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Showing posts with label English Authors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label English Authors. Show all posts
Friday, October 04, 2024
Osman's Newest a Hilarious, Delightful, Madcap Mystery
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As a private bodyguard working for a company that protects only high-profile clients, Amy Wheeler has a pretty cushy job. Case in point: she's currently guarding a famous, best-selling mystery/thriller writer at the author's glittering mansion on her own private island. Although the novelist is being targeted by a Russian mobster after she mocked him in one of her books, no one is actively shooting at them while they lounge beside the pool. Not a bad gig if you can get it.
When a social media influencer dies in a strange way, oddly close to the South Carolina site where Amy is working, she starts to become suspicious. This isn't the first time it's happened. Clearly, someone is trying to set Amy up for the murders of a string of dead influencers. Unwilling to trust anyone but her most reliable associates, she calls up the one person she knows will always have her back—her father-in-law, a retired British police detective. Although Steve Wheeler is a lonely widower who would be content never to leave his quiet life at home again (save for his weekly pub trivia night), he will do anything for Amy. Soon, he finds himself jet setting all over the world with his adrenaline-junkie daughter-in-law and a zany mystery author in a wild, chaotic search for the murderous criminal mastermind who's intent on taking Amy down. The unlikely trio of investigators isn't about to let that happen. They'll bring the killer to justice or die trying. Which is seeming more likely by the minute).
I quite enjoyed Richard Osman's debut novel, The Thursday Murder Club (although I've yet to read any of the sequels), but I adored his newest, We Solve Murders. It's the first installment in a new series starring Amy and Steve Wheeler, a detective duo with a unique relationship. I've never seen a daughter-in-law/father-in-law pairing like this in all the mystery/thriller books I've consumed and I am here for it. They're both likable protagonists, with distinct personalities, strengths, and flaws. Their relationship is sweet, wholesome. Then there's our irrepressible novelist, Rosie D'Antonio. She's an ageless spitfire with a contagious zest for life. Her exuberance makes her colorful, fun, and unforgettable. Together, they make a very appealing team, with a group dynamic that naturally leads to some hilarious exploits. Their globe-trotting capers are frenzied and madcap, but they're also exciting and endlessly entertaining. I couldn't stop laughing or turning the pages of this completely enchanting mystery. The ending left me satisfied and wanting more, more, more. I can't wait to see what Amy, Steve, and Rosie get up to next!
(Readalikes: Other than The Thursday Murder Club and the Only Murders in the Building television show, I really can't think of anything. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and depictions of illegal drug use
Monday, March 28, 2022
The Long Weekend: Even My Least Favorite Gilly Macmillan Thriller Holds Me Spellbound
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As long-time friends from boarding school, Paul, Mark, Toby, Rob, and Edie have enjoyed getting together over the years along with their spouses. When an available weekend provides the perfect opportunity for another reunion, the group pounces on the chance to reconnect. Dark Fell Barn is ideal for the event. The guesthouse's remote Northumbria location makes it as off-the-grid as the couples are likely to get. With no distractions or cell phone signals, the friends will have plenty of time to bond once again.
Jayne Pavey, Ruth Land, and Emily Ramsay drive to Northumbria together. Their husbands, all of whom have been delayed for various reasons, will be joining them that evening. Already a bit tense without the mens' long friendship to bind them, the trio is disturbed to realize just how isolated Dark Fell Barn really is. When they find a note waiting for them, informing them that one of their husbands is about to be murdered, they fly into a frenzy. Is it some kind of terrible practical joke? Edie, who declined the weekend getaway in the wake of her own husband's death, was known as a prankster in school. Could her grief be causing her to lash out at one of them? As the women frantically attempt to get ahold of their spouses, new surprises add to their growing terror. With a vicious storm breaking over the moors, the woman are trapped with a slew of horrifying questions: What is really going on here? Who would play such a sordid trick on the group? Why would anyone do something so completely cruel? And how are they going to escape with worsening weather and no way to call for help?
