I got this from my library and added the audio version to help add to the drama and beautiful French words. This was my first time to read a book by tI got this from my library and added the audio version to help add to the drama and beautiful French words. This was my first time to read a book by the author. I quite enjoyed it.
Brutal story telling with the most amazing prose. Reminds me of what's going on in today's politics.
"I came back to bury my past, but instead the past is burying me."
We all have deep rooted memories of home. Some, we want to forget, some we wish to n"I came back to bury my past, but instead the past is burying me."
We all have deep rooted memories of home. Some, we want to forget, some we wish to never let go and others that make us run far away as soon as we get the chance.
That about sums it up with BONFIRE. A debut novel written by Krysten Ritter, aka actress from such well known shows like Netflix original series, Marvel's Jessica Jones, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, AMC’s Breaking Bad. Krysten’s work on film includes Big Eyes, Listen Up Philip, Life Happens, Confessions of a Shopaholic and She’s Out of My League.
So, basically, she can do it all. But, this was more than a great thriller for me. There was a hauntingly familiar tone to her writing. The nuance, style and the subtle way the plot emerges which made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. She reminded me deeply of my favorite author. One that I have been missing. Gillian Flynn. The plot, successful lawyer Abby Williams, returns home to dreadful place where she was once bullied daily, to investigate Optimal Plastics, the town's wealthiest company that has ties to the town's water.
Memories stir and Abby can't help but feel there's a connection to her old friend Kaycee, who Abby vividly witness get sick 10 years ago. But, when all of her other friends get sick, they confessed to faking it. But, why did Kaycee go missing and not take anything of value? What really happened to her? How close is Optimal Plastics to the people in town? And is Abby ready to go back to "The Game"?
Too many secrets. People in power with money verses a small town in need is bound to uncover things Abby doesn't really want to see. Thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the ARC. I can't wait for this to come out on November 7th, 2017. Maybe Krysten will star in her own novel?...more
Believe or not, this was my first Grisham novel and it might be my last. I love books about books, especially the classic books. But this one was so sBelieve or not, this was my first Grisham novel and it might be my last. I love books about books, especially the classic books. But this one was so strange. It started out good. I liked the heist. Then it went all downhill from there.
Too many unanswered questions, with one-dimensional characters who I didn't care about. Get it at the library....more
I can't tell you how disappointing this book was, on so many levels. It was confusing with the novel in the novel that didn't work. It would have beenI can't tell you how disappointing this book was, on so many levels. It was confusing with the novel in the novel that didn't work. It would have been better if the author had just stuck to the main story and developed the plot from there.
The characters were underdeveloped and more importantly, I had no emotional connection to them. I almost didn't finished the book, and with that ending, I should have followed my gut and quit....more
Some people may start this book and quit because it REALLY drags at the beginning. There's a lot of backstory for both main characters and not all of Some people may start this book and quit because it REALLY drags at the beginning. There's a lot of backstory for both main characters and not all of it is that interesting.
However, when I got to around half-way through, it began to go off like fireworks. So, stay with it. This is one of those slow burners. You'll be glad you did....more
Don't you love it when you stumble on a new author and have no idea what to expect? I can't remember why I even wanted to read this gem, but, I loved Don't you love it when you stumble on a new author and have no idea what to expect? I can't remember why I even wanted to read this gem, but, I loved every page.
It has a sweet classic feeling (as much as murder mysteries can) you know, the Agatha Christie type.
Brilliantly introduced by the fictional editor of the novel, Susan Ryeland who leaves us with a stark warning that things will not end well. (What the heck?)
Then the story begins. It's the 9th in the series of "Detective Atticus Pünd" written by a fictional author Alan Conway who is a bit of a pill. But the story is engrossing, with sleepy English villages and a cast of characters who have to be dissected in order to to solve 3 murders. Detective Atticus Pünd is just about to solve the crime, when the manuscript abruptly ends.
What happened?
Susan Ryeland is left to put the pieces together and solve a murder of her own. It was a jolly good time! One of my favorites of 2017. And I got it at the library....more
This was a stupid book. I'm glad I didn't have to pay for it (library). Never reading Unger again. I despise writers who write dumb female characters.This was a stupid book. I'm glad I didn't have to pay for it (library). Never reading Unger again. I despise writers who write dumb female characters. Even the prose was annoying with all the (he said & she said). Really? I think I can figure out who's talking. Most readers are intelligent people.
What set me off was when Claudia, who has something brutally done to her and is hyper anxious about her surroundings, moved into a house without checking on its background history. COME ON!
