Five families will arrive at their child's elite, small college for the opening night of "Parent's Weekend" to celebrate the successful closing of theFive families will arrive at their child's elite, small college for the opening night of "Parent's Weekend" to celebrate the successful closing of the first college year. The kids chose the restaurant and everyone was to arrive by 7:00 pm and unbelievably all five kids from Campisi Hall never show up for the planned dinner. At first the families thought they were just being reckless college kids but after a few hours one mother contacted the police knowing her son would never do anything like this to her since he knows how she worries about him. All the families start getting concerned when none of their children answer their phones with calls or texts when they were contacted so the police do take the matter seriously when just a week ago another student was reported missing and it didn't turn out very well. Why are 5 students suddenly missing when they come from completely different backgrounds? Does it have to do with past secrets of their parents or are the missing kids involved in dangerous or criminal activities that could cause harm to themselves and others?
I enjoyed this novel very much just as I have with the other 'Alex Finlay' books that I have read. I have become huge fan of this author and I can't wait to read more of his works. All the suspense and tension was well-written into the story and all the chapters were written from the different character's storyline and point of view. The characters were well fleshed out and I felt as if I knew the families and their kids. Did I mention I love 'Alex Filay's writing and storytelling? I was entertained and also trying to solve the mystery throughout the entire story and I don't have anything negative to say about this novel. It was a fast page turner and I highly recommend this exciting and intriguing book to everyone!
I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 4 1/2 EXCITING AND ENTICING ...more
A HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL AND EMOTIONAL STORY OF GRIEF, SHAME, SECRETS AND LOST LOVES!
The year is 1900 when lovely, young Dorothy, a new teacher arrives A HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL AND EMOTIONAL STORY OF GRIEF, SHAME, SECRETS AND LOST LOVES!
The year is 1900 when lovely, young Dorothy, a new teacher arrives in the small fishing village of Skerry, Scotland with bright hopes and dreams to begin a happy new life full of promise so different from her past.
Now, fifteen to twenty years later villagers see Joseph carrying an unconscious small boy soaked head to foot and wearing only one boot who he found washed up on the wet, sandy beach. Shock and whispers carry through the air speaking of the similarities between Dorothy's young son who was taken by the sea many years before. Dorothy will be the boy's caregiver over the brutal winter as there is no way in or out of the village due to blizzards and frozen ice afterward making any transportation or post service communication impossible. Dorothy grows attached to the strange child who reminds her so much of her own lost boy and her reality becomes blurred and challenged when she begins to to believe that the sea gave back this child to her as a gift to replace the one it took and she sometimes believes he is the same child. Meanwhile gossip continues throughout the village as usual because there is an uncanny resemblance to Dorothy's child which finally brings out secreted deeds and lies that some of the community carried from the past that may have led to the death of Dorothy's only beloved child.
This lovely and heartbreaking novel will stay with me for a very long time if not forever! I absolutely cannot believe this was the author 'JULIA R. KELLY'S' debut novel which was written so beautifully with magnificent and atmospheric storytelling of Skerry, Scotland where I completely lost myself within the pages and I truly didn't want the book to come to an end. It has been quite while since I have felt so much emotion while reading a story and I would find myself sometimes smiling although most of the time my eyes would be welling up with so many tears while feeling a painful ache in my chest experiencing the pain that the characters would be feeling (marvelous)! The author captured the authenticity of all the characters' personalities and feelings plus the isolation of the small community where I felt that I was actually there.somehow in this fishing village observing how everything played out. This was a wonderfully, rich reading experience which was due to the hauntingly, descriptive writing of 'JULIA R. KELLY'!
I highly, highly recommend this beautiful novel and I certainly hope there will many more books to be written by this talented author!
