Sheryl
My latest read is The Choice by Gillian McAllister. Not surprisingly, I finished it before going to bed last night. I really wanted to find out how this one ended! I've heard it described as a “sliding door” scenario, which means that after what happens at the beginning of the book, there were two potential outcomes, and the book covers both of them. I don't think I've ever read anything written quite this way before.
Plot Details
The book starts out with the main character, Joanna, out for a night out with her friend, Laura. They have an encounter with one of those sleazy guys that you sometimes encounter in bars at night hitting on women, and at the end of the night Joanna begins traveling home. But she senses that she's being followed and that it's likely the guy from the bar. She goes to defend herself, and disaster sort of happens. How should she proceed? What should she do? The book follows Joanna's path both if she chooses to “conceal” or “reveal” what happened and the form her life takes after that. (Each following chapter is titled either “Conceal” or “Reveal”.) What would you do?
My Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book both as a sort of mystery/thriller as well as from a life decision standpoint. The approach wasn't to convey Joanna as a villain or hero, but to consider the path her life takes depending on the choice she makes. The story – well, both stories – were very thought-provoking. The author seems to be asking the reader to consider what they would do in such a situation. You'd think it's black or white, right or wrong, confess or hide your mistakes, but things are not always so straightforward.
The main characters in The Choice were well fleshed out, and you even got some insight into the peripheral characters, although I would have liked a bit more character development there. You really get to see inside Joanna's head as she considers this choice and how it could impact her life. The two scenarios both seem very extreme, which kept me on the edge of my seat wondering how things would play out. One focus of both stories seemed to be about Joanna accepting herself, and I loved that! I feel like this is something most people struggle with, and I definitely identified with her on that level.
The Choice might be one of my favorites this year so far. I loved how it played out, and I loved the life lessons and thoughts that it really made you consider. I look forward to diving into more books from Gillian McAllister. Definitely pick this one up if you get a chance, and see which “choice” you would make!
This book was pretty short, but I enjoyed it. It's definitely got some mixed reviews. It seems very polarizing!
Plot Details
James and Amelia agree to go on a unique first date - canoeing on a lake. But then they find what appears to be a secret spot... a smaller lake with a house submerged in it. Finding it very strange, they decide to check it out. But what happens when they do?
My Thoughts
As mentioned, it seems there are a lot of people who really enjoyed this book, and a lot of people who didn't or were very unsatisfied at the ending. Honestly, I could see there being a sequel. The book was interesting, and definitely kept you reading as well as guessing how everything would play out in the end. I enjoyed reading about James and Amelia's emotions and thoughts as they explored the house, and I thought they were well-written characters. The only thing I really didn't like were the unanswered questions the story left you with. I felt like there was a lot more that could be told, but I can also appreciate that the author left it up to the reader's interpretation.
If you are interested in a quick read that injects a bit of thoughtful mystery into your head, I'd recommend it!
Rating: 3.5 out of 5, rounded up to 4 stars
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.
Plot Details
The Best of Friends is the story of three mothers and their families. The mothers are Dani, Lindsey, and Kendra, and they were all friends since high school. They have kids about the same age, including three teenage boys, Sawyer, Jacob, and Caleb. At the very beginning of the book, a tragedy occurs, which changes all their lives forever. The details of what really happened that night are unknown to all but the three boys that were there. What really happened? And can the ladies and their families ever recover from it?
My Thoughts
This book was a great find! I don't remember exactly how I came across it, but I added it to my list of books I wanted to read. And I was right to do so. I loved the mysteries in this book and how they all played out. I have seen some other reviews where the confusion of all the characters was mentioned. That's the only reason I'm dropping from five stars to four on this one. It did help me to keep notes from the beginning on who was in each family and what their circumstances were. I liked that each mother had her own things going on on top of the main tragedy. The Best of Friends had a lot of facets to it. The main storyline was a mystery, trying to determine what exactly happened “that night”. But because of what happened, a lot of other threads were revealed along the way as well. It gave me something to wonder about the whole way through the book, with additional details I never thought of popping up too.
If you like psychological thrillers as well as a good mystery and some good twists, I'd highly recommend this one. I definitely plan to check out more by this author for sure.
Lately I've been reading mostly crime thrillers. And after finishing Little Cruelties by Liz Nugent, I'm still trying to decide if that is what it is or not. Heck, I'm still trying to decide what I thought of it. But that's not a bad thing, is it? Books that leave you thinking are usually really good ones.
Plot Details
The Drumm brothers, William, Brian, and Luke, are only a few years apart. You'd have thought they might be close growing up, but they are just so different. Little Cruelties tells their story from each of their points of view in turn. At the end, all three brothers are at a funeral. But only one of them is in the casket. Which one is it?
