Save Her Twice - Helen Phifer

 Save Her Twice - Helen Phifer

Pub. Date: Feb. 7, 2024

She read

A group of young women who are survivors of attacks have formed a support group.  They are all “final girls”, the women who lived.  Now it seems someone is trying to kill them off.  One of them, Lexie, is already dead. This is personal for Detective Morgan Brookes, herself considered a “final girl”, also having survived attacks by perpetrators of some of those crimes and she feels guilty that she was not able to save Lexie a second time.  All of them are in grave danger.  

This is the eleventh in the Morgan Brookes series; I have read three of them.  This is another engrossing, if somewhat macabre, fast paced read for those who enjoy British police procedurals, mysteries, and thrillers.  It works well as a standalone, but you will have a better understanding and appreciation of the characters background if you read some of the earlier ones as well.

I have added Phifer’s Morgan Brookes series to my list of mystery/thrillers I enjoy that feature capable female detectives with amiable supporting characters.

Thanks to #netgalley and @bookouture for the ARC. 

****

The Rumor Game - Thomas Mullen

 The Rumor Game - Thomas Mullen

She  Read

It is June, 1943 in Boston and isolationists are hell bent on keeping America out of full scale war in Europe.  There are ethnic tensions among the various groups including Irish, Italians, and Jews. Reporter Anne Lemire, who has only of late discovered her Jewish roots, is anxious to land a big story and is trying to unravel the violence instigated against Jews in her hometown. Agent Devon Mulvey, an Irish Catholic rarity in the FBI, is charged with uncovering sabotage in the wartime industries.  When an immigrant factory worker is killed, their paths cross in a dangerous and alluring race to uncover the truth.

I enjoyed this story, despite some of the male characters being extremely annoying with their caddish behavior and demeaning remarks.  Mullen captures well the “feel” of the war years…the ration cards, the uber patriotic films, the sacrifices and making due for “the duration.”.  Here also are the domestic Fascist groups, xenophobia, propaganda, prejudice, and what is today called disinformation.  The book is a well written, creative page turner. 

I am always concerned about accuracy in historical fiction.  Be sure to read the author’s notes at the end regarding his research and some of the real events that inspired his fictional accounts.  

Thanks to #netgalley and @stmartinspress #minotaurbooks for the ARC.

****

After Annie - Anna Quindlen

 After Annie - Anna Quindlen

Pub. Date: Feb. 27, 2024

When Annie, pregnant with her first child, married high school boyfriend turned plumber, she wanted nothing more than the secure comfort of her family and to provide nurturance to the residents in her care as an attendant in a nursing home. Her best friend, Annemarie, wanted more and after graduating from college, developed a successful business. When Annie dies unexpectedly with four young children, her family tumbles into grief and chaos, as does Annemarie.  Their pain is palpable as the reader spends a year with the family and friend, experiencing how they learn to cope with their bereavement.  

Anna Quindlen is a skilled writer.  I have loved everything I have read by her, this being no exception.  The story is both sad and uplifting and I suspect will result in many readers taking an introspective look at loss in their own lives. 

Written with poignancy and compassion, Quindlen displays insight into the thoughts, feelings and actions of people grappling with and living their lives. As in some of her other works, she portrays well the experience and vibe of living in a small town.

There are some heavy topics here: death, child abuse, substance abuse. They are dealt with realistically and sensitively.  

I recommend this book for fans of literary fiction/ women’s fiction and for those who want to make a foray into these genres. 

Many thanks to #netgalley and @randomhouse for the ARC.

*****

The Trouble with You - Ellen Feldman

The Trouble With You - Ellen Feldman

Pub. Date: Feb. 20, 2024

She read

 Although she attended one of the “sister” schools, Fanny was raised in a time when education for a woman was to prepare her for being a wife and mother.  Faced with the financial strain of raising a child on her own, she takes a job as a secretary for a very popular radio serial (never a “soap”!) and is soon faced with a situation in which she must choose between what is safe and what her conscience and her heart tell her to do. Fortunately, she has the influence of her Aunt Rose, a woman before her time, who provides sage advice and encourages her in all her pursuits.

I really liked this book and could not put it down.  It deals with very important historical issues: the role and treatment of women in the 1950s and McCarthyism and blacklisting.   I liked the characters and their evolvement over time. Well written, with touches of suspense, I don’t want to say much more about the story in order to avoid spoilers.  What really struck and frightened me in reading this was what happened in politics in the 1950s with McCarthyism and the fact that we are seeing some of the same behaviors and activities occurring today in our society. 

