Book Review: The Search Party

• Publisher: Atria Books
• Publication Date: January 16, 2024
• Author: Hannah Richell
• Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
• Page Count: 352

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Blurb

A spellbinding locked-room mystery about a glamping trip gone horribly wrong when a powerful storm leaves the participants stranded and forced to confront long-held secrets and a shocking disappearance.

Max and Annie Kingsley have left the London rat race with their twelve-year-old son to set up a glamping site in the wilds of Cornwall. Eager for a dry run ahead of their opening, they invite three old university friends and their families for a long-needed reunion. But the festivities soon go awry as tensions arise between the children (and subsequently their parents), explosive secrets come to light, and a sudden storm moves in, cutting them off from help as one in the group disappears.

Moving between the police investigation, a hospital room, and the catastrophic weekend, The Search Party is a propulsive and twisty destination thriller about the tenuous bonds of friendship and the lengths parents will go to protect their children—perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley.

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My Thoughts & Opinions

The Search Party turned out to be a big surprise. I wasn’t expecting much, but the novel turned out to be a page turner.

There are numerous characters, and I found it very helpful to familiarize myself with the cast of characters outlined in the front pages of the novel. That being said, the characters became fully developed, distinct, and engaging.

The story unfolds through multiple points of view over the course of a holiday weekend. It starts with a “hook” and continues with mini cliffhangers in between chapters. I got thoroughly immersed in the story as there were numerous plot twists and sub stories that revealed secrets hidden for years.

A thoroughly engaging novel, The Search Party is well worth a read. If author, Hannah Richell isn’t on your radar, she should be. The Search Party garners five outstanding stars from me.

I was invited to read a DRC from Atria Books through Edelweiss+. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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Book Review: Big Sister, Long Coat

• Publisher: NorthSouth Books
• Publication Date: March 5, 2024
• Author: Nelly Buchet
• Genre: Children’s Fiction
• Page Count: 40

⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3 out of 5.

My Thoughts & Opinions

Big Sister, Long Coat is a cute story about sisterhood. It wasn’t a fun read, and it was pretty solemn. I’m not sure if that’s how it was supposed to be — somewhat serious, without rhymes, and humorless.

The illustrations were a little amateurish and could use some bright and fun colors to liven up the atmosphere. As it stands, the illustrations were a little depressing in my opinion.

Overall, Big Sister, Long Coat was a sweet story, but not something that I would want to read to my granddaughters or daughters. Three stars.

I was invited to read a DRC from NorthSouth Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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Book Review: The Heiress

• Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
• Publication Date: January 9, 2024
• Author: Rachel Hawkins
• Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
• Page Count: 304

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Blurb

When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family’s estate high in the Blue Ridge mountains. In the aftermath of her death, that estate—along with a nine-figure fortune and the complicated legacy of being a McTavish—pass to her adopted son, Camden.

But to everyone’s surprise, Cam wants little to do with the house or the money—and even less to do with the surviving McTavishes. Instead, he rejects his inheritance, settling into a normal life as an English teacher in Colorado and marrying Jules, a woman just as eager to escape her own messy past.

Ten years later, Camden is a McTavish in name only, but a summons in the wake of his uncle’s death brings him and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but coming home reminds Cam why he was so quick to leave in the first place.

Jules, however, has other ideas, and the more she learns about Cam’s estranged family—and the twisted secrets they keep—the more determined she is for her husband to claim everything Ruby once intended for him to have.

But Ruby’s plans were always more complicated than they appeared. As Ashby House tightens its grip on Jules and Camden, questions about the infamous heiress come to light. Was there any truth to the persistent rumors following her disappearance as a girl? What really happened to those four husbands, who all died under mysterious circumstances? And why did she adopt Cam in the first place? Soon, Jules and Cam realize that an inheritance can entail far more than what’s written in a will—and that the bonds of family stretch far beyond the grave.

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My Thoughts & Opinions

Initially, I didn’t quite understand the narrative and I got a bit confused at the ending. Then, in the middle of the night after mulling over the finale, that “Aha” moment happened. What started out to be a four star review has now evolved into something much better.

