Tag: mystery

Book Review:  Summers at the Saint, by Mary Kay Andrews

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press.

Title:  Summers at the Saint  
Author: Mary Kay Andrews       
Genre:  Romance     
Rating: 4 out of 5

Welcome to the St. Cecelia, a landmark hotel on the coast of Georgia, where traditions run deep and scandals run even deeper. . . .

Everyone refers to the St. Cecelia as “the Saint.” If you grew up coming here, you were “a Saint.” If you came from the wrong side of the river, you were “an Ain’t.” Traci Eddings was one of those outsiders whose family wasn’t rich enough or connected enough to vacation here. But she could work here. One fateful summer she did, and married the boss’s son. Now, she’s the widowed owner of the hotel, determined to see it return to its glory days, even as staff shortages and financial troubles threaten to ruin it. Plus, her greedy and unscrupulous brother-in-law wants to make sure she fails. Enlisting a motley crew of recently hired summer help—including the daughter of her estranged best friend—Traci has one summer season to turn it around. But new information about a long-ago drowning at the hotel threatens to come to light, and the tragic death of one of their own brings Traci to the brink of despair.

Traci Eddings has her back against the pink-painted wall of this beloved institution. And it will take all the wits and guts she has to see wrongs put to right, to see guilty parties put in their place, and maybe even to find a new romance along the way.

I didn’t realize this was also going to be a murder mystery/thriller read (sort of), along with romance, but I enjoyed it. Man, Traci’s family really sucks. I didn’t care for any of them at all, except her niece. This isn’t necessarily a summer read, but it was a pleasant, quick read, and I liked the romantic pairing amidst all the other things going on. The food descriptions from the new chef made me hungry!

Mary Kay Andrews is a bestselling author. Summers at the Saint is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Garden Girls, by Jessica R. Patch   

Image belongs to Harlequin/Love Inspired.

Title:  The Garden Girls
Author:  Jessica R. Patch      
Genre: Mystery, romance, Christian     
Rating:  5 out of 5

On a remote Outer Banks island, a serial killer collects his prized specimens. And to stop him, an FBI agent must confront his own twisted past.

FBI agent Tiberius Granger has seen his share of darkness. But a new case sets him on edge. It’s not just the macabre way both victims—found posed in front of lighthouses—are tattooed with flowers that match their names. There’s also the unsettling connection to the woman Ty once loved and to the shadowy cult they both risked everything to escape. 

Bexley Hemmingway’s sister has gone missing, and she’ll do anything to find her—including teaming up with Ty. That may prove a mistake, and not just because Ty doesn’t know he’s the father of her teenaged son. It seems the killer is taunting Ty, drawing everyone close to him into deeper danger.

As the slashing winds and rain of a deadly hurricane approach the coast of North Carolina, the search leads Ty and Bex to an island that hides a grisly secret. But in his quest for the truth, Ty has ignored the fact that this time, he’s not just the hunter. Every move has been orchestrated by a killer into a perfect storm of terror, and they will need all their skills to survive…

I enjoyed this so much! The stories of the creepy cult really weirded me out, but I love the interactions on the team and between Bex and Tiberius. I really had no idea who was truly going to be the crazy killer, so that part was well-down. A bit of sadness at the end, but this was an excellent read.

Jessica R. Patch is a bestselling author. The Garden Girls is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Love Inspired in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The One That Got Away with Murder, by Trish Lundy    

Image belongs to Macmillan/Henry Holt and Co.

Title:  The One That Got Away with Murder     
Author:  Trish Lundy      
Genre:  YA, thriller  
Rating:  4 out of 5

Be careful who you fall for…

Robbie and Trevor Cresmont have a body count—the killer kind. Handsome and privileged, the Crestmont brothers’ have enough wealth to ensure they’ll never be found guilty of any wrongdoing, even if all of Happy Valley believes they’re behind the deaths of their ex-girlfriends. First there was soccer star Victoria Moreno, Robbie’s ex, who mysteriously drowned at the family lake house. Then, a year later, Trevor’s girlfriend died of a suspicious overdose.

But the Crestmonts aren’t the only ones with secrets. Lauren O’Brian might be the new girl at school, but she’s never been a good girl. With a dark past of her own, she’s desperate for a fresh start. Except when she starts a no-strings-attached relationship with Robbie, her chance is put in jeopardy. During what’s meant to be their last weekend together, Lauren stumbles across shocking evidence that just might implicate Robbie.

With danger closing in, Lauren doesn’t know who to trust. And after a third death rocks the town, she must decide whether to end things with Robbie or risk becoming another cautionary tale.

I enjoyed this thriller! (It kept me entertained throughout a day of boring meetings.) The people of Happy Valley—especially the soccer girls—were pretty mean, and they were horrible to Lauren. I liked how the author interspersed chapters from Lauren’s past with the present-day storyline, without giving away what really happened. I thought the mystery was well-done, and I didn’t figure out who the killer was until just a little bit before Lauren found out.

Trish Lundy lives in California. The One that Got Away with Murder is her debut YA novel.

