This is a tale of murder. Or maybe that’s not quite true. At its heart, it’s a love story, isn’t it?
Thank you so much to Alex Michaelides and Celadon This is a tale of murder. Or maybe that’s not quite true. At its heart, it’s a love story, isn’t it?
Thank you so much to Alex Michaelides and Celadon Books for my copy of The Fury. I was lucky enough to blurb this book, and as you may know, he is one of my favorites! This book was about narrator Elliot Chase, and his story of seven people trapped on an island, ending in a murder. But it isn’t your average Agatha Christie story, and this is no And Then There Were None.
Lana is a famous American actress, given a secluded island by her late husband. She wants to take her husband Jason, son Leo, assistant Agathi, and two friends on a weekend getaway. The first friend is Kate, a British theater star and old friend. The second is our narrator Elliot, a playwright and another old friend. But there are layers of secrets and lies that start to come out. And when the group is trapped on the island overnight, concealed hatred and desires for revenge begin to come out.
Thoughts: THIS IS THE ULTIMATE UNRELIABLE NARRATOR STORY! I think Elliot was a brilliant narrator and I loved the way he spoke to the reader as if he was composing a play. It was such a fun read and the tone was just right. I love the lyrical way that Michaelides writes and the way he brought in so many elements to create this story. I especially loved the Greek island and the idea of the fury.
The characters in this book were all hard to trust and hard to pin down. I loved the way the story slowly revealed layer after and my idea of reality could switch on a dime. The references to Agatha Christie were so fun and I really liked that there were mentions of characters from both The Silent Patient and The Maidens. This book is another classic Michaelides, short chapters and a twisted psychological journey. 5 stars for this twisted thriller! ...more
Thank you so much to Amy Engel and Dutton Books for my copy of I Did It For You. This book was about Greer, a girl whose sister was murdered 14 years Thank you so much to Amy Engel and Dutton Books for my copy of I Did It For You. This book was about Greer, a girl whose sister was murdered 14 years ago. Now there has been a similar killing in Greer’s hometown, but the convicted killer has already been executed. This starts the police down the path that there is a copycat, but Greer thinks there may have been two killers, and one has gotten away.
She decides to return to her hometown in Ludlow Kansas, and tries to find the answer to the questions that have haunted her. She meets an unlikely ally and starts to dig into what really happened. The story is about murder, guilt, loss, and our trauma.
Thoughts: I think Amy Engel is an amazing writer and this book was no exception. I liked that even though Greer was the narrator, she still kept secrets from the reader. There were lots of interesting characters in this story, and I especially liked Cassie! Engel does an amazing job of capturing the feeling of a small town and including so many details that made me think of the small towns I’ve lived in.
I wasn’t really surprised by the twist, but I didn’t like the characters' motives. I did like the way the story explored grief and loss and trauma. There were so many great themes that were explored in this book, and I think the author did a good job of bringing everything together. 4-stars for this one! ...more
Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and Megan Goldin for my copy of this book. It is about Maddison, a social media influencer who goes missing riThank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and Megan Goldin for my copy of this book. It is about Maddison, a social media influencer who goes missing right after meeting Terence Bailey in prison. He is about to be released for breaking and entering, but is suspected of the murder of six women. The FBI calls in Rachel Krall, a podcaster who is inexplicably tied to the case.
Rachel joins the FBI in investigating the missing influencer, especially after it seems that she only exists on social media. When another woman is found dead, the police suspect that Terence could have an accomplice. When it seems that influencers at a conference are being targeted, Rachel joins in and tries to find out information from the inside.
Thoughts: I loved the different aspects of this story. Rachel is a great main character and I was happy to see her back in this book. The serial killer angle was unique and fun to read about. There was a lot going on, and sometimes the characters were hard to follow. I really don’t like romance in my thrillers, so I found that aspect to be unnecessary.
