577. THE FURY by Michael Michaelides (9/22/24) Mystery
A reclusive ex-movie star, Lana Farrar, invited some of her closest friends to join her on a trip to a private Greek island for Lana’s annual Easter escape. As idyllic as that sounds, the trip ended up with one dead, and it was a murder. This horrible incident brought out concealed hatred between the old friends and a desire for revenge.
Written by bestselling author of The Silent Patient, Michaelides story is told by an unreliable source who becomes over the top with twists and turns, leading us in many directions. This fast-paced mystery is exciting and has a great ending.
4 Stars
576. SHE’S NOT SORRY by Mary Kubica (9/14/24) Suspense
Meghan Michaels, an ICU nurse, and a single mom of a teenage daughter, is struggling to find balance in her hectic life. When a patient named Caitlyn is admitted in a coma with a traumatic brain injury. It appeared that she had jumped from a bridge, but a witness came forward saying that she had been pushed. Meghan usually tried not to get emotionally involved with her patients but found it impossible with Caitlyn when she finds out that she and her daughter could be the next victims.
This is an exciting thriller, worth your while.
4 Stars
574. HOME BEFORE DARK by Riley Sager (9/11/24) Suspense
This 2020 psychological thriller is about a haunted house Maggie Holt inherited, called Baneberry Hall, a stately Victorian mansion which was abandoned by her family when she was a child. This haunted house story is complete with all the gory details that her father wrote about in his memoir, House of Horrors, which included suicide, mental health issues, childhood trauma, and supernatural forces and spirits. If you enjoy scary stories that keep you on edge, this is the book for you. It made me miserable!
3 Stars
571. DAUGHTER OF ASHES by Ilaria Tuti (9/5/24) Mystery
Set in the beautiful mountains of Northern Italy, another in the Teresa Buttaglia series, the criminal detective is on sick leave, recovering from a near-death encounter while in pursuit of a killer. Teresa has a secret. She has Alzheimer’s which is getting worse. She fears she will never return to work.
When Teresa hears that a serial killer, Giacomo Mainardi, she put away 27 years ago, wants to speak with only her, she can’t refuse. He feels someone is after him and others and that Teresa could keep many safe if she finds him.
This is the first book I read by Tuti. It was a gripping story that should please detective loving readers who love suspense.
4 Stars
563. THE MADNESS OF CROWDS by Louise Penny (8/19/24) Mystery
This is number 17 in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache Series where Gamache returns to Three Pines after again being accused of being a coward. Gamache is asked to provide security for a visiting professor of statistics who is lecturing at a local university. Gamache is confused about this detail, as he is head of homicide. Professor Abigail Robinson has a controversial agenda which repulses Gamache and he begs the university to cancel the lecture. Controversy abounds within the community and the fighting turns into madness. A murder is committed and Gamache leads the investigation.
Penny, a popular, best-selling, and prolific author does a good job once again for this venue.
3 Stars
556. THE TEACHER by Frida McFadden (8/7/24) Suspense
In this High School setting student Addie was involved with a teacher the previous year who ultimately was forced to resign. In the new school year rumors abound and Addie is being bullied and ostracized for what may or may not be her fault. Eve is a teacher in a loveless marriage with Nate, another teacher. Nate, an English teacher admires Addie’s gift of poetry and befriends her. Eve is aware of Addie’s past with the other teacher and isn’t happy about Nate mentoring Addie.
That is the setting of a group of flawed and unlikeable characters. As is usual in a McFadden book she leaves no clues as to who is the victim and who is the evil perp. In the book there was so much evil that it was hard to find a victim that deserved our sympathy or root for. It was just OK.
3 Stars
548. MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT by Riley Sager (7/19/24) Mystery
In a lovely, stable, New Jersey neighborhood, 10-year-old Ethan and best-friend, Billy, went to sleep in a backyard tent. When Ethan arose he was alone. The tent was sliced open with a knife. Billy was never seen again.
Thirty years later, Ethan returned to his home where he noticed strange events leading Ethan to question whether someone was playing a prank, or if Billy was coming back to haunt him, the ghosts that Billy had imagined long ago. This leads Ethan to investigate and reunite with former friends who uncover an institute which does research that haunts his perspective of the past and the future.
I found the mystery held my attention, but was not as haunting as I expected.
3 Stars
544. WHAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND by Wanda F. Morris (7/14/24) Thriller
Deena Wood, a successful lawyer in Atlanta, is devastated by the death of her mother. She returns to her childhood home in Brunswick, Georgia, to heal and regroup. As she drives through the city of her memories she ends up on the oceanfront property of a widower who has been fighting to keep his land that had been in his family since the Civil War. At first he threatens her, thinking she is another one seeking his land. Later, the man has disappeared and as she starts checking on him, she realizes this situation has turned into a deadly and illegal game of land grab for properties in poor communities for redevelopment.
Deena soon finds herself caught up in a nightmare where she may be the next target.
Morris, an award-winning author has written an exciting and mysterious thriller based on real examples of exploitation of poor families in the South.
