I normally steer away from police procedural novels, with only being loyal to Meg Gardiner's UNSUB series, but I kept seeing John McMahon's newest novI normally steer away from police procedural novels, with only being loyal to Meg Gardiner's UNSUB series, but I kept seeing John McMahon's newest novel, HEAD CASES, popping up with great reviews all over bookstagram, so I knew that I needed to give it a try!
The story is centered around Gardner Camden, a neurodivergent FB Agent. Gardner is a genius when it comes to puzzles, but struggles when it comes to people—even his own daughter. When DNA ties a new murder to a long-dead serial killer, Gardner and his team in the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit jump into action, chasing a killer who’s leaving riddles just for them. As they race to solve the case, they realize the murderer isn’t just playing games—he's coming for them too.
This book took a while to get into, which is why I am giving this a 4-star, because it took me about 1/3 of the way in to fully feel invested into the story. It's a bit slow moving and more procedural than I would like, but when we get action, WE GET ACTION! Gardner is a very strong protagonist to root for, and I think the adaptation to series will be incredible. If you like serial killer novels, specifically UNSUB or anything by Lars Kepler, I think you should give HEAD CASES a try!...more
Ben Packard is literally one of the best protagonists I’ve ever encountered in a crime fiction series. Joshua Moehling’s third installment, A LONG TIMBen Packard is literally one of the best protagonists I’ve ever encountered in a crime fiction series. Joshua Moehling’s third installment, A LONG TIME GONE, is the most personal book in this series and fans of Moehling’s storytelling will want to prioritize this one!
Ben Packard’s brother disappeared when Ben was just a boy, leaving only the memory of him walking out the back door into the cold night and never returning. Now a deputy, Ben is on leave after a shooting and haunted by the resurfacing of new information that might finally lead him to his brother’s body. As he investigates the case, he uncovers a suspicious death that may be connected, facing resistance from all sides as he risks everything to uncover both the truth about his brother and a dangerous killer.
A LONG TIME GONE is a slower-paced novel than Moehling’s previous two releases, but it also goes deeper into the personal life of Ben Packard more than ever before. This series continues to deliver and the ending literally brought tears to my eyes. I’m excited to see where Moehling will go with the continuation of this series!...more
Meg Gardiner’s UNSUB series is my favorite series of all time. I said what I said! I fell in love with this series’ dark and unapologetic storytellingMeg Gardiner’s UNSUB series is my favorite series of all time. I said what I said! I fell in love with this series’ dark and unapologetic storytelling—you just never know who Gardiner will axe off and it’s so creepy! I loved every installment of this series and her latest, SHADOWHEART, is no exception.
This time around, FBI Special Agent Caitlin Hendrix, is in New York City, trying to find a copycat killer who is repeating the work on a serial killer who’s been jailed since the late ‘00s. In a Tennessee prison, Efrem Judah Goode has been drawing the victims of his past in response to coming forward with their identities. At the same time, this copycat killer, nicknamed the Broken Heart Killer (you’ll find out why) is killing people in the same locations that Goode left his victims back in 2008. These two serial killers have a twisted relationship somehow and Caitlin needs to find out what it is before more people are murdered.