My Thoughts
Little Cruelties definitely gives you a lot to think about. Each chapter is about what happened in different years in the lives of the Drumm brothers. You get to see all points of view – William's, Brian's, and Luke's. As you get deeper into the book, you find out secrets that some brothers knew about the others. The brothers themselves also find out more, both about each other and themselves.
I hesitate to define this as a crime thriller. It's definitely a psychological thriller, but even then, is it really a thriller? One thing I can be sure of, it's a family drama. Because this family has a lot of drama, that's a given. It's kind of a mystery, since you don't even know which brother dies, just that one of them does. But why, and how? And what does it have to do with the other two? Lots of questions, so I guess you might say it's suspense.
This book is really hard for me to rate. On one hand, part of me wants to give it three out of five stars, because it wasn't what I was looking for. But, on the other hand, if I had been suspecting more of a family drama, then I wouldn't have any problem rating it four stars. It handles each character with sensitivity, but is not overly sympathetic towards them, which is a good thing. If you're looking for a crime thriller, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you want some good psychological suspense in the form of a family drama, this one was pretty hard to put down. Grab it when it comes out in the US on November 10.
Rating: 4/5
Plot Details
Grayson Sykes has been sent on a mission to find someone. She's a PI hired to find Isabel Lincoln, who presumably left town with her boyfriend Ian's dog, Kenny G. But where is she? WHO is she? Is she even really Isabel Lincoln? Gray has more than she bargained for with this case and her own closet skeletons seem to keep popping up along the way as well.
My Thoughts
This book was middle-of-the-road for me. I found myself reading it and wanting to know what the outcome was and how or where Isabel turned up and what happened to Gray. But it also seemed kind of convoluted. There were a lot of minor characters brought into play around Isabel and where she'd gone or what she'd done, and it got kind of overwhelming. I found myself just wanting to get through it and not caring enough about the mystery surrounding Isabel or even what Gray's background was either.
This book might be appealing to some, and I wouldn't say it was bad. I think it just wasn't my favorite, or not my style. I did like that the author had a good style in writing about Las Vegas and Los Angeles and the grittiness of both places. I think the mystery just wasn't for me, but it might be right up someone else's alley.
Plot Details:
This book jumps back and forth between two different timelines, current day and back when Claire aka Mac was attending “The Program”. She runs into her former friend/rival Gwen. Mac looked up to Gwen and basically wanted her life at the time. Now they have an awkward reunion rehashing the past.
My Thoughts:
I liked the concept of this book more than how it played out, I think. I was very interested in seeing exactly what happened between Gwen and Mac and why they weren't friends anymore and hadn't seen each other in years. The characters were fascinating, but to me they were too ingrained in academia to be relatable. I disliked all the focus on what the professors taught and it was difficult to understand what Claire was really doing in her life in the present day.
The ending was revelatory, but I still thought that both Gwen and Mac weren't really all that likable as characters, nor were any of the other characters really. I think if the setting had been more relatable, it would have made a lot of difference, but “The Program” was honestly too vague. Not a bad story, but just not really my thing.
Plot Details
Set in a prestigious prep school in Indiana, The Suicide House tells the story of what happened on one summer solstice evening in 2019. Two students from the school were brutally murdered. And more students that participated in the covert secret society they were a part of keep committing suicide since then. What really happened at the abandoned “suicide house” in the woods near Westmont Preparatory High School in Peppermill? TV personality Mack Carter has started a podcast to find out.
My Thoughts
Ok, I just can't go much farther without saying that I absolutely loved this book. I almost feel like it was written just for me. I loved absolutely everything about it. The setting, in a prep school with a secret society, is right up my alley. When I find a thriller with a setting like that, it intrigues me, and I will likely add it to my reading list immediately. I love secret societies! And The Suicide House did not disappoint. Plus, it takes place in Indiana, where I'm from. The author lives in Chicago, and it shows. He references things like the Indianapolis Star and O'Hare Airport. Being a native Hoosier who often travelled to Chicago, it was all very familiar to me, and I loved the references. Plus, it even involves a trip to southwest Florida where I lived for two years – even more familiarity on my end.
I also loved the characters. Rory Moore was a personal favorite. I found myself heavily relating to her quirks and even her personality a bit. Relating to a character always makes any book more of a joy to read. Plus, she knows her beer! A dark, introverted detective girl who wears combat boots, a beanie, and drinks really good beer. See what I mean about this book being written just for me? I do need to talk to Charlie Donlea and see who supplies his Dark Lord, though. How does this girl get so much of it?
The Story
Now, let's talk about the story. This was for sure a very twisty psychological thriller. The book jumps back and forth a bit between characters, even from the viewpoint of unknown characters. I've read reviews that say it tries to do too much, but I disagree. You dive deeper into some of the characters than others, and I liked getting to know more of their personalities. For the other characters, I think it just goes deep enough to pull you into the story. It definitely kept me guessing until very close to the end. As I read it, a lot of questions came up that I was dying to know the answer to (good or bad choice of word there?). Not only do you wonder exactly who the killer is, you find yourself wondering exactly what all went on that night.