The timeframe of this book is the late 1940s through 1968, although most of the plot takes place in the 50s. There are some thought provoking topics here for book club discussions.

Thanks to #netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC. 

*****

My Side of the River - Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez

 My Side of the River - Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez

Pub. Date:Feb. 13, 2024

She read

 

Elizabeth Carillo Gutierrez is a first generation Mexican American. When she was fifteen, her parents, who had Visas, returned to Mexico to renew them.  Denied renewal, the family also had her younger brother, a citizen of the US, brought back to Mexico. Elizabeth was left to live with a family who virtually ignored her, including denying her food, while she strove to do well in school and get accepted into a good college.  Despite all her tribulations, she was accepted at an Ivy League school, but was never far away from the strife, prejudice, pressure and sometimes panic that resulted from the present day immigrant experience in America.

I am not a big fan of memoirs, but this is a wonderful read.  Simultaneously heart breaking and heart warming, it provides good insight into the unfortunate immigrant experience of so many children separated from their parents and siblings.  Readers see the way immigrants are scapegoated when all they want to do is work hard and take care of their families, hoping for a better future for their children,  the separation of innocent, hardworking families, the prejudice, the exploitation, the dehumanization, and the very real effects on two children. Here also are the laws that have erased the acknowledgment of the true history and the culture of so many people,  the politics behind immigration, the blockage of passing any meaningful changes. 

I am especially pleased that the author points out the land grab by the United States and indigenous displacement that occurred in Mexico in the early 1800s. Not to many people know about this, yet they should. She also documents the effects of cultural machismo on a family.

I would recommend this book for book clubs everywhere; there is so much that should be learned about and discussed.

Thanks to #netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC. 

*****

Daughter of Mine - Megan Miranda

 Daughter of Mine  - Megan Miranda

Pub. Date: April 9, 2024

She read

Hazel Sharp, abandoned by her mother when she was a child, escaped  Mirror Lake, her two brothers, and her police detective father to build a career two hours away. When her father dies, she is called back to her childhood home which she finds out, much to the consternation of her brothers, she has solely inherited.  When first one abandoned car is found at the bottom of the lake, and then another, Hazel questions her whole history.  As tensions mount with her brothers, disturbing things occur in the house, including evidence of someone else having been inside at various times.  And then someone else disappears.  Is Hazel in danger?  

This is the fourth Megan Miranda book I have read and I definitely like this one the best.   As the mysteries and tensions mount, readers will find themselves guessing first one suspect and then others, and then maybe returning to their first suspect…no, maybe someone else!  Suspenseful, mysterious, menacing, eerie, atmospheric, I didn’t want to put this book down.  

Thanks to #netgalley and @_simonelement and @marysueruccibooks for the ARC.

****

Lethal Vengeance - Robert Bryndza

 Lethal Vengeance - Robert Bryndza

Pub. Date:  Feb. 8, 2024

She read

Robert Bryndza has become another “go to” author for me.  This is the 8th in his DCI Erika Foster series.

When a naked man is discovered murdered, having been hog tied and humiliated, Erika is first on the scene.  The victim is a top level politician and almost immediately the case is wrested away from Erika and his death ruled natural causes.  Then a popular footballer is found dead in the same circumstances.  As Erika investigates, she discovers an earlier case with the same MO. Clues suggest sex worker involvement and it seems the higher ups are trying to keep Erika quiet and out of the loop. Nothing, though, will keep Erika from her pursuit of the perpetrator.  

I like fifty year old Erika, despite her propensity to being rather brash and often annoying to her superiors.  They put up with her because her solve rate is outstanding. Told from two POVs, Erika’s and the killers, this is yet another riveting, can’t put down mystery/thriller from Bryndza.  The focus here is on the relentless pursuit of the very clever criminal as well as unraveling the why of choice of victims. I really liked the shifting narratives that explained the motivation behind the crimes.  

You always know with Bryndza’s books that there will be a well plotted story that will hook you from the beginning. This book can work as a standalone. By the way, I also like his series featuring private investigator Kate Marshall.

*****

Thanks to #netgalley and #ravenstreetpublishing for the ARC.

