Month: July 2021

Posted in Book Review

Review: “The Power Couple” by Alex Berenson

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

In this Taken-like thriller, the daughter of an intelligence agent and a programmer is kidnapped while on vacation. Her parents’ already strained marriage is put to the rest as they search Europe for their daughter, each of them with their own egos and agendas affecting their efforts to save her.

My impressions:

This was almost too intense for me, I’ll have to admit. If you’re at all squeamish about gore, you may want to skip some of the scenes near the end of this book, but all in all, it’s a solid thriller with some memorable twists. I liked that the characters all had agency in their own ways, as sometimes stories with a kidnapping can lean too hard into the helplessness of either the victim or their loved ones.

For such a suspenseful book, I was surprised by how often the pacing seemed to meander, the narration wandering off to chase down subplots with only tangential connections to the main storyline. This might frustrate some readers, but if you’re willing to stick with it, I think the pacing can serve to build the suspense even further. Just be prepared to wait for the story to move forward and enjoy the ride.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: “You Are Not Alone” by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

A young woman witnesses something traumatic, and is taken under wing by an enigmatic group of women with dangerous secrets.

My impressions:

This book was so deliciously disturbing it will stay with me for quite a while yet. There were moments so tense I found myself digging my nails into my own arm, bouncing at the edge of my seat while I waited to see what would happen next.

In my opinion, some of the best suspense in media comes from the audience realizing things the protagonist has not yet. This book does that with spectacular results, slowly revealing more and more unsettling things to the audience while the protagonist remains unaware of the danger she is in.

One of my favorite elements of this story was the way it switches points of view and timelines, layering together threads of different stories until they come together into one paranoia inducing plot. I was practically ready to scream at the protagonist to run away on multiple occasions, and I won’t spoil anything, but there was one reveal that made me gasp out loud in surprise and dread.

I absolutely recommend this book for mystery and thriller fans. It’s not your average beach read, so go in prepared for a genuine scare.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

New parents Anne and Marco leave their infant daughter alone asleep in their home, popping next door for a “grown ups only” dinner party. Despite their misgivings, they make it through the party, frequently walking back to their house to check on the sleeping baby and keeping the baby monitor on them the whole time. Yet somehow, when they return home, the baby is missing.

My impressions:

This was a twisty book that kept me guessing all the way through. Despite not finding the characters all that relatable, I still found myself thoroughly engrossed. The twists were well executed, with just the right amount of foreshadowing to keep things from feeling too out of left field while still being surprising.

If you’re looking for a good domestic thriller, this is definitely one I would recommend. Shari Lapena’s writing style is perfect for the genre, creating suspense and planting questions in the reader’s mind, only to answer them in surprising and twisty ways.

I won’t spoil the ending, but I will say it left me wild-eyed and adding more of Lapena’s books to my to-be-read pile.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Perfect Guests, by Emma Rous

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

In 1988, young Beth goes to stay with the wealthy family at Raven Hall as a companion for their little girl. In 2019 an actress named Sadie is hired to participate in a Clue-like mystery night party at Raven Hall. Over the course of their alternating perspectives, the connections between the two girls are slowly revealed, as well as the dark secrets Raven Hall has kept hidden all these years.

My impressions:

This book was about as tailored to my tastes as it gets!

The combination of alternating timelines and semi-reliable narration make for an unsettling read in the best way. I really loved the fractured feeling of the narrative, tension hyping up in one timeline only to leave you hanging for a while when the narrative leaps back to the other timeline.

With a glamorous backdrop and secretive cast of characters, this book felt like an invitation to a murder mystery dinner party, just like the one Sadie attends. As each new twist surfaces, the sense that there’s something we’re not being told grows more intense. When the pieces all finally fall into place and the twists are all out in the open, that unsettling feeling becomes surprise and horror and half a dozen other reactions as the characters react to the secrets that have, for better or worse, been revealed.

What really struck me about this book was that I didn’t find myself actively rooting against any of the characters, even once their dirty secrets started coming out. I don’t know that I was rooting for them either, but I was fascinated by the whole cast of characters, and I wanted to know everything they were hiding.

I highly recommend this book for fans of The Haunting series on Netflix, or for anyone who enjoys games like Clue and Betrayal.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: Dial A For Aunties, by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

Meddelin Chan is no murderer, but there is a body in her car. When she panics and involves her family, her mother and aunties leap into action to protect her. What follows is a near-slapstick series of near misses as they try to hide the body while carrying on with their wedding planning business’s biggest event yet.

My impressions:

I wouldn’t have expected to laugh myself breathless while reading something so high stakes, but that’s exactly what happened. Full-blown, doubled over shrieking laughing. If you need an absolutely riotous dark comedy, this is the book for you.

Where I think this book shines the most is in the personalities of the characters. They were so fleshed out, they felt like real people. I couldn’t help but root for them all even as they spent most of the book lugging around and concealing a dead body. By the end, the main character and her family felt like old friends, in a way that most standalone books can’t quite achieve. This novel is without a doubt one of the best things I’ve read all year.