I thought some of the stuff about influencers was overdone and stereotypical. It was the most basic rendition of what people think an influencer is. I also think there were a few things that made no sense in the story but were still apart of it. My biggest gripe is the writing. When the characters talked, they used each other's first names in almost every sentence. “Rachel, why do you think that”, “Joe, the reason I think that is…”, “But Rachel, what do you mean”. No one talks like that in real life and it was jolting and very hard to get through. So in the end I gave it 3 stars. ...more
Thank you to Liz Nugent and Gallery Books for this fun and unique book. It was about Sally, a 42 year old woman who has problems relating to the worldThank you to Liz Nugent and Gallery Books for this fun and unique book. It was about Sally, a 42 year old woman who has problems relating to the world. She doesn’t get things like other people do, and her father told her she has emotional problems and that it’s okay. He will keep her safe inside, where she stays until he finally dies. As per his wishes, Sally does the only thing she knows how to, and takes his body out with the trash.
That one act makes Sally a news spectacle and brings her lots of unwanted attention. As she starts to read letters left by her father, Sally begins to learn that there are reasons she can't remember her childhood. While learning about her dark past, she also starts receiving messages from an unknown person who has ties to her childhood. What follows is a dark journey down the rabbit hole of the past, as well as an emotional journey to move past her history.
Thoughts: This story had it all! It was dark and gritty and complex, and I loved the mystery and how it went much deeper than surface level. I loved how character driven the story was, and learning the layers of Sally was truly a delight. She was a great main character, and I appreciated that she was not just a stereotypical neurodivergent woman, but had depth and growth.
There were some great perspectives and points made on racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia, but know there are a LOT of triggers in this book. To say them all would be a spoiler, but it was very dark. It read like The Maid mixed with Don’t Look for Me and I couldn’t get enough! The ending is just like the title, strange, but oddly satisfying. 4.5 stars for this wonderful book! ...more
Thank you so much to Knopf and Clemence Michallon for my copy of this claustrophobic thriller! It was about a small town and how close the community iThank you so much to Knopf and Clemence Michallon for my copy of this claustrophobic thriller! It was about a small town and how close the community is. Aiden is a beloved member of the community. He just lost his wife to cancer and has a daughter that he is trying to love an support. He also happens to be a serial killer that is keeping a woman imprisoned in the shed in his backyard.
When he is forced to move, he brings the woman with him and moves her into the house. After five years of being held captive, she has no idea how to act. She is brainwashed and fearful and is just trying to survive. But as she starts to test the boundaries of her new situation she begins to realize that there might be some hope yet. Aiden’s daughter Cecelia is interested in his father’s tenant, and wants to learn about who she is.
Thoughts: This book was purely thriller- no mystery here. From the beginning you knew the premise and that the story would be about the woman’s quest to escape. This book was very dark, and was about strength, trauma, and the will to survive. The plot was a good one and I was intrigued by where the story would go.
A few things- first, the book was written in second person which was very off putting. There were also chapters told from the multiple dead victims, which was confusing and didn’t add anything to the plot. The book was mainly told from the imprisoned woman’s perspective, which made it very psychological but also very repetitive. I understand where the author was coming from, but nothing really happened in this book. I loved the premise and the anxiety that built throughout the story, but I a few things kept me from loving it. 3-stars ...more
I wanted to pick up some books for Independent Bookstore Day, and Wonderland was an AMAZING choice! FREAKING JENNIFER HILLIER MAN. This book was aboutI wanted to pick up some books for Independent Bookstore Day, and Wonderland was an AMAZING choice! FREAKING JENNIFER HILLIER MAN. This book was about the Wonderland theme park. By day, it is fun and full of energy, a child’s dream. There is a giant octopus, spinning sombrero, and the infamous wonder wheel. But by night, the clown museum seems more eerie and the house of horror hits differently, especially when a dead body is found left decaying in the park.
It’s Detective Vanessa Castro’s first day on the Seaside police force, and the rotting body of a man found in the town’s most profitable business is only one of her problems. Another Wonderland employee is also missing, right after posting a picture at the top of the wonder wheel. Vanessa starts to realize that there is a trail of missing boys in Wonderland’s past, and the dark history and rumors might be more true than anyone knows.
Thoughts: This book was bonkers, and the theme of the Wonderland amusement park was eerie. Having chapters set UNDER THE FREAKING CLOWN MUSEUM is terrifying and creepy and I loved it. I always forget home much I love Jennifer Hillier, and this book reminded me what an amazing writer she is. My friend (thanks @bonechillingbooks) recommended I listen to the audiobook, and that was an amazing choice. The narration was fantastic and made me feel like part of the story.
