*Mini Reviews contain a book description, review, and buy links.
AUDIOBOOK DESCRIPTION
There’s a blood moon rising over the tiny Maine town of Coyote Cove when Chief Maggie Riley comes across the body of a man, blood seeping from stab wounds into the damp forest floor. As she desperately struggles to secure the scene as an approaching storm threatens to destroy all evidence, Heather, a local teenage girl, emerges from the woods terrified, a silent scream on her lips.
Maggie, a decorated former homicide detective and more than over-qualified for a two-horse-town police chief, has been hiding from her past for the last four years. The quiet of Coyote Cove was everything she needed after… what happened. But with this murder, the life she left behind has found her. Who is the killer? Why was Heather out in the woods that night? And what dark secret is the girl hiding? To uncover the truth, Maggie must use the skills, and contacts, of her former world, however painful that will be.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
The Chief Maggie Riley Series starts out strong! This is a complex, clever thriller with many twists, turns, and surprises you won’t see coming. Maggie, the main protagonist, is complicated and flawed, as are we all. The story is told from multiple points of view, but it never gets confusing. The setting in the small Maine town and Maggie’s backstory promise lots of intrigue and suspense to come. The multi-layered characters will keep everyone guessing.
If you like to read about situations that are not what they seem, this might be the book for you. I am looking forward to Book 2. If you like Thrillers, try this one!
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a good job of portraying the characters, especially Maggie and Heather.
I received a free copy of this audiobook via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
*A mini-review consists of a book review and buy links.
This is beautifully written, captivating historical fiction set in two timelines: During World War II when women are being called into the workforce, and after World War II when the same women are forced to give up their jobs. I think of the earlier timeline more as flashbacks than a true dual timeline novel, as eventually the reader is only shown the post World War II timeline.
Forced out of her job as a riveter in Los Angeles, and with nowhere to go after the war ends, Hazel ends up in Laguna Beach as an assistant to a well-known artist, Hanson Radcliffe. Hanson is an alcoholic with a secret past. Determined to do a good job and also dealing with Hanson’s many personality problems, Hazel doesn’t want to reveal her own heartache–she has a secret past too.
I absolutely loved every bit of this book. Hazel’s journey from lonely girl in Wichita to working with airplanes in Los Angeles seems to end sadly, but takes a new direction in Laguna Beach. I loved all of the quirky characters and the sense of community. The Pageant of the Masters is a real event in Laguna Beach, and it was a treat watching Hazel become part of it. I could see the live depictions of classic paintings come alive through the author’s descriptions. The Hotel Laguna is also a big part of this book and comes alive as almost a character unto itself.
This is a journey of discovery set in a magical place. I recommend it to everyone.
I received a free copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Below are mini-reviews of two very different books: Identity by Nora Roberts and The Tapestry of Grace by Kim Vogel Sawyer. Identity is a thriller and The Tapestry of Grace is Christian Historical Fiction. Click on the covers for buy links and book descriptions on Amazon. Mini-reviews are just a slightly condensed version of the reviews I usually provide.
IDENTITY AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
This is a very compelling thriller that was hard to put down. I connected with the characters immediately and the villain is oh, so very evil. I was kept enthralled throughout the whole book. The ups and downs of the main character were heartbreaking, but her resilience was inspiring. I loved the entire supporting cast.
The narrator of the audiobook, January LaVoy, did a fantastic job giving distinct personalities and voices to the characters she portrayed. I would seek out her work again.
This is a book for readers who enjoy strong women characters and I hope you pick it up.
I received a free copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press and MacMillan Audio via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
THE TAPESTRY OF GRACE BOOK REVIEW
This is a heartwarming Christian novel set in Alexandertol, Kansas, in 1895. Augusta Dyck, a widow and mother who is also the town’s teacher, becomes a part of a new Frauenverien, a group of women in the Mennonite church who band together to help provide for widows and orphans. Augusta immediately begins petitioning the group to help Konrad Rempel, a widower with twin boys. She can tell he needs someone to care for the boys while he is working as a blacksmith. Konrad, however, is reluctant to receive help. The group’s overbearing leader, Martina Krahn, suggests an apprenticeship for one of the twins with her husband, a wainwright. But she has ulterior motives, hoping a child will save her marriage and give her husband something that she cannot.
