Review: The Murder House by James Patterson and David Ellis

Title: The Murder House
Authors: James Patterson and David Ellis
Genre: Thriller
Publication Date: September 28, 2015
Recommended If You Like: houses that might as well be haunted, secrets from the past, repressed memories, characters that may be good or may be bad, twists that keep you on your toes

The Book:

Jenna Murphy is a detective in the Hamptons, having left Manhattan under less than ideal circumstances. Now she has returned to the place where she used to spend her summers with her family, until one year when they never returned.

Number 7 Ocean Drive is a mansion with a murderous past. Now the murders have begun again, conceding with an onset of terrible nightmares that shock Jenna awake every time she falls asleep. Could her repressed memories have some connection to the murders at Ocean Drive?

What I Liked:

This is a suspenseful read! Something is always happening, and twists and turns are always appearing to surprise the reader. This is something that Patterson is truly a master at.

The Murder House is a book that is never boring. I couldn't put it down because I had to know what happened next.

Anything I Didn't Like?

The romance felt forced, and like it came out of nowhere. It also always tends to bug me a little when the main character has what seems like everyone they come into contact with wanting them and falling in love with them.

So...?

I would definitely say to pick this one up. It has its flaws, but this is a book full of suspense that will keep you guessing.

Bout of Books 17!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 22nd and runs through Sunday, August 28th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 17 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I love Bout of Books, and can't wait to get this round started on August 22! Keep an eye on my blog for updates as to my progress, and let me know if you're participating so I can come cheer you on!

What We're Reading Wednesday: August 10, 2016

The Unraveling of Mercy Louis is a read I just started for ARC August. It's really intriguing so far, and I really like Parssinen's writing style. 

The Murder House is my library book that I can't renew (due to another patron requesting it), so it got bumped right up the library book reading list. It's been a while since I last read a Patterson, and it's been fun to return to his exciting, fast-paced writing.

These are my two electronic reads. I've been really excited to read American Heiress. I love true crime, and the story of Patty Hearst is one I find fascinating, but know very little about. Plus, I loved The People Vs. O.J. Simpson, the show based off on Toobin's book on the self-same case (and I now have a copy of his O.J. book I got from a book fair). This is also a read for ARC August.

The Killing Retreat is a mystery/thriller by a friend of mine. I now have the first three in the series, and am really enjoying them. I'm about halfway through the first one.

This is my before-bed read, which I am still absolutely loving. Kingsolver has such a beautiful writing style, and such distinctive characters.

I also DNF one book this week, Dead Girls Don't Lie. I'd taken it out from the library to give it a try, and just could't get into it. I have so many books I want to read, I've really started just putting down books that I'm not enjoying.

What are you reading this week? Anything you'd recommend?

Review: The Ice Twins

Title: The Ice Twins
Author: S.K. Tremayne
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Publication Date: May 19, 2015
Recommended If You Like: thrillers, psychology, creepy children, unhappy families, uncertainty, the possibility of the paranormal

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

The Book:

Angus and Sarah Moorcroft once had two daughters, identical twins, Lydia and Kirstie.

But Lydia died, and the remainder of their family has moved to a small island, easily isolated, in an attempt to start over. This attempt is shattered when their remaining child claims she is Lydia, not Kirstie--that they have been mistaking her identity for months.

As their daughter seems to break down, so do Angus, Sarah, and their marriage; until finally, one night, when the terrible truth comes crashing down around them.

What I Liked:

This is a book that keeps you on your toes. Is Kirstie actually Lydia? What really happened the night one of the twins died? What does Angus know? And Sarah? Is there something paranormal occurring? I appreciate a book that keeps me guessing, especially one with an ending that catches me completely by surprise.

Anything I Didn't Like?

This book took me longer than I thought it would to get through--and at times, it did feel like I was getting through it. It was so so dark, without really any spark of light. I read a lot of dark books, and love them, but something about this felt almost overbearingly sad.

It might have been that children were involved. I tend to have trouble with books where bad things happen to kids, and this was centered around that theme.

