Maggie
I was disappointed in this book. There were entirely too many coincidences that didn't ring true (and yes, I know in the beginning there was a passage that said “no coincidence, no story” but that's a cop-out. Maybe one coincidence, even two, but this book is filled with them. Parts of the plot don't hang together (never once in the courtship and marriage did the POV character figure out who her husband's father was - he never mentioned ever having been to her village when he'd been there many times as a child?). Most of the parts with Haley rang false and even a bit pedantic/preachy”, as though trying to convince us of a point of view instead of the reader getting to draw their own conclusions about the issues involved in adopting children from other countries. And it seems that the wealth came too easily - I mean both the main characters magically met the love of their lives and voila, both men were fabulously wealthy. Not realistic. Too much telling of emotions instead of letting us feel them along with the characters. I did think the ending was right. And I gave it three stars because Lisa See had obviously done much research and the background on the history of the tea trees, etc. was interesting. I actually thought her secondary characters had more depth and challenges and I felt they came across as more real than either of the two “leads”
Very quick read. It does an excellent job of weaving in characters we are familiar with and does read a lot like the original Holmes mysteries.
An engaging police procedural with lots of detail about a cold case and the ins and outs of discovering what really happened to Ben's brother on the night of his disappearance. I would have liked a bit more interiority from the main character, more psychological growth as a result of the events he learns about but I enjoyed the narrative and the writing style and found this an engrossing story with a surprising secret that Ben is finally able to uncover after following clue after clue, leading him all over the map.When we learn what really happened on that fateful winter's night, it comes out of left field so not really a “figure it out from the clues” type mystery but one that is satisfying none the less.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review
Wow, this is one fast-paced and engrossing book, I was hooked within just a few paces and found Poe Webb and her true-crime podcast and real-life gruesome family history engaging - she's no saint by any means but the motivation for her actions rang true, Who among us wouldn't want revenge for our mother's brutal stabbing right in front of us or wrestle with how to rid herself of the demonds of revenge and guilt that tear her up inside? Although there was only one major mystery (and I figured out the answer very early on), it didn't lessen my enjoyment - the writing style is simple and chapters are short (over 100 of them), lending a propulsive feel to the read and I liked the juxtaposition of transcripts from the podcast episodes which lent an up close and personal feeling to the narrative. I'm predicting this one will gain a lot of new fans for Carter Wilson.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review
Generally a book gets stronger as it goes along but unfortunately for me, this one did the opposite. I was immersed in the narrative from the beginning, as we're introduced to a couple just prior to their wedding and her parents, who are still very much in love after years together as well as assorted other characters (work colleagues, best friends, etc.) The writing was well done, the situations realistic, and when an unexpected event out of left field tears the couple apart, I was intriguing to see how not only the couple, but everyone around them, attempted to reboot their lives. The premise was an interesting and unique one and I was hooked until around the middle when things began to go off the rails, pieces kept conveniently falling into place, people acted in uncharacteristic ways, loads of other couples were formed (too many to keep up with) and the straggling threads were so neatly tied up in a bow, I had to wonder if this world was just a little too good to be true.
Parts of this book were fantastic; parts were too long and muddled. POV was not always clear and at times, there were just too many characters to keep track of. That said, it also read nothing like (in either over-all style or voice) Finn's first book, almost as though it was written by someone else. I enjoyed the first half more than the second; perhaps it was just writer fatigue because I did think the last 100 pages were a slog to get through, while the first 100 kept me enthralled. It won't be for everyone, that's for sure, but I am glad I read it and there are passages that will stick with me. Plot-wise, it took me quite a while to catch the clues - I would have liked more of Sebastian, less of Madelaine but that's just me. If you enjoy intricate plots and spooky old mansions and a wide cast of possibly shady characters, this one should be on your list,
Not the book I was expecting, I'm afraid. Junger is a non-fiction writer I've followed for years but for me, this book had too much jargon, too much medical detail. I wanted more critical thinking about dying, the end of life, philosophical musings about the winter of our years. There was some but it was buried in all the minutiae about his particular situation, medical condition, details of the build-up to the near-fatal event and not enough examination of how his thinking, feeling, life changed as a result of this happening.
The very definition of toxic masculinity - and that's probably my biggest criticism of this fast-paced, intriguing, layered, and well-written mystery/suspense addition to the kidnapped women trope - do all the men have to be horribly psychopathically disturbed or else shut down emotionally and non-supportive of the very capable and relateable women? Still, this is top drawer work and deseves the accolades it's getting.
Well-honed writing, intriguing story, dark southern vibes as two complex young women navigate friendship, romance, coming of age, and family challenges in this often dark compulsive tale centered around a death and a series of arson events in a small Georgia town. It's hard to believe this is a debut - very polished narrative and a book that drew me in and didn't let go.
A fast-moving read but with a serious message. Haven't we all looked at social media influencers and envied their perfect lifestyle? Turns out not everything is as rosy as it seems. This is a perfect summer read that will make you reconsider what's really important in life.
Three separate stories finally come together at the end - lots of balls in the air but Finlay made them all make sense. A little violent in some parts for my taste (I like my murders off camera and not all that descriptive) but otherwise, engaging characters, solid plot, kept me engaged, and some glimmers of possible sequel. This one is a good one. Read it one day and my thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for the advance copy.
