Granite Harbor - Peter Nichols

Peter Nichols' latest book is Granite Harbor.

The cover appealed to me - the lone figure on the somewhat iffy jetty. For me that man is Alex. This is his first murder case as both a parent and detective. This is also frightening to Isabel - a single mother to Ethan.

 

I liked how Nichols unfolded his plotting. Each character has a voice, their thoughts explored, and the possibility of what they might know, hold back or/and more. This includes the killer. Definitely unsettling...

The social fabric of Granite Harbor is also explored from all ages. Don't be overwhelmed by the wealth of details. Around the halfway point things get grisly. I quite liked the slow burn of this one. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Granite Harbor.

Listen for the Lie - Amy Tintera

Listen for the Lie is Amy Tintera's adult debut novel. 

I was drawn to the red cover, the sinuous tape and the blurbs from some of my favorite authors.

It's no secret that I absolutely adore epistolary storytelling. Much of Listen for the Lie book is told as chapters and interviews of a true crime podcast.

And now you're wondering what that crime might be, aren't you?

Five years ago Lucy fled her small town. Why? Pretty much all of the residents believe she had murdered her best friend. She was never prosecuted for the killing -  and she never went back home. Until now. 

Lucy is completely different than I had expected. I appreciated something different and unexpected to catch my attention. she's got a dark sense of humor and she freely jokes that she just might be the killer. Is she a killer? Innocent? Her inner voice is loud - and very dark. It's more than a little concerning. Her behaviour just seems to purposely rile up those who loved the victim.

There is a wealth of supporting characters who provide their thoughts, memories and actions to the host of the podcast. I have to say that my favorite character was Beverly -  Lucy's Grandmother. You'll see why. 

Now, I mentioned the epistolary style. It's absolutely the perfect way to hide the clues. Who is lying? Who changes their narrative? Will you put the pieces together before the last page? I'm happy to say that I didn't! And again, it's nice to not know the ending.

This was a fun read and I hope that Tintera tackles another adult book. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Listen for the Lie.

The Angel Maker - Alex North

I've read and enjoyed Alex North's previous books. The Whisper Man was especially creepy. 

North's newest book is The Angel Maker. "From the New York Times bestselling author of The Whisper Man and The Shadows comes a dark, suspenseful new thriller about the mysteries of fate, the unbreakable bond of siblings, and a notorious serial killer who was said to know the future." 

Okay, that's a novel idea for sure. Think about it - a killer who can justify each and every crime he commits as 'its meant to be'. The Angel Maker has many, many characters and timelines. I admit I found it overwhelming at times to keep everything and everybody straight. I really liked Katie as a lead character. She came off as believable and it was easy to be behind her. The unfurling of the book was slow for me and my attention started to wander, so I thought I would try a read/ listen combo. 

The reader was  Rosalie Craig. She did a wonderful job at bringing the book to life for me Her voice has so much movement, rising and falling, capturing the emotion, action, horror, danger and more with her reading. Her voice is pleasant to listen to, she speaks clearly, and I liked her accent. The pace was just right. I've said it before - sometimes I am drawn more into a book when listening instead of reading. And that was the case here. I still found there to be too much in terms of timeline, jumps and points of view, but was able to know who was speaking, by the different voices. Hear for yourself - listen to an excerpt of The Angel Maker. Or if you prefer - read an excerpt of The Angel Maker. 

Gentle readers - there are triggers in this book. 

The Plot - Jean Hanff Korelitz

The Plot is Jean Hanff Korelitz's just released novel. It's gathering lots of buzz...

What's the plot of The Plot you ask?

"Jacob Finch Bonner was once a promising young novelist with a respectably published first book.... When Evan Parker, his most arrogant student, announces he doesn’t need Jake’s help because the plot of his book in progress is a sure thing, Jake is prepared to dismiss the boast as typical amateur narcissism. But then . . . he hears the plot....When he discovers that his former student has died, presumably without ever completing his book, Jake does what any self-respecting writer would do with a story like that―a story that absolutely needs to be told...."

Korelitz is a clever writer. I always wonder how hard it is for a novelist to create a character that shares the same profession? How much is fact? Drawn from personal experience? Imagined?

Jake was a distinctly unlikable character for me. Not just for what he does, but for his inner dialogue, passing judgement on others so easily, but not seeing the man in the mirror. Kudos to Korelitz for her characterization. 

I've read other 'book within a book' novels and have always enjoyed this plot device. I have to say - I quite like the stolen book plot and would happily read the whole thing! Now, you just know, the theft of the plot is not going to go unnoticed by someone. It does indeed catch someone's eye. And I'm sorry to say - but I wasn't too upset with his being caught out. Just desserts as they say. But I was quite interested in what Korelitz had planned for Jake. Stolen ideas/books aren't a new idea, but Korelitz does a nice job coming up with her own twist on things. I had my suspicions and was proven right in the end, but the journey to the last page was intriguing and entertaining. 

I did find the beginning a bit slow, but it picked up for me once the threats began. While The Plot is suspenseful, it wasn't quite "breathtakingly suspenseful" for me.

Who else thought so? Here what Stephen King thought..."“The Plot is one of the best novels I’ve ever read about writers and writing. It’s also insanely readable and the suspense quotient is through the roof. It’s remarkable.”

See for yourself - here's an excerpt of The Plot.