I've read all of Gilly Macmillan's spooky thrillers, which never fail to suck me in and hold me spellbound. While The Long Weekend (available March 29, 2022)—the author's newest—is probably my least favorite of hers, it still kept me buzzing through the pages, eager to see what was going to happen next. Its creepy, atmospheric vibe and tense, taut storytelling ensured I wouldn't be able to look away. That being said, the friends at the center of the story are not super likable. While some are more appealing than others, overall, they're just not a very charming bunch. As is quite usual in these kinds of novels, where dark secrets and jealousies are being revealed, the story is depressing and sad. Although there's a twist I expected but didn't actually see coming, I did have the killer pegged before their identity was revealed. All in all, then, I didn't end up loving The Long Weekend, although it did keep me reading pretty intensely. Macmillan has that effect on me, no matter what she writes! Still, I definitely wanted a bit more from her latest.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books by Gilly Macmillan as well as those by Ruth Ware, Lucy Foley, and Paula Hawkins)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, mild sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Long Weekend from the generous folks at HarperCollins via those at Edelweiss Plus in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Thursday, February 17, 2022
A War Novel That's Heartwarming and Uplifting? Yes, Please!
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As World War II rages on, life in the English countryside has been irrevocably changed. Threatening planes streak through the sky, devastating telegrams keep arriving on doorsteps, and home cooks scrabble to put together decent meals from the meager pickings they can forage from the forest and village. While residents strive to keep their chins up, it's getting more and more difficult by the day.
Things perk up for four women when they learn a popular BBC radio program will be hosting a cooking contest in their area. The winner will be rewarded with a coveted spot as The Kitchen Front's first female co-host. Snagging first place will be life-changing. For Audrey Landon, a grieving war widow with three young sons, it would mean keeping a roof over her children's heads (however leaky it may be). Lady Gwendoline Strickland doesn't need the prize money, but she would love to laud a victory over her sister, who was always their mother's favorite. A young kitchen maid, Nell Brown dreams of being free from working for a family she despises. Zelda Dupont, a trained restaurant chef, craves the validation winning would give her in a competitive profession that's filled with condescending men. With each member of the quartet fiercely determined to come out on top, the contest quickly becomes a tense affair that some of them would do anything (even cheat) to win. Audrey, Gwendoline, Nell, and Zelda all have struggles and secrets the others don't know about. As their defenses are slowly chipped away and a fragile friendship forms between them, the contest starts to become something wholly different. Which one of them will emerge victorious? And how will the experience change all of their lives?
War books cannot usually be described as uplifting or heartwarming and, yet, that is exactly how I would characterize The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan. The story also features heartache, sorrow, and struggle, but overall, it's about unity, friendship, and the power of a loving support network in helping one learn to stand on her own two feet. Audrey, Gwendoline, Nell, and Zelda are all likable characters, whose challenges make them sympathetic and relatable. Although their story has a predictable end, I didn't care a smidge. I enjoyed every word of this charming, empowering novel. Because it highlights recipes for delicacies like The Ministry of Food's Sheep's Head Roll and Zelda's Raised Spam and Game Pie, The Kitchen Front—unlike most novels I read that are centered around food—did not make me salivate. It did, however, give me new appreciation for WWII cooks who had to use their own resourcefulness and ingenuity just to turn their meager rations into something at all edible!
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books by Jennifer Ryan)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Kitchen Front from Changing Hands Bookstore with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Friday, October 29, 2021
Shiver An Addicting, Thrill-a-Minute Page Turner
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"Snowboarding does something to me. It turns me into this demon who doesn't care about anyone else" (271).
Ten years ago, 33-year-old Milla Anderson was a pro snowboarder at the top of her game. Along with a crowd of other young athletes, she came to Le Rocher, a ski resort in the French Alps, to train while pitting herself against the best of the best. Amidst the tense, sometimes vicious, competition, friendships were formed, rivalries heightened, and enemies created. The season ended with Saskia Sparks—the most beautiful and conniving snowboarder among them—missing, presumed dead.
A decade later, Milla receives an invitation from a former Le Rocher friend to reunite at the resort. Although reluctant to return to the site and revisit the trauma she experienced there, she can't help but be intrigued. She hasn't seen or spoken to anyone from that fateful season on the mountain in the intervening years. Is it finally time to put the past behind her? Time to renew friendships, even rekindle a past flame? Despite her misgivings, Milla goes, only realizing too late that nothing about this mysterious reunion is quite what it seems. The resort is deserted, save for her and four others; their cell phones have disappeared; an innocent-seeming icebreaker game turns sinister; and everything is going bump in the night. With the threat of an oncoming snowstorm looming over the uneasy group, it's becoming quickly apparent that none of them is safe. Someone wants the truth about what happened ten years ago—and they'll stop at nothing to get it.
