I've loved all of Rachel Hawkins' suspense novels for adults, but I think this one might be my favorite. It's a bit more of a slow burn than, say, RecI've loved all of Rachel Hawkins' suspense novels for adults, but I think this one might be my favorite. It's a bit more of a slow burn than, say, Reckless Girls, but the way that it moves from something slightly mysterious to its devastating end is so well done.
The story runs on two timelines. In the modern day, we follow friends Emily and Chess. Emily is recovering from health issues while in the midst of a nasty divorce and trying to get her writing career back on track. Chess has created a successful career as a self-help writer. The two childhood friends are reconnecting while spending time on a girls' trip to the Villa Aestas in Italy.
In the 1974 timeline, we see the events that shaped the villa's reputation. That summer a well-known rock star and several friends/hangers-on spent a decadent summer getting inspired. Given the amazing novel and the beloved record album that came out of that summer, one would think it was idyllic - except that someone got brutally murdered.
Emily finds herself inspired by the events of 1974 and starts digging into the house's history. She thinks clues to what happened in Villa Aestas might lie in the works produced by Mari and Lara, two of the group from 1974. However, not only do we see the events of 1974 unraveling, but there are also mysterious tensions bubbling up between Emily and Chess.
Hawkins does a great job with showing the dynamics between both the modern-day friends, as well as the friends and frenemies from almost 50 years ago. The buildup of suspense in this book is slow, deliberate and perfectly managed. I know we joke about all the romance novel heroines who let out breaths they didn't even know they were holding, but that is in fact the perfect description for how it felt to read the last few chapters of The Villa. Even if I know the secrets now, this one would still be worth a reread....more
3.5 stars This book was a tremendously mixed bag for me. On the one hand, the writing was compelling and I found myself sinking into this story even a3.5 stars This book was a tremendously mixed bag for me. On the one hand, the writing was compelling and I found myself sinking into this story even as I recognized some of its more problematic elements. Ms. Williams knows how to tell an extremely engaging story, and while I did enjoy her previous book, Overseas, the pacing on this one was much better.
The dual timelines in this book aren't so far apart. The story focuses on Lily Dane, a wealthy young New Yorker summering with her mother and aunt in Rhode Island in the summer leading up to the Hurricane of 1938. We get frequent flashbacks to Lily's college days in 1931, and her thwarted love affair with Nick Greenwald.
We learn right away that Nick is now married to Lily's onetime close friend Budgie Byrne. In the flashbacks, we see Nick and Lily, as well as Budgie and her college boyfriend Graham. The initial story of Nick and Lily's prior relationship is painfully real and the author does a wonderful job of telling that story while leaving the answers to all the questions on readers' minds just out of reach. I found myself flying through the pages trying to figure out what tore Lily and Nick apart, who is this mysterious 5 year old "sister" that Lily seems to be raising, why did Nick marry Budgie and so on. As I said, the pacing is well done.
The author also does a good job of weaving historical issues of the time into her story. We see the snobbery of the class structure of the time, the casual anti-Semitism of the upper classes in 1930s America, the effects of the Depression and the buildup to World War II. Some of it can be very uncomfortable reading, but the author seemed to have clearly done her research.
So, why the rating? Well, the first two-thirds or so of this book made for solid reading, but as the author pulled the various plot threads together, the book stopped flowing so smoothly. For starters, we see Lily remaining friends with Budgie for years even though Budgie is frankly self-centered and horrible. However, the author seemed unclear on exactly who she wanted Budgie to be. On the one hand, the author seems to almost encourage the reader to dislike Budgie and root for Lily. However, at the end, she throws in revelations about Budgie that (1) would have been more effective if they came out earlier and (2) make portions of the plot feel very slut-shamey. Also, while the book does have an encouraging ending, the author does have a very likeable character morph from likeable into "superhero" and it felt like just a bit too much.
In the end, I did enjoy this book, but the ending was rough.
CW: The big one in this book will be on-page rape and sexual assault. If you are at all vulnerable to being triggered by this, tread with care because there are a couple scenes that I could see be traumatic for some readers. Other CWs: anti-Semitism (usually countered by the heroine), classism, adultery, references to child abuse, substance abuse...more
4.5 stars I've enjoyed all of St. James' books to some extent and this one was no exception. As always, this author excels at setting up a dark and cr4.5 stars I've enjoyed all of St. James' books to some extent and this one was no exception. As always, this author excels at setting up a dark and creepy mood right out of the gate. In the modern day story, Shea Collins works as a medical receptionist by day and cold case blogger by night. We quickly learn that she survived a kidnapping attempt as a child and those events have caused her to have lingering phobias, particularly of riding in cars.
