ARC Reviews: Cozy Mystery Roundup

 I received ARCs of these books from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

I love a mystery set in a bookstore, and this was no exception. The Christie sisters are running their family's historic bookshop, The Book Chalet, when a stranger wanders in acting, well, strangely. Later, this same stranger is found dead on the gondola, and the town is blocked in by a rockslide, meaning all the suspects must stay in place.

This was a fun read. I love the Agatha Christie references, and the workings of the bookstore itself. The Christie sisters are fun, engaging main characters, surrounded by a good supporting cast. The ending was really shocking, and I was really impressed the author went there as opposed to where I think some cozy mysteries might have played it out. I'm excited for the rest of this series.

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. In this entry, Jules and her team at her bakeshop are catering a weekend retreat for a big business, along the Rogue River. But the business' boss is extremely demanding, and the in-fighting among the business team starts almost immediately. When someone is murdered, Jules must help the police determine which among the many suspects most wanted the victim dead.

I love this series for the characters and their relationships. Jules is such a strong female protagonist, and she is surrounded by unique and loveable characters. The setting of Ashland is almost a character in itself, and really comes alive. I always look forward to what Alexander writes next.

Featuring another group of sisters, this time the Juniper sisters, this book is set in a record store/coffee shop, and is the first in the series. When someone is murdered during their opening night party, the Juniper sisters, especially Juni, set out to discover who among the townspeople could possibly have committed this crime.

The Juniper sisters are all strong women with unique personalities, and like many other successful cozy mysteries, they are surrounded by a strong supporting cast. Juni has a past romance and a possibly future romance to sweetly juggle, and the setting of the record store is a fun one. The ending was a real surprise as well. I would like to read the next book in the series when it comes out.

ARC Review: The Family Game

 

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.

This is a book you won't see coming.

On the surface, the premise seems simple. Harriet Reed, a woman established in her own right as an upcoming novelist, is going to marry Edward Holbeck, who is the heir to one of the wealthiest and most powerful families. 

But the Holbecks are a family that like to play games. So when Harriet receives a tape from the head of the family, Robert Holbeck, with a murder confession on it, she's not sure what to think. But as she's drawn further into the family, and the games amp up in intensity, Harriet is forced to decide what truly matters to her and how far she is willing to go.

The twists in this book are amazing. The book started out a little slow to me, but once it got going, I could not put it down. The ending especially is incredible. I highly recommend this book.

ARC Review: All the Blood We Share

 

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.

Kate Bender is a self-professed medium who helps her family run the small, broken down Bender Inn, a rest stop for travelers. But they make money another way as well, a dark and terrible choice they have willingly made, and it is this that begins to catch up with them.

This book was highly intriguing from the very start, a fictionalized version of a true crime story. I had actually just read a nonfiction book on the Benders, the family at the center of this story, and was really curious how Bruce would handle the source material. 

I think Bruce did an excellent job creating a gripping read, a book that managed to be suspenseful even when one knows how (most) of the story works out going in. Even having just read a nonfiction account of the events, I was engrossed in reading what happened next. I would definitely recommend this book, and will absolutely be reading Bruce's previous book as well.

ARC Review: The Last Party

 

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.

After a massive and elaborate New Year's Eve party, the host is found floating dead in the water. There were already tensions between the new vacation homes housing the wealthy, and the neighboring village, tensions the party was supposed to ease. But now that unease and resentment are growing. Ffion, born of the village, but sworn to discover the truth and impart justice, must navigate her way between the two worlds while hiding some of her own secrets. 

This was a really good read. Everyone is a viable suspect, and Mackintosh dishes out secrets like party favors. There are clever flashbacks full of surprises, and current scenes where technology or a quick tongue spill out the truth. Ffion is a great character full of complexity, and when paired with her new partner, they both really come alive. 

And that ending! Such a shocker, and so well done.