Shiver, a debut novel by Allie Reynolds, is my favorite kind of thriller. I mean, an atmospheric locked-room type mystery set in a remote location that features dangerous old secrets coming to the fore as nasty weather threatens to trap all the victims together in one place? Yes, please! Those kinds of stories always get my imagination whirling and my heart pumping. Although there are many things Shiver is not, it is a page turner. The story is a crazy, addicting thrill ride that kept me racing through the pages. Even though I figured out who was behind the reunion setup about halfway through the book, I still wanted to know what was going to happen next. While Shiver's plot kept me engaged, its characters are not a likable lot. They're admirable for their athleticism and determination, but not for their fickleness, petty jealousies, cruelty, and cold-hearted competitiveness. A good deal of the story, in fact, revolves around who slept with whom ten years ago, which I absolutely could have done without. Although we do see some growth in a couple of the characters, overall they're just a very messed up group. That, plus the fact that the story's a mite predictable, made Shiver less enjoyable for me. Still, for pure entertainment value, it's not a bad read as far as thrillers go. It definitely kept me engrossed.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of One By One by Ruth Ware; In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware; The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse; The Guest List by Lucy Foley; And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, etc.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, August 13, 2021
Supernatural (or Not?) Thriller An Entertaining High Seas Yarn
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"That's the problem with summoning devils, you see. Sooner or later, somebody else raises them against you" (340).
It's tough to describe The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton because it's so many things at one time: a historical novel (that doesn't concern itself overly much with accurate period details), a mystery, a swashbuckling pirate adventure (that's actually kind of slow), and a monster-y campfire tale. There are also hints of romance, philosophy, and just plain ole drama. The book's back cover copy describes it best: "Shirley Jackson meets Sherlock Holmes in this chilling thriller of supernatural horror, occult suspicion, and paranormal mystery on the high seas." That about covers it.
The story takes place in the year 1634 on a vessel called the Saardam, which is on an 8-month sea voyage from Batavia to Amsterdam. On board is Sammy Pipps, the world's greatest detective, who is being held in the ship's brig for a crime he may or may not have committed. Traveling with him is his loyal bodyguard Arent Hayes. When strange, otherworldly things start happening aboard the ship, spooking the passengers and crew, they look to Pipps for answers. Since he's not readily available, it's up to Arent and Sara Wessel—a noblewoman healer—to figure out what's going on. When people on board start falling victim to an unseen killer, Arent and Sara find themselves hunting down a murderer. Between them and Pipps, they've got more than enough smarts to catch the culprit, but what if it's not exactly of this world? Could a demon really be responsible for all the horrible happenings on the Saardam? Or is a more human evil to blame?
At 480 pages, The Devil and the Dark Water isn't a swift read. It's slow in places, but overall, I found it both engaging and exciting. I enjoyed the main characters, who are a likable bunch even if one of them has motives that are not exactly pure. The story's supernatural (or not?) element kept me on my toes, making me question what exactly our heroes were hunting. What I most appreciated about this novel, though, is its examination of the devils in all of us. If you're the kind of hist-fic reader who must have all the details exactly right, you might want to give this one a miss. Turton admits he didn't worry much about those himself, hoping the reader would let go of the fuss and just enjoy the yarn. You know what? I did exactly that.
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and blood/gore
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, July 19, 2021
Second Good Girl Novel Another Engaging Mystery/Thriller
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Good Girl, Bad Blood, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from its predecessor, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
After all the chaos created by her last foray into amateur detecting, 18-year-old Pippa Fitz-Amobi is done with both sleuthing and podcasting. She doesn't need the drama or the danger. Instead, she's concentrating on hanging out with her sweet boyfriend, Ravi Singh, and getting ready to move on to college at Columbia. Then, a man goes missing after a community memorial honoring the sixth anniversary of the deaths of Sal Singh and Andie Bell. Although Jamie Reynolds is 24 and known for taking off unexpectedly, his little brother, Pip's good friend, is worried about him. When Connor asks Pip for help finding him, she really can't say no. Especially since the police aren't taking the disappearance seriously. Once more, Pip is on the hunt and on the air.