This book starts a bit slower than the previous Unsub novels, but once you get to about 80ish pages, you’ll be hooked. I am so tired because I read the book in one sitting. After I read the book, I double check the locks and behind the shower curtain before bed because this book seriously creeped me out. SHADOWHEART felt the most like a standalone than its predecessors because we didn’t get much insight into Caitlin’s personal life, so fans of the series may have opinions about that, but I loved it nonetheless. I hope this series continues to thrive because I can’t get enough. ...more
A great continuation of the Andy Mills series, with more of Andy’s own personal story to explore. This story is slower paced than Lavender House and IA great continuation of the Andy Mills series, with more of Andy’s own personal story to explore. This story is slower paced than Lavender House and I didn’t love the quick wrap up at the end, but I loved the historical research that the author included with this story. I hope we see more of Andy’s personal life as this series goes on!...more
I FOUND A PROCEDURAL NOVEL THAT I ENJOYED! S.A. Cosby’s upcoming thriller, ALL THE SINNERS BLEED, is the first detective/procedural novel that I’ve enI FOUND A PROCEDURAL NOVEL THAT I ENJOYED! S.A. Cosby’s upcoming thriller, ALL THE SINNERS BLEED, is the first detective/procedural novel that I’ve enjoyed since the Meg Gardiner Unsub Series! Is it a full moon?! I really fell in love with this author’s storytelling with Razorblade Tears, so I knew that I needed to read this one. This book is very, VERY heavy, and has multiple triggers so be wary of the story if you need to know them. This book talks racism, SA and trauma, and gun violence. The story is centered around Titus Crowne, the first Black sheriff in Charon County and his investigation into a school shooting that ends up being linked to a dead teacher’s child and sexual abuse ring. Again, go into this novel knowing it’ll be a heavy one. I was floored and shocked at every turn. The slow-building suspense just filled the pages and I couldn’t stop reading! I usually don’t enjoy the slow-burn aspect of procedural novels, but S.A. Cosby is an expert at storytelling and ALL THE SINNERS BLEED is a provocative and riveting journey....more
Procedurals are always hit or miss for me. I love the Unsub series and I love Sharon Bolton's The Craftsman / The Buried and her Lacey Flint series, bProcedurals are always hit or miss for me. I love the Unsub series and I love Sharon Bolton's The Craftsman / The Buried and her Lacey Flint series, but I've truly struggled with every other procedural novel that has come my way. Jennifer Herrera's debut novel is unique because it's very procedural but also has some heart and character in it. Ok, I'm retiring the word "procedural" for the rest of this review.
The story is centered around Detective Leigh O'Donnell after she's been suspended from her job at the NYPD. She allowed a criminal to escape after a lapse in judgment was made, so she returns back to her hometown in Ohio where she takes up a position as a detective there after three 20something year old men were found together in the town's waterfalls. While Leigh begins to investigate, she sees similarities with previous cases and suspects a connection. Leigh also is at odds with her estranged husband as well, adding more stress onto her position. She just wants to be the best mom she can be to her little daughter, while also working in a field that she feels fulfilled in. The town of Copper Falls is a character of its own in this story and allows for the reader to get immersed into the town's mystery. There were a lot of additional secondary storylines that didn't add to the mystery, but I'm curious to see what Jennifer Herrera has up her sleeves next. THE HUNTER is very well written and will be fun for those who enjoy slow burn p's (not saying it ;) ). ...more
Lauren Nossett's upcoming debut novel THE RESEMBLANCE was one of my highest priority TBR reads for 2022. I loved how gorgeous the cover is an3.5 stars
Lauren Nossett's upcoming debut novel THE RESEMBLANCE was one of my highest priority TBR reads for 2022. I loved how gorgeous the cover is and I really enjoy mysteries surrounding the secrets behind Greek Life in college. Just a fair warning, this book does not depict fraternities and sororities in the best light, so if you belong to one, just know that going into it that you may have your defenses up. I had a very painful experience dealing with fraternities in college, so I was able to enjoy the anti-Greek life spin on this one.
