Mary's 2022 Reading List

Welcome 2022 🥂
New Year, New Books 📚 📚
Last year I didn't plan out my books like I did the year before, so I am going to try to do that again this year.

My goal: Goodreads challenge is 60 total books this year.
Included in that, I am also wanting to really read at least 22 physical books from my shelf.

With NetGalley, physical books, and Kindle books I am just hoping I can find enough time. I PLAN on going back and forth between the NetGalleys and physicals. I am going to attempt to plan out my year now and see how that works out for me. Please note that books may be moved from month to month.

I will still post reviews of each book. I have included page numbers to give me some sort of reference of how I am really doing, and I have also added genres.

KEY:
NetGalley = ✨
Physical Book = 📗

Here goes:
73/60 📖 read this year
NetGalley: 59
Physical: 15

Genre: 6
mystery/thriller: 62
memoir: 6
true crime: 1
apocalyptic sci-fi; survival: 1
fiction: 1
history: 2

❄️ JANUARY ❄️

January total books: 7/5 📕
January total pages: 2122 📄

The Guest Room by Rona Halsall - ✨ pub date 1/31/22
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ finished 1/5/22
311 pages

The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku 📗
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ finished 1/7/22
195 pages

Black Orchid Girls by Carolyn Arnold ✨ pub date 2/10/22
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ finished 1/12/22
286 pages

Live in Love by Lauren Akins 📗 22 in 22
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ finished 1/15/22
306 pages

Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams 📗 22 in 22
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ finished 1/20/22
304 pages

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay ✨ pub date 3/1/22
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ finished 1/27/22
320 pages

When She Disappeared by Steph Mullin and Nicole Mabry ✨ pub date 3/3/22
⭐⭐⭐ finished 1/31/22
400 pages

The Guest Room by Rona Halsall - 3 stars
standalone
Leeds, UK
NetGalley
genre - mystery
January #1

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital advanced reader copy of this book. The opinions expressed below are my own and were not requested or required.

Steph is newly single and fighting with her soon to be ex-husband. In order to make some extra money, she decides to take in a renter for her spare bedroom. Events develop to make Steph realize she isn't safe on her own.

I feel like this took a little too long to get into. Setting up the background reveals that Steph's son, Max, left 10 years ago and hasn't been heard from since. She seems too focused on Max but can't seem to figure out a way to find him. The part that bothered me is that the problem between Max and the family isn't addressed as to what the cause was until the end.

I figured out who was behind the problems and pretty much everything that was done. This was predictable for me, and I usually don't say that.

The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku - 5 stars
standalone
Germany
Hardback
genre - memoir
January #2

This is my annual book for Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Eddie Jaku was born in Germany in 1920. He was a proud German, loved Germany, the people, the scenery, the history. He was also Jewish. In November of 1938, all that changed with Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass. Eddie's father pushed him to seek an education as an engineer, so he left his family and the city he loved, gave up his identity and became just a German. But there were many detours in Eddie's life, from being turned in as a German spy to eventually being found out as a Jew. Eddie ended up at Auschwitz and endured several years there. This is his story, and how his life after the concentration camp changed him into being the happiest man on Earth. I fell in love with Eddie from the first page and I am sad to say I will never meet him as he left this world in October of 2021 at the age of 101, but he had a long life. Not always good, but he made the most out of the hard times. This book is filled with wonderful quotes from Eddie and gives inspiration to everyone to make the best out of life, hug your mother, and not to hate one another. Thank you, Eddie for sharing your story.

Black Orchid Girls by Carolyn Arnold - 4 stars
#4 Detective Amanda Steele
Prince William County, VA
NetGalley
genre - mystery
January #3

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital advanced reader copy of this book. The opinions expressed below are my own and were not requested or required.

This is number 4 in the Detective Amanda Steele series. I don't think that you would need to read the books in order, but it would help to if only to see how much Amanda has grown.

Amanda Steele and her partner Trent Stenson are called to a National Park to investigate the murder of a young woman. She was found stabbed, cleaned, naked and posed with a black orchid on her chest. I like the working relationship between Amanda and Trent. Amanda has accepted having a partner and they work well together. They can almost read each other thoughts at times. I think that Amanda and Trent might be developing feelings for each other, but neither of them has acknowledged or addressed it. At least Amanda hasn't really, to herself.

Even though it appeared the detectives had suspects every time they turned around, I didn't figure it out. In fact, I had suspicions about two characters and the killer wasn't one of them. I would recommend if you enjoy detective series like I do! Thank you NetGalley, Carolyn Arnold and Bookouture.

Live in Love by Lauren Akins - 5 stars
standalone
Nashville, Tennessee
Hardback
genre - memoir
January #4

I am a fan of Thomas Rhett. I was listening to his dad, Rhett Akins when he first came out, so by extension, I am a fan of Thomas Rhett. My daughter is REALLY a fan and likes both Thomas Rhett and his wife Lauren Akins. There isn't a day that she doesn't show me an Instagram post rom one of them or tell me something she learned about them. My daughter read this book when it first came out and I kept telling her I'd read it. I FINALLY got to read it. Lauren was very honest in this book about her relationship with Thomas Rhett. From the first time they started dating, till Lauren just couldn't deal with the stresses of being alone and taking care of a new family by herself. Through it all, her faith in God and love for Thomas Rhett and her family helped her. The love she has for the orphans and children in Haiti and Uganda really touched me. I cried while reading about Thomas Rhett's proposal, it was so romantic. This book teaches you how to love, live and have faith in God.

Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams - 4 stars
standalone
Montana
Hardback
genre - mystery/thriller
January #5

⚠️ WARNING⚠️
Suicide is the basis of this book and could be disturbing for some readers.

Cambry finds herself on a cross country journey suddenly alone. While out sketching, she accidentally stumbles across a man who is mysteriously burning something. The man gives chase and Cambry takes off. Later, Cambry is pulled over for speeding, and instantly doesn't trust the cop. A car chase ensues.

3 months later Cambry's twin sister Lena finds herself with that same cup and asking questions about her sister's sudden death. The cop tells her it was a suicide, but Lena doesn't believe it. Lena sets out on a journey to blog the whole ordeal in order to prove her sister's death was the result of foul play.

I have seen other reviews that said the reader had a hard time following whose story is being told. I didn't have that problem. The story is told as events are happening to Cambry the night she died and Lena the day she arrived on the scene of Cambry's death and questions the last known person to have contact with her sister.

This is non-stop from the foot chase, the car chase and gunpoint standoff. Until halfway through there are only three characters Cambry, Lena and the cop and only two overlap at any given time. This does have a bit of gore and it's like one of those movies where you think come on, they couldn't have survived that!

Good for fans of JA Konrath

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay - 4 stars
standalone
New Jersey
NetGalley
genre - mystery/thriller
January #6

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital advanced reader copy of this book. The opinions expressed below are my own and were not requested or required.

This book opens on New Year's Eve 1999 at Blockbuster. 4 employees are murdered at closing time. Fast-forward 15 years and there is another brutal multiple murder at the Dairy Creamery, where 3 employees are stabbed. At both crimes, there was a survivor. Everyone is looking for the #1 suspect from the 1999 murders, but he was released on insufficient evidence, and hasn't been seen since.

There is Ella, the Blockbuster survivor turned therapist, who is called the hospital to talk with the Dairy Creamery survivor, Jesse. There is Chris, the brother of the suspected killer, who has tried to rebuild his life. Then there is Sarah Keller, the FBI agent who is tasked with trying to find Vince Whitaker, the suspect.

It amazes me how storylines can weave in out of each other and still be plausible. I didn't find this to be predictable at all. I was very surprised. Even though Jesse appears to be tough, you can see how she just wants to reach out to someone. I did have a problem with Agent Keller being 8 1/2 months pregnant with twins. I feel like she should have been on desk duty. (I am NOT) saying women shouldn't work while pregnant, just that she put herself and the babies in danger). I was annoyed with Ella in the beginning, she's engaged but she appears to be some type of escort. Thankfully that storyline didn't last too long. And then there's Chris. His mom left, his brother left, his dad was abusive and he was put into foster care. I felt bad for him because I felt like he was still trying to find his way.

Overall, I would recommend this book. It wasn't heart pounding, action packed, but it was an easy fast read.

When She Disappeared by Steph Mullin and Nicole Mabry - 3 stars
standalone
North Carolina
NetGalley
genre - mystery
January #7

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital advanced reader copy of this book. The opinions expressed below are my own and were not requested or required.

Margo comes back to her hometown to help her father while he recovers from knee surgery. The day she arrives, the body of a girl who has been missing since 2004 is discovered. This is Margo's childhood best friend, Jessie, who everyone thought ran away. Austin, one of Margo's only friends from high school is also back in town to film an update on a rebooted series "Into Thin Air" about Jessie's disappearance and the discovery of her body, in hopes to solve the case. This part reminds me of the Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke series Under Suspicion

This book is not fast paced. At times, it wasn't holding my attention. I felt the chapters were really long and there was a little too much going on in the book. Too much background or too much going on between Margo and Austin that this was more of a light romance then a mystery/thriller. Margo keeps getting threats from an anonymous user through Facebook and Instagram. She is also getting calls from unknown caller. Which does add a layer of mystery, but again, not enough to keep me from wanting to put it down. I kept waiting for the "stalker" to make his move and give us a blow-out of an ending. That being said, the last chapter, I couldn't put down, I was surprised to find out what really happened to Jessie, but it wasn't the big "on the edge of my seat" moment that I was anticipating.
I was really looking forward to this book after reading the Family Tree (one of my favorite books in 2021), but it just left me feeling "blah".

💘 FEBRUARY 💘

February total books: 7/5 📕
February total pages: 📄 2223

The Counsel of the Cunning by Steven C Harms 📗
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ finished 2/7/22
268 pages

Beneath the Stairs by Jennifer Fawcett ✨ pub date 2/22/22
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ finished 2/7/22
351 pages

The Resting Place by Camilla Sten ✨ pub date 3/29/22
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ finished 2/11/22
320 pages

The Long Weekend by Gilly Macmillan ✨ pub date 3/29/22
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Finished 2/16/22
352 pages

The Push by Ashley Audrain 📗 22 in 22
⭐⭐⭐ Finished 2/18/22
303 pages

If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier 📗 22 in 22
293 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Finished 2/23/22

The Night She Went Missing by Kristen Bird ✨ pub date 3/8/22
336 pages
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ finished 2/26/22

Beneath the Stairs by Jennifer Fawcett - 4 stars
standalone
New York
NetGalley
genre - horror
February #1

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing a digital advanced reader copy of this book. The opinions expressed below are my own and were not requested or required.

There is a theme of mental health (borderline personality disorder) and attempted suicide and could be disturbing for some readers.

This is told mainly from Clare's POV present day and Clare's POV in 1998.

I was hooked from the beginning.

The Octagon House is a creepy, old, abandoned house, in a clearing in the middle of the woods.

4 girls go into the Octagon House the summer before their freshman year. Two go back.
Years later, one goes back and attempts suicide.
Clare gets a message from Abby's mom stating that Abby is in a medically induced coma, but before she went under, she said Clare's name. Abby was found locked in the basement of the Octagon House, possibly for 3 days before she was found. Clare goes back to Sumner's Mills to figure out what happened to Abby and why she went back.

