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Showing posts with label Thrillers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thrillers. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 03, 2025
Top Ten Tuesday: Seaside Mystery/Thriller Novels On My TBR List
Although I like its lazy, daze-y vibe, summer is actually my least favorite season. I've lived in blistering hot Arizona for 25 years, but I'll always be a Pacific Northwest girl at heart. Give me cloudy skies, a brisk wind, and a fine drizzle, and I'm a happy camper. Sunscreen, sandy toes, and triple digit temperatures? Not so much! Still, when I think of summer, I do think immediately of beaches (even though my backyard swimming pool is much more my speed), which gave me a good idea for today's Top Ten Tuesday prompt: Summer Freebie. Since my favorite genre is mystery/thriller and I especially like ones with a water-y setting, I'm going to feature mysteries and thrillers on my TBR list that are set by the ocean.
As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.
Top Ten Seaside Mysteries/Thrillers On My TBR List
1. Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney—It has taken FOREVER for me to climb to the top of the library's hold list for Feeney's newest, but I finally made it. Yay! The story revolves around an author who calls his wife to share some good news while she's driving home. He hears her brakes squeal, her door slam, and then...silence. When her car is later discovered on the edge of a cliff, Abby's possessions are there, but she's not. One year later, Grady has no answers about his wife's disappearance. Paralyzed with grief, he travels to a remote Scottish island to try to rebuild his life. He's stunned when he sees a woman there who looks just like his wife. Is it her? What really happened to Abby Green?
2. No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding by Catherine Mack—Set on California's Catalina Island, this is the second entry in a fun mystery series. Bestselling mystery author Eleanor Dash is attending her best friend's wedding. The joyous occasion is marred when Eleanor receives a note warning that someone is going to die at the event. Still reeling from her last amateur murder investigation, the writer reluctantly takes the case.
3. Secrets at the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles—When her mother dies, a grieving Rosie Merchant travels to the seaside hamlet of Heaven's Cove in Devon, England, to prepare her mom's cottage for rental. Liam, a handsome neighbor, volunteers to help her with the daunting task. Their developing relationship brings some needed sunshine into Rosie's life. Then, she finds a disturbing photograph in her mother's attic, a picture that speaks of the heartbreaking secret that first brought the woman to Heaven's Cove. Liam's reaction to the discovery is...odd. Does he already know the truth about her mother's past? Can she trust him or is he only helping her to protect his own interests?
4. Such a Good Mom by Julia Spiro—From the outside, Brynn's life on Martha's Vineyard looks perfect. She has a healthy new baby, a loving husband, a profitable career, and a full life in a beautiful location. Secretly, though, she's struggling with postpartum depression, the distance she feels in her marriage, and a hectic lifestyle that's pulling her apart at the seams. When a family friend is found dead and suspicion turns her husband into the police's prime suspect, Brynn fears the stress may send her over the edge. No matter how crazy her life already is, though, she won't rest until she finds her friend's killer—even if it's her own husband.
5. Clammed Up by Barbara Ross—The first installment in a cozy mystery series set in Maine, this novel features a woman who returns to her hometown in order to save her family's clambake business. When a corpse is found at her family's home, however, she must channel her inner Nancy Drew and unmask a murderer.
6. You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego—Mila del Angél is thrilled when a famous author asks her to host a retreat for writers at his home on a private island in Maine. The guest list includes someone who has deeply wronged her; this is the perfect opportunity to make them disappear forever. When a different murder takes place during the event, Mila is stunned. And that's only the beginning. A storm is blowing in, the body count is rising, and it's up to Mila to save herself and everyone left on the island from a ruthless killer.
7. The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey—This novel is set on a remote Scottish island inhabited by more sheep than humans. It's known for an unsolved mystery in which three lighthouse keepers disappeared without a trace in 1919. When a body is found washed up on shore near the infamous lighthouse, two Glasgow detectives are sent in to investigate. It soon becomes clear that the island is hiding its fair share of secrets and the locals are none too eager to spill them to a couple of big city policemen.
8. A Death at Seascape House by Emma Jameson—In this cozy mystery series opener, librarian Jemima Jago is offered the opportunity of a lifetime to catalog a stunning collection of shipwreck records. The only problem? It requires returning to the Cornwall island she vowed she would never step foot on again. Unable to refuse the offer, she returns home. Before long, she finds herself the prime suspect in the murder of the town busybody. Jemima knows she didn't do it. Who did? If she wants to clear her name, she'll have to find out.