The town of Alexandertol is based on the German Mennonite communities that relocated to America after suffering religious persecution in Russia. The town’s cast of characters is well-written, and it is fun to follow their daily lives and see what life was like for them in 1895. There are many Christian messages in this book, including dealing with guilt, the rewards of helping others, having faith, and asking God for help. However, the greatest message is that God can take something bad and turn it into something wonderful. The reader is introduced to the history of the Frauenverien, which was an actual organization set up by German communities at that time to help those in need. With likable characters and a heartfelt message, this is a book that readers of Christian fiction will enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book from Waterbrook via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Within hours of arriving in Montego Bay, Eddie Barrow and his friend Corey Stephenson witness a gruesome murder outside a bar. When the victim’s sister reaches out for help, they learn of machinations to conceal foreign corporate corruption and a series of horrific sex crimes. However, Barrow and Stephenson’s commitment to solving the case is put to the test once they find themselves in the crosshairs of a ruthless criminal network—one that extends beyond the shores of Jamaica.
Author Bio:
Russell Brooks is an Amazon bestselling author of several thrillers—Pandora’s Succession, Unsavory Delicacies, Chill Run, and The Demeter Code. If you enjoy heart-pounding thrillers with conspiracies, martial arts, sex, betrayal, and revenge, then you don’t need to look any further and see why these are among the best mystery thriller books of all time.
As my girlfriends and I sip wine and share secrets in the flickering candlelight of our remote Scottish hideaway, we all agree we need this break. Every morning we will swim in icy cold lochs and hike to remote beaches and each night we will sip wine and share stories, cosy beside the log burner. It will be a break none of us will ever forget.
But behind my warm smile, there is ice in my heart. One of my friends is my husband’s lover, and it’s only a matter of time before I discover which one. She thinks she has me fooled, but she’s not the only one with secrets.
I don’t let my smile slip, but as I get closer to the truth, it becomes very clear that in these remote Scottish hills, far from help, someone is going to pay for their lies with their life…
A completely gripping and addictive page turner. Fans of The Guest List, K.L. Slater and Jackie Kabler will be utterly hooked on My Husband’s Lover.
BOOK REVIEW
This is a cleverly plotted thriller that will most assuredly keep you guessing until the end. The book grabs you at the beginning with a shocking twist; Sophie’s husband has been cheating, and she’s just found out that his mistress is one of the people on a “wild swimming” getaway she is currently attending. Sophie is determined to find out who this woman is, but there is so much more in store for her than that.
The plot twists in this novel never let up, and the reader is on a literal roller coaster throughout this exciting read. Because this is a plot-driven book, character development sometimes takes a back seat, but that does not take away from the story. The concept of a swimming getaway called “wild swimming,” which is basically swimming in a natural, remote location, rain or shine, sometimes with few amenities, is something I haven’t heard of before. It’s the perfect setting for a thriller.
If you love books with shocks you never expected, pick this one up. Fans of thrillers will love Jess Ryder’s latest. My rating is 3.7 stars, rounded up to 4.
I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jess Ryder is the pseudonym of Jan Page, author, screenwriter, playwright and award-winning television producer. After many years working in children’s media, she has recently embarked on a life of crime. Writing, that is. So she’s very excited about the publication of her debut thriller Lie to Me. Her other big love is making pots.
There’s a dead man in my apartment. Only me and my ex have a key. But neither of us would have done this. We have too much to lose…
I wake on the sofa, my head throbbing. How did I get here? In the darkness, I make my way to my bedroom. I turn on the lights. And then I scream.
There’s a body in my bed. And I know this man: we went on two dates together. Who could have killed him? And how did he get in? Only two people have a key to the house: me and my ex-husband Matthew.
I trust Matthew. With what we’re hiding, I have to. And I can’t risk the police digging into our past, or learning about the night when we drank champagne on the cliff and ruined everything.
Someone knows our secret. We have to find out what they want. But am I wrong to believe Matthew, when I know how well he can lie? And how can I save myself, when the truth might destroy me?
An absolutely gripping thriller that will keep you reading late into the night, unable to put the book down for a second. Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell.
BOOK REVIEW
Lillian and Matthew are the greatest divorced couple anyone knows. They are fantastic co-parents of their daughter Mabel, and have an unusual arrangement to keep Mabel happy. By mutual agreement, whoever has Mabel will stay in the family home, and the other parents will stay in an apartment that they share, switching out whenever it is their turn to see Mabel. But underneath this super-parent facade is a secret, and when a dead body shows up in Lillian’s bed, it begins to unravel.
This is a compelling thriller that will keep you guessing all the way through. The characters are engaging and the story will hook you from the start. There are plenty of red herrings, twists, and turns. It was very hard to put this down, so I read late into the night. The author showed a clever ability to start with a bright facade and slowly crumble it away to reveal the truth. The cast of supporting characters was real and raw. This mystery/thriller will keep you enthralled.