4 Stars
538. ERUPTION by Michael Crichton & James Patterson (6/26/24) Suspense
Crichton and Patterson, two great and prolific mystery/suspence collaberated to write this exciting book about a volcanic eruption on the big island of Hawaii. In magnificent but terrifying detail, they bring us on this harrowing journey. With details rooted in science, the widow of Michael Crichton saved his notes on this unfinished novel and chose Patterson to complete the story.
The end product is a seamless thriller with vibrant, realistic scenes that make you feel like you are in the cauldron of fire and lava. I was riveted by this exciting drama and I think is you want an exciting adventure, this is it!
4 Stars
536. THE RIVER WE REMEMBER by Kent Krueger (6/20/24) Mystery
On Memorial Day, 1958, in a small Minnesota town, a body is found floating in the Alabaster River, dead from a shotgun blast. Sheriff Brody Dern uncovers the fact that the body is that of a wealthy landowner, Jimmy Quinn. Rumors begin around town that Native American Noah Bluestone, a World War II veteran, must be the killer. When suspicions mount so does the possibility of violence and the town has to face the facts of the tragic histories and secrets that this death might expose.
This story reveals the human condition with an intimate and moving exploration of the prejudices and complexities of the hardships and trauma in the post World War II era. This is a great read.
4 Stars
529. RABBIT HOLE by Kate Brody (6/6/24) Mystery
Teddy is obsessed with the disappearance of her older sister, Angie. Her father, Mark, had been actively involved in a Reddit community trying to put clues together to find Angie. Then he killed himself after years of substance abuse and grief and Teddy worries that she could also fall down that rabbit hole. Teddy continues her father’s passion on online communities, and calling people on Mark’s burner phone. At first her sleuthing is a continuation of her father’s work, but as her behavior gets more risky she realizes that she is acting from her unresolved grief of losing first her sister then her father.
This is not a easy book to read as we see Teddy make bad decisions and experience how the internet can contribute, in a dark and tormented way, to an emotionally unstable person. In the most grave and unhealthy way we see her find all the wrong ways to cope with their pain. This is a frustrating and gut-wrenching way to spend time unless you enjoy witnessing the highs and lows of the human spirit. By the time I was finished with the book I needed a “happiness break”!
4 Stars
531. KILL SHOT by Vince Flynn (6/10/24) Thriller
In the second book starring Mitch Rapp, we find him obsessed with finding the terriorists responsible for the Pan Am Lockerbie attack. The target is a Libyan diplomat in Paris and as Mitch puts a bullet in his skull the door opens to gunfire. Mitch becomes the hunted. All hell breaks loose and many including some innocent civilians are killed. Rapp is wounded and his handlers deny all responsibility and hope he avoids capture and dies quickly.
Action books and films are not my favorite venue. The violence is magnified, the characters can become indistinguishable, and there seems to be no real heroes in the mega-messes of violence portrayed. I do not plan to ever read another Mitch Rapp book again.
3 Stars
526. PERSUIT OF HONOR by Vince Flynn (5/27/24)
This book was read before “Kill Shot”. This is #12 of the Mitch Rapp, CIA operative series. The setting is in Washington DC where a series of explosions reek havic on the Capitol city. As a counterintelligence operative Mitch illustrates the realities of terrorist plots, fear of domestic terrorists within, and the realities of national security amidst political consequences and the pressures on politicians.
Although Mitch is portrayed as a good guy hero he is unwilling to follow the moral high ground to get the bad guys and is somewhat a lovable renegade.The action is exciting, but sometimes hard to follow, and the outcome is suspenseful.
4 Stars
524. THE PERFECT NANNY by Leila Slimani (5/22/24) Suspense
When Myriam decides to return to work as a lawyer after having had two children, she is pleased to find what appears to be a perfect nanny. The children love Louise’s games and playtime activities and Myriam also finds her respectful, devoted and willing to stay late when needed and even cleans the apartment. But as Myriam becomes more and more dependent on Louise things start to slowly change. Jealousies arise and suspicions mount, making tension build in the arrangement.
This debut novel is compelling in the complex emotions between the women and its compulsive nature. Spell-binding to a fault this story is based on a real-life case in 2012. HBO is developing a movie starring Nicole Kidman and Maya Erskine. Working parents will relate to the fears about leaving your children to a nanny who you think is perfect-but who knows? Chilling.
4 Stars
515. THE EDGE by David Balducci (4/23/24) Mystery
This is the second book in a series call The 6:20 Man, starring an ex-army Ranger named Travis Devine. I never read the first book but found this an easy stand alone sequel. The premise is that Travis, who was trained to handle any scenerio, was tapped to discover and solve the murder of a CIA operative, Jenny Silkneell, who was murdered in Maine and whose laptop and phone held many national security secrets. In the wrong hands this information could endanger countless operatives and the stakes were high.
Devine was the man for the job with his unique skills ranging from solving complex situations and taking down financial conspiraces. He thought this case would be straight forward but dealing with the residents of Putmun, Maine who he soon realized distrusted outsiders, were tight-lipped, and had a history of keeping secrets. And Devine found himself trusting no one.