Anyways, the story focuses on a fraternity brother's hit and run murder and we are given two lead investigators—Detective Marlitt Kaplan and her partner Teddy. As the duo forges an investigation, secrets and lies behind the University of Georgia's Greek Life begins to spiral out of control. With an amazing protagonist, I feel in love with Marlitt. She was my favorite character in the book. As I was reading, I felt that the pacing was disjointed. It moved very slowly and then out of nowhere everything exploded at once, followed by another slow moving story arc. I didn't expect how the ending would turn out the way it did, but I felt that it wasn't the right ending at all to tell. It seemed a bit farfetched to believe, but I still loved the mystery in this book. Marlitt Kaplan needs to return, however I am not sure this is a series. She 100% makes up for any issues I had with the book and I can't imagine anyone not being completely enamored by her. The Resemblance is an impressive debut fiction novel and I am excited to see what Lauren Nossett has up next for readers....more
Caitlin Wahrer's debut novel The Damage is my favorite book of the year (dated 5/26, so could change, but very unlikely). There's a lot to unpack Caitlin Wahrer's debut novel The Damage is my favorite book of the year (dated 5/26, so could change, but very unlikely). There's a lot to unpack here and I'm not sure my review will give it justice. This book is centered around the Hall family—mainly brothers Nick and Tony, and Tony's wife Julia. Tony and Nick are half brothers, born 17 years apart. Their alcoholic father has created a unique dynamic with Tony and Nick. Tony views Nick as a son, rather than a younger brother. The story focuses on a night that Nick experienced—and I have to be delicate in how I speak to this synopsis to avoid spoilers—but Nick is raped and beat up after meeting someone at a bar. Nick is gay and the focus of this rape becomes public fodder. The Hall's lives are all changed by this one moment, but what happens next is something a lot more complicated than any of them ever expected. The Damage dives into many different genres, but ultimately asks how far people would go to protect their family and the ones they love.
Thank you Caitlin Wahrer for respectfully diving into male rape (especially within the gay community) and handling the subject matter appropriately. I can tell you did your research when choosing to write about this topic. This book had me in tears, jumping for joy, angry as F, and a bunch of all different mixed emotions. At almost 400 pages, I couldn't put it down and I'm sure the dark circles I have prove this. I can not even believe this book is a debut! Where have you been hiding Caitlin?! I can't even put to words how much I loved this book. This book has many triggers and maybe I have a propensity to read books dealing with trauma, but this one is a story that I want everyone to read. The plot is what hooked me in initially, but the character development is what had me flipping the pages like a psycho over the last 24 hours. You won't regret picking this one up.
If you enjoyed Chris Whitaker's We Begin at the End, you will absolutely love The Damage!...more
4 stars for conception, but it honestly is more of a 3 star book.
I loved Alex North's debut novel, The Whisper Man last year, and in fact, it was4 stars for conception, but it honestly is more of a 3 star book.
I loved Alex North's debut novel, The Whisper Man last year, and in fact, it was my 2019 favorite book of the year! That being said, when the time came to pick up his upcoming novel, The Shadows, I had high expectations.
The story is focused on Paul Adams returning home to see his ailing mother, but getting scooped back up in the drama surrounding the town decades earlier. One of Paul's classmates, Charlie Crabtree, was involved in a multiple homicide and then vanished without a trace. Paul ends up finding out that there's a possible copycat killer on the loose, emulating Charlie's schemes years back. As Paul extends his stay in his hometown, he starts noticing things are not exactly as they seem...
The best comparison I can make about The Shadows is that it's a combination of Nightmare on Elm Street meets Inception. Without spoiling it, the conception is stellar and quite immersive. However, the execution ends up creating a less than scary experience. The Shadows doesn't quite live up to Alex North's debut, but nevertheless still a fun ride. I definitely will continue to read Alex North's book and hope that he returns back to suspense and horror in book three....more
The Monsters We Make is a dark, crime fiction procedural novel that reminds me a bit of CJ Tudor's The Chalk Man. Set in Des Moines during the 198The Monsters We Make is a dark, crime fiction procedural novel that reminds me a bit of CJ Tudor's The Chalk Man. Set in Des Moines during the 1980s, we see a surge in reporting on this disappearance of local young boys. This book ventures into the world of pedophilia and has extremely dark moments that shed a light on this world of crime. The build-up is slow, but the ending comes fast, and sadly, abruptly ends. A fast read and definitely something that could trigger an emotional response. ...more
Taking place in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Mickey (Michaela) is an officer patrolling the city where she grew up. So many people in Taking place in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Mickey (Michaela) is an officer patrolling the city where she grew up. So many people in her life have been affected or killed by drug addiction, and her main role as police officer nowadays has been monitoring those affected by drugs. It's an all too real visual of our society now—this opioid crisis is NO JOKE, seriously. We all know someone who is struggling with it. As Mickey navigates through her day-to-day making sure the streets of Kensington are clean under her watch, she comes across a homicide victim. After she uncovers this victim, questions arise about her own sister, Kacey. Kacey has had a troubled life since she was a teenager—drugs, solicitation, prostitution, you name it. Mickey and her family, mainly her sister, are estranged. After questions arise about Kacey, Mickey discovers that her sister has been missing. As the novel alternates between the past and the present, we start to see the unravel of Mickey and Kacey's lives, and those who were surrounded by them. What has happened to Kacey and will Mickey be able to find her before it's too late?
