How long can someone living a double life get by before two worlds collide?
Delores “Lore” Rivera thought she could maintain it…until she started havinHow long can someone living a double life get by before two worlds collide?
Delores “Lore” Rivera thought she could maintain it…until she started having doubts.
In 1985, Lore is a banker in Texas, and she’s married to Fabian. She has twin sons, Mateo and Gabriel. She’s always been happy, but stress looms as a recession hits and Fabian is close to losing his business. She travels to Mexico City for a wedding and meets Andres Russo. They hit it off immediately. Given her job, she’s able to travel back and forth, and ends up marrying Andres.
Two husbands? Two lives?
All is fine and dandy until one husband murders the other one and all secrets are revealed.
In 2017, Cassie Bowman writes blog posts related to true crime. She catches wind of Lore’s double life, and is intrigued. She decides to track Lore down and see if she’ll collaborate on a true crime book about her. Couldn’t hurt. Both women have reasons for this “project”. Both women have secrets. Both women are not prepared for what will happen to their quiet lives.
I know this sounds super enticing and unputdownable, but fair warning: it is NOT a thriller. It’s more of a domestic drama with historical fiction vibes…and yes, there is some mystery. However, it takes a while to get to that aspect of it. Not to say that’s a bad thing, but make sure you go in with your expectations in check.
This book is long…longer than it needs to be. Some scenarios could’ve been trimmed while still maintaining the integrity of the story. It’s broken down into 3 parts. The first two are rather slow, but I wasn’t bored per se. I was always intrigued to keep on going. Part III is where things hit their peak, and I really did fly through the pages at this point. Going back to that mystery angle I mentioned…I guessed it correctly. It still proved to be satisfying.
Overall, this is a decent debut with an interesting story. I would definitely read another book from this author, but I hope it’ll be a bit shorter in length.
3.5 stars
This was a group buddy read with Jayme, Holly, Michelle, DeAnn, and Regina. Make sure to check out their amazing reviews!
Thank you to William Morrow and Scene of the Crime for a widget of the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 6/7/22.
We’ve all seen or read the sad stories about a body going undiscovered for months. Maybe the person had no living family. Maybe HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
We’ve all seen or read the sad stories about a body going undiscovered for months. Maybe the person had no living family. Maybe nobody cared about them anymore. You’ve probably wondered what it would be like to be the one to discover the body. The smells, the decomposition...But have you ever wondered who cleans up after that body?
Grace McGill will tell you. She’s a death cleaner, and she’s a very thorough one at that. She also doesn’t shy away from going into the details about what it takes to clean and disinfect an area where human remains were found weeks/months after death. Clearing up bodily fluids, removing detached fat. You get the gist.
There’s a pattern that emerges as Grace goes from house to house, and she wonders why the police aren’t looking into it. A mystery surfaces, and Grace is determined to connect all the dots.
That’s all I’ll say about the plot. This is a story that definitely went in a different direction than I anticipated. I was intrigued pretty early on, and that only increased as the story progressed. Grace is such an interesting character - awkward, loner. Her narrative can be dark and bleak, and yet morbidly humorous. She doesn’t like attention, but she’s a straight shooter. The yin and yang is very compelling.
Overall, this is an original and engrossing mystery (not extremely dark, not a cozy) that gets better as it progresses, leading to a resolution I wasn’t anticipating. It’s also fast-paced and quick to read. I recommend it if you're looking for something a bit different, slightly macabre, and quirky.
I’m glad I had Jayme along for the ride. We really enjoyed discussing our theories along the way. It definitely made for some enlightening conversation. Make sure to check out her phenomenal review, and you can see if we ended up on the same side of the fence.
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 1/20/22.
“Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.”
Bette Davis said that famously misquoted line in All About Eve, and it applies here as well.
F“Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.”
Bette Davis said that famously misquoted line in All About Eve, and it applies here as well.
Flight 416 is on its way to New York when Captain Bill Hoffman finds out his wife and two children are being held hostage by a man that has strapped them into explosive vests. The man contacts Bill in-flight and tells him that if he doesn’t crash the plane, killing all “souls” aboard, then his family will be killed.
After the initial shock wears off, Bill assures the man that his family will not be killed, and he will NOT crash the plane.
This sets in motion a non-stop, fast paced action-thriller that never lets up. It’s a fun and suspenseful popcorn read, but with a surprising layer of depth that is shown through the fascinating characters and some of the plot reveals. I even choked up towards the end, and I was not expecting that to happen during the reading of this book.
Speaking of the characters, the flight attendants, among others on the flight and on the ground, were amazing and multi-dimensional...not at all surprising given debut author T.J. Newman is a former flight attendant (and bookseller) herself. Special shoutout to FA Jo Watkins, badass extraordinaire!
One thing I didn’t like was some of the stereotypes used. You’ll know what I mean when you read it.
Other than that, this is a crackling and highly enjoyable race-against-the-clock thriller full of entertainment.
This was a buddy read with Regina. While I enjoyed it more than she did, it was nice to discuss our perspectives.
Sincere thank you to Avid Reader Press for sending me a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review. Preparing for takeoff on: 7/6/21.
