The Heiress - Rachel Hawkins

The Heiress - Rachel Hawkins

Pub. Date: January 9, 2024

She Read

Camden is the adopted son of Ruby McTavish, one of the wealthiest women in North Carolina.  She was also quite well known as the victim of a kidnapping when she was a child and as a widow 4 times over, with husbands dying under mysterious circumstances. Upon her death, Camden inherited the family home and fortune.  For his own reasons, he estranged himself from Ruby years ago, as well as his inheritance and lives a modest existence as a teacher, married to Jules and living in Colorado.

When Camden receives a letter from a family member urging him to return to the family estate, Ashby House, which he owns and to put financial concerns in order, Jules encourages him to make the trip with her.  She has researched the home and, unbeknownst to Camden, dreams of living there adjacent to the Blue Ridge mountains. Upon their reaching Ashby House, it is soon apparent why Camden wanted to sever ties with his toxic family. 

The story unfolds via two POVs, Camden’s and Jules’, as well as news clippings and a series of letters from Ruby to an undisclosed recipient that recount her life story.  Like every family and every good thriller, there are lots of secrets here.  This Southern Gothic novel has it all…you name it, it is here.  Fast paced, I read it in one sitting as I did not want to put it down. 

Thanks to #netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC. 

****

The Doctor's Mistress - Daniel Hurst

 The Doctor's Mistress - Daniel Hurst

She read

Pub. Date; Dec. 6, 2023

This is the third in The Doctor’s Wife trilogy; I have read all three. I’m not sure you can fully appreciate this one without having read the first two. 

In the first book, Fern murdered her cheating husband, Dr. Drew Devlin, and framed his lover, Alice, for the crime.  Having enlisted Alice’s husband to help her, she also killed him, making it look like suicide.  While happily spending Drew’s very large insurance policy money in book 2, Fern met a new man who was not who he said he was and she ended up murdering him, with the book ending in a cliffhanger.  This, book 3, resolves the cliffhanger.

Alice has been cleared of the crimes and is released from jail.  She also has given birth to Drew’s child and has hooked up with the detective who arrested her.  Her greatest desire, however, is to hunt down Fern, seek vengeance, and bring her to justice.  Fern, meanwhile, has given birth to her last lover’s child, changed her identity, and is living hand to mouth in Cornwall.  

Told from alternating POVs, this book, as was the first, is an engrossing, fast read that I couldn’t put down.  You may continue to hate some (or all!) of the characters, but you will enjoy this psychological thriller.  It is an entertaining, escapist read; perfect as a “popcorn thriller.” 

Thanks to #netgalley and @bookouture for the ARC.

****

Moms Who Read Romance Novels - Jennifer Goldin

 Moms Who Read Romance Novels - Jennifer Goldin

She Read

I enjoyed Jennifer Goldin’s previous book, Anonymous Mom Posts, and when I was offered an ARC of her latest, I jumped at the chance to read it.

Ellory Brayson, a popular romance writer with a marriage in tatters, is worried about her career after she has a meltdown on national TV.  She escapes to her hometown of Jupiter Cove, Florida.  Her publicist devises a social media campaign whereby Ellory will enlist the assistance of some local romance novel readers to help her “edit” her next release.  This also means that she will be utilizing the local bookstore owned by her one time best friend with whom she had a falling out years ago.  Each of the women bring their own stories to the table as they sort through their lives. 

This was another very entertaining read from Goldin.  Acknowledgement of all the romance novel tropes is here along with the penchant of many readers for erotica, AKA smut, as well as the importance of social platforms for today’s writers. 

 I enjoyed each woman’s life history as well as the resolution of their current dilemmas.  Also within this book is an examination of the meaning of friendship, loyalty, forgiveness and the recognition that there are many kinds of love besides romantic love.  This was a fun, engrossing, uplifting read that also touched on some serious subjects without weighing down the storyline.

Thanks to @jennifergoldinwrites for the ARC. 

The Irish Lake House - Colleen Coleman

 The Irish Lake House - Colleen Coleman

She read

Daisy Clarke is working as a self employed illustrator in London.  She was raised by a single mother who died when Daisy was a child, which resulted in her being put in a care home.  She is scraping by trying to make ends meet, with a boyfriend, Ash,  who wants them to buy a flat together and a current project for a boss who seems less than pleased with her work.  She knew nothing of her Irish mother’s background, except that she was from the village of Innisfree and cherished a scenic postcard from there.

When handsome attorney James appears on the scene with news that Daisy has inherited a lake house in Innisfree, she travels there to sell the property to satisfy Ash’s dream and also to try to find out something about her mother’s history, including who her father was.  

