Review: First Lie Wins

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely loved this thriller about a con woman who begins to realize her mysterious boss may be trying to sabotage her on her latest job. Evie Porter was a great character: morally gray but with a massive amount of rooting value--as the reader, I wanted her to succeed! The plot unfolded impeccably; small bits of the the truth were revealed while the reader learned more about who "Evie" really was and how she ended up attempting to con her "boyfriend" Ryan when her boss seemingly pulled the rug out from under her. I never knew what was going to happen next, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride--the pacing was spot-on and all of the plot points felt believable while still surprising. I did not want the book to end, even though I could not wait to see if Evie would be able to pull off her scheme and outwit Mr. Smith. I could totally see this as a movie! I would highly recommend this book, and will read more by this author.

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Review: The Vacancy in Room 10

The Vacancy in Room 10 by Seraphina Nova Glass
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I am rounding up on this one. I have enjoyed this author's books in the past (I absolutely loved On a Quiet Street), but the ending of the last book I read (The Vanishing Hour) felt rushed and glossed over. In reading this book, I got the same feeling, but sadly, not just at the end.

This is the story of Anna and Cass, who come into each other's orbit at The Sycamores, a scuzzy motel-turned apartment complex (you will not forget this detail--the reader is reminded constantly). Anna's husband recently committed suicide and she leaves their home and moves into the Sycamores, where her husband had his painting studio, in an attempt to understand his last days and why he was so lost. Cass ended up as the apartment manager/maintenance worker after her long-time boyfriend cheated on her with a younger woman. At this point, there really isn't much of a mystery or any suspense in the story. Cass has been blackmailing no-good men for extra money, but there is no real threat of danger, or tension. Eventually the action does pick up, and the reader wonders what secrets the residents of The Sycamores are hiding.

This whole book just felt "messy" to me. I couldn't really figure out why, until I was reminded of the Food Network show in which Guy Fieri challenges contestants to create a dish using criteria from "The Randomizer," including ingredients, cooking methods, appliances/utensils, and cooking time. It was almost like the author did the same thing in this book. "You have to write a mystery/thriller and incorporate cheating spouses--bonus points for more than one, domestic violence, drug cartels, murder/attempted murder made to look like suicide--again, bonus points for more than one!, mentions of child abuse, blackmail, inappropriate teacher-student relationships, miscarriages, assault, a "crazy cat person," a high-society ball/gala, burying a body in the desert, and illegal prescription drugs. And if you can include a box of maggots and poop in a pool, you are guaranteed to go on to the next round!" It just felt all over the place. Some aspects could definitely have been left out completely and streamlined--and while the characters and descriptions of The Sycamores were well-done, evocative, and added a wonderful depth to the story, that seemed to actually come at the expense of action and plot. The pacing was very off--some parts felt extremely rushed, and due to the fact that the reader was seeing it exclusively from one character's point of view, felt very glossed over. And the character of Anna was not well-developed. She was constantly making very stupid decisions, and therefore I didn't really like her.

But my biggest issue was the fact that once the action really picked up, everything unfolded--much too quickly--very conveniently. Crucial information that was withheld from the reader was revealed (a pet peeve of mine in mysteries), and moments that should have elicited a "Wow! What a twist!" instead just came across as "Humph. Isn't that convenient..." The ending just felt like everything was tied up in a neat bow, which was great for everybody. It didn't really fit for what had been a gritty story with characters living lives that were not pretty or easy.

I did like Frank!

I will probably give this author one more shot. But if you are looking for a suspenseful thriller full of tension, this is not it.

