Wowza! D.K. Hood has crafted an addictive, gripping, atmospheric, pulse pounding and thrilling book which had me turning the pages while my pulse pounWowza! D.K. Hood has crafted an addictive, gripping, atmospheric, pulse pounding and thrilling book which had me turning the pages while my pulse pounded! I was instantly drawn into the plot, on the edge of my seat, fingers crossed and feeling the chill in the air! I have not read this entire series but have loved the books in the series that I have read. One thing that D.K. Hood excels at is writing books in a series which work perfectly as stand-alone novels.
Sheriff Jenna Alton and her deputy, David Kane, have been alerted that a plane has crashed in the snow covered mountains around Black Rock Falls carrying the daughter of Wolfe, who is one of their own. As the desperate search is underway, the bodies of the murdered women are found! Making things more tense, when they find the plane that went down, Julie is missing!!!!!
Whew! This book was full of tension, suspense, danger, and dread. Questions swirled through my mind as the snow swirled through the air. I loved the atmosphere in this book. I could almost feel the cold in the air, while imagining the crunch of the frozen snow under their feet. This book kept me on my toes, turning the pages and loving every second of it.
This proved to be an extremely fast and thrilling read. I did my best super sleuthing while reading, trying to determine whodunit. I don't always get it right but in this book, I nailed it! I enjoyed the twists, revelations, suspense, mounting danger, and banter between the characters.
D.K. Hood has left me a very happy reader once again! I love her writing, her characters, and the engrossing plots she writes. I can't wait to read what she writes next!
**I had a wonderful time reading and discussing this book with Bec (becbingesbooks). We have enjoyed diving into Hood's books and always have fabulous discussions on the books we read together. Please read Bec's (becbingesbooks) terrific review if you have not done so already.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
A single dad, a need for money, and an offer he can't refuse! Deadbeat was gripping from the very beginning and kept me turning the pages. I wanted toA single dad, a need for money, and an offer he can't refuse! Deadbeat was gripping from the very beginning and kept me turning the pages. I wanted to know how things were going to play out as the tension and danger mounted in this thriller of a book!
Peyton Collard is considered a Deadbeat by many who know him. He has a drinking problem, is divorced, behind on child support, and has had a run in with the law. He has been offered a large sum of money to kill an evil man....
I enjoyed the questions which this book brought up such as what makes a good man become a deadbeat? What will one man be willing to do for those he loves? Does doing a bad thing make you a bad man or a man who had nothing left to lose? Not to mention the one glaring question going through Peyton's mind, who hired him and why? Now, that is the question!
This book proved to be a fast and thrilling ride. I wanted to see what was going to happen next. There is more at play in this book than meets the eye and I wanted to get to the bottom of it along with Peyton.
I enjoyed the mystery in this book as well as the mounting tension, dread, and danger. As this book and Peyton begin to spiral out of control, I enjoyed the twists, turns, and revelations. If you are familiar with Los Angeles, you might enjoy the places and streets mentioned as I did. Plus, I enjoyed Peyton's internal struggles which mirrored my own. Was he a good man doing bad things or was he a bad man doing bad things but with good intentions???????
The ending did come out of left field and was shocking while providing some aha moments as well. I never saw that coming – hats off to anyone who does! I’m a little conflicted about my thoughts on the ending but not enough that it affected my enjoyment of this book.
*Fantastic Buddy read with Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill @itsallaboutthethrill! Please read her review as well to get her thoughts on Deadbeat.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
A threat of biblical proportions, J.D. Barker style! In the beginning of the book, I was wondering how I would feel about this book. I wasn't quite loA threat of biblical proportions, J.D. Barker style! In the beginning of the book, I was wondering how I would feel about this book. I wasn't quite loving it, but I was intrigued and wanted to know where this book would lead me. Then at the 50% mark, this book kicked into high gear, and it became a pulse pounding page turner that had me wanting more, more, more!
Detective Jena Campbell put the diabolical "Leviticus Killer" behind bars. But there is now a new threat, Azrael, who is using social media to spread his vile beliefs taking ten lives in ten days. The stakes are high, and Azrael seems to always be ten steps ahead of Jena. As she attempts to save his current victim, she must make some difficult choices.
I enjoyed the character of Jena and thought she was well drawn. I appreciated how the authors showed not only her thought process but how the investigation and her past decisions weighed on her. I found this to be very realistic and believable. The 'bad/evil' characters are truly sinister. They were also very well drawn and gave readers characters to boo and hiss at.