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead - Jenny Hollander

 Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead - Jenny Hollander

Pub. Date: Feb. 6, 2024

She read 

Charlotte “Charlie” Colbert was a witness to “Scarlet Christmas”, a horrific tragedy that found some of her fellow graduate students dead.  That night and her lack of memory of it as well as her lie to the police have always haunted her as she rebuilt her life, rising in the world of journalism to editor-in-chief of an important magazine and engaged to the scion of a wealthy family.  Now, as the decennial of that event approaches, another woman who was also present that night wants to make a film about it and “tell what really happened”. Charlie’s life spirals out of control as she desperately tries to recall the events of that night while also attempting everything possible to prevent the film being made.

This book had ups and downs for me. I really liked the first quarter introducing the main character and the plot; I couldn’t wait to get into the story.  But then it devolved a bit for me as Charlie frantically tried to control the situation.  I felt it was a bit all over the place and some important characters not particularly well developed

While there was a mystery at the heart of this book, it also was a study of PTSD and how guilt can weigh one down.  The story is told in two timelines, then and now. There are some twists the reader might not see coming and may or may not like. Despite my reservations about the story, this is a sold debut and I look forward to reading other works by this author. 

Thanks to #netgalley @stmartinspress #minotaurbooks for the ARC.

****

True Crime - Georgina Lees

 True Crime - Georgina Lees

Pub. Date:   Jan. 30, 2024

She   read

Ten years ago, young student/journalist Katy went missing.  The case was never solved and her mother, Grace, has had to live with subsequent pain and anger.  Now, a true crime documentarian wants to delve into the mystery and interview all the suspects from that time, including the boyfriend she split with, the sleazy professor, and the colleague who appeared to be stalking her.  As they go down the rabbit hole of  investigation, will new clues surface and what will be the human cost of the show? 

It’s been a while since I stayed up late into the night and early morning to finish a book, but this one did it for me.  Well written, engrossing, and quite realistic, the story grabbed me and would not let me go.  As the  twisted story unfolded, I kept wondering where it would go.  At first, the solution seemed a bit questionable to me, but the more I thought about it, the greater the plausibility.

The narrative is told from Grace’s POV interspersed with Katy’s accounting of her last day before she went missing, and a summary of what is revealed in the episodes of the documentary. There are some important topics broached here including the true crime phenomena and the exploitation of victims and those surrounding them as stories are documented.  It is, as the book points out, a painful fact that being white, pretty, and from better socioeconomic status helps for one’s story being covered and it doesn’t hurt to be  blond.  The constant vulnerability of women in society is another critical theme explored here. 

I’m glad I found this book…well worth the read for mystery/thriller fans. 

Thanks to #netgalley and #harpercollinsUK #onemorechapter for the ARC.

*****

The Ghost Orchid - Alex Kellerman

 The Ghost Orchid - Alex Kellerman

Pub. Date: Feb. 6, 2024

This is the 39th book in the Alex Delaware series and I have read all of them. Obviously, I enjoy the investigative duo of Detective Milo Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware, as well as all the supporting characters and look forward to each new addition. Whenever I crack open a Kellerman book, I can’t seem to put it down.  

Gio and Meagin are found shot to death at the man’s home.  She is married to a prosperous businessman; he is younger and a member of a wealthy Italian family. As the investigation proceeds, the team must dig deep to find out Meagin’s true background as she seems to be someone who has reinvented herself with no apparent history.  Meanwhile, Alex is called upon to evaluate a young man adopted from a Russian orphanage whose parents are divorcing and neither want custody.

Kellerman writes true police procedurals, albeit a little different due to Milo being unconventional and Alex along to provide psychological insight. They tend to have a familiar rhythm, as Alex and Milo chase down leads, generate and discuss different theories, interview persons of interest, enjoy a few good meals. Kellerman’s descriptions are particularly picturesque and entertaining and he always seems to put a fresh spin on cases. I think this is one of the best installments of the series. 

Yes, this can be read as a standalone, but if you are a fan of this series, it is always enjoyable to meet up once again with these characters. 

Thanks to #netgalley and @randomhouse #ballantinebooks for the ARC

*****

Face Her Fear - Lisa Regan

 Face Her Fear - Lisa Regan

Pub. Date: Jan. 30, 2024

She read

Still dealing with the trauma of her colleague Mettner’s  death as well as her grandmother’s murder, Josie and five other participants attend a retreat at a remote, mountainous location in Pennsylvania. Focused on treating PTSD,  it is lead by a New Agey therapist.  Josie has had a falling out with husband Noah, so is also carrying that baggage. When a blizzard traps the attendees in that isolated, hard to reach locale, with diminishing supplies, poor phone reception and then one of the participants is found murdered, Josie attempts to preserve the evidence while figuring out just what is going on, who is hiding some secrets, and trying to protect the others from peril. This is not Josie’s usual environment and she has to improvise. Ever faithful Noah sets out in an effort to rescue Josie but puts his own life in danger. 