I want to thank the publisher "Simon & Schuster" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 5++ MESMERIZING AND HAUNTING ...more
Beth and Frank have a loving relationship and they own and run a sheep farm with Frank's younger brother Jimmy whom Beth adores. One day a strange dogBeth and Frank have a loving relationship and they own and run a sheep farm with Frank's younger brother Jimmy whom Beth adores. One day a strange dog runs onto the farm and attacks the sheep and Jimmy had no choice but to put the dog down when a young boy runs up to them screaming and crying "You shot my dog" over and over. Beth runs over to care for the boy when his father walks up and Beth realized it's none other than Gabriel, her teenage love of her life that she spent the most romantic and passionate summer of her lifetime. They thought they were soul mates during that time and Beth has never gotten over Gabe but she never thought she would see him again since he happened to become one of the most well-known novelists of the 1960's. What happened to this couple when they were teenagers and what will happen when Beth learns Gabriel lives less than several minutes walking distance from her farm and what about Frank, the most gentle, loving, patient man who may have ever walked this earth! Frank has endured many storms in his lifetime but will he be able to weather this tornado which is about to be unleashed on him without the security of having a shelter to protect his heart and soul.
This story has wonderful dual timelines that stem from the years 1955 -1968 .and will carry the reader on a passionate journey revolving around a love triangle. The writing was beautiful with colorful but not overdone descriptions of the picturesque English countryside and the small country village where everyone knows everything about their neighbors so there aren't many secrets that are able to be kept hidden. Unbelievably good character development without the feeling of being bogged down so the story flows wonderfully from each timeline so the reader won't get lost or confused. The prelude about who was shot, why and who did it will carry through to the end with some heart wrenching court scenes as well. This novel had so many emotional. components, since every character came with their own set of history or baggage. For myself the realism of the storytelling is what drew me in and I could visualize everything as if this story was a movie playing in front of me. There was so much love and passion from these flawed characters that many readers will relate to it especially if they had ever experienced such strong feelings of being in love and the pain of relationships abruptly coming to an end.
'Claire Leslie Hall' wrote a magnificent novel of love, loss, grief, forgiveness and misunderstandings. The atmospheric beauty of the scenery and village was breathtaking at times and it was wonderful to read a story taking place in these older decades where the author depicted lives being lived in a time so alien to our past twenty to thirty years with all of modern technologies and home and public conveniences yet it was so easy to picture what life might have been like in those days. Superb writing and storytelling. This novel " BROKEN COUNTRY " may be unforgettable for many of us especially if the reader allows themselves to be carried away on the waves of emotion within the writing without harboring harsh judgements towards any of the characters actions. Mistakes will be made, relationships tested, pain and suffering will be felt and remember there will always be consequences for actions whether right or wrong. This is not the genre of book I would normally read so I most strongly recommend this novel to all readers and I am definitely looking forward to reading more books from this talented author.
I want to thank the publisher 'SIMON & SCHUSTER' and NETGALLEY for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 4 1/2 STUNNING AND HEARTFELT ...more
Chloe and Sloane Morgan's mother was the second, brutally murdered victim of the "Bayside Strangler" fifteen years ago while they were only children aChloe and Sloane Morgan's mother was the second, brutally murdered victim of the "Bayside Strangler" fifteen years ago while they were only children and since that time they have invested their young lives to finding the serial killer who has haunted their dreams nightly. Suddenly the young women have gone missing and the police don't seem very concerned so the now retired detective who handled their mother's case back then and befriended the children who were completely broken by losing their mother to such a devastating loss, has tracked down Dr. Kendra Michaels (who has a certain expertise in helping police and FBI agents in the past) with the hope that she will help her to find the missing women. When Kendra hears the story she decides to help retired detective Paula Chase never realizing that this case will become so complicated with more senseless murders and also discovering that anyone who looks into this case will become a potential victim themselves. What has happened to Chloe and Sloane? Can they possibly still be alive and why did the FBI give up the hunt for this deviant serial killer years ago?