J.D. Barker always comes up with unique and intriguing books. He wrote this gripping book along with Christine Daigle. In this book the writing duo combine very relevant topics ranging from social media, gaming, social outcasts, policing, targeting, taking responsibility, stalking, and those who use/twist religion/bible verses as a means of committing atrocious acts.
This book does deal with violence and horrific acts and will not be an easy read for some. But if you have read a book by J.D. Barker, then you know what you are getting into. This book also has a nice amount of tension, mounting dread, and danger. There are some shocking scenes and moments which kept the action moving and my heart rate accelerated.
I found this book to be well written, well thought out, brilliant, tense, and riveting. This book slowly enticed me and once it had me in its grasp, I was fully invested. I also loved how it ended, and I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that there will be more to come!
*Lets hope none of us ever has to experience just how heavy those stones are!
**A wonderful buddy read with Nikki Lee. Please read her amazing review to see what her thoughts on Heavy Are the Stones
Thank you to Hampton Creek Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
WOWZA!!!!! Dark, gripping, tense, pulse pounding and hard to put down, The Butcher Game is a bloody fantastic page turner! It is also the second book WOWZA!!!!! Dark, gripping, tense, pulse pounding and hard to put down, The Butcher Game is a bloody fantastic page turner! It is also the second book in the Dr. Wren Muller series and I highly recommend reading, The Butcher and the Wren prior to reading this book. Would this book work as a stand-alone? Perhaps, but you would be missing so much backstory, the events that led the characters to this book, and fabulous writing. Plus, Alaina Urquhart gives readers a real treat- POV's from both Wren and the Butcher!
I was so excited when I saw that Alaina Urquhart had another book coming in this series. She did not disappoint with this dark, deadly, and thrilling book. Whew! This has some gruesome scenes people so be warned. It also has some brilliant cat-and-mouse scenes that kept me on my toes and with a grin on my face.
Wren is an intelligent, diligent, and courageous medical examiner who is traumatized by events in the first book. The Butcher (Jeremy) is a twisted, clever, diabolical and vicious serial killer. Wren wants justice, but will she get it? You will have to read to find out!
Whew! This book kept me on my toes, and I could not stop turning the pages. I was fully invested in this book from the very beginning. It was hard to put this book down when life got in the way. I loved the plot, the cat-and-mouse, and the introduction of another character with ties to the butcher, who plays an 'interesting' part in this book.
This book is oozing with atmosphere, tension, dread, danger, vivid descriptions, and suspense. It's chilling, graphic, dark, and oh-so-good! Plus, the ending! Man, this book put me through the ringer and left me wanting more. Thankfully, with that ending, there must be another book in the series!!!! I for one, can't wait!
I highly recommended this book series.
*A thrilling buddy read with Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill! Please read her review of this fabulous book as well to get her thoughts on The Butcher Game!
4.5 stars
Thank you to Zando and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
A shallow grave in a blueberry patch, spirits, a missing local politician's daughter, and a pipeline set the stage in this gripping and shocking book A shallow grave in a blueberry patch, spirits, a missing local politician's daughter, and a pipeline set the stage in this gripping and shocking book by William Kent Krueger. The body in the grave is that of a young Ojibwe woman. As the search for the truth begins, tension, danger, and new questions emerge. Cork O'Connor is at the center of the investigation along with the Iron Lake Ojibwe Tribal Police. I enjoyed this book featuring Cork O’Connor and his family. His daughter Annie has come home with her girlfriend. Annie didn't just bring her luggage; she came home with a secret as well. I enjoyed the mystery, the focus on family, spirits, love, and the search for the truth. The book tackles heavy subjects but with care.
With all of William Kent Krueger's books, I found this book to be wonderfully written, well thought out and moving. I was fully invested in the mystery, worried about several of the characters, rooting for them, and being moved by them.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
*A Wiches Words buddy read with Dorie. Please read her review as well to learn her thoughts on this book.
*CRACK* That is the sound of Lisa Regan hitting it out of the ball park yet again! Be sure to Remember Her Name, it's Lisa Regan and she writes riveti*CRACK* That is the sound of Lisa Regan hitting it out of the ball park yet again! Be sure to Remember Her Name, it's Lisa Regan and she writes riveting, intense, addictive, pulse pounding, page turners!!!!!!! I loved being back with Josie and the gang in Denton, PA! It is always a pleasure to read another thrilling book in the Josie Quinn series. This book was an awesome addition to one of my favorite book series.