I wouldn't call Long Bright River a mystery/thriller necessarily—it's more of a character study and literary fiction novel, but still has the darkness that you'd expect from a thriller. This book is an eye-opening experience, to say the least. I really felt for Mickey while I was reading because this could literally be many people in my life that I love. I have many friends whom have family members riddled by opioids and they just want answers. I've known friends who've cut out family members, just like Mickey did with Kacey, because the addiction is too strong to handle for them. It's such a battle, and it's sad to watch and read. But it's real. I really enjoyed how Liz Moore developed this story and I felt that she definitely had done her research while crafting this fiction novel. It felt like I was reading the diary of a woman who really went through this journey—I couldn't put it down! ...more
The Tenant is coming to the US in January 2020 and I see fans of Lars Kepler and Joe Nesbo fawning over this nordic noir crime-fiction novel. WhatThe Tenant is coming to the US in January 2020 and I see fans of Lars Kepler and Joe Nesbo fawning over this nordic noir crime-fiction novel. What starts out as a standard murder mystery, the story begins to unfold drastically to provide an over-the-top, yet definitely enjoyable, sinister master plot. I read this e-book during my commute home from Thanksgiving (thank you Dramamine for preventing motion sickness) and I read it in one-sitting! While the story is definitely bingeworthy, the characters really weren't super developed for me to really care what happened. As I said earlier, I definitely see Nesbo fans eating this story up and I see big things for Katrine Engberg!...more
Well this was honestly a surprise. It's been a loooooooooong time since I've enjoyed a police-procedural thriller. A very long time indeed. Alex NorthWell this was honestly a surprise. It's been a loooooooooong time since I've enjoyed a police-procedural thriller. A very long time indeed. Alex North's debut novel The Whisper Man is one of the best police-procedural novels that I've ever read, ever. Not since Sharon Bolton's The Craftsman, have I ever been so enthralled in a detective mystery. Alex North, you have a bright future ahead of you as an author, I'm telling you now.
The Whisper Man has several POVs throughout the novel, but the central theme revolves around writer and father, Tom Kennedy, and his son Jake. Tom's wife Rebecca died just one year earlier, and they family relocates to a new house to escape the horrors of the matriarch's death. At the same time, the family's new town is experiencing turmoil that has resurfaced from decades ago. Twenty years ago, serial killer Frank Carter abducted young boys and murdered them in nearby areas. He was nicknamed "The Whisper Man" because he would lure young boys outside their windows by whispering to them and convincing them to trust him. Once caught, Frank has disappeared in the media—until a young boy is kidnapped. Is Frank operating from within the prison walls or is this a new copycat killer?