This is another solid mystery by Balducci, although a little slower than some, but still interesting and well written.
3 Stars
514. THE EXCHANGE by John Grisham (4/23/24) Thriller
It was time for me to read a legal thriller and who better was does that but Grisham! In this he goes back to Mitch McDeere, the hero of “The Firm”, one of my favorite books. It has been 15 years since Mitch and Abby exposed the crimes of Memphis law firm Bendini, Lambert and Locke and fled the country. Now they are living in Manhattan where Mitch is a partner at the largest law firm in the world. When a mentor in Rome asks a favor of Mitch it leads his far from home and puts him, his colleagues, and his family in jeopardy.
Will Mitch still be able to stay one step ahead of his enemies? This high-flying, exciting international plot is one I think you will love.
4 Stars
512. THE TEACHER by Freida McFadden (4/13/24) Suspense
This suspense novel is about “trust”, or rather, “lack of trust”. At Caseham High School there are lots of secrets and rumors going around after a teacher was fired for a scandal involving a student-teacher affair. The female student, Addie, has secrets that can destroy her and she will do anything to keep it quiet.
McFadden, who continues to have best sellers regularly, whipped out another novel, not quite as spell-binding as others, but filled with psychological twists and lots of revenge.
3 Stars
510. AMERICAN ASSASSIN by Vince Flynn (4/11/24) THRILLER
Vince Flynn, the #1 New York Times best-selling author of “Pursuit of Honor” delivers exciting, authentic thrillers time after time, including this action thriller which introduced us to Mitch Rapp, on his first assignment, who is put to the ultimate test in a wild counter-terrorism plot with the CIA. It takes place two decades after the Cold War had ended and Islamic terrorism is on the rise after the Lockerbie terrorism attack of a Pan Am flight. This book was realeased in 2014 and was made into a movie starring Michael Keaton, but it still felt fresh and exciting to read.
4 Stars
280. THE LIFEGUARDS by Amanda Eyre Ward (6/20/22) Suspense
Three best friend moms, Annette, Whitney, and Liza have raised their children together, who called themselves “The Three Musketeers, and being overprotective have sheltered them from what they consider an increasingly dangerous world. Their boys are lifeguards for the summer at a swimming hole and they come upon a body of a teen girl. This secret can shatter the perfect world their mothers have tried to protect them from.
As the mystery opens up the separate narratives show the points of view from each of the mothers, the boys, and police reports. Out goes the fierce friendships as loyalties and protection strategies kick in. How far will the mothers go to protect their teenage sons?
This is quite an riveting story about how life can change in moments, how deceiving in order to protect can lead to more trouble.
4 Stars
288. THE WIFE UPSTAIRS by Rachel Hawkins (7/10/22) Thriller
Jane changed her name, moved to Birmingham Alabama, broke and alone, and becomes a dog walker in an upscale gated community-the kind of residents who won’t miss a little trinket gone missing as long as their pooch is okay. Things change for Jane when she meets Eddie Rochester, a recently widowed man whose wealthy wife, Bea, died along with her best friend, Blanche, in a boating accident, but not found. Eddie was mourning, wealthy, handsome, and seemed to need a friend and both soon became attracted to each other. Jane moves in with Eddie and multiple scenarios come forth about the disappearance of the two women. But guess who is captive in the upstairs “panic room.” The plot continues to unfold with multiple narratives that make everyone a suspect. And in the end we are left with many questions concerning the twists and turns in the story. Many compare it to “Jane Eyre”. It is exciting and hard to figure out but well done.
4 Stars
291. SIX WEEKS TO LIVE by Catherine McKenzie (7/16/22) Suspense
Forty-eight year old Jennifer Barnes came home from a doctor’s appointment with very bad news. She has a malignant brain tumor and no more than six weeks to live. She intended to spend the time she had left with her adult triplets and twin grandsons but Jennifer is going through a contentious divorce and also is convinced that someone had tried to poison her a year ago. She compulsively decided to try to find who was trying to get rid of her before she dies. She suspects her husband but her daughters don’t believe that could be the case. She starts expanding her search to other possibilities and the story soon unravels in surprising ways. I can certainly see why people would think it is all in your head when you come out with outlandish suspicions when you have a brain tumor. But could she be right? This is a pretty good “who done it.”
4 Stars
293. THE DEVIL’S BED by William Kent Krueger (7/20/22) Political Thriller
President Clay Dixon and First Lady Kathleen are not getting along too well. In fact, she’s moved into the Lincoln Bedroom. She feels that politics has changed her husband and he is selling away the principles she formerly admired. When her father, an ex- Vice President, was hurt in an accident she and her secret service agent Bo Thorson, rushed to his side in Minnesota. She and Bo have a close relationship-he in particular is smitten, she is totally trusting of Bo. As they examine this unusual accident Bo is skeptical about it, and feels it may be a trap to bring the First Lady home and be more vulnerable. This early book of Krueger’s (2003) is a good page turner and can stand alone.