A baby has been found in a stroller in a park, while her mother is nowhere to be found. What is found is a polaroid picture of a body of water which was left in the infant's stroller. Josie is determined to figure out what and where the body of water is in the polaroid. Then she remembers, the water in the polaroid is Cold Heart Creek, the scene of one of Josie's first crime scenes. When another polaroid and victim is found, it is a race against time to bring a killer to justice! They say pictures tell a story, what story is the killer trying to tell??????? Josie and team will do whatever it takes to figure that out.
Woohoo!!!! This book was fabulous. I love the gripping mystery in this book. I also enjoyed the cleverly crafted and well thought out plot. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages, while enjoying the brilliant mix of Josie's private life and her detective work. It is always great to see Josie's family and they play a nice part in this book. I also had my fingers crossed for Noah and Josie as they continue to make plans for their future.
But wait, then there is Turner! He used to drive me (Josie & Gretchen) crazy with this "sweethearts" and annoying statements and comments. But, dare I say it, I am warming up to him and enjoyed seeing Josie begin to see him in a new light. But I have to say, there was a part in this book where he said "sweetheart" and I laughed with glee.
As with the other books in this series, Remember Her Name has a nice amount of twists, turns, dread, danger, tension, and pulse pounding moments! I devoured this book and loved every second of it. I am so happy that Lisa Regan is a fast writer as I can't wait to read what happens next!
Wonderfully written, addictive, thrilling, and hard to put down!!
*A witches words buddy read with DeAnn and Carolyn. Please read their reviews as well to get their thoughts on the Remember Her Name!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Gripping, intense, shocking, and hard to put down! Forgotten Girls is the brilliant new addition to the Special Agent Beth Katz series! I loved being Gripping, intense, shocking, and hard to put down! Forgotten Girls is the brilliant new addition to the Special Agent Beth Katz series! I loved being back in this intensely personal investigation with Beth and Dax!
Using her computer skills, Beth has found a lead in the missing persons case of Dax's younger sister, Ginny, who went missing while walking home from school. Dax was a child when Ginny went missing and he has never given up hope of finding out what happened to her. When they get to the isolated cabin in Montana where Ginny is believed to be living, they not only find Ginny but another missing girl as well! Unfortunately, their captor was able to get away. Not willing to give up, Beth and Dax uncover more cases involving missing girls.
The stakes are incredibly high in this book, and I enjoyed the detective work that was done as well as getting to see a more vulnerable side of Beth. I also enjoyed how Beth and Dax continue to grow their working relationship and we get character development.
There is also a fair amount of tension, suspense, danger, twists, threats, and reveals in this book. The plot of this book involves predators, and it is dark and disturbing but D.K. Hood does no go into detail or provide any graphic scenes. Fans of this riveting series will be happy to see the Tarot Card killer makes a small appearance in this book!
I was fully invested in this addictive book and did not want to put Forgotten Girls down! The characters are fantastic and play very well off each other. I also enjoy D.K. Hood's writing and this series is fantastic! I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series!
***A brilliant buddy read with Bec (becbingesbooks)! Please read her brilliant review as well to get her thoughts on this book!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Here One Moment was thought provoking and interesting. The premise of Here One Moment is so intriguing! A woman (Cherry) onboard a plane begins givingHere One Moment was thought provoking and interesting. The premise of Here One Moment is so intriguing! A woman (Cherry) onboard a plane begins giving her fellow passengers predictions about how and when they would die. This had the same questions swirling through my mind as the passengers on the plane had swirling through their minds. Is she a true psychic? Is what she is saying real? Should she be believed? Should they make changes to their lives?
The beginning of the book with the predictions grabbed my attention right away. I found myself pondering what I would do and how I would react if someone on a plane gave me a prediction. I felt for the passengers as they could not get away from her. She was unrelenting and did not stop.
Then the book follows some of the passengers as they go on with their lives after their flight. Then a few months after the flight, a fellow passenger dies! That passenger will not be the first to die as the woman predicted. Now they are nervous, what lies ahead for them?
This is a long book which often felt long. Initially I enjoyed Cherry's thoughts about the predictions she made and the glimpses into her past. But then the sections on Cherry became a bit much for me. I was invested in the passengers and how the predictions affected them. I wanted to know about their lives and their thoughts.