I don't want to divulge more than that blurb provided, because the best part about The Whisper Man is the shock value it provides. Two of the main characters, Tom and Jake, are both lovable, and slightly offbeat, which is refreshing and intriguing at the same time. I actually really enjoyed every character presented in this book in some aspect (whether I loved them or loved to hate them). The mystery behind this serial killer is absolutely bone chilling! There were moments within the story that I was actually scared and had to peek outside the window to make sure nobody was there. This never happens to me! It's definitely one of the scariest thrillers I've ever read. Alex North, you have a new fan and I cannot wait to see what you have up your sleeve next. ...more
Shari Lapena is one of those authors that should be on everyone's reading lists. Her writing is always dripping with suspense, and she always knows hoShari Lapena is one of those authors that should be on everyone's reading lists. Her writing is always dripping with suspense, and she always knows how to captivate an audience. Sadly, I've only read her last release, An Unwanted Guest, but that was a fun adventure! When I was given the opportunity to read Lapena's upcoming novel, Someone We Know—I just jumped out of my chair at the chance! Hell to the YES.
In a small upstate town in New York, teenager Raleigh Sharpe has been breaking into his neighbors' homes. After his mother Olivia finds out about her son's break-ins, she contacts a lawyer for advice. However, she innocently leaves anonymous notes for her son's targets apologizing for his actions. She feels like it's the right thing to do, but now it becomes knowledge that there's been break-ins within the neighborhood. Why would her son want to go into people's homes and why would he want to hack into their computers? Olivia brushes this moment as a thing of the past, that is until one of her son's victims turns up dead. As news breaks about Amanda Pierce's death, Olivia starts frantically worrying over her son's innocence. She knows he wouldn't do anything to harm another person, but will her son's actions unravel into a deeper, more sinister mystery?
Someone We Know is a great light mystery, that weaves slow-building suspense with each page. I really enjoyed Lapena's ability to focus on a plethora of characters throughout this story. We get to know a lot about each of the neighbors in this tight-knit community, and each person is very different from the other. Each character is portrayed in their own certain light, so you'll never confuse any of them. The synopsis provided by the publisher, and my quick little plot wrap up does nothing to describe the mystery that unfolds in Someone We Know. Olivia's son's actions are literally the tip of the iceberg in this multifaceted story. The best part about this book were the interconnecting puzzle pieces all wrapped together into one massive mystery. You don't know which character's secrets are most important, and you slowly start to see how one mystery snowballs into another—making it deeper and darker than you ever expected.
Shari Lapena's been a very popular thriller/suspense author since her debut novel The Couple Next Door and her writing continues to grow in intensity and tact. Someone We Know is definitely going to entertain audiences—whether you can handle thriller novels are not. Trust me, anyone can enjoy this book, even if you get scared easily. Someone We Know is a book that will keep you guessing. ...more
Although I did not really enjoy Søren Sveistrup's upcoming crime fiction novel, The Chestnut Man, I will give accolades to the author's writing. TAlthough I did not really enjoy Søren Sveistrup's upcoming crime fiction novel, The Chestnut Man, I will give accolades to the author's writing. This review will not speak towards Sveistrup's talent or craft, but the story itself. I don't like giving negative reviews, so this one will be shorter than usual, and will just touch on the areas I was most frustrated with, rather than nitpick every little thing about the story. I did not know that the author is the creator of the television series The Killing, but it makes sense that this debut novel would follow a similar format. The books reads as a slow burn mystery that I could see working out better for a television series.
Copenhagen detectives are dealing with a major crisis—there's someone going around the city murdering innocent people in brutal, graphic killings. Detectives cannot find a motive to these attacks, nor can they find any similarities between them. That is, until they notice little dolls nearby the victims's bodies that appear to be intentional. They are two chestnuts formed together to resemble a body. These chestnut dolls are the only similarities between the victims, but police still have no rationale on finding this serial killer. They must think outside the box and dive deeper into the world of crime to unmask this criminal.
