The Last Houseguest by Megan Miranda

The Last Houseguest by Megan Miranda

Publishing June 18, 2019 by Simon & Schuster

 

 

The Last Houseguest by Megan Miranda is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank Edelweiss, the publisher Simon & Schuster, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Avery Greer grew up in the small coastal town of Littleport Maine. A small town with an “us and them” attitude – the locals and the people who came for the summer. A division exists.

Avery was 14 when a car accident killed her parents, and so she was left in her grandmother’s care. But when her grandmother passed away, Avery barely graduated. Her alcohol consumption and overall bad behaviour threatened everything. Then she met Sadie Loman, a summer resident. Avery was enamored with Sadie, and Sadie seemed interested in Avery’s bad-girl adventures. Over the next ten years they became fast friends and Sadie became her family. Eventually Avery ended up working for the Lomans as the property manager of their summer rentals.

While everyone is at an end of summer party, Sadie’s body is found at the bottom of a cliff, the result of an apparent suicide. Avery is lost. She has no one. A year passes and evidence starts appearing that seems to imply that Sadie may not have jumped. Avery turns it over to the police, hoping that they will re-open the investigation, thereby proving what she knew all along. Sadie would never have jumped. Unfortunately, everything is now pointing in her direction, and somehow she will have to prove her own innocence, while still getting justice for her friend.
My Opinions:
I have enjoyed other books by this author much more than this one. The book’s premise showed promise. However, the first half, maybe more, was slow….really slow, and although it did end up being a good book overall, it was hard not to set it aside for a really rainy day (maybe hurricane force wind and rain). When it finally showed promise again, it was too late, but it was enough to push it to three stars.

Again, the plot was good, but the way the story was told just left confusion. I usually like the books told in the before and after, but this one just didn’t work. It just seemed disjointed, and slow. I didn’t like any of the characters, not even Avery. She seemed very needy, and a little paranoid.

So, overall, it was okay…..but definitely not one of her best.

Read: June, 2019

 

Favorite Quotes from The Last Houseguest:

“I’ve known enough of loss to accept that grief may lose its sharpness with time, but memory only tightens. Moments replay.”

“Obsession was the gravity that kept you in orbit, a force you were continually spiraling toward, even when you were looking away.”

 

About the Author:   Megan Miranda is an American author and has had two books on the New York Times Bestseller list.  She writes books for adults as well as some aimed at the YA crowd.  She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children.

 

I have also reviewed this book on GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2782084597

 

 

 

 

 

Killman Creek by Rachel Caine (#2 – Stillhouse Lake)

Killman Creek by Rachel Caine (#2 – Stillhouse Lake)  

Published: December 2017

 

 

Killman Creek by Rachel Caine is the second in the Stillhouse Lake series.

 

Series Background:   (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Melvin Royal is a serial killer who was brutally murdering women in the family garage/workshop, while his wife and children played board games just a few rooms away. Although the family knew nothing of his actions, his wife became known as Melvin’s Little Helper. No one believed that she could know nothing of his actions. Gwen has been running with her kids trying to escape the media, and the crazies who hold her responsible for the deeds of her ex-husband. She will do anything to keep her children safe. Mel has just escaped prison.

 
My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
When we last saw Gwen Proctor, her 11 year-old son Connor and his 14-year old sister Lanny had been held held captive by a cop and his two kids who were big fans of her ex-husband. After surviving the trap that her husband had set in Stillhouse Lake, Gwen and the kids are on the run again.

Connor and Lanny are still battling what happened while being held captive. They are also still coming to terms with the fact that their father is a monster.

Melvin Royal is still at large, being hunted by police and FBI, but he is still stalking Gwen and her children. Gwen, however, is determined to return to Stillhouse Lake one day, and make it their home. That means it is time for a change. No more running. No more hiding. It’s time to take the fight to Melvin. That means she is going to have to separate the family. Gwen is going to hunt her ex-husband, and her kids cannot be part of this. But this time, she has help she can trust.