4 Stars
295. THE LONG WEEKEND by Gilly MacMillan (7/23/22) Psychological Thriller
Four husbands have a lifelong friendship and together with their wives plan a getaway weekend at Dark Fell Barn, an isolated retreat. One of the men died suddenly and his wife Edie decided not to join them. The other three men can’t get there until the second day so the three women, Jayne, Ruth, and Emily decide to go on their own. When they arrive they find a gift package and note waiting for them. When they open the note it says that one of their husband’s will be murdered. They are understandably upset but have no way of alerting their husbands due to lack of phones and cell service.
The retreat is an isolated and haunting setting and what they hoped would be quiet and relaxing weekend turns into a nightmare of twist and turns. I found this extremely hard to follow and unravel but it was indeed suspenseful.
4 Stars
302. THE MIRROR MAN by Lars Kepler (8/5/22) Suspense
The is the eighth book in the Joona Linna series. Loona, a detective is brought in to the case of the disappearance of a sixteen year old girl named Jenny Lind who was kidnapped on her way home from school. There is little to go on. Jenny has been taken to an isolated, dilapidated house where there is evidence that she was not the first girl to be taken hostage. Five years later Jenny is found hanging upside down in a playground, strung up by a wrench on a rainy night.
Detective Linna finds this case similar to what was thought as a suicide of a girl years earlier and another death. She is now looking for a serial killer. This is a tough book to read because of the dark, disturbing nature of the crimes. The author is relentless about showing chilling details.
3 Stars
303. SUMMERWATER by Sarah Moss (8/6/22) Suspense
Summerwater is a group of holiday cabins, both owned and rentals, near a loch in a remote part of Scotland. The book takes place from sunrise to sunset and as the guests arrive the weather turns bad, even by Scottish standards. Each chapter is about one of the cabin families lives and how they cope as the weather gets from bad to worse. As the day goes on we see fears and premonitions of the different guests mount as the tensions and suspense mounts. Moss does a deliberately good job of showing the character’s inadequacies and vulnerabilities as they make their choices on what to do in a place where there is no phone service or help in an emergency. Scary to the core.
3 Stars
310. MY WIFE IS MISSING by D.J. Palmer (8/23/22) Psychological Thriller
While on vacation in New York City, Michael Hart comes back to the hotel room to find his wife Natalie and their two children have vanished. At first he thinks they have been kidnapped, but after alerting the front desk and watching security tape it appears that she left with the children willingly. The police question Michael and want him to tell them “why” they would leave. Michael also has a hidden past.
After becoming aware of shocking revelations about Michael, Natalie is running away, frightened and alarmed. Her efforts to hide her fears from the children, and her insomnia seems to heighten her anxiety as she eludes Michael who is out searching for her and the kids. The more distraught and tired she gets, the more she questions herself. Is she delusional? Who can she turn to who she can trust to keep her identity and whereabouts a secret? This is fast-paced and hard to figure if Michael is at fault.
4 Stars
312. ONE OF THE GIRLS by Lucy Clarke (9/4/22) Thriller
The setting is on a remote Greek Island, in a villa high above the ocean. Six girls are coming to celebrate the upcoming wedding of Lexi for a fabulous bachelorette party. They enjoy quaint tavernas, sunset swims, exciting nightlife, but each girl has her own narrative exposing all sorts of secrets and half-truths. One wants to make sure the wedding never happens. One’s life ends in murder. At times a fun, frivolous female relationship adventure, at times a twisty, relationship encounter, this book is fun, mysterious, and scary.
4 Stars
333.THE CABINET OF CURIOSITIES by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (10/27/22) Fiction
After writing 125 books I think Douglas Preston may know what he is doing. In this, teaming up with Lincoln Child, they bring suspense to downtown Manhattan when a excavation crew unearths dozens of human bones in an underground charnel house, apparently all murder victims. Research reveals that this mass murderer in the 1880’s was trying to prolong his life in the Five Points neighborhood. News of this event sparked a series of copy-cat killings bringing panic to New York City. An FBI agent, a journalist, and an archeologist join together when they need to protect themselves from a vicious killer. This well-done thriller is different and suspenseful, for those who like this genre.
4 Stars
342. THE GOLDEN COUPLE by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (11/24/22) Mystery
A wealthy Washington couple, Marissa and Matthew, seem to have a perfect relationship, but all is not what it seems to be as Matthew finds out Marissa has been unfaithful. Written by the powerhouse duo, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, the pumped another New York Times Bestseller after three other blockbusters. In this one, with their marriage on the rocks they seek the help of Avery Chambers, an unconventional therapist who lost her license after spying on one of her clients. Well, that makes sense!! But she promises to change their lives in ten sessions!
If this sounds unrealistic and contrived you should see the many characters and side stories meant to further the plot and add excitement. There is a pharma plot, the mystery lover, Avery’s whistleblower client, another client who found out her sister is really her mother, a former client’s angry ex-wife, and a security guard Avery is having an affair with—need I say more? Some reviews have called this an exciting page turner. I also was a page turner–to get it done.
