The Business Trip - Jessie Garcia

 The Business Trip - Jessie Garcia

Pub. Date: Jan. 14, 2025

She read

Jasmine is escaping an abusive relationship; Stephanie heading out on  yet another business trip. They find themselves seated next to each other on a flight to Denver. After sending identical texts to friends back home in Madison, they seem to vanish. Their texts indicate that they have met Trent McCarthy, perhaps the man of each one’s dream, and they are headed to his home in Atlanta. A few more texts filter in, but basically they seem to vanish.  

Although maybe a little over the top, I thought this a great read for a debut novel.  Written from multiple POVs, it is fast and engrossing. Another one I read long into the night. There are twists and turns; some you won’t see coming! I have to say that the character of Trent was such an obnoxious misogynist that it was painful to read the chapters from his POV. Don’t let him turn you off to the book, though, it is worth sticking with it to the end.  

Thanks to #NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for the DRC.

*****

Presumed Guilty - Scott Turow

Presumed Guilty - Scott Turow

Pub. Date: Jan. 14, 2025

He and she read

In this, the third novel featuring Rusty Sabich, he is retired from his judgeship, living lakeside with fiancée Bea and her adopted son, Aaron, in a small midwest town. Aaron has a tempestuous love life with Mae, rogue daughter of the county prosecutor and granddaughter of Rusty’s best friend. Aaron is on probation for earlier drug charges, but has seemed to have turned his life around. When he disappears for a few days, he is violation of a condition of his probation, but reappears saying he went camping with Mae, they had a fight, he took her phone and hitch hiked home. 

When Mae is found murdered some days later, Aaron is charged with the crime. Bea begs Rusty to defend her son. Against his better judgement and because they cannot seem to find a suitable defense attorney, Rusty takes the case.

Turow once again demonstrates that he is master of the legal thriller. This tale is well written, with twists and turns and lots of courtroom suspense. Characters are well developed and the reader may learn a bit about legal proceedings. The book is long, but engrossing and a very worthwhile, satisfying read. This would make a great streaming series. Can’t wait for it!

Thanks to #NetGalley and @GrandCentralPub for the DRC.

*****

 

Her Deadly Rose - Carolyn Arnold

 Her Deadly Rose - Carolyn Arnold

She read

This is the twelfth in the Prince William County (VA) Detective Amanda Steele series. Amanda is enjoying a day off at an ice skating show with two of her friends and her adopted daughter. Her friend and colleague, Patty’s, niece, Michaela, is the star of the show.The pleasant day abruptly  turns dark when a visit to Michaela’s dressing room finds her dead.There are a bunch of roses tied with a black ribbon and a card saying “you'll be sorry” left behind. Working with partner, Trent, to look into what turns out to be a murder, Amanda finds there are many investigative paths to pursue, especially after another dead body is discovered. On a personal level, will the obvious chemistry between Amanda and Trent continue to be a source of tension with her domestic partner, Logan? 

This is yet another of Arnold’s fast paced, engrossing police procedurals. I read it in one day, long into the night, because I could not put it down. Arnold knows how to capture and maintain her readers’ interest. I love the repeating characters, especially Amanda who, despite an earlier tragedy in her life, is a strong, capable, independent female and I find the camaraderie among her colleagues quite entertaining. 

Although I have read quite a few of the books in this series and have enjoyed seeing the repeating characters and relationships change and grow,  I think this would work well as a standalone.  The author does a nice job of filling in background information, including Amanda’s past history.

Carolyn Arnold is one of my go to authors. She has written more than thirty books featuring five series and spanning different genre including strong police procedurals, cozy mysteries, and adventure novels. I also really like her Madison Knight series. Check her out!

Thanks to #NetGalley and @Bookouture for the DRC.

*****

The Village Killer - Ross Greenwood

 The Village Killer - Ross Greenwood

Pub. Date:  Nov. 1, 2024

She read

This is the seventh in the DI John Barton series; it is the first I have read. I chose it because I enjoy Ross Greenwood’s DS Ashley Knight series and wanted to read more of his books.

