A Patient Man by S. Lynn Scott is very short coming in at just 240 pages, but it is definitely one odd little book!
What it's about: It is ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
A Patient Man by S. Lynn Scott is very short coming in at just 240 pages, but it is definitely one odd little book!
What it's about: It is the 1970s and Mikey is only eight, but he's not your typical eight-year-old. Growing up in a family with a mother that doesn't really care, a dad that's away in London a lot, and a brother and sister that don't really pay him any mind - he has his run of Canvey Island, even skipping school most days. But this doesn't stay the same for long when his older neighbors, the Freemans, win a huge amount of money. They become the victims of a criminal act that leaves the wife dead and the husband wanting revenge. Aiming his sights on Mikey's family, Mr. Freeman comes up with a very special way of trying to bring them down, one that leaves Mikey not very happy. But is Mr. Freeman actually right about who killed his wife?
A Patient Man is definitely a bit of a coming-of-age novel, while also touching on things like greed, revenge, and crime. The mystery of who committed the act that killed Peggy seems like somewhat of a minor plot point compared to what happens after Mr. Freeman initiates his revenge. Who killed Peggy is what starts everything, but the novel is really about so much more.
Reading things from Mikey's POV was very interesting, albeit sometimes frustrating for me. I would have maybe liked to have had at least 1 other viewpoint. The touches of humor in the book caught me off guard a few times, and even though there are very serious themes, I found myself laughing out loud in a few spots. Sometimes even at just how ridiculous something was. Mikey's story really is quite sad though when you think about most of his upbringing, and I really liked how his story evolved in the book as he got older. Note: The book is written from Mikey's POV of what happened, looking back as an adult.
The reason I say A Patient Man is odd is mainly because of the writing style. It was very unique, and I haven't read anything like it that I can compare it to. It almost made things a little confusing for me, and I did get a little lost in the beginning. I also wouldn't necessarily call this book gripping, I wanted to know what would happen, but it didn't keep me glued to the pages like some books do. It's definitely a slow burn that is highly character based/driven.
Song/s the book brought to mind: 7 Years by Lukas Graham
Final Thought: Overall, I was very satisfied with A Patient Man though, and it definitely provided for a very unique reading experience. If you are a fan of character driven novels told in a unique writing style, I would definitely recommend checking this book out. It kind of gave me a bit of The Bird Tribunal vibe although it is not a Scandinavian fiction novel. This book is out now and available for purchase on Amazon!
Thank you to Random Things Tours and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Merged review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
A Patient Man by S. Lynn Scott is very short coming in at just 240 pages, but it is definitely one odd little book!
What it's about: It is the 1970s and Mikey is only eight, but he's not your typical eight-year-old. Growing up in a family with a mother that doesn't really care, a dad that's away in London a lot, and a brother and sister that don't really pay him any mind - he has his run of Canvey Island, even skipping school most days. But this doesn't stay the same for long when his older neighbors, the Freemans, win a huge amount of money. They become the victims of a criminal act that leaves the wife dead and the husband wanting revenge. Aiming his sights on Mikey's family, Mr. Freeman comes up with a very special way of trying to bring them down, one that leaves Mikey not very happy. But is Mr. Freeman actually right about who killed his wife?
A Patient Man is definitely a bit of a coming-of-age novel, while also touching on things like greed, revenge, and crime. The mystery of who committed the act that killed Peggy seems like somewhat of a minor plot point compared to what happens after Mr. Freeman initiates his revenge. Who killed Peggy is what starts everything, but the novel is really about so much more.
Reading things from Mikey's POV was very interesting, albeit sometimes frustrating for me. I would have maybe liked to have had at least 1 other viewpoint. The touches of humor in the book caught me off guard a few times, and even though there are very serious themes, I found myself laughing out loud in a few spots. Sometimes even at just how ridiculous something was. Mikey's story really is quite sad though when you think about most of his upbringing, and I really liked how his story evolved in the book as he got older. Note: The book is written from Mikey's POV of what happened, looking back as an adult.
