ARC Review: Dressed to Drill

 I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. 

Dressed to Drill by Kate Carlisle

Shannon Hammer and her crew are working on renovating an old church, turning it into an art museum. But when a dead body is found on the first day, Shannon finds herself right in the middle of a mystery again.

I loved this book, it was so much fun. There’s a glamorous movie premiere, a mysterious old church hiding secrets, a strong female protagonist, a charming romance, and a compelling cast of side characters. This has me wanting to read every book in this series. I definitely recommend this cozy mystery. 

ARC Review: The Ferryman

 I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. 

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

The rest of the world is falling apart, but Prospera is a safe and seemingly wondrous place. When the monitors implanted in your arm monitoring your mental and physical health drop below a certain percent, you simply “retire” and are born anew, into a new body, with none of the memories of your previous life.

Proctor’s job is to help people through the retirement process, though sometimes he has to use force when someone doesn’t want to go. But Proctor’s monitor is dropping quickly, and his life isn’t seeming as routine as it once did. Prospera isn’t seeming the same either.

This is very far from the type of book I typically read, but I’m glad I did. I’m still not sure I completely understood everything I read, but let’s put it this way-I had no clue I was reading a 560 page book because I was so invested in the characters and what was happening that the read didn’t feel long. Cronin has a great writing style. If you’re looking to read something different than what I typically review here, check out this book. 

April ARCs!

 

I received ARCs of these books from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the books or my reviews themselves.

Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose 

When Ciara, a mother and social influencer, is discovered murdered, everyone’s secrets are fair game. Bose focuses on Ciara, but also on Mishti and Lauren, two other mothers in the neighborhood. Mishti, who Ciara claims as her best friend, is from India and living in an unhappy arranged marriage, while Lauren is looked down upon as a mother and ostracized because of Ciara’s opinion of her. All three have crucial things to hide.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters all felt very real, even Ciara when we got glimpses behind her perfect facade. The mystery of who killed Ciara was really suspenseful as well-there were so many possible suspects. The ending was a real shocker and has stayed with me. I would recommend this book.

Come See the Fair by Gavriel Savit 

Set during the World’s Fair in Chicago, readers meet Eva, a young orphan who has been participating in false seances to earn her keep. But when she makes a friend and finds herself at the Fair, she soon discovers magic is real and that a mysterious magician has an interest in her abilities. Even magic has a price, however, which Eva unfortunately discovers, and it may be too late to fix what has been broken. 

This book was okay. Eva was a strong female character, which I appreciated, and the descriptions of the magic house and the World’s Fair were very cool. But I really didn’t like one of the major plot points, which brought the book down for me. This just doesn’t feel like one of those books meant for younger readers that also translates well for adults.

A Tidy Ending by Joanna Cannon

Linda’s life seems quiet and mundane, the same old same old every day. But then she starts receiving catalogs for the previous owner of their house, and imagining a glamorous world where she befriends the woman. Also, her husband never seems to be home whenever another young girl goes missing.

This book really surprised me. I honestly didn’t know where it was going, and was really shocked with where it ended up. I would recommend this book.

The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda 

I love Megan Miranda’s books, and this one was no exception. 

There were nine survivors of the horrific van crashes. Then eight. Then seven. As their numbers dwindle, the remaining survivors continue to meet once a year on the anniversary of the crash, but this year seems especially fraught. Something is going on, and if they don’t figure out what, more survivors may find themselves dead.

This was such a good book. Miranda always uses flashbacks brilliantly and she does so again here. The book is absolutely taut with tension and suspense, and I could not put it down. I definitely recommend this book. 

The Cherished by Patricia Ward

Nothing about this situation feels right to Jo. She has somehow been left her grandmother’s house, but more than that, she has been left a letter that scares her with its implications. 

This book has an overarching sense of dread that is really powerful. It’s definitely not a light read, but it’s a well-written suspenseful one, and one I recommend. 

Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust by Mindy Quigley

This is a cozy mystery series centered around a deep dish pizza restaurant, and its owner, Delilah O’Leary. In this entry, a smoothie at a neighboring restaurant is poisoned, and said restaurant just happens to be owned by the new girlfriend of Delilah’s ex-fiancé. 

Here’s the thing with this series-it’s good. I just don’t love it the way I love some other cozy mystery series. Quigley delivers a fine read, but it’s not must read for me. 

ARC Reviews: The New One, and The Soulmate

 I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my review or my opinion of the book.

The New One by Evie Green

When their daughter, Scarlett, falls into a coma after being hit by a car, her parents agree to have a copy of her made. Rewarded for this with a new, very comfortable life where they have their ideal version of their daughter, Tamsyn and Ed are happier than they were before.

