Tag: Book Review

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Review: The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

A struggling dog walker named Jane is swept up into a whirlwind romance with the enigmatic and wealthy widower Eddie Rochester. Both of them have secrets, both of them have hidden agendas, but are either of them dangerous? You’ll have to read to find out.

My impressions:

I may be biased because I have a major sweet tooth for retellings of Jane Eyre, but oh my goodness, this book is going straight in my list of favorites. The characters were complex and interesting, shying away from straightforward likeability and falling solidly in the zone of characters you root for out of fascination. No one is completely morally upright, and that’s the book’s main strength: because no one is overly trustworthy or sympathetic, it’s easier to find yourself unsure what you hope happens next, much less predict how this thriller will end.

Whether you’ve read Jane Eyre or not, this book is worth the read. It will keep you on the edge of your seat even after you believe you’ve figured out the ending- and your first or even second guess may not be correct!

Before I say too much and accidentally spoil something, I’ll leave it at this: if you want a thoroughly fun read with plenty of suspense, I highly recommend this book.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: You Don’t Own Me (Under Suspicion #6)

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

A woman accused of killing her husband pleads with Laurie Moran to clear her name. Newly engaged true crime aficionado Laurie takes on the case, perhaps placing herself in danger as she tries to find the truth.

My impressions:

This was perhaps my favorite Under Suspicion novel. It had all the elements that I’d come to love about the series by this point: memorable suspects, compelling interpersonal drama, and a twisty mystery case full of bombshell revelations about the victim and suspects.

Without spoiling anything I can absolutely say that the resolution of this book kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put it down, and I mean that. I don’t think I got anything done all day the day I read this book. There are multiple threads of intrigue that come together in surprising and interesting ways, and the whole thing was executed with the crisp, tightly plotted accuracy I’ve come to expect from the co-authors Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke.

It’s hard to gush more without risking spoiling important plot points so I’ll just say this: whether or not you plan to read the whole Under Suspicion series, this book alone is a knockout. I highly recommend it as a beach read or just a little something to keep you from sleeping tonight.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: Every Breath You Take (Under Suspicion #5)

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

A murder at the Met Gala turns into a cold case. The glamorous suspects become the next subjects of Laurie Moran’s (fictional) true crime series Under Suspicion.

My impressions:

This was a really fun entry in the Under Suspicion series. It’s full of twists and revelations to keep readers on edge, and the crisp storytelling style flows with fantastic pacing. I was relieved to see that the characters were basically back to acting like themselves again, especially Laurie, who was back to her usual fiery self.

The interpersonal stakes felt more important than the mystery in this one, which makes sense, as (minor spoiler alert) Laurie and Alex are at a turning point in their relationship this time around. The characterization was a lot neater this time around, and I suspect that the messiness of the previous book may have been the result of trying to shoehorn in some conflict in the B-plot of the characters personal lives. Regardless, this time around we get a healthy dose of character drama paired with the glitzy glamour of the murder plot.

I won’t spoil the ending, but I will say I listened to the end of the audiobook with wide eyes, on the edge of my seat. I absolutely recommend this entry in the popular “Under Suspicion” series. Alafair Burke and Mary Higgins Clark make an excellent co-writing duo that is a can’t-miss.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Sleeping Beauty Killer (Under Suspicion #4)

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

A woman is convicted of killing her golden boy fiancée, though she claims to have slept through his murder. After serving her time, she contacts true crime aficionado Laurie Moran, requesting to be the next case on Laurie’s show “Under Suspicion.”

My impressions:

Ok so normally if I’m not a huge fan of something, I don’t write a review, because I prefer to spend my energy lifting up things I’ve genuinely loved. I’m making an exception here because I loved the rest of the book series, and I’m hoping if anyone started with this book and is unsure whether to read the series, perhaps they’ll come across this review to assure them, the rest of the series is so much better than this particular book.

