None of This Is True @lisajewelluk @Atria @JanBelisle @absltmom

Jan’s Review

9-year-old Avery, a difficult child with oppositional defiance disorder who tests the limits of her parents patience, goes missing after a volatile confrontation with her dad. 

Her dad William is hardly a Father or Husband of the Year candidate, but is he guilty of doing harm to his daughter?

The police investigation reveals an underbelly of lies and scandals in their neighborhood. Oh what a web we weave….

We’ve all seen our share of neighborhood dramas but the author sets this one apart from the pack by highlighting  the emotional consequences on the families when suspicions run high, and with the character of Avery herself.  I was thrilled to see the author didn’t fall into the trap of the same old, same old…

I can’t say more without spoilers, but Sheri Lapena has delivered another winner that turned familiar tropes on its head and kept me turning the virtual pages to find out what happened to Avery. The twists were brilliant. A fun read!

Oh, and the ending?! It was brilliant. Let’s just say the detective is a smart cookie! 

*the audiobook was narrated by January LaVoy, who delivered  her usual excellent performance.

Marialyce’s Review

It is always hard to imagine a twisted tale such as this that sends your brain onto overload and makes you doubt the very words you have jut read. Case in point is Lisa Jewell’s newest book None of This Is True.

Our story starts with two women both experiencing their forty-fifth birthdays at the same place, They were born on the same day at the same hospital so they entitle themselves the birthday twins. Days later they “run into” each other at the school that Alex’s children attend. When Josie admits she has been listening to Alex’s podcast, she also comes bearing a great idea or so she thinks. Josie is at the “change my life” moment in her life and she feels Alex could start a podcast revolving around that change. She’s a tad narcissistic! After thinking about it a bit, Alex decides why not and then the mayhem begins.

Yes indeed, Josie has led a very strange and unnerving life and as she manipulates herself into Alex’s life, the warning signs start blinking. Josie tells an amazing harrowing tale, one that would send another person into lunacy. If indeed all that Josie tells Alex is true is. And here’s the dilemma…..

Alex’s life is not any picnic either with her beloved husband teetering on the brink of alcoholism, while Josie is married to a much older man. Neither one is living in the paradise hotel, and as Josie worms her way more and more into Alex’s life, the wheels turn toward the unbelievable but maybe true existence of these two ladies

The question is who is not truthful in this tale. It’s enough to have you head spinning as you flip from one experience to the next with a questioning eye.

What fun Jan and I had with this one. We went round the bend wondering and disbelieving first Josie, then her family, and even Alex. Such exhausting fun! Lisa Jewell has outdone herself and left me with the feeling there just might be more of Josie and Alex in the future. These two ladies are destined to meet again!

Where the Dead Sleep @JoshuaMoehling @dreamscapeMedia @absltmom @NetGalley

REVIEW

Sandy Lake holds secret, deep ones and so do many of its residents. Deputy Ben Packard, a man who returned to Sandy Creek because he wanted a quiet life, will not be able to achieve that as he get a call from the Sanderson home that there was a break in. Sadly, there was also a dead body, Bill Sanderson who has a list of people that might want him dead, a business partner, and ex and current wife, (both of them sisters..oh my!) an his poker playing “buddies” included.

As Ben investigates and crosses each one off his list. Packard also faces the idea of running again for Deputy or should he step down and welcome the calm life he seeks?

Having read Mr Moehling’s former book (And There He Kept Her) in this new series, I was anxious to see where Ben Packard was headed and the trouble that seemed to follow in his path.

Definitely a fine police procedural where the author kept us in suspense as he carefully pulled the ends together to give us a fine story.

Thank you to Joshua Moehling, Poisoned Pen Press, Net Galley and Dreamscape Media, narrated by Linda Jones who kindly sent me this audio book to listen to.

The Girl Who Lied @thiswritersays @bookouture @absltmom

REVIEW

Maggie Reilly, the chief of police in a small town, has found a body that has been grisly murdered. Not only is there a bloody mess of a body but there is a young girl, Heather standing near him screaming. Of course Heather seems the likely suspect, the town is fast to condemn her but after she is taken into custody, another body is found in the same condition as the first.

Released from custody as she could not be the murderess, and then she too, goes missing. Has this vicious killer gotten her as well and is it possible there are more bodies to be found?

It’s a nightmare for Maggie as she must dredge up her past as a hot shot homicide detective in a big city. What has pushed her to this small town and what is she running away from?

