two boys, and soon after Jeremy’s family moved away.
Fifteen years later Jeremy works as an investigator locating missing girls. Rafe lives a reclusive life, in a cabin in the woods. Jeremy is approached by a young woman – Emilie Wendell. Adopted as a baby, Emilie has only recently discovered that her older, half-sister, Shannon, went missing from the same forest as Jeremy and Rafe, five years before they did. Shannon was thirteen at the time of her disappearance, and in her case, there was evidence that she was kidnapped and murdered, although her body was never found. Emilie enlists Jeremy’s help to locate her sister’s body for burial and closure. Jeremy reluctantly agrees, he hasn’t been near Red Crow State Forest since the day he and Rafe were found. Neither has Rafe, but desperate for answers regarding what happened to him all those years ago, he is convinced to go along. And that is just the beginning of what will be a life-changing, epic journey for all three.
The Lost Story was at its core a story of lost, and found, love. The focus was on relationships – lovers, family, friends, and animals. It was also an adventure story, fairytale, fantasy, coming of age, mystery, and magical realism. In The Lost Story the power of imagination and strength of belief in yourself and those closest to you meant you could face, and stand up to, any demon – internal or external. It contained serious topics, so trigger warnings for child abuse, family violence, homophobia, and abduction. This novel drew inspiration from C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series but for me The Lost Story had much more in common with Peter Pan and Alice and Wonderland.
The writing, dialogue, and characters were faultless. The word building was immersive and unique, and the various clues, foreshadowing, setups and payoffs impressed me to no end. (view spoiler)[My one tiny negative was that I never felt any of the characters were in any real danger, the villains were easily dispersed, but because it was a fairytale, and I’m all about the happily ever after, and because I loved these characters so much, I didn’t really care. (hide spoiler)] There was a handy map at the beginning of the novel, and recipes throughout that I understand are also included as a pdf alongside the audiobook.
The Lost Story was an utter delight from the first word to the last. The releases this year overall have been of an exceptionally high standard, and this novel is another favourite that I’m sure will make my end of year top ten. I’m thrilled to bits that I have The Wishing Game by this author still to read....more
Will a second chance at living convince Delphie to live her best life?
27-year-old Delphie is a recluse who spends the majority of her time holed-up inWill a second chance at living convince Delphie to live her best life?
27-year-old Delphie is a recluse who spends the majority of her time holed-up in her flat. Even though she’s lived in London all her life she only knows three people, an elderly neighbour, and her two work colleagues.
One evening while eating dinner (alone in her flat as per always) Delphie chokes to death. She regains consciousness in a place called Evermore, where her young, bouncy, vibrant, talkative, afterlife therapist of all things, informs her she is dead.
While Delphie is struggling to get her head around the devastating news, she is distracted by a new arrival, a guy around her age. Delphie and the guy’s physical attraction is instantaneous, and their conversation flows naturally. Has she just met her soulmate?
But unfortunately, the man of her dreams is merely in a state of deep unconsciousness, and a moment later he is gone, back among the living. During their brief conversation Delphie only uncovered two things about him – his first name is Jonah, and he’s also from London.
Just when Delphie thinks all is lost, turns out her afterlife therapist is a big believer in true love, so the two strike a deal – Delphie can return to earth for ten days. If she hasn’t received a kiss from Jonah by that time she is fated to die again – permanently! A further complication, Jonah doesn’t remember meeting her in Evermore, his memory was wiped clean when he returned to earth.
The race is on to track Jonah down in time. Is a woman with few social skills and little life experience up to the task? Delphie intends to give it all she’s got.
Tick-tock!
The innovative premise, inventive title, and gorgeous cover really captured my attention, well that and Goodreads friends glowing reviews. And The Love of My Afterlife not only exceeded my expectations, but also contained some surprising twists for a romantic comedy. It was sexy, sweet, utterly satisfying, hilarious, magical, gave off Cinderella vibes, and contained several of my favourite romantic tropes, which need to remain under wraps. Delphie’s quest to find Jonah really brought her out of both her shell, and her comfort zone, and everyone who helped her along the way impacted and enriched her life in ways she couldn’t possibly have imagined or predicted. As you know I prefer my rom coms with a side of real-world issues which this novel contained in spades – there were traumatic reasons why Delphie had chosen to hide away from the world. Also, I adored all the mentions of fictional romantic leads from books, TV, and movies.
I chose to read the audiobook and Sofia Oxenham’s performance was magnificent and charming – I couldn’t have asked for a better experience – her voice for Merritt (the afterlife therapist) was a lot of fun.
The contemporary romances released this year have consistently been of a high calibre, and for me have out shined other genres, and Kirsty Greenwood’s, The Love of My Afterlife was a further highlight and top favourite read for 2024. It will be my pleasure to explore this author’s past titles.
Those who thought they knew Oliver Ryan were shocked to learn that he had assaulted his wife Alice so badly that Liz Nugent is now an Auto-buy Author!
