Category: Book Review

Posted in Book Review

Review of The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

Described as “The Blair Witch Project meets The Andy Griffith Show” this book follows Mouse as she cleans out her deceased grandmother’s home in rural North Carolina and uncovers unspeakable horrors.

My Impressions:

First of all, who could possibly resist that description, right? I had to know what this book was about, and having already read T. Kingfisher’s “The Hollow Places,” I knew I was in for something unforgettable. True to form, the author really delivers on the horror I’d come to expect, and then some.

Mouse is a decidedly likable character the audience wants to root for, and the story is made all the more terrifying by how much we really don’t want to see Mouse get permanently traumatized. After all, it’s not her fault she’s in a horror novel. If you’re looking for a truly original horror novel, look no further, because this was a reading experience unlike any other.

If you can handle the extraordinary spookiness, this book is absolutely worth a read. I don’t want to spoil any of the twists, but I will say that one twist in particular was so effective I audibly gasped while reading it, paused the audiobook, and ran to tell my roommate about the twist over a cup of tea while my nerves recovered.

If you’ve read this book, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review of A Dark and Secret Place by Jen Williams

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

While processing her grief over her estranged mother’s suicide, Heather Evans discovers several letters sent to her mother over the years by a notorious serial killer known as the Red Wolf. When a victim is found murdered and disposed of in the same way the Red Wolf was known for, Heather’s questions about the past become all the more urgent.

My impressions:

This book gave me goosebumps and at one point while listening to the audiobook I physically jumped with fright. As someone who reads hundreds of mysteries and thrillers, it’s not often that something manages to scare the absolute snot out of me without alienating me or detracting from the fun of reading, but this book did it masterfully. It has the ideal balance of deliciously spooky moments and relief, all culminating in an ending so compelling I haven’t stopped thinking about it.

If you enjoy memorable villains and intensely atmospheric suspense, this is absolutely the book for you. I would recommend it for fans of Maureen Johnson’s YA mysteries who are looking for something a lot darker but with similar stylistic sensibilities. It isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you stick it out for the whole story, the payoff is absolutely worth it and none of the scares felt unearned or unnecessary.

Feel free to comment below if you’ve read this book and talk about your own thoughts.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

The Top Ten (non-mystery) Books I Read in 2021

Posted on by writingkat95

While I read mostly mysteries, thrillers, and gothics this year, there were a few stand out books of other genres I wanted to draw attention to. These weren’t all published in 2021 but I did read them all this year. Here they are in no particular order:

1. What Big Teeth

I don’t know whether to consider this gothic or fantasy or both, but it easily slid to the top of the list of my all time favorite books. As soon as I finished reading my borrowed library copy, I bought a copy of my own to reread over and over as much as I want. Lovely book for fans of the Addams family.

2. The Magicians

Lev Grossman’s fantasy series pulled me out of a very rough place this year and got me through the loss of someone dear to me. It made me want to read again, to see wonder in the world. I ended up reading 225 books this year and it really started with this one. If you want fantasy that looks unflinchingly at the world and demands that you still see the wonder in it, this is the book for you.

3. Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop

Deeply lovely book which, fittingly, felt like a nice cup of tea to read. It warmed me from the inside out and I plan to read everything the author writes from now on.

4. The Viscount Who Loved Me

The basis for the upcoming second season of Bridgerton, and so far my favorite book in that series (though I still have a few left to read). Absolutely lovable and a joy to read.

5. One Last Stop

A truly wonderful romance from the author of Red White and Royal Blue, and an absolute can’t miss. Beautiful and moving and more funny than I expected. I laughed, I cried, I recommended it to everyone I speak to.

6. Any Way the Wind Blows

The fourth book in the Carry On series from Rainbow Rowell, this book hit like a warm blanket after a cold storm. Loved it immensely.

7. Small Favors

If you want to feel a little bit stuck in the world of a book for days after finishing it, this is a perfect choice for you. Absolutely enthralling, this one is perfect to read on a chilly winter night.

8. The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics

Fantastic romance novel, so achingly lovely you’ll gasp from the emotional tidal wave of reading it. I adored the characters and I can’t wait to read more from the same author.

9. The Lost Apothecary

This one debatably could’ve gone on my mystery list, but it felt like it defied genre a bit and I’ve put it on this list instead. The dual timelines and incredible characters were quite well done. I absolutely loved it.

