Review: Daisy Darker

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed this creepy thriller. Set over a period of hours (with a lot of flashbacks thrown in) on a dark and stormy Halloween night in a dilapidated old Victorian house on an isolated beach, this story follows the members of the very dysfunctional Darker family as they are seemingly threatened by an unseen murderer intent on punishing them for deep and dark secrets from their pasts.
The book begins as Daisy, the youngest Darker sister, returns to her grandmother's home to celebrate the later's 80th birthday. The Darker matriarch, known as Nana, believes this birthday will be her last, and when her dead body is discovered at midnight the other members of the family, including her son, daughter-in-lay, 3 granddaughters, close neighbor and great-granddaughter all begin to fear that they are being picked off one-by-one, in And Then There Were None style.
Although the beginning of the story felt rather slow and dragged a bit, once the mystery began to take off I was completely drawn in. Daisy is a fascinating character and incredibly relatable. The family dynamic between all the characters was compelling and added to the mystery. I really had no idea who could be behind all of the murders. While I had my suspicions, I still couldn't quite put all the pieces together, and at the end when the big "twist" was revealed I have to admit that I was thoroughly surprised. The origins of the Darker family's huge secret all those years ago made me say, "Oh no!" out loud. While some of the "resolution" of the plot seemed a little too trite at the end, (view spoiler)[ mainly Nana's explanation of everything she had found out and how she managed to do everything, along with the final poisoning, (hide spoiler)] I still really enjoyed the book, and once I read the last sentence I immediately turned back to page one to find all the clues I had missed.
I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries, suspense, and psychological thrillers. This book was not perfect, but it is definitely something I would read on a gloomy October day!

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Review: Spells for Forgetting

Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. An unsolved murder with large dose of magic and eerie atmosphere make this a read read for spooky season! I am rounding up from a 3.5 because there were a few loose ends or plot points that I feel like could have used a little more resolution, but all in all this was a really good book.
This is the story of Emery, a woman who has lived on the island of Saoirse, in the Pacific Northwest, her whole life. Saoirse is an island full of magic, from the residents who follow the old ways, to the way omens and portents seem to blow in with the powerful storms. Emery was deeply affected by the death of her best friend Lilly, just after their graduation many years ago. Emery's boyfriend August was suspected of the murder, but was never charged and when he left the island Emery's life was irrevocably changed. Now, after the death of his mother, August has returned to the island to bury her, and dark forces on the island seem to have awakened with August's presence. Will the islanders welcome him or reopen old wounds? Will Emery be able to resolve the feelings she has carried all of these years? And what actually happened to Lilly--will the island let anyone forget?
This book was incredibly atmospheric, from the opening pages. I was drawn right into the slightly eldritch autumnal vibes immediately. From the descriptions to the setting to the characters, the author did a wonderful job of building an immersive world on this isolated island.
The mystery of Lilly was also well-done. I had no idea who would end up being responsible for her death, and have to admit I was surprised with the culprit was revealed.
The island itself and its magic plays a huge role in the story. I really enjoyed that aspect, but once the book was over I realized I could have used a little bit more explanation or examination of exactly what all the magic or forces that inhabited the island entailed. Leaving some of it to the imagination left me with a bit of an unresolved feeling.
Other than that, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a spooky book full of all the fall/Halloween vibes!

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Review: The Wild Hunt

The Wild Hunt by Emma Seckel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received and ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed this book. It was compelling, atmospheric, evocative, and a bit creepy; all while telling a timely and timeless story.
Leigh Welles suddenly returns to the small remote Scottish island where she grew up after receiving word that her father has drowned as the result of an accident. Leigh moved to "the mainland" after WWII to find her way in the world, but was unsuccessful, and feels a bit embarrassed and ashamed among the people she left behind. Iain MacTavish is a former RAF pilot who lost a great deal in the war and has returned to the island to try to find a way to rejoin post-war life. Both have returned to a different island, however, during the strange and eldritch month of October. Every year, from October 1st to the 31st, the sluagh flock to the island in great numbers. Named for the legendary Celtic "lost souls," these birds have always been eerie and disconcerting. But is seems that in the past several years the birds have taken on even more dark and ominous and behavior. Amidst the threat of the birds, a teenager goes missing, and Leigh and Iain feel obligated to discover not only what has happened to him, but also what might be the truth behind what is happening on their island.
The author does a wonderful job right off the bat of creating an atmosphere of isolation, desolation, and slight dread. As soon as Leigh returns and the first sluagh show up, the reader knows that something strange and perhaps otherworldly is going on. The fact that the islanders completely accept the dangerous and escalating behavior of the birds adds to the feeling of almost mythological preternaturalness. When Hugo disappears the tension and creepiness of the story are ratcheted up, and--while the story has an almost ethereal and unhurriedly mythic fable-like quality--it becomes very gripping and is very difficult to put down.
Another great aspect of the book was the way tragedy, loss, grief, and sadness are woven in, both literally and allegorically. The residents of the island have faced unspeakable hardships both during and after WWII, and the way they have dealt and are dealing with these issues are extremely significant--both for their time and the present day. Whatever dark force has a grip on the island must be addressed, and if the islanders cannot come to terms with it, the force may completely take control of the windswept speck of land.
I would certainly recommend this book. It tells a very relevant tale in a lyrical, slightly frightening, and hauntingly poignant way. It would be perfect for a rainy October day. If you enjoy historical fiction, magical realism, Celtic mythology, or a creepy tale, you should definitely check this book out.