This story was so twisted and there were so many crazy things going on. I loved the journey and how there were so many creepy elements to this story. It is exactly how I imagine working at a theme park would be, but so much worse. Vanessa is a great main character and I’m happy that we get to see her again in other books. The ending was a great surprise and not what I thought it was going to be. I recommend this story to anyone who likes a dark and creepy mystery. 4.5 stars! ...more
Thank you to TJ Newman for my copy of Drowning! It was about Flight 1421, an airplane that takes off from Hawaii and six minutes later, crashes into tThank you to TJ Newman for my copy of Drowning! It was about Flight 1421, an airplane that takes off from Hawaii and six minutes later, crashes into the Pacific Ocean. While trying to evacuate, the plane is flooded when the engine explodes and the few remaining passengers are forced to close the door and seal themselves inside as the plane sinks to the ocean floor. Two hundred feet below the surface, passengers start to panic, including Will and his daughter Shannon. Their best chance of survival is her mother Chris, who is a professional diver who will stop at nothing to save her family before they run out of air.
Thoughts: Oh man this book was full of tension. It was nonstop action and I loved it! It started off super intense and kept the gas pedal down for the whole book. I loved all the characters and the human parts of this book, even during a crisis. It was easy to connect with them and relate to their fear and anxiety. This book had a lot of technical aspects, but they were still easy to understand and interesting to read about.
This book was about the lengths a parent will go to save their child. The research is great and Newman’s own perspective makes reading her books believable and interesting. It read like an suspense-filled action book more than a thriller, where there wasn’t a mystery to be solved but just a hard situation to get out of. I recommend this book for people who want a quick read that they won’t be able to put down. 4.5 stars ...more
Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books and Shari Lapena for my copy of this book! This book was about the lives of several people that all intersect. First Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books and Shari Lapena for my copy of this book! This book was about the lives of several people that all intersect. First there’s William, a doctor and family man that has everything together on the surface, but is secretly having an affair with Nora. Nora is a volunteer at the hospital and lives with her family just down the street. When she breaks off the affair leaving William devastated, he goes home and unexpectedly finds his daughter Avery there. Hours later Avery is declared missing and no one knows what happened or who to trust. One thing is for sure though, the truth will come out.
Thoughts: THIS BOOK WAS SO TWISTED. It was like this extremely twisted domestic thriller where everyone is connected and everyone is hiding something. The way all the families were connected was interesting and suspicious and fun to read about. What I like about Lepena’s writing is that its SO bingable and impossible to put down, and this one was no different.
I thought the twisted secrets were fun and even though this was more of a drama, there was still the underlying mystery there the whole time. I didn’t know what could have possibly happened and didn’t even try to guess. I loved the short chapters which made it really easy to read. There were some parts that got repetitive which made the book lag a bit, and Avery was unbelievably complex for a 9 year old. Some of the things she did and said were very surprising and not necessarily believable. However I loved this story and gave it 4 stars! ...more
Thank you to Liv Constantine and Random House for my copy of this book. It was about two people who found themselves together after the death of theirThank you to Liv Constantine and Random House for my copy of this book. It was about two people who found themselves together after the death of their spouses. D.C. philanthropist Sloane Chase and Senator Whit Montgomery are finally starting to move on from their partners who were not only cousins, but shot in the same terrible accident. Sloane is finally starting to return to the world of politics, and is finally able to make time for a much needed hip replacement. She hires Athena, a health aide to help her with everything, including her foundation.
As Sloane starts to deteriorate quickly after her surgery, Athena explains that it is a side effect of Sloane’s lupus. But as the weeks pass and Sloane gets sicker, she starts to become paranoid and suspect the worst. Is Athena involved? Why is she asking so many questions about her foundation? Does she know who she let into her house?
Thoughts: This book reads like a dramatic domestic thriller or a twisted soap opera. It was such a fun setting in the politics of DC, and I loved hearing about the secret world of the deals behind the politics. I haven’t read a book with this plot, so it caught my attention right away.