So why didn’t I like this one? First off, it was unmemorable. It’s been a couple of weeks now since I binge read the whole series, and this book is the only one where I genuinely do not remember the ending. It bored me so profoundly I had to Google who the killer was to refresh my memory. On top of that, Laurie felt off kilter and out of character, and her father and Alex both felt dramatically less sympathetic than they had in other entries in the series. Had I not accidentally read later books out of order before this one, I would’ve been expecting Alex to turn out to be a killer or at least an abuser based on the weird characterization he gets in this book alone.

Fear not though! These strange character development issues clear up after this book, and the rest of the series is definitely worth a read. Honestly you can probably skip this one and read the rest of the series without missing much. Don’t let this one dud keep you from enjoying what is otherwise a thoroughly satisfying series that will scratch all your grown-up former Nancy Drew fan itches.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: All Dressed in White (Under Suspicion #3)

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

Laurie Moran, true crime aficionado, is given another cold case to solve for her show, Under Suspicion. This time around it’s the case of a vanished bride, initially assumed to have merely gotten cold feet, who was never found.

My impressions:

Don’t read this one before bed! In usual “Under Suspicion” fashion, there were lots of twists and a full cast of suspects. I stayed up well past my bedtime to finish this book, and it seeped into my dreams. It was an unsettling read, mainly because I really believed any one of the suspects could’ve killed someone. Everyone has secrets, and the authors explored all the suspects, peeling back their layers of artifice to reveal the ugly secrets everyone is hiding.

This was definitely one of the more intense “Under Suspicion” books, largely because of the fact that we don’t start off with a body, just a missing person who’s trail has long gone cold. I found myself desperately hoping they’d find the bride alive, and I won’t spoil anything about the ending, but I can definitely say that I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through.

I can definitely recommend this book, especially to fans of quick paced suspense novels with tight plotting and memorable characters.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: Piece of My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

A child goes missing at a beach just prior to a wedding, throwing the wedding party into chaos as they scramble to find the missing boy.

My impressions:

This was my first time reading either of the authors, and it was a heck of a first impression. I think I finished this book in one single sitting, headphones glued to my head as I listened to the audiobook on 1.5x speed, needing to know what would happen next.

I took an immediate liking to the crisp writing style, which gives enough detail to paint a mental picture, but not so much detail as to feel like overly purple prose. The suspense was driven by the almost matter-of-fact storytelling, and the pacing was so masterful I never even considered putting the book down for a break.

By the time I got to the heart-pounding ending of the book, I knew without question that I would be reading more books by both of the co-authors, who I later realized had co written an entire series, which this novel appears to be the conclusion of. Within a week of finishing “Piece of My Heart” I had also read the rest of the “Under Suspicion” series (with the exception of one book the library didn’t have) and had become an immediate fan of both Clark and Burke.

All in all I have to say that Piece of My Heart is one of my favorite books that I’ve read thus far this year, and I’ll be following up this post with reviews of the other “Under Suspicion” books, as well as some of the other Alafair Burke books I’ve read since.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

March Mystery Madness Part One

Posted on by writingkat95

For the month of March I’ve been on a mission to read as many mystery novels as I possibly could in an effort to scratch the itch left behind when I finished watching Elite on Netflix all in one sitting.

I’ve now read about 9 mystery novels (might go for ten if I can finish one this weekend) and I’m going to dish out the reviews in the next few entries. So to kick it off, I’m going to start by reviewing two books that I felt like had a lot in common thematically and in terms of narrative tone: Blood Will Out by Jo Treggiari and My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier.

These two, more so than the other books I read, felt like classic adult horror novels (despite being labelled YA) and would therefore appeal to fans of such genre giants as The Silence of the Lambs and The Bad Seed.

I’m not typically a fan of this particular style of horror, but I admit both books kept me riveted until the last page. I was almost compelled to finish them despite my growing sense of dread and the knowledge that I would surely lose sleep over these grisly tales.