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced thriller which was riddled with excitement, suspense and some romance as well. I have read several 'Iris Johansen' books in the past and loved them all but this was my first book from Iris and her son Roy and I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to read this very entertaining story. This novel had a little bit of everything in it from a serial killer, a black ops agent, the FBI, the SDPD and the most wonderful dog with one blue and one brown eyed dog named Harley who I don't think I will ever forget! I loved most of the book because it was so well-written and executed although sometimes I would get a little annoyed with the snarky banter between Kendra and her romantic interest although it could be very amusing at times. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark murder thrillers with quite a bit of violence but some light humor as well which helped balance out the ugliness of the crimes. I thought this was a terrific novel and I will look forward to reading more books in the Kendra Michaels series!
I want to thank the publisher "Grand Central Publishing" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 4 EXCITING AND THRILLING ...more
Meredith McCall is a busy New York psychiatrist with a thriving practice but she is currently on leave due to a horrific tragedy which claimed severalMeredith McCall is a busy New York psychiatrist with a thriving practice but she is currently on leave due to a horrific tragedy which claimed several lives and has left her dealing with unbearable grief, guilt, loneliness and anger and is in no condition to help her patients when she can't even help herself. Meredith has been self-medicating way too much with alcohol and has withdrawn from all her friends and she is just feeling so lost with no light at the end of the tunnel. She wanders the sidewalks of New York aimlessly for endless hours, day after day hoping to find some relief or answers to her tortured emotions.
Then one day Meredith spots the husband of one of the victims and begins to follow him because he seems happy and that can't be possib!e since he lost so much more than she did and she needs to to find out why! She should know better than that and she knows she's acting irrationally yet she can't stop herself and quickly it begins to turn into an obsession although Meredith doesn't believe she's stalking the man because she just wants to help him and herself if she can find out how he seems to be a highly functioning man while she can barely get out of bed in the morning.
As time passes and Meredith sees a therapist for herself and finally gets back to work, she seems to be doing much better although she is still following HIM while she knows it's wrong and plans to stop but it just may be too late because Meredith has just added a new client to her patient roster and imagine her shock and anxiety when she sees who just walked into her office as the last patient of the day. You know who it is! Coincidence or something a little more sinister? Will Meredith take the bull by the horns and do the right thing or will she get more caught up in the games she has unwittingly been playing although maybe not by herself!
What an entertaining, fast and clever novel! This story was like watching a train wreck when you know you should stop looking but finding yourself drawn to the scene telling yourself all the reasons you need to keep watching. Meredith is a mess. She may have been a good psychiatrist before but she became very unstable and was making poor and some downright stupid decisions for a doctor with her qualifications. Twist after twist, Meredith gets caught in a gigantic spider's web where she could even lose her practice and her license or risk possibly going to jail.
That is how deep she has dug a hole for herself and now she can't find her way back out and she is in trouble, big trouble! The bottom line is, Meredith is really a good person but she's not very smart in almost every decision she makes and I'm glad this is a fiction/thriller because I would hate to think of all the people in therapy having a psychiatrist like her! Creepy!
Sometimes the book was too repetitive at times although it didn't take away from my enjoyment factor just that it could have been a little shorter. When I got to the ending, I couldn't believe what I was reading and had to reread the page over and over again! I loved that unexpected and climatic finale. It pushed up my rating from a 3 1/2 star to a 4 star read!
Try to go in blind while reading this book and don't overanalyze the story, just sit back and enjoy it as you would a really good movie!
I want to thank the publisher "Atria Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 4 CREEPY AND SURREAL ...more
It is a party of teenagers and Amy Brewer is not having a very good time since she feels picked on by a few of the most popular girls so she decides tIt is a party of teenagers and Amy Brewer is not having a very good time since she feels picked on by a few of the most popular girls so she decides to go home after she's near tears and no-one even tries to stop her. Was it a blessing or a curse that the next day she finds out she was the only one to survive a mass murder!