This was a thought-provoking book, and parts were quite captivating but again this book felt too long. Although I think it was important to learn about Cherry, this also dragged the book down a little for me. Liane Moriarty is a gifted author who focuses on human nature/behaviors, relationships, and actions.
This is not my favorite book by this author, but it was an interesting book. I feel that this would make a great book for book clubs to discuss and ponder.
Thank you to Crown Publishing | Crown and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
*CRACK* That is the sound of Robert Dugoni hitting it out of the ballpark with Beyond Reasonable Doubt! I found Beyond Reasonable Doubt to be gripping*CRACK* That is the sound of Robert Dugoni hitting it out of the ballpark with Beyond Reasonable Doubt! I found Beyond Reasonable Doubt to be gripping, well thought out, riveting, and wonderfully written. It is the second book in the Keera Duggan series and can be read as a stand alone, but do yourself a favor and read Her Deadly Game, the addictive first book in this fabulous series.
Master chess player and Seattle attorney, Keera Duggan, has been tasked with representing her childhood nemesis, Jenna Bernstein, after Jenna is accused of killing her former business partner and lover. This will not be an easy task by any means, but Keera is used to thinking several moves ahead, and use all her skills in court.
I was glued to the pages and marveled at Dugoni's writing and plot. Just when I thought I had things figured out, Dugoni threw in another perfectly timed twist. I loved the courtroom scenes, the mystery, the twists, and the reveals in this book. I also enjoyed watching Keera prove herself once again to be a worthy and intelligent lawyer who is no longer standing in her father's shadow.
Fans of Dugoni's other series and stand-alone books will love this book as will fans of courtroom dramas and mystery thrillers. Dugoni knows how to set the stage, create tension, drama and intrigue. This was such a well thought out book and I can't wait to read the next book in this series!
Brilliantly written, well thought out, and hard to put down.
*Witches Words buddy read with Carolyn, Mary Beth, and Dorie. Please read their reviews as well to get their thoughts on this book!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Karin Slaughter has delivered another addictive, shocking, thrilling, and riveting addition to the Will Trent series. She kills it time and time againKarin Slaughter has delivered another addictive, shocking, thrilling, and riveting addition to the Will Trent series. She kills it time and time again with this wonderful and gripping series! Will and Sara are beginning their honeymoon at McAlpine Lodge, a mountain getaway. It’s a beautiful and relaxing setting until a body is found. Naturally they jump into gear trying to secure the scene, keep everyone separate, and try to determine whodunit. They will need to sift through all the secrets and lies to find their footing on this murder mystery.
The victim is Mercy, the daughter of the owners who is known in town as a troubled person stemming from things in her past. She is the fodder for all their gossip. Everyone at the lodge is a suspect. Everyone appears to have something to hide, especially Mercy’s toxic family.
As the investigation goes into high gear, the tension mounts as does the danger level at the camp. When another person dies, the stakes become even higher. People are lying left and right but who amongst them is a killer? I put on my super sleuthing hat and tried my best to do my own detective work, but never guessed whodunit! I love when that happens.
Faith and Amanda arrive on the scene and throw themselves into the investigation as well. I love their personalities, and their interactions with each other, including Will and Sara. They really are a family. Speaking of relationships, I continue to adore Will and Sara together. They continue to compliment each other and make each other stronger.
Karin Slaughter did a fantastic job of making everyone a suspect in this book. I found this book to be well thought out. Slaughter knows how to depict unlikeable and despicable characters. This book has many things going on and touches on many issues such as addiction, domestic violence, toxic relationships, and control to name just a few.
*I listened to the audiobook and thought the narration was fantastic! Very well done.
Wonderfully written, perfectly paced, well thought out, gripping and tense!
*A wich words buddy read
Thank you to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Gripping, shocking, thrilling, and hard to put down. Eyes Tight Shut might be the 22nd book in the Detectives Kane and Alton series, but it work nicelGripping, shocking, thrilling, and hard to put down. Eyes Tight Shut might be the 22nd book in the Detectives Kane and Alton series, but it work nicely as a stand-alone book for me. I was instantly engrossed in the plot and enjoyed seeing some cameo from characters I enjoy from her Special Agent Beth Katz series!
When Dakota Slade fails to turn up to work, Sheriff Jenna Alton and her husband deputy David Kane find her body in her home. Jenna throws herself into solving the case. Unfortunately, another woman is found dead and in the same manner as Dakota. Using CCTV footage, she gets a glimpse of a man who was seen talking to both women. Her mouth drops open as she recognizes the man. Could someone close to her be a killer????