One more thing to note, while this book sometimes shows up as “Book 2” about Rory Moore and Lane Phillips, it actually functions as a standalone. There's a note by the author at the end of how each of his books has little sprinklings in them from other books. So if you are interested in reading more about Rory and Lane, you can (and I will!). But it's not actually a series. And I love that.
All in all, this book had just the right amount of psychological twists and turns in it. It was a great read for me, and I found myself wanting to finish it but not finish it. I just didn't quite want it to end! I know I mentioned four top books in my last post, but I think this one would round it out to five. Looking forward to checking out more of Charlie Donlea's work, especially more stories of Rory and Lane.
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.
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.
I loved it! David Duchovny's best novel so far. I hope he keeps writing more. It's interesting how each of the books he's written is so different.
This is a wonderful telling of Irish mythology. I feel like to even go into the story too much would spoil it. The mixing of mystical elements with reality is done very well, and that's one thing I'm critical of in stories like this. I think it's a fine line to walk to create a balance between the fantastic and what we know is reality. It's easy to get so far over to the other side that you just encounter too much disconnect, but without enough mystical elements, why include any at all? Duchovny does a good job finding that balance.
I found it kind of Neil Gaiman-esque, and I consider that a good thing, as I love Gaiman's work. He's one of the best storytellers of our time, and I feel like if he keeps it up and gains a following, Duchovny could be among those as well.
Pretty good, but not as impressive as I thought based on how popular this book is right now.
I really enjoyed The Mirror House Girls by Faith Gardner. It's about a group of people who start out living happily together as a close community, but things take a dark turn and end in tragedy. The story is centered around a cult, which I find super interesting, and it kept me hooked from start to finish.
What I loved most about the book was how well we got to know the characters. Each person had their own personality and story, which made the whole thing feel really real. The way their relationships changed over time was fascinating, and it made the ending hit even harder.
The book was an easy and quick read, which made it even better for me. My only complaint is that I wish we learned more about the cult leader and what made him tick. That would've added even more depth to the story.
Overall, I'd give this book 4 out of 5 stars. If you're interested in stories about cults or just want a fast-paced, character-driven story, I'd definitely recommend The Mirror House Girls.
The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia is a gripping and twisty thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story follows two women, Stephanie and Jasmine, who seem like they couldn't be more different but end up connected in shocking ways. Stephanie is on a business trip, while Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship. At first, they don't know each other, but their lives take a dark turn when they both send their friends eerily similar, increasingly strange text messages about a man named Trent McCarthy.
And then, they both disappear.
From there, the mystery takes off. As their loved ones try to figure out what happened, the story gets even more suspenseful. Who is Trent McCarthy, really? What happened to Stephanie and Jasmine? Are they victims, or is there more to their story? The twists and turns made it impossible to guess what was coming next.
One of the things I loved most about this book was how it was laid out. Different chapters are told from different points of view, which gives you a deeper understanding of the characters and keeps you wondering who to trust. I had a feeling something wasn't right, but I was completely blindsided by the big twist. It was so well done!
However, the reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is that parts of the story felt a bit outlandish and far-fetched. While the twists were exciting, some of them stretched believability a little too much for me. That said, it didn't ruin the book—it just made it a bit less realistic than I'd hoped.
If you love thrillers with shocking twists and stories that keep you on the edge of your seat, I still highly recommend The Business Trip. It's fast-paced, unpredictable, and the kind of book you'll want to talk about as soon as you finish it!
House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen is a quick, suspenseful read that dives into family secrets and the aftermath of a mysterious death. The story follows Stella Hudson, an attorney working to help a young girl, Rose, who has stopped speaking after her nanny's tragic death. As Stella gets deeper into the case, she discovers dark truths about the family she's trying to help, while also dealing with her own painful past.
The book has an intriguing plot and enough twists to keep you reading. It's easy to get through, and the mystery surrounding Rose and the family's secrets made me want to see how it all ended. That said, I wasn't really hooked on the characters. Some of their choices didn't always make sense to me, and I found it hard to connect with them emotionally. There were even a few parts I skimmed because I just wasn't that interested.
Still, I enjoyed the twist at the end, and I think fans of psychological thrillers will like this one for its fast pace and engaging mystery. It's not a book that will stick with me for long, but it's a solid option if you're in the mood for something light and suspenseful.
Leela has a problem. A big one. People she knows keep dying. But before they do, they send her an apology note, as all of them are someone from her past that she had beef with. But are they really all committing suicide, or is something more sinister going on?
I loved this book! Definitely one of my favorites so far this year. This book is part of the Jolvix universe, all written by the same author. Each book revolves somehow around a different piece of technology made by a company called Jolvix. This one happens to involve an interesting twist on VR.
