Tag: murder mystery

Posted in Book Review

Review: People Like Her, by Ellery Lloyd

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

Emmy Jackson makes a living as an influential mommy blogger, exaggerating and even fabricating details of her life to appeal to an ever-growing audience. She hasn’t realized yet that someone wants to hurt her and her family, but she will soon. Someone believes Emmy deserves to lose it all- and she just might.

My impressions:

This book may look like a fun, zippy read, but make no mistake, it is DARK. I went in with assumptions about the tone and was pleasantly surprised that it was a lot more tense and suspenseful than I expected. The author skillfully built incredible tension even during seemingly innocuous scenes. Something as simple as a child’s birthday party felt sinister, and the entire story had my stomach churning with anticipation.

I would caution that if you are a parent, this book might hit a bit close to home. Parts of the plot revolve around danger to the protagonist’s children, and some readers may find that particularly upsetting. However, I can say without spoiling too much that I think readers will find the ending satisfying, and the journey getting there is certainly full of compelling twists.

Fans of Lisa Jewell and Ruth Ware will likely enjoy this fast paced thriller. I certainly found it to be impossible to put down until the ride was over.

-Happy Reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Herd, by Andrea Bartz

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

When the leader of a notorious women’s only workspace group goes missing, journalist Katie seizes the opportunity to look into the truth behind the glamorous image of The Herd and its enigmatic missing leader Eleanor.

My impressions:

Whether or not social commentary and parody are your bag, this mystery is compelling and compulsively readable. Tightly plotted and full of interesting characters, this book holds up as an excellent thriller without relying too heavily on it’s gimmicks to stay interesting. The writing style is snappy and flows well, making it a thoroughly enjoyable read. I dare you not to finish it in a single sitting!

Fans of “People Like Her” and “A Simple Favor” will love the stylish prose and darkly funny wit in this hit novel. If you’re looking for something to scratch that elusive itch of humor and murder, this is absolutely the book for you. I highly recommend it to both veteran mystery fans and newcomers to the genre, as it makes for a great entry point into the mystery thriller world.

-Happy Reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Last Time I Saw You, by Liv Constantine

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

Estranged best friends Kate and Blair are reunited after Kate’s mother is found murdered. When Kate starts receiving threatening messages, she finds herself leaning more and more on Blair for support. But is Blair hiding something?

My impressions:

As usual, Liv Constantine blew me away. It’s rare that I find myself rooting for characters who are doing objectively bad things, but every character in this book is so compelling, I couldn’t help but root for all of them, if only to see where their actions would lead. I particularly enjoyed the way the book explored themes of friendship and codependency, and how those lines can get blurred. I love the way Constantine writes such memorable characters, each with their own complex motivations and often fascinatingly messed up moral codes.

Fans of Gillian Flynn and Lisa Jewell are bound to enjoy this author’s work as well, and while I can’t say too much without spoiling the plot, I highly recommend this book as a good starting point on Constantine’s writing. If you’re looking for one last phenomenal beach read this summer, this is the book for you!

-Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: The Stranger in the Lake, by Kimberly Belle

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

Rumors swirl about wealthy widower Paul after the death of his wife, but his new wife Charlotte disregards the town’s suspicions as nothing more than hurtful gossip. When another body shows up in the same lake Paul’s wife drowned in, Charlotte is forced to wonder if maybe her husband is not so innocent after all.

My impressions:

I’m personally a huge fan of this kind of fish out of water story wherein a character from a humble background gets swept up in a world of wealth, only to discover that the wealthy are hiding dark secrets. It’s an entire subgenre of mystery, and this book falls solidly into that category. Charlotte is an outsider among Paul’s wealthy friends and neighbors, and this gives her a unique perspective as she uncovers the dark underbelly of her husband’s past.

One of my favorite things about this author’s writing style is the way she makes the setting come alive. The whole time I was reading I felt like I could practically see the action playing out in front of me. The cold lake, the fog, all of it felt so immediate, and it really leant itself to the atmosphere of the mystery. If you’re looking to escape the summer heat, this might be just the book to escape into, because it’s sure to give you chills!

Fans of The Girl on the Train and The Good Sister will likely enjoy this snappy and engrossing thriller. I highly recommend this book as a perfect summer escape!

-Happy reading!

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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!

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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!

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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: 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!

Posted in Book Review

Review: Finlay Donovan is Killing It, by Elle Cosimano

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

A struggling mystery novelist is mistaken for a hit woman by a would-be client who wants her husband killed. Before she knows it, Finlay Donovan is in over her head, embroiled in a very non-fictional murder case.

My impressions:

Holy cats you guys… This might actually be the best book I’ve read all year. Not only did the suspense keep me on the edge of my seat, the humor had me periodically doubling over with giggle fits. The writing voice was incredibly fun, bringing Finlay to life on the page so much so that I already can’t wait to hear more from this character. If there’s no sequel, my heart might actually break.

Finlay is an endearing character, relatable if slightly unbelievably good at getting out of tight spots. From the first page, I wanted to see her succeed, and I found myself even more thoroughly on her side than I am with most protagonists. I would happily read an entire series revolving around Finlay and the cast of characters in her orbit.

If you’re looking for an engrossing read with characters you’ll find yourself immediately attached to, I highly recommend this book. Fans of Dial A for Aunties and Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts are bound to enjoy this compulsive read.

Happy reading!