Gripping page turner set in the middle of the COVID pandemic. Holly's controlling mother with whom she has had a... complicated relationship with in pGripping page turner set in the middle of the COVID pandemic. Holly's controlling mother with whom she has had a... complicated relationship with in past books, has just died and Holly should be taking time off. But a desperate mother pleads with Holly to look for her missing daughter, Bonnie. Told in alternating present day chapters detailing Holly's investigation and flashback chapters detailing how Bonnie is only the latest in a string of strange disappearances orchestrated by a pair of retired professors.
Unlike The Outsider, there's no supernatural elements to this story. All the evil (and there is a lot of it) is purely human. Emily Harris is pure-D evil, masked as a respectable aging intellectual, while her husband Rodney is just plain batshit. Both know enough to hide their true selves from their colleagues and associates, though. Emily hides her vicious prejudices and sense of entitled superiority while Rodney never reveals his more unusual theories regarding the human diet to anyone but Emily. But they're getting older and their bodies are beginning to fail them and perhaps now it's time to put Rodney's theories to the test... I'm sure there's something to be said about well-off entitled racist old folks literally feasting on the lifeblood of the young, but why would SK get all political like that?
(I mean really, if you've been a King fan and somehow missed his politics prior to this novel, your reading comprehension must be extraordinarily poor.)
Anyway, an exciting crime thriller that I couldn't put down. Loved it!...more
Enjoyable if a bit overlong (and it's only half of a two-parter!). Lorenzo is very appealing and not caught up in the usual hyper-misogynistic mafiamaEnjoyable if a bit overlong (and it's only half of a two-parter!). Lorenzo is very appealing and not caught up in the usual hyper-misogynistic mafiamance hero shit. His internal monologues are often hilarious. Morgan has her own high stakes stuff to deal with--lots of strong external motivation for her, which I love. Ends on a cliffhanger (sigh). ...more
Trope packed sprawling mafia/arranged marriage/reverse harem crime romance. With a side of evil twin/morally gray twin, a badass heroine, and some reaTrope packed sprawling mafia/arranged marriage/reverse harem crime romance. With a side of evil twin/morally gray twin, a badass heroine, and some real bloody violent bits. ...more
Chick lit meets mafia romance? Super intense and scary MMC who would burn the world to protect the MFC? High octane dirty talk? A man all other men arChick lit meets mafia romance? Super intense and scary MMC who would burn the world to protect the MFC? High octane dirty talk? A man all other men are scared of willingly letting the heroine turn the tables on him in pretty much the hottest scene in the book? Yes please....more
The character development/grovel/growth of love volume. Not enough grovel for my taste. The stepfather storyline was tied up far too quickly, and the The character development/grovel/growth of love volume. Not enough grovel for my taste. The stepfather storyline was tied up far too quickly, and the resolution to the stalker storyline was deeply disappointing because (view spoiler)[if the person's entire motivation was to protect the heroine, why not try NOT terrifying her into running to the exact people she should be protected from? Pfft, I say. Pfft. (hide spoiler)] Then there's a bunch of domestic post-main plot scenes that I was just not all that interested in. I do love the housekeeper character though. She was a hoot....more
Still compelling beyond all reason. Oh but the revenge... I love a good revenge plot, especially one tailored specifically to cause the most emotionalStill compelling beyond all reason. Oh but the revenge... I love a good revenge plot, especially one tailored specifically to cause the most emotional pain. I just wish there'd been MORE of it. Make these frickin' jerkwad frat guys sufffffferrrrrrrr....more
Oh good lord, I almost didn't list this as read... Strangely compelling even as I kept mentally screaming at what jerks and dumbasses all the POV charOh good lord, I almost didn't list this as read... Strangely compelling even as I kept mentally screaming at what jerks and dumbasses all the POV characters were (yes, the heroine too). Plus the whole bizarre frat 'royal' society thing (frat guys might be my ultimate squick). And yet... I could not stop reading. And I DLed the next one immediately. ...more
A partial skeleton of something that could be exciting and interesting. Some decent action sequences (of the violent, smutty, and violently smutty varA partial skeleton of something that could be exciting and interesting. Some decent action sequences (of the violent, smutty, and violently smutty variety) and a few intriguing glimpses of character, but the FMC suffers greatly in the motivation and character development department. Give her some kind of intense driving motivation--revenge, desire to protect someone else, etc--beyond just "I hate these jerks but they're so fucking hot."
Also, accepting some random sleazeball's offer of his estranged adult daughter as 'payment' for his debts is a really dumb fucking way to run a criminal enterprise. Maybe next time some gang is trying to collect a debt from me I'll just offer them the queen of England. They'd have to go and get her themselves, of course. ...more
I heard this series was complete now. I'd only read the first one before, so I'm rereading to refresh my memory. I do love a revenge tale and River's I heard this series was complete now. I'd only read the first one before, so I'm rereading to refresh my memory. I do love a revenge tale and River's been going down her list of the bad men who wronged her and killed her sister when her path crosses the titular Kings' by pure happenstance. Lots of messed up angry boinking, some psycho sexy blood play, broken people bonding over their breakage, and found families being formed even as the members kick and scream in protest. Oh, and a scrappy little dog, too.
Serviceable crime thriller (with a hint of the supernatural towards the end). I like the Scooby-gang of Holly, Bill, and Jerome and wish they'd come iServiceable crime thriller (with a hint of the supernatural towards the end). I like the Scooby-gang of Holly, Bill, and Jerome and wish they'd come in a little earlier into the story. Morrie Bellamy is effective as a bargain-basement Annie Wilkes....more
As always, a page-turner from King. I read the Outsider before this, so I was spoiled for several things that happen in this trilogy, but I still enjoAs always, a page-turner from King. I read the Outsider before this, so I was spoiled for several things that happen in this trilogy, but I still enjoyed it. A fairly straightforward crime thriller, with no (as yet) paranormal angles. ...more
Liked the first two thirds of the book more than the last. If you've ever wished Jane Eyre had taken a more hands on approach to dealing with her tormLiked the first two thirds of the book more than the last. If you've ever wished Jane Eyre had taken a more hands on approach to dealing with her tormentors, this is up your alley. I wanted more killer!Jane and less romantic!Jane. ...more
Super creepy and hard to put down. Joe's got a bit of that Tom Ripley charm where you find yourself almost rooting for him at times. Then you think abSuper creepy and hard to put down. Joe's got a bit of that Tom Ripley charm where you find yourself almost rooting for him at times. Then you think about what he's actually doing, and feel gross. ...more
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