ARC Review: The Ghost and the Stolen Tears

 

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

Pen is a bookseller with a ghost companion, a dead detective with a real knack still for solving cases. So when a friend is accused of stealing the famed Tears of Valentino, Pen calls on both her modern day compatriots and a deceased PI (who has a history with the jewels) to help her friend and solve the crime. 

I've always enjoyed this series-the characters are unique, as is the set up, which makes for an enjoyable read. However, in this entry I found the sheer amount of characters confusing, especially in the part of the story set in the past. 

Also a note-there is a brief mention of an attempted sexual assault, with the perpetrator later being described as "sweet" by the person he attempted to assault. This rubbed me the wrong way, for lack of better terminology, and threw me off of the story somewhat. 

ARC Review: Blackmail and Bibingka

 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 Blackmail and Bibingka, the absolutely beloved characters from the previous two books are all back for the holiday season. But Lila's cousin Ronnie has also returned, after fifteen years of no contact, swearing that he has turned his life around. It isn't long before Ronnie is suspected of murder, and being up to no good with his new business, and Lila has to save the holidays by saving her cousin. 

I absolutely adore this series. I tore through all three out so far and am so excited to read that there will be at least three more books in the series. These cozy reads have it all-mystery, romance, family (both blood and chosen), culture, and food. I highly recommend starting this series, I suspect you'll be just as quickly hooked as I was!

ARC Reviews: American Demon and Jackal

 I received ARCs of these books from the publishers in exchange for honest reviews. This did not affect my opinion of the books or my reviews itself.

In American Demon, Stashower examines both the life and legacy of Elliot Ness, and the story of the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run, and how they eventually intertwine. Elliot Ness was best known for his role in taking down Al Capone during the prohibition era, and then became Cleveland's director of public safety, tasked with discovering who was leaving torsos, limbs, and heads scattered around Cleveland.

This is a well-written book full of information, including who the Butcher most likely was. Personally, I was less interested in the prohibition era aspect of the book, and struggled through that section a bit, but that was because I was reading the book for the true crime aspect. 

Liz has come home to Johnstown for her best friend's wedding, and only for her best friend's wedding. She's never felt entirely comfortable in the majority white town, even less so on the wedding day when her goddaughter goes missing, leaving behind only a piece of her white dress covered in blood. Now Liz is seeing a horrifying pattern, one where Black girl after Black girl disappears over the years, and no one ever listens.

This is a powerful, haunting horror book that directly tackles societal issues and prejudices. This book has stayed with me long after I finished it, and I definitely recommend reading it.

ARC Review: I'm the Girl

 

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.

Georgia Avis is determined to aim higher than what she views as her unfortunate circumstances. When she finds herself with the opportunity to defy her mother and achieve her dreams, Georgia jumps in headfirst, not realizing that beneath the facade of wealth and privilege lurks something dark and dangerous. 

This is not an easy read. Summers is not afraid to tackle hard topics, including sexuality, female bodies, power structures, complicity, and violence. Her writing style is unflinching, as she forces readers to confront the uncomfortable nature of the world today through an expertly woven story and painfully realistic characters. 

ARC Review: Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories That Make Us

 

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.

It's hard to describe this book too much without giving away the power of the true stories Aviv shares. Aviv herself has experience with the main theme of the book, and this shows with the way she handles the stories of others. Looking at others' experiences with psychiatry, societal labels, psychoanalysis and self-identity, as well as her own, Aviv truly lays bare the concept of "unsettled minds" and how every one has a story to share.

ARC Review: All Dressed Up

 

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.

Here we have a mystery within a mystery. Becca finds herself in the midst of a 1920s themed murder mystery weekend, but she also suspects that there is a real disappearance being covered up behind the scenes. Unable to leave it alone, Becca attempts to solve the fake case, all while investigating the real one.

This is a book with a lot of layers. Besides the mystery within a mystery, we've also got Becca's tension with her husband, who has planned the trip after a massive betrayal on his part. The other couples there for the weekend may have secrets they are hiding. On top of this, the staff are also actors playing their roles, but who may just be out of character during some especially mysterious moments.