Many years later, Amy is now an FBI agent and always hoping to discover what happened on that fatal night where most of the town believed she had something to do with the murders and made her feel like the town pariah. Amy receives an email invitation to a reunion of sorts where all the invitees have some connection to the teenagers who were violently killed on that horrific night. Amy doesn't really want to go on this getaway yet she feels compelled to attend this reunion because maybe she can finally put the pieces back together and solve all the murders that destroyed her life as well on that unforgettable night.
This was a very good and enjoyable mystery/thriller by Stacie Grey. Many twists and red herrings throughout the story and Amy was also a solid character with a lot of baggage. Most of the characters were fun and entertaining although I was hoping this would be a much darker book but this was due to my own personal taste since there wasn't anything wrong with the storyline or writing. I think many people would enjoy this book and I definitely recommend it to all mystery lovers, especially if they enjoy their mysteries being a little lighter but not a cozy mystery either.
I want to thank the publisher "Poison Pen Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and and thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 3 1/2 MADDENING REUNION ...more
In the year of 1938 on a small island off the coast of Wales resides a young woman of eighteen named Manod,who struggles between her feelings of leaviIn the year of 1938 on a small island off the coast of Wales resides a young woman of eighteen named Manod,who struggles between her feelings of leaving her family and isolated existence on the island to finding a better life for herself and to see what the world is really like and not just from just from things she has read.about the outside world.
Never any excitement on the island until the day a whale washes up on their beach Day in day out many of the islanders visit the whale especially the children who talk to him or play games around it. Soon after more excitement comes about when two fancy people come to the island to study the inhabitants and their way of life. Since all the residents speak mainly Welsh, the couple hires Manod to be an interpreter for them as they visit the people in their homes and work. Manod is attracted to the couple's worldliness and mannerisms as well as they style of dress. Soon Manod is seduced by the couple's glamor and stories of their travels as they encourage her that she is capable of enhancing her own life if she would leave her island. As time goes on Manod begins to see and understand that the couple may have had ulterior motives that could harm the naive, hardworking community in many ways that none of them could have foreseen except for the foreigners who only had their own interests at heart.
This was a lovely although bleak story told through Manod's eyes. Strictly a fishing island, the men and women work from sunrise to sunset from the men out in their fishing boats to the children collecting mollusks and clams while the women clean all the aquatic life to prepare to be sold to the mainland. The author Elizabeth O'Connor does a wonderful job in her atmospheric writing of the sights, sounds, smells and in showing the isolated and droll life that the islanders face and accept every day of their lives. The population decreases every year due to many of the teenagers who leave for the mainland after they graduate school from their small little classroom. I enjoyed the character of Manod very much but I wish she was a little less robotic with her thoughts and actions.
The parts I did not like were the paragraphs were not separated and I would find times and days confusing since some thoughts seemed incomplete and then I would be in a different place or time of day and that was annoying to me since it took away quite a bit of the fluidity of the storytelling which was very interesting and I just felt disconnected at times. I also enjoyed all the characters especially Manod's spitfire of a little sister. A little folklore and superstitions were blended in well and all in all this was a very engaging, dark, gloomy and emotional book that many people will enjoy.
I want to thank the publisher "Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor" and Net galley for the opportunity to read this book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 3 1/2 BLEAK AND MOROSE ...more
Noemi Broussard's life is finally looking up after a lifetime of bad choices and disappointments until the night her boyfriend Roddy is hit by a car aNoemi Broussard's life is finally looking up after a lifetime of bad choices and disappointments until the night her boyfriend Roddy is hit by a car and she is informed it was a suicide. Noemi cannot accept that it was a suicide because Roddy was very happy with their life and had a wonderful career plus many friends, so what happened? As she struggles to get answers she finds her uncle Louie has kept many spooky secrets from their childhood that were based on native lore but could any of these strange tales be connected to Roddy's death and if so, what else is playing out on the reservation that the elders have knowledge of and will Noemi somehow be able to find some peace with the truth or will it bring about more sadness and devastation to her as well as to the people on this reservation!