There is a lot of action, suspense, tension, and detective work in this book. Plus, there is a thrilling subplot that keeps the book moving and my heart beating at a fast pace. As I turned the pages, I could not help but wonder what was going to happen next! I tried to do my own super sleuthing while reading and was not able to solve the case!
Eyes Tight Shut kept me on my toes and wishing that I had read the previous books in the series. I thoroughly enjoy D.K. Hood's writing, characters, and plots. This book had a nice number of twists, turns, and a terrific reveal.
A Gripping and thrilling page turner!
***Buddy read with the wonderful Bec (becbingesbooks). Please read her review as well to get her thoughts on the book.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Woohoo! Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac are back in another gripping, shocking and hard to put down installment in the Cyrus Haven series by Michael RobotWoohoo! Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac are back in another gripping, shocking and hard to put down installment in the Cyrus Haven series by Michael Robotham!!! I have been a fan of this series from the very first book and Storm Child did not disappoint. This entire series has been a delight, it might not always be easy to read, but man is it good!
Cyrus Haven is a forensic psychologist with a painful past, and Evie Cormac has been living with Cyrus since becoming his ward in the first book. She too has had a horrific and painful past which readers will learn more about in this book. Both characters are wonderfully developed and fleshed out. I enjoy their relationship, their dynamic and their interactions. As this is book #4 in the series, I do feel that this book would work as a stand-alone BUT you will miss out on so much character development and background history that I highly recommend starting with the first book in the series, Good Girl, Bad Girl and go from there. Trust me, you will love it!
In Storm Child, Evie witnesses the bodies of migrants wash up on the beach; one migrant, a seventeen year old. has survived. It is apparent that their boat was deliberately sunk, and Cyrus is asked by the police to help with the investigation. Cyrus can't help but see how this bot being sunk has affected Evie.
Readers of the series will be happy to learn more of Evie's traumatic and horrific past. This book was a riveting rollercoaster ride as the revelations kept coming. Plus, that ending!
Once again, I was dazzled by Michael Robotham's wonderful writing. If you have not read a book he has written, you are seriously missing out.
Beautifully written, well thought out, tension, gripping and emotional.
**This book does deal with some difficult subject matter that may be a trigger for some readers such as human trafficking, rape, abuse, and PTSD
*A Witches Words buddy read with Mary Beth and Carolyn. Please read their reviews as well to see what they thought of the book.
Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Atmospheric, claustrophobic, unsettling, and captivating! Will Dean has delivered another thrilling and chilling mystery thriller that kept me on my tAtmospheric, claustrophobic, unsettling, and captivating! Will Dean has delivered another thrilling and chilling mystery thriller that kept me on my toes and turning the pages.
Divers are a rare breed. They are willing to enter a small hyperbaric chamber with other divers, breathing helium, away from friends and family, to dive deep down in the ocean. Decompression, if done fast, is deadly. This is an uncomfortable job where many things can go wrong with horrible consequences.
When one of them is found dead, the divers are left reeling, anxious, and suspicious of their fellow divers in the tight, hot, chamber. Ellen Brooke is one of the divers and readers are given her POV. When another dies, things get even more dire. What is happening? Is someone amongst them to blame? Is it someone on the outside to blame? Is there contamination? Questions swirled though not only the characters minds but swirled through my mind as well.
I loved the mounting sense of unease, the tension, the dread, the suspicion, and the danger. Alone with each other and their thoughts, they have nowhere to go, and nowhere to hide. Plus, they must finish decompression while trying to stay alive against an unknown threat. They clean, clean, clean while watching what they consume, keeping a suspicious eye on each other. But will that be enough to survive?????
In the beginning, I found myself boggled down with a lot of technical terms which made the book feel very authentic but took some time for me to wrap my mind around. As I mentioned, this book was very atmospheric, and Will Dean nailed the trapped room mystery vibe.
Claustrophobic, unsettling, well written, well thought out, and atmospheric.
*Buddy read with DeAnn and Carolyn. Please read their reviews as well to read their thoughts on The Chamber
Thank you to Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Better Left Unsent is a light, fun, rom-com that had some fun moments, some interesting emails, some embarrassment, and some cute relationships. Oops!
