A clever, twisty, compulsively readable instalment in this fantastic thriller series!
A woman suspects her husband may be a serial killer. She4+ stars!
A clever, twisty, compulsively readable instalment in this fantastic thriller series!
A woman suspects her husband may be a serial killer. She reaches out to an old friend to help her figure out if her suspicions are true.
I was beyond excited to find out this series was continuing (this is Book 3). Books 1 and 2 were equally clever, manipulative and entertaining and remain one of my favourite thriller series.
The characters are what make this series stand out. The private investigator/amateur sleuth main characters are truly unforgettable. They are not your usual “heroes”. They are sneaky, conniving, quirky, unpredictable, snarky and manipulative.
This storyline is intriguing from the start and keeps you hanging on every word until the very final page. So many unexpected shocking twists that had me not wanting to put the book down. At 255 pages, this book wastes no words and is easy to fly through. The writing is smooth and concise and gets the reader wrapped up in the plot within the first couple pages.
It’s clear to see this was another winner for me in this series! I can only hope this author is brewing up another storyline to continue with these truly unforgettable characters. Highly recommend this series! This book could easily be read as a standalone but do yourself a favour and start with Book 1 as it will be extremely worthwhile for the character building aspect.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy! Thank you to my lovely local library for the physical loan! ...more
This novel revolves around a missing nine-year-old girl who walks home alone from school instead of waiting for her older broth4 tension-filled stars!
This novel revolves around a missing nine-year-old girl who walks home alone from school instead of waiting for her older brother. Local detectives search for answers beginning with questioning all the neighbours.
Shari Lapena is an amazingly reliable author. I can always count on her books to be a unique, entertaining and suspenseful treat. She writes domestic thrillers that have me on edge from start to finish. This latest release grabbed me from chapter one and kept my curiosity and interest piqued until the very end.
The title is perfect! There are several characters in this neighbourhood and they each add a layer of mystery and suspense. My suspicion flew from one person to the next after every few pages, each guess a believable possibility. It was impossible to know who to trust in this community.
Overall, a well-written, fast paced, easy-to-get-lost-in book that I highly recommend to domestic suspense and drama fans! Thank you to the publisher for my digital review copy!...more
Two timelines, two struggling mothers, decades apart.
I loved this book! Any story revolving around motherhood and all the expectations that go along with it is always appealing to me. This story was dark and uncomfortable, but so very realistic and powerful. I connected with both timelines and was fully invested in the main characters lives.
This novel explores the unpretty aspects of motherhood, with a focus on the unending demands and isolation of mothering young children. The physical isolation of this setting adds to the entire theme of longing and loneliness in these women’s lives, yet isolation can be felt even when people are surrounding you.
Another theme explored is the sense of a woman losing her identity within the never-ending intricate daily tasks of caring for her children. Women need to fight to keep (or find) a sense of self when their familial needs seem to outweigh the personal dreams and longings.
The Reeve is the crumbling seaside mansion tucked miles away from the town that these characters become a part of. The house was an unforgettably powerful character in itself. It created a heavy sense of unease, darkness and tension.
Overall, this was a surprisingly fantastic book that I loved everything about and highly recommend! Thank you to the publisher for my review copy. ...more
I was late to the party in reading Book 1 in this much-loved psychological thriller series, The Kind Worth Killing. I read and4.5 superb sequel stars!
I was late to the party in reading Book 1 in this much-loved psychological thriller series, The Kind Worth Killing. I read and loved it at the beginning of this year in anticipation of Book 2 releasing in March. I’m happy to report I enjoyed this book just as much as Book 1! ...more
Started off strong and slowly turned into an eye-roller.
This author has had some amazing winners for me and some duds. Unfortunately this fell2 stars.
Started off strong and slowly turned into an eye-roller.
This author has had some amazing winners for me and some duds. Unfortunately this fell into the latter category.
This book follows two couples. One of the husbands goes missing and we follow the aftermath of his disappearance.
I enjoyed the dual perspective chapters of both characters, one from each couple. They each had interesting back stories and added layers of intrigue and mystery to the story.
A third of the way into this book, the plot became unrealistic, which I can handle in small doses. As I read further along, the book became more and more far fetched and I ended up skimming the last quarter. I didn’t buy into anything that was happening. The characters thoughts and decisions didn’t ring true and lacked natural ease.
This one didn’t work out for me but I highly recommend this authors’ others books, Local Woman Missing and When The Lights Go Out. Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!...more
A messy, unrealistic plot with too many side stories.
Alexandra Quinlan is the only survivor the night her parents and brother are killed in 2.5 stars.
A messy, unrealistic plot with too many side stories.
Alexandra Quinlan is the only survivor the night her parents and brother are killed in their family home. Alex is labelled “Empty Eyes” by the public for the look she had when she was arrested and charged with their murders. Ten years after being cleared and winning her defamation case, Alex is living under the radar but still searching for who killed her family and why.
Charlie Donlea is one of my favourite authors. I request any book he has written without even reading the synopsis. Unfortunately this novel was a big mess for me and not even close to resembling his usual writing.
