Month: September 2021

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

Stevie Bell, notorious for solving the
Ellingham cases, takes on her first case
outside of the school. This time, it’s the long-
unsolved case of the slaying in the woods
at camp Wonder Falls.

My impression:

As a longtime fan of the Stevie Bell mysteries,
I knew right off that I would enjoy this
book. While I do think it suffered from
the absence of some of the atmosphere
of the previous books, I felt that it was
still a solid mystery.

Stevie’s investigation plays out in her usual quirky
Poirot – esque fashion, and despite the grisly
nature of the case, it felt like quite a romp.

If you’ve enjoyed the previous books in the
series, this one will feel like seeing old
friends again, and you’re bound to enjoy
going along for the ride as Stevie sets
her mind to solving another case.

Fans of YA mysteries like” A Good Girl’s Guide to
Murder” will likely enjoy this book as well
as the rest of the Stevie Bell mysteries.

Happy Reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

Mia meets Emily at an audition, and
after doing a seemingly simple favor for her,
winds up as the only person who knows Emily
is missing. When another woman shows up, claiming to be
Emily, Mia suspects something dark is going on, and
sets out to find out what happened to Emily.

My impressions:

This book kept me guessing the whole way
through. While the pacing felt slow at first, it
picked up speed and momentum as it went along.
Mia read quite believably as an average
person in over her head, which is a character
archetype that doesn’t always come off this well.

The further readers get into the tangled mess
of Emily’s disappearance, the harder it will be
to put this book down. While it isn’t a fast
read in my opinion, it makes for a fun reading
experience if you’re the sort of reader who likes
to speculate and form theories about what will
happen next.

I would recommend this to fans of Tana
French and anyone looking for a complex
mystery that gives you plenty to chew on.

Happy Reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: All These Beautiful Strangersby Elizabeth Klehfoth

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

Seventeen year old Charlie is haunted by
her mother’s disappearance ten years ago.
Determined to let go of the past, she focuses
instead on life at Knollwood, the exclusive
private school she now attends. She is soon entwined
in a dangerous game as part of the initiation
process for a secret society known on campus
as “The A’s.”

My Impressions:

This was a great quick read, perfect for curling
up on the couch with and reading over a
weekend. The characters felt well fleshed out, and
their motivations drove the story forward. Charlie
is a nice, active protagonist, who feels realistic
in her choices throughout the book.

If you liked Karen McManus’s books, this
will scratch that same itch. The secret society
plot was less predictable than most, and I
felt genuinely surprised by some of the plot
twists. With plenty of suspense to go around,
it makes for a fun quick paced read on a
slow day.

I recommend this book for fans of Karen
McManus and Kara Thomas who are looking
for a slightly more hard-boiled vibe.

Happy Reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: Quiet in Her Bones by Nalini Singh

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:


Aarav’s mother disappeared ten years
ago and was never found. Now, as memories
resurface from the night she vanished, Aarav
is determined to uncover the truth of what happened
that night.


My Impressions:


With memorable characters and stylish narration,
this book makes for an excellent weekend read.
Each revelation spurred me on until I finished
reading the book in a single sitting.

Aarav makes an entertaining protagonist,
lending a certain sense of humor to the
dark themes of the book. The other characters
were memorable and distinct, and while there
was plenty of suspense, the pervasive feeling
the book evoked was tragedy. Aarav’s
mother is rendered with such humanity, it’s
impossible as a reader not to feel the
acute loss of her.

I highly recommend this book to mystery
fans. It’s a quick read, and impossible to
put down before the end.

Happy Reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda

Posted on by writingkat95


The Hook:

When Sadie Loman disappears,
her family becomes suspicious of her
best friend, Avery Greer, a girl from
“the wrong side of town.” A year
later, Avery works to uncover the
real truth behind what happened
to Sadie.

My Impressions:

This book kept me on my toes from start to
finish. There were twists along the way
that even made me gasp out loud.
Sadie felt like a tangible presence,
haunting me until I read on to find
out what became of her.

Megan Miranda’s narrative style works
wonderfully to create a sense of
tension and even claustrophobia as the
tight knit Maine town Avery grew up in
becomes more and more menacing as
her suspect list grows.

This book is an excellent read for mystery fans,
and serves as a perfect entry point to
Miranda’s works.

Happy Reading!