3 Stars
THE HOUSE IN THE PINES by Ana Reyes (1/26/23) Suspense
Maya was a high school senior when her best friend mysteriously dropped dead in front of her boyfriend Frank, with whom she had been spending lots of time. Maya was traumatized and suffered bouts of memory loss and loss of gaps of time where she could not remember what had happened. After seven years she thought she was learning to cope with the help of her boyfriend and was doing well, until she happened across a You Tube video showing a young woman who keels over in a diner and dies while sitting across from Frank. All of her post traumatic syndrome came crashing back and she retreated back to her hometown to confront her demons and try to figure out the mystery.
Full of psychological suspense, this debut novel by Reyes became a bestseller when Reese Witherspoon raved about it. I think it is captivating.
4 Stars
363. A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE by Sonia Purnell (1/31/23) Biography
“A Woman of No Importance – The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II” is the story of Virginia Hall, a young, beautiful American woman who before the United States entered the war felt the calling and joined up with the British to do whatever it took to help in the war effort. Breaking all sorts of barriers, Virginia worked for the British Secret Service from 1939 through 1942. Then she joined the American Secret Service from 1943 until the end of the war. Her primary mission was to send information to England which detailed German troop movements and in establishing and coordinating French Resistance Groups. Even though dangerous she was successful in enlisting help from a variety of French people, including prostitutes, nuns, merchants, and criminals, in order to aid in acquiring accurate German troop movements. The German Gestapo named her the most dangerous spy in France and was considered their “most wanted”. Nothing deterred her, not even her wooden left leg prothesis which made her stand out. Her bravery and tactical greatness was rewarded to her by France giving her the highest honor given to a civilian. Yet, she was an unsung hero in her own country who thought the French were exaggerating her talents. This book uncovered amazing research about this brilliant woman and hero. Well worth reading.
5 Stars
BIG LIES IN A SMALL TOWN by Diane Chamberlain (2/27/23) Mystery
Artist Morgan Christopher has been accused of a crime she didn’t commit but she gets a chance to restore an old post office mural, with a strict deadline, while she is on parole. Knowing nothing about art restoration she is confused by the offer but accepts because she is desperate to be free. Under the layers of grime in the mural Morgan uncovers a hidden story of violence and conspiracy in this small town. A dual story about Anna Dale, the original mural artist is as interesting as Morgan’s story. As the secrets and clues unfold Morgan discovers they mystery behind the mural.
4 Stars
377. GREENWICH PARK by Katherine Faulkner (3/22/23) Suspense
At her first pre-natal class, Helen met Rachel, a single mother-to-be who had little interest in traditional pregnancy norms, such as, no smoking or drinking, and seemed to have little interest or excitement in parenting and how to handle it as a single parent. Helen had a secure life with her architect husband and beautiful Victorian home and after years of trying was excited for this chapter of her life. Although quite different, at first Rachel was fun to be with and friendly, but when she started popping up unexpectedly, Helen suspected there was more to this friendship than she imagined-especially when she was asked to live with them for awhile.
Faulkner did a good job with this first novel, increasing the suspense like layers of an onion.
3 Stars
379. THE GOOD SON by Jacquelyn Mitchard (3/30/23) Suspense
From acclaimed author (Deep End of the Ocean, Mother Less Child) comes this story about what lengths a mother will go to to help save her child. Her son, Stefan, was only seventeen when he went to prison for murdering his girlfriend, Belinda, a crime he had no memory of committing. Belinda’s mother opposes his short 3 year imprisonment and sets the community against him even while new information comes out about Belinda, with shocking truths.
This is another of Mitchard’s face-paced, suspenseful stories and well worth reading.
4 Stars
385. ROOM by Emma Donoghue (4/22/23) Suspense
At first I was disconcerted by the sound of a 5 year-old boy narrating this audiobook. In his simple language and innocence, Jack sees nothing wrong with his existence of he and his mother living alone in an 11 by 11 foot room with no windows. It is all he knows for his mother gave birth to him in this room. His mother has tried to make his life happy by teaching him and reading from the 10 books they possess. They have a small TV and Jack is made to believe that what is in the TV is not reality, just fiction since he is unaware of the outside world. A scary person named “Old Nick” infrequently comes at night to give them sparse supplies to sustain them.
Jack’s worldview is shattered when he finds out that they are prisoners and that there is an “outside” world. His mother does not trust Old Nick any more and the need to escape in order to survive becomes more prevalent. The story now becomes a survival mode filled with danger and suspense. This was an intriguing story, especially from the voice of a 5 year-old boy. Scary, creepy, exciting.
5 Stars
406. THE IT GIRL by Ruth Ware (6/18/23) Thriller
April was the first person Hannah met at Oxford. April, outgoing and bright, brought Hannah into her clique during their first term, but by the second term April was dead.