But then Scarlett wakes up. 

I wouldn’t normally choose a book this science fiction, but I really enjoyed this one. There were so many twists and turns, two of which especially shocked me. I definitely recommend this book.

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

Gabe and Pippa didn’t realize their home faced a preferred spot for those looking to jump to their deaths. Gabe embraces this, talking people off the cliff. But one night he is unsuccessful, and it turns out he knew the victim.

Hepworth always writes a solid psychological suspense read, and this is no exception. The multiple perspectives work really well, and the twists are really surprising. I definitely recommend this book. 

March Review Roundup

 I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto 

Vera Wong runs a down on its luck tea shop, and her life is extremely regimented and void of people. Until one day she finds a dead man on the floor of her shop.

Vera immediately throws herself into the investigation, even drawing a sharpie outline of the body to help the police out. Desperately wanting to solve the crime, Vera finds herself growing closer to each of the suspects, forming a found family that may just break when the murderer is discovered.

I loved this book. I’ve recently been reading more of Sutanto’s books, and I love her work. Vera Wong has so much going on-found family, romance, humor, mystery, and a surprise twist ending. I highly recommend this book.

How I’ll Kill You by Ren DeStefano

This is one dark and twisted book. Sissy, our main character, is a triplet, and her two sisters are serial killers. Now they are insisting Sissy join them, find her own man to love her who she can kill. The only problem is Sissy finds herself falling in love. 

This was such a tense book. The way the story is set up makes you feel like you’re racing along to a terrifying finish line. I was very impressed with how the author played with my expectations to keep me engaged, especially with the ending. I would recommend this book.

Play the Fool: A Mystery by Lina Chern

Katie sees Marley as her best friend, someone who helps her through her life of constantly losing jobs, her parents’ and sister’s never ending pressure, and her general dissatisfaction. But when Katie sees a picture on a customer’s phone of Marley shot through the head, her whole world upends. Suddenly Katie is trying to solve a crime, with the help of her tarot cards, her brother, and a police officer, and she is putting herself into more danger than she realizes. 

This was a fun read, with a main character you really root for, and a great supporting cast. The ending was really well done. I recommend this book, and hope it becomes a series. 

ARC Review: Lemon Curd Killer

 I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

This is one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery series. In this entry, Theodosia and her compatriots host a tea during a fashion show. But when she stumbles upon the dead body of a fashion designer, she finds herself promising the murdered woman’s daughter that she will solve the crime. Throwing herself into the world of fashion, and a whole lot of danger, Theodosia is determined to keep her promise.

This is the definition of cozy, particularly the setting, a tea shop full of warm tea and delicious scones and little sandwiches. Coming back to the main characters is always a joy, and the supporting cast is colorful and engaging. I definitely recommend this book. 

February #2 ARC Review Roundup

 I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones

Clarissa Campbell vanished without a trace from a party twenty four years ago. She was never found, and if anyone knew what happened to her, they weren’t talking. 

In the present, best friends Blair and Cameron decide to tackle this mystery as their junior year journalism project. They start a podcast about Clarissa, and attempt to discover the truth about what really happened to her.

I love books that incorporate true crime podcasts, so I was automatically into this book. There are a lot of twists and turns, and the characters of Blair, Cameron, and Clarissa are compelling. I did not see the ending coming, which is always exciting for me with a mystery book. 

This is a quick, gripping read that I would recommend.

What Have We Done by Alex Finlay

A group of adults, who knew each from a traumatic children’s home, are brought back together by the fact that someone is trying to kill them. Readers learn about their dark childhood secret as they attempt to figure out who is after them and why.

This is not my favorite Alex Finlay book, but it’s still a good reas, as all Alex Finlay books are. It’s very suspenseful, with compelling characters, and a lot of drama. If you’ve never read Alex Finlay before, start with a different book first, but if you’re an Alex Finlay fan, definitely check out this book.

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles

Gareth Inglis has never known the love of a family, and has always felt left behind. So when the stranger he is falling in love with has to leave, he feels he is just being abandoned again.

Until his father dies, he inherits a title and a house on the Marsh, and finds his stranger again, one Joss Doomsday, a smuggler. Joss and Gareth don’t ever want to be apart again, but they must contend with their different societal positions, societies views, and family ties-along with an unknown threat to Gareth that could turn deadly.

Joss and Gareth are absolutely a couple to root for, and this makes the readers really invested in their lives and the drama surrounding them. Plus the threat lends an air of mystery to the story that I really enjoyed. I would recommend this book.