Review: You'll Never Know, Dear

Title: You'll Never Know, Dear
Author: Hallie Ephron
Publication Date: June 6, 2017
Genre: Psychological Suspense
Recommended If You Like: strong female characters, psychologically-driven suspense, family-centered mysteries

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.

The Book:

Lis' sister, Janey, went missing one day from their own backyard. Forty years later, a woman turns up with Janey's doll, setting in motion a series of events that will change the lives of multiple generations.

What I Liked: 

I love a book that deals with secrets from the past, and this is a book that definitely does that. There are so many questions and twists that come up throughout the whole book, and so many mysteries to solve.

There are some really great, complex characters in this book.The main characters are all women, all strong in their own right, but with their own struggles and secrets. Everything the characters are now is somehow linked to that fateful disappearance from the past, even Lis' daughter who wasn't born when the tragedy occurred.

Anything I Didn't Like?

I sometimes felt like there was too much going on. Reveals would sometimes seem to come out of left field, and it could get difficult to keep everything straight sometimes.

So...?

This may not be the best psychological suspense I've ever read, but I did enjoy it. I read it in about a day, and found myself not wanting to put it down because I had to find out what happened.

Blog Tour and Review: The Child

 

Press Release:

This summer FIONA BARTON is back with a second novel that proves lightning can strike twice.

Barton’s 2016 debut, The Widow, was an instant global bestseller, captivating readers around the world and setting the publishing industry abuzz.

The highly-anticipated release of THE CHILD (Berkley Hardcover; June 27, 2017) reaffirms Barton’s growing reputation as a writer of rich, character-driven suspense novels. Like Tana French, Louise Penny, and Megan Abbott, Barton’s stories do more than thrill: they explore the complexities of a changing world.

The Widow delved into the secrets that exist within a marriage and the reporter’s role as voyeur.  Here Barton continues to mine those themes. THE CHILD tackles the 24/7 news cycle, and lays bare the intricacies of a different but equally fascinating relationship—mother and child.

Says Barton: “The emotions, responsibilities—and the pain—of motherhood are unique to each of us with children. Ask any woman and she will have her own story to tell.”

In a working class neighborhood of London, construction workers make a grisly discovery: the long-buried remains of a baby.  When a newspaper mention reveals the find, most readers barely give it a glance. But for two women, its threat to unearth hidden stories is impossible to ignore. For veteran reporter, Kate Waters (introduced in The Widow), it sparks the question “Who would bury a baby?” and starts a hunt for the truth about the nameless child. The story unfolds via the women’s alternating perspectives to eventually reveal: Who is Building Site Baby?

In fact, it was the allure of a hidden story that propelled Barton to her long-time career in news. A journalist and British Press Awards “Reporter of the Year,” she has worked at the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph, and brings that experience to bear in her novels.

In THE CHILD she details how Kate’s lengthy investigation into Building Site Baby’s death represents a perilous breach of the newsroom’s new culture of 24/7 online news. Says Barton: “The danger for Kate is that she risks becoming one of the dinosaurs—sidelined because she is unable and unwilling to be part of the revolution. And I feel for her.”

Though THE CHILD delivers an evocative look at the changing face of journalism, and a delicious plot twist, it is the characters’ haunting and rich emotional lives that set Barton apart and confirm her stature as a crime novelist of the first order.

My Review:

What I loved about this book was how many twists and turns there were. Barton, as she did in The Widow, keeps her readers on their toes. 

She does this really effectively through having each chapter alternate points of view. This enables Barton to add layer upon layer to the story without giving everything away. A character may drop a hint about something, and then readers find themselves in another character's head, looking at everything a different way.

I also really liked that Barton brought Kate back, a character from The Widow, and made her such a focus in this story. Kate is a strong, smart female character who works well as the backbone of The Child.

The one thing I didn't love about this book was I did feel I was able to call some of the bigger twists towards the end. I would have liked to be a little more surprised at some points. 

If you liked The Widow, or if you're a fan in general of well-crafted psychological thrillers with lots of suspense, I would definitely recommend The Child.

Review: Every Last Lie

Title: Every Last Lie
Author: Mary Kubica
Publication Date: June 27, 2017
Genre: Psychological Thriller/Suspense
Recommended If You Like: psychological suspense, family-driven drama, use of flashbacks

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 Book:

Clara's seemingly perfect life is turned upside down when her husband dies in a car crash. Their young daughter, miraculously physically unharmed, seems to remember something from the crash that suggests it wasn't an accident, but a murder.