I thoroughly enjoyed this eerie and creepy novel. The storytelling was excellent and also executed very well as it was taking place in two separate timelines yet the stories were seamlessly connected and just so entertaining. I loved some of the history of two teenage boys on the reservation and their curiosity and belief in vampires and other childhood stories which took place. Some very scary and tragic events occurred when Louie was a teen and Noemi was a toddler that were never rightfully explained during that time but it was enough for Louie to leave the reservation when he came of age and now he has come back to settle some old scores and to help his niece if possible plus attend their tribes yearly celebration as a proud warrior who had never forgotten his roots!
I want to thank the publisher "Berkeley Publishing Group" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone and I can't wait to read more books from the author, Nick Medina!
I have given this book a rating of 4 1/2 CREEPY AND VERY SPOOKY...more
A reality show based in the Welsh mountains stranding seven contestants who believe they've signed up for wilderness survival competition will find ouA reality show based in the Welsh mountains stranding seven contestants who believe they've signed up for wilderness survival competition will find out they've been deceived and their worst nightmares are only just beginning.
When one of the contestants has gone missing, DC Ffion Morgan is assigned the case where it seems a little strange but when a body is later found brutally murdered the case becomes very complicated since a couple of suspects have personal relationships with Ffion so this assignment is a little too close to home.
Secrets and lies abound where they steer the case off course and Ffion makes some critical errors which may jeopardize her career as well as her life!
This was a fun and entertaining Welsh police procedure mystery that had humor as well as murder. The book was not quite a cozy mystery but it was not a dark, gritty story by any means which I was hoping to read. The storyline was very good and enjoyable after I realized it was a lighter style with some unrequited romance thrown in. Ffion was quite the character and her uncontrollable dog was a wonderful addition that I couldn't get enough of reading about. Around the three quarter mark the book took on more serious tones so I was completely invested by then and had an appreciation and love for all the major characters which I hadn't expected.
I definitely recommend this novel to readers if they're looking for a good locked room style mystery with light hearted overtones!
I want to thank the publisher "Sourcebooks Landmark" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 3 1/2 LYING AND SECRETIVE ...more
A young couple in love go away for the weekend but only one returns. This sounds similar to that notorious story in 2021 that continues to be brought A young couple in love go away for the weekend but only one returns. This sounds similar to that notorious story in 2021 that continues to be brought up in crime shows and podcasts even in 2024 but this book is about Nina and Simon and the obsessive actions of both their families to find answers about Nina being missing and Simon's parents willing to anything and everything protect their son's reputation and his life. Yes, this book does sound reminiscent of that case but believe me it is definitely not that infamous case! This fictional story is so much more nightmarish if even possible!
I absolutely loved this crazy and emotional thriller! This book has a little bit of everything and then some about thoughts and feelings of both sets of parents and the hell that they were going through every minute of the day and making the reader think about what would they do or feel if either of these young adults were your own child and to what extent one would go to get answers and justice for the missing child vs. how far would you go to protect the child who is the prime and only suspect in his missing, beloved girlfriend's case.
I enjoyed everything about this emotional thriller and I will look forward to reading more books by Dervla McTiernan. The author did a wonderful job on making the characters very interesting and believable as far as the story played out which becomes a wicked thriller and not just another sad, soapy and predictable story.
Sometimes the parents were so unlikeable and other times their actions and thoughts just wrenched my heart and wouldn't let go because of the deep heartfelt and unconditional love that each parent had for their child. I must not forget another hero to the story was the dogged detective who was determined to find Nina at all costs and the great job he did at leaving "No Stone Unturned". The detective was so likeable and interesting that I wouldn't be surprised if the author wrote a new series featuring this man and his police force. The last thirty percent of the book is so exciting, unpredictable, crazy, mesmerizing and to top it all off! The Ending is a Wow, Wow!