Ben was convicted of killing his wife, 3-year-old daughter and the attempted murder of his 8-year-old daughter in 1965. Years later he is released from prison and is in a state run nursing home with stage 4 cancer. Ben doesn't remember what happened the night his family died, but he maintains his innocence.

Abby has been trying to figure out why she keeps getting lured back to the house. Now, Lori (one of the 4 girls from 1998) finds her stepdaughter is being pulled to the house.

Clare is determined to find out what Abby knew about that house and why certain people are drawn to it.

I found this to be a very good supernatural novel. Spooky at times. It shows how the supernatural can make you second guess yourself and others. The different timelines are not confusing at all.

The Counsel of Cunning by Steven C Harms - 4.5 stars
#2 Roger Viceroy
Milwaukee/Guatemala
paperback - author ARC
genre - mystery
February #2

Reading this book reminds me of watching an action movie. There were so many things going on in this book. Not once did I feel lost. Everything comes together and is wrapped up in a nice little bow. We start in Guatemala go to Milwaukee to Texas to DC and loop back around again. This is not a sit back and relax type of book. There are gunfights, car chases and foot chases. You go on a wild ride. Street drugs and prescription drugs. Politicians trying to get FDA approval for drugs. This is the 2nd book in the Roger Viceroy series. I have not read the 1st book, but I didn't miss anything. I loved all the characters from Viceroy to his associates, Regina and Silk to Silk's street buddies and former law enforcement friends. Although this book is under 300 pages, it wasn't necessarily a "quick-read", but the chapters were relatively short. This was a page-turner, but I had to put the book down every couple of chapters in order to absorb the story. I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you grew up watching the action-packed movies. (I totally picture Liam Neeson as Roger). I definitely plan to get the 1st book and can't wait for the 3rd. Thank you, Steven Harms for a copy of this book.

The Resting Place by Camilla Sten - 4 stars
standalone
Sweden
NetGalley
genre - mystery/thriller
February #3

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me a digital ARC of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Eleanor goes to her grandmother Vivianne's apartment for dinner only to meet someone at the front door, leaving. When Eleanor goes inside, she discovers her grandmother on the floor bleeding to death. Eleanor has a disorder called prosopagnosia, or face blindness; therefore, she is unable to describe the killer to the police.

Months later, Eleanor goes to her grandmother's country mansion, with her boyfriend Sebastian, aunt Veronika and the estate lawyer Rickard. No one is able to get in touch with the groundskeeper Mats, who has been employed by Vivianne for years. Eleanor thinks she sees someone on the grounds and things start happening, but she feels like no one will believe her. Eleanor and Sebastian find a diary hidden in the floorboards of a room, written by a maid who worked for Vivianne in the 60's.

This is a "locked room mystery", with a creepy feel. They are trapped on the estate due to the weather with no cell service and eventually no electric. Eleanor and after some convincing Sebastian thinks there is something wrong with the house and try desperately to leave. This was a suspenseful read leading up to what happened to Vivianne.

The Long Weekend by Gilly Macmillan - 3.5 stars
standalone
border of Scotland and England
NetGalley
genre - mystery/thriller
February #4

Thanks to Harper Collins, William Morrow and Custom House and NetGalley for providing me a digital ARC of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

An annual weekend trip for 4 couples goes awry. One of the men died in a drowning earlier that year and his widow chose not to go away. Then the 3 remaining men back out one by one and send the women up on Friday with the promise to arrive together on Saturday before lunch. When the women get to Dark Fell Barn, a beautifully wrapped present with a note is waiting for them. The note basically says you didn't want me on you trip, enjoy and I will kill one of your husbands while you're gone. Signed simply "E". E is Edie the widow. Emily immediately starts to worry and wants to call her husband Paul. Jayne tries to tell her that Edie is a prankster, and the note is a hoax. She never worries about her husband Mark. Ruth flip flops so much, she seems to care more about her son Alfie, then her husband Toby. Jayne is ex-military and tries to be strong and take control of all the situations presented to them. Emily, the youngest and newest member of the group is not comfortable with these women and seems a little bit immature. I did not like Ruth. She is a new mother, has too many doubts about her husband's fidelity, is an alcoholic and on the verge of losing her job as a doctor. Due to the location of the Barn, there is no cell service. A storm picks up and Emily attempts to go to the farmhouse to call home. 1 of the husbands show up on Saturday clueless as to the events that have transpired. He hasn't been able to get in touch with the other husbands either.
Everything that happens is for no reason at all, because of one character's delusion. So many different lives were ruined. I could have done without the storyline of John Elliott (the Owner of the Barn).
It's a good book that kept me guessing who and why, but super long.
3 1/2 stars because of the length and unnecessary storyline of John.

The Push by Ashley Audrain - 3 stars
standalone
unknown location
hardback
genre - mystery/thriller
February #5

⚠️ Depression, child abuse, child neglect, self-harm, suicide, death of a child ⚠️

It took me about 100 pages in until I got used to the writing of this book. It is written in the 2nd person, but it was easier to read once I figured that out.

The book starts with Blythe watching through the window of a house on Christmas Eve a family: Mother, Father, Daughter, Son...

The "Daughter" is hers and the "Father" used to be her husband as well

This tells the story of Blythe, her mother Cecelia and her mother Etta. Etta is suffering from depression since Cecelia's birth from the death of her husband. Cecelia doesn't want to be a mother and Blythe never got to bond with her daughter Violet. The child abuse description is minor, the child neglect is there. One mother just can't seem to get over the death of her child. I feel like Blythe's childbirth and the way her body changed after was too descriptive. I didn't really connect with Blythe from the beginning.

Not really my type of book. The very last line of the book was the best part.

If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier - 4 stars
standalone
Northern California
hardback
mystery/thriller
February #6

Sera spends every waking moment listening to Rachel's true crime podcast, until one day Rachel isn't online. Sera waits and waits but still nothing from Rachel. Rachel has ingrained in Sera all the "what ifs" when someone goes missing and she decides to go to Rachel's family's guest ranch to look for her.

I love listening to true crime podcasts myself, so I was fully invested in this story. This book has snipets of real stories of murdered and missing women, interspersed with fictional crimes. I wondered through the whole book if Rachel was dead or alive and who was the suspect. My opinion of every character changed a few times.

The Night She Went Missing by Kristen Bird - 4 stars
standalone
Galveston Island, Texas
NetGalley
mystery/thriller
February #7

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA and NetGalley for providing me a digital ARC of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

List of main characters:
Emily - senior at Callahan Prep - missing
Catherine - mother of Emily
Morgan - mother of Alex, friend of Catherine
Leslie - mother of Anna, ex-best friend of Morgan

The Callahan's move to Galveston Island before Emily's senior year and she goes to The Callahan Preparatory School, which is owned by Emily's grandmother, Rosalyn whose family rebuilt Galveston Island in 1900. She is the most powerful and wealthiest woman on the island. Unbeknownst to her, Emily makes an enemy and only makes one friend, Alex. They start to spend a lot of time together and go to a Mardi Gras party. They each leave separately, but Emily doesn't make it home. While the community searches for Emily, any relationship the mothers had with each other is torn apart. This book is told from the POV of Emily, leading up to her disappearance and each of the mothers as the month's go by, starting in September and ending the following September. I enjoyed the story as there is a group of wealthy women that are not drinking all the time. So many stories these days have a group of alcoholic women, and it was refreshing that they go out and are not getting black out drunk. They also seem to have morals and want to protect they children no matter what. This was very easy to follow. I did not really have an idea who caused Emily's disappearance until right before it was revealed. I kept reading this and thinking about "The Night Olivia Fell" by Christina McDonald. I really enjoyed this book, it was a fast, easy read. Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and MIRA

🍀 MARCH 🍀

March total books: 5/📕
March total pages: 📄 1546

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth ✨ pub date 4/5/22
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ finished 3/2/22
352 pages

The Shadow House by Anna Downes ✨ pub date 4/5/22
304 pages
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ finished 3/10/22

The Breakdown: a totally nail-biting psychological by Arianne Richmond ✨ pub date 4/11/22
328 pages
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ - finished 3/15/22

Watch Her Disappear: a totally gripping crime thriller by Lisa Regan ✨ pub date 4/10/22
242 pages
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ - finished 3/24/22

Damn Lucky by Kevin Maurer ✨ pub date 4/19/22
320 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - finished 3/29/22

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth
standalone
Melbourne, Australia
NetGalley
mystery/thriller
March #1

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me a digital ARC of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Cast of main characters:

Stephen - father; husband
Tully - daughter
Rachel - daughter
Pamela - ex wife
Heather - new wife

This starts at the wedding of Stephen and Heather, told by an unknown guest.

Stephen, Heather, Pamela, Tully, Rachel and the wedding celebrant go into the sacristy to sign the marriage certificate.

The crowd hears a scream and a thump; suddenly the celebrant comes out covered in blood and asks for a doctor.

This is written from the POV of Tully, Rachel and Heather, from the moment Stephen has lunch introducing his new girlfriend to his daughters. The girlfriend is the same age as the daughters and their dad is still married to their mom. Pam now has dementia and is living in a nursing home. As the sisters try to come to grips with their father's new relationship, they start to wonder if the dementia was something that "just happened" or if it was caused by something. Events make it seem like Stephen is not the happy-go-lucky all-around good guy everyone thinks he is. Tully has a lot of issues (that I can't even begin to mention), Rachel doesn't date, Heather's parents are dead. This is all brought up but all leads to each woman's identity.

This was a fast-paced easy read, but I felt like it was missing that AH-HA moment. Although everything seems to be wrapped up, I was still waiting for something.

The Shadow House by Anna Downes
standalone
Australia
NetGalley
mystery/thriller
March #2

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me a digital ARC of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Cast of characters:

Alex
Ollie - 14-year-old son of Alex
Kara - 8-month-old baby of Alex
Jenny - upstairs neighbor
Kit - founder of Pine Ridge
Renee

Told from the POV of Alex, present day and Renee 6 years ago

Alex moves Ollie and Kara to Pine Ridge, a new ecovillage built by Kit. Alex is escaping from Stu, Kara's father. Pine Ridge was a former flower farm, and the Farmhouse is still standing on the land. Alex falls in love with but soon learns that the locals think it might be haunted. The former resident, Renee, lost her 16-year-old son Gabe one night. He has been missing for 6 years. Alex begins to receive "gifts" from an unknown person who everyone says is "The Witch". Then Alex finds a letter at the farmhouse addressed to her telling her that my son was taken and yours will be too. Alex is so distracted with the story of Gabe and trying to find out what really happened that it appears she is neglecting Ollie, and the village things she is crazy.

I spent too much time trying to figure out if this was some sort of supernatural story. Although I did like this story it didn't WOW me. I had one moment when I learned what was really going on that my jaw actually dropped for a second, but just a second.

I really could have done with the storyline of Stu. The neighbor calling Alex to tell her what was goiing on. Although this did tie-in to the epilogue, it wasn't really relevant to me. And it wasn't a really long part of the book, just added in as an afterthought maybe, or to tie up and end that didn't have a beginning.

The Breakdown: a totally nail-biting psychological by Arianne Richmonde
standalone
Cliff Island, Maine
NetGalley
mystery/thriller
March #3

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me a digital ARC of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Cast of characters:

Celeste - mother, wife
Jayne - au pair
Dr. Stephen - therapist for Celeste
Alex Sharpe - nurse to Celeste
Max - husband
Adele Alba - detective

This book is told from the POV of Celeste, Jayne and Stephen and "The Disappearance" - which is Detective Adele Alba.