This is a start, a good one, for a new series and with its many twists we learn that liars lie and some of them seem to be masters of their craft.

Thank you to Shannon Hollinger, Bookouture for the audio copy, and NetGalley. It was a fine story to listen to and is was published on August 2nd, of this year.

The Last One @willrdean @atria @absltmom @JanBelisle

Review

3.5 stars

Well this one certainly had a most interesting premise. Who would not want a trip on a luxury liner to America? The ship is beautiful, leaving little to be desired from her passengers. Atlantica is the start of a dream for Caz (Caroline) and her newly acquired boyfriend, Pete. Everything is so amazing as the couple explore the ship and then settle down for a good night’s rest.

However, when Caz wakes up in the morning, she gets quite a surprise and it’s not a good one, for Pete has disappeared along with all the others on board the ship. A dream becomes a nightmare real quick, as poor Caz is truly alone or is she? The setting is definitely what sets this thriller on a path to the scary and frightening world. The ship seems to be on course, but who knows for how long. Caz is in a definite pickle as she goes through the stages of panic, but then starts to think clearly up until the lights go out.

Where have the passengers gone and why was she it seems the only one left on board? So many questions and such frightening revelations ahead for Caz and we readers.

So much of this story was a reminder to me, of the old show The Twilight Zone and I did loved the atmospheric adventure and spookiness of the story and the show. I feel this book would make a fine transition to the video circuit.

So here comes my what’s not so great in the book…..that ending…..well besides being strange, it also left me with questions. Was this all a dream, a nightmare really, or was this a reality that poor Can just couldn’t escape from.

Thanks to Edelweiss, I was able to read this story!

Jan and I read this one, so take a look at her reaction to this story.

Jan’s review

Caz and Pete take the trip of a lifetime, ready to celebrate their new relationship. They have a fabulous first night aboard a luxury liner, but the next morning, Caz wakes to find herself aboard a ghost ship. Pete is gone and she is apparently the only occupant of the ship.

No passengers, no crew…no one.

This is the stuff of nightmares and the ultimate locked door mystery.

I was on the edge of my seat as I followed Caz on her explorations of the ship and was in the dark right along with her.

But is Caz totally alone? Hmmm…

Then at the 30% – ish mark we find out what is really happening. It’s not something I can mention in my review without a major spoiler, but the reveal will work for some readers, and not so much for others.

I found it intriguing but yet there was something about the story going forward that failed to completely engage me.

At 450-ish pages there was a lot of filler and bloat. I found myself skimming sections of backstory that slowed down the narrative. I think the book would have been better had it been 75-100 pages shorter.

I love an edge-of-your-seat story that has me flipping the pages furiously to find out what is happening next. I did not get that response with this book, even when her access to food and water was closed.

The premise has a ton of potential but who knows why a book ticks all your boxes and others do not? This is one I liked but did not love. I appreciate the author trying something different. I definitely liked it and could see this successfully playing out well on the big screen.

This was a buddy read with my friend Marialyce, do check out her review to see what she thought!

* I received a digital review copy via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

Before She Finds Me @IMHRChavez @MulhollandBooks @absltmom

Review

I enjoyed this story.

Julia Bennett is a devoted divorced mother to her daughter, Cora. On moving in day, while everyone is excited and the campus is crowded, Julia, her ex husband, Eric, and his new wife, Brie, are there as well. Sadly, so is an assassin, Nolan, who shoots into the group, and kills two and wounds Cora. Thanks to the quick wits of Julia, Cora only receives a surface wound before her mother pushes her to the ground, but her ex’s new wife is now dead.

Meanwhile, Ren Petrovic, newly pregnant women, who wasn’t present that day, knows who was. It was her assassin husband, Nolan. Both Ren and Nolan share the same occupation. Their jobs are to assassinate people hired by those who want a wrong righted or so Ren believes. She has been well trained by her father who also led the life of a modern day vigilante. Their motto is “SHIELD THE INNOCENT-KILL THE GUILTY-DEFEND THE FAMILY.”

However, Ren has a very unsettling feeling about this job her husband performed and as the story continues and we delve into motivations, Ren becomes increasingly interested in Julia’s quick reactions.

You realize there will be a confrontation between the ladies and what will that outcome be? Clever and well, written, Heather Chavez sends us on a mission to witness the demise of some, and the triumphs of others.