Looking for a 5-star stunner with a jaw-dropping twist? Well, LOOK NO FURTHER!
A brief synopsis that won’t give too much away (unHAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Looking for a 5-star stunner with a jaw-dropping twist? Well, LOOK NO FURTHER!
A brief synopsis that won’t give too much away (unlike the actual book blurb, which may reveal a secret or two):
Jace Montgomery comes home late one evening to find his wife, Tessa, MIA. He is instantly on alert when he notices broken glass, a clump of hair, and blood. He immediately reports this to the police, but never expects to be their prime suspect in her disappearance.
Tessa is thrilled to be out from under the watchful eyes of her abusive husband. She has been hurt too many times, and wants him to pay for it. She sets him up to pay the price for her disappearance, and couldn’t be more thrilled.
...As long as she gets away with it.
This is a smart domestic thriller that literally made me GASP at one of the twists. That is always a fun treat. It’s hard to believe that this is a debut novel. Author Jaime Lynn Hendricks is effortless in moving the plot along at a fast pace and ramping up the suspense, so much so that I barely slept and picked it back up in the very early morning hours. Talk about a gripping thriller!
The characters are fantastically written and fully fleshed out, and I couldn’t help but care deeply for Tessa and all of the terrible things she has gone through. She is a REAL character. Of course, there are unsavory hooligans as well, and they too are written extremely realistically. Speaking of characters, shout out to two of my favorites: Candy, a sweetheart of a dog ...more
A dark and sometimes difficult-to-read survivalist story.
Thanh Dao has been renamed “Jane” by her captor, Lenn. She and her sister, Kym-Le, left VietnA dark and sometimes difficult-to-read survivalist story.
Thanh Dao has been renamed “Jane” by her captor, Lenn. She and her sister, Kym-Le, left Vietnam to find a better future in England, and she never expected what her life had become. She’s been living with Lenn on his remote farm for over 7 years, and hasn’t been successful in escaping. She has a shattered ankle, but has to cook and clean for him every day.
She becomes pregnant after one of the other things she has to do for him. After another woman is brought into the home and held captive, and with her newborn baby, Thanh Dao/Jane decides this is it. She needs to figure out the ultimate way to escape the hell she is in.
While this was a quick read, it was not an easy one. It’s heavy and sometimes brutal. I felt anger and I felt Jane’s fear. It’s richly atmospheric and beautifully written. My mind could clearly see the repugnant living conditions of Lenn’s home.
As tough as the topics in this book are, they are also extremely important. Author Will Dean takes great care in giving us a stark and seemingly realistic view of a woman held captive. I also appreciate the afterword he includes in the book.
This was a buddy read with Regina, and while I’m not sure either of us would use the word “enjoyable” to describe this book, we were both into it, and enjoyed discussing it at various points throughout.
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published 4/20/21.
Now here’s a book that kept me on my toes and in a state of constant surprise!
Sidney Ryan has made a bit of a name for herself after producing two doNow here’s a book that kept me on my toes and in a state of constant surprise!
Sidney Ryan has made a bit of a name for herself after producing two documentaries that ended up exonerating two separate people from prison...found guilty of crimes they never committed.
When former classmate Grace Sebold reaches out to Sidney from a prison in St. Lucia, she is intrigued. She remembers hearing about the 10-year old case when Grace was accused, and ultimately convicted, of killing her boyfriend while at a destination wedding in St. Lucia. Grace never left the island, and instead ended up in a foreign prison.
Grace has maintained her innocence all of these years, and is reaching out to Sidney as her last resort. Sidney is able to get a deal with a TV network to produce a documentary about Grace. The Girl of Sugar Beach becomes a hit as Sidney starts looking into Grace’s case. The cool thing about the documentary? Each episode airs as close to real time as possible as Sidney talks to those involved in the case and uncovers evidence that might point to Grace’s innocence.
After finding negligence with the way the St. Lucia police handled the evidence, the case is reopened...but Sidney has absolutely no idea what she has stumbled into. Will she be any closer to the truth by the time the documentary finale is filmed?
A shoutout to Jayme for initially bringing author Charlie Donlea to my attention. This book has everything I’m looking for: an intriguing format (a few POVs, as well as actual excerpts of the documentary), a likable lead, questionable characters, and PLENTY of suspects!
If you’re like me and think you have everything figured out at one point, you’ll be wrong. If you think you finally got it right after a bit more speculation, you’ll be wrong. I did NOT see the ending coming.
I had a fantastic time buddy reading this one with Regina, and I’m so glad she brought it up as a contender. I will say that there is more than one reveal that we got right (or at least partially right...based on pure speculation). ...more
Imagine that your young daughter disappears one night. You’ve spent years trying to come to terms with her being missing, and have convinced yourself Imagine that your young daughter disappears one night. You’ve spent years trying to come to terms with her being missing, and have convinced yourself you’ve spotted her on more than one occasion...only to be wrong in the end. 20 years later, your missing daughter walks into the inn you own.
That’s what happens to Myra Barkley. She watches as her missing daughter, Charlotte, comes in through the door.
Only, it’s not Charlotte. The woman’s name is Elizabeth Lark. She is with her son, Theo, and they are escaping her violent husband who has held her captive for years.