My rating is 4.6 stars, rounded up to 5 on sites with no partial star option.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Miranda Smith writes psychological and domestic suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Before completing her first novel, she worked as a newspaper staff writer and a secondary English teacher. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three young children.
Roy, Urbane, and Victoria are three individuals who possess different talents, and that makes them a very good team of con artists. Despite that, they are living hand to mouth and working for small change, moving from place to place to avoid the law. That is, until a possible big score presents itself. Suddenly they are in even more trouble, running from both police and gangsters while trying to stay out of jail as well as alive. Set in the 1920s, this is a well-crafted and clever gangland adventure.
I connected easily with this team of cons and found myself cheering them on even as they were taking advantage of people. At one point they locked all of their pursuers and the law in a town jail, and that was just rip-roaring fun. The varying viewpoints allow us to connect with all three cons and learn their thoughts and personalities. Urbane is the one whose feelings are most deeply revealed to us and thus became my favorite. With a bit of romance, a lot of action, and clever twists and turns, this is a 1920s adventure that you don’t want to miss. The author’s note at the end mentions historical events which are woven into the novel. I must also mention the captivating cover of this book, which sets the scene and draws the reader in.
My rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 on sites with no half-star option.
I received a free copy of this book via R&R Book Tours. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wes Verde is an engineer by trade, a busybody by habit, and a lifelong Jersey boy.
Writing has been a hobby in one form or another since 2006 when he started drawing 3-panel comics. When he is not putting words down, he is picking them up; the “to-read” pile only seems to grow larger.
A fan of nature, he spends as much time outside as possible.
Bang. Bang. Bang. I jump as the knocks on the window crash above the roaring wind outside. Who could it be, at this late hour? I open the curtains and peer outside. ‘Hello?’ But the dark, the rain and the empty lane are all I see.
It’s been eleven years since I last saw Jonah, after his brother died that stormy summer night. And now, without warning, he’s back, living in his old house next door just like old times, on the remote Scottish island that is home. Where I used to imagine we’d stay, together, forever, sharing our lives and our secrets as we always had. But that was before.
Jonah’s not the sweet boy I once knew. His mood is changeable, his behaviour unstable, our brief conversations are forced and awkward. And then the knocks on my window begin. It can only be him, but why, and what does he want? I used to love him. Now I don’t even want to invite him in.
Because after all these years, I see our childhood secrets, the ones we swore never to reveal, in a newly terrifying light. Was his brother’s death truly an accident? Could Jonah’s secrets have been worth killing for? And how safe am I now, on this isolated island, with the man I used to love…?
A totally addictive and twisty psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist. Anyone who loves The Woman in the Window, The Wife Between UsandThe Housemaid won’t beable to put Childhood Sweetheart down!
BOOK REVIEW
Ailsa’s childhood love, Jonah, is back after 11 years, living next door and bringing with him memories of secrets that were long buried. But Ailsa has little time for anything new, as she’s trying to raise her autistic son, Kyle, of whom she is very protective. But Jonah has changed so much, and even the best-hidden secrets have a way of coming to light.
This thriller is somewhat slow-paced at first, but eventually picks up speed. I enjoyed the setting on a Scottish island, and there are plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings. Ailsa’s challenges as a parent of an autistic child are well described, and Kyle’s personality is very well done. I also feel that the reaction of some of the characters to Kyle is very realistic. There are varying points of view as well as flashbacks, and as a warning rape and child abuse are a part of the story.
Overall, this is an entertaining thriller that will keep you guessing.
I received a free copy of this book via Bookouture. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wendy Clarke
Wendy Clarke was a teacher until the small primary school where she worked closed down. Now she is a writer of psychological suspense but is also well known for her short stories and serials which regularly appear in national women’s magazines.
Wendy has two children and three step-children and lives with her husband, cat and step-dog in Sussex. When not writing, she is usually indulging in her passion for dancing, singing or watching any programme that involves food!
Theodora Morgan is a fashion icon, but has been mostly in seclusion since her billionaire husband, Matthieu, and their son Axel were kidnapped and murdered a year before. She is slowly beginning to attend events at some of her pop-up stores, but maintains a behind-the-scenes profile. Mike Andrews is a CIA operative investigating Pierre De Vaumont, a social networker with Russian contacts. When Mike and Theo meet, they have a connection, but she has no idea of the danger she is in or the real reason Mike came into her life.
This is a riveting story that is all at once sad, thrilling, and hopeful. The romance between Theo and Mike is well done, and the CIA thriller aspect of this novel is compelling. The main characters instantly draw the reader in and the book is filled with intrigue.
