Keera Duggan, a Seattle prosecutor, returns to her family law practice after a failed relationship with a colleague. Her father, a celebrated defense Keera Duggan, a Seattle prosecutor, returns to her family law practice after a failed relationship with a colleague. Her father, a celebrated defense attorney, is also a raging alcoholic with all the fallout that entails, both personally and professionally.
Keera is retained by Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser accused of murdering his disabled wealthy wife. The prosecutor? Miller Ambrose, Keera’s former SO, who is determined to win and take down Keera in the process.
As a former chess prodigy, Keera takes solace in online chess as a way to relax and decompress at the end of a long day. Just who is her anonymous online opponent, The Dark Night? The answer will surprise you! I don’t play chess and the moves went over my head, but I appreciated that the skills and logic needed to be a top chess player are the same skills needed to be a top defense attorney.
I love courtroom dramas and this is among the best. The ending became just a tad bit convoluted and the specifics of the murder were a bit OTT.
But,I loved the character of Keera and her dysfunctional but loving family. Overall, the positives outweigh my reservations about the ending, and I was able to overlook a few sticking points.
The case ends with a conundrum which leaves Keera with a dilemma, and left me furiously turning the pages. I couldn’t see how the author could end this satisfactorily, but he pulled it off. I was left with wanting more from these characters which is a sure sign of a successful read for me. I want more stories featuring the Duggans!
This was a buddy read with Marialyce and Dorie, be sure to check out their reviews to see what they thought. This was only my second book by this author, but not my last.
• I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own....more
A survival thriller set during a snowstorm? Yes, please! Never mind that it’s a dystopian future during a pandemic, because tAVAILABLE NOW!
4.5 stars
A survival thriller set during a snowstorm? Yes, please! Never mind that it’s a dystopian future during a pandemic, because the virus is not the focus of the story. We are talking about survival.
Three POV/ storylines that will eventually merge: 1. Hannah, a med student and daughter of the world’s leading virologist, is trapped with her fellow passengers when their bus crashes during a heavy snow storm. 2. Meg, a former policewoman, and her group are stranded in a cable car when the power fails, which leaves them dangling 1000 ft in the air during a raging snowstorm. 3. Carter and his group are living the good life in a ski chalet with all the amenities. But the snowstorm rages outside, supplies are dwindling, and the generator dies.
All 3 groups are fighting for their lives from the elements and the virus, but perhaps the greatest threat to their lives comes from within. How long did it take for society to break down? TEN YEARS. Who is a good guy and who is a bad guy? Is everyone who they say they are? I was kept on my toes, never knowing who to trust. There are evil forces at play, of the human variety. After all, The devil was an angel once
CJ Tudor excels at creating stories that ooze atmosphere. Thrillers set during snowstorms is one of my favorite tropes, and this one delivered. I felt the cold and the terror of being trapped and in danger on all sides (especially in that cable car *shudder*).
There are a lot of characters to keep straight, which is perhaps the book's greatest weakness. But I just kept reading, trusting that it would all come together. And it did.
Everyone here has secrets that are eventually revealed, and there are surprises in store that I didn’t see coming. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and I flew through the majority of the book in one day. I enjoyed all three storylines and appreciated how they came together in the well-executed ending, which offered a glimmer of hope for the future.
I prefer strong female characters, and I especially appreciated that the author made her two female heroines whip-smart, determined, and accomplished. The author’s sly humor is also on display, bringing much needed relief from the tension.
This is another winner from CJ Tudor! She has a talent for writing distinct and unique books. No two are remotely similar to one another and all are memorable. When many books I read are forgotten the moment the last page is turned, her plots are ones I never forget.
This was a buddy read with Marialyce and Dorie. Highly recommended by 2 of us. Do check out their reviews to see what they thought!
· I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own...more
Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birthInspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birthplace of Frankenstein––The Villa welcomes you into its deadly legacy.
I love Fleetwood Mac, true crime, and just spent time on Lake Geneva and saw where Lord Byron penned his famous poem, so this should have been a winner right?
Sadly it was not. I made it to 30% before throwing in the towel. I did not care for the past story line with sex, drugs, and rock n roll and couldn't make myself continue.
This was a buddy read with Marialyce, Dorie and myself. All of us were disappointed.
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley...more
Gabe and Pippa, hoping for a fresh start to their marriage, buy a cliffside home in an idyllic seaside location. The problem? The location is known asGabe and Pippa, hoping for a fresh start to their marriage, buy a cliffside home in an idyllic seaside location. The problem? The location is known as “The Drop” a place where people commit suicide by jumping to their deaths.
Gabe makes a name for himself as someone who can talk people down from the edge, preventing many suicides. Until one day he fails. Despite his best efforts, he is unable to save Amanda. What Gabe doesn’t mention to the police is he knows the woman, while Pippa doesn’t mention that she is unsure of what she saw unfold before her eyes from the kitchen window.
The story is told through the alternating points of view of Pippa and Amanda, both before and after Amanda’s death. This worked quite well, as it allows a slow reveal of the facts to the reader. Secrets and lies come home to roost with devastating consequences. This is nothing new in domestic thrillers, but the author has a fresh spin on the genre.