Elizabeth goes with it, in the interest of keeping her son safe and giving him a warm place to stay. However, danger is still present...because the culprit involved in Charlotte’s disappearance is unknown, and someone knows Elizabeth isn’t who Myra thinks she is.
Intriguing premise. I enjoyed it enough through the first half, but it wasn’t gripping me in the intense ways I’ve come to expect in thrillers. The last section becomes convoluted, and I found myself feeling less engaged as one OTT scenario occurred on top of another. I’m also not a fan of what I consider bad dialogue, and I found some of that here.
There are some promising parts throughout, and while I can’t say I’d recommend this one, I would be interested in seeing what debut author Melissa Colasanti comes out with in the future.
2.5 stars.
This was a fun buddy read with Jayme. We enjoyed putting on our detective hats and discussing our theories...many of which we got right! ...more
A thriller without thrills does not a thriller make.
Theo Snyder is a documentary filmmaker, whose first film was a massive hit. After a public blundeA thriller without thrills does not a thriller make.
Theo Snyder is a documentary filmmaker, whose first film was a massive hit. After a public blunder while making his next film takes him off the hot list, he decides to refocus...and sets his sights on filming a documentary on The Halo Killer.
Jasper Ross-Johnson is the serial killer in question, and he’s currently serving a life sentence in jail. Things are looking up when he agrees to participate in the documentary. As Theo, along with investigator Zora Monroe, delves deeper into the story, he finds that there is someone with more information out there....Someone who might be able to explain how Jasper got caught before killing his next victim.
I was really looking forward to this one, and thought it had all of the makings of a fantastic serial killer thriller. Unfortunately, it was not a page turner for me. The moments I found interesting ended up having little or nothing to do with the main plot. I didn’t really enjoy any of the characters, and I thought it was easy to spot one of them who was hiding things. As the story ramped up (you can also read that as: As things became more convoluted), my interest waned. The final twists seemed really implausible, and I’m pretty sure there were some plot holes.
There are some strong reviews out there, so I definitely recommend reading those too when deciding if this book is for you.
This was a buddy read with Catherine. Although neither of us loved the book, we had fun guessing our theories and plot points, and discussing our struggles as things went downhill.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, Bryan Reardon, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
Ten years ago, Hannah’s husband, Graham, was lying on the floor with a knife in his neck. Did she murder him? She had always maintained her innocence,Ten years ago, Hannah’s husband, Graham, was lying on the floor with a knife in his neck. Did she murder him? She had always maintained her innocence, and someone else was arrested and convicted for the murder...filed away as a botched burglary.
Now, Hannah and her daughter live with her fiancé. When a popular podcast called “CONVICTION” decides to focus on the decade-old murder of Graham, it becomes apparent that the folks behind the podcast think Hannah is guilty, and they will do what they can to prove it...and help free the wrongly convicted man.
This is the type of psychological thriller that will keep you guessing the entire time...looking for clues even where they might not seem apparent. I was intrigued for most of the book, and originally thought this was trending towards a 4-star rating.
However...
There are some plot holes. Some of them are minor, as if the author wasn’t sure which direction the story was going in...and then never went back to clean up her earlier work after choosing her path forward. There is also a major plot hole towards the end that had me shaking my head. There are a few other things I am questioning, but I don’t want to put spoilers in this review.
3.5 stars rounded down.
This was a fun buddy read with Jayme. We definitely had some laughs discussing our various theories (some of mine were definitely ridiculous), and I think we both ended up feeling the exact same way about this one.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, author Katie Lowe, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY to one of my favorite reads in 2020!!
5 stars to one of my favorite thrillers of the year!
Matt Pine, a college student at NYU, rHAPPY PUBLICATION DAY to one of my favorite reads in 2020!!
5 stars to one of my favorite thrillers of the year!
Matt Pine, a college student at NYU, returns from a night of partying...only to find out that his mom, dad, younger brother and sister died while vacationing in Mexico. The cause of death was apparently a gas leak. This makes headlines for multiple reasons, but mainly because the Pine Family is famous after a Netflix documentary was released regarding Danny Pine, Matt’s older brother, who is serving life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend...which he may or may not have committed. A series of events prove that the deaths in Mexico may not have been accidental, and may have to do with Danny and the murder of his girlfriend.
Fasten your seatbelt, because this twisted ride of suspense will take you from New York to Mexico to Illinois to Nebraska...and won’t let up until the very last page.
This book has it all: impeccable character development, twists, surprises, multiple suspects, red herrings, and increasing suspense. I’m astounded that this is author Alex Finlay’s debut. He gets everything right, and through an abundance of twists, he manages to wrap everything up with no loose ends. I found myself really caring about the characters as well, which doesn’t always happen in these fast-paced thrill rides. This is one of the most perfectly written thrillers of the year. No complaints from me, and I highly recommend. Also, as others have mentioned, this would make a fantastic film!
This was a buddy read with Jayme. I had such a great time discussing our theories throughout. There were times we were able to pat ourselves on the backs due to our detective skills, and other times where we just missed the target.
Thank you to Alex Finlay, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
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