The last few pages were good instead of great, at least for me personally. But the wrap up of the true disappearance was brilliant, and I really loved this read.

ARC Reviews: You're Invited, and Six Feet Deep Dish

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

Amaya has just found out that her former boyfriend is marrying her former best friend, and she knows deep in her soul that she has to stop the wedding from happening. But there are reasons these people aren't in her life anymore, and Amaya faces backlash and possible scandal just by appearing at the pre-wedding festivities. Then the bride goes missing, the police arrive, and secrets come to light.

This was a great read. The use of police interview transcripts at the end of every chapter was a really creative technique that worked really well. There is so much suspense, and there are so many twists and turns that work so well. Nothing is what it seems in this book, which Jaytissa handles to perfection, just like she did in her previous work, My Sweet Girl. I highly recommend reading both of these books.

This book will absolutely make you want pizza really badly.

Geneva Bay, Wisconsin is lacking a deep dish pizza restaurant, and Delilah and her fiance, Sam, are just the people to fill this void. But on opening night, Delilah and her fiance break up, and Deliah's aunt's caregiver is murdered. To protect her aunt, and keep her restaurant afloat, Delilah must solve the mystery and track down the murderer.

Seriously, this book made me crave pizza so much-just thinking about it has me wanting to order in. The descriptions of the food are fantastic. Delilah is highly likeable, and the supporting characters are a lot of fun. I'm especially intrigued by the police detective Calvin Capone, who is both exasperated and flirtatious when it comes to Delilah and her investigations. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes next.

ARC Review: A Dark and Stormy Tea

 

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.

This just might be my absolute favorite cozy mystery series. I love everything about it, from the main characters, to the tea shop I desperately want to visit, to the romance and of course the mystery. And this was an excellent mystery.

A possible serial killer is stalking the women of Charleston, and Theodosia, after witnessing one of the murders, is determined to solve the mystery and stop the killings. Along the way, she juggles running amazing themed teas, her policeman boyfriend, attending social functions, and making readers drool with the baked goods and teas she serves at what sounds like the most darling tea shop on earth.

If you like cozy mysteries, and haven't tried this series yet, do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

ARC Reviews: Blackwater, and Stay Awake

 

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The ARC's pictures were occasionally choppy, and only contained half the book, so I waited until the graphic novel came out and am reviewing the entire finalized book now.

Tony and Eli are unlikely friends (and possibly something more). Tony is a popular athlete with a father who ignores him, Eli is an unpopular boy with a chronic disease and a mother who doesn't trust him to do anything. But as the boys begin to bond, something supernatural and very dangerous begins happening in their town.

I enjoyed this graphic novel. The two main characters are very likeable, and the third (female) teenager in their group is a great supporting character (the other teenager, a male, is very irritating, but that appears to be the main point of his character up to a certain point). The supernatural and paranormal elements are woven in well, and the story is intriguing. The romance is very sweet and I was definitely rooting for them. This is an enjoyable, quick read.

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.

 This review contains a spoiler.

Liv wakes up. All she's got are notes on her hands, including STAY AWAKE, and a bloody knife. This is the setup for Stay Awake, and it works in some ways. There's heightened suspense because of the bloody knife and mysterious messages, but there's also sluggishness in how Liv resets every time she falls asleep. Readers are forced to go through things again with Liv as she must figure them out every time. This makes the book move a lot more slowly.

The police officers whose chapters alternate with Liv's help move the story along, and give the reader more information than merely Liv can provide. The ending was also a surprise,which is always nice. I just wish the buildup had been a bit more exciting.

ARC Review: The Paper Caper

 

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. 

When Covington Library, and her dear friend Joseph, host the Mark Twain Festival, Brooklyn is very excited-not only do the events sound fun, but she's been invited to showcase her bookbinding skills. The main event is a Prince and the Pauper contest, where Joseph will trade places with the person who most looks like him. Keeping a careful eye on him is Brooklyn's husband Derek, who works in security. 