9. Dreaming of Water by A.J. Banner—Astrid Johansen swore she would never return to the oceanside town in Washington State where her younger sister drowned under Astrid's care. When her aunt sends her an urgent plea to come home, Astrid can't say no. To her horror, she arrives to find that her aunt is in a coma after a possible attack. Why did the older woman call Astrid home so urgently? Was she about to reveal a long-held secret that threatened the wrong person? Astrid won't leave until she finds out.
10. The Resort by Sarah Ochs—Years ago, Cass escaped to Koh Sang Resort, a world-famous party place on a remote island in Thailand. Now, she's a dive instructor on the island, which is populated by The Permanents, a group of carefree expats who live in the now, having left their pasts in the past. When a dive student is found dead, their idyllic island life is shaken. And not for the first time. Someone on the island is a killer, and it's up to Cass to find out who.
There you go, ten seaside mystery/thriller novels I'm eager to read. Have you read any of them? Do you have any favorites that would fit this list's theme? I'd love any recs! Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Top Ten Tuesday: Vacation Thrillers On My TBR List
I just got back from a fabulous 2-week vacation to the U.K. in which everything went pretty much as smoothly as it could. Even the few things that didn't go quite as planned turned into happy accidents and funny memories. This hasn't been the case with every holiday I've gone on, naturally. I've been on trips marred by nasty weather, illness, car trouble, family drama, forgotten medication, kids having meltdowns, and one memorable (but very minor, thank goodness) trip to a Canadian emergency room. Although I pray for uneventful vacations in real life, I want the opposite in my fiction. Bring on all the holiday murder and mayhem! I mean, c'mon, who wants to read about a smooth-as-silk holiday? Not I! Today's TTT prompt is actually Top Ten Characters I'd Like to Go On Vacation With, but I'm going to put my own spin on it and list some vacation thrillers on my TBR list. I actually did this same topic back in 2020 with ten different books, so take a look at that if you're into this genre as well.
As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl. Pop on over there and give her some love, won't you?
Top Ten Vacation Thrillers On My TBR List
1. The River Wild by Denis O'Neill—I loved the film version of this survival story starring Kevin Bacon and Meryl Streep, but I've never read the book. The story is about a couple whose marriage struggles lead them to go on a white water rafting trip with their young son, hoping they can heal what's broken with some concentrated bonding time. When they rescue two stranded rafters, they unknowingly pick up a pair of criminals on the run. The family's peaceful outing soon turns into a desperate run against two armed killers and a powerful river, both of which seem to be conspiring to kill them.
2. One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware (available May 21, 2024)—In spite of relationship issues with her wannabe actor boyfriend, Lyla auditions with him for a new reality show that pits couples against each other for a large cash prize. Along with their fellow competitors, Lyla and Nico are left on the shores of a beautiful, exotic, and very remote island. After the game's first challenge leaves the contestants boiling with anger, a violent storm sweeps in, cutting the players off from all communication with the outside world. With no way to call for help and supplies running low, the couples must band together to survive. Or not.
3. Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam—I'm probably the last person on earth to read this buzzy thriller. It's about a family from New York City who rent a luxurious Long Island home for a much-needed rest from their busy lives. Everything is going swimmingly until a knock on the door in the middle of the night changes everything. An older couple has arrived, claiming to be the owners of the home. They bring terrible news—a mysterious power outage has shut down the city, causing widespread chaos and panic. Something about the situation doesn't seem right to the vacationers, but with phone and Internet service down, there's no way for them to know what's really happening. Can they trust these newcomers? Or is something way more sinister than a power outage going on?
4. Never Coming Home by Kate Williams—In this YA thriller, ten of the world's most famous teen influencers are invited to Unknown Island. This paradise of the privileged has just opened and the whole world is talking about its beauty, luxury, and exclusivity. When the "First Ten" receive their coveted invites, they think they're being rewarded because of their massive followings. Wrong. They're being trapped because of the secrets each one of them is hiding. Someone wants those bombshells released. Someone wants to punish their keepers. Someone doesn't want the powerful influencers to leave the island. Ever.
5. The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis—Twenty years ago, four teenagers embarked on a study abroad adventure in Provence, France, and became the best of friends. The girls spent their weekends visiting elegant Séraphine Demargelasse, one of the students' grandmother, at her fancy chateau. Two decades later, Séraphine invites them back. None of the women understand the sudden invitation, but each has their own secret reason for accepting. When their host is found murdered after a night of celebration, those secrets begin to emerge as everyone scrambles to figure out what is happening and why.
6. Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok—When the titular character disappears while on vacation in the Netherlands, the Lee family is devastated and confused. What happened to their smart, successful oldest daughter? Amy, the youngest of the Lee siblings, has always been shy and easily intimidated. She idolizes her sister, her polar opposite. Determined to find answers for her distraught parents, Amy calls on every ounce of courage she possesses and embarks on a journey to figure out what happened to Sylvie. Along the way, she'll expose shocking secrets and discover deep truths about her sister, their parents, and herself.
7. The Last Guest House by Caroline Mitchell (available April 16, 2024—today!)—In need of some R&R after working a taxing case, Detective Constable Nicola McKenna agrees to go on a relaxing vacation to Scotland's remote Isle of Skye. When they discover that their hotel has been overbooked, they scramble to find alternate accommodations. The Loch House has some odd rules, which Nicola finds more than a little unsettling. An incoming snow storm unnerves her even more and shows her just how very wrong things are at the sketchy guest house...
8. The Search Party by Hannah Richell—Max and Annie Kingsley have left their stressful life in London behind to run a glamping site. To ensure everything goes well for its grand opening, they decide to give their new venture a test run. They invite a group of family friends to join them for a fun, relaxing weekend. It doesn't take long for things to go sideways. With tension already on the rise, a sudden storm crashes in and one of the group disappears. As they try to find their missing member, secrets will come to light, families will be pitted against each other, and friendships will crumble. Will any of them ever recover from their dream weekend turned hellish nightmare?
9. Descent by Tim Johnston—The Courtlands are hanging out in the Rocky Mountains enjoying one last family vacation before their 18-year-old daughter, Caitlin, heads off to college. When she and her brother go for a run one morning and only Sean comes back, the family is thrown into a wild panic. What happened to Caitlin? Have they lost her forever?
10. The River At Night by Erica Ferencik—If there's one thing everyone can agree on it's that Winifred Allen needs a vacation. Even still, she's a tad reluctant to join her best friends on a rafting and hiking adventure in the Maine wilderness. Her misgivings come to fruition when a freak accident turns their harmless excursion into a desperate struggle for survival against nature, each other, and the most dangerous type of wildlife: other humans.
There you go, ten novels about vacations going terribly wrong that I want to read. Have you read any of these? What did you think? Are there any other books you've loved about holidays gone awry? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, September 05, 2023
Top Ten Tuesday: Fall 2023 Mystery/Thriller Novels I Want to Read
Today's TTT prompt—Top Ten Books That Defied My Expectations (books you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving, books you thought you'd love but didn't, etc.)— is a good one, but I'm just not feeling it. Even though it's early September and it's still a million degrees outside, I'm gearing up for some cozy Fall reading. To me, that means mysteries, mysteries, and more mysteries! Yes, I read this genre throughout the year, but it just seems especially suited for the cozy/spooky season. Maybe that's why there are so many intriguing-sounding ones still to be published this year. I'm going to highlight ten up-and-coming mystery/thrillers that I want to read.
First, though, be sure to click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl and give our host, Jana, some love. If you want to join in the TTT fun (and you do!), all the details are there.
Top Ten Fall 2023 Mystery/Thriller Novels I Want to Read
2. The Wings of Poppy Pendleton by Melanie Dobson (available September 19)—During a Gilded Age party at her family's castle in New York's Thousand Islands area, a young girl goes missing while her father lies dead in the smoking room. Seventy-five years later, a mysterious girl arrives on the island, prompting the owner of the island to look into the old mystery. What really happened to Poppy Pendleton?
3. Death and the Sisters by Heather Redmond (available September 26)—This opener begins a new historical mystery series starring a teenaged Mary Shelley, her stepsister, and Mary's future husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley. When Mary discovers a man—who happens to be Percy's classmate and rival— dead in her home after a party, she and her cohorts use their collective smarts to solve the murder.
4. The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok (available October 10)—Because of China's One Child Policy, Jasmine Yang's infant daughter was snatched away from her. Now in New York City without a penny to her name and on the run from her controlling husband, Jasmine is on a desperate hunt to find her stolen child. A wealthy publishing executive, Rebecca Whitney has the perfect life—including an adopted Chinese daughter. When the lives of these two very different women collide, it causes both to question everything they both know about identity, motherhood, and the true meaning of family.
5. What We Kept to Ourselves by Nancy Jooyoun Kim (available October 10)—A year later, the Kim Family is still baffled and devastated by their matriarch's mysterious disappearance. When they find the dead body of a stranger in their backyard, they're even more shocked, especially since he's carrying a letter addressed to the missing woman. Who is the unknown man? And what does he have to do with Sunny Kim? Where is Sunny and why did she vanish?
