Search This Blog
April Reviews Link-Up
May Reviews Link-Up
June Reviews Link-Up
July Reviews Link-Up
August Reviews Link-Up
September Reviews Link-Up
October Reviews Link-Up
November Reviews Link-Up
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama (1)
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California (3)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (2)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (2)
- North Carolina (2)
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (1)
- Utah
- Vermont (1)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (1)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.*
International:
- Australia (1)
- Canada (1)
- England (7)
- France (1)
- Ireland (1)
- Italy (1)
- Scotland (2)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Thursday, December 05, 2019
Newest Not My Favorite Kelly Novel, But Still An Engrossing Page-Turner
6:17 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Sometimes reinventing the wheel by writing my own plot summaries for the books I review doesn't make any sense, especially when a novel's back cover copy describes it in a way that's both succinct and brilliant. Such is the case with Stone Mothers, the newest thriller from British crime writer Erin Kelly. Check it out:
You can't keep the secret.
You can't tell the truth.
You can't escape the past...
Marianne was seventeen when she fled her home in Nusstead – leaving behind her family, her boyfriend, Jesse, and the body they buried. Now, thirty years later, forced to return to in order to help care for her sick mother, she can feel the past closing around her. And Jesse, who never forgave her for leaving in the first place, is finally threatening to expose the truth.
Marianne will do anything to protect the life she's built, the husband and daughter who must never know what happened all those years ago. Even if it means turning to her worst enemy for help... But Marianne may not know the whole story – and she isn't the only one with secrets they'd kill to keep.
I find books about the early treatment of mental illness both fascinating and horrifying. Even if I hadn't already been a fan of Kelly's, then, I would have been eager to read Stone Mothers. Turns out, this isn't my favorite of the author's books. Still, as with all of Kelly's work, this one kept me burning through pages to see what would happen next. The characters are complex and intriguing, the plot is fast-paced but contemplative, and the vibe is gothic and eerie. With plenty of twists to keep things interesting, Stone Mothers is definitely an engrossing page-turner. It's also sad, depressing, and not my favorite Kelly novel. Overall, though, I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Other Mother by Carol Goodman; Woman 99 by Greer MacAllister; and a little of The Bright Unknown by Elizabeth Byler Younts)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual innuendo/content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
3 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
Sunday Post1 hour ago
-
-
The Gathering by C.J. Tudor2 hours ago
-
-
FO Friday: Nathair Mitts4 hours ago
-
-
-
-
An Inconvenient Letter by Julie Wright10 hours ago
-
-
-
The Garden Girls Excerpt + Giveaway11 hours ago
-
-
-
-
Classics Club Spin #37, April 202414 hours ago
-
First Lines Fridays: April 19, 202414 hours ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Reading as a retreat from reality2 days ago
-
42. Before Nightfall2 days ago
-
-
-
Novel Love Story4 days ago
-
-
Invisible Woman by Katia Lief1 week ago
-
Reading Recap March 20241 week ago
-
Waiting on Wednesday - Think Twice2 weeks ago
-
-
March Monthly Wrap-up2 weeks ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?6 months ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra9 months ago
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ▼ 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
Another author I haven't read yet but need to! :)
ReplyDeleteI am so glad books are covering the issue of mental health as it's so important and stigmatized. Early treatment was truly frightening.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the terrifying part. It's unreal the way they used to treat those with mental illness. Yikes. Sad and depressing books are tough for me. Was it at least hopeful towards the end? That's something I need in every book I read.
ReplyDelete