But when someone is poisoned, Brooklyn and Derek must now solve a dangerous mystery as well.

Brooklyn is a cool unique character-I've never seen a bookbinder as the heroine of a cozy mystery before. She is strong and smart, and paired perfectly with her gorgeous husband (they are almost too perfect, but come off as just cute and loving enough to ride the line successfully). This book has a lot of suspense, and isn't only for Mark Twain fans. There is so much else going on that there is something for everyone. I look forward to reading more of this series. 

ARC Review: The Last to Vanish

 

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.

Having worked at the Passage Inn for a decade, Abigail has heard all the stories about the people who have gone missing. When a journalist investigating the disappearances himself disappears, and his brother shows up at the inn, Abigail finds herself drawn into the search for the truth.

Miranda doesn't disappoint. This is another suspenseful book with a ton of twists and turns, complex characters, and a protagonist who draws the readers in. The setting is a character in itself, and the ending was completely shocking to me. I definitely recommend this book.

ARC Reviews: Things We Do in the Dark, and Just Like Home

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

You would think being found next to your husband's dead body, covered in blood, holding a razor believed to be a murder weapon, would be the worst thing that could happen to you.

But you would be wrong.

Or at least Paris Peralta feels that way.

To her, the worst thing that could happen would be her past being drummed up. And with her now-dead husband a celebrity, it seems inevitable. Especially when a famous murderess, nicknamed the Ice Queen, knows her secret.

This was a gripping read. I'm always into a true crime podcast angle, and having one of the main characters be a creator of one such podcast drew me right in. The characters are very complex in a really compelling way that makes them feel very human and very real. The suspense is high and maintained throughout the whole novel, especially the conclusion. I would recommend this read.

Vera has gone back to her childhood home to take care of her dying mother, who has summoned her back to the very place she kicked her out of. And this is no normal home-this is the home a serial killer built with their bare hands. There are forces at play Vera is just beginning to understand, including an artist who insists he is using the energy of the home as his muse. 

This is not a book for the faint of heart. I actually struggled making my way through it because of some of the gruesomeness, but found it compelling enough to keep going. There were some really shocking moments I never saw coming. However, the ending really let me down. This is a personal reaction, and I cannot speak for others, but the ending just plain did not work for me. I wanted something more, something different, after all the build up. 

ARC Review: Upgrade

 

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.

Logan Ramsey is haunted by his family history, hoping to use his job to make up for the past. After a mission gone wrong, he finds he feels different-very different. His abilities have changed dramatically. His entire genome has changed dramatically. And now he may be the only one who can stop what's about to descend on humanity, while being forced to decide if he should even be trying to stop it at all. 

There is so much science in this book. I am not typically a science fiction reader, especially not when the science gets technical. But I loved this book. Crouch has this amazing ability to make science fiction that is not only accessible to readers like me, but that is absolutely gripping. I could not put this book down. 

ARC Review: Castle Deadly, Castle Deep

 

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.

Nora Blake is an actress with a very cool job-doing murder mystery dinner theater while living in the very castle it's set in. For the Fall season, the mystery takes place in the catacombs, a place Nora finds extremely creepy even before a real murder occurs there during one of their shows. There is seemingly no motive for the murder of the well-liked man, which means Nora and her police officer boyfriend have to work twice as hard to solve the crime.

This was a fun read. The setting is excellent, lending itself to all kinds of mysterious places and spots for meet ups. The characters are all well-done, with even the three kittens named after the Bronte sisters being their own individualized selves. There is some great romance between Nora and her boyfriend Dash, and also between some other characters and their respective paramours. I also really enjoyed the acting aspects of the book, with Nora also in an Ibsen play.

If I had to find a negative, it's that the solution to the mystery comes a little early, which means the ending of the book felt like it dragged on a bit for me. 

ARC Reviews: Donut Disturb, and The Finalists

 I received ARCS of these books from the publishers in exchange for honest reviews. This did not affect my opinions of the books or my reviews themselves.