This is number nineteen in the Josie Quinn series. It is one of my top must read series. This is yet another exciting, page turning read; I did not want to put it down. Regan always grabs my attention and won’t let go. Although this one did stretch the imagination a bit, the plot was intriguing.  I enjoy Josie. Despite all the travails she has met with in her life, she remains a strong, intelligent, though vulnerable, character. I also like all the repeating characters who surround her both in her personal and professional life. 

A new character is introduced…the replacement for Mettner.  As the book concludes, he seems to be off to a bad start with all of the team members.  I’m looking forward to seeing what transpires with him. 

This can work as a stand alone, but do yourself a favor and read at least some of the prior ones. There is a lot of history to Josie and the other players. Regan does a good job of trying to fill in the background stories, but it would be more satisfying to actually read those past histories. 

If you like well written police procedurals/thrillers, I highly recommend this series. I cannot wait for the next one.

Thanks to #netgalley and @bookouture for the ARC.

*****

Twenty Seven Minutes - Ashley Tate

 Twenty Seven Minutes - Ashley Tate

Publication Date: January 30, 2024

She read

As the decennial of Phoebe’s death in an auto accident approaches and a memorial is planned, the main characters from that fateful night converge to reveal what really happened and why it took her brother, who was driving,  twenty seven minutes to call 911.  Phoebe was seen as the perfect child by her mother and community.  Her brother, not so much.  That fateful night had devastating affects on her family and Becca, who was also in the car.  Far reaching, it also touched others including Wyatt who disappeared that night and his family.  

This almost reads like a YA novel,  but it is far too dark to be anything other than an adult read.  I found the characters to be unlikable and could not engage with the story.  The narrative seemed to go on and on in a mosaic of obsession, guilt, and grief.  I did like the different POVs, but the characters were all such sad people.  Curiosity about the real events of that night ten years ago will keep readers hooked. 

There are others who will really like this book, but it just wasn’t for me.  

Thanks to #netgalley and #poisonedpenpress for the ARC

**

Only If You're Lucky - Stacy Willingham

 Only If You're Lucky - Stacy Willingham

Publication Date:  January 16, 2024

She read.

Margot and Eliza were best friends and planned going off to Rutledge College together.  That is, until Levi moved in next door to Eliza, causing a rift in the girl’s friendship. He was with Eliza when she accidentally fell to her death. Margot went off to Rutledge on her own where she spent a nondescript year until she met Lucy who invited her to room with her and two other girls in a house next to and owned by a fraternity.  There’s something mysteriously alluring and dangerous about Lucy who fast becomes Margot’s new best friend.  And then Levi turns up as a pledge at the fraternity….

I read Willingham’s All the Dangerous Things and liked it.  However, I  had a difficult time engaging with this novel.  The characters were not very likable, although many were quite sad,  and all the obsessing just didn’t draw me in.  As timelines went back and fourth, I thought it was a slow burn with a lot of repetition.  I kept waiting for the twists and as the story spiraled downward in the last part of the book, I finally found the tale more compelling.  The novel was a good commentary on the pain and danger inherent in the desperation to belong and the question asked in a Truth or Dare game, “if you knew you could get away with murder, would you do it?” quite thought provoking.

There are many readers who will really like this book…it just didn’t quite do it for me. However, I am looking forward to reading  Willingham’s next work.

Thanks to #netgalley and @stmartinspress #minotaurbooks for the ARC

***

Dream Town - Lee Goldberg

 Dream Town - Lee Goldberg

Publication Date: January 16, 2024

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 has recently postponed his retirement. 

Mummified and skeletal remains are found in a preserve adjacent to the somewhat unusual wealthy enclave of Hidden Hills.  Eve and Duncan are called away from the site by the robbery and murder of a reality star in Hidden Hills.  Are these two incidents related?  And just how does the rap star, also a resident of the enclave, fit into the plot? 

On a personal level, Eve has purchased and moved into her own home, a house readers will recognize from an earlier story and she is  building a relationship with archeologist Daniel, also familiar from an earlier installment. 

This is the fifth in the Eve Ronin series; I have read all of them.  Obviously, I like Lee Goldberg’s writing. his books are well written, fast moving, with good character development. I particularly enjoy the humor displayed by some of the characters. While the actions and plots may sometimes stretch the imagination, they are  never too far fetched.  

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.