I noticed something when reading this book that made me smile. All of the writing manuals, classes, and guides always say “Show, don’t tell. Don’t just tell the story. Show it in dialogue. ” Well, I would say 75% of this story is telling, not showing, but it doesn’t matter. It’s captivating, compelling, and moving. The characters are believable and I connected with them immediately. It completely works. And it made me realize that most or all of the books that I’ve read by Ms. Steel have been written this way. That old adage that “rules are made to be broken” stands true here. This style works for Danielle Steel, as many millions of her readers will attest. It is a good lesson for writers to remember. If you want to write in a way that may break a few rules, and it works for you, go for it. Fans of romantic thrillers and of Danielle Steel will greatly enjoy this one.
I received a free copy of this book from Random House via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world’s most popular authors, with nearly a billion copies of her novels sold. Her recent many international bestsellers include Against All Odds, The Duchess and The Right Time. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina’s life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; and the children’s books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood. Danielle divides her time between Paris and her home in northern California.
The woman looked at me, anguish brimming in her eyes. I picked up the note she’d left and read the scrawl: HELP!!! Then: Mom. Followed by a number.
A gripping and heartbreaking read, based on the true story of the Jonestown cult, one of the darkest chapters in American history.
When journalist Zoe Quint loses her husband and child in a tragic accident, she returns home to Guyana to heal. But when she hears cries and music floating through the trees, her curiosity compels her to learn more about the Americans who have set up camp in a run-down village nearby. Their leader, Jim Jones, dark eyed and charismatic, claims to be a peaceful man who has promised his followers paradise.
But everything changes when Zoe meets one of his followers, a young woman called Lucy, in a ramshackle grocery store. Lucy grabs Zoe’s arm, raw terror in her eyes, and passes her a note with a phone number, begging her to call her mother in America.
Zoe is determined to help Lucy, but locals warn her to stay away from the camp, and as sirens and gunshots echo through the jungle at nightfall, she knows they are right. But she can’t shake the frightened woman’s face from her mind, and when she discovers that there are young children kept in the camp, she has to act fast.
Zoe’s only route to the lost people is to get close to their leader, Jim Jones. But if she is accepted, will she be able to persuade the frightened followers to risk their lives and embark on a perilous escape under the cover of darkness? And when Jim Jones hears of her plans, could she pay the highest price of all?
A powerful novel inspired by the true story of Jonestown, about a woman’s brave attempt to save people who were promised paradise but found only lies. Fans of Where the Crawdads Sing, Before We Were Yours and The Girls will be captivated by The Girl from Jonestown.
BOOK REVIEW
Zoe comes home to Guyana to finally try and heal after the loss of her husband and child, but her peace is interrupted by strange voices and chantings in the jungle. That is when she learns about the group of Americans living there. They are The People’s Temple, led by the charismatic Jim Jones, and seem to be there of their own accord. When Lucy, a terrified girl from this group, passes her a note, Zoe realizes everyone may not be present willingly. Determined to help, she decides to go inside “Jonestown” and try to help.
This powerful book takes a fresh look at Jonestown through the eyes of a Guyanese reporter, Zoe, and a Jonestown captive, Lucy. We look at the reality of Jonestown as not just a group of willing people who “drank Kool-aid,” but as prisoners, some of whom were killed before the mass suicide, and many who were poisoned against their will. We see desperate people trying to escape, and evil leaders determined to stop them. The jungle setting and its deadly beauty is brilliantly described by Sharon Maas, who is from Guyana and knows it inside and out. She does a masterful job of portraying the tactics of an evil and malicious cult and of putting faces on the victims and survivors through the character Lucy and others. The absolute crazy of Jim Jones flies off the page, but we learn that his was not the only malicious mind in the group, and we are shown more about those who helped him wield his iron fist. True crime meets Historical Thriller in this fictionalized story of the complete horror that was the People’s Temple.
I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sharon Maas
Sharon Maas was born to politically active parents in Georgetown, Guyana, in 1951. She was educated in England, Guyana, and, later, Germany. After leaving school, she worked as a reporter with the Guyana Graphic in Georgetown and later wrote feature articles for the Sunday Chronicle as a staff journalist. Sharon has always had a great sense of adventure and curiosity about the world we live in, and Guyana could not hold her for long. In 1971 she set off on a year-long backpacking trip around South America, followed by an overland trek to South India, where she spent two years in an ashram. She lived in Germany for forty-three years and now lives in Ireland. She is the author of The Violin Maker’s Daughter, The Soldier’s Girl, Her Darkest Hour and many other novels.
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