What I Liked:

Kubica always does an excellent job of exploring the complexities of human relationships. Her characters are never one-dimensional, and neither are their connections to each other.

There are lots of twists and turns in this read, which definitely keeps up the suspense. The use of flashbacks ups the ante even more.

Anything I Didn't Like?

This book did seem to move at a slower pace than I would have liked. Kubica's The Good Girl predominately took place in one isolated location, and it still had a much quicker and more engaging pace.


So...?

While this is not the best book I've read in this genre, it is still a quick and interesting read. Kubica is a really good author, so even her books that aren't her best work are still good.

Review: Why We Love Serial Killers

Title: Why We Love Serial Killers: The Curious Appeal of the World's Most Savage Killers
Author: Scott Bonn
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
Genre: True Crime/Non-Fiction/Psychological
Recommended If You Like: reading about true crime, psychology, textbook-like non-fiction

The Book:

Bonn examines the public's fascination with serial killers through a psychological and sociological lens.

What I Liked:

This is a really different and fascinating take on true crime. Bonn has done his research, and the lens which he looks through takes into account psychology, sociology, and history itself. He also has been in personal contact with the Son of Sam and the BTK killer, as part of his research, and brings what he has learned from studying them in as well.

Anything I Didn't Like:

This isn't something I didn't like, but more of a heads up for prospective readers. This does not read like a narrative as some true crime books do. This reads like a textbook, which I personally really liked-it made me feel like I was back in college with my highlighters and post it notes.

So...?

This was a fascinating, comprehensive read that I would definitely recommend for anyone who has read true crime.

Review: The Cuckoo's Calling

Title: The Cuckoo's Calling
Author: Robert Galbraith
Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Genre: Mystery
Recommended If You Like: private detectives, unique characters, mysteries about famous people

The Book:

Cormoron Strike is a down on his luck private investigator, attempting to hide all this from his new and enthusiastic temp. When the brother of a famous model walks in, insisting that his sister was murdered, Strike throws himself into the case.

What I Liked:

This is such a good book! It reads like a classic private detective book, with seedy characters, a brilliant detective with a troubled past, and twists and turns galore

The ending completely shocked me, which is always a bonus.

The book didn't lag at all either, which is impressive considering its length.

Anything I Didn't Like?

There really isn't anything not to like about this book-it's a great, fun, read.

So...?

I would definitely recommend this book. It flies by for being over 400 pages, and will keep you engaged and guessing the whole time. I already have the next book in the series and can't wait to get started on it!

True Crime Thursday: True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa

This is Michael Finkel, a journalist. He was let go from the New York Times for falsifying information in a story about the chocolate trade and the working conditions of those employed to pick the cacao beans.

This is Christian Longo.  He was arrested for the murders of his wife and their three children.

What brought these two men together was the name Michael Finkel. While on the run from the law in Mexico, Longo impersonated Finkel, a journalist whose stories he had read and admired.

Finkel is hiding away at his home, disgraced after the truth about his chocolate trade story came out. When he receives a phone call from another reporter about Longo using Finkel's name, Finkel himself sees it as an opportunity to write another great story, this time one that is completely truthful. But as he gets sucked in by Longo's charms, Finkel begins to realize just how blurred the line between truth and lies can be.

This is an absolutely fascinating read. It is a murder mystery, as readers learn about the case along with Finkel. It is a psychological study of two men brought together by lies and the desire for redemption. It is a look at the relationship between journalist and subject, and where that relationship can shift and change into something resembling friendship-and the struggle to understand feeling kinship for a man who may have committed a horrible deed. And in the end, it is an examination of what it truly means to tell the truth and to tell a lie, to others and to yourself.

Review: The Hole

Title: The Hole
Author: Guy Burt
Publication Date: May 28, 2002
Genre: Horror/Psychological/Suspense/Thriller
Recommended If You Like: creepy reads, psychological horror

The Book:

Five students descend into a secret room on campus, locked in by a fellow student as part of what they believe will be the greatest prank yet. But when no one comes to let them out, they begin to realize they might be part of a far more terrifying psychological experiment instead.

What I Liked:

This is a creepy, suspenseful, gripping read. Burt uses flashbacks of "the Hole" expertly to both lead the reader on and keep them guessing.