I also felt the author dealt with a particular condition (no spoilers!) extremely well. Through my experiences as a nurse, as well as knowing someone who suffers from it, I can say with confidence the author nailed it.
Sally Hepworth is masterful at writing books that deal with serious issues, but doing so with a light touch. I literally flew through the last 70% while on a long-haul flight and the pages nearly turned themselves.
*This was a buddy read with my friend Marialyce and one we both highly recommend. * I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own...more
This was my first Robert Dugoni book and I very much enjoyed the character of Tracy Crosswhite as a cold case investigator. I found her sweet3.5 stars
This was my first Robert Dugoni book and I very much enjoyed the character of Tracy Crosswhite as a cold case investigator. I found her sweet family provided relatability to her character and I love the names of her two dogs, Sherlock and Rex. How appropriate for a detective.
However, I do feel I was hampered by jumping into a series without the necessary background. Tracy is supposedly a superstar investigator but would it really have been that easy for Tracy to solve a 25 yr old cold case?
I appreciated the author’s afterward and his reason for writing a book with the theme he chose, but I feel it’s a tired trope and much of what happened simply stretched believability.
Drug running and police corruption are my two least favorite themes in detective fiction, which added to my dissatisfaction.
In the end, I liked it enough to finish and perhaps I will start the series with book #1.
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. * This was a buddy read with Dorie & Marialyce. Be sure to check out their reviews! ...more
True crime is having a moment, but I’ve been a true crime fan since my teenage years. My interest is not in rubbernecking or a voyeuristic desire to pTrue crime is having a moment, but I’ve been a true crime fan since my teenage years. My interest is not in rubbernecking or a voyeuristic desire to peek into other people’s misery. I don’t think it is for anyone who works in the field, or for those who read about it. It’s driven by empathy for the victims, a desire for justice, and how that justice came about. It’s delving into the psychology of a person who is far removed from what we think of as being human, and the investigative techniques used in solving the mystery. This book delivers all that and more.
Many people live with the pain and horror of not only losing a loved one to murder, but of knowing the killer is still out there. Cases grow cold, and law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed. Luckily, there are people like Paul Holes who never give up.
Many of us know Paul Holes as the investigator who was instrumental in catching the elusive Golden State Killer (GSK), AKA ‘Night Stalker’ and ‘East Area Rapist (EAR)’, the monster who raped, terrorized, and murdered throughout the state of California between 1974 and 1986. Paul also worked with Michelle McNamara, who wrote the book, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (also excellent). It took more than 20 years, but just days from his retirement, the monster was caught using DNA technology. It was fascinating to read how it all came together. Despite having read McNamara's book and watching the documentary I learned new things.
Paul’s career and successes reach far beyond the most well-known cases, bringing some measure of peace and resolution to many families. He obtained a college degree in biochemistry and began his career in a crime lab, but ultimately his career path led him to work on the investigative side of things. He blew the dust off of old case files and worked to solve them, often in his free time. The EAR (GSK) in particular became an obsession. His talent, keen insight, and background in science was invaluable.
This well-written book is part true-crime, and part memoir. Paul details some of the cases he has worked on. No one LIKES to read grisly details of crimes, knowing they were real people who lived and whose lives were cut short, but I did like hearing how he and the other investigators work a case, the methods they use, as well as the science behind it, both behavioral and hard science. Paul details how DNA is a game changer and, from his explanations, it is clearly not as simple as it sounds, or as clear cut as it is depicted on TV. Paul makes a complicated subject easy to understand.
Paul doesn’t shy away from the toll his career has taken on his mental health and his relationships. To cope, he exercises, spends time outdoors, and enjoys an occasional bourbon. Still, he suffers from nightmares and the occasional panic attack. He lifts the veil and tells it like it is. The job is not as romanticized as we see on TV. It is not easy to immerse oneself daily into depravity, but we, as a society, owe him and others in the field a debt of gratitude for their dogged determination to let no case go unsolved, and no murderer go unpunished.
The most touching moment in the book was when a woman who was a victim of the GSK called Paul to ask if the news of his arrest was true. She cried tears of relief after spending 40 years living in terror that he would come back for her. It must be moments like these that make it all worthwhile.
Paul retired in 2018, but as he is still a relatively young man, he continues to use his investigative skills throughout the country, and he co-hosts the excellent podcast, The Murder Squad, with Billy Jensen, an investigative reporter. His goal continues to be solving cold cases, not exploiting victims. One of the things I admire the most about Paul Holes, is the utmost respect and empathy he has for victims and their loved ones.
* Published 4/26/2022 by Celedon books * this was buddy read with Marialyce and Dorie. Do check out their reviews! * I received a digital copy for review vis NetGalley. All opinions are my own....more
A cozy isn’t my usual genre but I do love Agatha Christie, who is my benchmark for a well-done cozy mystery, and so decided to pick this one up. I shoA cozy isn’t my usual genre but I do love Agatha Christie, who is my benchmark for a well-done cozy mystery, and so decided to pick this one up. I should have known better as I’ve dnf’d similar books.