I don't want to give away anything about the story, but I do enjoy how the characters are well-developed, including both Leela and those around her. There are some tidbits dropped early on that we aren't given information about until later in the book, but that's what kept me hanging on to find out more. I needed all the details in addition to finding out how the story was going to end!
Faith Gardner is quickly making it to my favorite author list. If you are into thrillers, she is definitely an up-and-comer to add to your reading list, including The Slaying Game, out next month.
Although a bit worried about the trip, Anna was looking forward to spending some time with her fiancée Joel in his favorite place - the African bush. After being invited for a job interview, the two of them take the long journey to South Africa to enjoy a stay at the Twivali lodge.
Anna's enthusiasm for the stay disappears when she realizes that her strange ex happens to be staying at the lodge too. How is it just a coincidence that he's there at the same time? Her suspicion increases as it starts to look like maybe he's not and something more sinister is going on.
This was a unique read for me. I loved the setting in South Africa. It added so much to the atmosphere of the story. It would have been creepy enough even without the threat of wild animals in the dark!
The characters were developed well while still allowing for some mystery about them. It definitely kept me hooked until the very end. I look forward to checking out more books by this author.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Release Date: July 26, 2023
Merged review:
Although a bit worried about the trip, Anna was looking forward to spending some time with her fiancée Joel in his favorite place - the African bush. After being invited for a job interview, the two of them take the long journey to South Africa to enjoy a stay at the Twivali lodge.
Anna's enthusiasm for the stay disappears when she realizes that her strange ex happens to be staying at the lodge too. How is it just a coincidence that he's there at the same time? Her suspicion increases as it starts to look like maybe he's not and something more sinister is going on.
This was a unique read for me. I loved the setting in South Africa. It added so much to the atmosphere of the story. It would have been creepy enough even without the threat of wild animals in the dark!
The characters were developed well while still allowing for some mystery about them. It definitely kept me hooked until the very end. I look forward to checking out more books by this author.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Release Date: July 26, 2023
Molly the maid is back! If you enjoyed The Maid by Nita Prose, you'll be happy to know that in The Mystery Guest we get more of Molly's background story as well as a new mystery at the Regency Grand Hotel.
Molly Gray takes her job very seriously as Head Maid at the Regency Grand, so she is shocked when she is witness to another death in the hotel. J. D. Grimthorpe, famous mystery author, has dropped dead shortly before making what was supposed to be a major announcement. It's up to Molly and her friends to prove that it's not “always the maid” who is to be blamed yet again.
I loved The Maid after finally getting around to reading it earlier this year. Molly's story is refreshing, interesting, and written with care. It's easy to sympathize with Molly as she navigates her job as a maid at the Regency Grand. Her passion is cleaning, and she relies on solid advice from her late Gran to navigate the world. She's excellent at what she does, if sometimes misunderstood, but to know her is usually to come to love her. It was great seeing another mystery with Molly at the center.
Thanks to Nita Prose for this unique mystery story. The characters in The Maid series are fun to get to know, and I hope Molly will continue to return for more new adventures!
I think I've had multiple books of Sally Hepworth's on my TBR list for years, and somehow this is the first one I've actually read! Why are there so many good books out there? But I'm not complaining.
Darling Girls is the story of three girls - Alicia, Jessica, and Norah. While not actually related, the years they spent in foster care with Miss Fairchild have brought them close enough to call themselves sisters. After all, trauma can do that. Although their time with Miss Fairchild is not really something that any of them want to remember, a discovery at the farmhouse that they lived in with her brings to light an old mystery that they feel compelled to revisit.
This book packed in a lot! Definitely a story that I got sucked into, and the twists and turns kept coming. It is a tale of found family, tragedy, and how even if you are brought up in a bad situation, the choices you make are still your own. If you are looking for a mystery that will give you something to think about long after putting the book down, definitely pick this one up when it releases on April 23, 2024.
This might be my favorite book by Rachel Hawkins so far! The Heiress is about Ruby McTavish, infamous heiress of Ashby House. Kidnapped when she was three years old and then found and returned to her family, Ruby grew up and went on to marry four times and become a widow four times. Now her adopted son Camden is back home to take care of the fortune and house that Ruby left him. But what secrets are Ashby House and the McTavish clan hiding?
I loved the concept of The Heiress and thought it played out well. The plot was interesting and seemed like something new and fresh compared to all the mysteries and thrillers out there. Ruby was a fascinating character and seeing her side of things from letters she wrote made the story all the more unique. I tend to read books faster and get into them easier when you can get to know the characters, and this was no exception. I had NO idea how the story would end up, but was definitely curious to find out what happened to Camden, his wife Jules, and the crazy McTavish family. Definitely check this one out if you're interested in stories about interesting family relationships!