The story begins with the abduction of Lizzie, a 4-year-old girl. That in itself, had me hooked. This book bounced from days before the disappearance to 8 days after. It is set up nicely as to not lose you with the timeline. Interspersed throughout was the detective trying to get to the bottom of the disappearance. I will say, this is not what I was expecting from reading the synopsis - even better. My suspicion went round and round to everybody from the husband, the nurse, even Celeste herself. Everybody has secrets they are trying to hide. And Jayne and Stephen do not like having Alba on the island. This story took a turn that I didn't see coming and kept me reading to figure out just what the heck was happening. There was a moment that I was like, huh? that isn't what was said before, BUT ALL WE BE EXPLAINED! I loved this book! Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Arianne Richmonde.

Watch Her Disappear: a totally gripping crime thriller by Lisa Regan
Detective Josie Quinn #14
Denton, Pennsylvania
NetGalley
mystery/thriller
March #4

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me a digital ARC of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Watch Her Disappear is #14 in the Detective Josie Quinn series.

While Noah, Gretchen, Amber & Finn try to plan Josie and Noah's honeymoon, its prom night in Denton, and Josie's gets a call for the discovery of a body. A sixteen-year-old is found at Denton East High School. She is wearing a prom dress, hair and makeup done, but no one knows who she is. Through the autopsy, the Chief fells like this is linked to an unsolved case from 25-years ago. The Chief really opens up to Josie in this book and there is a whole different side to him we have never discovered. I felt for the Chief, learning about his past life. As the team races to find a missing girl, once again lives hang in the balance. As always, Josie Quinn brought worry, fear and sadness to the surface. Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Lisa Regan.

Damn Lucky: One Man's Courage by Kevin Maurer
standalone
World War II - America/Europe
NetGalley
history/non-fiction
March #5

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me a digital ARC of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

This is the story of John "Lucky" Luckadoo, 21-year-old Lieutenant of the Eighth Air Force's 100th Bomb Group.

When Pearl Harbor is bombed and America enters the 2nd world war, Lucky enlisted to become a pilot, something he has dreamed of becoming for years. He becomes a pilot of the bomber planes, in charge of a 10-person crew. The bombers are commissioned to fly 25 missions and can return home. Most don't make it to 25. This book chronicles Lucky's life during pilot school, through to his arrival at the air strip in England. The book starts at his 22nd mission, one of the bloodiest air battles during the war. I honestly didn't know much about the air war during World War II and this book was very informative and taught me a lot. I highly recommend, if you are interested in World War II, Americans role in the "air war" or any surviving veteran's story. Thank you Lucky!

☔ APRIL ☔

April total books: 7/📕
April total pages: 📄 1925

The Girl Before Me: a totally gripping by Laura Wolfe ✨ pub date 4/29/22
305 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 4/2/22

True the Four Season of Jackie Robinson by Kostya Kennedy ✨ pub date 4/12/22
288 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 4/9/22

I Heard You Scream by Emerald O'Brien ✨ pub date 4/21/22
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 4/10/22
232 pages

The Vanishing Triangle by Claire McGowan ✨pub date 5/01/22
192 pages
⭐⭐ - 4/19/22

The Trapped Ones by Stacy Green ✨pub date 5/03/22
179 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 4/16/22

Stealing Foxy by Isabella Bright ✨pub date 5/04/22
397 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 4/27/22

The Lost Bones by Ruhi Choudhary ✨pub date 5/09/22
332
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 4/30/22

The Girl Before Me by Laura Wolfe
Standalone
Chicago, Illinois
NetGalley
Mystery/thriller
April #1

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me a digital ARC of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Cast of Characters
Rachel - single mother; new resident of 420 Roslyn Place
Lily - Rachel's 6-year-old daughter
Bridget - Neighbor in 5B
Alex - neighbor in 4A
Doorman - Henry
Keith - Rachel's ex-husband, Lily's father

A residential multi-unit condo in downtown Chicago, with a mysterious disappearance - YES PLEASE!!👍👍

The story begins with Annie hiding in her bathroom. She just found something in her building, and someone has entered her apartment... Her suitcase is packed on the other side of the wall and an Uber is waiting for her downstairs.

Fast forward to a few weeks later. Rachel and her daughterhave just moved into 420 Roslyn Place #4B. She finalized her divorce and is making a fresh start. Her daughter is enrolled in a private school. Rachel was fortunate enough to get this apartment, as the previous tenant broke her lease and fled in the middle of the night. Rachel and Lily have met a few people in the building and Rachel starts a romance with Alex, her neighbor in 4A. Her new friend Bridget lives directly upstairs in 5B. Then there is the creepy "goth" guy down the hall, who claims to have been friends with Annie, the previous tenant. Rachel hears noises in the middle of the night, sees shadows in her window from outside and is trying to get the locks changed. Rachel begins to hear stories that make her doubt the people that she has surrounded herself with.

Rachel has had a difficult time with her mother in the past. Her mother doesn't seem to trust anyone, which has rubbed off on Rachel and Rachel is trying to break that habit. Perhaps this isn't the right time for her to do that.

I loved this book. I was really surprised to find out what happened to Annie and who was behind it. My suspicions flipped between EVERYONE in the story. My jaw dropped when the reveal happened. I read more than the last half in one sitting. Thank you Bookouture, NetGalley and Laura Wolfe.

The Trapped Ones by Stacy Green
#5 Nikki Hunt
Stillwater, Minnesota
NetGalley
mystery/thriller
April #4

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Bookouture. The opinions are my own and freely given.

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️
There is talk of rape, rape fantasies and domestic violence.

FBI Agents Nikki Hunt and her partner Liam are called to the scene of a gruesome triple homicide with one victim clinging to life. One of the murdered victims has been missing for a few days and the agents and local detectives are trying to learn why she was there. The survivor is a star swimmer, son of a lawyer and member of the fraternity. The story shows the frat, wealthy and athletic and how some think they are above everyone else. Nikki is battling her ex-husband's parents for custody of her daughter, Lacey. That is in the back of her mind, so when she wants to work on the case, she knows she needs to be home for Lacey. I love the way Nikki and Liam can communicate without speaking. Detective Brenner is in charge at the local level. This is her first homicide. I really liked her, but she seemed to disappear towards the end. I enjoyed this book and as always, awaiting the next installment in this series. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Stacy Green.

True the Four Season of Jackie Robinson by Kostya Kennedy
standalone
Montreal/Brooklyn
NetGalley
biography/memoirs
April #2

I knew who Jackie Robinson was, one the greatest baseball players of all time, who changed the face of baseball. What I didn't know about Jackie Robinson was how much he changed the world.

This book chronicles the life of Jackie Robinson in baseball, from his minor league days, through his major league days. It sheds light on the things he did after his retirement and how he was outspoken for the rights of the Black Americans, always striving to get their rights equaled to the White Americans. Jackie did this through his voice and presence, not through violence. He was outspoken to Malcom X (even though he greatly respected him) and friends with Martin Luther King Jr. This book shows how decades later he is still a loved individual.

The Dodgers signed another Black baseball player, Johnny Wright, to try to alleviate some of the publicity and hatred that Jackie received in his early days, but Johnny was soon sent to the minors. Branch Rickey tried to incorporate some black players to show how baseball is changing and to bring attention to the rest of America. Once Jackie retired, his health declined. He was battling diabetes, his eyesight was failing, he had a hard time moving. The Robinson Family was wracked with death and Rachel Robinson is a very strong woman who withstood not only the hatred thrown at her husband but the deaths of many family members. She has gone on to keep Jackie's name alive and set up the Jackie Robinson Foundation to honor students with scholarships, who might not be able to go on to college.

The one thing that I didn't like about the way the book was written is how it jumped around. Jackie would be up at bat, but something else would be brought up, how the kids in the Brooklyn neighbors would listen to the games on the radio or watch the games on TV at through the windows of the TV store. It always came back around, but it broke up the intensity of Jackie being at bat, or going into the slide, stealing home... The baseball depictions were very descriptive, and I could see it all in my mind while reading it. I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

I Heard You Scream by Emerald O'Brien
standalone
Newcastle
writer ARC
thriller
April #3

Thank you to Emerald O'Brien for providing me a digital ARC of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

First of all, how have I not read the first 19 books by this author?

Cast of Characters -
Chelsea
Cam - fiancé of Chelsea
Jordan - brother of Chelsea
Kellan - Chelsea's best friend

John, Morgan, Eliana, Lennox and Chelsea begin their own support group for survivors of loved ones who died from addiction. One night, four them are murdered by Jordan's best friend. Five years later, Chelsea and Cam are on their way to their memorial service. Chelsea receives an anonymous blackmail letter telling her to come clean and go to the police or more people will be hurt. The next day, she sets the ball in motion and is in the parking lot of the police station when she gets a call that someone has died... But she knows it's not an accident

I was hooked from the beginning. This book is told from two timelines, "Past" and "Now". The past is the story of events that lead up to the murders. I didn't want to put this book down. I was surprised to find out who the blackmailer was and why everything happened.

Super-fast read. I loved this book and I encourage everyone to read it. If you haven't read Emerald O'Brien before now, I encourage you too. I currently have 2 of hers on my TBR and can't WAIT to read them!

Thank you so much.

The Vanishing Triangle by Claire McGowan - 2 stars
standalone
Ireland
NetGalley
true crime
April #5

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and Little A. The opinions are my own and freely given.

I appreciate the research and time this book took to write but I wasn't really a fan. I thought it jumped timelines too much. I understand the author was trying to point out the danger of being a woman in Ireland in the 90s however, there were too many victims' names thrown about. By the time I would get to the next chapter and the victims were mentioned again, I couldn't remember the specifics of her disappearance. Then there were men that were found guilty or suspected and they too got mixed up in my mind. I couldn't remember who was convicted for what crime and when it was mentioned I couldn't remember those specifics either.

The author seemed to downgrade the country so much it makes me never want to go there.

I found it boring and couldn't wait to finish it, knowing there was no real ending since no one has been convicted. There are suspects but no proof. No one knows if it was the work of a serial killer, or multiple people. And no one knows if these cases were at all related.

There was no demographic of how big the triangle is. Not being from Ireland, I had no frame of reference, and I couldn't tell if it was a mile or several hundred.

Only 6 women's cases were investigated. Operation Trace was told to focus on these 6 only and no one else. I expected this book to be more about the victims then the politics and religious views of the country.

The author talked about The Troubles, but again not being from Ireland, I don't know what that is, and it was not explained.

This book really sheds light on how the police victimized the missing women. Assuming because they showed signs of depression, they must have committed suicide, they may have been considered sex workers, so their disappearance was their fault, or they were young and just ran away.

Again, there was so much research that went into this book, and this being the authors first true crime novel she did a solid job, it was just too confusing for me.