When I first read the synopsis of this book, I thought it a mystery.  However, although there are questions to be answered, it is a romance/women’s fiction.   It is a sweet, not cloying story, full of charming (and a few not so charming) characters.  The descriptions of the Irish countryside are beautiful and evocative.  There is a bit of whimsy here, as well as poignancy for those things we have missed in life and hope for the future that awaits us.  In addition to a beguiling romance, this book is about making choices in life….weighing gains and losses involved in them, forging new bonds and finding our selves.

Thanks to #netgalley and @bookouture for the ARC.

****

Last Christmas - Maria Frankland

 Last Christmas - Maria Frankland

She read

Three sisters and their husbands have gathered at their parents house to celebrate one last Christmas together as their father has a fatal illness.  Sacha is married to Neil who is dealing with depression and the couple’s infertility problems.  He didn’t want to go; he doesn’t feel accepted by her family and is, in fact, treated abominably by the brothers-in-law.  Of course his own behavior and over drinking doesn’t help.  When his body is found at the bottom of a cliff, the authorities wonder if it was an accident, suicide, or something nefarious.  This is the beginning of the even more unraveling of family unity and secrets. 

Don’t let the title of this novel mislead you….no cozy holiday read this!  There are some tough topics here including terminal cancer, depression and alcoholism. The story doesn’t really revolve around Christmas except that the holiday gives the opportunity for the dysfunctional family to gather together.

Told from three POVs, the story is soapy, cliched, full of despicable people, and I couldn’t put it down.  The author drew me in and wouldn’t let me go until I finished the book.  I read this as an ARC and had one problem with a timeline…perhaps that will be cleared up in the printed edition.

By the way,  this novel made me even more thankful than I already am for being an only child!

****

Death at Paradise Park - Ross Greenwood

 Death at Paradise Park - Ross Greenwood

Pub Date: Nov. 6, 2023

She read

Just as overweight, out of shape, dodgy Alfie Hook is about to enjoy his fish and chips, he is killed.  Shortly thereafter, a body is discovered in a hot tub at Paradise Caravan Park and DS Knight and the Major Investigation Team are on the case.  Soon the body count starts mounting and while there is no shortage of theories about who the killer/killers might be, there are no convincing suspects. Many of the victims and suspects have secrets that are slowly revealed as the team becomes frustrated as to the solution.

This is the second in the DS Knight series.  It is the first I have read and it worked well as a stand alone. There are many characters here, but a list of the police team and their ranks is provided in the beginning of the book.  I liked the investigative team, especially their close personal relationships and their sarcastic humor, my favorite kind!   Despite the body count, graphic violence was at a minimum.  

This is a solid police procedural full of colorful characters and a plot that will keep readers guessing throughout.  I am looking forward to the next installment in the series.

Thanks to #netgalley and #boldwood books for the ARC.

****

The Spy Coast - Tess Gerritsen

 The Spy Coast - Tess Gerritsen

She read

Sixty year old Maggie thought she left her spy days behind when she retired to quiet, small town coastal Purity, Maine, the home of some old friends of hers from her early CIA career. When a woman comes knocking at her door to find out if Maggie knows where Diana Ward, a name from her past escapades, is, she realizes her cover has been blown.  Shortly thereafter, Maggie discovers the woman making the inquiry dead in her driveway, having been tortured.  Maggie knows she is in trouble.  

Told in two timelines, the history behind Diana Ward and a mission gone horribly wrong sixteen years ago is revealed while in the present, Maggie and her friends try to keep her safe.  Local police chief, Jo Thibodeau, is suspicious of Maggie and before she knows it, this retired spy is back on the road trying to put an end to that chapter of her life.  

I am a fan of Gerritsen’s Rizzoli and Isles series and this is the promising first installment of a new series, “The Martini Club” so named because it is the moniker Maggie quickly made up when Thibodeau questions why Maggie and her friends are meeting together so frequently. 

I’m not a huge aficionada of spy novels because they often are a bit over the top.  Gerritsen, though, has a great talent for captivating her readers and this book is no exception.  The story is an entertaining, fast read; suspenseful with charming characters.  There is some lightheartedness and I particularly appreciated the reflections on aging.  

I am looking forward to Book 2.

****

Two Dead Wives - Adele Parks

 Two Dead Wives - Adele Parks

Pub. Date.  Dec. 26, 2023

She read

When Kylie Gillingham is murdered, it is discovered that she is a bigamist.  Married to a landscaper with two sons, she is also married to a wealthy, handsome professional.  Suspicion always falls on the husband, but which one?  It is up to DCI Clements and her partner to solve the crime. Complicating matters is that this takes place during the pandemic with all its lock down regulations.