Pip's investigation soon takes a dark turn, putting her in harm's way once again. What happened to Jamie Reynolds? Can Pip solve the mystery?
I enjoyed A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, so I was all in for a second book. Like its predecessor, Good Girl, Bad Blood uses transcripts of Pip's podcasts and interviews as well as her case notes to flesh out the story of her search for Jamie Reynolds. What emerges is a tense, engrossing thriller that kept me glued to the page. In addition to a compelling mystery, the novel offers a cast of warm, likable characters; an engaging, upbeat vibe (despite its grim subject matter); and a heroine who's fun and root-worthy in her earnest adorkable-ness. Sure, the idea of everyone being willing to spill their deepest, darkest secrets to a teenage sleuth is a bit far-fetched, but still...I enjoyed this absorbing yarn that kept me reading and guessing throughout. Not surprisingly, I'm very much looking forward to As Good As Dead (available August 5, 2021). I definitely want to know what's going to happen next to the always-appealing, ever-intrepid Pippa Fitz-Amobi!
(Readalikes: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson as well as other YA mysteries, including those by Karen M. McManus and Ashley Elston)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, blood/gore, disturbing subject matter, and depictions of underage drinking and illegal drug use (marijuana)
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, May 28, 2021
Much-Hyped The Sanitorium Less Satisfying Than Hoped For
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
High in the Swiss Alps sits Le Sommet, a just-opened luxury hotel with a minimalist approach that showcases the jaw-dropping views to perfection. The place should exude a peaceful vibe, but despite extensive remodeling, the building still holds an unsettling feeling left over from its days as a tuberculosis hospital. Whispers of unease whistle through Le Sommet's newly-painted halls, hinting at its dark past...
The last place Detective Elin Warner wants to be is on a remote mountaintop with her estranged brother, but without a good excuse to skip his engagement party, she really doesn't have a choice. As the assistant manager of Le Sommet, Elin's sister-in-law is eager to show off the new hotel. Despite Laure's enthusiasm, Elin feels completely unsettled by Le Sommet, with its strange history and cut-off location. The onset of a winter storm doesn't help her feelings of claustrophobia and disquiet. On leave following a traumatizing case, Elin is supposed to be resting. Le Sommet should offer the perfect refuge for her. So, why does she feel so discombobulated?
When Laure disappears suddenly, Elin is immediately on alert. The assistant manager is not answering her phone and the weather has made travel nearly impossible. Where could Laure possibly be? When Elin finds the gruesome answer, a startling truth becomes terrifyingly clear: someone in the hotel (or very nearby) is a cold-blooded killer. While Elin collects clues, another woman disappears. With no way off the mountain, all the hotel guests are in danger unless Elin can find a murderer—a murderer who just may be her own brother. Racing against time, she must put all her rusty detecting skills to use before it's too late for her and everyone else.
Locked-room mysteries set in isolated places are my jam. Throw in inclement weather and a creepy old building and you've got my attention, 100 percent. The Sanatorium, a debut novel by Sarah Pearse, combines all of these elements to create a compelling novel, the kind I usually devour and love. Did it fulfill all my thriller-loving dreams? Well...
The novel is very atmospheric, with an eerie vibe that helps to keep the reader feeling wrong-footed throughout the story. I appreciate that in a mystery/thriller since it keeps me on my toes, always wondering whom to trust, whom to suspect, and what's going to happen next. Plot-wise, there's plenty of action to keep the tale moving. Although I saw the killer coming, I wasn't absolutely sure until the last third or so of the book. While their identity wasn't a huge shock to me, there were some other twists that caught me by surprise. So, although The Sanatorium is almost 400 pages long, it never got boring for me (I have heard other readers describe it as slow, however).
