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.