The reason I say A Patient Man is odd is mainly because of the writing style. It was very unique, and I haven't read anything like it that I can compare it to. It almost made things a little confusing for me, and I did get a little lost in the beginning. I also wouldn't necessarily call this book gripping, I wanted to know what would happen, but it didn't keep me glued to the pages like some books do. It's definitely a slow burn that is highly character based/driven.
Song/s the book brought to mind: 7 Years by Lukas Graham
Final Thought: Overall, I was very satisfied with A Patient Man though, and it definitely provided for a very unique reading experience. If you are a fan of character driven novels told in a unique writing style, I would definitely recommend checking this book out. It kind of gave me a bit of The Bird Tribunal vibe although it is not a Scandinavian fiction novel. This book is out now and available for purchase on Amazon!
Thank you to Random Things Tours and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions are my own....more
I will be honest, The Bachelor is one of the few reality shows that I'm not into, but boy did I love the concepBook Rating: 4.5/5 Audiobook Rating: 3/5
I will be honest, The Bachelor is one of the few reality shows that I'm not into, but boy did I love the concept in My Royal Showmance by Lexi Blake. This is the second book in the Park Avenue Promise series, and I love the group of female friends the series is based on. Even though I read Start Us Up almost a year ago, I had no problem jumping into this one since the series is based on individual characters. I loved our headstrong and confident but maybe too trusting FMC Anika, and I was glad to see Blake taking on the topic of sexual harassment, especially in a world with songs like Woman's World by Katy Perry and the mess that is Harvey Weinstein.
I listened to the audiobook which is what I did with the first book, and I don’t know if she was having an off day but I was not a fan of Kitty Bang’s narration as much as I was the first time around. She had such long pauses even when I was on 3x speed, and I have no idea if that was actually her issue or an editing issue, but it was not something I was happy with. Her narration was excellent at other times though, and I still loved the book despite this. If you are a fan of reality TV (especially shows like The Bachelor) and want a laugh-out-loud, empowering, and sweet read My Royal Showmance is definitely all of those things and more. I loved the touch of German thrown in and the romance was ...more
I know I keep saying this, but I absolutely adore Alli Frank and Asha Youmans, and so far, I have not read a single book by them I haven't loved. BossI know I keep saying this, but I absolutely adore Alli Frank and Asha Youmans, and so far, I have not read a single book by them I haven't loved. Boss Lady was no different and their blend of uniqueness, humor, and tear-jerking topics get me every single time, so it's no wonder this book blew me away! I love where they got their idea for Toni's job and their not-so-subtle references to a famous TV show and a certain male entrepreneur. ...more
I always love me an M.J. Rose book and Forgetting to Remember is the epitome of all things I love about her. There is magical realism, time trave4.5/5
I always love me an M.J. Rose book and Forgetting to Remember is the epitome of all things I love about her. There is magical realism, time travel, romance, and a hint of mystery all rolled into one and I loved every minute of it. I did think the beginning moved a little slow (hence my half-star off), but once we got into the time travel bit, I was completely hooked, and it made the story come alive. I enjoyed all of the characters, especially our FMC Jeannine and I loved how the females in her family have certain magical powers.
There is no way I will be able to do this book justice with anything I say, and it is such a beautiful tale of love, art, war, and magic. The audiobook makes the story come alive even further, and Tavia Gilbert did a terrific job as per usual. I love her narration every time I hear it, and she was the perfect person to be the voice of Jeannine. Forgetting to Remember also taught me more about art in general, and I had never heard of a lover's eye in my life. If you enjoy a touch of magic, art, historical fiction, and time travel books I highly recommend picking this up.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I read Lyn Liao Butler's previous novel Someone Else’s Life last year and was interested to see what she would Book Rating: 4/5 Audiobook Rating: 2.5/5
I read Lyn Liao Butler's previous novel Someone Else’s Life last year and was interested to see what she would have in store for me in What Is Mine. This book gets almost just as wild and crazy as that one does, and despite a pretty slow start-middle, it really kicks up the pace when we get toward the end. The storyline and its mysterious qualities completely captured me, and my mouth dropped open more than once because of things that happened throughout. Even at the very end, she was still dropping twists, and I was completely immersed.