That being said, the novel's cast is almost wholly unlikable. Elin is sympathetic, but even she isn't terribly appealing. Nor is she very convincing as a detective. Although I get that she's supposed to be suffering from PTSD and her skills are rusty after a year's hiatus, she still seems awfully slow on the uptake. I also had a hard time reconciling the killer with their crimes. Neither the murderer's personality nor their motive really seemed to explain the very gruesome nature of the killings. I also felt like there were a lot of inconsistencies in the background of this novel—the hotel guests all seem way too calm, for instance. Even Elin just kind of takes the events in stride, which feels a tad bit unrealistic. All these things kept me from loving The Sanatorium, which ended up being only an okay read for me. The epilogue seems to hint that this will be the first book in a series. Would I read a sequel? I think I would, although I can't say I'm chomping at the bit.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Shiver by Allie Reynolds and One By One by Ruth Ware)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (1 F-bomb, plus milder invectives), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Sanatorium with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Monday, April 19, 2021
Charming British Murder Mystery a Delightful Romp
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
A luxury retirement home in Kent, Coopers Chase offers endless amenities to its residents. Besides enjoying the lush, pastoral grounds, you can swim in the pool, read in the library, Zumba in the gym, and solve murders in the Jigsaw Room. While the Thursday Murder Club isn't exactly the kind of thing Coopers Chase advertises in its glossy brochures, it's an entertaining diversion that helps four septuagenarians wile away empty hours while keeping their minds sharp.
The club's focus has always been cold cases, but when a local land developer is killed, they jump at the chance to involve themselves in a real, live murder investigation. After some top secret finagling, the club members manage to snag themselves a police liaison in the form of a young constable named Donna De Freitas. Before she knows what's happening, the bewildered policewoman is a full-fledged member of the club, swapping clues and theories with her new Thursday Murder Club BFF's. Together, they have to ask some tough questions—Why was Tony Curran murdered? What was meant by the photo left next to the corpse, which features the son of one of the club members? Will the killer strike again?—and together, they just might solve a puzzling murder.
A debut novel and the first in a planned series, The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman is just as charming as it sounds. It's a fun read, with plenty of humor to keep it entertaining, although it also has some poignant moments. The characters are colorful, creating an appealing cast. Although The Thursday Murder Club isn't exactly a serious murder mystery, it's still twistier than I expected it to be. I really thought I had the killer pegged, only to find out I was wrong. A surprise ending (as long as it's also a logical one) is my favorite kind when it comes to mystery/thrillers. While the novel does get chatty, making it a bit slow in places, I still very much enjoyed this engaging romp. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to the next installment in this delightful new series.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs) and violence
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, April 09, 2021
Elly Griffiths' Newest Surprising in a Delightful Way
There's nothing unusual about residents of Seaview Court dying. It's a block of retirement flats occupied by elderly people, after all. Still, Ukrainian carer Natalka Kolisnyk can't help but think there's something fishy about the "sudden" demise of 90-year-old Peggy Smith. Even more curious is the business card she finds identifying Peggy as a "murder consultant." If all the crime novels dedicated to Peggy on the shelves of her apartment are any indication, the senior citizen advised authors on inventive ways to kill off their characters. Surely a woman with such an odd job couldn't have died of natural causes. Could she?
Although Natalka brings her suspicions to DS Harbinder Kaur, it's not until there's a break-in at the dead woman's apartment followed by the murder of an author who used Peggy's services that Harbinder starts to take Natalka seriously. Although the detective agrees that something strange is happening, she and her colleagues can't move fast enough for the concerned carer. Much to Harbinder's dismay, she discovers that Natalka has enlisted the help of two friends—coffee shop owner and former monk, Benedict Cole and Edwin Fitzgerald, a senior citizen and good friend of Peggy's—to help her investigate the strange occurrences. When another author murder takes place, Harbinder realizes they're in a frantic race against time to find a murderer who will not hesitate to kill again.
One of the reasons I enjoyed The Stranger Diaries, the first installment in Elly Griffiths' engaging mystery series starring Harbinder Kaur, was its deliciously Gothic feel. I was surprised, then, to discover that the second book in the series has an entirely different vibe. The Postscript Murders is lighter and more upbeat than its predecessor, almost like a cozy mystery. Natalka, Benedict, and Edwin are quirky, funny characters. Harbinder is likewise appealing. Plot-wise, the story is twisty enough that the killer's identity caught me by surprise. Although The Postscript Murders didn't turn out to be what I expected it to be, I still found it engaging, compelling, and wholly entertaining.
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Postscript Murders from the generous folks at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt via those at NetGalley. Thank you!
