Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown

 Title: Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine - Bantam

Release Date: August 13, 2024

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This book is told via the dual point of view and dual timelines of sisters Maya and Naomi. This can get confusing at times so you'll really want to read this book when you can give it your full attention. 

Maya returns to Princeton for her reunion and her younger sister Naomi's graduation. When Naomi doesn't show up to one of the scheduled events, Maya begins to worry. She's soon devastated to learn that police have discovered Naomi's body and are ruling her death an accident. After a conversation with the police, Maya is convinced that her sister was murdered. She starts to investigate on her own.

Maya discovers that she may not have known her sister as well as she thought. Despite Maya's warning, Naomi had joined Sterling Club, an exclusive social club. Even worse, she had be tapped to join the secret society that operates through Sterling Club. Maya knows all about it because she too was once a member. 

Upon more digging around, Maya finds out that Naomi was digging into the secrets and past of the secret society. Maya is worried that the society was involved with Naomi's death, but how can she convince the police without revealing her own secret past?

I really wanted to like this book. The premise was intriguing. Who doesn't like to read about a secret society?

Unfortunately, the parts about the society felt lackluster. It wasn't very exciting at all. I kept hoping the drama would amp up and it just didn't. Parts of the book required a complete suspension of disbelief and the ending felt rushed. It wasn't  my favorite book this year, but I'd be willing to give the author another chance in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine - Bantam for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for me honest review.

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

Title: Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey

Release Date: June 25, 2024

Who would have thought that a thriller told from the POV of a child would be so compelling and scary? I sure didn't. Josh Malerman perfectly captures the confusion, terror, and heartbreak that this young girl, Bela, is feeling from the very first page. It may be disconcerting to some but Bela's POV really works.

Bela's life consists of her Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. What her family doesn't know is that Bela also relies on an entity called Other Mommy that lives in her closet. Other Mommy starts out friendly and Bela quickly becomes attached to her. As time goes on, Other Mommy starts to ask disturbing questions and doing things that scare Bela. She starts to question whether she and Other Mommy were ever really friends, or if Other Mommy has bad plans for her.

Other Mommy starts getting bolder. She starts showing herself to other people. Bela's parents are terrified and their strained relationship starts to buckle under the pressure. Bela wonders what will happen if she says yes to Other Mommy's questions? Will she be able to make Other Mommy go away? Can she save her family?

I'm glad I read this book during the day as some parts of the story were absolutely chilling. Certain parts are still stuck in my head and creeping me out. Don't worry, no spoilers, you'll have to read and be terrified for yourself to understand. The scares are masterfully written and that they are being experienced from Bela's point of view really heightens the terror.

I finished this book in five hours. I just could not put it down. It's fast paced but in such a way as to keep the tension level high. Josh Malerman is an exceptional storyteller and this book will keep you on edge until the very last line. I would love to see this made into a movie. I highly recommend reading this with the lights on and I promise you will never look at your closet the same way again. 

So many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Del Rey for the advanced reader copy of an incredible book.

Man's Best Friend by Alana B. Lytle

Title: Man's Best Friend by Alana B Lytle

Publisher: Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons

Release Date: May 14, 2024 

I requested this book based upon the blurb. Sadly, it did not live up to expectations.

El is a failed actress turned bakery employee. She's almost 30 but is wandering aimlessly through life. The one thing that she dwells on is her 8th grade year. She was on scholarship to an exclusive school and was befriended by Anna and Julia. They were everything that El wished she could be, wealthy and popular. She was determined to one day be just like them.

At one of Julia's parties, El bumps into a man named Bryce. He's not super attractive and he's kind of a loner but he and El start dating. She starts calling out from her job and alienating her friends. After moving in with Bryce, she begins noticing red flags about him, but they are co-dependent on each other in a toxic way. She soon finds out the truth about him. What will she do with the truth?

There are zero likable characters in this book. El is narcissistic, lazy, desperate, and worst of all whiny. Bryce is bland and unassuming and clingy. The side characters are just as bad, a typical portrayal of rich people who all are self-absorbed with major drug and alcohol problems. 

The bits of suspense that seemed interesting were rushed through or glossed over. The dream sequences and parts about the dogs were jarring and pulled you out of the story. The writing itself was good but the story fell flat. It was a struggle to finish the book and the ending was unbelievable. Based on the author's writing style, I would like to see what they come up with next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advance reader copy to review.

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead by Jenny Hollander

Title: Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead by Jenny Hollander

Publisher: St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books

Release Date: February 6, 2024

Charlie Colbert is the editor-in-chief of a major magazine who seemingly has the perfect life. She's successful at her job and engaged to a wealthy heir to a publishing empire. One thing she's hell-bent on forgetting is an event from her past. A survivor of "Scarlet Christmas", Charlie suffers from memory loss and survivor's guilt. She wants nothing more than to move on but a relative of one of the victims wants to dig everything up. They want to release a movie about the events of that night.