It was a basic thriller with no real twists. It was pretty obvious from the beginning where it was going and there weren’t many surprises. It also dragged in the middle and became repetitive as it talked about Sloane’s suspicions. I think this would be a great beginner thriller, but it was a bit too basic for me. 3-stars. ...more
Thank you so much to Megan Collins and Atria Books for my copy of Thicker Than Water. It’s about Julia and Jason, a couple that have a great life despThank you so much to Megan Collins and Atria Books for my copy of Thicker Than Water. It’s about Julia and Jason, a couple that have a great life despite all the extra work Jason has been doing lately. Julia is happy to be best friends and business partners with Jason’s sister Sienna, and Sienna is obsessed with Jason. They are all shocked when Jason’s boss is found brutally murdered one night with his lips sewn shut. A few days later Jason gets into a car accident and is placed in a coma. Then the police show up and tell Julia and Sienna that Jason is the prime suspect in the murder of his boss and they will be arresting him when he wakes up. Julia and Sienna decide to work to clear his name before time runs out, but when their investigation unveils a web of secrets and lies, both women have a decision to make.
Thoughts: I liked the dynamic between Jason, Sienna, and Julia, because it isn’t found in most books. The plot was very eye-catching and I wished the book would have been more about the murder. It felt more about the family dynamics between Julia and Sienna and really drilled their relationship into the reader. I HATED Sienna as a character and reading her parts were cringy and frustrating. Julia was okay, but I didn’t really like her either.
You know with the main suspect in a coma, you won’t find out much until the end of the book. I thought it was really unrealistic, and the end was spelled out for the reader and didn't really have much of an impact. I thought there were lots of plot holes and the few fast parts didn’t really make up for the slow burn of it. I did like the themes of family and friendship and trust, but I think it was a little too implausible. 3-stars. ...more
Thank you so much to Atria Books and Lisa Jewell for my copy of this book! It is my new favorite from her and was MUCH anticipated. Alix Summers is a Thank you so much to Atria Books and Lisa Jewell for my copy of this book! It is my new favorite from her and was MUCH anticipated. Alix Summers is a popular podcaster looking for something new for her next season. While she’s celebrating her 45th birthday, she meets Josie, her birthday twin who was even born at the same hospital Alix was. When the women bump into each other a few days later, Josie shares that not only has she been listening to Alix’s podcast, but she also has a story to tell.
What follows is a deep dive into the sordid history of a woman who is complicated and just a bit off. Josie is hiding something, and the more Alix digs into her life, the less she wants to know about it. But Josie doesn’t want Alix to slip away, and soon invites herself to stay in Alix’s home. What follows are a series of increasingly unsettling events that culminate in Josie going missing. Alix needs to find out what is going on and what is really true.
Thoughts: This book was so twisted and creepy and I had no idea what to believe. It was dark and damp and I felt like I was being dragged deeper and deeper underwater. It gave me a creepy feeling of being watched and smothered and I loved it. The snippets from the Netflix documentary sprinkled throughout the book were the perfect way to give context and a fun way to make sure you got important information.
This book was dark and I’m happy that Jewell didn’t shy away from them. I liked the points about the power of being a woman and what makes something the truth. There are so many levels of deception and dysfunction that you won’t know what to believe. The book kept me guessing up until the last chapter and even after I finished I was left with questions. I loved that she wrote a true thriller- 4.5 stars!
Thank you to Razorbill Books and Diana Urban for my copy of this book. The premise caught my eye right away because I love cruising! It was about JadeThank you to Razorbill Books and Diana Urban for my copy of this book. The premise caught my eye right away because I love cruising! It was about Jade, a girl who wants to get away from everything back at home by spending a college semester at sea. She is ready to travel the world, get college credit, and forget all about her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend. Of course that is hard to do when they both show up on the ship, and Jade can’t get over it. Then after a wild night, a dead body is found, and the students begin to realize they may be trapped on board with a killer.
Thoughts: This was such a fun YA book. Normally I’m not a fan, but I loved the idea of a semester at sea and the plot felt fun and unique. It was a fun locked room mystery with lots of over the top suspects to choose from. It was a strange book because the storyline was very straightforward with many random things thrown in. The character of Jade was way over the top, and I found it really hard to believe her thoughts and motivations.