Unfortunately, trust works both ways, and before the hunt is over, Gwen is going to be under scrutiny again, from the people she loves most.

 
My Opinions:
I am really enjoying this series. I was not a big fan of the cliff-hanger at the end of the last book, so was pleased that the second book takes place shortly after the first, so the continuity felt real (and I’m really glad I already had this second book).

I like how we now get the story told from everyone’s perspectives, and because of circumstances it had to be done this way. It worked well. The character development aspect of Rachel Caine’s writing is really good.

This is another action-packed book. The pace is fast, and the suspense continues. The gore was expected, as the topic continued to be dark. There were a couple of twists that I didn’t see coming, which was good.

I’m not sure where Caine is headed next with this series, but I’m looking forward to it!

 

Read: May, 2019

 

Favorite Quotes from Killman Creek:

“I am twelve days out from rescuing my children from a murderer. I am exhausted, sore, and plagued with headaches. I am heartsick and tired and anxious and most of all—most of all—I am angry. I need to be angry. Being angry will keep us all alive.”

“But the past never leaves us. It’s in every breath, every cell, every second. I know that now.”

“I’m not ready. But I begin.”

 

About The Author:  Rachel Caine (April 1962 – ) is an American author who has written over 50 books in several genres, including Adult thriller, and Adult urban s/f and fantasy, as well as YA novels.  She has written under a few different names.  She is a NY Times and USA Today bestseller, and lives in Texas.

 

 

I have also reviewed this book on GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2262811263

 

 

 

 

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Publishing: June 11, 2019 by Crown Publishing

 

 

Just a Few Words:  This author turns my brain into mush.  He makes me think.  He makes me question.  He makes me crave his next  book.  Okay, let’s begin…

 

Recursion by Blake Crouch is a Science Fiction novel.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Crown Publishing, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Neuroscientist Dr. Helena Smith has a dream that may help her mother, and so many others. She wants to find a way to help those with Alzheimers to capture, preserve and regain their memories. When Marcus Slade approaches her with unlimited funding, Helena jumps at the chance to build the chair she is sure will work. She is more successful than she could have hoped for. Unfortunately, her original ideas and design have been expanded upon until the end result does so much more than it should ever do. In the wrong hands…

Barry Sutton is a New York City police detective, who could not prevent the suicide of a woman named Ann Voss Peters. Before jumping to her death, she told Barry that she had False Memory Syndrome (FMS), and was sure that in another life she had been married to Joe Behrmann, and had a 9 year old son. She said she had just come from visiting Joe, and he denied knowing her, but she is sure he recognized her. She came to the place where Joe’s first wife Franny had committed suicide, in hopes that Joe may show up. He did not. She jumped. From other things she said, Barry decides to visit Joe Behrmann, and his wife Franny. He is about to find out more than he should.

False Memory Syndrome is on the rise. People are suddenly dealing with memories of two different lives, and they aren’t handling this well. Which memory is right? Suicides are up, mental illness is sky-rocketing, and no one knows who to blame.

When the chair falls into the wrong hands (again), and then into the hands of many, the whole world is in trouble. Helena and Barry are going to have to work together to stop what Helena has created, before the world destroys itself. But they will have to try again and again, as time keeps re-setting itself, as do their memories.

 

My Opinions:
I continue to enjoy Blake Crouch’s books. I never know where his imagination will take me, and although he often delves into science, he always explains it in such a way that the novice (me) can understand. I am not saying I didn’t have to pay close attention, but in the end, I got it.

This was one Hell of a ride. At times it was a little confusing as the story is told in different and repeating timelines. The characters were engaging, the plot amazing, and the outcome a little unexpected.

The plot had me wondering….if I could go back and change something in my life but know that the change would affect others….would I? Would you? Would you be able to help yourself? Would you think twice? Would I? A dilemma…

Then, what if you invented something that could benefit people, and someone came along and said it could be used for other purposes, maybe not as ethical, what would you do? Pull the plug? Go forward anyway? Another dilemma….