The storyline was convoluted as it included numerous far fetched plot points which I’ve never had an issue with in his books before (I’ve read them all). Instead of adding layers to the story, the perspective changes damaged the pace and flow of the book and made a lot of the storyline repetitive. I had absolutely no investment in any of the characters lives including the main character who I found irritating and extremely unrealistic.
The author dives into many heavy topics but I wasn’t invested so they didn’t impact me as they should have.
Sadly, this book was not enjoyable for me. I highly recommend reading ANY of this authors’ previous work because I have loved everything else he has written — The Girl Who Was Taken being my absolute favourite!
Can’t get enough of this amazing cast of characters!
DI Anjelica Henley and her parter Ramouter are on a new serial killer case. A well known p4 stars!
Can’t get enough of this amazing cast of characters!
DI Anjelica Henley and her parter Ramouter are on a new serial killer case. A well known pastor found murdered in his church. Bodies begin piling up as tortured and mutilated victims are discovered. Are the cases connected to the church?
The crimes themselves are gory, dark, unique and disturbingly engrossing. I was immediately invested in these cases, my curiosity piqued from start to the very end. The fantastic part of this series is the characters personal lives are equally intriguing. Though I read Book 1 over a year ago, I was able to jump right back in to their backstories without missing a beat. The writing is smooth, chapters are short and the tension is palpable.
There are several heavy topics presented in thought provoking ways — racism, sexism, mental health stigma. I enjoyed the way the author brought these important topics forward giving the reader much to consider.
Overall, an excellent addition to this series that I highly recommend!
Warning: rape, sexual assault.
Thank you to the publisher for my digital review copy! Thank you to my lovely local library for the physical copy!...more
A gothic, mysterious, foreboding, dark academia thriller!
I am always drawn to mysteries involving college campus settings. This one was done 4+ stars!
A gothic, mysterious, foreboding, dark academia thriller!
I am always drawn to mysteries involving college campus settings. This one was done extremely well. The Oxford campus is like a character in itself. The old, eerie buildings harbouring the secrets of thousands of students from previous decades. The hidden doors and stairwells known only to a select few. The sprawling exquisitely manicured lawns prohibiting students passage. All of these elements were combined perfectly, keeping me engaged and invested from start to finish.
My one critique is that the plot lost its intensity and sense of believability in the end. It didn’t ruin the book, but it definitely dropped it down a notch. My rating is based on 5+ stars for the first 70% and 3.5 stars for the last 30%. The main character takes the amateur sleuth role a little too far and the ending is dramatically unrealistic yet, I was hanging on every word. There is something about this authors writing that I so smoothly click with. However, the plot choices in the end didn’t match the amazing-ness of the rest of the book.
Overall, a great read that I highly recommend! Already looking forward to this authors next release!
Thank you to my lovely local library for the loan!...more
A mysterious and unique story exploring a woman’s determination to break boundaries and expectations in the 1960’s.
There is a lot packed in2.5 stars.
A mysterious and unique story exploring a woman’s determination to break boundaries and expectations in the 1960’s.
There is a lot packed into this novel! Several heavy topics are explored within this era — race, class, women’s rights, etc. I enjoyed the newsroom/reporter aspect. The mystery kept me intrigued until the end that had some interesting surprises.
There are a lot of perspective changes. I appreciate how the author kept the narratives fresh and surprising, but in all honesty, I found myself lost within the details. The multiple characters, narrative perspectives and storylines were tedious to keep track of and therefore hard to feel invested in. The story’s focus became lost in the shuffle and I found it dragged at times. The main character wasn’t likeable and failed to tie the multiple narratives together for me. This book offers a lot to think about but it failed to truly pull me in.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy! Thank you to my lovely local library for the audio loan!
Audio rating: 3 stars. The audio narration was good. Neither enhanced or took away from my enjoyment....more
Kit had an extremely rough childhood. As an orphan who had to find her own way, she partnered with Man3.5 stars
A gritty, backroads, small town story.
Kit had an extremely rough childhood. As an orphan who had to find her own way, she partnered with Manny in her teenage years and lived a life on the run until they were forced to part ways. Decades later, she is living a quiet life with her teenage daughter when Manny unexpectedly shows back up in her life.
This book included so many aspects I love — small town atmosphere, rugged characters, strong females. The writing was excellent! The smooth wording easily flowed off the pages.
The storyline was unique and interesting but failed to truly pull me in. I enjoyed meeting the gritty characters but never felt fully invested. I was curious but not engrossed. I believe part of my issue was the pacing which seemed to continually move slower as the novel progressed. Toward the end, I found myself wanting to skim read as the plot fell flat and I lost interest.
Overall, the writing was beautiful and I enjoyed the rugged characters and atmosphere. But, the pace was too slow and the storyline didn’t hold enough of an appeal to make me feel truly invested.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!...more
There are plenty of novels revolving around neighbourhood secrets, lies and drama. I found this story exp4+ stars!
A neighbourhood filled with secrets.