Highly, Highly Recommend!
I want to thank the publisher " William Morrow " and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 4 1/2 STUNNING AND EMOTIONAL ...more
Max and Annie Kingsley with their twelve year old son, Kip left their hectic yet plush lives in London to move out in the wild countryside to open a gMax and Annie Kingsley with their twelve year old son, Kip left their hectic yet plush lives in London to move out in the wild countryside to open a glamping business while also wanting to secure a more safer environment for their son who was not thriving in their old life due to many PTSD issues from his old life before Max and Annie.
The Kingsley's want to make a trial run of their business so they invited three close old university friends with their families on a three day reunion to catch up on all their lives since they only see each other once a year if they're lucky.
No one could have predicted the internal fires of resentment and chaos of unexpected and unexpressed feelings that had been buried throughout the years would now be simmering then boiling over into the tranquil environment with a couple of missing children where the adults hadn't noticed until it was too late. When a merciless, brutal storm beats down on the families with downed wires and no connections to the outside world and now a couple of adults are missing as well. The chances for everyone to survive is lessened by the hour as the once close friends point fingers of blame with their anger while the friendships deteriorate rapidly where they have become adversaries which will have dire consequences for every person who came to have a relaxing "glamping" trip in the peaceful countryside which is no more than a bitter end to twenty year friendships.
This was a wonderful read for myself filled with so much anxiety, secrets, big egoes, jealousy, hidden insecurities, catty spouses along with a few unhappy children who didn't want to be part of this glamping reunion. The writing and editing were very well done which made the book an exciting pleasure to read. The pacing of the book starts slow and easy and then just continues to build with a frenzy of emotion spilling forth from all of the characters which I loved. All the characters were interesting and well-written where I cared about what would happen to all of these flawed humans among the chaos of the relentless storm and tempers tumbling out of control. The book's suspense truly lived up to the climax which left every family affected in ways that were unpredictable in so many ways.
This was my first book by Hannah Richelle and I will definitely be looking for more of her works in the future.
I want to thank the publisher "Atria Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend this novel and have given a rating of 4 UNRELENTING AND DRAMATIC ...more
Laney Kilpatrick is still working through her feelings of being divorced from the love of her life (Kit) when they struggled through the pandemic. SinLaney Kilpatrick is still working through her feelings of being divorced from the love of her life (Kit) when they struggled through the pandemic. Since the divorce, Laney has has had a difficult time with finances since she has also become guardian to her niece (Maddison) so she has to rent out her beloved vacation home on Hemlock Island which was a wedding gift from Kit. Laney gets a call from her current tenant saying strange things have been occurring in the house so she and Maddy go out to the island and find Kit has been contacted also so he brings his sister along since he's determined not to let the girls go to the island alone especially since there has been hex symbols and items of satanic origin that have been previously found around the small island. They don't understand why their young caretaker didn't meet them when they docked instead they just found an uninvited and unwanted old friend and her brother who happens to be a police officer but Laney can't stand to be anywhere around him. So this ends up becoming a very uncomfortable situation for Laney but she'll cope for a few hours until they come upon a disembodied hand and of course there is no cell service on the island (right?) so they can't leave until the police arrive but someone has to get back to the mainland to make a call and that's when they find their boat gone and one of their guests missing. They are now all stranded together until someone else arrives or brings their boat back not knowing how dire their situation will turn out to be.
Someone wants to scare these people especially Laney but no-one could have foreseen the diabolical evil that will bring death and devastation to all of them unless they figure out who or what is behind the horrific happenings that are centered around Laney although she doesn't have a clue what's going on and just thinks it's been renters trying to scare her into selling the island and she's not about to be bullied into selling Hemlock Island.
Little could any of the group have known that they may never leave the island and that who or what is taunting them will be a force so strong that whatever they originally believed will test their sanity if they are lucky enough to survive their terror and horror that won't let them leave Hemlock Island!