One day in the office, Shea spots a woman who looks familiar. She quickly recognizes her as Beth Greer, the so-called Lady Killer from the 1970s. Beth had been accused of killing two seemingly unrelated local men and while ultimately acquitted, her life has been colored by those events. Ever since the crimes, Beth has continued to live in her wealthy parents' slightly crumbling mansion in Clare Lake, Oregon. Shea is naturally curious about Beth and reaches out to her. What unfolds is a dark and brooding story.
It took me a little while to appreciate Shea as a character, but once I started to get a sense of her, I really enjoyed this book. As she starts to unravel the truth of Beth's secrets, the story turns into a thriller with a supernatural twist to it. In addition to being a good story, the author also makes insightful observations on the role of sexism in cases like that of the Lady Killer, as well as the ways in which stereotypes can make women like Beth prisoners of others' expectations and their own public persona. The social commentary in this book is subtle, but perceptive readers will pick it up as they read, and in a way these familiar horrors add to the scariness of the story.
The Book of Cold Cases definitely covers some difficult and dark territory, but the theme of facing one's ghosts, both real and figurative, is well done. And even though so much of the story is tragic, I ultimately had hope for Shea on reading the ending. St. James' style continues to evolve and develop with each book, and as always, I can't wait to see what comes next....more
The writing in this book just did not flow well, and the historical section felt very overwrought. I loved this author's debut, but I just could not gThe writing in this book just did not flow well, and the historical section felt very overwrought. I loved this author's debut, but I just could not get into this novel. ...more
CW: death and violence - I know I'm being vague, but I didn't want to put in spoilers. This is a gothic, so let's just take for granted that the Big SCW: death and violence - I know I'm being vague, but I didn't want to put in spoilers. This is a gothic, so let's just take for granted that the Big Secrets are pretty disturbing since that's usually the point.
I do love a good gothic and while I had a few quibbles with this one, it was an awfully engaging read. It's chock full of doom, gloom and family secrets. In terms of mood, this one veers closer to VC Andrews territory than Barbara Michaels, Victoria Holt or even the modern-day Simone St. James. If you're a sensitive reader, you might want to keep that in mind.
This story has dual timelines, but unlike most of these types of tales, both timelines are within living memory. The first appears to be set in the late 60s while the second is closer to the 2000s. In the earlier timeline, we follow Amber Alton and her family. They seem to lead a charmed life, with time spent in London and then summers at the family home in Cornwall, Black Rabbit Hall. Their summers by the sea have a nostalgic, fairytale quality to them until tragedy strikes and the four Alton children are left without a parent.
From there, we see Amber's world falling apart bit by bit. The author handles this part of the plotting brilliantly, handing out new plot developments and bits of information frustratingly slowly, yet just quickly enough to keep the reader's attention. The mood of gathering doom over the entire ensemble cast was sometimes a bit more than I could handle emotionally, but it was definitely well done.
In the 2000s, we meet Lorna. She is planning her wedding and not only is she determined to get married in Cornwall, but she is hell-bent on doing so at Black Rabbit Hall. The venue is clearly in bad shape, this is set to be its first event, the locals all consider the place cursed and the owner is...a bit unusual. However, Lorna is determined, so that's the end of it.
The plotting that got Lorna into residence and therefore in a position to do some sleuthing at Black Rabbit Hall was a bit haphazard and completely strained my ability to suspend disbelief. However, once Lorna went into action and the clues started falling into the place, the story was certainly interesting. Given that the Alton children seemed to have completely disappeared from the estate, I kept trying to figure out what had happened to them.
While the book has some weak points in the modern-day plotline, it's definitely an intriguing gothic. If you're not too faint of heart, I definitely recommend it. ...more
3.5 stars I did enjoy The Garden Intrigue, but this one wasn't quite up there with some of the others islight spoilers for earlier books in the series
3.5 stars I did enjoy The Garden Intrigue, but this one wasn't quite up there with some of the others in the series for me. The historical plotline is set primarily in France, and between Emma's angst over what she wants to do with her life and the meanderings of the plotline set at Napoleon's court, this installment wandered a bit.