There are quite a number of characters. And in true Hawkins’ style, her characters are enigmatic and engaging. I did get a little lost on the relationships between the characters, but that confusion disipated as soon as I put some added thought into the family tree. Having done that, the novel became an immersive read.

The story unfolds through multiple points of view and dual timelines. Full of plot twists and mini cliffhangers between chapters, the narrative kept me on my toes and guessing till the end. The Heiress was a complex novel as it involved multiple characters, timelines, and plot lines. But after pondering the finale and encountering that “aha” moment, The Heiress became a rewarding mystery worthy of five solid stars.

I received a DRC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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Book Review: Broadcast Blues

• Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
• Publication Date: January 2, 2024
• Author: R. G. Belsky
• Genre: Mystery & Thriller
• Page Count: 320

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Blurb

Wendy Kyle took secrets to her grave—now, Clare Carlson is digging them up

New York City has no shortage of crime, making for a busy schedule for TV newswoman Clare Carlson. But not all crimes are created equal, and when an explosive planted in a car detonates and kills a woman, Clare knows it’ll be a huge story for her.

But it’s not only about the story—Clare also wants justice for the victim, Wendy Kyle. Wendy had sparked controversy as an NYPD officer, ultimately getting kicked off the force after making sexual harassment allegations and getting into a physical altercation with her boss. Then, she started a private investigations business, catering to women who suspected their husbands of cheating. Undoubtedly, Wendy had angered many people with her work, so the list of her suspected murderers is seemingly endless.

Despite the daunting investigation, Clare dives in headfirst. As she digs deeper, she attracts the attention of many rich and powerful people who will stop at nothing to keep her from breaking the truth about the death of Wendy Kyle—and exposing their personal secrets that Wendy took to her grave.

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My Thoughts & Opinions

Broadcast Blues is the sixth installment of the Clare Carlson series. But it is possible to read it as a standalone novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this whodunit from a journalist’s point of view. It was different from the standard detective angle and the pacing was faster than a cozy mystery.

The main character, Clare Carlson, is the News Director at Channel 10 News. And she’s just a spitfire of a character. Her unrelenting quest for justice really shines and not only was she steadfast in her investigations, she had the personality to match — full of spunk and snark. I loved her wry sense of humor and she had a supporting cast and crew to complement her in every way. What’s surprising is that the author notes that her characters were based on real-life people that she worked with as a journalist. That tidbit just added a different dimension to an already fully developed cast of characters.

The plot contains numerous twists which kept me guessing until the end. But it wasn’t that surprising once all the evidence was gathered and laid out in a methodical manner.

Overall, Broadcast Blues was an enjoyable, suspenseful, and entertaining read. I will certainly want to read more from this author. Five stars.

I was invited to read a DRC from Oceanview Publishing through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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Book Review: If Love Could Kill

• Publisher: Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor
• Publication Date: February 6, 2024
• Author: Anna Motz
• Genre: Health, Mind & Body | Nonfiction | Parenting & Families
• Page Count: 272

⭐⭐

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Review

If Love Could Kill is a collection of 10 case files of women involved in violent acts that the author was involved in. The book provides a psychoanalysis of each of the 10 women and the why’s for their propensity toward violence.

Cases were varied and included psychological disorders such as Munchausen’s Syndrome, Self Mutilation, and Erotomania, among others. But in the end it all comes down to the vicious cycle of the abused becoming the abuser after an endless cycle of violence.

I didn’t particularly care for the book inasmuch as I was probably expecting more of a true crime type narrative. Instead, I felt like a student in a case studies class analyzing symptoms, dysfuctions, and therapies.

The book eventually becomes a platform for the author promoting her political beliefs and reforms. Something that I didn’t need to read about. Two okay stars.

I received a DRC from Knopf, Pantheon through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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Book Review: The Mud Monster

• Publisher: BooksGoSocial
• Publication Date: September 23, 2023
• Authors: Jay Allen, Bill Taylor
• Genre: Children’s Fiction | Parenting & Families
• Page Count: 36

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Blurb

Imagine you are alone in the woods searching for a lost ball, with rumors of a Mud Monster lurking in large mud holes around you.