Meanwhile, Stacie Jones is back home with her devoted father after having lived in Paris. Cancer treatment has left her with amnesia and she is trying to claw back some memories.  

Told from various POVs, I chose this book not knowing that it was actually a sequel. Woman Last Seen by Parks is the first in the duology, apparently with an ambiguous conclusion that this book resolves.  I also thought this was primarily a police procedural.  While the reader does meet Clements, chapters featuring her are limited.  Rather, the focus is more on Stacie and, at times, Fiona, Kylie’s best friend who steps up to fill her shoes with her landscaper husband and children.  Much time is spent on Stacie’s thoughts and consternation about her present condition. 

I thought the plot and some of the action a bit over the top, but perhaps if I had read the first book, some of it might have made more sense and I would have enjoyed it more.  There was a lot of personal reflection on everyone’s part.  Unfortunately, I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likable.  

Thanks to #netgalley and @htpbooks for the ARC.

***

Split - Alida Bremer

 Split - Alida Bremer

She read

Pub Date:  Jan. 1, 2024

1936 Split, Croatia, Yugoslavia is teeming with individuals of various ethnicities and political proclivities.  Having come off the Great War and seemingly heading toward another, there are Croats, Serbs, Italians, Mulims, Jews, refugees, locals who smuggle them, Fascist supporters of Mussolini, Communists, Nazis, a German film crew making Nazi propaganda.  Josip Broz, known as Tito, is preparing from abroad for his eventual ascension as leader of the country.  

During one hot week, a murder is committed and it is up to Superintendent Mario Bulat to sort through all the possible suspects to find the guilty party. As he searches, the reader is introduced to various residents of Split as well as their political leanings.

This translated historical fiction/mystery is not a typical read.  The former Yugoslavia was a mingling of various southern Slavic peoples and that mixture is realistically portrayed. The mystery takes a back seat to all the political machinations going on at that time. There are a lot of historical facts noted and those unfamiliar with them may find themselves Googling for more information.

There are a lot of characters and they are all listed and described in a preface to the chapters.  I thought I might lose track of who was who, but there was enough repetition of main players that I caught on to who was who quickly.  

The writing is beautifully descriptive and detailed, portraying the charm and allure of the city, as well as its people and its cuisine. This book is not for everyone, but I really enjoyed it.  

Thanks to #netgalley and #amazoncrossing @amazonpublishing for the ARC

****

Rabbit Hole - Kate Brody

 Rabbit Hole - Kate Brody

She read

Publication Date:  January 2, 2024

Teddy has always been somewhat obsessed with the disappearance of her older sister, Angie, ten years ago. When her father commits suicide she discovers his obsession with the disappearance led him to active involvement with a Reddit community centered around Angie. When Teddy enters the community and starts communicating with others, it only intensifies her preoccupation leading to increasingly self destructive behavior.

The publisher’s synopsis of this book was somewhat misleading and I was a bit disappointed that it didn’t really deliver what was foreshadowed. That said, it was a character study of grief and depression and the personal and familial dissolution it can cause.

Although this debut novel was slow to develop, it was a fast read. I wouldn’t characterize this as a mystery but perhaps more of narrative fiction or psychological thriller.

Thanks to #netgalley and #sohopress for the ARC.

***

What Waits in the Woods - Terri Parlato

 What Waits in the Woods - Terri Parlato

She read

Esmé Foster left Graybridge, Massachusetts eleven years ago to pursue her dream of becoming a ballerina. That dream was quashed when she developed a hip problem. She returns home on the day her best friend from high school is found murdered in the woods behind her family home.

As she renews her friendship with her old clique, suspicion falls on many of those close to her. It is up to Detective Rita Myers to solve the mystery. Secrets that have been hidden for years are revealed about many of Esmé’s friends, family, and acquaintances.

There is no shortage of possible suspects in this character driven, engrossing thriller. This dark tale of a small town is told from two POVs, Esmé’s and Rita’s. There are twists, turns, red herrings, and a surprise ending.

Although this book is not touted as part of a series, this is the second Parlato novel I have read featuring Rita Myers. She is a good detective who is sometimes “creative” in her pursuit of criminals. I follow a number of mysteries/police procedural series featuring strong,capable female characters and I am pleased to add this one to the list.

Thanks to #netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for the ARC

****

Lost Hills - Lee Goldberg

 Lost Hills - Lee Goldberg

She read

Eve Ronin is a novice homicide investigator. Much to the consternation of many in the LA County Sheriff Department, she was promoted to her position when a video of her taking down and arresting a movie star for abusing a woman went viral. She is partnered with Duncan “Donuts” Pavone who is counting the days until his retirement.  While investigating a missing mother and her two children, they find the victims’  blood splattered home to be the scene of a horrific crime, but the bodies are not there. Although her quick thinking, ability to read clues, and dogged determination indicate she is well deserved of her promotion, Eve still has a lot to learn.