Stealing Foxy by Isabella Bright
standalone
France
NetGalley
suspense
April #6

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by Victory Editing, NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and freely given.
When Rachel's parents died, she spent a lot of time arguing with her siblings about items to be divided. Her only brother, Truck, thinks that she stole things that are rightfully his, but Rachel swears that she doesn't have them. Truck, known to be violent, threatens to show up and take them all back. Through a series of VERY misfortunate events, Rachel and her husband, Gabriel, start to travel to the ocean. There is a car accident, a creepy man lurking about, a few hospital visits, surgeries, and some theft - just to name a few incidents. Rachel's siblings are horrible, to her especially. I didn't understand why Gabriel and Rachel made some of the choices they did, but this book is not meant to be real life. If you can find the humor (not in a ha-ha kind of way, but I can NOT believe they did that! kind of way) in all of these things that happen, then I think you will enjoy this story. This is a slower paced suspense then what I am used to, so I am saying 3 1/2 stars (rounded up to 4).

The Lost Bones by Ruhi Choudhary
#5 Detective Mackenzie Price
Lakemore, Washington
NetGalley
thriller/mystery
April #7

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Bookouture. The opinions are my own and freely given.
The Lost Bones is the 5th in the Detective Mackenzie Price series. Bodies are found in Lakemore with messages for Mackenzie. A woman is found beaten and catatonic. A mass grave is found in the woods. These are just a few of the mysteries surrounding Mackenzie and Nick, her partner. Then someone close to Mackenzie is abducted and they are on the clock to find them before it is too late. I like the way this book is starting with the prologue that is really towards to the end of the book, to hook you and make you want to finish reading, and boy did it suck me in. I thought about 2/3 of the way in that I knew who the murderer was but I was wrong. If you haven't read Detective Mackenzie Price before, I highly recommend it. Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Ruhi Choudhary.

💐 May 💐

total books: 6/📕
May total pages: 📄 1846 pages

It Could Be Anyone by Jaime Lynn Hendricks ✨ pub date 5/10/22
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 5/03/22
312 pages

Never Coming Home by Hannah Mary McKinnon ✨ pub date 5/24/22
368 pages
⭐⭐⭐ - 5/8/22

The Favor by Nora Murphy ✨ pub date 5/31/22
288 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 5/11/22

Her Frozen Cry by Carolyn Arnold ✨ pub date 6/9/22
309 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 5/15/22

Sleeping Dolls by Helen Phifer ✨ pub date 6/13/22
271 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 5/20/22

The House Sitter by Ellery Kane ✨ pub date 6/14/22
298 pages
⭐⭐⭐ - 5/28/22

It Could Be Anyone by Jaime Lynn Hendricks
standalone
Miami, Florida
NetGalley
suspense/mystery
May #1

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher. The opinions are my own and freely given.

This book starts at the reception of Trevor and Fiona. While on the dance floor, Trevor collapses with an apparent allergic reaction and Fiona screams for someone to bring an EpiPen. I was hooked from the beginning. Told from the point of view of all in the wedding party from 2 days prior to the wedding to the day after. Every one of them have a motive for killing him, but you won't find out who it was until the very end. These are college friends who have all remained close, and the new groom is weaseling his way into the group. Again, I was hooked and really enjoyed this story. I haven't read anything like this before. thank you NetGalley, Penzler Publishers and Scarlet.

Never Coming Home by Hannah Mary McKinnon
standalone
Just outside Boston, MA
NetGalley
mystery
May #2

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher. The opinions are my own and freely given.

This was just okay for me. It seemed like it took too long to setup the characters. I didn't really like any of them, to be honest. The plot was good, where the wife is abducted, and the husband gets anonymous picture and cryptic messages. It just fell a little flat for me because the ending didn't really wrap up.

The Favor by Nora Murphy
standalone
Maryland
NetGalley
mystery
May #3

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher. The opinions are my own and freely given.

⚠️WARNING⚠️

Scenes of domestic violence

A chance encounter leads to a woman taking matters into her own hands.

When Leah sees McKenna at a liquor store one Friday afternoon, she recognizes that she is the woman she used to be. Leah follows her home and watches her interactions with her friends and how her demeanor shifts when her husband comes home. Leah continues to watch her and one night, things get out of hand, and she takes matters into her own hands. Then McKenna sees Leah and without knowing it, does the same thing. These two women have never officially met and have no links to each other.

I really liked this book. It was a different take on how to rid a life of an abusive husband. I would recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books.

Her Frozen Cry by Carolyn Arnold
#5 Amanda Steele
NetGalley
Prince William County, Virginia
mystery/thriller
May #4

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Bookouture. The opinions are my own and freely given.

This starts, with a woman in a cabin who suddenly becomes ill and dies somewhat peacefully. Detective Amanda Steele and her partner Detective Trent Stenson investigates her suspicious death, leaning towards being a murder investigation. Then someone else that they have questioned in the original death, dies in front of them.

I will say that I suspected the murderer from the beginning and although I did have my doubts as the investigation led on, I was still right. (For once). That being said, this was not a predictable story and that did not turn me off of reading it. I think this is another solid installment in this series. Thank you, Carolyn Arnold, and Bookouture.

Sleeping Dolls by Helen Phifer
#6 Morgan Brookes
NetGalley
UK
mystery/thriller
May #5

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Bookouture. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Oh Morgan! She just can't stay out of trouble, no matter how hard she tries. There are 2 dead bodies. 1 has been dead a few days and is already starting decomp when it's discovered. The other is a woman that the police go to check on, only to find her dying.

This story flips from present day to 1989, telling the story of a little boy growing up in a mansion with his grandmother.

I learned about a Victorian tradition of covering mirrors, stopping clocks and flipping over photos of the deceased. Yes, that's real and I researched the meaning behind that, before some of it was explained.

Morgan really didn't go into the scene looking for trouble. She innocently went to find someone when she was attacked. There was a scene where I actually cringed, not what I was expecting to happen.

As always, Morgan Brookes is stellar, and I highly recommend this series. Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Helen Phifer.

The House Sitter by Ellery Kane
standalone
NetGalley
San Francisco, California
mystery
May #6

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Bookouture. The opinions are my own and freely given.

The House Sitter will be released June 14, 2022

Cast of Characters
Iris - 69-year-old widow
Lydia - 24-year-old, former waitress/house sitter
Seth - house sitter
Officer Maureen Shaw - rookie cop

Lydia and Seth move into Iris Duncan's San Francisco Victorian style mansion in order to help her with general maintenance around the house and help to take care of her as her memory is failing. But one night, Iris calls 911 stating someone is in her house and the dispatcher hears gun shots.

So, from the prologue, I was captivated. But then I lost interest and couldn't read more than a chapter at a time. Until the end of course when everything came together. This told from the perspective of "BEFORE" and "AFTER" which is the time of Iris's 911 call.
There were a few things about this book that I had guessed. so, I guess you could say it was predictable, but not in a "I don't want to finish this now" type of way. Since there was no "big reveal" or "AH!!" moment (due to me figuring out parts of it), I am only giving 3 stars. It wasn't a waste of time, or a disappointment, it was alright. Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Ellery Kane.

☀️ JUNE ☀️

June total books: 7/📕
June total pages: 📄 2571

Want You Dead by Steve Frech ✨ pub date 6/15/22
381 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 6/03/22

Big Little Secrets by A.B. Whelan ✨ pub date 4/26/22
351 pages
⭐⭐⭐ - 6/10/22

Missing Angel by Roger Stelljes ✨ pub date 6/29/22
404 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 6/14/22

Listen to Me by Tess Gerritsen ✨ pub date 7/5/22
320 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 6/20/22

The Cabin in the Woods by Sarah Alderson ✨ pub date 7/7/22
394 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 6/23/22

What Lies Beneath by J. G. Hetherton ✨ pub date 7/12/22
320 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 6/25/22

We Lie Here by Rachel Howzell Hall ✨ pub date 7/12/22
401 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 6/29/22

Want You Dead by Steve Frech
#2 Detective Meredith Somerset series
NetGalley
Cobb County, Georgia
mystery - detective
June #1

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley, HQ and HQ Digital. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Cast of Characters
James Hammond: founder of CashFlo
Jessica Hammond: wife of James
Kristi Sanders: third in line at CashFlo
Nick Sanders: husband of Kristi
Harold Mantelli: former business partner of James
Sean Winston: current business partner of James; 2nd in line at CashFlo

A body is discovered, badly beaten at a child's birthday. Most in attendance are co-workers of the mother's at CashFlo. A number of people left the magician's performance leading up to the discovery of the body and detectives Somerset and Foles are looking at these people as suspects, trying to learn the moments leading up to the victims last moments.
Detective Meredith Somerset is still obsessed with her sister's disappearance. She spends every night in her spare bedroom going over all the evidence, interviews and statements that she has collected in hopes of finding out what happened to her sister. In the meantime, Meredith and Tyler and trying to find out what happened to James Hammond. It appears that everyone they talk to has a motive, they were all at the party and weapon was within reach. No one is telling the truth which takes the detectives in circles throughout their investigation. Between questionable actions behind the badge, and the fight with the suspected killer, this was a pretty heart-pounding story.
It was a fast-paced book and easy to read. I can't stop thinking about the ending and of course it is making me wait oh so impatiently for the next book!! Thank you NetGalley, HQ, HQ Digital and Steve Frech.

Big Little Secrets by A.B. Whelan
standalone
NetGalley
Hungary
mystery
June #2

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Burbank Books. The opinions are my own and freely given.

This book alternates point of views of Nelli and Clint. Nelli grew up in Hungary and something happened while she was a teenager that she just can't get over and has never told her husband Clint about. Clint seems too wrapped up in making money and when Nelli tells him she is going to Hungary for a reunion, he lets her go and doesn't really question anything.

Then while Clint is in Mexico, he realizes that it has been days since he has been able to talk with his wife. I almost feel sorry for Clint because he is beating himself up for not knowing his wife's history, but at the same time I am disgusted that he didn't try to get to know her past, family, friends

First of all, I am very torn on this one. Parts of it were fast paced and kept my interest, while other parts just felt slow. There was at times too much description of the surroundings. Clint even wonders why Daniel is telling him all this information.

Once he is Hungary he yells at the police and feels like they are not doing their job investigating her disappearance, but he didn't even know that she was missing. Also, I understand trying to find out what happened to your wife, but it seems like he isn't spending time with his son and Ryan needs him. Clint is leaving him in the care of his grandparents too much. I had a problem with "the gang" of Nelli's friends and how some of them were willing to break the law and put themselves in dangerous situations. The males all banded together, while the females just seemed to disappear.

Once the fast-paced parts came, it was really good and all I wanted to know is what happened to Nelli and why, but some of it just didn't hold me attention. This was a good storyline but seemed like it took just a little too long to get to it.
Thank you NetGalley, Burbank Books and A.B. Whelan.

Missing Angel by Roger Stelljes
#4 Agent Tori Hunter
NetGalley
Shepard County, Minnesota
mystery
June #3

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Bookouture. The opinions are my own and freely given.

This is #4 in the Agent Tori Hunter series. I have not as of yet read the first 3 books in this series (even though I have already bought them) and when this was available on NetGalley, I thought, Why Not? I must say that I was not disappointed at all. Tori Hunter is a former FBI agent who appears to have an illustrious career. She is partnered, both professionally and personally with Will Braddock in the Shepard County Sheriff's Department. I liked everybody in this story, all the detectives, their rapport with one another, their work ethic. This is not something that you have to read in order (even though I prefer it, but you can follow along just fine). This was non-stop action, and I couldn't put it down. I look forward very much to starting from the beginning and reading all future stories. This might very well move into one of my favorite series. Thank you, Roger Stelljes, NetGalley and Bookouture.