Friday, March 26, 2021
Moody, Broody Psychological Thriller a Gripping Read
(Image from Amazon)
When cancer steals her mother's life before she has even turned sixty, 38-year-old Kal feels surprisingly adrift. Over the years, she's gotten used to the fact that her mercurial mother never loved her. Elena MacKenzie had plenty of affection for her younger daughter, Alice, but none for Kal. Grief-stricken by the loss of a woman she never understood, Kal is thrown for a shocking loop when she finds a stack of mysterious postcards in her mother's things. Going back more than 20 years, each was written on the same day of the year and signed the same way by the same Canadian woman: "Thinking of you." Kal knows Elena studied marine biology in North America before marrying and moving to England, but she knows little about those early years and she's never heard her mother mention a woman named Susannah Gillespie. Who was this Canadian artist to Elena? Why did she send a postcard every year? What's the significance of the date on the cards?
Already feeling bruised from suspicions that her husband is cheating on her, Kal makes an impulsive decision to travel to British Columbia and find Susannah. With her toddler in tow, she sets out for remote Spring Tide Island, hoping to find the answers she so desperately seeks. Meeting Susannah, a potter who claims to have been Elena's best friend, just creates more questions. The woman, who seems to have been obsessed with Kal's mother, has also formed a strange attachment to Kal's son, 18-month-old Finn. Despite frantic calls from her husband and warnings from her father to stay away from Susannah, Kal refuses to leave Canada until she understands who her mother was and what happened between her and her old BFF. The more Kal learns, the more distressed she grows. Something horrible happened to Elena, that much is clear and—as Kal finally realizes—the past is about to repeat itself if she can't get herself and Finn off the island. With a storm threatening to cut off all communication with the mainland, Kal will have to risk her own life to save them both.
Everyone who hangs out around here knows I can't resist an atmospheric thriller. The moodier and broodier, the better. The Missing One, a 2014 debut by journalist Lucy Atkins, certainly qualifies. Atkins does an excellent job painting Spring Tide Island in thick, foggy grays that make it feel cold, isolated, and eerie. It's a shivery backdrop, perfect for a gripping psychological thriller, which is exactly what The Missing One is. The book is not an edge-of-your-seat kind of read (at least not until the end), but it is engrossing and compelling. Overly long, yes, but not boring. Predictable to a point, indeed, but not without its plot surprises. As far as characters go, it's tough to find a truly likable one in this story. They're a pretty messed up group, with plenty of selfish obsessiveness to go around. While Kal is the most appealing of the bunch, I still found her irrational, whiny, and slow on the uptake. Still, I definitely wanted to find out what was going to happen to her. That need to know kept me reading. In the end, then, I liked The Missing One well enough, but I can't say I loved it. I'm up for more from Atkins, though, and that's saying a lot.
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, blood/gore, scenes of peril, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, March 15, 2021
Cult-or-Commune Thriller a Pretty Ho-Hum Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
After the unexpected death of her husband, Laura Evans is struggling to make sense out of everything. She doesn't understand how her cautious spouse could have fallen at the construction site where he was working, especially after hours. She has no idea how she's going to pay the bills while a stalled inquest halts insurance payments. She can barely cope with Tilly, her hostile teenage daughter, who's full of grief and attitude. Losing her husband, her home, and her struggling flower shop leaves Laura with no money, no support, and no future. How will she and Tilly survive?
When she and Tilly are offered a place at a commune-style organics farm in the Welsh countryside called Gorphwysfa (Resting Place), Laura has little choice but to take it. The community's charismatic leader, 27-year-old Alex Draycott, is welcoming and Laura feels herself relaxing for the first time since her husband's death. It's not long, though, before strange things start happening to Laura and Tilly, things that make Laura question whether Gorphwysfa is a dream or a nightmare. Tilly's happy at the commune, but as Laura digs deeper into the place's secrets, she grows more and more alarmed. What is really going on at Gorphwysfa? Are its gates protecting Laura and Tilly from the outside world or are they imprisoning them, barring its inmates from rescue? Will the grief-stricken women ever find healing and peace?