Another entertaining book by author Kelley Armstrong. This book was based on the Supernatural which I always enjoy and while it was entertaining I didn't find it scary although there were a couple of really good unexpected twists that were fun. I found the characters were somewhat opaque for me without much depth to the horrific situations that would occur. Maybe the romance got in my way since it played too big a part throughout the entire story which took away from the tension or terror that I expected from them so their reactions were too vague and unrealistic for my taste. I think this book will have a great appeal to readers who enjoy lighter supernatural mysteries or thrillers although be forewarned some of the murders are gory but didn't seem to line up with what I consider dark and frightening horror novels. With that said, I loved all the Kelley Armstrong "Rockton and Haven's Rock" series and I can't wait to read more of them in the future. There are just so wonderful!
I recommend this book to others so the can form their own opinions and enjoy this book for how it was written. I have always enjoyed this author's books in the past so I will continue to look forward to read other books that she continues to write in the future.
I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 3 ENTERTAINING & STRANDED ⭐⭐⭐ STARS!!...more
Lexi Mazur is a thirty year old pharmaceutical reprepresentative making good money which allows her to live in New York and also give her access to heLexi Mazur is a thirty year old pharmaceutical reprepresentative making good money which allows her to live in New York and also give her access to her drug of choice that she has a horrible addiction to among many other things. Lexi's biggest and time consuming addiction is to reality shows (All reality shows). She spends her life digesting these shows as if they were necessary food for her body. It's all she wants to talk about to anyone who will even listen to her. This problem has caused rifts in all her relationships yet she doesn't understand why people think she has a problem. Another serious issue Lexi has is Stalking her ex-boyfriends and also one particular star of her favorite reality show. Lexi stalks people on the internet, instagram, Facebook and in person believing that they don't see what' she's doing. Eventually Lexi realizes she is also being stalked and instead of being upset she is thrilled that she would be chosen for someone to give her special attention so now she is on a mission to find out who her stalker is while accusing everyone she knows and just about anyone she just meets or runs into. Will Lexi ever realize that what she has been doing can have serious consequences or will she just go about her merry way hurting.others while she she falls deeper into the abyss of her pills, alcohol and reality shows?
Before I started reading this book, I thought it would be an exciting mystery/thriller and then after I started reading it I thought it would be a terrible mistake partly because I had to get used to the writing. OH, the LANGUAGE! The most profanity I have ever come across in a book. I don't consider myself a prude but this book was somewhat difficult for me because I nor the people in my everyday life don't speak this way (I mean with non-stop crazy profanity) but the language was extremely vulgar, crass, degrading, etc., etc. on Every Page maybe almost every paragraph but I'm still glad I gave it a chance and the disgusting language was just another part of Lexi's illness (maybe). This story follows a young woman's downward spiral as far outside reality that one could get. It was more of a psychological look at what living a lonely life with television being her best friend and medicating herself with pills and alcohol to achieve a numbing effect whenever uncomfortable thoughts would come into her mind. Eventually, everything starts taking a toll on her work and every aspect of her life as she continuously spirals out of control even when she finds herself with a chance at being on one of her shows, Lexi can't distinguish reality from fiction even when she finally crashes. This is a very raw, darkly comedic, irreverent and not a very pretty look inside addiction.
WARNING: If you are a person who is prim and proper at all times and dislikes over the top profanity or is easily offended by bad language then this book may not be for you.
I want to thank the publisher "All Due Respect" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this book a rating of 3 1/2 RATING AND CAUTIONARY ...more
A dark and dreary atmosphere surrounds the university at the end of a long cold winter while five psychology graduate students and their professor Dr.A dark and dreary atmosphere surrounds the university at the end of a long cold winter while five psychology graduate students and their professor Dr. Joe Lyons conduct a study experiment in lying and deception on a number of diverse students who aren't privy to the subject matter at hand. Shortly after the study begins an unprecedented volatile reaction from one of the subjects fuels another student's violent response bringing about a sudden unexpected halt to the experiment but before the experiment can be called off an extremely brutal murder occurs without rhyme or reason which has the detective working the case stumped. Just when the police believe they've found their main suspect another murder occurs that completely baffle them and they are at a loss on who could be responsible and now everyone will become a suspect since there are many clues floating around although no hard evidence is readily available.