6. Murder by Degrees by Ritu Mukerji (available October 17)—It's 1875 and Lydia Weston is a professor and anatomist at the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. When the body of a dead chambermaid is found in a Philadelphia river, a supposed suicide, Lydia becomes suspicious. Following clues on the corpse and in the dead woman's diary, she sets out to discover how the young woman really died.
7. People to Follow by Olivia Worley (available October 31)—"In Real Life" is a hot new reality show that takes ten well-known teen influencers to a Caribbean island where they will completely unplug for three weeks of televised, non-filtered living. When the production crew fails to show and one of the influencers dies violently, the remaining nine find themselves stranded in a remote paradise with a killer.
8. Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen by Sarah James (available November 7)—The Hollywood Canteen, a club for servicemen staffed by volunteers who are also Tinseltown stars, is the place to be in 1943. Aspiring playwright Annie Laurence hopes to make enough of a splash there to get the murder mystery film she's written produced. When a hated film critic is killed at the Canteen, Annie joins a group of amateur sleuths to figure out who murdered her.
9. The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (available November 14)—When a man's dead body is found in the iced-over Kennebec River in 1789, the local midwife and healer is called upon to examine the corpse. A keeper of her town's secrets, Martha knows the dead man is one of the possible perpetrators of an alleged rape that happened several months ago. As both crimes are investigated, her small town is torn apart by scandal and prejudice. What will the truth do to Martha, her family, and her community?
10. The Weekend Retreat by Tara Laskowski (available December 26)—As the heirs to a copper fortune, the Van Ness siblings are constantly in the spotlight. They gather yearly at a luxury winery for the R&R they all desperately need. This year, their vacation is beset with the usual family drama as well as a torrential rainstorm and a shocking murder. Whodunit?
There you are, ten upcoming mystery/thriller novels I want to read. Which Fall releases are you excited about? If you did today's prompt, which books defied your expectations? I'd truly love to know. Leve me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
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!
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Wildlife Mystery Series Opener a Sluggish Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
After a face-off with an angry gunman at a Boston ceremony celebrating a controversial wetlands preservation project, wildlife biologist Alex Carter is only too happy to get away. The chance to track wolverines in the Montana wilderness is a dream come true. She's eager to study the elusive animals, working to save the dying species. Not all of the locals are thrilled with her presence, however, and they're letting her know it. Determined not to bow to their scare tactics, she stays on at the abandoned ski lodge where she lives by herself.
When Alex's wolverine-watching cameras catch movements of a different kind of animal on film, she's puzzled. Why is a man who's clearly suffering from a severe injury roaming around in the woods looking dazed and confused? When Alex reports her findings, she's even more stunned at the authorities' dismissive response. Refusing to let it go, she soon finds herself caught in the crosshairs of a dangerous predator. Just what has Alex stumbled upon? And how far will someone go to keep the curious scientist from sticking her nose where it doesn't belong?
It's no secret that I dig immersive, atmospheric mysteries set in isolated places. From the looks of A Solitude of Wolverines, the first book in a new series by Alice Henderson, it appears to be just this sort of read. Is it? Well...I did like the setting, not just mountainous Montana but also the creepy lodge, which adds an eerie vibe to the story (always a plus in my book). I also appreciate that Henderson's passion for nature, animals, and the conservation of both really comes through in this novel. In fact, her prose (which is pretty humdrum otherwise) shines brightest when she's writing about these subjects. Unfortunately, the author has a tendency to drone on and on, adding so many unnecessary details that the plot drags under them. Add in a storyline that's contrived and convoluted, characters that are bland and unlikable, and narration that's melodramatic and wordy, and you've got yourself one sluggish novel. I persevered with A Solitude of Wolverines (which is saying something, I guess), but it ended up being, for me, an average read at best. Needless to say, I won't be continuing with the series. Bummer.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Last Woman in the Forest by Diane Les Becquets and The Wild Inside by Christine Carbo)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a half-dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
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
Monday, September 20, 2021
Gritty, Atmospheric Thriller a Gripping Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Ten years ago, a beautiful 19-year-old cheerleader went missing from a small Texas town. Her disappearance still haunts the place and the people who vowed to find Trumanell "True" Branson, but couldn't. Although he has been cleared by the authorities, many believe True's younger brother, Wyatt, killed her. Especially after a new documentary focuses the spotlight on him once more. His standing in the town becomes even more precarious when a young girl is seen at his home. The recluse claims he found the mute, abused child on the side of the road. Is Wyatt, a presumed murderer, really being a Good Samaritan? Or does he have more sinister plans for the mysterious girl he calls Angel? Who is she, anyway? Where did she come from? And, most importantly, who hurt her?
