Susan Weissman

Although I love mysteries, I'm usually not a huge fan of thrillers/suspense novels. I think this is because in a mystery, the crime usually comes at the beginning and I haven't developed a relationship with any of the characters, especially the victim. In a thriller, the evil act generally comes at the end, by which time I have generally come to know both the victim(s) and the perpetrator(s). I hate reading an entire book thinking that something bad may be done by or to any of the characters I've come to know and even like.
The three main characters, “Prom Mom” Amber, “Cad Dad” Joe, and his wife Meredith, were so well written that I liked and/or identified with all three of them at various points in the novel.The Covid-era setting provided just enough sympathetic detail to pull me further into the plot. So, although I was worried about the ending, about who was going to hurt whom and how—it was fine. A satisfying ending that didn't make me cringe. And for me that is the mark of good suspense.
Highly recommended, even for hesitant readers of suspense like me!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel to read and review.

One Summer in Savannah is a beautiful novel. I wasn't crazy about the premise, selecting it based solely on its setting in a Savannah bookshop. But the writing kept pulling me in. The poetry was a nice surprise, and I think there was just a little bit of magic that pulled the strings together. I didn't want it to end, and am still thinking about the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this novel.

I am glad I was given the opportunity to read this fictionalized account of the great opera singer Maria Callas.

Although the novel was easy to listen to and seemed to be well researched, I can't say I truly enjoyed it. Maria Callas did not seem to be a woman who was easy to know, no less to like or love. She must have been a difficult character to fictionalize. She was demanding of herself and others, and had a huge sense of obligation to use the talent she believed God had given her. Yet despite this seemingly inflated sense of her own importance and greatness, she seemed to have very little self esteem when it came to her relationships with men and even other women. So, although it was a well-written and well-narrated novel, it was sometimes frustrating to listen to.

I was lucky enough to listen to receive a complementary copy of the audiobook version of this book, which included samples of Callas' amazing voice.. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.