Am I rambling?  Okay, I’ll be thinking about this book for a while…

This was one of those books that was really hard to put down, partly because I was afraid I’d lose my spot in the timeline. Mostly, however, because it was just so addicting. I loved it!

Read:  June, 2019

 

Favorite Quotes from Recursion:

“Out here on the platform, it’s like the world is screaming in her ear.  Lifting her face to the sky, she screams back.”

“…perhaps there’s a reason our memories are kept hazy and out of focus. Maybe their abstraction serves as an anesthetic, a buffer protecting us from the agony of time and all that it steals and erases.”

“If we can’t rely on memory, our species will unravel. ”

“I believe that, as technology arises in the world, we’re entrusted to find its best use for the continuation and betterment of our species.”

 

About The Author:  Blake Crouch has written more than a dozen novels, including the international-bestselling Wayward Pines Trilogy, which was adapted into a television series for FOX.  He lives in Colorado with his family.

 

I have also reviewed this book on GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2782085326

 

 

 

 

 

Perfect Crime by Helen Fields (#5 – Luc Callanach)

Perfect Crime by Helen Fields

 Published:  April 14, 2019 by Avon Books 

 

 

Previous Book in the Series:  #4 – Perfect Silence

 

Perfect Crime by Helen Fields is the 5th in the Luc Callanach series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Avon Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

Series Background:    (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DI Luc Callanach is half French and half Scottish, living most of his life in France, and working for Interpol. Due to a false rape allegation made by co-worker Astrid Borde, he leaves France, his job, his friends, his mother. Very few are sad to see him go. With some assistance from his bosses, he heads to Edinburgh to take command of a homicide team. His welcome is not particularly warm. He and DS Lively will never be close, but they tolerate each other – barely. Luc does make friends with a colleague, newly appointed DCI Ava Taylor, and finds an unlikely friend in a journalist.

 

My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Some new members have joined the team. Although Max Tripp has worked with them for years, he has now been promoted to Detective Sergeant. DC Janet Monroe and DI Pax Graham have now both transferred permanently. They will all be needed. There are a couple of cases on the table, and neither one is straight forward.

There seems to be a run on suicides right now, and it looks like whole team is going to be kept busy. There are a lot of questions regarding these deaths, and some of these are leading to the idea that there could be a serial killer out there, helping the victims die.

Then there is Bruce Jenson, an Alzheimer’s patient in a nursing home. Luc had visited the man, just prior to Mr. Jenson being murdered. If the true reason for his visit comes out, Luc will have a good motive, and move to the top of the suspect list. DI Graham will be investigating this murder, and already he and Luc are not seeing eye to eye.

Meanwhile, the relationship between Luc and Ava may be heating up….or not.

 
My Opinions:
This series continues to be one of the best out there right now. Each book takes the reader on a ride investigating the horrors of humanity. Helen Fields makes sure that her readers see every crime scene in vivid detail. Reader be warned!

The writing flows, the plot twists, the characters bleed….and we feel and see it all.

Helen Fields adds depth to her characters through their personal stories, which are often woven through the crimes that they are investigating. This worked very well in this book.

This book took a look at mental health and suicide, the long-term effects of rape, and of stress. How these affect not only the victim, but others. The author handled all of this really well.

The author, as always, gives us an idea of where the next book may head, and I can’t wait…, and yet I almost wish she wouldn’t do this.

 

Favorite Quotes from Perfect Crime:

“The pain of a sexual assault didn’t diminish over time.”

“Failure’s subjective. It depends on the standards we set ourselves. If you judge yourself too harshly, almost anything can constitute a failure.”

“ I never thought I’d walk into a crime scene where a man had had his penis jammed into a toaster and been electrocuted through it.”

 

About The Author: Helen Fields is a British author, who started out practicing family and criminal law, spending years working with the police, CPS, Social Services, etc.  She then moved on to being a script writer and producer and co-owns a media company.  She is now devoting a lot of time to writing. Helen and her husband now live in Hampshire with their three children and two dogs.