Thanks to #netgalley and @amazonpublishing #thomasandmercer for the ARC.

*****

My Friends - Hisham Matar

 My Friends - Hisham Matar

Publication Date: January 9, 2024

Growing up in Benghazi, Kahlid is affected by hearing a short story about a man eaten alive by a cat.  He enrolls in the University of Edinburgh where he remains friends with Mustafa, also from his home town.  When Mustafa convinces him to attend a political protest at the Libyan Embassy in London where violence erupts,  Kahlid’s life is forever changed.  The two young men can no longer return to either their home country nor to Edinburgh.  Thus, Kahlid begins the life of an exile living in London.

He does have the opportunity to meet the author of the short story that had such an impact on him and they become friends.  As the Arab Spring dawns and the political situation in Libya escalates, his two friends eventually choose a different path from him, returning to their homeland to be a part of the revolution. 

Khalid recounts his history while taking a walk about his adopted city, passing places of significance, including where that protest took place.  The novel is based on true events in the tortuous history of Libya (and the protest in London) and the effects of this history on three fictional friends. 

Beautifully written and introspective, the novel expresses the pain of living in exile away from family and the countryside one loved as a child, as well as the constant fear experienced by political exiles.  It was a bit of a slow read for me as Khalid’s musings do tend to meander and I wanted to reflect on every one of his thoughts and experiences. 

****

Thanks to #netgalley and #randomhousepublishing for the arc.

One of the Good Guys - Araminta Hall

 One of the Good Guys - Araminta Hall

Pub Date: January 9, 2024

She read

Following some difficult times dealing with infertility and  IVF disappointments, Cole and Mel are divorcing.  She  continues to live in London running a very lucrative PR business.  Cole escapes to the seaside where he works as a wildlife ranger and meets Leonora, a reclusive artist. When two young women who were walking the coastline to raise awareness of violence against women disappear, all of them are caught up in a downward spiral.   

Oh, but there is so much more to this tale. 

I have mixed feelings about this book.  It took me til the halfway point to begin to engage with the story. The plot unfolds and twists are revealed with different POVs and alternating timelines that include interviews, transcripts, social media posts. There are important topics here: misogyny, violence against women, the power imbalance in relationships, the entitlement of straight white men, what  really constitutes permission, and all the fears women have always had to face and continue to face in society.

I don’t usually quote directly from ARCs because narratives can change, but there are some wonderful lines.  Two that particularly resonated with me: “and since they can’t burn us [women] as witches anymore, they have to legislate against us” and “The Virgin Mary set an impossible and  biologically ridiculous standard that’s been hanging over women ever since.”

The writing style may not be for everyone; it is a bit unusual and the characters and their actions will be off putting to many, but One of the Good Guys gives readers much to think about. 

Thanks to #netgalley and @zandoprojects for the ARC.

***

From a Far and Lovely Country - Alexander McCall Smith

 From a Far and Lovely Country - Alexander McCall Smith

She read.

This is the twenty fourth in the simple but charming No. 1 Ladies Detective series. All the familiar characters are here. 

And, yes, the talking shoes do make a cameo appearance!

Precious Ramotswe has two cases on her plate.  The first is yet another pro bono for an employee of Mma Potokwani.  It seems there is a “Cool Singles Evening Club” where married men are paying fees to be admitted and pass for single.  Mma Ramotswe decides to put her apprentice, Charlie,  in charge of the investigation.  When Mma Makutsi gets involved, an unfortunate situation arises that the agency feels compelled to resolve. Those familiar with Gabarone will chuckle when the owner of the club is revealed.  

While dining in a local restaurant, a visitor from Indiana, USA recognizes Mma Ramotswe and asks her help in finding the distant relatives of the man she called grandfather, who is long deceased.  The search brings Precious to her beloved hometown and along the way readers learn of some of the history of British rule in Africa. 

And there is also the problem of the birthday present dress that has been damaged!

Mma Ramotswe always manages to  come up with clever and successful solutions to problems. Her gentle way and penchant for always finding the positive in a situation is balm for the soul.

Usually I binge this series, reading the book all in a day.  For this installment, I decided to read a chapter at a time, taking a break in between and allowing time to savor Mma Ramotswe’s wisdom, profound in its simplicity.  

This is another feel good addition to the series. It makes a nice afternoon or evening read while curled up with a pot of tea. Fans of McCall Smith’s gentle prose and perceptive musings will welcome this latest endeavor.

Thanks to #netgalley and @aaknopf @pantheonbooks for the ARC

*****