On a more positive note, I did think Emma and Augustus were a great match. Neither is entirely who he or she seems, and both get dismissed a bit by Society. Emma, an American widow in Paris, is a bit daring and brash, but known more for her parties and fashion than anything else. Few know and appreciate her keen intellect and interest in things mechanical.
Readers of the Pink Carnation series will remember Augustus Whittlesby as the author of terrible poetry who must insist on writing odes to his Princess of the Pulchritudinous Toes. If few know of Emma's talents, even fewer would see Augustus as a credible spy.
It's an intriguing setup, but this book takes longer to gel than some. The plot goes all over the place a bit at times, and for some reason, it took quite a few chapters for me to feel like I had any kind of grasp on who Augustus really was, aside from being told early on that he's a spy.
However, once things come together, I started to enjoy myself quite a bit. The chemistry between Emma and Augustus starts off as a slow burn from friendship to romance. That first kiss scene is absolutely stellar, though. I would almost recommend reading just for that. I was glad to see Emma and Augustus get together, I enjoyed a little visit with Eloise and Colin in the modern storyline, and I'm excited to see what's in store for the formidable Miss Gwen in book 10....more
Warning: Spoilers galore for earlier books in the series! Also, CW for the book itself: references to sexual assault, violence and addiction
This book hWarning: Spoilers galore for earlier books in the series! Also, CW for the book itself: references to sexual assault, violence and addiction
This book has elements I normally dislike but it's so well-written that I could not put it down. The mystery at the heart of the book is quite a puzzle. In each of the three time periods, a woman has been found dead in the road wearing a beautiful dress, with no obvious cause for her death. The story jumps back and forth between 1952, 1972 and what appears to be 2006 or thereabouts. The mystery itself kept me thinking, but the glimpses in character histories are what kept me going.
Some of the books in this series could stand alone well, but this isn't one of them. If you haven't already gotten to know Russ and Clare a bit, this isn't the book to use as your intro. There's a lot of backstory referenced that you would be missing. First and foremost, the main characters' relationship has developed gradually over the course of the books. In this installment, they are the new parents of a baby boy, and Clare is struggling with that adjustment as well as continuing to struggle with her own issues involving substance abuse which have been referenced in some of the other books as well.
In the background, we see that the small town of Millers Kill is facing a referendum to disband the police department and simply allow the state troopers to handle law enforcement. Given current events, I found this part of the backstory interesting. Spencer-Fleming does not shy away from tough moral questions in her writing and as a result, this book features everything from honest police trying to do their jobs, flawed but well-intentioned officers and at least some that most people would not want to have a badge. Through different characters, we see different philosophies of how the job should be done, and the answers aren't easy.
My favorite part of the story was simply getting to see glimpses into the past of previous police chiefs, of Russ and of his mother Margy. We get to see not only the mystery plot, but also how the past has shaped who these characters have become. I enjoyed the multi-layered aspect of this book, as well as the ways in which it made me think, even if it could sometimes be uncomfortable.
That being said, (view spoiler)[I couldn't buy that Russ would be investigating a case where he was also a suspect (hide spoiler)]. I could let it go to an extent, but only partially. So, while this isn't my very favorite installment of the series, it's still pretty darn good. And, while the mystery itself got solved, there's still a bit of a cliffhanger built into the ending, so I'm itching to see what comes next....more
Remember hearing urban legends about mysteriously disappeared women and the creepy feeling those stories give? That's exactly what this book feels likRemember hearing urban legends about mysteriously disappeared women and the creepy feeling those stories give? That's exactly what this book feels like to the reader. The 1982 disappearance of young night clerk Viv Delaney from the Sun Down Motel looms over the entire story. In the 2010s, Viv's niece Carly finds her way to remote Fell, New York in search of the truth about her aunt's disappearance.
What Carly finds are all manner of unsettling facts in search of the thread to tie them all together. We have whispers of disappeared and murdered young women from the early 1980s, bits and pieces of articles Carly has cobbled together, and the dark history of the decaying and frankly creepy Sun Down itself.