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Review: None of This Is True

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed this book. It was gripping, twisty, and hard to put down.
Alix and Josie meet in a pub on what is both women's 45 birthday. Alix, a successful podcaster, is celebrating with friends, and Josie finds herself a bit envious of Alix and all she seems to have accomplished in her 45 years. Josie manages to run into Alix a few days later and finagle her way onto Alix's new podcast. As Josie begins to talk to Alix about her past, Alix begins to wonder if Josie could be in danger. But when Alix offers to help Josie escape what seems to be a horrible life full of abuse, pain, and trauma, Alix begins to wonder who is actually telling the truth--maybe Josie is the one putting Alix in danger.
The reader knows right off the bat that something bad has happened--at best untoward and at worst criminal. As the story goes back in time and the unfolding of Alix and Josie's relationship is shown, the reader is not quite sure who or what to believe. The author does a great job of creating a feeling of "off-ness." Something is not right, but no one is quite sure what it is. Is Josie telling the truth? Is Alix being manipulated? As the action ramped up, I had a very hard time putting the book down, and there were actually a few times where I said, "Oh no!" out loud.
My only issue with the book was the very end. I think it was intended for the reader to be able to draw their own conclusions about Josie, her past, and her actions, but to me the attempt at ambiguity cheapened the story just a bit. But I still really liked the book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys twisty psychological suspense thrillers with narrators who might be a bit unreliable.

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Review: The Vanishing Hour

The Vanishing Hour by Seraphina Nova Glass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I think I am rounding up just a little bit: I really enjoyed this book...until the last bit... Then I found myself underwhelmed, and it kind of ruined the book for me.
No matter what the synopsis on the back of the book says, this is the story of 3 different people: one is the survivor of a horrible kidnapping many years ago, one is the single mom of a teen-aged girl who has recently disappeared, and one is a man who's father is missing. We see the story unfold from each person's point-of-view. Will the kidnapping survivor be able to put her past behind her, and could what happened to her have something to do with the people going missing in the present?
I enjoyed all three of the main characters and found myself rooting for all of them. I even enjoyed the secondary characters--even Vinny! The pacing was well-done and I really had a hard time putting the book down.
I will say that when it was time for the big "climax" and reveal of the crime and who was guilty, everything felt smashed together, and it moved so quickly that it really didn't feel like much of a payoff. Then the "resolution," instead of feeling satisfying and hopeful, was a bit depressing and open-ended--and not in a good way. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I felt kind of like, "oh... okay... well, that's crummy for them..." when I finished the last page. So I'm on the fence about whether to recommend this one or not...

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Review: A Death at the Party

A Death at the Party by Amy Stuart
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I tried really hard, but I just could not get into this book or connect with the main character. The plot dragged and there was nothing to draw me into the story or keep me interested. I did not care about Nadine, her motives, her past, or her future. She was rude, dismissive, selfish, and unlikable. I realized halfway through that I didn't even care about Colleen or who the dead guy was on the floor, so I DNF.
The cover is gorgeous, however...

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Review: The Woman Inside

The Woman Inside by M.T. Edvardsson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I am not quite sure what I think about this book. It started off pretty well and the characters really drew me in. But after a few chapters I just got really REALLY mad at some of them and I got a bit fed up with the very slow pace of the plot.
The book begins with the police discovering two dead bodies, and then introduces Bill, a widowed father struggling to care for his young daughter Lucy. In order to make ends meet, he takes in a lodger, Karla. Karla is a student who wants to become a lawyer one day, and she works as a maid for a well-to-do couple in order to make enough money to pay her rent. The other main character we meet is Jennica, a young woman who works as a phone psychic at night and pretends to attend university during the day, who has just begun a relationship with an intriguing older man.
As the story unfolded, I began to get really fed up with Bill, and found myself really not liking Jennica at all. The only characters I liked were Sally and Karla. And even then I feel like the author missed some opportunities to really allow the reader to feel a strong connection to Karla--some of her actions/decisions/motivations were a bit glossed over. The pacing of the book really lacked any suspense or urgency. Not all books have to be edge-of-your-seat thrillers, but there needs to be a feeling that something is going to happen that will have a big impact on the characters. And I found that missing in this book. The ending left me unsatisfied, as well.
I am not sure if I would recommend this book or not. It is definitely slow-moving and has several very unlikable characters.