The book was a slow burn, but it did keep my interest. I know that fans of YA will love this book, even if it was a bit over-explained and spelled out for the reader. Also, the ending was TOTALLY random. LIKE WHAT. WHY. FOR WHAT REASON. There were a few too many plot holes and a kinda random choice that made me question why I read a whole book for it to end this way but it’s okay…still fun and entertaining- 3.5 stars! ...more
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for my copy of Four Found Dead that comes out May 23! This book was about a movie theater in an otherwise closed mall. TThank you to Sourcebooks Fire for my copy of Four Found Dead that comes out May 23! This book was about a movie theater in an otherwise closed mall. This is the closing night at the theater before the mall is permanently shut down, and Jo and her six coworkers are trying to complete their final shift. But then an argument breaks out and Jo feels like she’s in danger. The power goes out and the manager disappears and the keys to the safe where their phones are kept are gone with him. Then a dead body is found, and the teens realize that if they want to stay alive, the only way out is through the dark and dangerous mall.
Thoughts: The premise of this book caught my attention immediately. I loved the idea of a creepy closed down mall as a locked room setting. This is another one of those books where the title ruins the story (OKAY, so now we know that FOUR are found dead). There wasn’t really a mystery, but this was more of a game of cat and mice. The reader knew immediately what was going on and most of the details why, which didn’t leave a lot to be discovered. It was more of which four were found dead, which also seemed obvious to me.
I will share a TW which could be a SPOILER: There is a shooter in the movie theater which can be incredibly triggering. There is also mention of infidelity, death of a parent, and gun violence. I thought this book was repetitive and stretched a little bit of character into so many chapters. The space could have been used for character development, but instead it was 8 hours of kids running around a mall. 2-stars. ...more
Thank you to Thomas and Mercer for my copy of this book. The premise sounded amazing and caught my attention right away. It's about Olivia, a woman whThank you to Thomas and Mercer for my copy of this book. The premise sounded amazing and caught my attention right away. It's about Olivia, a woman who is from a family full of psychopaths. Her family is well known by lovers of true crime for all the horrible things they have done in history. She has tried to avoid them, but gets an invitation to a secret family reunion and for some reason thinks this is a good time to introduce her fiance to her extended family of violent psychopaths. She also wants to use them to learn about her history and work on her dissertation. Then a storm cuts them off from the rest of the area, and she realizes being stuck may not be the best situation.
Thoughts: This book read like a robot or AI was trying to sound human. Example- calling people by their first name, a nickname, and their first and last name within a few sentences. No one addresses people like that in real life. The writing was jilted and felt like it was just repeating the same sentences in different ways. There was a lot of dead time in the middle of the book where nothing happened AT ALL, which got really boring. I did like the chapters with the journal, but they were also written in a very weird way.
I thought the true crime podcast would be a cool element, but Birdie randomly would equate the case she was looking into with the case of her cousin for no reason. It was thrown in there for context? but really just made her look like a poorly done stereotype. Since I have a degree in psychology, I loved the idea of exploring psychopaths and nature vs. nurture. This book used the most watered down version of these stereotypes and explained away lots of issues by using mental health. It used lots of unethical practices and went against what a lot of people would do in most situations. I could go on and on, but no I did not DNF but I kinda wish I did. 2-stars. ...more
This book was a modern take on And Then There Were None. A collection of guests are at an idyllic inn in the Catskills for a weekend getaway. It shoulThis book was a modern take on And Then There Were None. A collection of guests are at an idyllic inn in the Catskills for a weekend getaway. It should be the perfect place to relax- there is a private chef, fulling stocked bar, and lots of snow-themed activities to do. But when a blizzard cuts off the electricity, the guests start getting nervous. Then one guest turns up dead and the others start to get nervous. After another guest is found dead, the inn descends into a full blown panic, wondering which one of them may be next. They all have secrets, and some of them are about to come out.