The last chapter adds a whole other dimension to the story, and was definitely a major twist. I thought it was really clever-I love an ending that has me thinking back through the book to see what I missed and how everything fits.

Anything I Didn't Like?

Some of the sections moved really slowly, especially some of the flashbacks in "the Hole" early on in the story.

So...?

This is a really quick read-it just took me a few hours-and a gripping, scary, interesting one. It's worth picking up. The movie version is really good, and is actually one of those very rare occasions when I prefer the movie slightly to the book.

Review: The Sleep Room

Title: The Sleep Room
Author: F. R. Tallis
Publication Date: May 15, 2015
Genre: Gothic/Psychological/Suspense/Paranormal/Horror
Recommended If You Like: haunted asylums, stories with psychiatry, gothic-style horror, ghost stories

The Book:

A young psychiatrist gets the chance to work with his idol at an isolated asylum out in the countryside. He is especially interested in The Sleep Room, where young women are kept in an almost-perpetual state of sleep in an attempt to cure their seeming neuroses. But when mysterious things keep happening all around him, he is forced to consider that there may be more than meets the eye in this world.

What I Liked:

This is one creepy, suspenseful book! I'm automatically interested in ghost stories, and when they are set in an isolated asylum, especially one with a mysterious room, I'm doubly interested.

And the last chapter is mind blowing! It's one of those that made me gasp out loud when I read it.

Anything I Didn't Like?

The ending was amazing, but the rest of the book was just okay. It moves a little slowly, and then the last few chapters (besides the last one) feel rushed on their way to a conclusion.

So...?

This is by no means a bad read, it's a good one, just not a great one until the very last chapter.

Review: Dead Famous

Title: Dead Famous
Author: Ben Elton
Publication Date: Sep. 1, 2005
Genre: Mystery
Recommended If You Like: reality shows, mysteries that are very unique, locked room mysteries, the killer is one of us mysteries

The Book:

Contestants are locked in a house for a Big-Brother style British reality show called House Arrest. But then one of them is murdered, and even though the murder itself was caught on camera, the police find themselves in the middle of a complicated, twisted case they may not be able to solve.

What I Liked:

I watch a lot of reality TV (though not Big Brother), so I loved a mystery that was centered around a reality show. Elton does a brilliant job of playing around with the reality show contestant stereotypes and the tropes surrounding putting on and editing reality television.

I especially loved this mystery because not only is it set in a reality show, but because of the type of reality show, it becomes a locked room/the killer is one of us mystery, my favorite.

Elton uses flashbacks, the footage the country saw, and the unaired footage the production company kept back brilliantly to build suspense.

Anything I Didn't Like?

This was a re read for me, and it didn't quite hold up as strongly the second time through. I can't really put my finger on why, because I definitely enjoyed the re read a lot,

So...?

I would definitely recommend this book. It is a fun, clever, gripping read-I flew through the re read of it in a little over a day.

Review: Dis Mem Ber

Title: Dis Mem Ber
Author: Joyce Carol Oates
Publication Date: June 6, 2017
Genre: Short Stories/Psychological/Gothic/Suspense
Recommended If You Like: dark and twisty, stories exploring the psychology of women, short stories that pack a punch

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 Book:

In this collection of seven short stories, Oates explores the darker side of human nature, through the psychological lens of various women protagonists and narrators.

What I Liked: 

I always enjoy Oates' short story collections. Her stories always have an eerie edge to them, frequently verging on gothic or even supernatural horror. She draws inspiration from everywhere, big and small-from a girl looking back on the car rides with her uncle, to tales surrounding widows, to a story based on the true tale of Elisa Lam.

Anything I Didn't Like:

It's not something I don't like, it's more just a heads up, that Oates stories don't frequently have a resolution nicely tied up in a bow. She leaves her readers' imaginations working, which actually makes the stories scarier.

So...?

I definitely recommend this short story collection, but it is not for everyone. These stories are dark, and twisted, and scary.

Reviews: Hospitality and Homicide, and The Missing One

Title: Hospitality and Homicide
Author: Lynn Cahoon
Publication Date: May 16, 2017
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Recommended If You Like: bookstore mysteries, small town settings, romance with your mystery

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 Book:

Jill Gardner not only owns a bookstore/coffee shop, but she also can't seem to help herself when it comes to getting involved in local mysteries. An author comes for a signing, but finds himself a prime suspect when a murder is committed that exactly mimics one in the first draft of his new book. Jill must try to figure out the truth behind the murder, keep her business going, and decide where her relationship with her police boyfriend is heading.