Both books feature compelling characters and intensely visual narration, almost cinematic in the way they unfold. While Blood Will Out kept me guessing up til the end, My Sister Rosa created a feeling of inevitability and dread that only intensified throughout the book.

I chose these to start with because they were probably my least favorites of the group, despite being thrilling reads. I suspect my lingering animosity towards both books lies not with any failing of the writing, but rather with my own bitterness at having lost sleep.

If you have a stronger stomach and psyche than me, you may very well enjoy these books. If instead you share my general lack of fortitude, proceed with caution, and maybe take these books with a side of calming tea and be prepared to stay up all night with every light in the house on.

Happy reading!

-Kat

Posted in Book Review

Review of: Successor by Rae Miles

Posted on by writingkat95

Do you like fantasy, slow burn romance, and friendships that make your heart feel things? Then boy do I have a book for you.

Successor is one of those rare fantasies that manages to capture the feeling of wonder we all experienced at discovering Narnia, while still pulling off an older vibe, with high stakes and even higher romantic tension.

I had been craving a good fantasy adventure lately, and as always, I found it hard to find one that wasn’t grim and dark. Simply put, I wanted all the best of the fantasy genre conventions but without the bummer ones. And this book was exactly what I needed. It had incredibly compelling characters, who still at the end of the novel felt as though they had more left to their arcs. Hopefully this means we’ll see a sequel eventually, but even if it doesn’t, it left me with a feeling like the characters I’d grown to love still had adventures ahead of them, and I loved that.

All in all this is a stunning debut novel, and I hope you’ll check it out!

Happy reading!

-Kat

Posted in Book Review

Review of My Lady Jane and My Plain Jane

Posted on by writingkat95

Two for one review today!

First off I want to say, I love the concept for these books. Taking famous Janes and retelling their stories in delightfully fun ways is honestly just so great.

Second, I loved how original these books felt. The voice is incredibly distinct, the narrator’s little interjections were so much fun, and the overall effect was stunning.

It’s really difficult to pull off a “voicey” voice in YA. Oftentimes it can come off as too young or can break the immersion of the story. That is not the case with these books. The authors have done an excellent job at crafting a voice that sounds at once distinct and yet a natural part of the narrative.

The plots themselves are fabulous, in both books. They’re completely bonkers and played out with a wink and a smile, and watching events unfold is thoroughly enjoyable. Jane Eyre with real ghosts? Heck yeah! Lady Jane Grey and shapeshifters with tons of snark? Bring it on!

If you want edge of your seat investment in the story and also full belly laughs, these books are for you. I also highly recommend listening to them as audiobooks, as both are incredibly well voiced. Especially if you have a commute, these books will add some grins to your day.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review of A Darker Shade of Magic

Posted on by writingkat95

I’m here with another review of a book that’s been out awhile!

So one of my goals this year was to read more widely, and that includes reading some books that are marketed toward adults. I’m not going to lie, I found it really hard to find an “adult” book that appealed to my sensibilities. Enter V. E. Schwab’s “A Darker Shade of Magic.”

This book has the same out of the box imaginativeness that I’ve come to love in YA, while still being obviously an adult book. The characters are older, maybe in their 20s, and the storylines are reflective of that “what even is my purpose” life stage.

The worldbuilding is phenomenal and didn’t lean on generic fantasy backdrops, which immediately made the settings come to life. There was some fantasy flavored violence, but it managed to stay well away from the grimdark cynicism that has driven me away from many adult series in the past. That’s not to say the book is light- there is darkness here. But there is also hope and wonder, and that makes a world of difference.

If you’re an adult who usually reads YA because of the unique voices and out of the box plots, you will almost certainly love this book. Honestly, if you’re any sort of fantasy fan, this should be on your reading list. I look forward to reading more of the series, and I will be reviewing the later books once I make a dent in my TBR pile!

Happy reading!