It was also hard to find any character really to root for. All the adult main characters were so unlikable, and Kirstie/Lydia felt difficult to connect with because of the innate strangeness of her situation.

So...?

I wanted and expected to like this book more than I did, but that doesn't mean I didn't find it a good read. I think I just felt weighed down in all the darkness. A little levity, even just a dash here and there, would have made a big difference for me.


ARC August Total To Date:

1) The Assassin Game by Kirsty McKay
2) I'm Judging You by Luvvie Ayaji
3) Murder in the Secret Garden by Ellery Adams
4) The Ice Twins by S.K. Tremayne

Cozy Reviews: Murder in the Secret Garden and Caught Bread Handed

Title: Murder in the Secret Garden
Author: Ellery Adams
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publication Date: August 2, 2016
Recommended If You Like: books about books, mysteries, romance, nature facts, inn settings

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.

Jane Steward runs a book-themed resort called Storyton Hall. She is hosting a group called The Medieval Herbalists, as well as a wedding, when one of the Herbalists turns up dead. Jane must also contend with the return of a man she loves, but feels betrayed by.

What I Liked:

The setting! I desperately want to go stay at Storyton Hall now, and roam around their book-themed rooms. It is absolutely the perfect place for someone who just wants to read, relax, and drink tea.

The mystery had a lot of good twists and turns. This was an ending I wasn't able to predict.

The protagonist, Jane, is a strong, more than capable heroine, surrounded by a great cast of supporting characters. The romance she finds herself involved in is nicely written as well.

Anything I Didn't Like?

I felt like there were too many characters, especially when it came to the visitors to the inn. I had a hard time keeping everyone straight.

So...?

If you are looking for a quick, fun, cozy mystery read, I would definitely say pick this book up. I do think I might have benefited some from having started this series at the beginning, as it might have made the characters easier to remember and differentiate from the start.

Title: Caught Bread Handed
Author: Ellie Alexander
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publication Date: June 28, 2016
Recommend If You Like: mysteries, small town settings, romance, baked goods, food in general

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.

Juliet Capshaw has left her work on a cruise ship and moved back to Ashland, where she is happy working with her mother at Torte, their bakery and cafe. She is loving the small-town life, but is unsure how to manage her feelings for Carlos, her husband, who hid a secret from her, and is now spending a week off the ship visiting Ashland.

When the owner of a much-disputed new restaurant turns up dead, Juliet must figure out who among the many suspects hated Mindy the most.

What I Liked:

This is another cozy with a great setting. I love mysteries set in small towns, and having this town be Shakespeare-themed just made it even better.

The food descriptions had me drooling! It made me want to rush right out to a cafe, and get some soup and bread and cake and coffee.

The characters in this were great. They were all individuals, with their own motivations and emotions. I really liked Jules, the main female protagonist, and her romance with Carlos had me rooting for them from beginning to end.

I enjoyed the mystery as well. It had some good twists and turns, red herrings, and tense moments (especially the ending).

Anything I Didn't Like?

Honestly, there wasn't really much I didn't like. The book did start out a little slow, but this may not have held true if I had started this series from the beginning and was already invested in the characters.

So...?

Alexander is a really excellent writer in this genre. I already feel invested in these characters, and I've only read one book in the series.

Review: Girl Last Seen

Title: Girl Last Seen
Authors: Heather Anastasiu and Anne Greenwood Brown
Genre: Young Adult/Psychological/Mystery/Suspense
Publication Date: March 1, 2016
Recommended If You Like: internet fame, viral videos, social media, quick reads, literary lyrics, twisty mysteries

The Story:

Kadence and Lauren, two talented teenagers, were on the cusp of stardom. Their music videos had gone viral, until an incident lands Lauren in the hospital with paralyzed vocal chords.

Now Kadence is striking out alone. But after a concert at a local coffee shop, she goes missing.

Who and what are behind her disappearance? The police and the public think Lauren is to blame, jealous over Kadence moving on without her. Lauren is determined to prove her innocence, and expose that Kady wasn't exactly who her adoring fans thought she was.