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Review: The Second Husband

The Second Husband by Kate White
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received and ARC of this book.
I was very confused by my review copy and I will go back and change my rating if the review copy changes before publication, but... ***Edited at the bottom***
I did not enjoy this book. I had multiple issues with it, from the 2-dimensional main character Emma and her constant "off-handed" materialistic mentions of everything from shoes to cars to restaurants to clothes to furniture, to the lack of tension or suspense, to the flimsy issue and “lie” that the whole plot was based on. I actually had notes upon notes of all the things I didn’t like ready for when I wrote this review.
But I will not go into all of that because the last two sentences of the book literally made no sense--to the point where I think there was something wrong with my review copy. The book had no ending at all and the ending that was included sounded like two sentences had been copied from somewhere else in the book and just stuck on. If that actually IS the ending, then I absolutely would NOT recommend it.
As it is, I would not recommend this book, despite the fact that I really enjoyed the author's previous work, The Fiancée.

***Edit***
I happened upon this book in the bookstore last week, and thought I would give the last few pages a glance to see if my opinion might change, or if my review copy was in fact messed up. I discovered that my ARC was NOT the same as the hard copy of the final book, but the actual ending made me like the book even less! I was not impressed at all.
So, that being said, here are the notes I took all those months ago about why I couldn't stand this book:
There are several internal monologues in which Emma worries endlessly as she goes through expensive food, searches for designer clothes, etc. It got way too repetitive.
There are so many details about things that don't matter, like random people's outfits, what people ordered at restaurants, expensive decor, etc. (Who cares if he wore loafers without socks?!)
The author is extremely heavy-handed about "clues."
Emma is always snooping around when she could be easily caught, instead of just waiting a few hours for a time when she definitely wouldn't get caught.
There is not enough backstory on Derrick. The reader is told he was "cruel," but not shown. Since this is such a huge plot point the reader needs to really feel and understand why Emma doesn't like him.
In a moment full of tension, the reader gets taken out of the story by mentions of the outdoor furniture story where they bought patio furniture. What? Who cares?!
Brittany is not a well-drawn character. She is amorphous and not even two dimensional.
In all the moments when Emma is terrified, she does nothing about it. And she's still so preoccupied with organic salads, silk blouses, and linen trousers.
Emma jumps to strange conclusions on very little shaky evidence.
There is no sense of tension or suspense. And when Emma is trying to make an escape, she waits 10 minutes for a taxi instead of hurrying down the road to meet it.
When you are reading a book and stop consistently to take notes about all of the flaws (and end up with pages of notes!) something is wrong. I would not recommend this book AT ALL, and will skip anything else by this author.
In

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Review: The Couple at Number 9

The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book. 4.5 stars!
I really really really enjoyed this book! Saffy, a young expectant mother, lives in the cozy cottage she inherited from her doting grandmother Rose. Saffy and her boyfriend Tom are in the midst of renovating their new home when contractors uncover two skeletons buried in the garden. Needless to say, Saffy is shocked, especially when it looks as though her grandmother could have some knowledge of how two bodies came to be buried at her old home. Rose suffers from dementia, however, and even when Saffy's capricious mother Lorna comes to help, everyone wonders if the real truth will ever come out. The stakes are raised when a mysterious man shows up looking for "evidence" and threatening the residents of the cottage. What exactly happened 30 years ago to cause Rose to abandon her home with her small child, and does it have anything to do with the deaths of two people?
Pretty much everything about this book was great. The characters really drew me in from the beginning and made me want to know what had happened in the past at the seemingly idyllic cottage, and how those in the present would get to the truth. The pacing was very well-done, too. It was slow enough to reveal nuances and yet fast enough to keep me interested and turning the pages as quickly as I could. I never got bored and wanted to skim anything. At about 2/3 of the way through I thought, "Wait a minute...what if...??!!" I had figured out the big twist, but I had to sit for a bit, staring off into space, trying to figure it all out in my head and see if it all fit into place. I thought, "I think THIS could be what's going on...! Wow!" And that's what really sealed the deal for me with the book. Sometimes when you figure out a twist it just seems too obvious, or you think," Of course this is what's happening. You are being too heavy-handed, author!" and roll your eyes. But in this case I thought it was very well-done, and the fall-out from revealing the twist really gave it serious impact. The ending was great, too. I have to admit I teared up at the last page. My only real issue was with Saffy. She was supposed to be an important character but she came across as whiny, petulant, and pouty to me--but she did redeem herself a bit at the very end. I really liked Lorna, Rose, and Theo much more than Saffy.
This book is full of tension, old mysteries, motherly love, and secrets that people will kill to keep hidden.
If you are looking for a great mystery, I would absolutely recommend this book.

