The Family Upstairs - Lisa Jewell

The Family Upstairs - Lisa Jewell

She read

Publication Date: Nov. 5, 2019

On her twenty fifth birthday, Libby Jones inherits what had been her family’s home.  Except, she hasn’t lived in it since she was a baby when her parents and someone else living there died of apparent suicides and her two siblings went missing.  With the help of an investigative journalist, Libby tries to unravel the mystery of her parents death as well as the unusual people who lived with the family those many years ago. As is a popular device in fiction today, the story is told from three points of view; two in the present and the third reflecting on past history.

Well written, I did not find the three separate narrators confusing at all.  But, I didn’t love the book.  It just seemed to “miss” and dragged somewhat.  I found it a bit unbelievable, especially the coming together at the end.

This is the first book I have read by Lisa Jewell.  While I wasn’t over the top about it, I would like to go back and read some of her prior works as well as definitely will try future novels.

The Night Fire - Michael Connelly

The Night Fire - Michael Connelly

He and she read

Another engrossing police procedural from Michael Connelly, featuring Detective Renee Ballard and the now retired Harry Bosch.  A winner!

A Cold Trail - Robert Dugoni

A Cold Trail - Robert Dugoni

He and she read

Publication date:  Feb. 20. 2019

This is the seventh in Robert Dugoni’s series featuring Seattle homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite.  I’ve read some of the previous ones and enjoyed them all.

Tracy has given birth and while their home in Seattle is being renovated, Tracy, Dan, and Baby Daniella retreat to the couple’s hometown of Cedar Grove which, for a small town, is seeing a bit of intrigue of its own.  An unseemly attorney hired to look into the death of Heather Johansen, a young woman murdered around the same time as Tracy’s sister, Sarah was killed has become a victim himself.  A local reporter, the wife of the present day sheriff, has died in a fire.  Suspicion has fallen on the sheriff who is now suspended.  Could all of these incidents be related, including the original death of the first girl?

Tracy has taken a leave of absence from her job but soon finds herself immersed  in investigating these incidents at the request of retired sheriff, Roy Calloway, long time friend of her deceased father.  Her investigation puts her life in danger.  But, after all, Tracy is a homicide detective and that is what she does.  Meanwhile, attorney husband Dan is involved in a business lawsuit against the city of Cedar Grove.

I thought the first part of this book was a bit of a slog. The case unfolded slowly and there was, for me, too much talk about the baby.  But, it picked up  resulting in another satisfying Dugoni read.

While having read the prior novels that involve the earlier death of Tracy’s sister is helpful, Dugoni does a good job of filling in enough background so that this can be read as a standalone.  

The Other Wife -Claire McGowan

The Other Wife - Claire McGowan

She read

Publication Date:Oct. 24, 2019

Suzi, now pregnant, had an affair and this love of her life has apparently ghosted her.  Her husband has moved her into an isolated internet controlled house as be becomes increasingly more and more controlling.  A neighbor moves into the rambling cottage next door and has secrets of her own.

This book follows the currently very popular formula for psychological thrillers, narrated from multiple viewpoints with many twists and turns.  It is well written and readable, but there is nothing really new here in a story that is a bit far fetched.  I had a hard time with the characters.  The women are seemingly out of the 1950s and most of the men full of deceit and domination.

***

A Deathly Silence - Jane Isaac

A Deathly Silence - Jane Isaac

Publication Date: Oct. 15, 2019

She read

When a police officer’s dead body is found, DCI Helen Lavery is on the case.  The officer had been tortured and as the investigation proceeds, she is found to have been harboring some secrets.  

This is the third in the Helen Lavery series, but the first one I have read.   It is a solid police procedural that keeps you focused and guessing. I liked it. 

Helen is a strong, confident female character.  I’ve read too many authors with female leads who have flaws in the their personality make up.  Yes, she is dealing with raising her two sons after her husband was killed and has just returned to work after being injured, but she is an emotionally mature individual and I look forward to reading more in this series. 

I Will Make You Pay - Teresa Driscoll

I Will Make You Pay - Teresa Driscoll

Publication Date: Oct. 10, 2019

She read

Journalist Alice Henderson has a stalker.  Threats and actions come only on Wednesdays. Is it someone from her past, an acquaintance,  someone she has angered with her writings, or just random?   Does Alice have something to hide? The case is investigated by PI Matthew Hill,  and DI Melanie Sanders, recurring characters in other of Teresa Driscoll’s books. 

The story is told from alternating viewpoints, moving between past and present, devices that have become quite popular with many of today's authors.  The story is revealed layer by layer, with surprises and red herrings.

This is an engrossing psychological thriller; I didn’t want to put it down.  Alice can be a bit of an annoying character, making some questionable decisions probably due to her continually reminding the reader that she is stubborn.  

*****

Sins of the Father - J.A. Jance

Sins of the Father - J.A. Jance

Publication Date: September 24, 2019

She read

This is the latest in the J.P. Beaumont novel by prolific writer J.A. Jance.  

Encouraged by his wife, J.P. Beaumont, retired homicide detective and former alcoholic, has started a new career as a private investigator.  One of his first cases is to find the missing daughter of someone from his past.  The missing daughter gave birth to a methadone addicted baby and then abandoned the baby at the hospital.  With baby in tow, the grandfather upends Beaumont’s life as the search leads to a personal revelation for him as well as the discovery of fraud and multiple homicides.  

Although he faced some rough times growing up as well as early in his career, Beaumont now appears to live a more charmed life with the financial resources to easily solve any problem or concern that he encounters.  That helps everything fall into place and all loose ends are tied up in a neat package.  It is all almost too good to be believable.  

Well written, this is a fast, engrossing read. I liked that despite this being the 24th book in the series, the author filled in necessary character background history so that it worked well as a standalone.