The chapters bounce backwards & forwards from different people. Save your time. Don't believe the Netgalley 4 star reviews, they have to do that or they won't get any more books. ...more
Ultimately, Wilde Lake is not so much a crime novel that rises to the level of serious literature as serious literature that rises to the level of greUltimately, Wilde Lake is not so much a crime novel that rises to the level of serious literature as serious literature that rises to the level of great crime fiction....more
Loved this book. It reminded me a lot of The Humans by Matt Haig. If you haven't read this yet, just do it. You'll thank me later.Loved this book. It reminded me a lot of The Humans by Matt Haig. If you haven't read this yet, just do it. You'll thank me later....more
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Cleverly written, edge of your seat plot with lots of twists and turns. I especially like the links between Solar eclI enjoyed this book quite a bit. Cleverly written, edge of your seat plot with lots of twists and turns. I especially like the links between Solar eclipses. Well done. ...more
This was my first time reading Cohen and I enjoyed it. His writing is smooth and fast-paced. It had about 99% dialogue which worked well with the plotThis was my first time reading Cohen and I enjoyed it. His writing is smooth and fast-paced. It had about 99% dialogue which worked well with the plot. The only thing that kind of bugged me was it didn't have an edge to the story. It kept me reading, yes, but I'm not dying to read it again....more
This debut effort by Jane Harper has been lauded as nearly perfect. And critics are nearly correct. The novel is as close to perfect as one can get inThis debut effort by Jane Harper has been lauded as nearly perfect. And critics are nearly correct. The novel is as close to perfect as one can get in terms of plotting, character, and setting. Truly, it is a wonder to read (and I DO recommend you read it!). So why 4 stars instead of 5? I'll get to that in a moment.
The story is set in a small rural town in Australia (wonderfully described....feels like you are there), Federal Agent Falk returns from his job in Melbourne to his hometown for the funeral of his childhood best friend, now dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after killing his wife and young child (leaving their infant alive, though). Small towns usually contain small minds and judgement has been passed. It's not comfortable. So it's with considerable trepidation that Falk agrees to a request from the deceased's parents to look a little closer into the deaths. This present-day mystery is cleverly woven with the last questionable death that occurred in the community decades earlier, one that Falk was suspected of contributing to.
As you may have seen from my status updates, I did NOT guess the culprit until revelation was imminent in the story. And that is a very good thing (who likes a mystery where you've known whodunit for hundreds of pages before it's revealed?). Just about everything about this novel was a very good thing. Which brings us back to my 4 stars rather than 5. I deducted one star simply because in 3 or 4 months, I probably won't remember the plot or characters. Some books - even if they aren't technically perfect - just have soul. They resonate with you. You remember them years after you turned the last page and still grab them for re-reads. The Dry just wasn't one of those books.
I still recommend it (highly) because of the enjoyable experience of the actual read. And you might experience more "soul" in it than I did....more
This was such a brilliantly beautiful sad story. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars I felt it went on too long. But it was a great novel. This was such a brilliantly beautiful sad story. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars I felt it went on too long. But it was a great novel. ...more
This reminds me so much of the TV show "Dexter" on Showtime cable. And I love that show as I did this novel.
"Everybody dies..." Is their reasoning. OThis reminds me so much of the TV show "Dexter" on Showtime cable. And I love that show as I did this novel.
"Everybody dies..." Is their reasoning. Or, I should say it's mainly Lily's reasoning for killing people who do bad things to other people. The story gets more and more deliciously wicked as the bodies start piling up.
But, Lily, being a true psychopath that she is, always seems to get away with the murders. I began to wonder how Swanson was going to end this--it seemed impossible to me--alas, he deliverers the perfect conclusion and it's a jaw-dropper.
This was one hell of a deliciously satisfying thriller. Trust me, it's going to be hard to top this novel at year's end. I snagged my copy from NetGalThis was one hell of a deliciously satisfying thriller. Trust me, it's going to be hard to top this novel at year's end. I snagged my copy from NetGalley which I strongly suggest you do as well. The release date is April 25th, 2017.
Two girls are taken, one returns safe. The other disappears, but not without leaving a final phone call to her older sister in desperation. The older sister, Livia never picks up.
Imagine living with that guilt for the rest of your life, huh?
The way Livia copes is to work hard at becoming a forensic pathologist in the hopes of coming across her sister's dead body one day, that's when she's not working out with her kick boxer trainer.
I can't tell you how many themes in this story reminded me of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS or DARK PLACES by Flynn. It's that good. Mix in a little teenage angst, stir with some shady characters and you got something that will light you up and make you think you're on a roller coaster that won't stop....more
I so wanted to enjoy this but I knew I was in trouble when I had read 20% and was day dreaming, nodding off. JANE HASELDINE's first novel THE LAST TIMI so wanted to enjoy this but I knew I was in trouble when I had read 20% and was day dreaming, nodding off. JANE HASELDINE's first novel THE LAST TIME SHE SAW HIM was much better developed. I cared more for the characters.
Duplicity felt forced and used shock and destruction to tell the story. I just found myself feeling lack of sympathy for the characters here. ...more
From the outset, we learn that one of the protagonists, Lillian, has been lying left and right, more times than she can count. She's being interviewedFrom the outset, we learn that one of the protagonists, Lillian, has been lying left and right, more times than she can count. She's being interviewed for TV because she just returned to her family, and we know that she has basically assumed a different look and personality.
We don't know much more about what's going on with her, or even what the main story line of the book will be, except that this woman is a mystery. The fun of the book is slowly piecing together what is going on with this woman and the other protagonist, Dave & why. Little tidbits keep coming and coming, and the story goes back and forth between past and present. This is a hard one to put down! Given that style of storytelling, it's hard to say too much about this book, because I don't want to ruin it for anyone....more
Letty is an amazing character. Read this at the same time as watching the tv show. Novellas were good, but the TV series is superb. Michelle Dockerty Letty is an amazing character. Read this at the same time as watching the tv show. Novellas were good, but the TV series is superb. Michelle Dockerty playing Lette is amazing and I could picture her in my mind as I was reading. Liked the insight from Blake in how the novellas got turned into the series....more
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