Better Left Unsent is a light, fun, rom-com that had some fun moments, some interesting emails, some embarrassment, and some cute relationships. For some individuals it helps them to write down what is on their mind without giving the note/letter/email to the individual who they are writing. It's a tool to process feelings and emotions. For Millie Chandler, writing emails helps her to get things off her chest. She has no intention of sending them, she is just processing. But one day, after a power outage at work, those emails that have been sitting in her drafts folder, get sent to EVERYONE!!!! How mortifying!!!!!!
I felt for Millie as everyone, and their brother got to read those emails. Image having to face everyone after that! UGH! Talk about uncomfortable. I felt for Millie as she tried to navigate her life and relationships post email scandal. There are a nice number of characters in this book and there were some that were more likeable than others. Then there was one that was a complete and utter jerk! I had fun trying to figure out how the emails got sent. I also enjoyed the multiple relationships in this book.
I found this book to be a fun, light, charming, entertaining, well written, read which left me smiling. This was a nice change of pace from what I typically read.
This was a buddy read with Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill. We had a great buddy read and fun discussion of the book. Please read her review as well to get her thoughts on the book!
Thank you to Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Elizabeth Strout has delivered another compelling, moving, thought provoking and gripping book. She has a writing that resonates with me. In Tell Me EElizabeth Strout has delivered another compelling, moving, thought provoking and gripping book. She has a writing that resonates with me. In Tell Me Everything, she combines three characters from three of her books: Olive Kitteridge, Lucy Barton, and Bob Burgess. It was wonderful to be back in their worlds. I especially adore Olive who continues to be spunky and bluntly tells it like it is!
I appreciated how this book focused on "undocumented lives". Elizabeth Strout has a unique gift for taking everyday events and elevating them. This book focuses on life, love, missed chances, being vulnerable, friendship, community, loneliness, aging, and lives lived. This book also has a mystery which needs to be solved but the real beauty of this book is in the characters and their complex lives, how they touch the lives of others, how the story of people's lives is important.
Beautifully written, captivating, well thought out, and thought provoking!
*Buddy read with Carolyn and DeAnn. Please read their reviews as well to get their impressions of Tell Me Everything.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Jess Lambert is back in the gripping and shocking second installment in the Jess Lambert series!!! Woohoo! Christina McDonald did not disappoint!
What Jess Lambert is back in the gripping and shocking second installment in the Jess Lambert series!!! Woohoo! Christina McDonald did not disappoint!
What Lies in Darkness begins with sixteen-year-old Alice being found on the side of the road after surviving a horrible car accident. The accident left many scratching their heads as her parents and younger sister, Ella, were missing from the accident scene and have not been seen since.
It has been a year since the accident and Alice is still coping with her family's loss. When she and her friends find Ella's blood covered backpack in an abandoned house, Detective Jess Lambert is called in to investigate.
What follows is a gripping tale of secrets, lies, deception, guilt, and coercion. As with the first book in the series, These Still Black Waters, I was fully invested in this well written and well thought out book. Both Jess and Alice have suffered loss, and both are haunted by those they loved and lost. I thought Christina McDonald did a great job depicting loss and how it impacted the lives of both Alice and Jess.
This book has plenty of twists, turns, and reveals. There is also tension and suspense as the book gets closer to the end. The characters have a lot going on in their lives and they are all interconnected in some way. I enjoyed being a fly on the wall as everything unfolded.
This book is told through the POV's of Alice, Jess, and Laura. It is also told through past and present timelines giving readers background and a closer look at all the characters. I enjoyed doing my own super sleuthing along with Jess. I guessed whodunit it but not the reason why.
Gripping, suspenseful and hard to put down!
4.5 stars
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Creepy, atmospheric, eerie, and unsettling. Imagine someone coming to your door and telling you that they used to live there. Would you let them in toCreepy, atmospheric, eerie, and unsettling. Imagine someone coming to your door and telling you that they used to live there. Would you let them in to look around?
Eve is home alone when Thomas and his family knock on her front door. Thomas explains that he grew up in the home she and her partner, Charlie, had just purchased. Initially she hesitates, but then relents and lets the family in to look around.......
I loved the eerie feel of this book. Plus, it has that trapped feeling that I love in books. We Used to Live Here is oozing with atmosphere, dread, and tension. It has that something-isn't-quite-right feeling throughout the book, mainly because something-isn't-quite-right! As eerie and strange things began to happen, I was glued to the pages.
