(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Hop-tu-naa, the Manx version of Halloween, is supposed to be a day of innocent, spooky fun.  And it is.  Until the year a woman vanishes from the Isle of Man on Hop-tu-naa, leaving behind her mystified husband and their 8-year-old daughter.  Questions about the unsolved case abound—did the woman abandon her family on purpose?  Does her husband know more than he's saying?  What really happened to Mrs. Cooper?    

Still haunted by the disappearance of her mother six years ago, Claire Cooper never looks forward to Hop-tu-naa.  When a gang of popular kids invites the shy, broody 14-year-old to join them on their annual Hop dare night adventure, she can't believe it.  Apprehensive but grateful to be included, she accepts.  Every year afterward, the group gathers for Halloween hijinks.  Until one of their pranks goes horribly awry, changing the kids' lives forever. 

  

At 25, Claire is no longer the timid, awkward girl she once was.  She's a detective constable and a tougher, wiser, more cynical woman because of it.  When a member of her old Hop dare gang dies under suspicious circumstances on Hop-tu-naa, Claire's called in to investigate.  A second death exactly a year later makes it clear that someone is deliberately and determinedly picking the gang off one by one.  Who?  Why?  And what, if anything, do these killings have to do with Mrs. Cooper's long-ago disappearance?  The more Claire digs into the past, the closer she comes to finding the answers she seeks.  But with every passing Hop-tu-naa, she's creeping closer to something else as well—her own "accidental" death.  Can she find the murderer in time to save herself?  Or will her own demise become just another unexplained Hop-tu-naa tragedy?

Thrillers with exotic, atmospheric settings always interest me, so when I heard about Dark Tides by British crime writer Chris Ewan, I knew I had to read it.  It didn't disappoint.  The Isle of Man is a place I know little about, so I especially enjoyed learning more about its unique people and customs.  The And Then There Were None-type plot makes the story especially compelling, as does the fast, almost choppy pace of its prose.  The Hop-tu-naa aspect definitely gives the novel a tense, shivery vibe that ups the suspense factor.  Although I did have the murderer pegged pretty early on in the story, it didn't detract from my reading enjoyment as I wasn't completely sure I was right until the very end of the story.  I had a few issues with this one, but overall, I found it to be an engrossing page-turner that kept me up reading long, long after I should have been in bed.

(Readalikes: Reminded me of And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie and Ten by Gretchen McNeil)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, depictions of underage drinking, and mild sexual content

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Heidi Wood can't resist a stray.  The 37-year-old works for a non-profit, collects feral cats, and smothers her only child in plenty of unwanted motherly attention.  She's always wanted more children, so when Heidi spies a disheveled young woman at the train station cradling an equally unkempt baby, her heart goes out to them.  At first, 16-year-old Willow refuses to let Heidi help her or baby Ruby, who's suffering from a bad cold made worse by exposure to Chicago's inclement winter weather.  When the teen finally gives in, Heidi brings both of them to her home.  The other Woods are horrified.  Who is this stranger invading their already crowded apartment?  And what of the wailing baby to whom Heidi is forming an unhealthy attachment?  Nothing good can come of sheltering them, not in Chris Wood's mind.  But his wife insists.  After all, who would be cruel enough to toss a sick baby and her worn-out young mother back onto the cold, mean streets?  Certainly not Heidi.

As mother and child continue their stay, secrets about Willow's past slowly come to life.  The more Heidi learns, the more disturbed she becomes.  She'll protect Ruby at all costs.  But what will be the price for her devotion?  Her family?  Her sanity?  Her life?  

Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica tells an engrossing story about one woman's obsession with getting that for which her heart has always yearned.  It's a twisty tale, compelling, but also sad and depressing.  While all the novel's characters are sympathetic, none are particularly likable.  This fact made the read feel less fulfilling for me.  The plot definitely kept my attention, though.  Overall, then, I liked this one just didn't love it.

(Readalikes:  Reminded me of How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for language (a couple F-bombs plus milder expletives), violence, sexual content, and disturbing subject matter (child abuse, spousal abuse, sexual abuse, etc.)