Listen to Me by Tess Gerritsen
#13 Rizzoli & Isles
NetGalley
Boston, MA
mystery
June #4

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Ballantine Books. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Listen to Me is #13 in Rizzoli and Isles series. If you have followed this series from the beginning, you will find the same cast of characters, the determination in solving the cases and Angela still trying to get her daughter Jane, to listen to her. There were quite a few stories going on in this book: a murdered nurse, a hit-and-run accident, a mysterious couple who moves into the neighborhood. This was told from the POV of Jane, Angela, Maura and Amy, the hit-and-run victim. This was action packed, but not heart pounding. It flowed very nicely. All of these stories are solved and wrapped up neatly. You aren't left to wonder what happened. I enjoyed this book. I have been awaiting #13 for a while so I was very happy and can't wait to read #14! Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books and Tess Gerritsen.

The Cabin in the Woods by Sarah Alderson
standalone
NetGalley
Upstate New York
mystery/thriller
June #5

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley, Avon Books UK, Avon. The opinions are my own and freely given.

⚠️Themes of drug addiction, child abuse and neglect, postpartum depression, and suicide⚠️

Told from Rose's POV from 2 different timelines, PRESENT and PAST. The Past is Rose's childhood growing up in a trailer park with drug addicted parents and Present when she is hiding in a cabin in the woods. We don't know at first who she is hiding from, but she is very cautious to keep anyone away. There isn't electric and barely a trickle of freezing water in the cabin, but she makes do. She treks across the lake in a kayak to the local grocery store to buy supplies and there she meets Gwen, the shop owner. Her past shows her to be vulnerable until she meets her husband, rich and charming, and then her life changes. I could not put this book down. I was constantly wondering what is going to happen, why is she in hiding, how does she have no one to trust. Thank you NetGalley, Avon Books UK, Avon and Sarah Alderson!!

What Lies Beneath by J. G. Hetherton
#2 Laura Chambers
NetGalley
Hillsborough, North Carolina
mystery/thriller
June #6

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. The opinions are my own and freely given.

This is the 2nd book in the Laura Chambers series. Although I did not read the first book, I wasn't lost trying to pick up the characters. Laura is called by the police to the scene of a traffic accident in which a pedestrian has been hit by a truck and killed. The police thinks that she knows the victim because her number was the last number called on the victim's phone, and they need her help to identify the woman. Laura then goes to meet with the autopsy tech and discovers the woman was shot prior to being struck by the truck. This opens up the investigation. Laura is a journalist for the local paper, not in law enforcement. She may go about things a little differently, but she comes to the same conclusion in the end. The investigation leads to a murder 23-years ago of the parents of her best friend. At times, the story was heart-pounding. The very beginning of the book I was book, but that was maybe the first 2 chapters, after that I didn't want to stop reading. Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and JG Hetherton. I will definitely read more in this series.

We Lie Here by Rachel Howzell Hall
standalone
NetGalley
Palmdale, California
mystery/thriller
June #7

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Cast of Characters:
Yara - screen writer for crime show
Dom - her sister
Barbara - her mother
Rob - her father

Yara goes back to Palmdale to throw a wedding anniversary party for her parents that will end all parties. A woman approaches her and says she is her cousin Felicia, and she has information that will change her life. Yara then receives a text from Felicia that says "HELP". The next morning, Yara learns that Felicia has died. Yara starts investigating Felicia's death herself and things start happening that make her feel threatened, her car is keyed, her tires are slashed. Yara uses this time at home to look into her parents' history and learns some startling things. There are more twists and turns that I didn't see coming. This book isn't what I was expecting it to be. I couldn't put it down and read the last half in one sitting.

🍉 JULY 🍉

July total books: 8/📕
July total pages: 📄 2469

Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier ✨ pub date 7/19/22
352 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 7/5/22

The New Neighbor by Karen Cleveland ✨ pub date 7/26/22
304 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 7/11/22

The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas ✨ pub date 8/2/22
400 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 7/16/22

Stay Awake by Megan Goldin ✨ pub date 8/9/22
352 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 7/19/22

Never Go Home by Christopher Swann ✨ pub date 8/9/22
288 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 7/23/22

Dream State by Martin Ott ✨ pub date 8/9/22
182 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 7/27/22

Local Girl Missing by Lisa Regan ✨ pub date 8/9/22
335 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 7/29/22

The Blame Game by Sandie Jones ✨ pub date 8/16/22
256 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 7/30/22

Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier
standalone
NetGalley/Book of the Month
Seattle, Washington/Toronto, Ontario
mystery/thriller
July #1

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books. The opinions are my own and freely given.

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️
Some content involves child abuse and child sexual abuse

This story is mainly told from the POV of Paris at age 39, who has been accused of murdering her husband. It is also told from the POV of Joey at age 13 and 19 - 20. Joey was responsible for sending her mother, Ruby, to prison for the murder of Ruby's boyfriend when she Joey was 13. There is also Drew, who was 19-year-old Joey's best friend. He is a journalist and is now doing a podcast, Things We Do in the Dark. After 25 years in prison, Ruby is set to be released on parole. Drew in enraged and sets out to tell Joey's story on his podcast.

This book was well written and although you are cruising along reading about Paris, it smoothly transitions into Joey's story. Although I figured out the connection relatively early on, I in no way guessed the ending. I read a little more than half of the book in one sitting. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Jennifer Hillier.

The New Neighbor by Karen Cleveland
standalone
NetGalley
McLean, Virginia
mystery/thriller
July #2

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Ballantine Books. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Beth, a counterintelligence agent at the CIA, has been working on a case for years to find out the identity of The Neighbor. Now she is being sent to teach the new analysts - essentially a demotion. Her youngest son left for college, she is downgrading and selling her home and husband just told her he was moving out. All of these life changes happening at the same time lead people to look at her as though she is having mental issues.

This is a very, very slow beginning but once it picked up speed it was worth it.

Things I didn't like:
* I didn't like how Beth just slipped into memories of when she moved into her house, her friends in the cul-de-sac, her life with Mike. I found it distracting and seemed to interrupt the flow.

* I realize that she is an analyst for the CIA but after working there for so many years, she seems almost like rookie. She lost the people she was following, she got spotted a few times while on a "stakeout", she got caught searching for information.

Things I did like:
I did like the storyline. I wasn't really sure how I would feel about an Iranian spy network infiltrating the US agencies, but I found it very interesting. Although Beth seemed obsessed with the new people that moved into her home, and the case she was taken off of, the storyline of finding out the identity of The Neighbor was really good. It did keep me guessing and I was surprised at the very end.

The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas
standalone
NetGalley
Beggars Nook, a village in Cotswalds UK
mystery/thriller
July #3

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and Harper Paperbacks. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Secrets, identities, long lost relatives and unprofessional practices are all wrapped up in this story.

The very beginning. Saffy is out in her garden while construction is being done to rebuild her kitchen when suddenly the builders come to say that they found what appears to be a skeleton buried in the back yard. This starts Saffy, the police and her mother looking into the history of the cottage, which was owned by Rose, who now has dementia.

Told from Saffy's POV and her mother Lorna in present day and flipping to Rose, (grandmother and mother respectively) writing a letter to her daughter, Lorna in 1980 when a new tenant, Daphne, comes to live with them.

There are a lot of characters/names thrown into this book. Mainly by Rose, and Saffy takes it as ramblings from the dementia, but are they real people that Rose once knew?

There is also Theo. Theo is a chef and the son of a doctor. The doctor is in his 70's and doesn't seem to have a tender bone in his body. Very stern and cranky. But what part does Theo play in all this? He's closer to Saffy's age and has never been to Beggars Nook.

This is a very intricately woven story of 2 woman spanning decades that intertwine with their 2nd and 3rd generations. Not so much a thriller, but I would highly recommend.

Stay Awake by Megan Goldin
standalone
NetGalley
New York
mystery/thriller
July #4

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. The opinions are my own and freely given.

This book opens with Liv waking up in a taxi and the last thing she remembers is answering her phone at work. She goes to her apartment only to find she doesn't know the people that are living there, and it appears it is no longer her apartment. She discovers that since her last memory it is now 2 years later, and she has no idea what happened. She has messages written on her hand to STAY AWAKE and TRUST NO ONE. Liv has been diagnosed with Repetitive Memory Blackout of Repetitive Fugue Amnesia.
This book is broken up into chapters of Liv present day, Live 2 years ago and Detectives Darcy Halliday and Jack Lavelle in the present day. The present-day story is told in a 1-day timeline and is well marked with the time stamp. I was not confused with the way the story jumped timelines, especially with Liv forgetting everything the second she woke up.
I was hooked from the beginning, and I couldn't wait to find out what her trauma was that made her forget everything else. Oh, and did I mention, there was a murder, and the detectives are trying to find Liv through it all. I didn't want to put this down. I loved Liv, I loved the detectives, (not Krause - him I wanted to hit over the head). This is fast paced, and I would highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Megan Collins.

Never Go Home by Christopher Swann
#2 Faulkner Family
NetGalley
Atlanta, Georgia
mystery/thriller
July #5

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. The opinions are my own and freely given.

I don't read series out of order, typically and I didn't know when I requested this book that it was part of a series. That being said, it took me a couple of chapters to figure out who some of the characters were. The beginning was not a fast read and it seemed kind of slow. I don't know if that was more the story, or me trying to really figure out who and what the characters were. After finishing the book, I still know if I am completely sure every one's "part" in the story; however, I was really invested in this and couldn't wait to finish it.
With a cryptic message from her uncle, who is in the midst of a heart attack, to getting involved in the middle of a gang war, to locating money that was stolen from Iraq, this was pretty chock full of action. Yes, there were a couple stories going on but it adding to the suspense / deadline.
I really did enjoy this book, want to read the first one to really understand Suzie, her brother, her uncle and EVERYONE else involved in her life. This story, although doesn't end on a cliffhanger per se, does keep the storyline open for the 3rd book, which I really want to read.
Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Christopher Swann.

Dream State by Martin Ott
standalone
author
Belize
apocalyptic sci-fi
July #6
Pub Date 8/9/22

I received this ARC from the author, Martin Ott. The opinions expressed are my own and freely given.

Cast of characters:

Heidi - a failed zoologist, living on a Navy SEALS training base with her boyfriend
Russell - owner of Copeland Resort
Marley - 17-year-old grandson of the local bar, Cava

This is set on an island of the coast of Belize. While a wedding party checks in and everyone congregates to Cava, an asteroid hits the moon, tilting it off course. This results in sleeping patterns being thrown off and the world seems to be in chaos. So begins the journey of 3 people and their fight for survival.

Each chapter is told from the 3 main characters perspective and as the week goes further along, lines are drawn and each of these three find themselves not united but against each other. The Naval base, the resort dwellers and the natives all try to lay claim to the island and each group wants to be in charge.

What I didn't like about this book was the women. I couldn't identify with any of them, and I definitely didn't like most of them. Heidi has too much of a past with sexual abuse and that seems to come to her mind way too much; that being said, she was a strong character that tried to get all the groups to work together.

Also, the men in the book seem to be power hungry and drunk.

All the negatives being said, I did like this book. It was action packed with accidental deaths, murders, and fights. This was very descriptive and played well in my mind while reading it. I was really not sure what to expect from this book as the genre was very different for me, but I enjoyed it. I couldn't wait to get to the end only to see how the world could get back to right, since the moon was broken.