What I Liked:

Jill is a great lead character, surrounded by lots of interesting supporting characters. Her romance with Greg is one to root for as well.

The setting is a great one. I love small town mysteries, especially ones set in a bookstore.

The mystery was a well-plotted one, with the ending solution being a complete surprise.

Anything I Didn't Like:

There's not much to not like about this series. It has good characters, mystery, and setting.

So...?

If you're a cozy mystery reader, I would definitely recommend this series.

Title: The Missing One
Author: Lucy Atkins
Publication Date: Feb. 3, 2015
Genre: Fiction/Psychological/Mystery/Suspense
Recommended If You Like: female-centered fiction, nature-centric fiction, secrets from the past, books exploring family

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 Book:

Kal has never felt like she truly knows her mother. When her mother passes from cancer, Kal is determined to discover the secrets of her mother's past. Taking only her son, leaving her possibly-cheating husband behind, Kal sets off to British Columbia. She heads to a remote island where a woman who once knew her mother lives, a woman who sent postcard after postcard simply stating "Thinking of You".

What I Liked:

I love a book about secrets from the past, and this definitely had plenty! I really liked the way Atkins used flashbacks to heighten the suspense and the mystery.

Atkins has also clearly done her research on orca whales-there is a lot of fascinating information about them contained in this story.

Anything I Didn't Like?

This book could have been shorter. I have absolutely nothing against long books, but this was one that felt too stretched out. It would have benefited from a little editing in that regard.

Some of the secrets were a little too predictable as well. I was able to call one of the biggest ones from pretty early on.

So...?

This was a good read, but not one I would say you have to run out and get right now. If you ever get to it, it's enjoyable. (It's one of those where rating it is tricky-I would give it 3 stars, because it is good, but didn't enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed other 3 star books.)

Review: Half-Price Homicide

Title: Half-Price Homicide
Author: Elaine Viets
Publication Date: May 3, 2011
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Recommended If You Like: career-centered cozies, strong female protagonists

The Book:

Helen Hawthorne has had to take a string of jobs to stay under the radar of her ex-husband, who was handed half of her income in an unfair divorce decree. Her current job is working at a consignment store that caters to the elite who don't have quite as much money as they would like.

But when a customer is murdered in the store, Helen finds herself once again thrust into the police's spotlight as a prime suspect. She must solve the crime to free herself from suspicion.


What I Liked:

I really enjoy this series!

Helen is a great leading character, strong with a sense of humor. The concept is a strong one, with Helen in a different job each book, which really keeps things fresh and interesting. The romance is definitely one to root for, as are the main characters.

Anything I Didn't Like?

I did feel like Viets tried to fit too much into this book. Some of the side plots felt way out of left field, and some of the minor characters verged on caricatures, and I suspect this was because there was just so much going on.

Also, just a heads up that if you haven't read the earlier books in the series, there are some spoilers for earlier plot points in this one.

So...?

While this wasn't the best book in the series, it was still a good one, and this is still a cozy mystery series I would absolutely recommend.

Review: The World's Greatest Detective

Title: The World's Greatest Detective
Author: Caroline Carlson
Publication Date: May 16, 2017
Genre: Middle Grade/Mysteries
Recommended If You Like: fun mysteries, throwbacks to the Golden Age of mysteries, strong kid protagonists

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 Book:

Toby Montrose has been passed around from relative to relative, ever since his parents disappeared in a boating accident. Now he finds himself with his Last Relative, Uncle Gabriel, who lives on Detective's Row and has fallen on hard times.

Toby dreams of being a detective himself, and when the most famous detective, Hugh Abernathy, opens up a contest to determine the World's Greatest Detective, Toby knows he has to be a part of it. But when the game is no longer a game, Toby must solve a real-life murder.

What I Liked:

This is such a fun book! It reminds me of the kid-centric mysteries I used to read when I was younger, and always enjoy revisiting. The mystery is clever, and the characters are really likable and easy to root for.

I also loved the nods to other famous literary detectives. There were some definite homages to characters like Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple that really made me grin.

Anything I Didn't Like?

There really wasn't anything not to like about this mystery. I'm hopeful it becomes a series!

So...?

I would definitely recommend this read. It won't take you long at all, and you'll have a lot of fun while reading.