Fifty year old DI John Barton has spent the last three years behind a desk.  An opportunity arises for him to be DCI for Major Crimes for a one year term. It is a busy time for Major Crimes as a 14 year old girl is reported missing and a married woman appears to be the target of a failed hit and run attempt. When her neighbor is found floating in his pool, the ties among all three cases seem to be more than coincidences.

A solid police procedural, I enjoyed the protagonists in this book with their personal relationships and sarcastic humor. Barton is a leader with empathy and a sense of fairness.  Greenwood’s writing pulls you in this engrossing, fast paced read. The story is told from different POVs, including that of the village killer, which keeps you guessing as to perpetrator’s identity.    

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for the DRC.

****

The Days of Afrekete - Asali Solomon

 The Days of Afrekete - Asali Solomon

She read

Liselle is hosting a dinner party for her husband, Winn, an unsuccessful political candidate. She has been warned that he is under FBI investigation for his campaign and is about to be arrested. As she lives through the dinner party, she reflects back on a happier time when she was in college and was with her lover, Selena, as well as her earlier life with Winn. Meanwhile, Selena, who has had mental health issues through the years, makes her way through the same day. Both contemplate their pasts as thoughts shift to each other.

Reminiscent of Mrs. Dalloway, Sula, and Zami, I enjoyed this short read; especially its observations of contemporary life (it was published in 2021). Despite the brevity of the novel, the diverse characters were well developed and their musings give the reader a lot to think about. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #fsgbooks for the DRC. 

****

An Anonymous Girl - Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen

 An Anonymous  Girl - Greer Hendricks; Sarah Pekkanen

When Jessica lies her way into a psychological study about ethics and morality, she catches the attention of the professor/therapist running the experiment, Dr. Shields. Soon she is caught up in a web of manipulation,  obsession, and the pathological relationship between Dr. Shields and her husband.   

I have read three other books by Hendricks and Pekkanen that I really liked, so I wanted to go back and read this one that I had missed.  While many others may love this book, I did not enjoy it as much as the others I have read by this duo.  

Told from two POVs, there are twists, turns, unreliable characters.  The reader, along with Jessica, won’t know whose narrative to trust. I thought this read a bit slow paced and repetitive.     

***

The Note - Alafair Burke

 The Note - Alafair Burke

Pub. Date: Jan. 7, 2025

She read

 Kelsey, May, and Lauren meet in the Hamptons for a girls weekend.  Once close friends, they have been somewhat estranged as each one has something scandalous in their backgrounds. When a prank goes awry and someone is murdered, their friendship is tested as suspicion falls on them. Secrets are revealed, relationships questioned as the hunt is on for the killer. 

Like peeling away the layers of an onion, the histories of the three women slowly unfold with twists, turns, and surprises.  I didn’t particularly like the main characters, but I loved the story….I couldn’t put it down.  Another  book read deep into the night.

Even though I wasn’t trying, I did guess the perpetrator fairly early. That did not take away from my enjoyment of the story. A great escapist read; perfect for the beach, a rainy day, or a cold and stormy one.  

Thanks to #NetGalley and @aaKnopf for the DRC.

****

The Nurse's Mistake - Daniel Hurst

 The Nurse's Mistake - Daniel Hurst

Pub. Date: Nov. 5, 2024

She read

OK, I admit it.  I am addicted. Daniel Hurst writes what I like to call “popcorn thrillers.” They are fast paced, easy to read, a bit over the top, and, dare I say, fun to read. (See The Doctor’s Wife series). This is the third in The Perfect Nurse Series. After the second one I wasn’t sure if I would read the next. Yet, here I am, reading and writing about it.

Darcy, once a nurse, has amnesia as the result of an accident. She killed someone, relocated to Florida where she kills someone else, and is now fleeing Florida to hopefully reunite with her family. Sister Pippa, also a nurse, was drawn into the drama and also killed someone. Now Pippa, her son and husband and parents are on the run. Got that? What danger will they find?  Will they be caught?  Will Darcy be arrested or will she escape once again?    

As in the prior books, there are twists, turns, deceits, and, yes, more murder. It also continues the question, how far would you go to save your sibling, your child, your self? And, yes, one must suspend some belief as those on the run encounter various situations.

Want to make any bets as to whether I will read the next book/series from Hurst?

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the DRC.

***