Thoughts: This book had A LOT going on. Much like ATTWN, this book has WAY too many characters to keep track of. While some did have distinguishing features, they all blended together and didn’t really make much of an impact. I really loved the secluded location and the chilling atmosphere. The idea of a family owned inn is fun as well as a few of the people that decided to visit. The writing fit the setting, slow and a bit bland.
The characters pretty much just acted unpredictably for no reason and there wasn’t a build up to reveal what was going on. I wish there would have been clues to follow, instead of the ending being rushed and explained all at once. The perpetrator just explained everything, including one pointless death that I’m assuming was just added for the bodycount. It was pretty underwhelming- 3 stars. ...more
Thank you to Catherine Ryan Howard and Blackstone Publishing for my copy of The Trap. The Trap is about a girl stranded on the road in the middle of tThank you to Catherine Ryan Howard and Blackstone Publishing for my copy of The Trap. The Trap is about a girl stranded on the road in the middle of the night, trying to get home. She takes a ride from a stranger, and as they drive she quickly changes from relief to fear. Can she trust this man? And if so, he isn’t the man she’s looking for. Lucy’s sister disappeared a year ago without anyone caring. Two more women are also missing, and one finally gets the attention of the police. They create Operation Tide to try to find the serial killer, but Lucy has other ideas and decides to take matters into her own hands.
Thoughts: This book was told from multiple perspectives including Lucy, who’s sister is missing, Angela, a woman who works for the Missing Person’s Unit, and an unnamed killer. It was classic Catherine Ryan Howard, with amazing writing and interesting characters. I didn’t necessarily care for Lucy, and thought she was a bit of a dichotomy. I didn’t like Angela either, as she was stubborn and self-centered. I did like the killer’s perspective and thought it was interesting to get into his mind.
This story really didn’t go anywhere, but it was still fun to read. The plot was really original and got quicker as it went along. I thought that the ending was absolutely unique, but did leave some things to be desired. It wasn’t a happy ending, and it also left the character’s off at an unsatisfying point of time. I love her books, but this wasn’t my favorite. I did like the references to The Nothing Man though! 3.5 stars ...more
Thank you to Penguin Audio and Jeneva Rose for my ALC of this book! It was about Grace, a woman who is looking for an escape from the busy New York CiThank you to Penguin Audio and Jeneva Rose for my ALC of this book! It was about Grace, a woman who is looking for an escape from the busy New York City. She books and Airbnb in the middle of Wyoming and plans to read and relax and enjoy nature. When she gets there, she meets Calvin, a handsome and chivalrous cowboy who is everything she needs. They start to get close and that makes Grace overlook the strange things about the ranch. There is no cell phone service, no internet, a locked basement, and a recently missing woman in the area. As her departure gets closer, Calvin’s infatuation starts to turn to obsession and she isn’t sure if he will let her leave.
Thoughts: This book is 80% dramatic dialogue with all the action packed into the last few chapters. As a preference, I don’t like romance in my thrillers, and I don’t even think this should be categorized as a thriller, but more romantic suspense. It was about the relationship between Grace and Calvin and the way it developed over time. Grace was harsh and stuck up. Calvin was sappy and creepy. There was a potential background mystery that never got fleshed out.
I think the last 10% of the book was okay, but there wasn’t any buildup to get there. The storyline was a bit off and seemed to be missing a hook to capture the reader. I enjoyed the audiobook narrators a lot, and I do think the book was well written, but both the city life and country life were stereotypical and not super realistic. I think there could have been a lot more done in this book besides just the repetitive flirtation, so I give it 2 stars. ...more
Thank you to Gallery Books and Ruth Ware for my copy of this book. This book is about Jacintha and Gabe, professional “pen testers” who are paid by coThank you to Gallery Books and Ruth Ware for my copy of this book. This book is about Jacintha and Gabe, professional “pen testers” who are paid by companies to break in and test their security. Gabe controls the technology and Jack does the physical work of breaking in. One night after a routine assignment, Jack comes home to find her husband murdered. Not only is she devastated, but she quickly realizes that she is the police’s number one suspect. Instead of turning herself in, Jack goes on the run so she can figure out what happened to Gabe. She needs to find out who would want to hurt Gabe and who in her life can she really trust.