An enjoyable an entertaining mystery thriller filled with several suspects, red herrings and inexplicable murders. The author R.J. Jacobs did a fine job of keeping my interest with colorful and interesting characters while trying to figure out the "Who Done It" puzzle and why? Especially, why were the murders so violent and gruesome? Could one of Dr. Lyon's small study really be a cold blooded killer? If so, the experiment should have been about murderers and their victims instead of simple deception. Recommended for any reader who enjoys locked room mysteries or a good mystery in general.
I want to thank the publisher "Sourcebooks Landmark" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this book a rating of 3 PUZZLING ...more
Chris and his two daughters go across country to camp out in the mountains where his loving wife always wanted to go but he was always too busy to takChris and his two daughters go across country to camp out in the mountains where his loving wife always wanted to go but he was always too busy to take the trip with her. Now that she's been gone for only six months he wants to bond again with his girls to right the wrongs he had done in the past. Kayla, a fifteen year old will barely talk to him without anger in her voice because she will never forgive him for what he did and Little Emma has not spoken a word since the day her mom passed away.
Chris loves his daughters dearly and hopes this trip will bond them together in a new way of hopefully starting over and becoming the family that his wife had always wanted. Now, an unexpected blizzard in the mountains while Emma has broken her leg with other damage make getting back to their car impossible as they have lost their way and they walk for hours with Chris carrying unconscious Emma with only snow, wind and trees surrounding them at every step. Without shelter soon they will succumb to the elements and it will be all Chris's fault and he hates himself for thinking he could make things right with Kayla when now she will never understand his love for all of them.
Finally, lips and fingers blue, teeth chattering, non-stop shivering with the freezing cold they come upon an old cabin with a light in the window. A woman named Clara lives here with her mentally disabled son named Billy and Chris his so thankful for her kindness so he finally can get Emma to the hospital but naturally the phone doesn't work due to the snowstorm so Clara expertly patches up Emma's leg so she will be in less pain although Kayla seems suspicious and a nervous, frozen wreck. They sense something wrong yet Clara is so kind and and generous to them that they feel guilty for thinking any negative thoughts but who are these people that live in the middle of nowhere in this odd cabin with signs of hoarding in every room while they wear the strangest clothing that doesn't fit them properly yet their host is so very gentle, intelligent and welcoming yet Chris and Kayla know something is very wrong but what other choice do they have. Before long this family will discover their nightmare is only just beginning since Clara has dangerous secrets from her past and before long Chris will be fighting to save.all their lives from an unknown presence who only wants Clara to themselves even if her death and theirs must be the final outcome.
What in the crazy world has happened? This nightmare can't be real because this is stuff that can only be found in a horror movie!
This book had everything, tension, mystery, suspense, horror, chilling details of murder, secrets, pain suffering and more. I just enjoyed this book so much! The writing and the storytelling were so captivating and creepy that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough while being entertained with each chilling chapter. All the characters were amazing with their detailed descriptions and prior life history. By the end of the book every question I had was finally answered and the story also had an unexpected satisfying ending as well. Some may find the book predictable but I certainly did not! There was one particular, fantastic twist where my eyes bugged out and my jaw just dropped open and I sad "Wow, Wow, Wow!". I just love when that happens! This was my first book by Caleb Stephens and now I'm a fan and can't wait to read more of his books. I highly recommend this book to all dark mystery/thriller and horror readers!
I want to thank the publisher "Joffe Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this book a rating if 4 1/2 MESMERIZING AND CREEPY ...more
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