I love it when someone’s surname seems to fit them to a T. Psychiatrist Dr Caroline Strange, is, well…strange. And I mean that in the best possible waI love it when someone’s surname seems to fit them to a T. Psychiatrist Dr Caroline Strange, is, well…strange. And I mean that in the best possible way. If you like characters who are snarky, and off their rocker, then you will enjoy her as much as I did.
The story is told from 3 POV: • Dr Caroline Strange • Ellen Garcia, a woman who has been kidnapped and held hostage. She may have questionable morals but she’s a badass and I enjoyed hearing her thoughts too • Gordon Strong, a person who may be more unhinged than Dr. Strange. It’s unclear at first the part he plays in the story but trust the author to bring it all together.
Dr Caroline, as she prefers to be called, has a patient who confesses that he is thinking about killing someone and tells the doctor ‘I know who you really are”. When she hears reports of a missing reporter, she wonders if her patient has made good on his threats of murdering someone.
But mostly she’s concerned about the latter part of his message. Just what does he know and how much of a threat is he to her? Dr Strange has a troubling incident from her childhood that she would prefer remain hidden.
When police discover the kidnapped woman is a reporter who named Dr Strange as one of the worst 10 doctors in their area, they set their sights on the doctor as their main suspect. Dr Caroline decides to do her own investigating and in doing so, her past seems to have caught up to her.
Did I ever love this one! The dark humor and Dr Caroline’s thoughts were an utter delight. If you love to hate unlikable characters who nonetheless makes you laugh, you will love living inside this character’s head too.
The plotting, the red herrings, and the characters made this a page turner with plenty of twists and turns and an ending that was satisfying while managing to take me completely by surprise.
Pop the popcorn and settle in for a fun read. The audiobook narrators were excellent: Megan Tusing, Robb Moreira, and Stephanie Németh-Parker
• I received a digital review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ...more
Two lifelong friends, Jess & Storey, at the end of their annual hunting trip in rural Maine, leave the woods to head home but find a world in chaos anTwo lifelong friends, Jess & Storey, at the end of their annual hunting trip in rural Maine, leave the woods to head home but find a world in chaos and violence.
While they were off the grid, civil war erupted, towns are burnt to the ground, and destruction and death is everywhere. While attempting to make their way home, they are met with secessionists and military who intend to kill anyone they meet who are not one of them.
Their trek becomes even more treacherous when they find a little girl hidden away who is frightened and crying for her parents and her dog. The scenes with the little girl are some of the most heartfelt and emotional of the book.
As they attempt to make their way home, they try to make sense of what happened. Who are the bad guys here? Secessionists or the military? Or both?
Heller never gives us the details of the political divide that led to civil war, and I was thankful he didn’t make it political, which would do nothing but divide readers.
This is a wilderness and survival story like no other. It’s a thriller but a quiet literary one. There’s an emotional depth with themes of male friendship, love, courage, and moral responsibility.
I love Heller’s portrayal of good men, men who are thoughtful and do the right thing at great risk to themselves, men who are tender and protective of children. He writes of men, through no fault of their own, who are tested to the limits. More than once I was brought to tears.
This is a beautiful story I won’t soon forget. 5+ stars
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own...more
There’s power in the DNF. I’m a huge fan of moving on when a book isn’t a good fit. No book is for everyone and dnf’ing leaves room foOutlier opinion!
There’s power in the DNF. I’m a huge fan of moving on when a book isn’t a good fit. No book is for everyone and dnf’ing leaves room for books that are.
I usually know fairly quickly when a book isn’t for me. But once in a while I ignore my instincts and power through, especially when I see a lot of glowing reviews.
This was one of the times I fell victim to the hype. This book was most definitely not for me:
* Unrealistic situations. Be prepared to suspend a massive amount of disbelief. It’s fiction, I don’t expect complete realism but this reached my tipping point * Too long. At 600 pages, 250 could have been cut. I don’t think I would have liked it any better but I would have wasted less time * The writing style kept me from becoming invested in the characters. This type of writing appeals to many, but not me. * The characters failed to move me emotionally. Zero emotion, and I’m easily moved and brought to tears. I stopped caring what happened to any of them * The author jumped around in time with every chapter and there are 261 chapters * The story is S-L-O-W. It’s not a thriller which is fine. I love a character driven story, I just didn’t love THIS one * So many pages where nothing of interest happens filled with lots and lots of description * What some readers call beautiful language, I call overwrought and flowery with many nonsensical sentences * I have a lot to say about the religious overtones but I’ll refrain * I couldn’t buy into most of the situations. To list them would involve spoilers but my eyes rolled * But surely there would be a huge payoff in the end, right? Nope!
What I liked: the author’s last book
Many readers have loved this book, so be sure to check out their reviews.
* I received a digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own...more
A very smart and clever thriller! I read a lot of thrillers and this is a must read because it’s so refreshingly different.
Martha is a quiet librarianA very smart and clever thriller! I read a lot of thrillers and this is a must read because it’s so refreshingly different.