Ten years later, Hannah and Will are expecting their first child and the man convicted of killing April, has died in prison. At first happy for that chapter to be closed, Hannah is taken off-guard when a journalist presents new evidence that the man may have been innocent. This new evidence involves her Oxford friends and she finds her world unravelling. I found this suspence novel was a good, not great, psychological thriller, but an enjoyable read anyway.
4 Stars
407. THE FALL GIRL by Marcia Clark (6/23/23) Thriller
Charlie Blair needed a change from the big league Chicago’s DA’s office to a quieter life in Santa Cruz, California, where she expected the DA’s office to be easier to handle. Leaving her old life and name behind, with her bottle of vodka and Xanax close by, she thought she had it made. That is, until a shot-shot prosecutor, Erica Lorman, went after the murderer of a local bail bondsman, Sally Hansen, thrust her back into action after her success in a high-profile celebrity chef had made her a legend.
This book has a good plot, is fast-paced with strong female characters, both believeable and flawed, and with complications in their pasts.
4 Stars
428. THE SECRET PLACE by Tana French (8/10/23) Mystery
Although first published in 2014, A Secret Place was named one of the best thrillers of that year. Set in Dublin, it involves an unsolved murder of a boy found dead at a girl’s boarding school. Detective Stephan Moran had been waiting for his chance to join Dublin’s Murder Squad when 16-year-old Holly Mackey came into his office with a photo of the boy with a caption: “I KNOW WHO KILLED HIM”. The case is reopened and the clique of school girls all became suspects of the murdered boy.
This mystery was unsettling, which is the goal, by seeing the teenage girls at their worst. I hate the thought of so much evil in young people. Despite this, I was captivated by the suspense as they sorted out the clues in the case. My being uncomfortable with the details added to the suspense. Go for it if you like this venue!
4 Stars
429. UNBECOMING by Rebecca Scherm (8/13/23) Thriller
Grace lives on the outskirts of Paris, calls herself Julie, and says she is from California. In fact, she was part of a trio in crime in Tennessee, which went bad, where her two male accomplices had served their time and were about to be released from prison, although on parole. After the heist went bad, which Grace had planned, she had quickly avoided capture by boarding a plane to Prague, with the contraband.
The caper now begins the suspenseful unravelling of the high-stakes heist with Grace thriving on deceit and crime. By having the protagonist a bad person and through an interesting twist we start rooting for her success, we are able to see the author’s talent at painting the complexity of human behavior and empathy.
This book is exciting, keeps you on edge, and the author does a great job in this creative read.
4 Stars
431. MYSTIC RIVER by Dennis Lehane (8/17/23) Mystery
Lehane is at his best with this gripping psychological thriller involving three former friends from a Boston blue collar neighborhood. There friendship ended when as children Sean, Jimmy, and Dave were playing when a strange car pulled up. One boy got into the car and two did not. Something terrible happened which ended their friendship and changed all three boys forever. Now adults: Sean a homicide detective; Jimmy and ex-con proprietor of a corner store; and Dave, with an unhappy marriage, all have their problems. When one of their daughters is murdered all are again reunited in a bad way.
Lehane, who never fails to tell a riveting story, makes it even more unnerving by adding psychological problems, with dark truths about the past and the human need to hide secrets, it is hard to put this book down.
4 Stars
438. DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD by Olga Tokarizuk (8/30/23) Mystery
This was the winner of the 2018 Nobel Prize for Literature although it was originally published in Polish in 2007. Set in a remote Polish village, Janina spends her dark winter days translating the poetry of James Blake, studying astrology, and taking care of summer homes of wealthy Warsaw residents. She is a natural recluse and prefers animals to humans. A neighbor, Bigfoot, is found dead and soon other bodies are discovered. Janina, who thinks she knows who the murderer is, gets involved.
The theme-“have humans the right to exploit other species; how everything in the cosmos is connected; and, the role of outsiders who challenge the status quo”-are Janina’s favorite subjects. This so-called “mystery” is more about the psychological portrait of an unconventional woman whose philosophy might or might not be considered sound.
This was an interesting book. You may not like this cranky, old protagonist but she is a character and the book was richly written.
4 Stars
441. WHEN WE FELL APART by Soon Riley (9/11/23) Mystery
This debut novel by Soon Riley, son of a Korean woman and American father, gives his protagonist the same ethnicity and inner conflict he feels. Min goes to Korea to explore his Korean side and sees a similiar pattern he experienced in the states-not fitting in. He got created and landed a job with Samsung executives about American culture.
He meets Yee-jin, a coed that left her strict father to “find herself” in Seoul. Not to give away the plot, there is a death and the young people have trouble making sense of what appears to be a suicide.
This is an interesting mystery across cultures and all the bi-racial identity situations that happen in each culture. I found this easy to read, fast moving, and a compelling enough mystery. A very good first book.
4 Stars
448. THE BONES OF PARIS by Laurie R. King (10/2/23) Mystery
Set in the Jazz Age, Paris, private investigator, Harris Stuyvesant, an American agent, is assigned to locate a beautiful young model, Philippa Crosby, gone missing, and last seen among the bars and cafes in the Montparnasse region-a juicy score of a job for Harris. Philippa’s family became fearful when she stopped all communication with them. Harris thinks she probably found a lover in this decadent atmosphere but he was happy to comply. Soon he finds many of the infamous types know of her and he finds that he must go into the darkest parts of sexual perversion and depravity to find this girl.