10. The Hollow Places

A lovely magical realism novel with great characters, spooky moments that build the tension perfectly, and beautiful prose all the way through.

I hope everyone reading has a lovely new year, and if you’re looking for books to read, the ones on this list and my other 2021 top ten list are all great picks. Support your local libraries and independent book stores!

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

The Ten Best Mysteries and Gothics I Read in 2021

Posted on by writingkat95

I set out to write a post about the top ten books I read this year, but found that I wound up with a list of 20 books, ten of which were mysteries or other vaguely spooky things, so I decided they should get a list of their own.

In no particular order, because I couldn’t possibly decide which books are the best of the best, here are the ten books I most enjoyed being spooked and thrilled by this year. They were not all published this year, but I did read them all this year.

1. If I Disappear

Kept me rushing towards the end and exclaiming out loud at each new twist. Super fun read!

2. Dial A For Aunties

I hadn’t thought I could laugh so hard, much less at a book that revolves around a murder. I plan to read this one again anytime I need a pick-me-up.

3. The Wife Upstairs

Easily the best modern take on Jane Eyre I’ve read, compulsively readable and a real pleasure. I can’t wait to see what the author does next.

4. The Wife Stalker

If you like thinking you’ve got a plot figured out and then being completely surprised by the ending, give this one a try and see if you are gripped by the sudden need to read everything else the author has ever written; I certainly was.

5. Don’t Look For Me

Absolutely nail biting suspense all the way through. This was another one that made me pick up and read several more by the author.

6. Behind the Red Door

I wish I could erase the memory of this one just so I could read it for the first time again. Memorable and full of incredibly well plotted twists.

7. Don’t Tell a Soul

Gothic and lovely, with a central mystery that ties up so satisfyingly you’ll want to read it again and again. The book equivalent of a fantastic meal, leaves you utterly content.

8. The Last House on Needless Street

If you’re reading this one and find yourself thinking “oh I know where this is going and I’m a little disappointed” no, you don’t, it’s going to surprise you. Read to the end and I dare you not to yell “oh my god, what?!” at least a few times near the end.

9. Summer Sons

One of the best gothics I’ve read in a long time, even in a year when I came across so many fun gothics to read. Memorable characters impossible not to root for.

10. The Death of Jane Lawrence

If Crimson Peak were a Doctor Who episode I imagine it would play out something like this book, which I enjoyed so thoroughly I immediately recommended it to several friends. I will be reading this one over again for many years to come.

I hope everyone has a great new year, and if you haven’t read the books on this list yet, I highly recommend looking for them at your local library or independent bookstore. Remember, most libraries allow digital checkouts of audiobooks, and many of the books on this list are even more delightful as audiobooks.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

Hannah Hall’s husband, Owen, slips her a note before disappearing. The note, which seems to refer to his daughter, says only: “Protect her.”

My Impressions:

Twisty and fun to read, if perhaps not the most suspenseful thriller I’ve read lately. The parts where this book truly shines, though, are the emotional moments between Hannah and her stepdaughter, Bailey. Their evolving feelings toward one another as they grapple with the uncertainty of Owen’s sudden departure are the true driving force behind this story, and it’s all the better for it.

Readers seeking a thriller without too much blood or bite but with no less opportunity for emotional investment are sure to enjoy this novel. Perfect to listen to as an audiobook on your commute or to read during the rare quiet moments in between the chaos of the holiday season, this is one novel you won’t want to miss.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

A woman named Shelby Tebow goes missing, followed shortly after by Meredith Dickey and her young daughter, Delilah. Eleven years later, Delilah miraculously reappears, throwing the town into uproar as everyone waits to hear where she’s been all this time. The secrets that come out following her reappearance shake the town to its core.

My Impressions:

This book was one of those thrillers that made me a little sick to my stomach, the terrible suffering of some of the characters truly palpable in the pages. I almost stopped reading a couple of times, and I feel I should note here that if you plan to read this book, you should probably find a list of trigger warnings. If you’re prepared for the stomach turning things you’ll witness within those pages, though, it’s an excellent suspense novel and a master class in how to write twists that feel simultaneously surprising and inevitable.