Other than its Welsh setting, there's nothing very original about The Family by Louise Jensen. It's your typical "Is this really a safe, bucolic commune for damaged people or is it a creepy, megalomaniac-led cult that will steal both your money and your soul?" novel. Laura and Tilly are sympathetic characters, but they're not super smart ones. Laura's actions after arriving at Gorphwysfa make little sense. Tilly's decisions are just as dumb, but at least hers can be explained by the ignorance of youth. Although Alex is described as charming, I found him repugnant from the get-go. It makes no sense that all the women are in love with him. Ick. As far as plot goes, the story moves along at a steady pace. While I saw most of the twists coming, a couple took me by surprise. Enough happened in the book to keep me reading, but by the end, I was plowing through just to get it over with, really. In the end, then, I found The Family to be a pretty ho-hum read. I doubt I'll revisit this author.
(Readalikes: Hmmm, I can't think of anything. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual content, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Family with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Saturday, January 23, 2021
Middle Grade Historical Offers a Vivid, Heart-wrenching Portrayal of Life in a Leper Colony
(Image from author's website)
Culion Island is a lush Filipino paradise boasting sparkling blue water, sweet-smelling flowers, trees hanging with ripe fruit, and a peaceful quiet. It should be overrun with eager beachgoers. But, high on a cliff, an eagle made of white flowers warns outsiders to keep away from Culion. It's a one-way island; people can come, but no one ever leaves. Those who are "touched" with leprosy are brought to Culion to keep them isolated while their bodies slowly deteriorate and die from the contagious disease.
Amihan "Ami" Tala was born on Culion after her pregnant mother was diagnosed with leprosy and brought to the island. Although the 12-year-old is herself untouched, the leper colony is her home—everything she's ever known and loved. She has no desire to leave. When Narciso Zamora, a sneering government official, comes to Culion to enforce new segregation laws, which will force the "clean" away from the "unclean," everyone is shocked. Not only will many new sufferers be brought to the island, but the untouched children will be forced to leave. Although the policy is supposed to be for the children's benefit, Ami cannot see how being taken from her mother and their tight-knit community could possibly be a good thing.
With little choice in the matter, Ami is sent to an orphanage on nearby (but not near enough) Coron Island. Subject to Mr. Zamora's cruelty and teasing from the other children, Ami knows she can't stay. Together with a new friend, she vows to return to her home, no matter what it takes. Can she get back to Culion safely? With her mother's health declining rapidly, will Ami make it home in time? Will she be allowed to stay?
I'm familiar with Moloka'i, Hawaii's famous leper colony, but I had never heard of Culion before, even though it held the largest leprosarium in the world for decades, starting in about 1906. In The Island at the End of Everything, Kiran Millwood Hargrave brings the place to vivid life. Through the eyes of Ami, she helps readers see and understand what it must have been like for Culion's residents when the government began enforcing divisive policies that separated spouses, families, and friends. The tension makes for an intriguing but heartbreaking story. Ami is a sympathetic heroine for whom it's easy to root. Her story is filled with terror, adventure, and suspense, which keeps The Island at the End of Everything from getting dull. In fact, the novel is compelling as well as poignant and hopeful. While the ending is predictable, I still very much enjoyed this insightful middle grade novel.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Moloka'i by Alan Brennert)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, disturbing subject matter, and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Island at the End of Everything with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Saturday, January 09, 2021
The Midnight Library Full of Tantalizing Possibility
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
One of the things I love about libraries is that they're full of possibility. There are literally millions of stories sitting on the shelves, just waiting to be told. You might walk in having a vague idea of what you want to read, but you could walk out with something totally different. The best part is you don't have to limit yourself to only one or two stories—you can experience them all!
Imagine a library with that kind of power, except every book on its shelves stars one person: you. Each represents a life you are living in a parallel universe, one in which you made different choices than those you picked in your root life. You can hop in and out of these volumes to find the story that suits you best. With endless possibilities, which life would you choose?
This is the premise behind The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. The story revolves around Nora Seed, a 35-year-old who has just lost her long-time dead-end job as well as her beloved cat. After realizing that these are her only real connections in a world where she's always felt superfluous, she decides to take her own life. Instead of ending up in heaven or hell, however, she finds herself in an in-between place called The Midnight Library. Here, she has the ability to try on her different lives to find one that feels more comfortable, more satisfying than her root life. As Nora tries these variations on for size—experiencing versions that are glamorous, successful, adventurous, terrifying, humdrum, disappointing, surprising, etc.—she begins to wonder if any life is really worth living. When her strange library starts to crumble, she must decide whether to live or die.