Local Girl Missing: A totally unputdownable crime thriller by Lisa Regan
Josie Quinn #15
NetGalley
Denton, Pennsylvania
mystery/thriller
July #7

Pub Date 8/11/22

In the fog on their way home from their honeymoon a figure runs in front of the car. When Josie and Noah go to look, they discover another girl on the ground and a man runs away. Josie runs after the man only for him to jump off a cliff. And so begins another installment of Detective Josie Quinn. Murder victims piling up, people missing, no one giving straight answers. This sums up how the investigation goes. Mett and Amber were on a mini vacation in the beginning so play a very tiny part of the investigation. This mainly involves Josie, Noah and Gretchen. There are also some chapters in the book, from a girl talking about the different things she learned as a child. Trinity and Drake make a brief appearance (can't have a Josie Quinn book without Trinity at least). Still love all the main characters in this series. Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Lisa Regan.

The Blame Game by Sandie Jones
standalone
NetGalley
Whitstable, UK
mystery/thriller
July #8

Pub Date 8/16/22

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Main Characters:

Naomi - a psychotherapist
Leon - her husband
Jacob - her patient
Anna - her patient

Naomi has a garden office as a psychotherapist. She specializes in domestic violence stemming from her childhood. Her husband thinks that she works too hard with the patients she sees, but she just wants to be able to help them to feel safe. One night, one of her patients, that she hasn't told many details to her husband about, goes missing. The police start to question her relationship with the patient, and everything spirals from there.

I enjoyed the storyline of this book, and it was really a quick read; however, I ended it with a few unanswered questions. A scene in the book alludes to Leon and a patient knowing each other, but it is never brought up again. Also, when Naomi's past threatens to be part of the present, that isn't really explained further. That piece seemed like a very big part of the storyline, and I felt like I needed a little closure.

Every scene was written well and descriptive. I felt like I was there with the characters. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Sandie Jones.

🌡️ AUGUST 🌡️

August total books: 5/📕
August total pages: 1566 📄

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager 📗 22 in 22
349 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 8/5/22

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley 📗 22 in 22
356 pages
⭐⭐⭐ - 8/25/22

Always the First to Die by R.J. Jacobs ✨ pub date 9/14/22
304 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8/13/22

Last Seen Alive by Carolyn Arnold ✨ pub date 10/06/22
285 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8/18/22

Silent Angel by Helen Phifer ✨ pub date 09/28/22
272 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 8/24/22

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
standalone
hardback
Lake Greene, Vermont
mystery/thriller
August #1

Cast of Characters

Casey - stage actress, widow and daughter of Lolly - famous stage actress
Katherine - neighbor, ex-model and wife of Tom
Tom - neighbor, Katherine's husband
Wilma - police woman
Boone - staying at house next door
Eli - 70-year-old neighbor, permanent resident

I really liked how we were able to Casey's full story upfront in "7 steps".
From her low to her high to her low low. We learn it all upfront and there is none of the going back in thought to interupt the flow.

I like how we suspect we know what happened and who did it but the book takes us through the why.

This alternates between Before and Now. The Now primarily is 1 day and the bore events lead up to and include the disappearance of Katherine.

Film and stage star Casey Fletcher goes on a drinking binge after her husband is found dead in Lake Greene a year ago. To avoid the tabloids, her mother, Lolly - a stage star in her own right - sends Casey to the family cabin on the shore of Lake Greene, the scene of her husband's death.

There she befriends Katherine. Katherine's house is built out of glass so she spys on her while drinking on the porch. And when Katherine goes missing, she obsesses and is adamant that she has been murdered.

There are disappearances and murders of young girls that are brought to light that have happened within the last couple of years. This is all leads to the where Katherine has gone.

I like this book, not my favorite Riley Sager book. There is some supernatural aspects to this story.

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
standalone
hardback
Paris, France
mystery/thriller
August #5

Cast of Characters

1st floor - Antoine
2nd floor - Nick
3rd floor - Ben & Jess
4th floor - Mimi
Penthouse - Sophie
The Loge - Concierge

Jess goes to her brother Ben's apartment and while he is waiting for her, someone enters his apartment. Once Jess gets there, she can't get in touch with Ben and no one will let her in. She is met with hostility from one of the residents.

I know that I am probably one of the few people who did not like this book, but here it is. I didn't care for this book much at all. I was so bored with it. It didn't hold my interest, and I read 3 other books while this was was started. I tired to pick it up in between but it just didn't captivate me.

I liked the way this was told from the prespective of each of the residents. Each chapter is broken up and clearly defined so you know where they are located in the building and who they are.

I did not like how the flow seems to be interupted however. For example, you are reading about 1 resident presently, it goes back to a couple months ago and then even further back maybe years, then jumps back to present day, all in the space of a chapter. I was a little confusing because there didn't seem to be any timeline or frame of reference given.

I wish there was a BEFORE heading so that I could really tell where we were in the story.

I didn't like any of the characters in this book and they all seemed obsessed with sex. They are all hiding too much from their past and it takes way too long for that to be brought to light.

I was very bored with this book, and it wasn't until page 238 that a body was mentioned. Very page 238 until the end it was better, and I was able to read it more quickly, but I still didn't love it.

One of the characters was a bit obsessed with another character. So much so that she broke into the apartment, was going through his things, smelling his clothes (both clean and dirty) laying in his bed just to be close.

Overall, I bought this book because I really enjoyed this author's previous 2 stories, but I was disappointed in this one.

Always the First to Die by R.J. Jacobs
standalone
NetGalley
Florida Keys
mystery/thriller
August #2

Pub Date 9/14/22

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Sourcebooks. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Rick wants to make a sequel to his hit movie, Breathless. Quinn lies to her mother and goes to the Keys to be with him while he is filming. While she is there, a category 4 hurricane hits, and Lexi has to go to pick up her daughter and make sure that she is ok.

When Lexi arrives, she finds Marla. Marla was the star of the original Breathless, the final girl. Marla tells Lexi that Rick tried to kill her. Murder and mayhem ensue, and Lexi and Quinn become stuck at Pinecrest, the backdrop of the movie.

will say that I was confused in a few parts about the location. Pinecrest is several acres and there is a cottage and an old hotel on the grounds. At one point I thought the story was in the hotel, but it was suddenly in the cottage. There is also a scene where Lexi is running through the grounds at night in the dark. It talks about her running into her car, then it talks about leaving the truck running. Her car is a Volvo and Rick is the one with a truck, so I was unclear if she actually got into a vehicle and what vehicle it was. This book reads like a slasher type of movie, and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks.

Last Seen Alive by Carolyn Arnold
#6 Amanda Steele
NetGalley
Prince William County
mystery/thriller
August #3

Pub Date 10/6/22

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Bookouture. The opinions are my own and freely given.

A chance encounter with Logan Hunter has Amanda Steele going home with him; however, the discovery of a dead woman ruins the night. Amanda fights the sergeant to work the case and discovers the dead woman has a past well hidden.

As Amanda and her partner Trent Stenson piece together the investigation, they link it to a murder/robbery from over 10 years ago. Amanda is threatened by someone, can she figure out who it is before it's too late?

I enjoyed this story. The dynamic between Trent and Amanda holds steady and the investigation takes them through so many questions before finally getting answers.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Carolyn Arnold.

Silent Angel by Helen Phifer
#7 Morgan Brookes
NetGalley
UK
mystery/thriller
August #4

PUB DATE 09/28/22

Same old Morgan different cases

Morgan and Ben are called to the church graveyard where a body was discovered in a ditch. While the team searches for the murderer, another girl goes missing. One of their own is missing and the search is on, before time runs out.

A few new characters make an appearance, and I liked what they added to the team. I don't know if they will be back, but some guest appearances would be nice.

Yes, Morgan again gets stuck with the killer even though she tries her best and everyone around her is warning her and watching for her. She just can't help it; she is a danger magnet.

If you haven't read Morgan Brookes, I highly recommend this series. You could start this series here at book #7, but I feel it would ruin a lot. You wouldn't be lost if you did though.

I didn't mention Declan yet, but he is one of the kindest souls to deal with the dead I have ever read. He has the most caring bedside manner.

Love Morgan Brookes, and you will too!

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Helen Phifer.

🏫 SEPTEMBER 🏫

September total books: 7/📕
September total pages: 2274 pages 📄

Blind faith by Alicia Beckman ✨ pub date 10/11/22
336 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 9/2/22

Her Frozen Heart by Stacy Green ✨ pub date 10/13/22
253 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 9/6/22

The Winter Killer by Alex Pine ✨ pub date 10/13/22
379 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 9/10/22

A Fearsome Moonlight Black by David Putnam ✨ pub date 10/18/22
322 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 9/14/22

Hidden Pieces by Mary Keliikoa ✨pub date 10/25/22
290 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 9/19/22

Compass by Murray Lee ✨pub date 09/27/22
328 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 9/21/22

The Good Wife by Ellery Kane ✨pub date 10/25/22
366 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 9/29/22

Blind Faith by Alicia Beckman
standalone
NetGalley
Billings, Montana & Portland. Oregon
mystery/thriller
September #1

PUB DATE 10/11/22

Cast of Characters/Timeframe
2016 - Carrie and Ginger - sisters; Lindsay - attorney; Donovan - detective
1982 - Carrie and Ginger - sisters; Lindsay - school mate of Carrie; Father Leary - priest/religion teacher at high school

This book is set in 2 different cities/states; Portland, Oregon where Carrie is currently living and Billings, Montana where the main story takes place. This is told from different timelines 2016 and 1981 working up to 1995.

2016 - Lindsay comes in contact with the wallet of her priest, from her senior year of high school, who went missing 20 years ago. Carrie, the new girl, went to the same school as Lindsay, very briefly, and her and her sister, Ginger were close to the priest until they suddenly left the small town in 1981.

In the very beginning of this book, there was a lot going on that didn't seem to fit, but the storyline comes together. What starts out for Carrie as learning her family history, becomes the investigation of a 20-year-old cold case, of the murder of Father Leary.

This was a very good mystery putting all the pieces together to form the perfect puzzle. Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Alicia Beckman.

Her Frozen Heart by Stacy Green
#6 Nikki Hunt
NetGalley
Washington County, Minnesota
mystery/thriller
September #2

PUB DATE 10/13/22

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Bookouture. The opinions are my own and freely given.

This is #6 in the Nikki Hunt Series

17-year old Kesha goes missing from the Mall of America on Black Friday. Her body is discovered floating beneath the ice of a frozen lake on Christmas Eve. Nikki is called in and when she sees the body, Kesha's hands and feet have been cut off. While searching the area, cadaver dogs pick up on a mass grave. The pathologist and an anthropologist are called in to recover the bodies and from there Nikki and team have to learn if this grave is connected to Kesha. When another person is reported missing with no connection to Kesha, everyone is left to wonder if it is the work of the same killer. The victimology is all over the place: gender, race age. It makes it hard for the FBI to piece together.

I suspected who the killer was right before he was revealed. The only thing I found a bit disappointing was that the "why" these victims were chosen was not answered, and I would have like just a little more closure. But overall, I liked this book. It was a another great installment in the series. Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Stacy Green.

The Winter Killer by Alex Pine
#3 DI James Walker
NetGalley
Windermere, UK
mystery/thriller
September #3

Pub Date 10/13/22

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Avon Book UK. The opinions are my own and freely given.