 

I have also reviewed this book on GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2660852092

 

 

 

 

A Face in the Crowd by Kerry Wilkinson

A Face in the Crowd by Kerry Wilkinson

 Publishing:   June 6, 2019 by Bookouture

 

 
A Face in the Crowd by Kerry Wilkinson is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
It’s been 5 years since Lucy’s fiancé and his brother were killed in a train crash. The loss of Ben turned her world upside down. She went from a good job with a good future, to complete ruin when it was discovered that Ben, in his job as a day trader, not only threw his own money away, but all of hers, leaving Lucy deep in debt.

Lucy has been living in a one-room flat, in a not-so-great area of town, working in a grocery store, and just barely making ends meet. She often goes without meals, and her shoes are falling apart. But for all that, she has some good days, a good friend next door, and a wonderful companion in Billy, a dog she rescued, and who usually eats better than she does.

One Friday on a very crowded bus ride home from work, someone puts an envelope of cash in her purse. She knows she should do the right thing and turn it in to the police, but it’s hard. She really needs this money.

Between wrestling with her conscience over the money, going to another memorial for her dead fiancé, trying the dating scene for the first time in 5 years, and wondering about her new neighbour, now Lucy thinks she has a stalker. Strange things are happening.
My Opinions:
Kerry Wilkinson has become one of my favorite authors. One of those authors who I know will provide me with a fast, entertaining read. His books always send me in a direction I don’t see coming. This one was no different. Although I had some suspicions that turned out to be true, there were enough twists to keep me interested and turning those pages.

I loved the characters, all of whom had enough depth to feel real, and I loved Billy. As an animal lover, I rarely read books or watch television programs containing one. My fear for their well-being is much greater than my fear for the well-being of a human, so I was a little nervous throughout the book…..

Anyway, great plot, great writing, and overall, great entertainment.

 

Read: June, 2019

 

About The Author:  Kerry Wilkinson (Nov 4, 1980 –  ) is a British author who has had No.1 bestsellers in the UK, Canada, South Africa and Singapore, as well as top-five books in Australia. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. In addition to stand-alone novels, he has written both the Jessica Daniels series, and the YA Silver Blackthorn series.

 

I have also reviewed this book on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2848964529

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Know You’re There by Sarah Simpson

I Know You’re There by Sarah Simpson

 Publishing:  June 6, 2019 by Aria

 

 
I Know You’re There by Sarah Simpson is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the both publishers Aria and Simon & Schuster, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

 
My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
The four residents of a house are receiving rather vague and suspicious notes left in their mailboxes. The notes could be construed as nothing, except the more they thought about the contents, the more the residents realized they could be seen as threats, and that someone is definitely aware of their individual pasts. Mark is the landlord of the building, but lives elsewhere. He is Natalie’s rather possessive boyfriend, but neither has trusted the other with their secrets.

The residents include:

Natalie, 30,  had a horrendous childhood, making her suspicious of most men. Her father ended up in prison, but now he is out, and wants to resume his relationship with his daughter. He is sending her letters, but is he also responsible for the notes?

Morwenna, 54, lost her husband in a car accident when he was only 38, and has a son who she seldom sees now that he is married. She tries to be a good friend to Natalie, but she has her own secrets.

Nigel, 40-ish, is rather reclusive. He keeps to himself, and tries to stay away from the others. His secrets are buried deep.

Daniel, 28, is a rather naïve and gullible young man who seems to be afraid of his own shadow. The loss of his sister when he was 10 has continued to haunt him. He has a “caretaker”, Tommy, who was hired by his father to look in on him from time to time. He has secrets too.

They have become somewhat of a family, but none of them share what matters most.

 
My Opinions:
A story of secrets, of lies, of fears. A story of neighbours, none of which are what they seem. The premise of this book was really interesting. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. It took much too long to get to anything exciting. I admit to putting it down a number of times and struggling to pick it back up.