As the story moves back and forth between 1982 and 2017, we see both Viv and Carly hot on the trail of the Sun Down's dark secrets. I've read all of St. James' books, and I think this one might be my favorite. This eerie tale is tightly plotted, so the mysteries flow near perfectly. In addition, the creepy mood for which this author is known is sustained throughout the novel, making it almost unbearable to read when alone at night.
In addition to fantastic mystery plotting and delicious ghostly creepiness, the romantic subplot of the book flows wonderfully as well. It takes something of a backseat to the mystery, but that fits the story and it also makes the romance itself feel more natural in its development. Whether you're already a fan or this is a new author to you, The Sun Down Motel is a book you absolutely should not miss....more
This debut novel drew me in with its atmospheric writing, but ultimately I just couldn't get into the story. The story centers largely on Grace, a forThis debut novel drew me in with its atmospheric writing, but ultimately I just couldn't get into the story. The story centers largely on Grace, a former Riverton servant now in her 90s. An upcoming film about a notorious suicide that happened at Riverton in the 1920s has Grace going back through her memories of life in that house during the Great War and the years following. Through her eyes, we see her bond with Hannah and Emmeline, the young ladies of the house who were of similar age to Grace at the time.
On the one hand, I loved the layered view of life back in the 1910s and 1920s. The author captures it in such a way that I got drawn in the rituals of life both upstairs and down. It's obvious that the Hartford family harbors some secrets and at first I enjoyed trying to puzzle out what was going on beneath the surface at Riverton. However, the characters failed to really draw me in, so partway through the book I started getting bored. By the time, we finally got to the infamous death at Riverton, it honestly felt like a great big "So what?"
And then there's Grace's life. In some ways, she is content and I am happy for her for that. However, at a crucial point in the book, she makes a choice that just made me *headdesk*, for lack of a better way to express it. (view spoiler)[I won't spoil it all but let's just say that Grace gives up her own chance at happiness for someone in the Hartford family who does not value her loyalty nearly enough to warrant such sacrifice. Also, Grace's near obsession with one of the daughters of the house just felt ridiculous rather than touching. (hide spoiler)] I did enjoy The Forgotten Garden by this same author, but I found this novel a bit of a chore....more
3.5 stars This story of war and secrets was pretty compelling reading, though I did find the characters occasionally frustrating. The book is set up w3.5 stars This story of war and secrets was pretty compelling reading, though I did find the characters occasionally frustrating. The book is set up with modern-day student Kendra going to interview elderly British artist Isabel McFarland. That interview opens up the WWII plotline involving sisters Emmy and Julia Downtree.
While billed as a dual timeline book, the WWII story completely dominates the book. The modern day portions of the book function more as a frame and an epilogue of sorts, and don't contain much of an independent plotline. For that reason, I saw this book more as a WWII novel. I did enjoy it, but I would have preferred to see a modern-day epilogue with Isabel McFarland rather than having the interview with Kendra woven in. The historical story is compelling enough in its own right.
And what a story it is. We learn that Emmy and Julia's life in London is far from conventional. They have 2 different fathers, and their mother works as a maid. As the story unfolds, we see teenaged Emmy's gradual realization of the various choices that her mother has had to make in life as well as Emmy's own dreams for her future.
Emmy longs to design dresses, but her pursuit of this passion gets interrupted by the war. As the Blitz begins and children are evacuated from London, Emmy and her sister are sent to the country. This happens just as Emmy is beginning work as an apprentice in a bridal shop, and she is determined to find a way back to the city to a promised meeting with a designer. Of course the horrors of the war intervene, and readers see how it changes the course of the sisters' lives forever.
I don't want to throw in too many plot spoilers, but I did find this book engaging. Emmy acts very much like a teenager, so readers expecting maturity will need to be patient with her. She does learn and grow a lot. My heart broke for her and Julia as they faced so many things they should not have had to deal with, and I admired them as I saw how they rebuilt their lives. There is a romantic plot woven into the latter half of this book, but this book is still far more historical fiction than romance.
While this isn't my favorite novel of Meissner's, it's still a good read and I'm glad I picked it up. ...more
This book reminds me why I like Willig's writing so much. The Pink Carnation universe has gotten rather large by this point, but her characters all seThis book reminds me why I like Willig's writing so much. The Pink Carnation universe has gotten rather large by this point, but her characters all seem so very different. In some series, the author's leads can fall into a particular type where Willig's all speak in unique voices.