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Review: On a Quiet Street

On a Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received and ARC of this book.
Wow, this was a great book! Was it perfect? No, but it kept me on the edge of my seat, rooting for characters (some of whom I wasn't sure I should be rooting for), turning pages because I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next, and yet not wanting the book to end. I loved it.
The story takes place in a seemingly-idyllic affluent neighborhood that at first glance might appear placid, boring, and "normal." But right off the bat the reader realizes there is much more going on beneath the surface and this quiet street is full of secrets, lies, and horrible crimes. Paige is trying to come to terms with the hit-and-run death of her son just a year before but is doing it by pushing away her husband, obsessing over her neighbors, and hounding the police about solving what she believes was her son's murder. Cora believes her husband is having an affair, no matter how much he denies it, and confides in Paige, who offers to investigate the matter. And then rumors surround Georgia, the young English wife of a prominent judge--is she just standoffish, or does she really have a mental health issue that is keeping her isolated in her own home with her young daughter? The way the lives of these three women intersect is twisty, beguiling, and shocking. Everyone is keeping secrets, and the way the secrets are slowly revealed and the lives of these women are changed in the process kept me guessing and gasping out loud.
The characters in this book are wonderful. Each of the three women are compelling and the way the author develops each character throughout the book is amazing. While Paige, Cora, and Georgia all do things that are dishonest, questionable, and perhaps even criminal, they all have rooting value and it is easy for the reader to grasp their motivations in their actions.
The plot while just a bit slow in the first fourth or so, picked up big time and had me at the edge of my seat from about 30% on. What started off as, "Oh no...she shouldn't be doing that," soon turned into,"No!! Why did she do that?!!" and then to, "Oh my goodness, NO! DON'T DO THAT!" And just when I thought I had figured out how things would go, an unbelievable twist would come up that would make me literally widen my eyes, think to myself, "What?! No way!" and wonder what on earth would happen next. So many little clues are dropped in here or there that I was soon thinking to myself, "Oh, that's why she said that," or "I remember when that was mentioned," or something along those lines. And even at the very end, the book got even more exciting in the last pages.
The best thing I can say about this book is that I kept checking how many pages were left because I did not want it to be over. Having enjoyed the author's previous book, Such a Good Wife, I was looking forward to reading this one, but this book absolutely blew me away. I would 100% recommend this book if you like mystery, crime, domestic thrillers, and a story that will keep you guessing.