This is the first in the Eve Ronin series and has been on my TBR for a long time as I have read all the subsequent ones, having somehow missed this one. I have enjoyed all of the books. They are well written, fast moving, with good character development.  Eve’s heroics at the end of this story had me on the edge of my seat. 

I would recommend this series to fans of mysteries/thrillers/police procedurals, especially those featuring personable main characters. All of the books do work as stand alones. 

****

Manner of Death - Robin Cook

 Manner of Death - Robin Cook

Publication Date: December 5, 2023

Laurie Montgomery is the NYC chief medical examiner; her husband, Jack Stapleton, a pathologist recovering from an attack by a serial killer.  Ryan Sullivan is a pathology resident who, due to his significant personal history, is very unsettled performing autopsies during his rotation in the morgue.  Laurie tries to take him under her wing and when she mentions that there have been some recent suicides that were somewhat questionable as perhaps really having been homicides, he, with her consent, decides to review the cases.  Both Laurie and Jack warn him to only investigate within the department as they are still reeling from the murder of another reluctant resident who decided to look into a suspicious case. When Ryan finds a commonality among the deceased involving a medical practice and early cancer diagnostic testing, more lives including his own are in danger. 

Cook weaves an engrossing, fast paced tale; I did not want to put it down.  Told from multiple points of view, he taps into the very real fear some have of doctors benefitting financially from the tests they order.  I liked reading some of the not overly technical medical explanations involving forensic autopsies and testing for cancer.

I used to enjoy reading Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, but somehow got away from them.  When I saw this ARC being offered, I jumped at it and am glad I did. This is actually the fourteenth novel by Cook featuring Jack and Laurie.  Although it worked as a stand alone, I now want to go back and read the other thirteen!

Thanks to #netgalley and @putnambooks for the ARC.

*****

Murder at the University - Faith Martin

 Murder at the University  - Faith Martin

She read

When a body of an attractive young woman is discovered in her room at St. Anselm College in Oxford, Detective Hillary Greene doesn’t know what to expect.  A single needle mark on the body along with some bruising, as well as a closet full of high end clothes, raise Hillary’s suspicions and soon the hunt is on for a killer.  

Meanwhile, Hillary is dealing with a lot of personal issues.  Her deceased husband was found to be a “bent copper” leaving her with legal and financial issues as she finds herself living on her uncle’s longboat. To make it worse, she has to work with her husband’s questionable former partner and the officer who investigated her possible role in the misdeeds is transferred to her division. 

This is Book 2 in a twenty book series.  I thought I had read it as I have finished a number of the Hillary Greene stories. When I looked at it closer, I hadn’t.

Faith Martin writes absorbing British police procedurals and this one is no exception. The story is engrossing and entertaining with good character development. Hillary is a strong, capable leader. I really enjoy the humor expressed in Martin’s writing. 

I recommend this series for anyone seeking lighter British police procedurals with engaging characters. 

****

Absolution - Alice McDermott

 Absolution - Alice McDermott

She read

In 1963 Saigon, before the full fledged American involvement in Vietnam, two wives of husbands working in Saigon meet and develop a friendship of sorts.  Tricia, a young, socially awkward woman from Yonkers is married to an engineer working with the US Navy.  Charlene, mother of three, is socially aware, and hellbent on relieving some of the misery she sees around her with charitable gifts of toys, food, and clothing. Tricia’s life’s sadness is that she desperately wants to have a child but experiences multiple miscarriages.  She strikes up a relationship with Charlene’s daughter, Rainey, whose Barbie doll becomes the inspiration for one of Charlene’s schemes to raise money for her gifts. The story is told in retrospective, from two POVs, that of the elderly Tricia and the middle aged Rainey via correspondence between the two. 

This is a beautifully written, observant story that is both compelling and disturbing.  Here is the life of women in the early 1960s when a wife’s role was to be a “help meet”  for her husband.  I loved how Tricia’s memories point out some of the absurdities of a woman’s life in those days.

Here also are the provocative thoughts and actions of America’s presence and role in Vietnam in that era as well as the plight of the Vietnamese citizens destined to be house workers for the Americans and living in poverty under the threat and fear of attacks.  Who can forget that devastating photo of the young girl burned by napalm? Tricia certainly can’t. 

The characterizations are strong and there is an evocative sense of time and place. As a memoir, this postulates that there is “no such thing as a life without regret”; how do we find release or absolution from the consequences of those regrets?

The more I think about this book, the better I like it. 

Thanks to #netgalley and @fsgbooks for the ARC.

****