(Galley courtesy of Macmillan/Henry Holt and Co. in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review:  The Reappearance of Rachel Price, by Holly Jackson   

Image belongs to Random House/Delacorte Press.

Title: The Reappearance of Rachel Price
Author: Holly Jackson   
Genre: YA     
Rating:  4 out of 5

Lights. Camera. Lies.

18-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness, but she has no memory of it. Rachel is gone, long presumed dead, and Bel wishes everyone would just move on.

But the case is dragged up from the past when the Price family agree to a true crime documentary. Bel can’t wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. And then the impossible happens. Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again.

Rachel has an unbelievable story about what happened to her. Unbelievable, because Bel isn’t sure it’s real. If Rachel is lying, then where has she been all this time? And – could she be dangerous? With the cameras still rolling, Bel must uncover the truth about her mother, and find out why Rachel Price really came back from the dead . . .  

I never quite figured out what was going on here! I suspected some things, but I was never sure. Kudos to the author for that! Bel’s prickly was actually quite appealing to me, although she went a little too far a few times—but at least she realized she’d gone too far, and backtracked. There are a lot of secrets in this novel, and some are very well-hidden. I enjoyed this thriller read and stayed up late to find out what was going on.

Holly Jackson is a bestselling author. The Reappearance of Rachel Price is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Random House/Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Sundays are for Writing #269

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

This was a solid writing week: one book review, The Summer She Went Missing, by Chelsea Ichaso, and five fiction writing sessions. Is it bad if I realize, while writing, that I know I’m wandering a bit and the second draft will have to be reigned in a lot? I hope not. I keep telling myself I’m just trying to get a feel for the character…

Happy writing!

Book Review: The Summer She Went Missing, by Chelsea Ichaso

Image belongs to Sourcebooks Fire.

Title: The Summer She Went Missing
Author: Chelsea Ichaso      
Genre: YA     
Rating:  4 out of 5

Last summer, they searched for Audrey Covington.

This summer, they’ll search for the truth.

Paige Redmond has always felt lucky to spend her summers in Clearwater Ridge, with lazy days sunning at the waterfalls and nights partying at the sprawling houses of the rich families who vacation there. The Covingtons are one of these families, and beautiful, brilliant Audrey Covington is Paige’s best friend. And last year, when Audrey’s crush-worthy brother Dylan finally started noticing Paige, she was sure it would be the best summer ever.

Except Audrey didn’t seem quite like herself. Then one night, she didn’t come home. Though Audrey wasn’t the first girl to disappear in Clearwater Ridge, she left behind more lies than clues. Now, one summer later, her case has gone cold, and nobody, least of all Paige, can make sense of what happened.

When Paige stumbles across a secret hidden in Audrey’s room, however, it changes everything she thought she knew about last summer. She and Dylan set out on their own investigation, discovering things even the police don’t know about the people of Clearwater Ridge. But tracking down missing girls—girls who might be beyond saving by now—means entering a world far darker than Paige has ever imagined. And if she isn’t careful, she’ll become the next girl to vanish.

I was drawn into this story from the very beginning! I do love YA novels, so there’s that, and the whole crush-on-her-best-friend’s-brother trope is usually a good one, so I was there for it. I actually enjoyed how the rich/not-rich dichotomy played out—and how not all the rich kids were jerks. The mystery was well done, and I did not figure out what was really going on until the reveal, so extra points for that.

Chelsea Ichaso lives in California. The Summer She Went Missing is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Sourcebooks Fire in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review and Blog Tour: The Missing Witness, by Allison Brennan

Image belongs to Harlequin/MIRA.

Title: The Missing Witness
Author: Allison Brennan     
Genre: Mystery/thriller   
Rating:  4.5 out of 5

Detective Kara Quinn is back in Los Angeles to testify against a notorious human trafficker, finally moving past the case that upended her life. But when the accused is shot by a masked man in broad daylight, the chaotic scene of the crime turns up few reliable bystanders. And one witness—a whistleblower who might be the key to everything—has disappeared.

After the prosecuting DDA is stabbed to death, it’s clear that anyone who knows too much about the investigation is in danger, and tracking down the witness becomes a matter of life or death. With government corruption running rampant and someone on the inside trying to pin anything they can on Kara, she trusts nobody except FBI special agent Matt Costa and a handful of allies.

But when explosive secrets begin to surface within the LAPD and FBI, Kara questions everything she thought she knew about the case, her colleagues and the life she left behind months ago.

Now Quinn and Costa must race to find the missing witness and get to the bottom of the avalanche of conspiracies that has rocked LA to its core…before it’s too late.

I’ve really enjoyed the Quinn & Costa series, and I think this was my favorite so far. Kara actually showed a loot of character growth here and it was nice to see how she’s changed since the first back. Her going back to the scene of her past was interesting to watch—and seeing the ghosts from her past life as she interacted with the case that got her to the FBI Mobile Response team added a lot of depth to her character. I really enjoyed this, and stayed up until 2 a.m. binge-reading it.