Charlie doesn't want that to happen. She's afraid that the truth will come out about that night and the lies she has built her life on will unravel. She's desperate to stop the films release and is worried about the lengths she will go to.

Told from Charlie's point of view, the book alternates between the present and through the past. The past is told as Charlie has sessions with her therapist in an effort to recover the pieces of the past that she's forgotten. As the movie's release is announced it's a race to figure out what happened, and figure out why she's carrying so much guilt. Will the answers crumble her carefully constructed life?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were a few twists and turns that kept me guessing. The ending was okay, with everything tied up neatly, but it worked for this book. It's a solid debut novel, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the author comes up with next.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for an advance reader copy of this book.

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

Title: House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Release Date: August 6, 2024

Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney that represents children involved in custody cases. She takes on 9 year old Rose Barclay as a client as a favor to her mentor, Charlie. Rose witnessed her nanny's fall from a window and possible murder and immediately stopped speaking. Charlie believes that since Stella went through a traumatic childhood herself that she is the only one who can reach Rose. Stella is reluctant but still vows to do all she can to help Rose.

As Stella starts her investigation at the Barclays home, she learns that everyone is a suspect, even little Rose. The father had affair and impregnated the nanny. The mother is uptight and has a sudden fear of anything glass so there is nothing glass in the house. The paternal grandmother seems to carry a hatred for her son. Rose has a collection of sharp objects. Stella has a feeling of dread every time she visits the home but she can't quite put her finger on the cause of it.

The more Stella investigates, the more memories of her own past trauma start to resurface. She decides to start looking into the circumstances surrounding her mother's death. Will she finally learn the truth? Will she be able to save Rose? Or is Rose the murderer?

This book was a real page turner and I finished it in a day. Stella's flaws make her a very believable and likeable character. The contrasts and conflicts between the mother and father were relatable as well. The ending was good.

The only complaint I have is regarding Stella's association with a police detective. I wish it had been fleshed out more. It felt a bit rushed and almost like an afterthought.

All in all this book was a great read. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance reader copy. 

Behind A Closed Door by J.D. Barker

 Title: Behind A Closed Door by J.D. Barker

Publisher: Hampton Creek Press

Release Date: May 13, 2024

Abby and Brendan Hollander have trouble in their marriage so they seek help from a marriage counselor. Their sex life has stalled due to a slight indiscretion on Brendan's part. The therapist suggests a popular app for their phones called Sugar and Spice. They download it, accept the terms and conditions, and that is when the fun begins.

Sugar and Spice is basically an adult version of truth or dare. The Hollanders find themselves communicating more and being more sexually adventurous. Abby begins using the app as an inspirational tool for writing her next book. The app starts pushing the envelope too far when it asks the question "Would you kill a total stranger to save someone you love?".

Abby and Brendan quickly learn that the app has fully infiltrated their lives and there is no way to get rid of it. Drawn into a dark web of intrigue they find themselves in a fight to get their lives back...but is it too late?

This book grabbed my attention from the first chapter and held it until the very end. The tension builds and builds and I enjoyed every minute of it. It also made me think about all the apps on my phone and what may be buried in the terms and conditions.

This was the first book I've read by J.D. Barker and I was thoroughly impressed. There is talk that the book is going to be made into a movie and I can't wait to see it. If you are looking for a fast paced, action packed thriller, this book is for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for the advanced copy of this amazing book.

Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate

 Title: Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Release Date: January 30, 2024

Twenty-Seven minutes is the well-written debut novel by Ashley Tate. Grippng your attention from the first page, you'll be treated to a story told over multiple POVs and multiple time periods. The chapters are short but efficient. There are bread crumbs of clues scattered throughout, sometimes containing confirmation of what you think is the truth and sometimes conflicting with it. This makes for a slow build but also keeps you turning the page.

The novel tells the tale of the death of young Phoebe Dean and the ripple effects it has through the small town in which she lived. It's a town full of secrets, but the biggest one is why did it take twenty-seven minutes for help to be called after the accident? Phoebe may still have lived had she gotten help sooner.

Told from the POV of several unreliable narrators, you soon learn that everyone has secrets and everyone is carrying around guilt or heartache over something. Guilt and it's side effects are a constant theme in this book.

There are no likable characters in this book which was something I did not care for. I also wish the conclusion had been fleshed out a bit more, but it was still a good ending. Overall the book was a very solid debut novel and I'm looking forward to see what the other comes up with next. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates

Title: Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Release Date: July 11, 2023

Dead of Winter grips you in icy cold hands from the first sentence and doesn't let you go until the last. Christa, her boyfriend Kiernan, and a group of travelers are on their way to stay at a lodge in the Rocky Mountains. A storm comes along and knocks down trees as well as separates Christa and her boyfriend from each other. Her purpose becomes clear. She must fight the snow and wind to find and reunite with her boyfriend.