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Review: The Ex Hex

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I saw this book everywhere and was looking forward to reading it, especially at this spooky time of year. A "witchy" romance sounded like the perfect read for Halloween. But the book just did not meet my expectations. At all.
The main premise of the story, that Vivi and Rhys had such an amazing relationship 9 years ago that they have not been able to forget or get over each other, is kind of flimsy given that they were 19 years old at the time, and only "dated" for 3 months. The reader isn't really given much context for their past "relationship" either, other than they were extremely attracted to each other. Did they share their hopes, dreams, plans for the future? Did they even TALK to each other?
When they do see each other again and spend more time together, I just was not detecting any chemistry or attraction. I felt like I was TOLD over and over how much they were attracted to each other instead of being shown how their relationship was evolving.
This book had all of the great Halloween vibes and all of the pumpkin spice caramel apple jack-o-lantern black cat spookiness you could want...but the characters felt two-dimensional. I would not recommend this book. It was just "meh" for me.

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Review: The Mother Next Door

The Mother Next Door by Tara Laskowski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I am rounding up a bit on this review. Was it an amazing book? No. But was it a fun, easy read that quickly satisfied my desire for a fall-themed thriller full of secrets and lies? Absolutely. The Mother Next Door takes place in an upscale neighborhood on an exclusive cul-de-sac full of a group of moms who most everybody else in the neighborhood envies. They stick together through thick and thin, and Theresa, who recently moved to the street, would love to join their clique. When Theresa seemingly gets her wish, she discovers that the moms may not all be quite what they seem, especially the "Queen Bee" Kendra. But Theresa has some secrets in her own past that could not only threaten her standing with her new friends, but also could destroy her life as she knows it.
One of the best things about this book was the fact that it is set in the lead-up to Halloween. It begins just as the school year starts, and then concludes with the annual epic Halloween neighborhood party thrown by the moms of the cul-de-sac. I found it a perfect read for this time of year, to get you in the mood for all things fall. That being said, the descriptions could have been more immersive--if you are looking to feel transported to a place full of crisp breezes with brittle leaves dancing in the air, creepy moonlit mists, and the smell of cider, this isn't where you'll find it. But pretty much everything you would associate with fall is mentioned, from pumpkin coffee to candy corn to inflatable lawn decorations to slasher movies to backyard bonfires. But as I stated, it felt as though these things were thrown in with an intended "casualness" that didn't quite hit the right note (almost like there was a check list of things that should be included in the book). These things really made me see and smell and FEEL the season.
My favorite character in the book was Kendra. I feel like her motivations and personality were really explored well. I knew where she was coming from, and even if I didn't always like her actions or agree with her decisions, she felt like an engaging character. I had a hard time relating to Theresa, however. She just felt a little flat to me and I couldn't connect with her. The problem this created was that, as the reader, I was supposed to sympathize with her and feel her anxiety... But I didn't. And this may be a spoiler, but--(view spoiler)[the character of Alice ended up confusing me a bit in the end. I kind of felt like there was more there that could have or should have been explored. Or maybe that I had missed something... (hide spoiler)]
The plot was good. I followed along on Theresa's journey to fit in as the school year progressed through bake sales, football games, and committee meetings--all while someone is out there threatening the tenuous status quo of Theresa's new neighborhood. I guessed a couple of the secrets and twists, but some were a complete surprise. I did like the ending; it felt like if fit the tone of the book very well.
I have read other books that evoke that feeling you get in autumn much better than this book did. I have read thrillers that really ratchet up the tension better than this book did. I have read books about seemingly idyllic neighborhoods that reveal the painful reality behind the "perfect" residents better than this book did. Which made me want to give it 3 stars. BUT...over-all I did enjoy this book quite a bit! It was fun. It was a quick read that kept me wanting to know what would happen next. It really got me in the mood for fall. It had just the right amount of "soapy" elements to keep me entertained without making me want to roll my eyes. The characters might have been slightly one-dimensional, but sometimes you want a book like that! (SO many books have tortured, deeply flawed, terribly complex characters these days that a break from that can be nice.) So, because I liked the book, despite its shortcomings, I am giving this 4 stars. If you are looking for a fun, light thriller to get you ready for Spooky Season, then I would recommend this book

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