In this installment, Penelope Staines has been essentially forced into marriage (an unhappy one, as it turns out) and banished to India with her husband, where he has a diplomatic assignment of sorts in Hyderabad. Captain Alex Reid is an officer's son and after growing up in India, has followed in his father's footsteps. He's very down to earth and sensible, and has little patience for his current job of escorting ignorant aristocrats to Hyderabad.
Given the rules of society at the time, the growing attraction between Penelope and Alex is very problematic and the fact that most readers know what will have to happen for these two to ever get together does cast something of a pall over the story. And yet this storyline really lets readers understand Penelope more than in previous books. She has always been high-spirited and has often gotten herself into scrapes or made a subject of gossip. However, in this book the author explores her motivations and this made me like her much more.
The characters really make this book, and I did enjoy learning more about some areas of history with which I wasn't very familiar. This is not an "India is exotic and there are exotic sexytimes to be had here" kind of romantic novel. The author devotes quite a bit of time to making sure readers understand that India is a country with a large number of different languages and traditions, and while there aren't any big infodumps, there are plenty of references to the historical period, including some of the more problematic elements such as the racist treatment of Indian and Anglo-Indian people....more
I actually finished this book a little bit ago, but I've been enjoying my book hangover and wasn't quite ready to write about it. I'm a big fan of KeaI actually finished this book a little bit ago, but I've been enjoying my book hangover and wasn't quite ready to write about it. I'm a big fan of Kearsley's writing, and this book is phenomenal. As with many of her stories, it follows a dual timeline. In this case, we have a modern-day heroine who has moved from Canada to New York to work at a historic site, the Wilde House. Her brother has died suddenly, and this job allows her to be near her niece.
Like all good "old house" stories, this one involves a legendary ghost. In this case, the legend revolves around a French officer taken as a prisoner of war and billeted at the Wilde House in the 1750s. The story goes that he and the daughter of the house fell in love and that the family's oldest son killed the officer when he and the young woman were preparing to run away together.
The novel moves back and forth between Charley establishing herself at the museum and finding her footing in the small town, and the Wilde family's lives in the 1750s. As the story unfolds, we eventually learn the truth of the Wilde House legend, which I won't spoil here.
It's the subtle points that really make this book. The characters come vividly to life. If you've ever had the chance to hear the author speak, you're probably aware that she finds the everyday people of history most fascinating. That shows through in this book as even more minor characters display multiple sides of themselves throughout the story.
I enjoyed the modern day story, but I found myself especially drawn into the 18th century plot. The romantic tale of Lydia and Lieutenant de Sabran was lovely, but I found myself particularly intrigued by the complicated family dynamics of the Wildes. It was apparent that this family loved one another deeply, but like every family, they still had their issues. Adding two strangers in the form of billeted officers into the mix only heightened this.
At various points in the novel, we as readers get peeks into the difficulties involved in deciding how museums decide what parts of history to highlight or how to portray a person or event. And in the 18th century portion of the story, we see glimpses of injustice as well as reminders that the world was a more multicultural place than whitewashed textbooks sometimes make it out to be. Bellewether is an entertaining and deeply touching story, and one I highly recommend....more
B+ at AAR, so 4.5 stars Sometimes I pick up a book on a whim and it turns out to be fantastic. The House on Foster Hill was just such a reading experiB+ at AAR, so 4.5 stars Sometimes I pick up a book on a whim and it turns out to be fantastic. The House on Foster Hill was just such a reading experience. A ‘creepy old house’ novel with a gothic feel and a dual timeline story? Well, it’s easy to see what drew me in here. The suspenseful story and addictive storytelling are what kept me going and I’m happy to recommend this book to others.
This deliciously intense tale opens in rural Wisconsin in 1906. Ivy Thorpe, daughter of the local doctor/medical examiner, has found herself assuming the role of assistant and she now accompanies her father to Foster Hill, where the body of an unidentified young woman has been discovered. Ivy is no stranger to death. She lost her beloved brother Andrew in a tragic accident and ever since, she has kept a book of the dead, memorializing the lives of those who have died in her community so that they might never be forgotten. Some in the community find Ivy’s habits morbid, but she appears driven by a passion that the dead be known and not forgotten.