This was a good find at my library and I am eternally grateful to all who work to bring us these books.

The River We Remember @WmKentKrueger @Atria @absltmom

REVIEW

It’s a few years after World War 2, and the town in Jewel, Minnesota is about to commemorate Memorial Day to honor those who were lost and fought in the wars. A body of a wealthy landowner, Jimmy Quinn, is found shot and assumed murdered by many. His body is found floating half naked in the Alabaster River. The investigation is thrown into the lap of Brody Dern, a returned honored veteran, the sheriff, who bears many internal and external scars from the war.

Suspicion falls on Noah Bluestone a Sioux Indian, who is also a veteran, but as prejudices run deep, he is the one where the fingers point to as he also is married to a Japanese woman, another unforgivable sin according to many.

Within this storm of hate, Mr Krueger unveils the things that war brings upon those who fought and those who stayed home. There are a lot of emotional and personal hardships suffered among the characters, a war widow, her son, a deputy who remembers many things, and a lawyer who triumphs the cases of the underdog.

This is a study of life after war and tragedy, how those very tragedies determine the path one often takes in the face of loss and adversity, and the ways in which some fight against those inner demons. As always, Mr Krueger presents us with vivid characters, those we really get to know, and those who we feel deserve a fate that they seem destined to have.

Thank you to William Kent Krueger, who always provides me with a fascinating story, Atria Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this outstanding story that will publish in September 2023.

Code Name Edelweiss @stephlandsem @dreamscapeaudio @absltmom

REVIEW

It’s always the propaganda (which of course we have seen in our time) that slowly but surely can mass produce a culture that believes what they see and hear is always true. This was ever so evident when, before the ascent of Hitler, there was a plan to take over Hollywood, getting rid of the Hollywood moguls who were mostly Jewish, and begin a program to convince the American people of the dangers of the Jews.

It was a frightening but true story of a lawyer Leon Lewis, a Jew, recognizes the danger and can’t seem to convince the powers that be that the danger was just waiting to pounce. Liesl Weiss is a secretary, who worked at MGM, and as the times become more desperate because of the Great Depression, loses her job. Leisl is a single parent, a mother of two, who needed the job. When she loses her job, she allies herself with Leon Lewis to spy on her German American neighbors. Liesl’s brother is troubled and seems to be going towards the Nazi friends and psychology of hate. Aligned with the mysterious Agent Thirteen, Liesl both become aware of how strong the plan is for the takeover.

With this information and a number of other spies, Leon and Liesl, made those in charge aware of the plan. With lots of frightening incidents, the story increases the anger, mind control, and the way people tend to ignore what is right in front of their eyes. As we watch the rise of Antisemitism in our own time, this book reinforces the concept that history can indeed repeat itself. Ignorance will never be bliss if we ignore situations that present a present danger to everyone’s freedom and liberty. Hard as it was to believe, Nazism ran rampant through Los Angeles. Might be hard to believe that this was the case in pre war 1930’s.

Thank you to Stephanie Landsem, Dreamscape Audio, narrted by Cady Zuckerman, and Neil Hellegers, and NetGalley for the audio of this fascinating but scary story, published on March 7, 2023.

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby @MacmillanAudio @absltmom

My Review

***Caution: This book contains language, scenes of violence, and child abuse that might offend some.***

I have not read or listened to a book by this author that has not held my attention throughout and made my feelings come to the surface. He is gritty, in your face, and ever so talented in bringing so many issues to the forefront.

This time, Cosby tells us about Titus Crowne, a black sheriff in a small Southern town. He had been a former FBI agent specializing in security, but when a school shooting occurs it opens Titus and the town in many shocking and nightmarish finds. A teacher had been killed, a beloved teacher, by a black student who it is later ascertained had been abused by him. However, that is on the beginning of this nightmare for Titus and the town as more murder and destruction of young black lives turns up.

Cosby writes with a vehemence about the many injustices experienced in the South by racial conflicts. His words touch deeply into the unrest, the unhappiness, the wide divide that exists in many places by a person’s color.

He doesn’t spare any punches through his vivid descriptions, his hard hitting words, and through his scenes of the people he also depicts prejudices. He knows his characters and shows a deep feeling for all they endues.

I have now read three of Cosby’s books and find that so very hard to put down and gain a knowledge of a world I would never have known.
Thanks to Mr Cosby, Macmillan Audio, Adam Lazarre-White, Narrator, who did an excellent reading, and NetGalley for the ability to listen to this amazing story due out on June 6, 2023.