If you’re looking for something that will make you feel a little queasy long after the last page, this is absolutely the book for you. It’s easily one of the most suspenseful things I’ve read this year, and I highly recommend it for seasoned fans of the genre. For newer mystery readers, approach with caution but know that if you make it to the end, the payoff is worth the ride.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

While on the road with someone she met on her college’s ride share board, Charlie Jordan becomes increasingly convinced that the stranger in the car with her is in fact the serial killer who has been stalking the campus.

My Impressions:

It’s hard to make something scary and delightful, but this book manages it. I had a blast reading it, and that fun was only enhanced by the edge-of-my-seat state of suspense I was in. Just when I believed I had the plot figured out, more twists appeared and made me gasp out loud and whisper “oh of course” as the pieces fell into place.

Told in a cinematic style that practically begs to be adapted for film, Sager’s tense thriller had me hooked from the start. The themes of reality and self-doubt brought the atmosphere into an almost gothic space, and every scene advanced the story with such precise pacing it felt as if I were watching a movie in my head.

If you’re looking for a book to read on a long cold night that will compel you to finish it in one sitting, this is the book for you. Fans of Stephanie Perkins who are looking for slightly less gory fare than her horror YA will likely enjoy this book. Sager has a delicious authorial voice ideal for the fast pacing of the thriller genre, and this book really shines because of it.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

Lucy has had a tense relationship with her mother in law from day one, when they seemingly got off on the wrong foot. Lucy has never felt as if Diana accepts her, and Diana doesn’t quite know what to make of Lucy. Now Diana is dead and Lucy may know more than she’s telling.

My Impressions:

I’m a huge fan of Hepworth’s writing, and this book was a real treat. I went in with certain expectations about the characters and was surprised by the ways the story subverted those expectations, all while building the tension of the story until I found myself rushing towards the end to see what would happen.

If you are looking for a good book to read curled up by the fire or listen to on audio while you wrap presents this year, this is a great place to start. Fans of Liane Moriarty will surely enjoy Hepworth’s writing style, which is similar, though quite a bit more fast paced in my opinion.

Domestic thrillers can be hard to pull off without retreading the same characters over and over from one book to the next, and I have to say, Hepworth has managed to avoid that particular pitfall with her books. I highly recommend this book as well as her other works.

Happy reading!

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Review: The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

Conniving social climber Amber sets her sights on Daphne Parrish. She wants Daphne’s social status, her husband, her life. Before long, she manages to insert herself into Daphne’s inner circle, becoming one of Daphne’s closest confidantes. But dark secrets threaten to disrupt Amber’s carefully laid plans.

My Impressions:

As an avid fan of Liv Constantine’s work, I was really excited to start reading this book. There was a lot of hype around it- I had it on hold from the library for quite a while before I got to read it- and it lived up to the hype. If Constantine’s other books kept me enthralled, this book held me hostage. I listened to one of the darker twists while on my afternoon bike ride and ended up riding an extra mile without noticing because I was so caught up in the excitement of the book.

If you want a book that will bother you on a psychological level and leave you feeling disturbed and strangely worried for the fates of fictional characters long after you’ve closed the book, this is the perfect read for you. Readers who enjoyed the dark and twisted inner worlds of Constantine’s other characters will be absolutely delighted to know that in my opinion, this is her most twisted book out so far. It is not for the faint of heart, it is not a cozy mystery to read by the fire. This book will make you feel upset and unsettled in the best way possible.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

After participating in an unsettling survey, Jess finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into a tangled web of lies and obsession.

My impressions:

Another nail-biter from dynamic duo Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks. I read this in one sitting, enthralled by the suspense as each new piece of the puzzle came together. Much like these authors’ other books, the pace starts off slow and picks up speed as it goes, becoming absolutely frantic by the time it reaches the climax.

While a lot of the plot hinges on the protagonist making less than sensible choices, further embroiling her in a twisted game of cat and mouse, it was still easy to root for her, hoping she’ll make it out alright. The narrative style has managed to capture the particular feeling of watching a girl in a horror movie go downstairs to investigate a spooky noise: the audience is yelling at her not to make the obvious mistakes, but the beauty of the thing is of course, that she doesn’t know she’s in a story. We all might make obvious mistakes, were we suddenly to be thrown into such a plot.

If you’re looking for a light read filled to the brim with suspense, this book is just the thing. I highly recommend it for fans of mystery writers like Ruth Ware and Alafair Burke.

Happy reading!