A well-written book that has lots of atmosphere and an in-depth view at the hard life and challenges facing young women who want more from life than staying in the small rural town they were born in but feel pulled in all directions, both by family members and the men in their lives. A dual time-line as two female cousins around 18 look into the disappearance of their beloved female cousin six years ago from their home while she was babysitting them.
The author accurately depicts small town Missouri working-class life and the characters are fleshed out and interesting. However, the ending felt a bit rushed and also came out of left field - a bit bonkers in my opinion so, while that didn't take away from the overall positive review, it did leave me a bit shaking my head.
A good classic mystery with 6 quasi-detectives sitting around a fireplace and with deductive reasoning, solving the case in 6 distinct ways.
A fun romp with a solid mystery behind it - enjoyable central character surrounded by various people who might conceivably have “done it” - Annie's great-aunt Frances always believed the fortune-teller's promise, that eventually she would be murdered. This comes true within the first pages and Annie becomes the amateur sleutch, fending off suspicious relatives, friends from Frances' past and assorted workers around the estate. Everyone seems to have a motive, some lying in the past, some very much in the present. Like Annie, you never quite know who's an ally and who's untrustworthy. Kept my attention. Well-written, well-paced and a good palate cleanser after one too many spooky thrillers. Will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries with intrepid young female detectives saving the day.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A touching, poignant story of a family's adjustment to the loss of their pivotal member, the wife, mother and closest friend of the characters. In her trademark lovely style, Quindlen delves into the emotions that come with coping with sudden grief and loss of someone so young and at the high point in their lives. Annie herself, though gone, remains in the hearts of those left behind as they try, each in their own individual way, to find a way through their sorrow to acceptance of their terrible loss.
Highly recommended. My thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this lovely novel.
I always enjoy Megan Miranda's books but this one was lacking a bit for me - perhaps the story line of a woman coming back to her old hometown and in the process getting immersed in a decades-long unsolved disappearance, possible murder, is just not a fresh concept for me. Seems like every other suspense I read has this loose plot. Probably not fair to take off one star for that, but usually I have found Miranda's books a bit more inventive, so maybe I hold her to a higher bar than others.
Read in one day - I was enthralled and couldn't wait. I needed to see how it turned out. The ending stretched my credulity a bit but never mind, it was a fabulous read. A legal thriller, the story of a complicated inter-faith marriage, a missing teenager, a creepy neighbor, several last-minute twists I did not anticipate. Highly recommend.
Complex, layered and sensitive portrayal of an unmarried artist/teacher who comes to love the three members of a Lebanese family (son, mother, and father) who wander into her life at crucial times only to be blindsided and then angered when the relationships fall apart. An adult book with adult themes which will challenge the reader to delve into a complicated woman's psyche. Highly recommended.
A stunning book - so true and brutal. I've been through some of the life experiences reflected in this book and Robinson's prose rings so true to life, it was hard to read some passages without being flooded with the emotions I once felt. I was sad for Warren (and Sarah and Janet). So much hurt and tugs at my heart. The only character that, for me, was an enigma was Kat. She seemed unnecessarily cruel and hurtful and I bristled at her treatment of her father. If you're looking for great writing, a brutually honest portrayal of mid-life emotional turmoil, and a peek into strong family dynamics, this is one you'll savor.
Fast-paced, inventive, and a main protagonist who I was rooting for all the way. I not only learned a lot about the world of art but also some of the history behind the Isabel Gardner Museum heist. Well-written and engaging.
4.5 rounded up to 5. The ending, for this reader, was too convoluted - I lost track of what was what and didn't care who the murderer was so much but up to that point, a truly enthralling world with a great deal to say about human's penchant for greed, selfishness, sorrow, kindness, while also working in social commentary, climate issues, and strong familial bonds. Turton is a favorite author and he never disappoints. I enjoyed his comments at the end about writing stand-alones and about the synergy between writer and reader. Made me love him even more.
A great blend of Richard Osman's “older former spies bound together” with a James Bond-type plot of international intrigue and super bad guys, but written not as a satire but a straight-up action/mystery, I'll love Gerritsen's writing and ate this up in two days. Sequel, please.
I thouroughly enjoyed this complex family drama, mainly because the characters were so nuanced and complicated - no one was without their faults but the humanity in them all came through as they tried to find their own individual paths while still maintaining their friendship and family ties. I loved the descriptions of underwater photography, the theme of ecoactivism, and the father/daughter love story was achingly real. Franki is an appealing, though prickly, protagonist whose life is turned upside down when her father announces he's not only married Franki's best friend Ariel but they are having a child. Mitchard has been a favorite of mine for yours and this book is one of her best.
A lyrical examination of a close-knit midwestern family. The father and three brothers own a roofing company and we follow their lives across decades, as Burns takes us into the intergenerational conflicts and couplings, focusing on not primarily on the four men but instead the two strong and challenging women who come into their lives and change it for better or worse. I fell in love with virtually every character in this story and hated to see the book end.
Burns writes in a clear voice filled with heart and insights into the human condition. While there are stunning events, including one death, that serve as stepping stones in the narrative, it's the interpersonal connections that offer the touching resonance that make this one a top read.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Another good book from this author. A strong central love story wrapped around an ethical dilemma with relatable characters and an interesting premise.