I am not sure what is going on with Butler's audiobooks, but I didn't like her last book on audio, and I wasn't a huge fan of the audio of What Is Mine either. Nancy Wu was just an ok narrator for me, and while she wasn't the worst, she wasn't the best either. Her pacing was off basically the entire time, and my recommendation would be to read this as opposed to listening to it. There were 2 different viewpoints in the book, and I think I most enjoyed Hope's, but both were tense and held my interest. I would recommend checking out triggers before reading, but if you are in the mood for a slow-burning emotional thriller, I would recommend!
Thank you to the publisher and Get Red PR for my complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
The Night Island by Jayne Ann Krentz is the follow-up to Sleep No More and the second novel in The Lost Night Files series. While I really enjoyed the first book, I can officially say I LOVED this one, and it was a perfectly creepy addition to the series. I'm not a huge fan of romantic suspense in general, but there is something about Krentz's writing that makes me not even care there is romance mixed in. It also isn't overwhelming and has just a handful of slightly steamy scenes, making it the perfect accompaniment to the story.
While you don't necessarily need to read the first book, I would highly recommend it as you are missing out on some important character facts if you go straight into this one. I honestly wish I had done a reread of Sleep No More beforehand although the author does provide essential details, so you aren't completely lost.
I loved the paranormal suspense aspect of the book and not only is the remote island setting outstanding, but it also holds more than a few surprises. I did listen to the audiobook and was pleased to learn the same narrator from book 1 was back for this one! Eva Kaminsky is the perfect voice for this series, and while it would definitely be nice to have a full cast, I can't deny that she does a great job. If you enjoy the genre mashup of paranormal and romantic suspense, both the series and The Night Island are for you!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I honestly have no idea what I have been doing with my life only just now reading a novel from Tess Gerritsen, but now that I have read The Spy Coast,I honestly have no idea what I have been doing with my life only just now reading a novel from Tess Gerritsen, but now that I have read The Spy Coast, I know I will be diving into her backlist. This book is packed full of action, and there is nothing I like more than people with a very particular set of skills going after bad guys. This gave me Taken vibes as well as Killers of a Certain Age, and the combo along with Gerritsen's superb writing talents completely blew me away. There are a few different viewpoints throughout the entire novel, but mainly we are focused on retired CIA agent Maggie and small-town acting Chief of Police Jo. Jo has lived in Purity, Maine her whole life, while Maggie followed other people there, and you couldn't ask for a smarter pair of female characters.
There is nothing like a fantastic audiobook to complement a fantastic story, and that is exactly what happened here. It is no secret that I am a huge fan of both Hillary Huber & Brittany Pressley, and they make the audio something completely out of this world if I do say so myself. I did find The Spy Coast to be a touch repetitive at times, but in the grand scheme of things it wasn't a big deal, and it didn't stop me from loving the book as a whole. I could easily see this as a mini-series or movie, heck, I would even take a full-blow series with many seasons, and I am really hoping that Gerritsen plans on turning this into a series. The end does seem to leave a possibility for that, and I will be keeping my fingers crossed that I get to meet these characters once again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I am a huge fan of the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series by Mia P. Manansala and I have to say that I think Murder and Mamon is the best yet! In thiI am a huge fan of the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series by Mia P. Manansala and I have to say that I think Murder and Mamon is the best yet! In this installment, there is drama/murder at a laundromat instead of the restaurant, and this was another fun but insightful look into Filipino culture. I love this world that Manansala has created, and The Calendar Crew consists of 3 of my favorite characters (Lila's godmothers). You wouldn't necessarily have to read these in order, but I recommend it, so you really get to know who everyone is and see their development as this series goes on. Lila is on a mission to solve the murder along with just a little bit of help, and I ended up being really surprised by the culprit!