Those who thought they knew Oliver Ryan were shocked to learn that he had assaulted his wife Alice so badly that she resides in a coma, unlikely to recover. The couple had been married for nearly thirty years and Oliver has never displayed any violent tendencies, has he? But can their memories of the man be trusted? Because hurting Alice is far from the worst thing Oliver has done.
Last year, I finally got around to reading Liz Nugent, and Unravelling Oliver is now the third novel I have read by her, and all have been five star reads. Right from the first page Oliver was a cold, manipulative, controlling, bully, but how he came to be that way definitely wrecked me, not that it excuses his actions as an adult. The various POV’s of those who encountered Oliver in life-altering ways were all interesting, exciting and tense. The majority of the book read like a contemporary drama saga but with chilling undertones, and once the entire story was revealed, I was left shocked and stunned.
The audiobook was one of the best I’ve ever read. A different narrator voiced each character and every aspect of their various personalities shone through – loved the various Irish and French accents, and the chapter narrated by Alice’s disabled brother, Eugene, was incredible – I listened to it twice.
I’m so happy to have discovered Liz Nugent, I have another library audiobook of hers coming up which I can’t wait to dive into. Unravelling Oliver is a not-to-be-missed must read. As was Strange Sally Diamond and Skin Deep....more
Christian White got me again! How does he keep doing this?
He remains one of the Master’s of the jaw-dropping twists. The Ledge sure packed a punch – aChristian White got me again! How does he keep doing this?
He remains one of the Master’s of the jaw-dropping twists. The Ledge sure packed a punch – an emotional gut punch. The clues were there – but of course I didn’t see them for what they were.
The Ledge is his best book yet. All his thrillers have been 5 star reads for me, but this one was even better than my previous favourite – The Wife and the Widow.
The present (2023) and past (1999) dual timeline were equally engrossing, complex, and fast-paced.
At just 352 pages The Ledge is a quick read, so perfect for the approaching busy holiday season.
Christian White captured the vibe and nostalgia of childhood, friendship, and innocence lost when violence explodes into the lives of four teenage boys in a small Victoria, Australia town. Loved the homage to Stephen King’s, It and Stand By Me (1986) with kids riding bikes and walking train tracks.
Just read it! Or listen! I toggled between the physical book and the audiobook, and Nic English’s performance was superb.
I don’t know how I’m going to narrow down my 2024 favourites list?...more
The Vacation Really Surprised Me – In the best way possible!
During a long hot summer in Los Angeles, nine travellers from all walks of life and cornerThe Vacation Really Surprised Me – In the best way possible!
During a long hot summer in Los Angeles, nine travellers from all walks of life and corners of the globe – Tommy, Jake, Nicole, Eric, Savannah, Ruth, Jane, Declan, and Matty – have checked into the Venice Beach International Hostel. They are there for a variety of reasons – some are on a mission, others are trying to find themselves, and all are trying to escape and outrun trauma and tragedy in their past. By the end of their stay, for better or worse, all their secrets will be exposed.
Because the past never stays buried!
The Vacation was John Marrs’ first novel, republished and rebranded in 2021, originally published under the title Welcome to Wherever You Are back in 2015. I feel the former title was a more fitting one, as none of the characters were really there on vacation, well not the kind of vacation most of us picture as one anyway. The Travellers would’ve worked better. Also, the cover art of the edition I read doesn’t work for me, as floating in an inflatable pool ring had nothing to do with this novel, as like I said, it wasn’t that kind of vacation, and It’s misleading to readers.
For some reason I went into The Vacation thinking it was a locked room Agatha Christie style mystery. I have no idea why I thought this or where I got my information from, as I was way off. This novel was mainly drama, soap opera, action, character study, with elements of thriller, suspense, crime, and romance thrown in (like any good soap opera, right?). And even though the plot wasn’t what I was expecting, and despite it being completely different from anything else John Marrs has written, I absolutely loved it. I loved the camaraderie and friendships that developed between the hostel guests, and the idea of like-minded strangers being drawn to one another in the most difficult of circumstances when they really needed each other most. And that being surrounded by supportive people also taught them to stand on their own two feet.
There were ninety-eight short chapters, plus a prologue and epilogue, mainly unfolding from the POV’s of the nine guests, but occasionally narrated by other’s as well. Chapters were usually divided into two parts – the present, and then a flashback to how the character narrating got to where they are. I cannot emphasise just how much drama there was, so trigger warnings for nearly every topic, but nothing too graphic. There were definitely serious scenes, situations, and topics, but they were conveyed in that soap-operish kind of way, if you know what I mean? I should also mention that there were a lot of characters, but I never struggled to keep track of who was who.