The weary travelers take refuge in an empty, isolated cabin. When the tour guide is murdered overnight and they find his head hanging in a tree, her purpose becomes that of survival. One of them is a killer, but who? The killer starts to pick them off one by one. Fingers get pointed at people at the slightest provocation. As their numbers dwindle, so does the list of suspects. Who will be the last person standing?

The characters are well written. Each individual has a unique personality and story. The setting of the landscape and cabin almost become characters on their own. The constant snowfall and wind become another entity that Christa must fight to survive.

The pacing of this book is fast. Once started, you definitely won't want to put it down. The tension builds in the cabin as its inhabitants start to turn on each other as the tension builds in the reader as they continue to read. There are twists to keep the reader guessing as well. It was hard to figure out "whodunit".

Dead of Winter is the first book that I've read by Darcy Coates and I'm looking forward to checking out her earlier works. She definitely has a hit with this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.

The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

 Title: The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam

Release Date: September 26, 2023

Sarah Slade is a social media influencer, author, and therapist. From the outside looking in, her life is almost enviable. She has a loving husband, a successful self-help book, and a growing fanbase on social media. While attempting to write her second book, Sarah and her husband Joe buy a house. They are able to get it dirt cheap because it's a "murder house" that has been sitting empty for 40 years. A man killed his wife in the home but that doesn't faze Sarah. Sarah's plan is to renovate the spooky house and document it for her fans to see. She also hopes to sell the home for a tidy profit.

It's soon revealed that things aren't as perfect as they seem. There are cracks in Sarah's marriage and they are both hiding secrets from their past. When renovations start adding up and strange things start happening in the house, their already strained marriage takes a hit.

Sarah starts becoming more and more scared and paranoid. She starts losing followers on her social media accounts. She almost believes the house is a living entity and it's definitely a character of it's own in the book. Every noise and creak has you wondering if Sarah is going crazy or is there really someone out to get her. Could it be one of the unfriendly neighbors or could it be the ghosts of the previous dead tenants? You'll have to read it to find out.

Sarah is a very flawed and unstable character but that only ramps up the tension. Her husband Joe is spineless and unlikable from the start. He adds to Sarah's stress level and paranoia. Will their secrets be revealed? Will they survive the renovations on the house?

I give kudos to the author for her descriptions of a small town in Australia. The cold eeriness of the forest bordering the property adds to the spook factor. There were a few words/slang that I was unfamiliar with but Google and an Aussie friend set me straight.

The Stranger Upstairs comes out September 26 which makes it a perfect start to the Halloween season. Cuddle under a blanket with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa and enjoy the goosebumps that this novel provides. This is a solid debut novel from Lisa M. Matlin and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me an ARC copy to review.

Between Two Strangers by Kate White

Title: Between Two Strangers by Kate White

Publisher: Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, Harper Paperbacks

Release Date: May 16, 2023

Skyler is an up and coming artist who takes graphic design jobs to make ends meet. One day, she gets a phone call from a lawyer with some shocking news. A man named Chris Whaley has left her a rather sizable inheritance. The problem? She can't for the life of her remember who the man was.

After meeting with the lawyer, flashes of Chris start coming back to her. As this is going on, Chris's widow is contesting the inheritance and several strange and threatening things happen to Skyler. Is the widow behind the threats or is someone else mad about the money? Skyler is determined to find out who and why she was left the money in the first place.

It's an intriguing story and a very fast read from page one. The characters are fleshed out and relatable. Even the cat, Tuna, had her own distinct personality. There are plenty of twists to keep you and Skyler guessing. The story offers a look into Skyler's past and a tragedy that has been having long term effects on her, her family, and even her art work. The ending ties things up neatly.

A good weekend or beach read and a solid thriller. Thank you to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and NetGalley for this entertaining ARC.

 

Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon

 Title: Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon

Publisher: Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons

Release Date: May 16, 2023

This book grabs you from the very first sentence. The narrator is Amber Jamison, and she's just been kidnapped by a serial killer. Her first thought is that she feels stupid for getting into that predicament. I'd probably be thinking the same thing! Her feelings quickly turn to terror as her escape attempts don't pan out.

Things turn her way, however, when a mysterious woman rescues her from her fate. Amber is intrigued by the mystery woman but for her own reasons must flee from her life. She makes her way to Las Vegas. Once there, she returns to some of her old ways but ends up making her first real friends in the process.These characters are well-written and flawed, but lovable.