In the latest installement in the Bakeshop Mystery series, the small town of Ashland, Oregon has come together to organize and ceebrate the wedding of two of the town's beloved citizens. But then the bride's father shows up unannounced, and the bassist of the wedding band is found murdered, and Juliet, owner and operator of bakeshop Torte, must once again put on her amateur detective hat and solve the mystery.

I love this series. The characters are so endearing, it's like a warm hug reading about them again. There is no shortage of suspects or twists and turns, and the solution to the mystery is a surprise that makes sense. The beautiful descriptions of the town make it its own character. I'm always happy to revisit Ashland, and I highly recommend other readers take the trip too.

In The Finalists, Bell sets his mystery in the academic world. Six college students are locked in a building, just like students for years before them have done, to take place in a ritual of sorts. They are the finalists for an extremely generous and long-running fellowship, and must now compete in an essay portion and interview to determine the winner. The bylaws are rigid, the representative of the family running the fellowship is drunk, and no one can leave until a winner is selected.

Then one of the students dies.

Bell creates a tense "murderer among us" atmosphere with locked doors and no one coming until the designated time. He also delves into the politics and policies of the behind the scenes workings of academia, which escalate the tension between the characters. The ending is a little pat, but still a surprise.

ARC Review: One of the Girls

 

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.

Six women are in Greece for a "hen's weekend", to celebrate Lexi's soon-to-be marriage to Ed. But on what should be the perfect trip, tensions, secrets, and the past simmer below the surface. These not only threaten Lexi's future wedded bliss, but someone's life.

Clarke explores some very complex topics-female friendships and relationships, female roles, the power of the past-while weaving together a very suspenseful story. I did not guess the twists and turns, and was very surprised by the ending. This is a good summer beach read, particularly with the gorgeous descriptions of sand and sea.

ARC Review: Outside

 

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 premise of this book is one that drew me in right away. There are four friends who end up having to take shelter in a hut in the middle of an Icelandic blizzard, completely cut off from the outside world with no means of communication. They have dark secrets in their shared past, and these secrets may rise to the surface, because the author promises not everyone is going to survive the night. 

But this book was a slow read, a really slow read. This definitely built tension between the characters, but it didn't build enough suspense for me. For me personally, the book dragged until the last quarter when it suddenly picked up full speed ahead. When I saw where the author had been building, the rest of the book made sense, but I still think it could have been a quicker ride to the finish.

ARC Review: The Woman in the Library

 

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.

A story within a story, The Woman in the Library does a fantastic job of interspersing letters from a fan and fellow writer with the story the letters refer to-the tale of a writer who finds herself caught up in both a friendship group and a mystery when she and three other people hear a woman scream at the library. The thing is, out of those four people, one of them is a murderer. 

This is such a clever book. Gentill explores the idea of writing itself, and the different processes, influences, and styles that come into play, all while juggling a highly suspenseful mystery full of twists and turns. While Freddie, the forementioned writer, is spinning her novel around her three new friends and her perceptions of their personas, she is also being caught in a web of secrets from the past and a possible serial killer.

I would definitely recommend this book. I flew through it.

ARC Review Roundup: Blaine for the Win, Breathless, It Could Be Anyone, Just Like Mother

 I received ARCs of these books from the publishers in exchange for honest reviews, This did not affect my opinions of the books or my reviews themselves.

When Blaine is dumped by his boyfriend...on their one year anniversary...in a fancy restaurant, what he takes away from it is that if his now ex wants serious, he's going to get serious. This means Blaine is running for Senior Student Council President. The only problem is, he's never run for anything in his life, and going for broke might just mean losing himself.

This book was so great. It has humor, friendship, romance, and drama all in one. It's a book with heart. I highly recommend it.

So here's the thing with this book. The premise is so good, with people unknowingly climbing a mountain with a killer. This sets up so much tension, because no one can just escape on their own. There's natural tension too, with threats of blizzards, avalanches, and slips. 