What I Liked:

I always like when books use different media forms. Girl Last Seen mixes in song lyrics, police interviews, vlogs, Youtube and Twitter comments, and first person narration.

There were also some great twists and turns to the mystery. The secrets that were revealed were major, with long-lasting impact.

Anything I Didn't Like?

The last few chapters felt rushed, as if the authors knew the resolution they wanted to reach, but weren't sure exactly how to make it happen. The motivation behind everything felt too simple in many ways, and, while intriguing and surprising, felt like it took away a bit of complexity from the main characters. The ending was almost too pat in parts.

So...?

This is a creative book that feels modern, a mystery you could see playing out between internet celebrities right now. The idea of exploring the person behind the public persona built a lot of suspense, and provided many of the twists and turns.

I just wish the ending to this quick and exciting read was stronger.

Reviews: The Assassin Game and I'm Judging You

Both of these books count towards my tally for ARC August.

ARC August:

1) The Assassin Game by Kirsty McKay

2) I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual by Luvvie Ayaji

Title: The Assassin Game
Author: Kirsty McKay
Genre: Young Adult/Psychological Suspense/Mystery
Publication Date: August 2, 2016
Recommended If You Like: The game "Murderer", isolated island trope, twisty mysteries, strong and complicated female protagonists, boarding school settings, games taken too far

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.

In The Assassin Game, Kirsty McKay introduces her readers to the game "Killer". Each year, a group of students are selected to participate, thus becoming members of a renowned Guild. The school knows about the Game, but lets it continue as long as it doesn't get out of hand.

But the year Cate joins, things do begin to get wildly out of hand. What is meant to be a fun, exciting game where an unknown "Killer" pretends to off other players through inventive pranks, becomes something far more, and Cate is being watched by a twisted predator who has taken the game too far.

What Did I Like?

I am a sucker for any mystery set on an isolated island. Throw in a boarding school setting, and I'm going to read it, as those two tropes together essentially guarantee a variation on my classic favorite, "the killer is one of us".

The "Killer" game is also highly creative and inventive, and set up well. It provides a real sense of eeriness and suspense, and is such a great idea to set up the more serious crimes that begin to occur. Everything and everyone becomes suspicious, which heightens the tension, and makes this a book you can't put down.

What Didn't I Like So Much?

I found some of the main characters less than endearing, particularly a boy who gets introduced a few chapters in and becomes a crucial main character. I was cringing at some of the things they would do and say. This may have been on purpose, though I doubt it with the aforementioned character, but it made it hard for me to see why Cate would latch on so hard to these people.

The ending, while very twisty and creepy, felt like a bit of a letdown in term of the perpetrator's motive. It felt a bit cliched, which was disappointing.

So...?

So I would say read this book. It's quick, it sucks you in, and it's got lots of great suspense. The ending may not be everything I had hoped for, given the excellence of what preceded it, but I still enjoyed this book.

Title: I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual
Author: Luvvie Ajayi
Genre: Non-fiction/Essays/Humor
Publication Date: September 13, 2016
Recommend If You Like: Biting wit, things that make you think, being educated, laughing out loud while also being outraged at the state of the world

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

In I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual, Luvvie Ajayi takes on the woes of the world, and does it all with wit and passion. From racism to sexism, social media to religion, nothing escapes Ajayi's scathing side-eye or sharp humor.

What Did I Like?

This is a book where I walked away feeling educated and fired up. Ajayi knows what she is talking about, and she makes you feel just how messed up so much of our world can be.

And she does it all with a wonderful wit, full of sarcasm, biting retorts, and honest humor. Just when things start to feel painfully heavy, she will have you laughing out loud on the train (true story, by the way). Ajayi is masterful at knowing just when to intersperse her brilliant humor.

Anything I Didn't Like?

The book occasionally felt a little repetitive in terms of style and substance. I suspect I would not have felt this way had I been reading an article a day on her immensely popular website, as opposed to taking in essay after essay as set out in book form.

So...?

Read this book. It is that rare find that will make you think and make you laugh.