I do appreciate that the author featured an older protagonist, which is a refreshing change of pace. Judith is in her late 70’s, bicycles everywhere, drinks whiskey, skinny dips in the Thames, and has a job setting crossword puzzles. She’s a great character!
One night while swimming she hears a gunshot coming from a neighbor’s house, and the next morning a body is found. The police call it a suicide despite the fact that no gun is found and the shot was in the middle of his forehead (?!?!). The police aren’t the sharpest knives in the drawer, but OK, it’s a cozy so I can go along with it.
Judith decides she has to investigate her neighbor’s death. She is soon joined by Becks, the vicar’s wife, Suzie, the local dog walker. As well as the police detective. So, yeah, you have to suspend a lot of disbelief. But again, it’s a cozy so I can go along.
The mystery wasn’t much of a mystery, as it’s telegraphed pretty early who did it. The how could have been interesting (but it wasn’t). In Agatha Christie’s books, her protagonists solve the crime with the powers of observation and detection. Unfortunately, in this story the events took a downhill turn when it became slapstick, silly and OTT. Giving the characters backstories in an attempt to make them socially relevant didn’t do the book any favors.
This was a buddy read with Marialyce and Dorie, one that left all of us annoyed and disappointed....more
The story started out strong, with Charles lying dead in a bathtub in a pool of blood, and his wife, Paris, holding the murder weapon and covered in bThe story started out strong, with Charles lying dead in a bathtub in a pool of blood, and his wife, Paris, holding the murder weapon and covered in blood. Unfortunately, it all goes downhill from there.
I won’t waste time going into the plot, because you can read that in the GR blurb. What didn’t work for me: • It was boring, repetitive, and tedious. I raced through it not because I was intrigued, but so I could be done and move on. • There were no thrills, and no suspense. • After the murder and Paris’s arrest, the majority of the book is spent on backstory. Lots and lots and lots of backstory. • The backstory is icky and distasteful with much of the narrative focusing on childhood abuse and the life of an exotic dancer/stripper with graphic descriptions of “going beyond the call of duty” • I knew the “twist” from the very beginning. I read a lot of mystery/thrillers and I’m always wrong so that tells you how obvious this one is. • The implausibility of nearly everything. The most egregious is the lack of an autopsy in a suspicious accidental death, which is required by law. I expect to suspend disbelief in this genre but there’s a tipping point. • I disliked every single character and could not have cared less what happened to any of them. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, I love character-driven stories and I don’t mind unlikable characters if they are funny, relatable, or if the journey to the end is well-done and compelling. • The story would have benefitted from the perspective of a police investigation to break up the endless backstory.
I gave her last book Little Secrets 5 stars, but this one was not for me.
Edited to add: I think a reader's response to this one will depend on their tolerance level for descriptions of abuse and strip club scenes. If your tolerance is high, then you will probably enjoy this more than I did. No book is for every reader. Just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it won't be for you.
This was a buddy read with Marialyce and Dorie, so do please check out their reviews and see if we all agree :)
I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own. *publishes July 19, 2022 by St Martin's Press...more
The book opens at a wedding when, as the happy couple go to the sacristy to sign the marriage license, the guests hear a thud, a scream, and the celebThe book opens at a wedding when, as the happy couple go to the sacristy to sign the marriage license, the guests hear a thud, a scream, and the celebrant comes out covered in blood. What happened? We are kept in the dark as to who, what, and why, as we go back in time.
Stephen is a successful cardiac surgeon, still married to Pam, who suffers from advanced Alzheimer’s disease and resides in a care facility. Imagine the shock and surprise of his two grown daughters, Rachel and Tully, when he invites them to a luncheon to meet Heather, his very young fiancé.
Heather is the product of a troubled childhood and is unsure in social situations, always expecting the worst from people, including her husband-to-be. Rachel and Tully both have their own issues. Tully is married and living an upper middle-class lifestyle that is crumbling around her as she hides a dangerous secret, while Rachel is single and has a secret trauma from her past.
As the daughters go through their mother’s things, they find a hot water bottle filled with cash and the theories begin to fly. Told from the perspective of the three women, a group think begins to occur and past events and motivations are assigned to Stephen that may or may not be true. As they sift through their memories and come to conclusions, are they correct or have they been tainted by time, assumptions, and innuendos?
This is a brilliant exploration of memory, as well as early trauma affecting our perceptions and beliefs. The ending could be open to interpretation and it’s one I re-read several times. I have my own belief and interpretation based on my own experiences, as I’m sure others will interpret it differently based on their beliefs and experiences. I didn’t find it ambiguous but other readers may. Which, when you think about it, proves the author’s point brilliantly.
It’s been a long time since I had such a page-turner that I was glued to the page past my bedtime. I rate according to genre, how fast I flip the pages, and how much a book makes me think. This may not be an in-depth character study but for a terrific lighter read with substance you can’t go wrong. I read this as a buddy read with Marialyce and Dorie, and it inspired an interesting and lively discussion. This would make a terrific book club selection.
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