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Review: Mrs England

Mrs England by Stacey Halls
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I am not quite sure how to rate or review this book. It was well-written and drew me into the story. But it was also very slow-paced and I don't think it's going to stay with me for very long. Once I got to the very end, I wasn't sure what the point of everything was. It just kind of left me shrugging my shoulders, but not really invested enough to spend much more time thinking about it.
This book, despite its title, focuses on Ruby, the newly employed nurse to the England family. Ruby moves to their isolated house and does her best to take care of what turns out to be slightly neglected children. Their mother, Mrs. England, seems to be forgetful at best and completely out of touch with reality at worst. She doesn't seem to have or want much of a relationship with her children, and much of the running of the household falls to her husband, Mr. England. Ruby is able to get the nursery back into tip-top shape and creates a wonderful routine for her charges, but begins to wonder if something isn't very wrong in the England home when things go missing, she intercepts enigmatic glances, and various disasters are narrowly averted. Is there something truly wrong with Mrs. England? Is Mr. England hiding secrets?
The author did a wonderful job of creating a setting and drawing the reader into an upper-class home at the turn of the 20th century. The world of Ruby May was described in great detail--almost too much detail. A great portion of the book was spent on describing washing nappies or combing out hair or making sure the pram was ready to be taken out. It got a bit repetitive and slightly boring. There were so many obscure mentions of little "clues" in the story that got lost by the wayside of the "daily life in an early 1900s nursery" that I got frustrated and needed a bit more meat and a lot less filler. This really threw off the pacing of the book. The real "story" of the book became more and more ephemeral as it went on and I wasn't sure where I should be grasping at it and what was a red herring or just a detail mentioned in passing. There were also quite a few weird interactions between the characters that I wasn't sure what was supposed to be important and what was just strange.
This wasn't a bad book, it was just slow and felt slightly disjointed. I liked Ruby and I was rooting for her, even if I didn't always agree with her decisions. I will say that I wasn't quite sure what to make of the last three sentences in the book.
If you like VERY slow-burning gothic mysteries, maybe this is the book for you. I don't think it was the book for me, though.

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Review: My Darling Husband

My Darling Husband by Kimberly Belle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I am rounding up a bit, but I enjoyed this book. It was an interesting thriller about a mother, Jade, and her two children who are taken hostage in their own home by a masked intruder. Jade learns that the man who invaded her home wants an oddly specific amount of money from her very rich husband, and the man wants the money in an almost impossible amount of time. Jade begins to wonder if her husband is hiding terrible secrets all while trying to find a way to keep her children and herself safe.
This author did a good job of ratcheting up tension while letting the story unfold. Jade had enormous rooting value and Cam was a compelling character, despite all of the mistakes he made. I enjoyed the way the story was told through Jade's point-of-view, Cam's point-of-view, and a TV interview after the fact.
This book really reminded me of another book, Mother May I. If you like domestic suspense, thrillers, and mysteries, I would recommend this book.

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Review: The Overnight Guest

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed this mystery/thriller about a true crime writer confronted with a mysterious "guest" during a terrible snow storm. Wylie has isolated herself in a secluded old farmhouse that was once the scene of a horrific crime. She is researching the tragic events for her next book and, one evening as a massive storm blows in, she discovers a young boy outside half frozen in the snow. As she attempts to help the boy and find out why he has showed up at her door, she realizes he has escaped from someone or something very bad, and is not yet out of danger. The book also bounces back to the timeline of the crime that occurred in the old house, and the reader learns about a young girl named Josie, who was the only survivor of the grisly events of that summer night.
This story was compelling and drew me in. I really felt the tension as Wylie found herself cut off by the storm and discovered the child outside her house. At the same time, Josie's storyline was sad, horrific, and mesmerizing. The icy winds and freezing snow were described just as well as the sweltering heat and oppressive summer sun.
One big twist I figured out fairly quickly, but another twist did surprise me. Once all of the events really came to a head and Wylie was confronted with true danger, the action kind of felt a little unbelievable and there was a loose end or two that I felt needed to be addressed. But I really did enjoy this book and read it pretty much in one sitting.
If you enjoy thrillers, suspense, and mystery, I would recommend this book.