Thoughts: Zero Days was unlike any of Ruth Ware’s previous books. It read like a fast-paced spy novel or a female Jason Bourne. It was fun that the reader is not only looking for who could have committed the crime, but also why they did it. However, this book was not for me. It was frustrating that the characters were one dimensional and that their jobs replaced having a personality. There was SO much useless commentary in this book and it felt really repetitive. I found myself skipping forward just to get to something actually happening.
Jack made the worst decisions and frustrated me a lot. I appreciated that this book was about love and loss and grief, but that was such a big part of the story that not much else happened. If Jack didn’t care if she lived or died, as the reader, I didn’t care too much either. The reveal in this book was very obvious and the ending was cliche and unsatisfying. I love Ruth Ware’s writing, but unfortunately this was a miss for me. 2.5 stars....more
Kiersten White is a fantastically creepy author and Mister Magic is no exception. This book is about Val and her circle of friends who were on the chiKiersten White is a fantastically creepy author and Mister Magic is no exception. This book is about Val and her circle of friends who were on the children’s show, Mister Magic. Thirty years after it was shut down, the five surviving cast members have tried to move on from what happened years ago. But what did happen? There is no record of the show Mister Magic anywhere; no producers, scripts, camera people, or record of the show online. What was it about again? And who, or what, was Mister Magic? A puppet? CGI? A man?
When the castmates are brought back together to record a podcast on the show, they feel like they are back where they belong. Even though Val has no memories before the age of six, she knows these friends and it feels like they belong together. But soon they begin to ask themselves, are they here by choice, or have the been lured into a trap much more sinister than they could ever imagine.
Thoughts: What a TRIP! This book was like if the children who were on Barney were also part of a cult and had the show shut down because someone died. You know. Tale as old as time. This book was abstract and complex and I loved it. Essentially it was talking about the cultish way we follow religion without having flexibility to make mistakes. It’s about forgiving ourselves for being human and giving ourselves grace every day. It used religious trauma as a plotpoint and brought up so many good points about our childhood. It was trippy and nostalgic and I really loved the multimedia aspect as well.
I loved how eerie the house was. It was a sinister character in itself and gave me the creeps. There was a clear message about racism, homophobia, and sexism, but it bothered me that the main characters were all one dimensional and known for a singular character trait without depth. Without reading the author’s note this can be very disappointing and feels one note. I can see how this book could be confusing or disappointing if taken for face value, but as someone who loves the subtext of books, I found it terrifying and creepy and realistic. 4-stars ...more
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Alice Slater for this book that comes out on April 25. I don’t even know what to say about this book. It was trulyThank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Alice Slater for this book that comes out on April 25. I don’t even know what to say about this book. It was truly the ultimate game of cat and mouse, that left me feeling nervous and icky and intrigued. This book was about Laura and Roach, two book sellers whose lives are intersecting at the store they both work at. Roach has been there for years, and only cares about true crime podcasts and keeping away from “normal people”. Laura is new, and her bright and bubbly personality is the complete opposite of Roach.
Roach feels a kindred spirit in Laura after she sees her reading true crime, and becomes obsessed with her. The obsession deepens when she finds out Laura has a dark family history and she becomes single minded in pursuit of Laura’s friendship. But Laura isn’t just the cotton candy girl Roach thought, and has some dark secrets underneath.
Thoughts: This book was extremely twisted. It was full of layers, starting with being a fun story about a bookshop and the people that work there. Laura was a unique and complex character, with so much going on and an interesting backstory. Roach was also very unique, but more one note, with that note being creepy. She gave me shivers, especially as her thoughts grew deeper and darker. Neither was likable and both perspectives were hard to read for completely different reasons.
Ultimately this book was about a stalker and her obsession with death and murder. It seemed like a peek into the mind of someone mentally unstable, and I’m not quite sure how I felt about it yet. This book said a lot about the consumption of true crime and the way we treat other people’s stories. It was looking at the way we can look at true crime as entertainment, and perspectives from both the consumer and the victim. I loved the writing, and the book left me feeling completely unsettled. 4 stars. ...more
Chelsea | thrillerbookbabe
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thriller-mystery
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