But so much of this book was taken up by explaining mountain climbing and every single step that goes into an expedition. This is set up as a thriller, as it states on the cover, so I think the book should have been more thrilling. The ending itself is really well done and even scary, and I would have liked to see a lot more of that.

This was another story where I loved the premise, but didn't love the execution as much as I hoped for. A group of best friends have to pretend to be excited for their friend's wedding, because the groom is blackmailing them with their deepest, darkest secrets. But as the book lets us know from the very beginning, the groom has pushed one of them too far, and by the middle of the wedding reception, the groom is dead.

The secrets were really huge ones, and when they were revealed, I was shocked each character was able to just keep going given how everything they thought they knew was completely shaken. I definitely wanted to know who killed the dastardly groom, but the answer felt almost like a throwaway at the very end. 

When Maeve fled the cult she grew up in, she left her cousin Andrea behind. Reunited as adults, Maeve finds herself drawn into Andrea's world, even moving in to Andrea's home when her own world starts to fall apart. Andrea's focus is fertility, and the importance of women having children, a stance Maeve doesn't agree with, but she loves her cousin and owes her so much...

This book is terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. It is masterfully written and the suspense builds until it's cranked up to 11 and you can't look away no matter how scary things get. And that ending! I definitely recommend this book.

ARC Review Roundup: The Golden Couple, Under Lock and Skeleton Key, and Dark Circles

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

After losing her professional license, Avery Chambers is a therapist who feels free to develop her own methods. When a seemingly perfect couple, Matthew and Marissa Bishop, agree to do whatever it takes to repair their marriage after Marissa's infidelity, they set in motion events no one saw coming.

This, like previous books by these authors, is a read full of twists and turns. I can honestly say I did not see any of the reveals coming, and thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

Tempest Raj is a disgraced magician, from a family of magicians, foiled by a glitch she swears she had nothing to do with. Coming home to the other family business-building secret rooms in people's homes-the dead body of her stage double is found inside a sealed wall. Tempest must solve the mystery while fighting to regain her reputation and decide what her future holds.

This book was just so much fun. There's mystery, suspense, romance, and the depictions of the secret rooms and keys and staircases were so great to read. I definitely recommend this book and really am looking forward to more in the series.

Olivia Reed, an actress who has just suffered through a breakup and a significant scandal, is essentially ordered by her publicist to attend a retreat. When Olivia arrives at the House of Light, everything is as she expected-fasts, group time, yoga, and sunrise hikes. But then a local woman, Ava, who has spent many sessions at the House of Light, starts telling Olivia about the women who have committed suicide after spending time there. Olivia begins investigating, even starting a podcast as she dives deeper into what is truly going on at the House of Light.

Olivia is a complicated character trying her best in the world she has been thrust into. The House of Light is just mysterious enough to make it ominous, and the podcast parts are very cool. The ending of this surprised me so much in the best possible way. I was truly shocked, but everything made sense looking back. I definitely recommend picking up this book. 

ARC Review: The Children on the Hill

 

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.

First, let me admit that I am a big Jennifer McMahon fan. I have a collection of her books on my bookshelf, and have reread quite a few. 

This book lived up to my excitement for sure.

It's the past tale of Vi and her brother Eric, and their grandmother, and Iris, a young girl their grandmother brings home one day from her famous mental health treatment center. Vi and Eric are fixated on monsters, what they look like, where they are and how to defeat them. As Vi tries to draw Iris out of her shell, per her grandmother's instructions, she invites Iris to join her and Eric's Monster Club.

This is also the present tale of Lizzy Shelley, a monster hunter with a highly successful podcast. Lizzy travels around the United States, responding to local legends and sightings. But her real motivation is to find her sister, who she knows is a true monster.

The way the past and present combine and intersect is masterfully done, and McMahon does an amazing job of examining the concept of monster and what it truly means. This book shocked me time and time again, with expertly plotted twists. I highly recommend this read.