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Review: Ready or Not

Ready or Not by Alex Lake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I am definitely rounding up on this book. It was a fast, thrilling read, and I enjoyed trying to figure out who was killing random people and threatening young journalist and mother Alice. But this book also had some serious issues.
The story line of the emotionless serial killer was tense and engrossing. I was drawn in to wondering who exactly was responsible for the murders. The impending threat to the health and safety of infant Jo was also quite gripping. It seemed as though everyone in her life loved her dearly, so who was hurting her?
But right in the middle of the book, **spoiler alert** when the serial killer left another note for Alice at her home, I began to have issues with the story, however. Why did no one question how the note got INSIDE the house?! At this point I had kind of guessed the real identity of Alice, and so I kept wondering why the police were not asking the OBVIOUS question. I did still however enjoy watching the plot unfold, even though what should have been a tense climax was a bit drawn out and the ending left me a bit unsatisfied.
This was not a fabulous suspense thriller, but it was a good read that I definitely had a hard time putting down.

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Review: The Chateau

The Chateau by Catherine Cooper
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I am not sure how to review this book. It was a bit disjointed, included quite a bit of filler and "details" that didn't have much bearing on the story, was full of very unlikeable characters, and the ending left me a bit unsatisfied. And yet...I couldn't put the book down! So I'm not sure how I feel about it.
As the book began, told from Aura's POV, I knew some twists would ensue and as strange occurrences and disturbing events took place I wasn't sure what would happen next. When I got to Part II and saw things from Nick's POV I was delightedly shocked and my opinion of Aura completely changed. I was, however, incredibly confused as to what was going on and how this part of the story really fit into the whole "chateau" premise. When the story finally returned to France it seemed to have lost its flow, and when the second death in France occurred, I was thrown completely off-balance--and not in a good way.
At the conclusion of the book, when the two "twists" were revealed, one left me feeling quite unsatisfied while one made me feel quite the opposite.[ the two "twists" were revealed, one left me feeling quite unsatisfied while one made me feel quite the opposite. (hide spoiler)]
This is definitely not the best suspense/thriller I've ever read. But if you want a quick escapist read and can overlook some flaws in logic, then this is the book for you.

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Review: Nanny Dearest

Nanny Dearest by Flora Collins
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I tried with this book, but I just did not like it. It was very slow, the characters were all unlikable, and by the end I just got to the point where I didn't care what happened to any of them. There were some things that were described in completely unnecessary, almost gory, detail, while other things that should have been important to the plot were left just hanging. I guess the reader is supposed to draw his or her own conclusions, but that only works if the reader cares enough about the characters and the story to spend time thinking about them once he or she is finished reading. And sadly, I did not. If a book is going to be "slow-moving," it needs to create the kind of atmosphere that keeps the reader engaged despite the lack of action. This book did not have that.
Annelise was fascinating, but completely unsympathetic. I tried to root for Suzy, but by the end I was just fed up with her. Every time I put the book down, I had no real feeling of urgency to return to the book. And I did not like the ending at all. I would not recommend this book.

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Review: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really really enjoyed this book. I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting when I began this book, but I was definitely pleasantly surprised. I have been wanting to read it for more than a year, and have had it on hold at the library for several months. I was very excited when I finally got the email that I could start reading it! This is not a light-hearted tongue-in-cheek romp about Southern ladies hunting vampires with wooden stakes and bushels of garlic. But it is a compelling look at how society can marginalize people and sometimes it is up to those very people to take a stand when no one else will.
The book introduces us to Patricia Campbell, a "good Southern housewife" living in 1990s Charleston. She joins a book club with some other women from her suburban neighborhood, and they really enjoy delving into true crime novels. One day, after wishing for a bit more excitement in her life, Patty is viciously attacked by her elderly neighbor, who subsequently dies. Patty--due to her aforementioned Southern upbringing--feels compelled to take her neighbor's family a casserole. At her neighbor's house she meets a strange man who says he is the great nephew of the dead woman. He is mysterious, odd, has no ID, a great deal of cash, ...and Patty somehow feels compelled to help him. But amidst creepy warnings from Patty's dementia-stricken mother-in-law, completely bizarre deaths, and tragic incidents surrounding children, Patty begins to feel like her new neighbor might somehow be involved.
While reading this book I know that I said, "Oh no!" out loud and put my hand over my mouth once. I whispered, "No...she didn't!" a couple of times. At least once I muttered, "Why did he do that?!" I grabbed my husband's arm, squirmed, and groaned, "no...no...no...no!" out loud during one particularly gruesome part. And I am not one to react OUT LOUD to books!
One of the best things about this book that is often lacking in other stories that are intended to be suspenseful is the way the author set up the scenes. Several times we knew our characters were walking into a tense situation, or something terrible was about to happen. The author was able to describe the scenery and setting and create an atmosphere of terrible suspended anticipation without making me want to skip over the set-up and just get to the action. The description made the action that ensued that much richer, instead of feeling like filler.
This book was interesting, intriguing, gory and gruesome in places, and full of gripping characters. I loved the setting and the imagery. I would definitely recommend this book.