I highly recommend this as a fun beach read for the summer, and to anyone who needs a good hearty laugh. The author’s sense of humor and timing is truly impressive, and the sheer quality of the craft in this book make it a can’t-miss read.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Diabolical Bones, by Bella Ellis

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

Bella Ellis is back with a second mystery novel featuring the Bronte sisters as investigators. This time, it’s the case of a child’s bones found in a neighboring home. Despite the grisly nature of the discovery, the Brontes are practically bubbling with excitement to solve a new case.

My impressions:

Have you ever thought to yourself, “wow, I wish there was a historical novel with the same vibe as Veronica Mars,” or wondered what it would be like if the famous Bronte sisters had been plucky lady detectives? If so, this is the book and series for you!

I was definitely not expecting this book to be quite as dark as it was, given the writing style, which felt almost reminiscent of old school Nancy Drew novels. However, I will say, I think the darkness complements the style perfectly, creating just enough contrast to really highlight the suspense in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

I’ll say this: if you’re sensitive about children being hurt or killed, you may want to skip this. I don’t have any kids of my own, and parts of this still make me a little queasy, so if you’re a parent, this may really upset you. It’s not the worst I’ve seen, and most of the violence is implied and off screen, but any murder mystery involving the remains of a child is bound to be disturbing.

All that said, if you’re a fan of classic mystery series like Nancy Drew and Sherlock Holmes, this will definitely scratch the same itch. The protagonists are endearing and relatable, and it’s impossible not to root for them as they peel back the layers of this twisty mysteries. I highly recommend this book, as well as the previous book in the series, and anything else the authors write next. Personally, I can’t wait to see what mystery the sisters will solve next!

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Echo Wife, by Sarah Gailey

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

Look, I could type up a blurb but honestly, go into this one knowing as little about it as possible. Just take my word for it, and go in blind.

My impressions:

If you haven’t read everything by Sarah Gailey you can get your hands on already, do it now. Everything I’ve seen from this author is clever and sharp-edged and lingers in my mind a long time afterwards. This book is no different, as it exemplifies Gailey’s writing style perfectly. This book will take you on a journey and refuse to let go until you’ve seen it through to the end.

I should add, if you’re unfamiliar with Gailey’s work, that you should go into it prepared for some gory bits. As with their other works, Gailey does not shy away from going into sometimes stomach-churning detail. There are scenes that go beyond my usual comfort zone when it comes to explicit gore, so be forewarned. However, if you can stomach it, the gory parts are worth it to get to the raw, beating heart of the characters in this book.

If you enjoy very high concept works that still manage to be character driven and insightful, this is absolutely the book (and the author) for you. I highly recommend it, though I can’t say much more because I really do feel like it’s best to go into this one knowing as little about the premise as possible.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Project, by Courtney Summers

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

Lo’s big sister Bea has been swept up in a cult called The Unity Project ever since their parents died in the tragic car accident that left Lo fighting for her life. Now, journalistic minded Lo is determined to find the truth behind The Project and get her sister back.

My impressions:

If you’ve read anything by Courtney Summers, you know not to expect to come away feeling good. This, like her other works, is about as far from a feel good book as you can get, but it’s enthralling all the same. And I promise you, no matter how prepared you are for things to get dark, you’re still going to find yourself hoping you’re wrong, believing, on some level, in a happy resolution that isn’t coming.

I highly recommend this book if you’re in the mood for something dark and twisted, something that will make your stomach turn even as you silently plead with the characters to save themselves. If you enjoy Summers’s other works or if you’re a fan of authors like Gillian Flynn, you will almost certainly enjoy this book. If you want to feel safe and secure after you put the book down, maybe read something else. You’ll be leaving the lights on after this one.

Happy reading may not be the best sign off here! XD

Posted in Book Review

Review: If I Disappear, by Eliza Jane Brazier

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

When true crime podcaster Rachel goes missing, her avid fan, a woman named Sera, becomes obsessed with finding her. As she embroils herself in the unsettling dynamics of Rachel’s family and hometown, she finds herself on a slippery slope into darker and darker secrets. And Rachel, it seems, is not the first woman who has gone missing there.

My impressions:

This book actually made me queasy. I promise that’s a compliment, in this context anyway. The author creates such an oppressive feeling of dread, it clings to the reader like humidity. By the end of the book, you’re bound to find yourself sweating under the pressure, struggling not to yell to the characters to watch out.

If you enjoy trying to untangle what’s going on, only to figure things out just enough before the protagonist does to be filled with dread as she puts herself in increasingly more danger, this is the book for you. I seriously think I may have actually yelped out loud a few times while reading it, and I’m already tempted to re read and look for any clues I missed.

I highly recommend this thrilling read for mystery fans and anyone who enjoyed “Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” or “Sadie” as this is very much in the same vein.

Happy reading!