The mystery woman reappears in Amber's life and she soon discovers that there is another serial killer in her midst. Is he targeting Amber or is it just a coincidence? Can her luck really be that bad?

This book starts a little slow but builds momentum as it goes on. The backstory about the mystery woman is a bit cut and dried as opposed to Amber's colorful past but it's not boring. This book is perfect to read on a weekend or a beach vacation. You wouldn't think a thriller about a serial killer could be humorous but this one manages to be, and it works.

Highly recommended read. I thoroughly enjoyed the humor and the well-written characters.

Oh, and I read the acknowledgements. The author hints at a sequel!

Many thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC they provided in exchange for my review.

Mail Surprise

I checked my mail this morning and found a plain white package from a company simply labeled as TSI. I haven't been ordering anything but my birthday is coming up so I thought it was possibly a present. And what a present it proved to be!

I opened it and found this:

Cute, but I'm not, nor have I ever been married. That didn't stop me from opening it. I'm very curious at times. What was inside?

What you are looking at is a "letter" from Simon Fitch to his wife. The back of the small card has a recipe with another quick note from Simon. Inside the little tin? A soy wax candle with a heavenly pine scent.

I don't remember requesting this book but this beautiful package is from the creative geniuses in the St. Martin's Press promotional department. This is to promote a new book by D. J. Palmer called The New Husband which will be on sale 4/14/2020. Simon Fitch is one of the main characters.

I absolutely adore the presentation and the snippets of the book. I cannot wait to have #thenewhusband in my greedy hands to review. I sincerely wish all ARCs were sent to me in such a fun way. This also made St. Martin 's Press one of the dream publishers to work with if I ever publish my own work in the future.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press!

Book Review: The River at Night by Erica Ferencik

Book Review: The River at Night by Erica Ferencik

Publisher:  Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books

            Scout Press

The description of this book drew me in so I requested it with high hopes. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. Four middle-aged women are going on their yearly girl’s trip in the wilds of main. Their goal: white water rafting on a rather rough river. They hire a guide whose idea of planning a route on the river is a hand drawn map. Had he been a local and familiar with the river it might not have mattered but he’s only done the river once or twice himself. It doesn’t help that he is made out to be an almost brainless dude bro.

Out of the four female characters I just couldn’t find one to root for or identify with. At times they take turns becoming almost invisible. Their friendship doesn’t really seem to be well defined. Instead of four friends with a 15 year friendship I felt more like I was reading about four women who met in a yoga class and decided to just hang out for a weekend.

Calamity happens on the river and I was expecting to read a tale of survival against the elements. Again, I was disappointed. Having the women be challenged by the environment and having to learn to rely upon each other and themselves would have been a really good story. Instead, other characters are thrown in and it tosses that whole plot out the window.

I don’t want to spoil the book in case you want to read it but the stereotypes of the local people in the story grated on my nerves. You’ll see what I mean when you read it.

It wasn’t a super bad book. It moved quickly and kept you turning the page to see what craziness happened next. It just didn’t live up to my expectations. I hope you enjoy it and feel free to drop me a comment to tell me I was wrong.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Always by Sarah Jio

Book Review: Always by Sarah Jio

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine

I wanted to love this book but ended up only liking it. It’s a pretty quick and decent read. The story is captivating and it makes you want to keep turning the page to see what happens next.

The love of Kailey Crane’s life disappeared and left her heart broken but she has finally recovered. Successful social commentary journalist, engaged to a wealthy fiancé, and living in a beautiful home with a view she seems to have landed on her feet. One night, after a luxurious dinner, she comes across the now homeless Cade. While memories of their time together come flooding back to her, he seems to be unable to remember her.

What happened to Cade? A once up and coming music mogul has turned into a dirty, ragged homeless man. Why can’t he remember Kailey? Why did he disappear from her life without a word? Unfortunately, at the end of the book some loose ends stay loose and are never resolved. This is irksome.

Also irksome is the character of Kailey. I wanted to like her. I wanted to feel empathy for her broken heart and love lost. Unfortunately she was entirely selfish. She completely shut out Ryan, her new fiancé, in her quest to help Cade. She withdraws money from their joint account, lies to him about working, and even leaves a planned holiday to return to Cade. Emotional cheating can sometimes be worse than physical cheating and this book shows it in detail. As much as I appreciate a good “finding your lost love” story, her behavior really makes her unlikable.

The book bounces back and forth from the present day to the 90s when Kailey and Cade’s relationship took place. The author handles this pretty well as it’s not jarring and it doesn’t take you too far out of the story. It brought me back to the 90s with the musical references and clothing references. The nostalgia was spot on for me.

I didn’t love the ending at all. It seems a little rushed and as I said there are several loose ends that don’t get resolved. All in all it was a good book and I enjoyed it but it won’t make my favorites list.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.