Danice Cabanela blew me away yet again with her narration for the audiobook and at this point, this cozy mystery series feels like wrapping myself in a fuzzy blanket I love it so dang much. The pacing is perfect, and the storyline is thought-provoking yet hilarious at the same time. The way Manansala describes the food in this book is absolutely mouth-watering, and despite the food taking more of a backseat this time around, there are still recipes at the back of the book and plenty of talk about Filipino cuisine. Triggers are noted at the beginning of the book/audiobook if you need to know them, and the blend of mystery, humor, and serious topics was top-notch. I highly recommend Murder and Mamon to my cozy fans out there and anyone who loves reading about a different culture along with their murder mysteries.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I don't know how it's possible that I have only just now read a book by Ann Garvin, but I'm not mad that it was There's No Coming Back from This. I alI don't know how it's possible that I have only just now read a book by Ann Garvin, but I'm not mad that it was There's No Coming Back from This. I also don't know what I was expecting, but this was the perfect mashup of mysteriousness, women's fiction, romance, humor, and general adorableness. The small dog Kevin really stole the show for me, but I couldn't help but love Poppy as well. She is a Midwesterner through and through and being from Minnesota myself, I was thoroughly delighted by the fact that Garvin had her be from Wisconsin. This entire book was a true delight from the storyline all the way down to the characters, and Poppy really grew as a person between the beginning and end.
The audio for this was also incredible, and Andi Arndt was able to perfectly nail the Midwestern Wisconsin accent that Poppy piles on in one scene. I honestly think listening to this made me love it even more, and it is a Kindle Unlimited title, so I highly recommend checking out the audio if you have it! There's No Coming Back from This was the perfect read for escaping real life which made it incredibly easy for me to knock it out in basically one day. It was interesting to me that the author chose to use the name "Three" for one of the characters, and now I am desperately curious as to why she did this. I may have only just finished, but I'm already looking forward to my future reread which I will most definitely be doing.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I can't believe I can say that I've officially read Heather J. Fitt's THIRD book now, but I am so happy I got the opportunity to do it! The Flig4.25/5
I can't believe I can say that I've officially read Heather J. Fitt's THIRD book now, but I am so happy I got the opportunity to do it! The Flight is still my favorite, but The Boat Trip is coming in at a close second and talk about a twist! I could see a couple of the twists coming, but the big one I didn't at all, and it made my mouth drop open. The book is a little on the slower side of pacing, but still paced extremely well and it never got boring or felt drug out. Fitt had a frustratingly secretive way of writing this story where you don't always know what our MC Helen is hearing on the phone/sat phone, and it definitely made me want to hurry to find out what was going on ASAP! This gets especially important once you know she has been told who is behind a certain something.
I realized at the end that I needed to read the prologue again, and man my mind was BLOWN. I would say I didn't love the ending as much as I could have, but the way everything tied back into that prologue was great. It takes a bit to get into the actual boat trip, but once we do we have plenty of drama and intense scenes. And you know everyone is questioning everyone at a certain point, and I loved that air of mystery and tension. There is quite a bit of boat lingo used and not all of it is explained, but for the most part, it was easy to pick up on what things meant as I got further into the story. The Boat Trip doesn't have the most likable characters you will ever meet, but it's got plenty of drama and I love Fitt's writing. I would highly recommend it if you are a fan of locked-room mysteries, thrillers in general, and books set on the water!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Well, it seems that David Bell has done it again! And by again, I mean a page-turner, hell of a ride full of mystery and pulse-pounding moments.4.25/5
Well, it seems that David Bell has done it again! And by again, I mean a page-turner, hell of a ride full of mystery and pulse-pounding moments. Try Not to Breathe is basically everything I have come to expect from one of my favorite authors (Bell ...more
I don't tend to read that many books that have a focus on art, but when I saw that M.J. Rose was one of the authors for The Friday Night Club: A NovelI don't tend to read that many books that have a focus on art, but when I saw that M.J. Rose was one of the authors for The Friday Night Club: A Novel of Artist Hilma af Klint and Her Creative Circle I knew I was going to have to read it. I had never heard of the artist Hilma, and it was really interesting learning her story and about the very fascinating group she formed that would hold seances. There are 2 timelines which is basically what I expected going into it, and we have Eben in present-day New York City, as well as Anna's & Cornelia's POVs, set in late 1800 to early 1900s Sweden. The past timeline is where we learn the most about Hilma through the eyes of Anna and Cornelia (2 very different relationships with Hilma), and I honestly wouldn't have minded the entire book to have been that. I don't know that we necessarily needed the present timeline (or Eben for that matter), but I was still intrigued by those parts of the book and how the two periods of time tied together.