This is an exciting mystery/thriller in an exciting but wicked time.
4 Stars
452. WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING by Alyssa Cole (10/9/23) Suspense
Sydney Green is watching the changes in her Brooklyn neighborhood as it is being gentrified. Out with the old, includes the people she grew up with and the dramatic changes being made. She does not like it.
When she meets Theo, one of the new “ones”, they dive into the history and come across facts that indicate their neighbors may not have “moved” and may be dead.
This book is nerve-wracking, so beware, but if you are up to it, it is quite a story.
4 Stars
463. TRULY MADLY GUILTY BY Liane Moriarty (11/28/23) Mystery
Set in and near Sidney, Australia, the Hart family experiences a traumatic experience at a neighborhood barbeque after a day of fun, booze, and outdoor frolic. The Hart’s blame themselves but mostly the other for the incident and the backgrounds of the partygoers gets unraveled through back and forth present and past time narratives which reveals more about their relationships. When one couple needs a huge favor their relationship is challenged on and off.
There are many characters and lots of detail about guilt and misunderstandings which gets complicated as we travel back and forth in time. I think it is overused here where it is easy to get lost in the shuffle. By the way, this is more of a drama than a mystery. Maybe you can tell-this is not my favorite Moriarity story-by far.
3 Stars
467. YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE COME HERE by Jeneva Rose (12/16/23) Thriller
Grace needs to get away from it all and books an Airbnb on a ranch in Wyoming. It looks like a vacation romance is blooming between Grace and Calvin, the handsome owner, until the flirting turns into an obsession by Calvin and Grace becomes uncomfortable and feels like something is not right. Oh, and she is so far out in the country that she has no cell phone coverage or access to the outside world. Is this a trap? Can Grace leave? Fear begins to mount with this city-savvy tourist who is completely out of her element, isolated in the middle of nowhere with a total stranger who at first seemed good but now bring her doubts.
As the tension builds I was totally unprepared for the end which was unlike anything I was prepared for. The trouble is 80-90% of the book was a long and slow build up with all the action at the end. The twists, which were so unexpected, seemed less than satisfying for the ending.
3 Stars
468. THE DOGS OF RIGA by Henning Mankell (12/22/23) Mystery
This is part of a series of Swedish detective novels starring Kurt Wallander. Two bodies on a raft float up on a Swedish coastline and Kurt realizes this was a grizzly, heinous crime which he is happy to turn over to the Riga police. But soon it is discovered that the victims are citizens of the Baltic state of Latvia. Wallander soon finds himself back in the thick of it amidst where in Riga eyes are everywhere with secret meetings, suspicion of drug trafficking, and the thrill and paranoia of being on the run.
I found this story pretty hard to follow with multiple suspect/characters (I personally hate to have to take notes to try to remember who is who and what is what) and with the added difficulty of translations from the Swedish, customs of Sweden and Latvia (a Soviet break-away state) I kind of lost interest trying to put it all together. Some things just get too involved to be worth it (for me).
3 Stars
475. TREACHEROUS IS THE NIGHT by Anna Lee Huber (1/5/24) Mystery
“Treacherous” is the second book in the Verity Kent Series of post World War I mysteries. In the end of the first book (“This Side of Murder”-#477-see next review) Verity thought she was a war widow after no word about her missing-in-action spouse. In this book it is years later and Sidney shows up alive. At a seance she attended with a friend, a medium channels a woman who Verity once worked with in the Secret Service, but she refused to believe she was dead. Then the medium was murdered, the investigation was thwarted by her former Secret Service friends who were uncooperative.
Verity and Sidney head to Belgium where the war-torn nation is in disarray which endangers their safety. This good, solid mystery is not the best I have ever read, nor the worst. But for mystery fans, this is worthy of your time.
4 Stars
the quiet girl
476. THE QUIET GIRL by Peter Hoag (1/7/24) Thriller
Set in Denmark, “The Quiet Girl” protagonist is Kaspar Krone, a world renowned circus clown who is a lover of Bach’s music, and has a gambling debt which keeps him in constant trouble for income tax evasion. Krone helps a mysterious order of nuns safeguard children with their mystical “gift”, which he also shares, in return for their protection of him. But when one child goes missing and Krone goes off to find her, he makes a shocking discovery.
This foreign thriller is the sort that lost cognition in the translation, at least for me, which may cause the reader struggling to figure out what is happening. I didn’t notice this problem in Hoag’s first bestseller, “Smilla’s Sense of Snow”, translated by another person, where the English was sharp enough to handle the complex plot.