The Winter Killer is the 3rd in the DI James Walker series. At a New Years Eve wedding the sister of the bride has gone missing and all available police are called to search the grounds of the hotel, the scene of the wedding. When her body is discovered it is up to the team to find out how, why and who killed her.

The wedding takes place at The Fells Hotel on the banks of Lake Windermere. The weather is getting bad earlier than expected so all evidence (what little there is to find) must be collected before the snow starts to fall. Although this was a minor part of the story and the backdrop, it set a beautiful scene in my mind while reading.

I have read the previous 2 books in this series and they seem to get better. This was a relatively quick read, there aren't any "bedroom" scenes and the curse words are at a minimum. The killer surprised me as did the reasoning. This was a great "whodunit" mystery. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Alex Pine.

A Fearsome Moonlight Black by David Putnam
#1 Dave Beckett
NetGalley
West Valley/San Bernadino County, California
mystery/thriller
September #4

Pub Date 10/18/22

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Level Best Books. The opinions are my own and freely given.

The book is told in two parts. Book One is set in 1979 and follows a rookie cop, Dave Beckett. He is in his probationary period and has been released to patrol alone. He experiences his first dead body and has to navigate his way through the "hazing" from the other cops. Book Two is in 1988. Dave moves to San Bernadino County Sheriff's department where he is a homicide detective. Book One is like watching a marathon of old school Cops. Dave chases down suspects, and charges suspects like a bull and puts himself in danger. Book One sets up the whole story. There are murders and suicides, and it shows what kind of a cop Dave really is. In Book Two, the stories from the beginning come together. I was waiting for the action to ramp up and when it did, I kept thinking "no, no, no, no!" Not because of what was happening but who it was happening with/too. Book One is not boring but kind of slow if you are really expecting something big to happen; however, now I understand why it was written that way. If you go into this knowing that, you will really enjoy this book. I would definitely recommend if you like watching the original Cops and like reading books about the detectives who don't necessarily follow rules but get the bad guys off the streets.

Hidden Pieces by Mary Keliikoa
#1 Jax Turner
NetGalley
Misty Pines, Oregon
mystery/thriller
September #5

Pub Date 10/25/22

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Level Best Books. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Sheriff Jax Turner is in a bad state after the death of his daughter. He has essentially checked out of his career, the town, and his life, but when he receives a call that a local teenage girl is missing, he pulls himself together to search for her. Along with 3 deputies in training, his #1 back at the station and the FBI he rushes to save Allison before it is too late.

While searching for her, things are reminesent of a case he worked years ago with his old partner, which was never solved. His ex-wife is with the FBI, and he enlists her help to run some tests that weren't available years ago.

This book kept me guessing until the end. The perp is alluded to several times, and every time I thought I had figured it out, it changed again. I now have a new series and author on my list to watch out.

Thank you to NetGalley, Level Best Books, and Mary Keliikoa.

Compass by Murray Lee
standalone
ARC - publisher
Nunavut/Arctic
fiction
September #6

Pub Date 09/27/22

An ARC of this book was provided to me by Publerati. The opinions are my own and freely given.

I have a minor infatuation, or you could say obsession with Canada, although I am cold all the time, so I don't think I would last very long. However, when I got this book, I was intrigued. I have a fear of water, but the fear of being trapped under the ice is right up there. "Guy" ventures to The Floe, known as The Edge, in the Arctic with nothing but ice and water around, the sun never setting and nothing but seals for company.

He has been left all alone with limited supplies and limited wilderness skills (when it comes to the Arctic.) With no track of time, not being able to tell day from night, he makes the most of the situation he has, hoping that a rescue crew is on the way. There is a point when frustration gets to him. He is worried about snow blindness, and various injuries have occurred. He has conversations with many animals.

Trigger warning, there is a part in which he tries to work up the courage to commit suicide. When the desperation gets to be too much for him. There is also a graphic scene with a polar bear, in which Guy has to defend himself.

The village in Nunavut is very descriptive. I appreciated reading about the culture and beliefs of the native people. This was not a very fast-paced book, but it held my attention. Unfortunately, I felt like the end fell just a little flat. Without giving away too much, the epilogue speaks to his mental health, so I feel like that should have been addressed more. It ws only the last chapter that I found lacking.

Thank you to Murray Lee and Publerati.

The Good Wife by Ellery Kane
standalone
NetGalley
Noe Valley, California
mystery/thriller
September #7

Pub Date 10/25/22

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Bookouture. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Cast of characters:

Cassie - Corp lawyer/partner; Theo's wife
Theo - stay-at-home dad; former band front man of the "Sluggers"; Cassie's husband - the accused
Elise - nanny of neighbor family; high school best friend of Cassie; murder victim

This is told from 2 different POVs. Cassie - After and Theo leading up to the murder/arrest.

The body of Elise, the nanny in the neighborhood, is discovered in a dumpster and all evidence points to Theo being the murderer. Theo is arrested and begs his wife Cassie to represent him. The only problem is, Cassie is a corporate lawyer and not a criminal lawyer.

This story tests loyalty and trust in a marriage. From having suspicions of unfaithfulness to suspicions of a murderer. Lies? Probably. But are they enough to send Theo to prison?

I spent the whole time wondering, Did He, or Didn't He? Reading Theo's side of the story made me think, "He is innocent" and then seeing the evidence (circumstantial at best) stacked against him, made me think he so guilty.

I couldn't wait to find out what really happened to Elise. I didn't figure it out until right before it was revealed. (Literally the page before.) I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend this if you like a book that makes you wonder through the whole thing.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Ellery Kane.

👻 OCTOBER 👻

October total books: 6/📕
October total pages: 1930 pages 📄

Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz ✨ pub date 11/1/22
350 pages
⭐⭐⭐ - 10/06/22

The Thicket by Noelle W Ihli
301 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 10/08/22

The Prisoner by BA Paris ✨ pub date 11/1/22
304 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 10/12/22

Marked for Life by Isaac Wright Jr ✨ pub date 11/8/22
299 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 10/19/22

Empire of Ice and Stone by Buddy Levy ✨ pub date 12/6/22
400 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 10/29/22

The House on the Lake by Holly Hill Mangin
276 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 10/22/22

Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz
standalone
NetGalley
New York
mystery/thriller
October #1

Pub Date 11/01/22

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books. The opinions expressed are my own and freely given.

Warning ~
suicide, rape, adultery and grooming

Ruby discovers the body of Alice floating on the bank of the river. Ruby stays with Alice until the authorities arrive, and then she can't get Alice out of her mind. Alice also stays with Ruby. She feels like they are connected, and she wants Ruby to discover her name and figure out what happened to her.

This book is narrated by Alice. She tells her story from before she came to New York up until she was murdered. Alice also tells Ruby's story, why she came to New York and what she is trying to find in herself. Alice is an orphan from Wisconsin. She had a relationship with a former art teacher, who thought she was 18 at the time. Ruby is from Australia and was having an affair with a co-worker soon to be married.

This was very slow and didn't pick up until about three-quarters of the way through. I couldn't connect with either of the women. Until Alice came to New York and met Noah, her landlord, she finally started to be likable. Then I felt bad that she was murdered. Ruby came to New York and was obsessed with the man she left behind. Until she met Lennie, Sue and Josh, I really didn't care for her at all.

I liked how Alice would talk about what she could and couldn't do being dead. She basically watched Ruby and would try to push her thoughts and actions, but she wasn't quite able to.

I liked how Alice talked about being dead, (not in a creepy way) but the deeper thoughts associated with the dead.

I didn't like Ruby's thoughts. They seemed so random and not part of the story that it was distracting, and I wanted to put the book down several times.

Overall, how Ruby changes in the end and the way the case is solved was enough for me to be glad I finished this book, but this wasn't really for me.

The Thicket by Noelle W Ihli
standalone
paperback
Declo, Idaho
thriller
October #2

The Thicket is a "haunted house" attraction set in Declo, Idaho. It is hundreds of acres with multiple cabins, and each cabin is "haunted". It is ranked as one of the Top Ten Haunted Houses in the US. So of course, all the local kids flock to The Thicket every year. One particular night, Brandon, a middle school boy talks his older sister, Norah, into taking him there telling her he is meeting some friends. Norah leaves Brandon half-way through the cabins to wait for him in the main area, but Brandon doesn't return. His body and one of the "scarers' bodies are discovered in cabin 12.

Petitions from local parents are signed to shut down the Thicket, but it soon reopens. Norah is drawn back to the place her brother was murdered. One the same night, a group of her former friends decide to go, and the murderer is back. Norah inadvertently finds herself with the group and becomes the strong one. Leading everyone and trying to save them, since she feels like she failed her brother.

This is fast, easy read, right in time for Halloween.

The Prisoner by B.A. Paris
standalone
NetGalley
London
thriller/suspense
October #3

Pub Date 11/01/22

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Cast of Characters:

Amelie - Ned's wife
Ned - Amelie's husband; wealthy man, head of magazine
Carolyn - friend of Amelie
Lina - friend of Carolyn and Amelie; employee of Ned
Justine - friend of Lina and Amelie; employee of Ned

Amelie and Ned marry in Las Vegas under the guise of stopping Ned's father from pestering him to marry. However, their marriage is an arrangement, and no one knows. But Amelie discovers that Ned has an ulterior motive for the marriage. A couple weeks later, Ned and Amelie are abducted and held for ransom.

The morning after the wedding, Carolyn tells Amelie that Justine was attacked, and now no one can get a hold of her. Amelie starts to piece what little information she can find out together and is scared for her life. Then comes the abduction.

I liked the storyline of this book. Wondering, like Amelie, who is behind the abduction. I felt it was just a little anti-climactic when Amelie confronts her kidnapper, and I wished there was a little more of an epilogue at the end. It left me wondering if something happens a few months down the road, or not. But this was not enough for me to dislike this book. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and B.A. Paris.

Marked for Life: One Man's Fight for Justice from the Inside by Isaac Wright Jr
standalone
NetGalley
publisher - St. Martin's Press
Somerset County, New Jersey
non-fiction
October #4

Pub Date 11/08/22

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. The opinions are my own and freely given.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book from the publisher as well as from NetGalley. I was excited to read this book because I was a fan of the show For Life which is based on Isaac's story. This book, written by Isaac, chronicles his life from the arrest to the conviction to him fighting the courts and prosecution for his freedom. It tells the story of one man who is falsely imprisoned and how he fights to get freed. It goes through why he decided to defend himself and how that defense leads him to fight for others in the prison system. He fought to change the way things are done within the prison and he fought to change laws. As much as he tried to keep to himself, he just found himself in with the wrong people that lead him down this path. I learned a lot about the justice system and a lot about the prison system. I would highly recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Isaac Wright Jr.

Empire of Ice and Stone by Buddy Levy
standalone
NetGalley
North Pole
history
October #6

Pub Date 12/06/22

This is the story of the Karluk and the Canadian Arctic Expedition. In 1913, the Karluk sets out to sail to the Arctic and discover what lands and people are there. However, the ship was not up to the task. It becomes set in ice and the leader, Vilhjalmur Stefansson, leaves the ship to "search for Caribou". This leaves Captain Bartlett to look after the remaining 24 crew members, scientists and Inuit members, plus a stowaway kitten and all the sled dogs.