With that kind of premise, how could I not be drawn into The Midnight Library? It's a fascinating seed from which to grow a compelling story. The novel definitely tells an interesting tale, one which is both entertaining and thought-provoking. It explores some intriguing concepts: potential and perspective, regrets and resolutions, choice and possibility. Still, I didn't end up absolutely loving The Midnight Library, but I did like it. It's a unique, life-affirming read that kept me turning pages.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual content, and depictions of illegal drug use (marijuana)
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Midnight Library with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Wednesday, December 09, 2020
Problematic Psychological Thriller Another Meh Read For Me
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Fifteen years ago, three little girls were walking to school. One of them was in a terrible accident that left her with a Traumatic Brain Injury that affects her memory and speech. Living in an institution, Kitty James has trouble communicating, but that doesn't mean she doesn't remember the accident, at least on some level. Alison Baker, Kitty's half-sister, has also never quite recovered from the trauma of that long-ago day. She has no real life and relies on cutting herself in order to feel anything.
With little money in the bank, Alison reluctantly decides to accept a job as an artist-in-residence at an open prison outside of London. She's assigned to teach art to a select group of inmates. Seems simple enough. Then, she begins receiving threatening notes at work. When her classroom erupts in violence, Alison becomes completely unsettled. Someone is purposely tormenting her, someone who knows what really happened the day of Kitty's accident. Alison's kept her secrets carefully guarded for over a decade, but now the truth will out ...
On its surface, Blood Sisters by Jane Corry seems like the kind of tense psychological thriller I enjoy. Unfortunately, I had a big problem with the characters in this novel. They're not at all likable. Alison is cold, immature, and melodramatic, all of which made it difficult to feel connected to her. The only cast member I felt anything for was Alison's poor mum. Corry's prose is awkward as well. As far as plot goes, Blood Sisters kept my attention, although I saw some of the twists coming. Many of the situations seem contrived and the Big Reveals at the end drove me crazy, justifying my dislike and distrust of a certain character even more. Not surprisingly, Blood Sisters is a sad, depressing story. All of these elements combined to make the novel a rather unpleasant read. So, while I liked the premise, I just didn't love this book. Bummer.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other the-past-comes-calling psychological thrillers, although no specific titles are coming to mind)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, blood/gore, mild sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Blood Sisters with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Saturday, November 07, 2020
Despite Deaf Community Setting, Mystery Series Opener Lacks Originality
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
There's nothing more disturbing than the murder of a child, especially when it occurs in their home with family members asleep nearby. That's exactly what happens to 18-month old Lexie Hunter—she's brutally attacked in her bed, killed while two of her siblings slumber in the room with her. How did no one hear a thing? Simple—everyone in the household is deaf.
As the only hearing person in a deaf family, Paige Northwood grew up "speaking" British Sign Language (BSL). The 30-year-old now works as a BSL interpreter, aiding the police and other entities when they need help communicating with people in the deaf community. When Lexie's death is discovered, the police call on Paige to interpret for the Hunter Family. Although she recognizes the parents' confusion and grief, she also suspects they know more than they're letting on. What really happened to little Lexie? Paige is determined to find out, even if it means angering the police and putting herself at risk. She won't rest until the toddler's killer is brought to justice, even if it means she is the next victim found dead in her bed.
The minute I read the plot summary for The Silent House, a debut novel by Nell Pattison, I was intrigued. Its premise is simple but chilling. I was all in for a compelling murder mystery with a unique deaf community setting, especially since it's written by a long-time BSL teacher who is partly deaf herself. Unfortunately, despite its original twist, there's nothing super memorable about The Silent House. The characters—including our heroine—are not particularly sympathetic or likable. Paige is not very convincing, not as a 30-year-old (she's like an old lady) and not as a seasoned interpreter (her actions throughout the story are often illogical, unprofessional, and far-fetched). She's also cold and whiny, which makes her a difficult character to connect with. Add in clunky prose, a plodding start, and a killer who's obvious from the get go, and you're left with a story that's just not all that engrossing or satisfying. As much as I love the idea of a mystery series set in the deaf community, The Silent House just didn't satisfy enough to entice me to read more. Bummer.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't really think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Silent House from the generous folks at HarperCollins via those at NetGalley. Thank you!
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