In the adventurous and funny children’s book, The Mud Monster, Bullwrinkle the young Shar Pei finds himself in a sticky situation.

And what about The Mud Monster himself? Is he real or created in someone’s overactive imagination?

But as Bullwrinkle goes against his mother’s rules by entering the woods alone, he discovers the muddy consequences of his actions.

Your kids will laugh out loud at Bullwrinkle’s hilarious antics to find the lost ball, while they learn the importance of following family rules.

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My Thoughts & Opinions

The Mud Monster is a cute and education story geared towards children ages 3 – 8. In it, your child will learn two “grown up” words such as imagination and stubborn. And what better way to instill learning new vocabulary than with adorable illustrations and a story that also teaches family values such as respect and honor.

The characters are fun and are portrayed by family friendly pets like a Newfoundland, Labrador Retriever, and of course the star — a Shar Pei named Bullwrinkle.

A wonderful, fun and entertaining read, The Mud Monster is sure to please any pre-schooler. Five adorable stars.

I received a DRC from BooksGoSocial through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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Review: Mercury

• Publisher: Celadon Books
• Publication Date: 1/2/24
• Author: Amy Jo Burns
• Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Women’s Fiction
• Page Count: 336

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Review

Mercury is the rural hometown to the Joseph family, where Mick and Elise own and operate a roofing company. Their three sons, Baylor, Waylon, and Shay help with the family business when they can. But when Marley West and her mom Ruth arrive into town, sibling rivalry and jealously threaten to upend the Joseph’s family dynamics. And will it be for the best or worse?

I really enjoyed Mercury. The novel was a little depressing at times as it portrayed a rural family struggling to make ends meet while also dealing with modern/contemporary issues such as PTSD, gay relationships, and dementia. It is not a light read due to the subject matter. And as a family drama, it did get a little intense at times. With numerous plot twists that unfold over multiple timelines, Mercury kept me engaged and captured till the end.

The characters are well developed and genuinely portray a rural family of the 90’s. I liked all of the characters as they all added flavor and color to the narrative. But it is the main character of Marley that really made the story come to life. I watched Marley grow from dependent teenager, to loving mother and wife, and into an independent, strong businesswoman that persevered through thick and thin.

Overall, Mercury was an excellent family drama well deserving of five solid stars.

I received a DRC and ARC from Celadon Books through NetGalley and the Bookish First Raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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DRC Review: Public Anchovy #1

• Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
• Publication Date: December 26, 2023
• Author: Mindy Quigley
• Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
• Page Count: 320

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Blurb

While Geneva Bay’s upper crust gets ready to party down at a Prohibition-themed fundraiser, pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is focused on seeing her struggling restaurant through the winter slow season. The temperature outside is plummeting, but Delilah’s love life might finally be heating up, as hunky police detective Calvin Capone seems poised to (finally) make a move.

But Delilah’s hopes of perfecting a new “free-from” pizza recipe for a charity bash are dashed when a dead body crashes the party. Soon, Capone, Delilah, and her entire staff are trapped in an isolated mansion and embroiled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

To catch an increasingly-desperate killer, Delilah will have to top all of her previous crime-solving accomplishments, and a few pizzas, too.

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My Thoughts & Opinions

Public Anchovy #1 is the third novel in the Deep Dish Mysteries series, but it is possible to read it as a standalone.

The main characters of the novel, Delilah and Sonya get involved in a double murder investigation when two guests at a charity function are found dead under suspicious circumstances. Both Delilah and Sonya are likeable characters each with their own cute sense of humor. There is a third regular character — Butterball the cat. And although cute, I didn’t see the point, nor the need for having a cat in the mix.

The narrative was a little slow for my tastes and a little too methodical. But I managed to speed through all of the “window dressing” without any problems, and without missing out of any of the finer points.

The finale wasn’t a surprise, but I did like the manner in which the story played out for the big reveal and the motive behind the murders. It was very “Perry Mason-like.”

Like most cozy mystery novels, there are several recipes at the end of the book that showcased some of the delectable offerings mentioned in the novel.

Overall, Public Anchovy #1 was a delightful read. Four stars.

I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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