Odette Tucker—daughter of the town's beloved police chief, now a cop in her own right—feels an immediate kinship with Angel. She doesn't want to believe that Wyatt, her high school boyfriend, could hurt anyone, but it's her duty to protect her town. As she investigates one lost girl in the present, her thoughts turn constantly to True. What really happened to Odette's old friend? Can the two cases possibly be connected? The more Odette digs, the more dangerous her investigation becomes. Will she be the next woman to disappear from a town steeped in secrets?
Tense, atmospheric mysteries are my jam, so I was all in for this gritty thriller. We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin stars a brave police officer with a tough exterior, a titanium leg, and a soft, loyal heart. Odette has her flaws, but all in all, she's a likable, root-worthy heroine. The supporting cast members (with a few exceptions, most notably Maggie and crew) are less affable, but still intriguing in their contrasting complexity. An atmospheric Texas setting provides a vivid backdrop to the story, with some small-town politics thrown in for added tension and drama. Plot-wise, the tale is gripping, with plenty of conflict to keep it interesting. I saw the killer coming, yes, but not their motive. There were a few other twists along the way, including a unique story shift that really caught me by surprise. While I'm still not sure I liked the jarring swerve, it definitely added an intriguing layer to the story. While We Are All the Same in the Dark is a raw, depressing tale, it's a mostly satisfying one that kept me burning through its pages, eager to know what was going to happen next. This is the first book I've read by Heaberlin, but believe you me, I'll be checking out her others.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other small-town-big-secrets thrillers, but no specific titles are coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, depictions of illegal drug use (marijuana), mild sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of We Are All the Same in the Dark from the generous folks at Penguin Random House via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
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.
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Newest Chiller is Sager at His Creepy-Crawly Best
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"'You want the truth? I'll give it to you. Things have happened in that house. Tragic things...And all those things, well, they...linger'" (130).
When Maggie Holt was five years old, her parents bought their dream home. Built in 1875, Baneberry House was spacious, grand, and surprisingly cheap. Maggie's parents laughed off its sinister reputation and moved in, determined to turn the place into the warm family retreat they both desired. Less than a month later, the family fled Baneberry House in the dead of night, wailing about ghosts and threatening messages from the beyond. They never returned to the old pile, but Ewan Holt—Maggie's father—wrote a lurid tell-all about the family's terrifying experiences there. Like The Amityville Horror, it became a hugely popular bestseller, America's favorite ghost story.
Although Maggie's childhood was financed by the proceeds of Ewan's book, she has always detested living in the spotlight of its success. Especially since she knows the truth—her father made the whole thing up.
When Ewan dies, 30-year-old Maggie is shocked to learn she has inherited Baneberry House, a property she thought was sold long ago. With the keys in hand, she now has the chance to prove to the world—and to herself—that Ewan Holt was a liar, that his famous book is nothing but an imaginative hoax. It's not long after Maggie moves into Baneberry House, intending to spend the summer fixing up the place before she puts it on the market, that strange things start happening inside its walls. If Ewan was lying through his teeth, then what exactly is Maggie experiencing now, 25 years later? Is it possible that she has been wrong about her father? What if everything he wrote was the God's honest truth? What then? Baneberry House haunted Maggie when she was young—what if it's not done with her?
Like Ewan Holt, Riley Sager knows how to spin a deliciously terrifying yarn. Home Before Dark, his newest, is him at his creepy, spooky, scary best. The novel unfolds in alternating chapters told from Ewan's perspective (sections from his book) and Maggie's, 25 years later. It's an effective format, one which heightens tension and suspense throughout the book. Atmospheric and unnerving, the haunted house setting creates the kind of shivery vibe that has readers jumping at every sound and cowering under the covers. The fact that the book's already eerie cover glows in the dark is just icing on the creepy-cake. The best part about Home Before Dark, though, is that the story keeps you constantly off balance, wondering what is real and what is not. While I guessed some of its plot twists, others surprised me, making the book a fun, mess-with-your-head kind of read. I'm pretty wimpy, but I still enjoy a ghostly, hair-raising read now and then and this one definitely fits that bill. If you're up for an unsettling spine-chiller, I definitely recommend Home Before Dark.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Weight of Lies by Emily Carpenter as well as books by Simone St. James, Carol Goodman, and Jennifer McMahon)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
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