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Monday, December 09, 2019
Mystery Series Debut a Pleasant Surprise
7:24 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Journalist Nichelle Clark has one dream—to work as an investigative reporter for The Washington Post. In order to earn such a coveted job, the 28-year-old first has to prove herself capable, which means she needs a major story, the kind that will grab the attention of the bigwigs at the Post. With more seasoned reporters gunning for every lead, Nichelle has to fight for every crumb she can get. When her "cops and courts" beat at the struggling Richmond Telegraph finally lands her a prime story, she can't wait to dive in. As the deadly police boat collision she's investigating turns from accident to suspected homicide, Nichelle knows she's stumbled on a story that could make her whole career.
The deeper Nichelle digs, however, the more dangerous her life becomes. Suddenly, she's dealing with missing evidence, drug dealers, and a sexy Mafia man whose sudden appearances at her home make her heart race—in more ways than one. Add to that a bitter rivalry with the office bimbo and a handsome new colleague whose intentions she can't quite figure out and Nichelle's got a lot on her shoulders. Can her designer stilettos hold up under the pressure? Will Nichelle live long enough to sort her business and nab the story of a lifetime? Or will the examination of Nichelle's murdered body be the next item on the coroner's to-do list?
I downloaded Front Page Fatality, the first installment in LynDee Walker's Nichelle Clarke mystery series, because it was cheap on Kindle (right now it's only $3.99). If I had seen its original cover (above right), I would have kept my distance, but the new art plus a compelling plot summary made me want to give this one a chance. I have to say, I'm glad I did. The book turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. I enjoyed the newsroom setting, which felt very authentic thanks to Walker's extensive experience as an investigative reporter. Despite Nichelle's sometimes annoying fashion and shoe fetishes, I found her to be an appealing heroine. She's confident, funny, tough, and determined. Plotwise, Front Page Fatality doesn't offer anything outstanding or original; still, it's compelling. I definitely wanted to know what was going to happen next. It's not my favorite mystery series debut or anything, but I've already bought the next two books in the series, so that says a lot about how much I enjoyed Front Page Fatality.
(Readalikes: Other books in the Nichelle Clarke series by LynDee Walker)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, and innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Front Page Fatality with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Friday, December 06, 2019
Another Page-Turner from a Psychological Thriller Master
6:09 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As a child, Jocelyn "Jo" Holt's world revolved around one person—her beloved nanny, Hannah Burgess. When Hannah disappeared from luxurious Lake Hall without a trace, it shattered young Jo. Her parents appeared unfazed by the woman's sudden departure, insisting Hannah had simply moved on. Jo couldn't believe she would go without saying goodbye. Something awful had to have happened to remove Hannah so suddenly, so callously, from Jo's life. Did someone hurt Hannah? Or did she really just take another position without informing the charge she claimed to love?
Thirty years later, Jo is back at Lake Hall, her 10-year-old daughter, Ruby, in tow. A recent widow, she has been left temporarily without a home or funds. Although she detests her cold, aristocratic mother, Jo has no choice but to move in with Virginia Holt. At least for the time being.
When human remains are discovered on the Holts' property, old questions surface. Do the bones belong to Hannah? Or are they much older, as Virginia claims? As the police begin a probing investigation, Jo is forced to ask some disturbing questions: Who was Hannah Burgess, really? Why did she disappear? And what, if anything, did Jo's parents have to do with her vanishment?
I'm a fan of Gilly Macmillan's twisty psychological thrillers. The Nanny might not be my favorite of hers, but it's still a taut, compelling page-turner. Jo and her cohorts aren't a super likable bunch and yet, I cared what happened to them. Plotwise, The Nanny is exciting and surprising, which definitely kept me racing through the pages. Like all the psychological thrillers I've been reading lately, this one is sad and depressing. And yet, I enjoyed it, all in all.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books by Gilly Macmillan)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual content, and depictions of illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Nanny from the generous folks at William Morrow (an imprint of HarperCollins) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Thursday, December 05, 2019
Newest Not My Favorite Kelly Novel, But Still An Engrossing Page-Turner
6:17 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Sometimes reinventing the wheel by writing my own plot summaries for the books I review doesn't make any sense, especially when a novel's back cover copy describes it in a way that's both succinct and brilliant. Such is the case with Stone Mothers, the newest thriller from British crime writer Erin Kelly. Check it out:
You can't keep the secret.
You can't tell the truth.
You can't escape the past...
Marianne was seventeen when she fled her home in Nusstead – leaving behind her family, her boyfriend, Jesse, and the body they buried. Now, thirty years later, forced to return to in order to help care for her sick mother, she can feel the past closing around her. And Jesse, who never forgave her for leaving in the first place, is finally threatening to expose the truth.
Marianne will do anything to protect the life she's built, the husband and daughter who must never know what happened all those years ago. Even if it means turning to her worst enemy for help... But Marianne may not know the whole story – and she isn't the only one with secrets they'd kill to keep.
I find books about the early treatment of mental illness both fascinating and horrifying. Even if I hadn't already been a fan of Kelly's, then, I would have been eager to read Stone Mothers. Turns out, this isn't my favorite of the author's books. Still, as with all of Kelly's work, this one kept me burning through pages to see what would happen next. The characters are complex and intriguing, the plot is fast-paced but contemplative, and the vibe is gothic and eerie. With plenty of twists to keep things interesting, Stone Mothers is definitely an engrossing page-turner. It's also sad, depressing, and not my favorite Kelly novel. Overall, though, I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Other Mother by Carol Goodman; Woman 99 by Greer MacAllister; and a little of The Bright Unknown by Elizabeth Byler Younts)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual innuendo/content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, December 04, 2019
Sweet, Entertaining Story Urges Kids to Be Themselves (Even If They're a Little Different From Others)
6:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"It's a powerful thing to rescue something. It changes both of you."
Emma's nerves are running rampant on the night before she's to start public school after years of being taught at home. Needing a distraction, she goes with her game warden father on a call about a wild rabbit. Surprised to find a pet bunny, not a feral animal, Emma begs her dad to let her bring it home. Reluctantly, he agrees. But only until the shelter opens the next morning.
Delighted by her foster pet, Emma nonetheless longs to find a real best friend. She's never had one before and she desperately wants to know what it's like. When her efforts yield only a strange boy with special needs, she doesn't know what to do. Her bunny, Lapi, provides emotional support, but when his presence at her home is threatened, Emma fears she'll lose the only friend she has. Can she figure out how to keep Lapi and find a human BFF? Or is she stuck with no pet and only the weird kid for company at school?
I've enjoyed all of Cynthia Lord's middle-grade novels. Her newest, Because of the Rabbit, is no exception. It's not my favorite of the author's books, but it's still a sweet, upbeat story about being yourself (even if you're a little different from other people), telling the truth, and being a good friend. Because of the Rabbit is an easy, entertaining read that will appeal to animal lovers as well as kids who might be having trouble with their own friendships. I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: A little like Rules by Cynthia Lord)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: Another library find fine
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