The Chestnut Man starts off fast-paced and very intense. After reading the prologue, and some of the initial chapters of the book, I was ready to compare this book as a possible Lars Kepler type of Nordic Noir, but as I kept reading, it just got to the point of "meh" for me. As I kept reading, I was hoping for something to happen, but it just kept going at the same glacially slow pace. I was bored and ready to give up. Sadly, I was able to figure out the mystery behind this story relatively early on, and when I wasn't proven wrong, it was very disappointing. The characters in The Chestnut Man are very one dimensional, and I really didn't have a strong opinion about any of them. I didn't love, hate, or care about any of them, which made for a lackluster read for me. I believe that Søren Sveistrup will have a great future as a writer, but The Chestnut Man just wasn't for me. ...more
Good Girl, Bad Girl is my first read by author Michael Robotham, and boy it was a doozy! My 3 star rating is actually 3 positive stars, so please Good Girl, Bad Girl is my first read by author Michael Robotham, and boy it was a doozy! My 3 star rating is actually 3 positive stars, so please don't take my review as a middle of the ground one, or a meh feeling. More of that to come, but first:
Robotham's Good Girl, Bad Girl is a story about trauma. A young girl is found in an abandoned house—filthy with matted hair, dirty, malnourished—with no record of her existence on file. This girl's age, family, or health files are completely non-existent. Who is she and why was she hiding? There's no missing persons report on file and she will not divulge anything into her life before being found. She is cast away to a mental institution, due to her violent and conflicting nature with others, and is visited by psychologist Dr. Cyrus Haven. Cyrus is here to observe this girl (nicknamed by the media as "Angel Face", but calls herself Evie) to see if she's of age and of sound mind, to be released.
At the same time, Cyrus is looped into a high-profile murder of Jodie Sheehan. Jodie went missing, but her body was found in a nearby park. She was a figure-skater, with serious dreams of being in the Olympics. The town is shocked—who could do such a thing? As Cyrus helps the police force investigate this crime, his interactions with Evie starts to develop. Ironically, both Jodie's case, and Evie's freedom starts to mesh together into one massive interwoven dilemma.
When I first started reading Good Girl, Bad Girl, it was a solid 5 star read for me. I loved hearing the mystery behind Evie's life, and honestly the book could've done without Jodie's storyline, and focused solely on Evie. As the book's story develops, I noticed my interest peaking early, and I noticed that the mystery behind Jodie's death was not as compelling as Evie's. All the interactions with the main and supporting characters was strong, but I felt like the subject matter behind Evie's childhood was more compelling than a typical murder mystery novel that we've seen before. That being said, Good Girl, Bad Girl's a solid mystery/thriller, and the writing is impeccable. Like seriously, I will 100% read Robotham's works again, and I plan to read more of his backlog in the upcoming months. I think that if you enjoyed Run Away by Harlan Coban, you'll really enjoy Good Girl, Bad Girl. It definitely will make a splash this summer when it's released. ...more
If you enjoy anything by Lars Kepler, you'll totally dig into Ragnar Jónasson's The Island!
Set in Iceland (well technically, Elliðaey, which is aIf you enjoy anything by Lars Kepler, you'll totally dig into Ragnar Jónasson's The Island!
Set in Iceland (well technically, Elliðaey, which is an island off the coast of Iceland), Hulda Hermannsdottir is investigating the mysterious disappearances of two women that have been possibly linked together for the past ten years. Iceland is a very peaceful country, where the homicide rate is nearly non-existent. How are these cases linked together? Who's the culprit and are they still thirsty for more?
I don't want to say too much about this story, because 1) I think that it develops into a strong police procedural and if I give too much more away, you'll be disappointed in my blabbermouth, 2) it's a slower paced story, and if I tell you anything else, you'll find yourself waiting impatiently until the conflict hits its stride. I really enjoyed how the plot unfolded, but at times I felt a little confused at the story's direction. I think redirecting the plot several times, without throwing in unnecessary red herrings, was a smart tactic because I really couldn't figure out what was going to happen—like I always do.
I really felt connected with Hulda, and her character development in this story definitely sparked my interest for follow-up titles featuring here. I really enjoyed the English translation of The Island a lot—it's very difficult to create a new narrative, and have it resonate well into another language. I am curious to see how this series will develop, and I'll be watching this author's next steps. ...more