There are plenty of novels revolving around neighbourhood secrets, lies and drama. I found this story explored a fresh and captivating plot with unique and fascinating characters and relationships. I connected as soon as I started listening and my interest never wavered. This is an Edelweiss backlist title that I’m regretting not getting to sooner.
The characters snarky inner thoughts had me giggling and wanting more. There is a constant hum of underlying tension that kept me curious and invested throughout. The author offered just enough of the character side stories to become invested but didn’t add an abundance of detail to overshadow the main plot.
There are some heavy and uncomfortable topics covered within these pages, including domestic abuse, human trafficking and drug addiction.
Toward the end, as with many domestic drama/thrillers, there were some unbelievable aspects but nothing that took away from my connection to the story.
Overall, a fresh storyline that kept me engrossed from start to finish.
Audio narration rating : 5 stars! The narrators did a phenomenal job with this story and added even more enjoyment to the storyline! Highly recommend the audio!
Thank you to the publisher for my digital review copy! Thank you to my lovely local library for the audio loan! ...more
Whitney drops her sixteen-year-old daughter off at a friends house for a sleepover. She returns2.5 stars
A thrilling start with an eye-rolling ending.
Whitney drops her sixteen-year-old daughter off at a friends house for a sleepover. She returns the next day to discover the friend’s family doesn’t live there and her daughter is nowhere to be found.
This one started off as easy and enjoyable with plenty of potential. I flew through the first 100 pages thinking it was exactly the mindless escape read I was craving. Unfortunately, the second half went downhill fast. I like my stories to be believable but with thrillers I can be more lenient and accepting of certain elements of implausibility. This book however, took implausibility way too far. Any enjoyment and connection I was feeling vanished after a few of the reveals. I usually enjoy flashbacks incorporated within storylines but these flashbacks didn’t flow and felt choppy. They didn’t add any suspense or tension. I also felt the ‘unreliable narrator’ element was conveniently added and taken too far on so many levels.
Overall, a promising start with a convoluted ending. I could only recommend this to readers who are ok with extremely far-fetched plot points.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!...more
Ansel Packer is a serial killer on death row. His story unfolds through multiple female perspectives - Ansel4 stars!
Compelling, mysterious and unique!
Ansel Packer is a serial killer on death row. His story unfolds through multiple female perspectives - Ansel’s victims, his mother and the detective working his case — counting down his last hours until execution. These narrative voices were a brilliant and fresh way to reveal this story.
The writing was smooth and easy to follow. I loved how the characters were slowly introduced, each providing an insightful and intriguing layer to the plot. Though there are several storylines woven throughout this book, it never felt choppy — the pieces of the puzzle slowly fit together to unravel the crimes committed.
This novel is not fast paced or gripping. It is a slow burn, character driven mystery that had me enthralled and fascinated. My few critiques would be that I found the ending was lightly lacking as I wanted “something more”. I also felt the second half could have been tightened up a bit and not so drawn out. Regardless of this, it was an excellent book that I highly recommend!
Overall, I’m happy to say that this book lived up to the hype! What a twist on presenting a serial killer story! I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!...more
A wintery atmospheric read perfect for this time of year!
This novel revolves around a mother who is struggling to hold on to her marriage w2.5 stars.
A wintery atmospheric read perfect for this time of year!
This novel revolves around a mother who is struggling to hold on to her marriage while haunted by her twin sisters’ childhood disappearance.
This started off a lot stronger than it ended. I felt an immediate connection to the characters and the remote Alaskan setting. It was a unique storyline that interested me for the first half but slowly lost its intrigue as the second half became too unlikely to accept. The mystery was entertaining, but nothing about this book was stand out. I wasn’t consumed by the characters or mystery. The characters and their relationships failed to truly draw me in and didn’t feel genuine. The storyline became mundane and repetitive at times.
There were some heavy topics involved — child abduction, racism, highly unstable relationships. I thought the author did a good job exploring these aspects and provided some thought-provoking scenarios.
Overall, I enjoyed this for being an atmospheric, easy listening mystery but it failed to keep my attention as the implausible elements became too much for me to accept.
Audio rating: 4 stars! The narrator did a good job with the pace and character voice changes.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy! Thank you to my lovely local library for the audio loan!...more
A quiet, character-driven, small town mystery drama.
Winston is the Sheriff up for re-election in a small North Carolina town in the 1980’s. He3 stars.
A quiet, character-driven, small town mystery drama.
Winston is the Sheriff up for re-election in a small North Carolina town in the 1980’s. He awakens one night to the murder of a local Black man on a nearby airfield beside a mysterious plane crash. What unfolds is a story of family, race and hidden secrets.
Small town sheriff stories are usually my favourite. Unfortunately this one didn’t work for me. I’ve had my ups and downs with this author and sadly this novel falls into the “miss” pile. The pace was too slow and failed to keep my interest. It started off with an intriguing first couple of chapters but my interested faded as the storyline dragged on and failed to truly pull me in. I found the writing was too wordy and I struggled to pick the book back up once I set it down. Perhaps this would have worked better for me at a different time. I recommend it to readers who are looking for a quiet, slow, character-driven, small town mystery.
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