At the scene where the body was discovered, Ivy receives another shock. Her brother’s childhood friend, Joel Cunningham, is there and is clearly working for the authorities in some capacity. Ivy had adored the young orphan Joel, and was devastated and he left town shortly after Andrew’s death. She never recovered from the abandonment, and his equally sudden reappearance is not easy for her.
After setting up an intriguing mystery, the author switches focus to the present day. Kaine Prescott is in the midst of driving out to Oakwood, Wisconsin, where she has bought an historic home in her family’s old hometown, sight unseen. Kaine has only a few bits and pieces of family history, but upon arriving in Oakwood, she quickly figures out that she has purchased both a home in serious disrepair and a place of deep mystery.
4.5 stars I know some readers have said that this one drags a bit, but I honestly loved it. For me, I think the draw was the heroine. In previous book4.5 stars I know some readers have said that this one drags a bit, but I honestly loved it. For me, I think the draw was the heroine. In previous books, Charlotte Lansdowne comes across as tentative and quiet, overshadowed by her grandmother, the dowager Duchess of Dovedale. The story opens as Charlotte's beloved cousin Robert, Duke of Dovedale, has returned from India.
Much of the story focuses on the Hellfire Club and Robert's attempts to infiltrate same in order to solve a mystery. Robert's mentor was murdered in India and Robert is convinced that the killer walks free in English society. This part of the plot worked well enough for me, and Willig threw in some thrilling scenes.
However, the real draw for me in this story was the evolution of Charlotte as a character. She does change some throughout the story, but more importantly, people's perceptions of her change. Early on, she is hidden in the shadows of her grandmother's large (and not always pleasant - she's not one of the lovable dowagers of Regency lit) personality.
However, we learn early on that Charlotte adored Robert and even though his time in India changed him, she still remembers the essence of him as he was and somehow she brings out the best in him once more. To make a good story even better, Robert brings out strength, a sense of whimsy, and quiet intelligence in Charlotte as well. This is a story of two people making each other the best version of themselves and that stood out to me even more than the action side of the plot....more
"This island will break your heart if you let it." Home, exile, family and above all, hope. These themes all figure prominently in Next Year in Havana"This island will break your heart if you let it." Home, exile, family and above all, hope. These themes all figure prominently in Next Year in Havana, Chanel Cleeton’s beautiful novel of love and Cuba. We see the love stories of a grandmother and her granddaughter playing out in Havana, but we also see these characters grappling with their deep love for an imperfect country. There’s a lot of nostalgia to be found in this novel, but there’s also hope amidst an acceptance of reality. In the end, these threads all come together to make a beautiful, bittersweet story.
As the book opens, Elisa Perez and her sisters are preparing to leave Cuba with their family. It is 1959, and none of them realizes the length of the exile that lies ahead. From this prologue, we shift to the current decade and encounter Elisa’s granddaughter Marisol Ferrera, a journalist preparing to visit Cuba as travel restrictions have been relaxed. Not only does Marisol intend to go to Cuba to write, but she also carries the ashes of her recently deceased grandmother and has been charged with finding the right place to scatter them. While in Cuba, Marisol will be staying with her grandmother’s childhood best friend and Marisol hopes that as she explores Havana, the right resting spot will present itself.
Once Marisol arrives in Cuba, the story switches back and forth between her and Elisa. We see Marisol coming face to face with the realities of a country she had previously known only through the pleasantly hazy lens of old family memories. Living with Elisa’s dear friend, she sees the reality of housing shortages, poverty, and restrictions on freedom intermingled with the vibrant culture and pride of heritage handed down to her by her family in Florida.
On Elisa’s side of things, readers venture back to Cuba in the 1950s. Through her eyes, we see her privileged life as the sheltered daughter of a wealthy man favored by Batista. When she sneaks out to a party with her sisters and meets Pablo Garcia, her life changes. Not only does Elisa fall in love, but as she slips out of her home to see Pablo, her eyes are opened to how others in Cuba live and she gets a glimpse into the building revolution.
4.5 stars I was part of a roundtable discussing this book at All About Romance. This novel is a change from the author's previous 1920s books, and it'4.5 stars I was part of a roundtable discussing this book at All About Romance. This novel is a change from the author's previous 1920s books, and it's a good read. The modern-day plot didn't 100% work for me, but I loved the underlying 1950s mystery. This is a must read!
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