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find

I haven't done a Top Ten Tuesday in a long time, but I liked today's topic so I decided to join in.  If you're not aware of this super fun weekly meme, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? click on over to The Broke and the Bookish to read all about it.  Then, create your own TTT list and share it.  It's a great way to find new book blogs, add exciting titles to your TBR mountain chains, and share your love of books/reading.  Join in, won't you?  It's a good time, I promise!

You might remember back in December when TTTers were prompted to list the Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2016.  You can see my list here.  I guess I wasn't anticipating them too much because I've only read one of the books I listed.  Oh well.  Anticipation is half the fun, right?  In that spirit, let's talk about my Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2016:  

1.  The Trespasser by Tana French — French is one of my very favorite mystery/suspense writers.  I've loved all the books in her Dublin Murder Squad series.  My only complaint is that it takes two years for a new one to come out.  Patience is a virtue but not one I have when waiting for new books from my favorite authors!  The Trespasser (the 6th installment in French's popular series) makes its debut on October 4.  Guess who's counting down the days?

2.  Daisy in Chains by Sharon Bolton — After devouring Little Black Lies, I binge read the rest of this English author's mystery novels.  All of them kept me totally and completely mesmerized.  Even though I just barely finished reading them all, I've still been having Bolton withdrawals.  Lucky for me, her newest comes out on September 20.

3.  Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult — I mentioned this one in my post about releases for the first half of the year, but Picoult's newest will actually not come out until October 11.  This one concerns an African-American labor and delivery nurse and a decision she makes which leads to a court case that shakes up her life.  I love me some Picoult, so I'm excited for this one.

4.  I Will Send Rain by Rae Meadows — As compelling as I find stories about people struggling to survive during difficult times, especially in a historical context, I haven't read many books about the Dust Bowl.  The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck might be the only one.  At any rate, this one sounds really intriguing to me.  It comes out on August 9.

5.  By Gaslight by Steven Price — As I said above, I've been big into British mystery/thrillers this year.  Naturally, then, this book caught my eye.  It's not written by a Brit (Price is a Canadian poet, actually), but the novel is set in London, 1885.  Sounds grisly but good.  It's available October 4.

6.  Only Daughter by Anna Snoekstra — This psychological thriller about a teen who goes missing only to be "replaced" eleven years later sounds intriguing.  Comes out September 27.

7.  We Are Unprepared by Meg Little Reilly — I know most people are so over dystopian novels, but I'm not.  As long as it tells a compelling yarn, I'm still game for a post-apocalyptic tale.  This debut novel by a former White House employee sounds like it fits the bill.  I'll be eager to find myself a copy when it comes out on August 30.

8.  Something in Between by Melissa de la Cruz — This YA novel about a high schooler whose bright future is shattered when it's discovered that she—and her whole family—are illegal immigrants sounds timely and interesting.  It will appear on October 4.

9.  The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron — I enjoyed Cameron's Dark Unwinding series, so I'm anxious to see what she's up to this time around.  The synopsis of this book reminds me of Don't You Forget About Me by Kate Karyus Quinn.  Every 12 years, the safe, rule-bound town of Canaan undergoes a bloody ritual that erases everyone's memories.  One teen girl is determined not to forget.  Sounds interesting.  I'll look for it on September 16.

10.  The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis — I enjoy this author's books, so I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for her newest YA novel.  I'm not sure how to describe this one exactly, but it looks intriguing.  Comes out September 20. 

There are so many amazing-sounding books still to come out in 2016!  Which ones are you most looking forward to?  What do you think of my selections?  Do we have any in common?  Which others should I be popping onto ye ole TBR mountain chain?  Leave me a comment and I will gladly return the favor.  

Happy TTT!

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for violence, references to illegal drugs, and mild sexual innuendo

To the FTC, with love:  I received a finished e-copy of How Secrets Die from the generous folks at Harlequin via those at TLC Book Tours.  Thank you!