All the Way Gone - Joanna Schaffhausen

 All the Way Gone - Joanna Schaffhausen

Pub. Date:  Aug. 13, 2024

She read

This is the fourth in the Detective AnnaLisa Vega series.  It can be read as a standalone.

Remarried to Nick, AnnaLisa has left the police department and opened her own private detective agency. Her first client is an author who has written a book that purports that there are some “good" sociopaths who contribute positively to society and she has focused on neurosurgeon Craig Canning.  When one of Dr. Canning’s neighbors falls to her death, the author hires AnnaLisa to investigate just to make sure that he truly is “good.”.  Oh, but there is so much more to Dr. Canning!

On the home front, Nick has recently discovered a daughter, Cassidy, from an affair he had when he was married to AnnaLisa the first time. Cassidy asks for AnnaLisa’s help in locating the long missing mother of a good friend of hers who needs a kidney transplant. 

I have read a few of Schaffhausen’s books and like her writing. This is a fast read, with a lot of mystery surrounding the possibly suspicious death and the glib narcissism of Dr. Canning. Annalisa is an intelligent young woman whose doggedness is her worst enemy. The idea of a “good” sociopath is an interesting concept and gives the reader a lot to think about. 

Thanks to #netgalley and #StMartinsPress #Minotaur for the DRC.

****

The Rose Arbor - Rhys Bowen

 The Rose Arbor - Rhys Bowen

Pub. Date:  Aug. 6, 2024

She read

In World War II torn Britain, the army commandeered the hamlet of Tydeham.  All of the residents had a short period of time to leave their homes, take a few possessions, and relocate.  The army promised they would have their homes back, but they were all destroyed by the military operations.

During this time of strife, children were often sent from London to the country to live with other families and keep them safe from the bombing in the city.  During this exodus, three little girls went missing.  One child was discovered murdered, but the other two were never found.

It is now 1968 and reporter Liz Houghton shares a flat with police detective, Marissa.  A child has gone missing and the entire country is searching for her.  Liz wonders if this case might have something to do with the earlier ones and her investigation brings her to Tydeham where she has the strange feeling that she has visited there before.  And thus, crimes are uncovered, long held secrets revealed.

I have only recently discovered prolific writer Rhys Bowen whose writing I continue to really enjoy. The multiple interrelated story lines raised questions that kept me engrossed and guessing. And just as in life, there were some (very few) questions left unanswered.  I loved the historical perspective of both the war years and the late 1960s. History, mystery, and a bit of romance….what more could you ask?

Thanks to #NetGalley and #LakeUnionPublishing for the DRC.

*****

Our Sea Turtles - Blair Witherington and Dawn Witherington

 Our Sea Turtles - Blair Witherington and Dawn Witherington

Pub. Date: July 2, 2024

She read

I used to be a volunteer with a sea turtle program in SW Florida, so I was thrilled when this book became available.

This book seems to be the definitive one on the seven species of sea turtles of the Atlantic and Gulf waters.  It is comprehensive, detailed, yet easy to understand.  It is divided into three parts: understanding, experiencing, and saving the turtles.  

The pictures are plentiful and wonderful.  With an adult as a guide, this book could easily be used with children who are interested in the topic and want to glean more information. 

I think it is a must for anyone who wants to learn more about our sea turtles, the dangers they face, and what we can do to help save them.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #GlobePequot #PineapplePress for the DRC.

*****

The Perfect Nurse - Daniel Hurst

 The Perfect Nurse - Daniel Hurst

Pub. Date: July 1, 2024

She read

The prologue to this story finds a nurse burning her blood stained uniform and ID card. Skip ahead to the present time and find that Darcy is an anxious person who suffers from sleep deprivation. Her fellow nurse, Pippa, takes her under her wing, offering support, encouragement, and strong coffee as they have been hired to assist a married couple, Adrian and Scarlett.  Scarlett has brain damage from a fall suffered in her kitchen which has resulted in some type of memory loss/dementia.  Darcy is very uncomfortable in the situation and suspects Adrian may be harming his wife. When a strange man follows her and then someone seems to have broken into her house, her life begins spinning out of control.