Told mostly in the voices of Natalie and Morwenna, with occasional chapters from the others, the story unfolds slowly….very slowly. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters. Natalie, our heroine, just came across as a whiny woman who drank too much.

I may be in the minority on this one, but I just didn’t enjoy it.

 

Read: May, 2019

 

Favorite Quotes from I Know You’re There:

“That’s what they say about reading, isn’t it? Helps switch the mind off.”

“None of us really know, she thinks, what lurks in the past, what challenges have been experienced and fought.”

“…sometimes we lock ourselves into our own worlds, looking out onto the lives of others, thinking we are the only ones with problems, with pasts, with something dark sitting on the conscience. In truth how many of us are living with some kind of inner conflict, with some kind of secret?”

 

 

About the Author:  Sarah Simpson has a business degree (majored in marketing) and a first class honours degree in psychology.  She lives in Cornwall with her husband, three children, a german shepherd, and a cat.

 

I have also reviewed this book on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2782086810

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flight or Fright edited by Stephen King and Bev Vincent

Flight or Fright edited by Stephen King and Bev Vincent

 Publishing:  June 4, 2019 by Simon & Schuster (Scribner)

 

 

Just a Few Words:  I am not a flyer.  I don’t think you have to be one to enjoy these stories, or to be frightened by a few.  Some I loved, some not so much, but that’s why I love anthologies.  You never know what you are going to get!

 

Flight or Fright is an anthology of stories regarding air travel which is edited by Stephen King and Bev Vincent.

First, let me thank Edelweiss, the publisher Simon & Schuster (Scribner), and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My Synopsis and Opinions:
This is a collection of 16 short stories (and a poem), all centered around Stephen King’s hatred of flying. Although the authors of the stories differ, each has an introduction by King. I’ve provided a brief synopsis of each.

 

Cargo by E. Michael Lewis  — A military freighter brings the coffins of children home from Jonestown. My Opinion: Creepy and sad, but a great start to the book.

The Horror of the Heights by Arthur Conan Doyle — In the early days of flight a pilot decides to set a new height record, and to prove his theory that there are monsters up there. My Opinion: I wish he had stuck to Sherlock Holmes.

Nightmare at 20,000 Feet by Richard Matheson — During a flight, a man tries to make the stewardess aware of the man/gremlin on the wing of the plane. My Opinion: Have read it before, and still love it.

The Flying Machine by Ambrose Bierce — A failed attempt at building a plane. My Opinion: I read this short (3 paragraphs) story 3 times, trying to find something, anything. That was 3 times too many.

Lucifer! by E.C. Tubb — You have a ring that can turn time back by 57 seconds. What if it isn’t enough? My Opinion: Loved this one!

The Fifth Category by Tom Bissell — A rather disturbing (and long) tale of a lawyer’s flight from Estonia back to the U.S. His controversial memo’s on the different categories of torture to be applied to war criminals is going to come back to bite him. My Opinion: Didn’t particularly like this one, but not sure if it was the topic or the length.

Two Minutes Forty-Five Seconds by Dan Simmons — The management team has to recommend whether their design of safety devices will hold up. Despite his doubts, Colvin agrees the product is ready. My Opinion: A little too technical for me, or I missed the point.

Diablitos by Cody Goodfellow — A young man attempts to smuggle a rare tribal mask out of Costa Rica. My Opinion: I loved it!

Air Raid by John Varley — In the future, a Snatch Team is sent to take the people off of a plane which is about to crash, without the passengers being aware of what is happening. My Opinion: One of the best!

You Are Released by Joe Hill — A plane headed to Boston, along with many others, are diverted from their destinations when North Korea and the US decide to send missiles hurtling through space. Political tension within the plane is high as well. My Opinion: The possibility hits close to home. Loved it!

Warbirds by David J. Schow — A WWII tale of fighter pilots, and something that still haunts one. My Opinion: Too wordy.