I also really enjoyed the audiobook which has Tavia Gilbert voicing Anna (and Cornelia), Pete Cross voicing Eben & Alyson Richman (one of the authors!) reading the authors' note at the end. I am a big fan of Gilbert already and I loved her narration as well as her pacing. Cross's pace was a little bit slower than hers was, but it was perfectly fine, and he was totally believable as Eben. I never got confused despite Gilbert narrating more than one character, so I would definitely recommend the audio if you enjoy them. For being written by 3 different authors during the Covid lockdown no less, the writing felt as though it could have been 1 author, and it felt very seamless to me. I loved all of the mentions of the Guggenheim which I have yet to go to, and I even heard The Cloisters brought up which has a fictional novel of the same name out right now. If you are a fan of historical fiction, especially that which focuses on art and artists, I think you will appreciate The Friday Night Club the most, but it was a solid read that I thoroughly enjoyed all the same.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I have loved Jane Healey ever since I read The Beantown Girls and once again she completely blew me away with Goodnight From Paris. This historical fiI have loved Jane Healey ever since I read The Beantown Girls and once again she completely blew me away with Goodnight From Paris. This historical fiction novel is based on the life of Drue Leyton, and I honestly hadn't even heard of her prior to reading this. Healey includes some crazy information about her that really surprised me although I shouldn't put anything past the Nazis. I loved her courage and determination, and while this isn't your normal WWII-type story, it is equally as enlightening, and I was really fascinated by everything she ended up doing. There are some tough moments and a couple that I totally saw coming, and I was shocked I didn't end up crying profusely.
Goodnight From Paris is a fairly long book at almost 400 pages but not for one second did it feel long. There is so much information packed in here along with the fictional pieces and I really appreciated the author's note at the end as well. I always say historical fiction HAS to include one just so the readers know what's real and what's not, and Healey always hits the mark. I would also recommend checking out the audiobook which can currently be found on Kindle Unlimited. Kristina Klebe was an excellent choice to narrate this book and I loved every minute of it. I do have to say that I thought her voice for Nadine was a little funny, but if anything, it just provided me with some amusement in the seriousness of the topics touched on. If you are a fan of historical fiction especially related to WWII, I definitely think this needs to be on your TBR.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
The Sickness is another wild and crazy ride from Britney King, and man is there a lot going on! I feel like there were probably too many subplots hereThe Sickness is another wild and crazy ride from Britney King, and man is there a lot going on! I feel like there were probably too many subplots here, but that definitely made for a lot of excitement and there was never a dull moment. I was a little worried that this book would be all about Covid due to the title and the fact that the synopsis mentions the pandemic, but I shouldn't have worried because it was about so much more than that. We have a cult that was wild enough in itself as well as a murderer onboard the ship, elements of the pandemic, and a girl with cystic fibrosis trying to find her mom.