Hurst has written a number of psychological thrillers, including the popular The Doctor’s Wife series. I like to call them “popcorn thrillers.” This is a clever plot, a bit over the top, and, for me, required suspension of belief. There are twists, turns, deceits, murder. It was a quick, easy, dare I say, fun read. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the DRC. 

****

Fire and Bones - Kathy Reichs

 Fire and Bones - Kathy Reichs

Pub. Date: Aug. 6, 2024

She read.

This is the 23rd in the Temperance Brennan “Bones” series. Temperance is a forensic anthropologist who works both in North Carolina and Quebec. In this story, she is asked to come to Washington DC to help identify bodies that burned in a fire in an illegal AirBnB in Foggy Bottom. She is reluctant at first because she does not particularly like working with burn victims and she is about to leave on a vacation with long time lover, Ryan.

As she investigates, with the assistance of her daughter’s reporter friend, Ivy, she learns that the residence was used by the Foggy Bottom Gang for nefarious purposes in the 1930s and 40s. When another nearby structure burns and a descendent of the Gang is murdered, the mystery and the danger deepen. Of course, Tempe cannot help herself from probing further. 

I enjoy  Reichs’ writing. It is intelligent and she has a clever way with words. A good sense of humor comes through in Tempe’s witty observations. I always learn some new information from her novels, whether it be in the area of forensic pathology or something related to the plot.Reichs is a master at building up suspense at the end of each chapter with a tease that makes the reader want jump into the next one. 

I think I have read all of the books in the “Bones” series, however, each one works as a stand alone. While this might not have been the strongest plot in the series, it still made for an engrossing read. I look forward to the next one!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Scribner for the DRC.

*****

The Lost Coast - Jonathan Kellerman; Jesse Kellerman

 The Lost Coast - Jonathan Kellerman; Jesse Kellerman

Pub. Date:  Aug. 6, 2024

She read

This is the fifth in the Clay Edison coroner turned private eye series written by the father and son Kellerman team.  It is the third I have read; it works well as a standalone.

While investigating a property sales fraud case, Clay finds a relatively unknown and dangerous section of the California coast known as Swan’s Landing that seems to be a hotbed for a real estate scam that preys on vulnerable individuals.  When he visits, his questions put him in danger especially when he becomes interested in searching for a missing person. 

I am a big fan of Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series and enjoy this one as well.  These books have the authors’ characteristically vivid detailed descriptions that paint a good sense of place.  They are observant and often amusing.  This is a quick read with a bit of a tangled plot  A new player, a fellow female PI is introduced who is quite the character. And speaking of characters, the inhabitants of  Swan’s Landing are uniquely peculiar.  

Thanks to #NetGalley and @RandomHouse #ballantinebooks for the DRC.  

****

House of Glass - Sarah Pekkanen

 House of Glass - Sarah Pekkanen

Pub. Date:  Aug. 6, 2024

She read

Stella Hudson is an attorney who represents children in custody cases.  She is a somewhat damaged individual as the result of a traumatic childhood, but the one constant support in her life has been attorney now judge, Charles. When he asks her to investigate the case of nine year old Rose Barclay whose parents are battling for custody, she is reluctant because she usually does not deal with children that young. However, she takes on the task because it is Charles who has asked. 

There is something very amiss in the opulent Barclay home where the nanny, who was impregnated by the husband, jumped or was pushed to her death.  Everyone is a suspect and when Rose who exhibits traumatic mutism (as did Stella when she was a child) is discovered to be stowing away pieces of glass and other weapons, suspicion falls on her as well.

I have always liked Pekkanen as a writer. In this well plotted story, she creates a strong atmosphere of suspicion and foreboding. The characters, even the minor ones, are well developed.  Fast paced, it is an engrossing, suspenseful read with twists, turns, and surprises. 

****

Thanks to #netgalley and @stmartinspress for the DRC.