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Review: Last Girl Ghosted

Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book. 

This book started off so good. In the middle it seemed like a completely different book. And by the end I was just kind of confused...
I was excited to read this story about Wren, who is encouraged by her best friend to try a dating app, and through it meets Adam, an intriguing and mysterious man with whom Wren feels an immediate connection. The two begin a relationship which lasts for 3 months, until one day when Adam completely disappears (after Wren has confessed something to him about a serious time in her past). Wren tries to find Adam and discover what is really going on when she is confronted by a private investigator who reveals Adam may not be at all what he seemed, and is probably connected to the disappearance of 3 other women.
At this point, I was loving the book. I felt like I was reading an episode of Dateline or something, and couldn't wait to see what would happen next. But then the book took a turn. In Wren's flashbacks the reader discovers more about her painful past and what has made her into the woman she is today. While this part of the book was compelling, it was not at all what I was expecting, and the book became much less of a mystery or psychological thriller, and more of an exploration of Wren's personal journey as she tried to live with her demons. It was dark, depressing, and hard to read.
Then, the book started to pick up again as it looked like Adam--or whoever was behind his disappearance--may be close to coming out in the open and revealing what exactly was going on. I was rooting for Wren to take charge and make whoever was responsible pay for what was going on. But in the last 1/3 things got weird. Wren made questionable decision after questionable--actually terrible--decision (I expected more of her), the timeline of the book got very confusing, and things that should have been elaborated on and delved into were barely mentioned. Things that didn't have much bearing on the story were described in incredible detail. I just got confused. Then the "climax" of the book was more than a little convenient and unbelievable. And I was left feeling a bit disappointed.
I am not sure what this book was trying to be--a twisty psychological thriller, a story of a woman's quest to confront her past and become the best version of herself, a tense and creepy suspense-filled mystery? It's like it was trying to be all three, and failed. I am not sure if I would recommend this book or not.

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Review: The House of Ashes

The House of Ashes by Stuart Neville
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I wouldn't call this a fun or quick read, but it was definitely a good book. The story and characters really stayed with me even after I finished the book.
The story starts with Sara, a young wife whose husband has moved the couple to a remote Irish cottage that has been in disrepair. But the book really, in my opinion, picks up with Mary's story, who apparently lived in the same house some years earlier. Mary was incredibly compelling, even as a very young girl. The author is able to use Mary and her point of view to relate some of the horrifically tragic events that take place in the house, and very effectively does that without being graphic or gratuitous. In a book that deals with such serious issues, this was a very smart way to let the reader know what was going on without having to implicitly describe things in detail that would be very unwanted.
I was completely drawn in by Mary and, even though I had some idea of what would happen to her, I was rooting for her throughout the book. Even though the reader pretty much knows what heinous event took place in that house decades ago, the author still does a superb job of building the tension to a point that when it does finally occur, it almost feels like a relief.
I would have liked a little more fleshing out with Sara. While she was a main character I feel like I knew her less that may of the secondary characters.
This is a haunting book that deals with serious issues. I did like it, despite thinking early in that I would not. It is very well written.