Most of the story is told through the eyes of Abby and her father Roger along with occasional chapters with the POV of the murderer. I do have to admit that I figured out who that was prior to the reveal, but not by much, and The Sickness was full of the twists and turns that I have come to expect from one of my favorite indie authors. This definitely didn't have me anxious to board a cruise anytime soon, and the setting undoubtedly supplied a very claustrophobic and eerie feel as the book went on. This isn't my favorite work from King, but it was exactly what I needed at the moment, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I adore M.J. Rose and The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams is just another book in the long line of them that I have read and loved. She is such a talented wrI adore M.J. Rose and The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams is just another book in the long line of them that I have read and loved. She is such a talented writer, and I loved the way she blended magic with her story - through both of our MCs at that! Violine and Suzanne each have their own talents when it comes to being able to read intimate objects, and I really enjoyed having the two viewpoints in different timelines and locations. Violine is basically trying to figure out part of Suzanne’s story while the reader also gets to see that story unfold, and it was an incredible juxtaposition that managed to add an air of mystery as well. There is a touch of romance here, but I wouldn’t call that a focus of the story. Love is definitely a resounding theme though, as well as a very interesting focus on history thanks to Rose’s inspiration being Suzanne Belperron.
The audiobook is another star of this show as narrated by Tavia Gilbert and Caroline Hewitt. I used a credit on Audible and was very happy I did since I can’t imagine reading this book any other way now. They did a wonderful job of bringing the magic of the story and the characters to life, and I highly recommend giving it a listen. The mystery and intrigue of the plot was a lovely experience and as a reader/listener, you could really feel the emotions coming across as well. Suzanne’s story is heartbreaking at times, and this definitely ended up being a bit of a tear-jerker for me. It was just a beautiful book, and if you love historical fiction and enjoy a dash of magic in your stories, I would tell you to pick up The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Going into The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden, I thought it was going to be a continuation of The Housemaid and just pick up where that left ofGoing into The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden, I thought it was going to be a continuation of The Housemaid and just pick up where that left off. While it is a continuation in a sense, it has some time between where that book ended and is really just another book with our lovely Millie. I wasn't sure I was going to like this at first, but I shouldn't have worried because I ended up loving it just as much! There were so many twists that the reader gets hit with and I loved every single one. I didn't see them coming either and once again the pacing throughout was on point.
As with the last book, the audiobook is narrated by Lauryn Allman and once again she killed it. Though Millie is the main viewpoint, we do end up having another as well and the way Allman can change her voice to fit a character is just flawless. It felt like I had switched to an entirely different narrator, and it is not often this happens! I highly recommend the audio but reading it would be just as good. I do recommend reading The Housemaid first since this is a sequel, and it will make more sense if you do. McFadden is one of my favorite authors after only reading a couple of her books, and if you love twists, she is going to give them to you!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
The Flight is Heather J. Fitt's sophomore novel, and while I enjoyed her debut, Open Your Eyes, I LOVED this one! First of all, the plane that Melissa is on with Theo isn't just any ordinary plane, it is a double-deck aircraft! I loved that even though I've never even SEEN one of those planes, I could picture it perfectly thanks to Fitt's wonderful writing talents. This was full of basically nonstop action making it a really quick read, and while there are a few different viewpoints, I certainly enjoyed the killer’s POV the most. They have a very interesting style of killing and I was here for it.
We learned a lot from Melissa’s viewpoint including her background which involves abuse. This was certainly tough to read about at times, but I liked the way Fitt handled it and it wasn’t super detailed. These people are hiding so much, the wedding party especially, and the ending just totally blew me away. Talk about a twisty mystery, and you can bet I didn’t see a lick of it coming. The only thing that bugged me a bit about The Flight was that there was a little repetition, but there wasn’t so much that it was going to bring my rating down a whole lot. If you are looking for an escapist read, this is most definitely it, just maybe don’t take it on a plane. You never know who might be on it…
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I swear that Britney King never ceases to surprise me and she just did it again with Ringman! This one felt different from her usual style, and it hasI swear that Britney King never ceases to surprise me and she just did it again with Ringman! This one felt different from her usual style, and it has a very strong procedural aspect to it that I absolutely loved. There is a large number of viewpoints, but the book is never confusing, and I was able to keep up without any problems. I probably enjoyed Camile's viewpoint the most, and I loved that she was a criminologist. And of course, we have Oliver who has his own agenda for staying at his cousin Camile's house. This was basically a two-for-one mystery which was a huge plus.