The River We Remember @WmKentKrueger @Atria @absltmom

REVIEW

It’s a few years after World War 2, and the town in Jewel, Minnesota is about to commemorate Memorial Day to honor those who were lost and fought in the wars. A body of a wealthy landowner, Jimmy Quinn, is found shot and assumed murdered by many. His body is found floating half naked in the Alabaster River. The investigation is thrown into the lap of Brody Dern, a returned honored veteran, the sheriff, who bears many internal and external scars from the war.

Suspicion falls on Noah Bluestone a Sioux Indian, who is also a veteran, but as prejudices run deep, he is the one where the fingers point to as he also is married to a Japanese woman, another unforgivable sin according to many.

Within this storm of hate, Mr Krueger unveils the things that war brings upon those who fought and those who stayed home. There are a lot of emotional and personal hardships suffered among the characters, a war widow, her son, a deputy who remembers many things, and a lawyer who triumphs the cases of the underdog.

This is a study of life after war and tragedy, how those very tragedies determine the path one often takes in the face of loss and adversity, and the ways in which some fight against those inner demons. As always, Mr Krueger presents us with vivid characters, those we really get to know, and those who we feel deserve a fate that they seem destined to have.

Thank you to William Kent Krueger, who always provides me with a fascinating story, Atria Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this outstanding story that will publish in September 2023.

The Trap @cathryanhoward @blackstone @JanBelisle @absltmom

Jan’s Review

Lucy’s sister, Nicki, went missing a year ago, the third woman in 3 years. The one thing that ties them all together is each victim’s cell phone is found by the side of the road. The trail has gone cold, but Lucy is so obsessed with finding her sister she puts herself in danger over and over again to do so (sets a trap, if you will).

We also hear from the perspective of the policewomen, two characters I liked quite a bit.  Their POV helped eased some of the tension and was a welcome relief. 

All perspectives were compelling, but the one from the serial killer, as we find out he is an average Joe, married to a woman who is a true crime fan (oh, the irony…),  plus how he chooses and abducts his victims.  I suspect most of us will be able to relate in some part to how we judge a person on how ordinary they seem, and how we women usually want to appear to be nice and helpful. Definitely another trap. The book is titled properly. 

I was a bit frustrated by Lucy and the stupid decisions she makes, putting herself in danger over and over. But, let’s face it, a lot of people do stupid things.

The ending? I loved it! It was surprising and unexpected in a good way. No predictability here. Not all the blanks are filled in, but it didn’t leave the reader frustrated or hanging. Readers will “know” what will happen next (at least what I want to believe will happen next). I appreciate authors who  trusts their readers to do so.

This was a buddy read with my friend Marialyce, be sure to check out her review!

Don’t miss the fun author’s note at the end!

*I received a digital copy of the book via NetGalley

* I also had the audiobook and found I much preferred this format. The switching POV’s were much less jarring and confusing on audio than in print.

Marialyce’s Review

There are times when you sit back and wonder, would I do such a thing as placing myself in danger to find a missing relative? For that is exactly what Lucy, sister to the missing Nikki does, hoping to trap a kidnapper who has captured not only her sister but as she later learns other women as well.

There is the faceless man who travels the dark lonely lanes outside Dublin, to find another woman to prey upon. The killer has a certain type, but the police (Guarda) have been clueless to finding this man. Until recently when a special task force was formed after a young girl of some wealth and background was taken.

Angela was a civilian member of the missing person’s unit so desiring to become a full fledged Guarda, that she seems at many times to be the push behind the investigation. When she finds and investigates a single thread in this woven psychological thriller, she in her way, breaks open the case, but in the meantime might ruin her chance of becoming what she desires.

This was an intense game, one that constantly had me shaking my head at the utter stupidity of Lucy, out there all alone, taking such chances that put her life in severe risk. Then there were the kidnapper’s chapters that sent definite chills down one’s spine.

This book was based on actual happenings in Ireland in the 1990’s and to this day, not a person, those poor kidnapped women or the perpetrator have been found.

Catherine Ryan Howard, did a fine job of keeping the telling intense and although the ending was up in the air, this book will make you wonder once again why people do what they do?

Jan and I enjoyed this book and had some ideas as to who this mysterious psycho was but never got it right. Thanks Jan for another “fun” read.

and thanks to NetGalley for forwarding this story to me.