Sheryl

Pretty good, but not as impressive as I thought based on how popular this book is right now.

The Echo Wife is the story of Evelyn, a brilliant scientist, and her husband, Nathan. Oh, and her clone, Martine. What?? This book is only slightly science fiction, and I really liked that aspect of it. I was quick to get into the story, and I was very excited to see what happened, but I think I was a bit disappointed by the ending. I'm not sure what I wanted to happen, but it just didn't seem like enough to me.

The concept was very intriguing, and surprising that with a story like this it became very relational. The characters were developed well, most of them, and it was interesting getting to know them. Somehow Evelyn was relatable but a bit unlikable at the same time. Overall, I loved the concept and really got into the book. It was an easy read. But I think I just wanted more out of the ending.

It's been a while since I've read a medical thriller. I remember reading books by Robin Cook years ago, and I really enjoyed them. Interference by Brad Parks is a novel that I would consider something akin to a medical thriller as well. Amazon actually categorizes it as a “technothriller”. I loved diving back in to a book like this. It actually made me want to read more Robin Cook again!

Plot Details
Brigid's husband Matt is a very smart guy. He's a quantum physicist doing research for Dartmouth. Working with a virus that he thought only affected plants, is it possible that he's encountered something else? When Matt has an episode in his lab that seems to be something like a seizure, he gets taken to the hospital. Hours later, he's just fine and goes home. But then it happens again. And then Matt disappears. What is going on? Brigid becomes determined to find out what else is at stake here and whether or not it has anything to do with what Matt was working on in his lab.

My Thoughts
Interference was a Kindle First Reads book for me, which I actually didn't realize when I also requested it from NetGalley. Double the free books! And the good news is, if you have Kindle Unlimited, you can snag this one for free as well. Definitely worth the cost! This book was perfect for the mood I happened to be in and really did make me want to maybe check out some more medical thrillers. While I didn't 100% understand all of the science behind it (um, quantum physics, anyone?), I enjoyed it even so. I've always liked reading science-y (I know, not a real word) thrillers. I even liked reading books or watching movies about viruses until they became too close to reality lately! This one was no exception. I honestly didn't even realize it was something I missed reading until picking up Interference.

I got sucked in to this book right away and was excited to see how the story played out. And there were some details that I knew would intentionally factor into the story somehow in the end. I'm not not sure how I feel about how it ended, though. With all of the buildup and background about quantum physics, I think I expected a different ending. Not a bad thing necessarily, just not really what I expected. However, I enjoyed it and read it very quickly. It was interesting, and I plan to seek out more by Brad Parks.

If I Disappear was special in that it was a very original concept and story, in my opinion. I hope to see more from Eliza Jane Brazier soon!

Plot Details
Sera has been a bit down on her luck lately. She's been married and divorced and really doesn't feel like she has too much to show for her life. But she is addicted to true crime podcast, especially a particular one by a podcaster named Rachel. But when Rachel stops releasing new episodes and seemingly falls off the grid, Sera is curious to know what happened. She decides to take a drive and check out what she knows of Rachel's life from her podcast. Thinking maybe Rachel could have ended up like one of the unfortunate girls on her podcast, Sera is determined to find out the truth. But does she find more than she bargained for?

My Thoughts
When I heard about this book, it sounded right up my alley. I recently read The Night Swim, also about a podcaster, and I really enjoyed it. If I Disappear was a bit different in that it was told from the point of view of a podcast listener instead of the podcaster. Sera is an interesting character. Personally, I found her not very likable. Doesn't it seem kind of out there to be so into a podcast that you hop in your car to go check things out when the podcast stops? I mean, maybe Rachel just got tired of it. But Sera was convinced that this wasn't the case, and she didn't want to stop until she had the answers.

Once Sera gets to Rachel's hometown, things just keep getting weirder and weirder. I found myself wondering why she stayed. But the deeper I got into the book, the more I also wanted to know what was going on with Rachel, her parents, and the people in her town too. If I Disappear was a strange novel, but in a good way. It sucks you in and makes you just like Sera, not wanting to stop until you know the truth. And the creep factor was very high, which I love! I really enjoyed this adult debut from Eliza Jane Brazier. I look forward to talking to her and finding out more about her and what she's got coming next. If I Disappear will be released on January 26, 2021 in hardcover and ebook format. Pick up a copy and check it out for yourself!

Rating: 4/5

Loved this book so much! Lisa Jewell is one of my new favorites. This was a very interesting story, and it kept me guessing all the way through. Definitely not something I can think of having been done before. I love how descriptive she was of the characters. I felt like I knew them. I couldn't put it down and read it in two days. Can't wait for what's next from her.