This was a super speedy read as all of King's books are, and there were some twists that I really didn't see coming at all. I loved the last chapter of the book especially, and it was pretty dang satisfying although I'm not sure I felt the same way about the actual whodunnit. However, it was surprising, and I will take it! There was one odd plot thing where a character was getting beaten up at the end of one chapter then we skip to another viewpoint and when we come back, they all of a sudden had a bat. No idea where that came from but besides that, I loved Ringman just as much as all of King's other books and I really hope she gives us another procedural!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I have a new favorite detective in my life I guess, and that is thanks to Hide by Tracy Clark! This is book 1 of the Detective Harriet Foster ser4.5/5
I have a new favorite detective in my life I guess, and that is thanks to Hide by Tracy Clark! This is book 1 of the Detective Harriet Foster series and I hope we have many more to come since she is a really great character. My favorite character ever is Alice Vega, and while Foster isn't quite on her level when it comes to badassness, she is on her way there! I loved that she was fully developed and even though this is the first in the series, I thought I got to know her really well without a deep dive into her backstory as some series books do in the beginning. While there is one aspect of the story that is fairly easy to figure out, there are a couple of twists that completely blew me away. The pacing is quick as well and the end got CRAZY.
The audiobook is available on Kindle Unlimited, so I decided to check that out since I have heard Chanté McCormick narrate before and really like her. There are a lot of viewpoints, so it was quite the feat, and I thought she did an excellent job for the female characters. I especially enjoyed her as the voice of Foster and would definitely love to have her continue with the following books in the series. The only thing that was a little weird was her voices for the men in the story, and a couple of them were downright silly sounding and made me laugh. I would have preferred she kept her normal voice for the men, but everything else was great! Hide had me so intrigued and I not only loved all of the layers to the story but following along with the different characters as well. It is a police procedural for sure but with added viewpoints so that's not all it is. I can't wait to see where Clark goes next with Foster!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Hold onto your hats kids, The Nightmare Man by J.H. Markert is a bumpy ride and boy was it a doozy!! I have never read anything like this wild and craHold onto your hats kids, The Nightmare Man by J.H. Markert is a bumpy ride and boy was it a doozy!! I have never read anything like this wild and crazy book, and while some parts are just downright weird, I found myself totally loving it. It is bookish in nature since Ben Bookman is a writer (how novel with a last name like that), and Markert brings the suspense and gore with murders straight out of Ben’s book. I don’t think I fully grasped what the full plot would be since at one point, I thought the book was over, but I was nowhere close to being done. There are lots of horror elements and this definitely isn’t going to be a story for the faint of heart. Markert blends past and present together and while you would think the switches would be confusing, they really weren’t, and I was able to easily follow along. It also helped that the before chapters are labeled as such and are italicized in the book. There are also consistent viewpoint changes which I liked a lot even though at times those did get a touch confusing just for a moment. I eventually got used to them and I was fine listening to the audiobook.
And speaking of the audiobook, I loved it! The narrator is David Bendena and I just now realized I’ve actually listened to him narrate once before (he was in the cast for House of a Thousand Lies by Cody Luke Davis). I enjoyed his narration quite a bit for this book and I thought he did an excellent job with the different voices he had for the various characters. He added an extra creep factor on top of what was already there, and I would definitely recommend listening to The Nightmare Man. This would be an excellent book to read around Halloween, but if you love horror and spooky books all year round like me, it would be great anytime! There is one part that was akin to a Batman movie and more than once my mouth dropped open at things that happen in the story. I just loved the twisty and otherworldly feel this book provided and I am holding out hope that there is a series in here somewhere.
Thank you to the publishers for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more