The Flying Machine by Ray Bradbury — In 400 AD, a man covered himself in paper, jumped off a cliff and flew. The emperor saw both the beauty and the danger. My Opinion: Wonderful story, with a moral.

Zombies on a Plane by Bev Vincent — 17 people board a plane to anywhere, just to escape the Zombies…but sometimes there is no escape. My Opinion: Great short story.

They Shall Not Grow Old by Roald Dahl — Pilots fighting in Syria, when one of their crew disappears for two days and thinks he’s only been gone an hour and a half. My Opinion..Good story, thought he only wrote children’s books!

Murder in the Air by Peter Tremayne — A locked room mystery in an airplane. My Opinion: Great!

The Turbulence Expert by Stephen King — What if you were terrified of flying, but knew that you were the only one who could save the people on the plane….again, and again, and again. My Opinion: Loved it!

Falling by James L. Dickey — A rather long poem/verse about a stewardess being sucked from a plane. My Opinion: Could have done without it.

 

Overall I ended up enjoying more than half the stories, which is often the case in anthologies. I take the good with the bad, and always find a new author somewhere in the mix.

Read: May 2019

 

Favorite Quote from Flight or Fright:

 “Welcome to Flight or Fright, an anthology about all the things that can go horribly wrong when you’re suspended six miles in the air, hurtling through space at more than 500 mph, and sealed up in a metal tube (like—gulp!—a coffin) with hundreds of strangers. Here are all the ways your trip into the friendly skies can turn into a nightmare, including some we’ll bet you’ve never thought of before… but now you will the next time you walk down the jetway and place your fate in the hands of a total stranger.”
 

About The Authors:

 Stephen King – if he needs an introduction, you have my sympathies.

 Bev Vincent –  is the author of The Road to the Dark Tower, the Bram Stoker Award nominated companion to Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, and The Stephen King Illustrated Companion, which was nominated for a 2010 Edgar Award and a 2009 Bram Stoker Award. His books have been translated into Dutch, Russian, and Italian.

 

I have also reviewed this book on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2738296613

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The House by Eden Darry

The House by Eden Darry

 Published: April 16, 2019 by Bold Strokes Books

 

 

The House by Eden Darry is a paranormal/horror novel…..a haunted house for the modern family.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bold Strokes Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Sadie, a lawyer, is viciously attacked by a potential client. A client who she refused to defend, because she knew he was guilty. Lance Sherry skips the country, but knows he will return, if only for a brief time. He has a bone to pick, and this time that lawyer will not survive.

Although the idea of moving out of bustling London and into the country did not really appeal to Sadie, she agreed with her wife Fin, that getting away from the “scene of the crime” did sound good. So when Fin found the house of her dreams, they bundled their two kids up and moved to the country. Unfortunately, the house didn’t really hold the same charm to Sadie as it did to Fin. Six-year old Liam didn’t like the house either, although three-year old Lucy seemed to be fine with it. She even found herself an invisible friend.

Fin seemed to change when they moved in to the new house. A much grumpier Fin emerged, one that neither Sadie nor Fin herself liked. Neither one of them really had control though. There seems to be more than meets the eye with this house. Fin feels an affinity to the previous owner, and the mysteries of the house itself, but is unwilling to share this information with Sadie. Sadie, on the other hand, does not understand why Fin is suddenly so mean.

Things are getting out of control, and they are going to get a whole lot worse.

 

My Opinions:
For a debut novel, Eden Darry did really well. This book had everything a modern-day horror novel needed. A modern couple, a haunted house, and a talented author to combine the two. The atmosphere was eerie and the plot held a lot of suspense. The couple went between love and hate, and if only they had talked to one another! And the reader just kept turning those pages. The book had a good pace, so it was a fast read.

I liked how there were two “villains” in the book. Both the stalker and the house contributed to the overall suspense.

Parts were dark and creepy, parts a little brutal, but parts could have used just a little more scare power, a little more paranormal activity.

Overall, it was a good debut, and I’m looking forward to more from this author!