Martha is a quiet librarian who thinks she’s destined to be alone, until she finds quiet, nerdy Alan, a salesman who travels for work. Life isn’t all that exciting after they marry, and she wonders how well she really knows Alan, but she’s content.
Until she finds a spot of blood on one of Alan’s shirts, and she witnesses him acting strangely. She does some sleuthing and discovers a pattern of unsolved murders in the cities Alan traveled to. Could she be married to a serial killer?
Martha enlists the help of her old friend Lily Kintner to assist her in the investigation, and eventually Henry Kimball is brought in as well. What they find is more twisted and darker than anyone could imagine.
I flew through this book and had to pick my jaw up off the floor more than once. I loved the characters and the dynamic between Kintner & Kimball.
Endings are difficult but Swanson nailed this one. It was perfect!
I highly recommend the audiobook. The full cast audio performance was excellent. ...more
True crime content by its very nature addresses the pain and suffering of individuals. The best true crime, for me, is when the focus is on the psychoTrue crime content by its very nature addresses the pain and suffering of individuals. The best true crime, for me, is when the focus is on the psychology of the perp, and the investigation to get these monsters off the street, piecing together parts of the puzzle.
In this case, a victim escaped while the monster slept, police arrived and arrested him. Then details came out. The investigation was identifying the scope of his victims, identifying the women, and discovering just how depraved he was.
I read true crime, not as a voyeuristic endeavor, but as an effort to understand the psychology of why monsters do what they do, and to read about the intricacies of the investigation to bring them to justice.
The detective seems like a wonderful person and a highly competent investigator, and I greatly admire her expertise in bringing this serial murderer to justice for his atrocities. But I would have preferred less memoir/less of the author’s voice, which bogged the story down.
* I received a digital copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own...more
When children’s librarian Daphne is dumped by her fiance Peter for his longtime best friend Petra, Daphne finds herself stranded in a small Michigan tWhen children’s librarian Daphne is dumped by her fiance Peter for his longtime best friend Petra, Daphne finds herself stranded in a small Michigan town and moving in with Petra’s ex-boyfriend Miles.
Sound convoluted??
It is. And you know where this is going. The joy is in the journey. I love a fluffy summer read with substance, with humor & snark, and this book delivers. A lighter read with substance is one of my favorites.
I loved the Michigan setting, the friendship plotline, and the emphasis the author puts on the MC learning to make a life for herself without a partner.
Another winner! I can’t wait to see what next summer brings! ...more
I’ve never been a fan of most contemporary historical fiction. Why read fiction when the true story is riveting 5+++ stars!
And this is how it’s done!
I’ve never been a fan of most contemporary historical fiction. Why read fiction when the true story is riveting and rivals anything an author could imagine?
This book is the perfect example of narrative non-fiction at its finest.
Every word, every thought, every conversation is corroborated in the historical record, and Larson brings the characters to life for his readers. I was riveted from beginning to end, and felt I was living this time period alongside them.
Just as the author brought the events preceding WWII alive in his book, In The Garden of the Beasts, the author brings the events preceding the Civil War alive in this book.
I went into it thinking I knew the nuances and the history from the time prior to Lincoln’s election to the firing on Ft Sumter, the official beginning of the Civil War. I was wrong. My knowledge was incomplete.
What a treasure we have in Erik Larson. I can’t wait to see what he writes next.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. It was also excellent on audio....more
If you’re a fan of the Horowitz & Hawthorne duo, then you need no introduction to the characters. If you haven’t met them, do yourself a favor and staIf you’re a fan of the Horowitz & Hawthorne duo, then you need no introduction to the characters. If you haven’t met them, do yourself a favor and start with book one.
Horowitz, the character, is under a deadline to produce a book. In desperation he decides to write about one of Hawthorne’s old cases, a murder that took place 5 years ago in the seemingly idyllic cul-de-sac community of Riverview Close.
The residents have lived in peaceful harmony for many years until the neighbor from hell moves in. When he’s found on his doorstep with a crossbow to the chest, there is no shortage of motives among the quirky eccentric neighbors. As we get to know each of them, Horowitz’s detection skills are put to the test.
Very clever! The breadcrumbs are all there but my detection skills were put to the test too, and I was surprised at the resolution. The author has written a smart whodunit featuring my two favorite characters, and did so while keeping things fresh. The relationship between Horowitz & Hawthorne remains amusing, and the neighbors were delightfully annoying and fun (as long as they aren’t MY neighbors).
Excellent - all the stars! My reading buddy, Marialyce, and I thoroughly enjoyed our yearly dose of H&H and we can’t wait for the next book....more
In a small rural Alaskan town, the colony of vampyrs (vampires) and regular townspeople have an uneasy truce of sorts. The colony lives deep in the woIn a small rural Alaskan town, the colony of vampyrs (vampires) and regular townspeople have an uneasy truce of sorts. The colony lives deep in the woods outside of town and must leave the townspeople alone or risk officials authorizing a cull of their colony.