ARC Review Roundup: The Night Shift, The Club, and The Book of Cold Cases

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

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.

I was especially excited to get an ARC of this book, as I really enjoyed Finlay's Every Last Fear. The Night Shift features two small-town murders years apart, where teenagers are murdered at local businesses after hours. The survivors from both crimes find themselves linked together, as well as an FBI agent, and the brother of the original suspect. The original suspect has never been seen again since he made bail, and fear is gripping the town once again.

This is a great book full of complex characters, secrets from the past, and lots of twists and turns. I could not put it down, and finished it quickly. The ending was a complete shocker to me that worked so well.

This book was a bit of a disappointment to me. I was highly intrigued by the concept, a very high-end getaway for those on the A list, where people suddenly start disappearing and turning up dead. I pictured a celebrity And Then There Were None.

This was not a bad book by any means. It kept my attention, and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. But the story moved slowly, and there wasn't a real heightened sense of danger. No one really seemed to know what was going on while it was happening, and so there wasn't any of that tension and fear that really make a book like this exciting and gripping. 

I'm not against recommending this book, just know going in it's a lot tamer than you're probably hoping for.

I have really enjoyed every book of St. James I have read. She has a way of twining together mysteries that feel real world with elements of the supernatural and paranormal, making it all feel realistic and as if it could happen in any small town. 

In The Book of Cold Cases, Shea Collins runs her own true crime blog. Having thwarted her own almost-abduction, she lives in fear and uses her blog as her outlet. By chance at her day job, she meets Beth Greer, once suspected of being The Lady Killer, the most infamous murderer to hit Claire Lake.

This book is eerie, scary, suspenseful, and full of twists and turns. The characters are complex and highly complicated, blood runs from taps and footsteps sound where they shouldn't, and there's even a romance that made me giddy. St. James keeps the hits coming, and I already can't wait for her next book.

ARC Review Roundup: The Christie Affair, Honey Roasted, and This Might Hurt

 

While there have been many books, fiction and non-fiction, that have tackled Agatha Christie's eleven day disappearance, this novel's spin on it is one full of twists and turns and clever creativity.

Nan O'Dea is our narrator through much of the story, and is Christie's husband Archie's mistress. Agatha is devastated by the knowledge that the affair is a serious one, and Archie fears that it was his actions that sent Agatha spiraling into drastic action. 

But there is more going on than meets the eye, and de Gramont delivers every surprise with aplomb. While Agatha Christie is my favorite author, I honestly saw none of the twists coming. This is not only a fresh take on a famous unsolved mystery, but one that is so well-thought out and so well-written that I could not put it down.

This is a cozy mystery that includes bees, honey, coffee, heroic rescues, drugs, an engagement possibly on the rocks, stances on food production, and a poetry slam, and somehow Coyle makes it all work.

I've always enjoyed this cozy mystery series centered around a coffee shop, mainly for the reason described above. No matter what the mystery is about, no matter what other side plots are going on, you know it's all going to come together in a way that makes sense, with a resolution where the good guys win and the bad guys lose. You get some great romance as well. If you're looking for a fun, truly cozy read with short chapters that pack a lot in, I would definitely recommend this series.

This is not a book for the faint of heart, as made evident by the opening pages. 

It is a really well-written book, keeping you just on the edge of figuring things out until Wrobel is ready for the foreshadowing to come together brilliantly.

Wisewood promises participants that if they commit to a six month stay without technology, that they will teach them how to truly be fearless. But Natalie has received an email that fills her with fear-that someone on Wisewood, where her sister Kit is currently living, is going to tell Kit a secret about Natalie that will absolutely shatter them both. So Nat sets out to get into Wisewood, find her sister, and tell her herself. But nothing is what it seems, including Wisewood itself.

I have to admit, when I realized what was really going on within the story, I gasped out loud and actually clapped my hands, I was so pleased by Wrobel's cleverness. While there are definitely some parts that can be hard to read, this book is well worth that read.