Read: April, 2019

 

 

Favorite Quote from The House:

“Lance Sherry was the thing that lived under the bed. His was the hand that reached out in the night and grabbed your ankle if it wasn’t under the duvet.”

 

 

About The Author: Eden Darry lives in London with her rescue cat. When she’s not working or writing, she can be found among the weeds in her allotment, trying to make vegetables grow.

 

I have also reviewed this book on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2825645725

 

 

 

 

Your Life Is Mine by Nathan Ripley

Your Life Is Mine by Nathan Ripley

 Publishing: June 4, 2019 by Atria Books and Simon & Schuster

 

 

Your Life Is Mine by Nathan Ripley is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publishers Simon & Schuster and Atria Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Blanche Potter has tried to get on with her life. Her career as a filmmaker is taking off. But she can’t out-run the past. Changing her name, moving, having nothing to do with her mother…nothing has worked. She will always be the daughter of the serial killer/cult leader Chuck Varner. Even though he died when she was a child, he lives on in people’s minds.

When her mother dies, Blanche feels nothing but relief. The woman who had raised her until she was 16 was as much of a monster as her father had been. In the years since Blanche left home, her mother has been carrying on Chuck’s name, and enlisting followers. She recruited weak-minded people and filled their heads with the same propaganda her husband had spouted. She was grooming another mass murderer….

 

My Opinions:
I struggled with this book. I found it to be very slow, with little excitement until the end….and then still not enough.

The premise was good, and the characters were deep enough. I just didn’t really like any of them.

There’s not really anything major wrong with this book, but somewhere it just missed the mark for me.

 

Read: May, 2019

 

Favorite Quotes from Your Life Is Mine :

“The seventh rule was what he said to Crissy and to me every morning and every night. Your Life Is Mine.”

“Crissy had tried to explain her dead husband’s thoughts on chaos, his “Your Life Is Mine” lyrical nonsense, but she never managed to articulate what made Varner’s code at all special, or even a code, as opposed to a scattering of cool-sounding one-liners.”

“Trauma isn’t one-size-fits, Ma.”

 

About The Author:  Nathan Ripley is the pseudonym of Canadian author and journalist Naben Ruthnum. As Ruthnum, he wrote a book called Curry: Eating, Reading and Race. His stories and essays have appeared in The Walrus, Hazlitt, Sight & Sound, and Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, among other places. He lives in Toronto.

 

I have also reviewed this book on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2768979487

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Book Reviews for June 2019

Upcoming Reviews for June 2019

June will be an interesting/busy month.  I have a lot scheduled to read in June, but I’m not positive I’ll make it through them all.  I do know the following will definitely be reviewed.  As always, I try to blend the old and new.   I should be able to add something for everyone.

 

 

The House by Eden Darry (Published May, 2019)

The House by Eden Darry is a paranormal/horror novel…..a haunted house for the modern family.

 

 

Your Life is Mine by Nathan Ripley (Publishing: June 4, 2019)

Your Life is Mine by Nathan Ripley is the story of a young woman trying to out-run her past.  Her father, although dead, was a serial killer/cult leader.  Her mother not much better.   But their legacy lives on, and won’t leave Blanche Potter alone.

 

 

 

Perfect Crime by Helen Fields  (Published April, 2019)

Perfect Crime by Helen Fields is the 5^th in the Detective Luc Callanach series.   Luc’s visit to an Alzheimer’s patient just before the man’s murder could be problematic if the true reason behind the visit should surface.

 

Killman Creek by Rachel Caine  (Published December, 2017)

Killman Creek is the second in the Stillhouse Lake Series.  Gwen Proctor is still running from the stigma of being serial killer Melvin Royal’s spouse.  She is running from his fans, she is running from her haters, and she is running from Mel….who just escaped prison.

 

 

 

The Forgotten Woman by Angela Marsons  (Published: 2013)

The Forgotten Woman by Angela Marsons is the story about the unlikely friendship that develops between two women who seem to be polar opposites.

 

 

Feel Free to comment.  Have you any of read these?  Want to?