I’m thrilled over how much I enjoyed The Vacation and am happy to name it as one of my top reads so far this year, and probably my favourite John Marrs.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Pan Macmillan, and John Marrs for the e-ARC. ...more
On the night Angus Stoat proposes to Gabby Alvarez in a NYC midtown bar, Gabby’s best friend Natalie Shapiro meeNo one-star rating from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
On the night Angus Stoat proposes to Gabby Alvarez in a NYC midtown bar, Gabby’s best friend Natalie Shapiro meets Angus’ best friend Rob Kapinsky for the first time. Their banter is fun and flirtatious, there’s a definite vibe, but Natalie has a boyfriend and Rob has a plane to catch so they somewhat reluctantly part ways, but occasionally text over the next year and a half.
Their second meeting at Angus and Gabby‘s wedding is decidedly less friendly, in fact it’s downright hostile. Natalie now hates Rob because he had the nerve to give her first novel a one-star rating on Goodreads. Rob feels justifiably disappointed in Natalie after what he discovered she’d written on page 28.
But, over the years they keep crossing paths, unable to avoid each other because of their shared connection through their best friends. And every time they come into contact, they can’t help being drawn to one another, and unwittingly an attraction is growing between them. Will Natalie and Rob ever admit that they have feelings for one another?
Out of all the contemporary romantic comedies that I have rated five stars this year, and this includes Katherine Center’s, The Rom-Commersand Emily Henry’s, Funny Story, Laura Hankin’s, One-Star Romance is my top favourite for 2024. I would even go as far as to say that it’s one of my top romances of all time. I loved it! If I had to compare it to anything I would say that it shares commonalities with the Katherine Heigl 2010 movie, Life as We Know it, and the TV series Love Life (2020) starring Anna Kendrick.
One-Star Romance contained several of my most favourite romantic tropes including enemies to lovers, hate to love, slow-burn, forced proximity, forced to share a bed, love triangle, and open-door (although not quite all the way ...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
The Midnight Feast was Unsettling, Creepy, and it Sure Kept Me Guessing!
June 2025 – It’s the opening weekend of The Manor, an excl*HAPPY RELEASE DAY!*
The Midnight Feast was Unsettling, Creepy, and it Sure Kept Me Guessing!
June 2025 – It’s the opening weekend of The Manor, an exclusive, cliffside, health and wellness resort hotel, nestled away in the tiny village of Tome, Dorset, with the beach on one side and the woods on the other. The retreat promises three days of luxury, spirituality, and pampering, culminating in a Midnight Feast on The Day of the Solstice.
But just before dawn The Day After the Solstice fishermen make two grisly discoveries, floating in the water is a body, and high up on the cliff The Manor is burning!
Just what went on at The Midnight Feast?
After finishing The Midnight Feast I can honestly say that Lucy Foley is the master of misdirection – the plot had more twists than the trees featured in this novel – the mystery was multi-layered, clever, and exciting, and the shocks and secrets just kept on coming. I can’t stop thinking about that last 25%!
The characters were a mix of one’s I cared about, other’s I wasn’t sure about, and a few that were evil to the core. All were compelling, three-dimensional and intriguing. I even teared up a couple of times and was surprised how emotionally invested I was in some of these character’s situations and trauma. The setting of Tome took on a life of its own – steeped in class conflict and divide, exacting justice, and customs and folklore. Now, I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I’m terrified of birds – although I’m not keen on their squawking, flapping wings, and beady eyes – but the bird legends featured in this novel, coupled with the fact that people kept finding ominous feathers, really freaked me out.
There were several timelines to keep track of. The present story arc, which took place over the three-day retreat weekend – Opening Night, The Day Before the Solstice, The Day of the Solstice – via four POV’s. Then there were flashbacks to the summer of 2010 in the form of italicised journal entries narrated by a teenage girl, as well as flash forwards to The Day After the Solstice beginning with the discovery of the fire and an unidentified body. There was also a spooky, foreboding prologue titled, The Woods. The summer journal was the standout for me, that is until the last 25% when every moment was my favourite.
Now I can’t decide which Lucy Foley book is my favourite, this one, or The Guest List. I think I love them both equally.
P.S. As a teenage I also devoured Bella by Jilly Cooper, as well as the other books in the series, Harriet, Octavia, etc.
I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Harper Collins UK, and Lucy Foley for the e-ARC.
Take note of the release date, 6th June 2024, as The Midnight Feast is a must-read thriller....more
My top read for 2024, so far that is. Every aspect of the plot completely worked for me. The sarcastic humour saw me laughing out loud several times bMy top read for 2024, so far that is. Every aspect of the plot completely worked for me. The sarcastic humour saw me laughing out loud several times but it was never silly nor in bad taste - the mystery/crime storyline was serious, tense, and emotional. I relished being in Lucy’s head, and the Podcast was riveting. Characters, their interactions, and dialogue were top notch, and I’m always ready for a small town murder - particularly when it involves a cold case. I loved every minute of reading this - couldn’t put it down, and I will be recommending this thriller and singing this author’s praises left, right, and centre....more
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