The book starts off with a lot of background on both Vilhjalmur Stefansson and Captain Bartlett, but it becomes clear who the real hero is. While being stuck in the ice, the ship drifting and eventually sinking, you see the friendships and bonds of the shipmates really start to grow. Then the move to the ice and everyone learning to shelter and live through winter. Captain Bartlett takes one of the Inuit hunters and decides to trek to Siberia in order to get to Alaska and ask for help, leaving the remaining members there.

There is a list in the beginning of the book or who every is and I found this very helpful. As the book was very long and not a quick read, I found myself forgetting who some of the people where and what their function was. At the end of the book, it does give details about who survived and what they went on to do before their deaths. I didn't know anything about the expeditions in the Arctic and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The House on the Lake by Holly Hill Mangin
standalone
paperback
mystery/thriller
October #5

Cast of Characters

Eve
Lyn - Eve's twin sister
Gail & Hammond - caretakers of the Lakeview
Phoenix "Nick" and Ari - brothers and managers of the Lakeview

The story opens with Eve waking up somewhere that is not her room. She is disoriented and frightened until she remembers the words, "Relax, Reflect, Release" and realizes she is on a retreat. She has no idea where she is or how so got there. Then her twin sister Lyn shows up she also claims to not know how or why she is there.

She meets the two brothers, Nick and Ari who both seem to dislike each other. She is warned by one that the other is dangerous. She is drawn to them both but feels more deeply drawn to one. She keeps seeing a woman who she discovers is a ghost. No one else seems to see her or know about her existence.

The rooms in the house keep changing locations. Sometimes she can't find her way back to her room even though she knows the location. She is deathly afraid of water, and the house is on an island. Nick tries to take her to the mainland, but she just can't walk out on the dock to go with him, and she has no idea how she is going to leave to go home.

Lyn did bother me. Or at least the idea of her, because she wasn't in the story too much. She seemed too not be around and then suddenly was there. Eve couldn't find her when she wanted to tell her or show her something.

I didn't really know where this story was even going. Then it came to me, but it still didn't go in the direction I thought it would. Overall, I was pleased with this book. Not being able to figure out what was going on was just enough to keep me wanting to read it to figure it out.

🦃 NOVEMBER 🦃
November total books: 4/📕
November total pages: 1418 pages 📄

The Widowmaker by Hannah Morrissey ✨ pub date 12/6/22
304 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 11/2/22

The Tudors in Love by Sarah Gristwood ✨ pub date 12/13/22
400 pages
⭐⭐⭐

A Mother Would Know by Amber Garza ✨ pub date 12/13/22
320 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 11/23/22

The Innocent Wife by Lisa Regan ✨ pub date 12/12/22
394 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 11/30/22

The Widowmaker by Hannah Morrissey
standalone
NetGalley
Black Harbor
mystery/thriller
November #1

Pub Date 12/06/22

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books. The opinions are my own and freely given.

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️
Child abuse

Morgan Mori has been hired to photograph a holiday party for the Reynolds family, the wealthiest family in Black Harbor. The head of the family, Clive, disappeared 20 years ago and his wife has been under suspicion ever since. Later that night, Morgan witnesses the murder of a police officer. Hudson, the victim's best friend and fellow officer is out to solve his murder and befriends Morgan. Hudson is given the cold case of Clive Reynolds. Along the way, Morgan, Hudson and Kole, his sergeant, discover that these two are related.

This is told with alternating chapters of Morgan and Hudson. Morgan has a secret, that we do eventually find out about. I was able to figure out why Morgan was drawn to the Reynolds, but I had the "who" all wrong. I didn't want to put this book down and I do recommend. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Heather Morrissey.

The Tudors in Love by Sarah Gristwood
standalone
NetGalley
England
history
November #2

Pub Date 12/13/22

I love anything Tudor, so I was very excited to read this. The first part of this book is about King Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot. I understand the author is showing the history of the love in court. But the Tudors are not really mentioned in the first part at all. Finally, we move on to the Yorks and the Lancasters, that sets the stage for the Tudors. However, there is still a lot of comparison of Elizabeth Woodville to Guinivere. There is a lot of literary history that I found myself skimming through. I am familiar with the Tudors, but I did have a hard time following along. Then going back to what Guinivere might have thought or done in this instance in comparison to what Anne Boleyn did or said. I really didn't like this. This was really well researched, but I just didn't like the comparisons in every chapter.
Overall, this book wasn't for me. Too long, too confusing as it jumps between the royal family with the same names, and I had a hard time figuring out who it was and too much comparison to a real historical people and characters that are fictional (although may be based on real people).

Thank you NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press.

A Mother Would Know by Amber Garza
standalone
NetGalley
California
mystery/thriller
November #3

Pub Date 12/13/22

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️
~Early Onset Alzheimer's~
*Main character may have
*Flashbacks of her mother with the disease
~Adultery

A son moves back home to help watch over his mother. The neighbor across the street has blamed him for killing her daughter for years. When she and another woman in the neighborhood end up murdered, Valerie searches for proof her son is innocent.
I kept trying to guess who the killer was and then there was that moment like Ah-Ha! I still second guessed the culprit, and I still wasn't right. This book took me in a few different directions, but it kept me on my toes.

I didn't feel any connection with Kendra and Hudson seemed to be the prodigal son. Valerie seemed lost in her memories alot but that could have been her regrets surfacing.

Overall, I enjoyed this book although it seemed to start off a little slow. Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and MIRA.

The Innocent Wife by Lisa Regan
#16 Josie Quinn
NetGalley
Denton, Pennsylvania
mystery/thriller
November #4

Pub Date 12/12/22

Josie and her team once again are called to the scene of a murder of a local TV star. They begin to question everyone in her inner circle and they know that someone is lying. Then another member of that circle is murdered and the hunt is on before there is yet another victim.

This story has a lot of characters (not too many that you get lost) that are all woven together. I had no idea who killer was and I was shocked at how many lies were built up to bring this whole thing to the end.

Although Josie's family (sister, brother, parents) don't make an appearance, 2 characters from her recent past are brought back. There seems to be a little more depth to the relationship between Noah and Josie, that of course make you want to fall in love with them again.

If you haven't read Josie Quinn yet, I highly recommend this series.

🎄 DECEMBER 🎄
December total books: 4/📕
December total pages: 📄 1215

Their Burning Graves by Helen Phifer ✨ pub date 12/19/22
265 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 12/5/22

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins ✨ pub date 1/3/23
288 pages
⭐⭐⭐ - 12/9/22

The Blackhouse by Carole Johnstone ✨ pub date 1/3/23
336 pages
⭐⭐⭐ - 12/23/22

The Invite by A J McDine ✨ pub date 12/17/23
326 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 12/27/22

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham ✨ pub Date 1/10/23
336 pages
🔖CURRENTLY READING🔖

The Girls Who Disappeared by Claire Douglas ✨ pub Date 1/10/23
384 pages

The Devil You Know by PJ Tracy ✨ pub Date 1/17/23
304 pages

Their Burning Graves by Helen Phifer
#8 Morgan Brookes
NetGalley
Rydal Falls
mystery/thriller
December #1

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Bookouture. The opinions are my own and freely given.

This is #8 in the Morgan Brookes series.
This story starts in 1991 at a nightclub. The musics pumping, the drinks are flowing and the bodies are dancing. Then one of partiers leaves and a traffic accident ensues.

Fast forward to present day. A family is murdered, a neighbor is questioned and the street busy body makes a friend with Morgan.

As I went through this book, I forgot all about 1991, until about the same time that Morgan started to connect the dots. The team gains a new member who sees to calm Amy down a bit.

This is another excellent story in this series. I highly recommend reading them all.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
standalone
kindle
NetGalley
Italy
mystery/thriller
December #2

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. The opinions are my own and freely given.

This book is told in two timelines - 1974 & present day. There is a smattering of song lyrics, podcast transcripts and newspaper articles throughout, that help to tell the story.

1974 -
Mari Godwick
Lara Larchmont
Pierce Sheldon
Noel Gordon
Jonnie Dorchester

Present Day -
Chess Chandler
Emily McCrae

Childhood best friends Chess and Emily travel to Italy to stay at a villa for 6 weeks. Chess is a self-help guru and Emily is a cozy mystery writer. They both go there to write their next books and reconnect with each other. Throughout their stay, Emily becomes obsessed with learning about Mari, reading Mari's best-selling book and finding out what she can about the murder. She then decides to write a book about these people from 1974, the murder and about her own life.

Mari, Lara and Pierce travel to the same villa in 1974 to meet with Noel Gordon who is a world-famous rock and roll artist. Mari to write a book and Pierce and Noel to write songs. Noel's friend Johnnie is there. This part of the story leads up the murder that took place.

Overall, I like this book ok. I found it a little hard to follow when the revelation of how the murder took place comes about. I wasn't sure that I trusted Chess throughout the whole book. She also makes a revelation to Emily. Emily doesn't feel 100% invested in their friendship and I can see how Emily wants to distance herself from Chess, but finds it hard to do since they have been friends for so many years.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Rachel Hawkins.

The Blackhouse by Carole Johnstone
standalone
kindle
NetGalley
Scotland
mystery/thriller
December #3

⚠️ Bipolar and Alzheimer's ⚠️

Maggie goes back to the Isle of Kilmeray, where at the age of 5 she causes a big scene with some wild accusations. Now she is investigating her claims by telling the locals she is writing a story. Many of the locals who were there the first time she was there are not happy with her reopening old wounds.

I had a very hard time following the characters. I couldn't remember who some of them were husband, wife, daughter. These chapters are very long. The story is from Maggie's POV but there are chapters that are from Robert's POV years ago. These chapters, although I know they were setting up the story, didn't hold my attention. I didn't have a problem with Maggie, she had a few unresolved issues. But as much as I tried to like Charlie, I had a hard time because it always seemed like he was lying or hiding something. I really didn't care for any of the islanders. For what this book was, I think it was a good story, but a little too long. You really don't find out anything until about 75% of the way through it. It isn't a "happy" ending so much as a resolution of Maggie's feelings towards herself. I didn't feel the epilogue really finished or wrapped up the story. Thank you NetGalley, Scribner and Carole Johnstone.

The Invite by A J McDine
standalone
kindle
author
December #4

Pub Date 12/17/22

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by the author. The opinions are my own and freely given.

⚠️WARNING⚠️
Infertility
Stillborn and newborn deaths
Autism
Cancer

None of these are the main part of story but are mentioned throughout.

Cast of Characters:
Elle - prankster
Tara - healthcare assistant
Claire - Head of Communications for Hospital Trust
Megan - Barrister

Elle, Tara, Claire, Lizzie and Megan were best friends in high school. It's been 20 years and an invitation turns up for a weekend away to reunite. One girls weekend turns into a weekend of terror. Things start to happen once they show up to the house that could be explained away, but Tara has a feeling something is wrong.

I completely enjoyed this book and would have been able to finish very quickly if time allowed. All the characters were likeable. 3 of the girls are happily married, 1 is perpetually single and the 5th is recently divorced. The setting seemed gorgeous, and I felt like I was there.

This was my first book by this author, but I look forward to reading her others. I recommend this book.

Thank you AJ McDine!

2022 Wrap-Up coming soon
Here goes:
73/60 📖 read this year
NetGalley: 59
Physical: 15

Genre: 6
mystery/thriller: 62
memoir: 6
true crime: 1
apocalyptic sci-fi; survival: 1
fiction: 1
history: 2

Pages: 23105