This is going to be a Netflix original movie and I can understand why. It's unsettling and there were times I wondered if things were really happening or was this all in Eve's mind. I thought the author did a great job with this. The author also did a great job with the what-is-happening and what-is-going-to happen-next feel of the book.
I finished the book with many unanswered questions. I feel Eve had many unanswered questions as well. I wonder if this was deliberately done to have readers feel what Eve felt. hmmm...
Atmospheric, eerie, sinister, and well written.
* This was a buddy read with Nikki Lee and Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill. ❤️...more
Angela Marsons delivers yet again (seriously, when doesn't she deliver?) with Guilty Mothers, the 20th book in the DI Kim Stone series!!!!! As with thAngela Marsons delivers yet again (seriously, when doesn't she deliver?) with Guilty Mothers, the 20th book in the DI Kim Stone series!!!!! As with the other books in the series, this book was gripping, thought provoking, shocking and hard to put down. This series is a MUST read for me. I love the camaraderie between Kim and her team, their banter, their humor, their detective work, the cases they investigate, and Angela Marson's wonderful writing. Plus, the character development that has occurred in this series has been wonderful to read. I enjoy the balance between the characters’ personal lives and their detective work. Having said that, this book is mainly focused on the case(s) Kim and her team are investigating.
Things aren't always pretty in the world of beauty pageants. The focus to be perfect, to stand right, to walk right, to weigh the right amount.... For some it is a fun experience, for others it is a highly competitive and brutal experience. In Guilty Mothers, the Stage Moms/mothers of former child pageant contestants are being murdered. As Kim and her team begin to investigate, they learn that walking on the stage was not always a walk in the park for the child pageant contestants.
I always found child beauty pageants to be icky and creepy: putting make up on children, parading them around in high heels and wearing not always childlike costumes. This book shows the mother's drive to have their daughters win, the focus on being perfect, the impossible beauty standards, and having to be judged. There is a lot of food for thought in this alone.
In another case, a man's body has been found in a fishing lake. Did he fall in, how did he die? He has been reported missing and when Tiff visits the woman who reported him missing to inform her of his death, she gets an uneasy feeling about the woman's son...
The book has many themes, the main one being about Mothers/Motherhood and the relationships between mothers and their children. Readers of the series are aware of the relationship that Kim had with her mother as a child and see the relationships that the characters in this book have/had with their mothers. This book also touches on competition, relationships, trauma, jealousy, abuse, and loss.
There was a nice amount of tension, twists, and reveals in this book which had me turning the page and wanting more. There is a lot going on in this book and Kim and her team are kept very busy as they investigate whodunit. They will have their hands full but will not be deterred.
Gripping, shocking, thought provoking and hard to put down!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wowza! What a fantastic and shocking book! Blood Like Mine had me hungry for more. I devoured the pages, fully engrossed in this thrilling pursuit acrWowza! What a fantastic and shocking book! Blood Like Mine had me hungry for more. I devoured the pages, fully engrossed in this thrilling pursuit across the American West. From the very first page, my interest was piqued. I wanted more and Stuart Neville delivered.
Rebecca Carter is a single mother who will stop at nothing to keep her daughter, Moonflower safe. They are on the run and do their best to not draw attention to themselves. They do not want to be remembered, they just want to survive and stay safe. They have a HUGE secret and need to keep under the radar.
Special Agent Marc Donner of the FBI has been on the hunt for a serial killer who always appears to be one stop ahead of him. He will stop at nothing to catch this killer!
Woohoo! This one was off the hook. I loved this cat-and-mouse that had me rooting for all of the characters! I felt for them all. Rebecca loves her daughter and wants to keep them safe. She has devoted her life to their survival. Moonflower listens to her mother, trying her best to do as she is told, and tries not to draw attention to them. Agent Donner is a good yet flawed man who has made mistakes in his life. But make no mistake, he will not be deterred in his pursuit of justice.
Whew! This book had just about everything that I enjoy in books. There is mystery, a thrilling investigation, horrific scenes, and endearing flawed characters. I enjoyed the tension, the danger, the mounting suspense, the relationships, and the vivid descriptions.
I found this wonderfully written book to be well thought out, perfectly paced and addictive. So bloody good!
4.5 stars
***** A bloody good buddy read with Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill! Please read her fabulous review as well to get her thoughts on the book. Also please read Nikki Lee's amazing review as well. It was her review that piqued our interest and led to us wanting to read this book!
Thank you to Soho Press | Hell's Hundred and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.