 Allison Brennan is a bestselling author. The Missing Witness is the newest Quinn & Costa novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/MIRA in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: A Body at the Séance, by Marty Wingate

Image belongs to Bookouture and the author.

Title: A Body at the Séance   
Author: Marty Wingate     
Genre:  Mystery    
Rating:  4.2 out of 5

When a body turns up at a glamorous séance, Mabel Canning’s sleuthing skills are put to the test. Because it appears the victim died twice…

London, 1921: As a winter wind blows through the streets of London, Mabel Canning is hired by the Useful Women’s Agency to attend a séance at the home of famous medium Madame Pushkana. But when Mabel hears a choking noise and a loud thud, she quickly turns on the lights to find herself at the scene of a murder.

The victim is none other than Stamford Plomley, whose widow arranged the séance after he died in a fire eight months ago. How did he come back from the dead without a scorch mark on him? And could one of their assembled party of gentlewomen have killed him… again?

When Scotland Yard arrive, the police try to stop Mabel from interfering. But having just formed the London Ladies’ Murder Club, Mabel isn’t going anywhere. And with the help of former detective Park Winstone, she begins to piece together what really happened at the ghostly gathering.

But when Mabel receives a threatening letter warning her to stay away from the case, she realises the murderer may have another victim in mind. With time running out, will she hit a dead end? Or can she keep herself from becoming the next one to be sent to an early grave?

This was a fun read! I think I enjoyed this more than the first book in the series. The characters felt a little more real to me, especially Perkins:  I absolutely loved him and would like to see more of him. I didn’t have any idea who the murderer was, so that was a big surprise, and all of Mabel’s investigations were a lot of fun to read. This is a great series!

Marty Wingate is a bestselling author. A Body at the Séance is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review:  Northwoods, by Amy Pease  

Image belongs to Atria Books.

Title: Northwoods   
Author: Amy Pease    
Genre: Thriller    
Rating:  4 out of 5

Eli North is not okay.

His drinking is getting worse by the day, his emotional wounds after a deployment to Afghanistan are as raw as ever, his marriage and career are over, and the only job he can hold down is with the local sheriff’s department. And that’s only because the sheriff is his mother—and she’s overwhelmed with small town Shaky Lake’s dwindling budget and the fallout from the opioid epidemic. The Northwoods of Wisconsin may be a vacationer’s paradise, but amidst the fishing trips and campfires and Paul Bunyan festivals, something sinister is taking shape.

When the body of a teenage boy is found in the lake, it sets in motion an investigation that leads Eli to a wealthy enclave with a violent past, a pharmaceutical salesman, and a missing teenage girl. Soon, Eli and his mother, along with a young FBI agent, are on the hunt for more than just a killer.

If Eli solves the case, could he finally get the shot at redemption he so desperately needs? Or will answers to this dark case elude him and continue to bring destruction to the Northwoods?

I wasn’t sure about this at first, mainly because reading in the POV of a self-destructive alcoholic is not pleasant, but Eli grew on me. The setting is dark, gritty, and a bit depressing, and the author portrays it well. I figured out a (sort-of) twist at the end before the reveal, but I still think it was pretty well-done. All in all, a strong debut novel with memorable characters. I’d definitely read more from this author.

Amy Pease lives in Wisconsin. Northwoods is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: A Body on the Doorstep, by Marty Wingate

Image belongs to Bookouture and author.

Title: A Body on the Doorstep  
Author:  Marty Wingate    
Genre: Mystery     
Rating:  4 out of 5

Fiercely independent Mabel Canning can’t wait to begin working for the Useful Women’s Agency. But when she discovers a body on her client’s doorstep, it’s time to add solving murders to her job description…

London, 1921: Mabel Canning is proud to be a modern woman working for the Useful Women’s Agency, carrying out tasks for gentlewomen from flower arranging to washing muddy dogs. But when she answers the door for wealthy widow Rosalind Despard, she almost chokes on her cucumber sandwich when she finds a soldier’s body on the doorstep.

As she offers tea to the policemen of Scotland Yard, Mabel can’t resist getting drawn into the investigation. Who was the mysterious dead man? And why was he holding a letter for Rosalind, written by her husband on the day he disappeared?

As Mabel hunts for clues, she joins forces with Rosalind’s handsome brother, former detective Park Winstone, and his adorable terrier, Gladys. But when Mabel suspects she is being followed, the detective duo know that time is running out before the killer strikes again.

As she investigates, Mabel discovers dusty old photographs that help her reveal the soldier’s true identity. But as she gets closer to uncovering the young man’s murderer, she knows she’s also one step closer to danger… Can she outsmart the killer and save Park and Rosalind before they also turn up dead as doornails?

Let’s be honest:  I could never work for the Useful Women’s Agency. Mabel is a better person than I am, because I would probably have had a breakdown after toting that heavy painting all over the house while that rich lady hemmed and hawed about where to hang it. That being said…I enjoyed this book. I like the set-up, and Mabel was a fun character. I like the cozy mystery feel to the story and world, set in the midst of London. That was a nice twist. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series very soon.

Marty Wingate is a bestselling author. A Body on the Doorstep is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.)