But a boy is found dead, apparently from a vicious vampyr attack. Barbara, the lead detective, and a vampyr expert, arrives to investigate if it was indeed a vampyr attack and authorize a cull of the colony of vampyrs, which many of the townspeople want. As she works the investigation, she suspects something even more sinister is afoot.
I loved Barbara. She’s in her 50’s a bit out of shape, loves food (but no reindeer please), and is intelligent, empathetic, and unafraid to stand up for what’s right.
I think the author did a great job of including vampires (vampyrs) in her story without making it into a traditional horror book. These are not the vampires we know from Dracula-type stories. Instead they look and act just as normal people do. Except of course they need to drink blood and they live hundreds of years (Ha!)
This story, at its heart, is about discrimination and hatred and two opposing viewpoints: those who think the only good vampyr is a dead vampyr vs those who have empathy for the vampyrs and are content to let them live in peace. There are laws that protect the vampyrs but that doesn’t stop the crimes against them.
C.J. Tudor is one of my favorite authors and gets props for writing such a unique murder mystery/police procedural with a side helping of horror lite that felt strangely believable.
*I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own...more
Rose, a nine-year-old girl witnessed the possible murder of her nanny and immediately stopped speaking. Her parents are divorcing and Stella, a best iRose, a nine-year-old girl witnessed the possible murder of her nanny and immediately stopped speaking. Her parents are divorcing and Stella, a best interest attorney, is appointed to serve as counsel for Rose in the bitter custody battle.
Stella quickly realizes the case is even more twisted, and the Barclay family far more troubled, than she imagined.
And there's something creepy about the house itself: there’s not a single shard of glass to be found: all glass was replaced by plastic.
Stella has quite a complicated past herself when she witnessed her mother’s death when she was a child, and also suffered from traumatic mutism. Which makes her the perfect person to relate to Rose.
Everyone in the house is a suspect, and everyone is lying. As Rose uncovers secrets she’s also forced to confront her own past.
This was an interesting premise that kept me guessing. A fun read, even if I did have to set aside some issues I had with the story, so a 4 star from me.
* I received a digital copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own ...more
This had a very strong start that quickly became bogged down by a dumb as a box of rocks MC, and an unrealistic foster child who is a brilliant child This had a very strong start that quickly became bogged down by a dumb as a box of rocks MC, and an unrealistic foster child who is a brilliant child prodigy.
The crypto currency and mobster side plots bored me to tears. The direction the book would take was telegraphed from the beginning: A Princess Di look-alike who has a residency in Las Vegas? A sister who looks just like her, who gets involved in a shady cryptocurrency deal?
Predictable, but the ending was so convoluted my eyes glazed over.
This was a buddy read with Marialyce, and sadly, not one we’d recommend....more
The novel opens when Annie, a 37-year-old wife and mother of four, drops dead of an aneurysm on her kitchen floor as her family gathers for dinner. AnThe novel opens when Annie, a 37-year-old wife and mother of four, drops dead of an aneurysm on her kitchen floor as her family gathers for dinner. And so begins life after Annie.
The novel is divided into seasonal sections, until a year has passed. The author, as she does in all her novels, puts us in the heads and hearts of her characters. We get to know and care about them deeply, and as we get to know them we also get to know Annie through their memories.
As I read, I began to think about these realistic and relatable characters even when I wasn’t reading. Anna Quindlen has a deep understanding of the human spirit, one that touches me.
Ali, who takes on more responsibility than any child should….Anthony (Ant), who in his grief turns into himself…the younger boys who still wait for mommy to come home….Bill, who is struggling to keep his plumbing business going while meeting the needs of his 4 kids without his Annie…..and her best friend Annemarie who struggles to stay clean in her recovery without Annie to save her from herself…
At this stage of my life, where I have known loss, and have dear friends who have suffered profound unimaginable losses, I related to the road these characters traveled. How do they cherish the memories of Annie while moving forward with the love she showed them?
The author doesn’t emotionally manipulate her readers, but instead has created a story of love, loss, family, and friendship, combined with the resilience of the human spirit, one that is ultimately filled with hope.
If you know me, you know I don’t give out 5 stars lightly. This book is worthy of 5 stars, and more. ...more
Lana, a reclusive ex-movie star, invites a small group of friends to visit on her private Greek island.
The fury of the Greek winds picks up and all aLana, a reclusive ex-movie star, invites a small group of friends to visit on her private Greek island.
The fury of the Greek winds picks up and all are stuck on the island without any means to leave.
Gunshots are fired, a body appears, and murder is not taking a holiday. The fury of the Greek winds are nothing compared to the fury going on in this group.
Elliot, the narrator, breaks the fourth wall and addresses the reader. The author has a bit of fun with his readers, as Elliot, by his own admission, is far from a reliable narrator.
I was kept entertained and guessing right up to the fun twisty end. The author is quickly becoming a top favorite!
A buddy read with my friend Marialyce. The audiobook, narrated by Alex Jennings, was excellent. ...more
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