3 Stars
477. THIS SIDE OF MURDER by Anna Lee Huber (1/8/24) Mystery
I decided to read the first Verity Kent Book after having enjoyed the second, “Treacherous is the Night” (# 475-Mystery). World War I is over and Verity is grieving the death of her husband. A letter arrived suggesting Sidney may have committed treason. Verity had been part of the Secret Service during the war and this knowledge gave the letter substance since Sidney had not even known of his wife’s service. At an engagement party for one of Sidney’s fellow officers she learns of secrets and a murder meant to conceal those secrets, possibly giving more truth to the letter’s accusations.
I like the plucky character of Verity who has the guts to follow the evidence no matter what the outcome. I also like that it is historical fiction, rather than a modern day “who done it”.
4 Stars
484. NONE OF THIS IS TRUE by Lisa Jewell (1/28/24) Suspense
Alix is celebrating her 45th birthday in a pub when she meets another woman, Josey, also celebrating her 45th birthday. A few days later she sees Josey outside her daughter’s school. Josey told Alix that she enjoys her podcast and thinks she would be an interesting subject for Alix’s podcast since she is making great changes in her life. Although Alix finds Josey strange she can’t resist doing the podcast with her. Josey has dark secrets and many problems but wriggles her way into Alix’s life and home. The longer she stays the more terrified Alix becomes. And when Josey suddenly disappears the threat to Alix continues.
This psychological mystery is creepy enough that this becomes a true thriller. A good read from an established author.
4 Stars
490. NEVER LIE by Freida McFadden (2/5/24) Thriller
Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan are looking for the home of their dreams. They come across a remote manor formerly owned by a psychiatrist who had mysteriously vanished four years earlier. A winter storm traps them at the house. Tricia, while looking for something to read, finds a hidden entrance into a secret room that contains the missing psychiatrist’s audio transcripts of her patients. As Tricia listens to them she begins to uncover the truth about the doctor’s disappearance. The truth is horrifying.
The author, a practicing physician, who specializes in brain injuries in New York City, somehow found time to write a psychological thriller, amazing in itself, and does a great job. That makes me feel so unproductive!
4 Stars
492. PRETTY GIRLS by Karin Slaughter (2/13/24) Thriller
Twenty years ago Julia vanished into thin air. Her sisters Claire and Lydia haven’t spoken since that time and have lived totally different lives: Claire is married to a millionaire in Atlanta, and Lydia is a struggling single mom dating an ex-con. Neither have recovered from the trauma of losing Julia and when Claire’s husband is killed the scars are ripped open again.
Slaughter used many gruesome images to make readers scared, including torture, killings and evil characters. For those who like this type of thing it will be okay for you but for some of us, like me, this was more than I wanted and made me feel morbidly distressed.
3 Stars
496. WRONG PLACE WRONG TIME by Gillian Mc Allister (2/26/24) Suspense
At midnight Jen anxiously awaits her 18 year-old son’s arrival, who again broke curfew. As she looked out the window she witnessed her son Todd stab a total stranger. Todd is taken in to custody and Jen falls into an anguished sleep in despair of their lives being torn upside-down forever. As she awakes she realizes it is yesterday and the murder has not yet happened. Is there a chance she can prevent it from happening? She realizes that something from the past has caused Todd, a good, not troublesome boy, to trigger him to commit the crime.
Although I am not a big fan of time travel in books, this one is a necessity, and bravo, it works! This is suspenseful and relatable, as a desperate mom with only a short time left tries to change the future and save her son.
4 Stars
498. JUST ANOTHER MISSING PERSON by Gillian McAllister (3/9/24) Thriller
Olivia has been missing for one day and Julia, the lead detective, knows what that means. The longer the clock keeps ticking the more likely the result will be bad. The desperate family wants answers but Julia discovers that the perp intends to destroy the family if Julia finds out what happened to Olivia-and she must frame someone else.
This heart-stopping thriller uses secrets as weapons with lots of twists and turns which unravel the detective forcing her to make impossible moral choices. This is just another great book from the talented Gillian McAllister!
4 Stars
502. THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B by Lisa Unger (3/20/24) Mystery
Rosie and Chad inherit a luxury apartment from Chad’s uncle. The apartment with pre-war elegance becomes a life-changing event as they move into the Windmere, complete with a uniformed doorman. As they settle in Rosie starts noticing unusual facts about the Windmere, such as, how many gruesome crimes have occurred here, and she notices the cameras everywhere. How safe is it here? When one of their neighbors turns up dead, Rosie searches for the truth.
Lisa Unger did a great job of making this building feel creepy and dangerous, if not spine tingling.
4 Stars
504. RESURRECTION WALK by Michael Connelly (3/28/24) Mystery
Defense attorney Mickey Hallen and his half brother retired LAPD detective Harry Bosch join forces on a one in a million chance to successfully prove the innocence of a woman convicted of killing her husband, a sheriff’s deputy. I don’t know why or how Connelly does it but he writes tons of books including “The Lincoln Lawyer” series and the “Bosch” series and still has fresh, exciting stories with lots of personality for the main characters. It is especially helpful that both series are streaming on Netflix and I love them too. I can now picture them in my mind’s eye when I read the books which are always exciting, clever and fu
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