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Review: Such a Good Wife

Such a Good Wife by Seraphina Nova Glass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I enjoyed this book. It was a quick, easy, soapy kind of mystery that would be great for a vacation or beach read.
Melanie is a seemingly perfect wife. She cares for her mother-in-law who is suffering from dementia, her young son who has autism, as well as her teenaged daughter and husband. She gets everyone to school and their practices, makes healthy meals, and does her best to be diligent with her mother-in-law's and son's care. And so it is easy to see how Melanie feels a bit invisible and worn out. When she encounters a best-selling author at a local bookstore, she allows herself to get caught up in a steamy affair. While she can't believe that she is doing it, she also enjoys the feeling of having someone really see her and put her first. But then when she discovers the dead body of the man she's been involved with, the perfect life she's built threatens to fall down around her. Why is he dead? How did he die? Did anyone see her leaving his house? Does anyone know her secret?
This was a fun book. It was a quick read and hard to put down. I liked Melanie. Even though she made some pretty bad decisions--especially in the beginning, deciding to get involved with another man--her feelings of being overwhelmed by her responsibilities and invisible to those around her give the reader some insight into the motivations for her behavior.
The setting was very immersive too. I felt drawn into the steamy heat of small-town Louisiana, and enjoyed all the details.
The plot and the mystery were well-done as well. There were several unscrupulous characters, some red herrings, and lots of secrets to untangle. I will admit I never say the end coming. The "resolution" might have been a bit far-fetched and a little too easy when all was said and done, but I still enjoyed it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a quick, fun mystery to read at the beach or on vacation.

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Review: The Fiancée

The Fiancée by Kate White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed this book. The author used the setting, the plot, and the characters to create a feeling of tense and slightly eerie suspense that permeated the book.
Summer is very excited about accompanying her husband and young step-son to her in-laws' idyllic, rural, and extensive property for their annual family vacation. Amazing meals and cozy accommodations, all over-seen by the family matriarch Claire, create an atmosphere of relaxation at its best. Summer is also looking forward to spending time with her extended family, until one of her brothers-in-law brings his new girlfriend, Hannah. Summer is immediately suspicious of Hannah after she catches her in a lie. Hannah's strange behavior--apparently only obvious to Summer--only increases until Summer cannot shake the feeling that Hannah is not at all what she seems. When someone ends up dead, Summer knows Hannah must be involved somehow, and tries to find a way to root out exactly what Hannah's agenda could be. As another body appears and even more secrets and lies are exposed, Summer has to find a way to save the family she loves.
The first thing that I loved about this book was the setting. The author does a great job of transporting the reader to an intentionally casual yet lavish country retreat where the affluent Keaton family spends their vacations together. The descriptions of the food, the colorful gardens, the cozy cottages, and the al fresco meals with wine freely flowing and fireflies dancing really made me want to vacation with the Keatons, too! The setting really became a character in the story. Then when Hannah joins the group, the author is able to subtly introduce tension. Is the tension truly there, or is it only visible to Summer? The reader is not sure, but it is definitely there.
I also really enjoyed Summer. She is a character that is relatable and worth rooting for. While it seems to the reader that Summer might go a bit overboard when it comes to her distrust of Hannah, and there are a few times when Summer doesn't always make the best decisions, Summer doesn't ever get annoying or stupid. And I really appreciated that. It seems I have read so many books lately in which the main character is either extremely naive (too-dumb-to-live!) or just so unlikable that there is no rooting value. Summer was someone I liked and enjoyed reading about. It was refreshing.
The mystery was well-done, too. While the initial crime might be a little obscure (I don't want to give away any spoilers), I liked it nonetheless. The way that the tension in the family ratcheted up every time Summer overheard a private conversation or stumbled upon a secret encounter worked to change the atmosphere from a bucolic country retreat to an isolated, insular tract of land cut off from the rest of the world.
I would absolutely recommend this book. It would be great to take on a summer vacation for anyone who enjoys mystery, domestic suspense, and thrillers.

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