suspence – One Chapter

The It Girl by Ruth Ware

5 stars Thriller

Guilty! Or was he? Written in dual time periods, this book tells the story of Hannah and her friend April. Traveling back-and-forth in time, the story begins when Hannah was in college and fast-forwards to today, when Hannah is an adult. With characters that I was immediately drawn to, this story sucked me in. As Hannah walks onto the campus, the newness, the excitement, the apprehension, and the frailness for which she feels, you can’t help but hope for the best for her. She’s on unfamiliar territory but she was trying. She’s not outgoing but she’s determined to be successful. When she lands into the dorm room of April, I was worried. Here was April, a rich, spoiled, girl who liked to party rooming with studious Hannah. It was like mixing dirt and water.

Their relationship surprised me as the girls did more than tolerate one another, they helped each other. April pushed Hannah to go outside her boundaries and have fun while Hannah helped April see that not every day was a party. April still loved to party, and her unlimited cash flow made her popular among many. I feel that Hannah was envious of April’s lifestyle to a point, but she also saw how people treated April because of it. One night, Hannah finds April in their room dead. With a history of strange behavior, Hannah believes she knows who the killer is. With the police investigation and Hannah’s testimony, the killer is imprisoned.

Years later, the man has died in prison. The thoughts of her college years are once again, running through her head. Being hounded by interviews over the years, a new twist during an interview gets Hannah thinking. Did they convict the wrong man? Her husband tells Hannah to drop the issue, he was a college friend during this tragic event, but Hannah can’t get the thought out of her head. April was her closest friend, and she owes it to April to find the truth.

I liked the characters of April and Hannah. April was a spoiled child, yet she was generous, and she wasn’t cocky. The sky was the limit, and she really didn’t know the word, “no” so she acted accordingly. She could have had a self-centered, pouty attitude but instead it was all about fun and living in the moment. This was what made her fun and was also her weakness. Hannah was the serious one who was worried about success. She could let her hair down and have fun but to a point and then, it was back to business. As Ruth takes us through this journey, we’re drawn to these girls as we see a bit about ourselves in them or we wish we were a bit more like them. As the story unwinds, we find ourselves in the shoes of the characters wondering what we’d be doing had we been there or directing the characters to what they should be doing. There was a lot of switching back and forth in this book between the two timelines, but it was well worth it.

Lies, Lies, Lies by Adele Parks

Different. With plenty of strong points, this book captured my attention, as the characters tried to protect their private lives, the only way that they knew how. As the story kept building and building, something felt off as I read. Perhaps it was me, perhaps it was my own expectations that were getting in the way but I felt that the tempo of this story was off. Overall, I did enjoy the book, the story was captivating and I loved how all the twists worked and made my head spin.

Secrets and lies, what a combination and one to keep you on your toes. I enjoyed how the plot thicken as the story progressed. The story starts off with a flashback and then, the narration progresses forward. This short flashback is important as it sets the stage for one of the main characters. Just when I thought the story couldn’t get any deeper, something else is thrown into the pot and more events unfolded. I loved all the different reveals and how the author took the time to slowly introduce them. The connection to events and items in the story was nicely done and like a puzzle, they all fit together. I felt like at times, I was siding with one of the characters and then, I would learn something else and I would change my mind. I just didn’t know which end was up sometimes.

What I had a difficult time with while reading this novel, was the energy level in the book. There were some excellent twists in this book and based on these developments, I was expecting this book to become more tense or more dramatic as time continued. Some of these twists were pretty intense! Yet, I didn’t feel that way as I read it. I don’t know, perhaps I was expecting too much or again, it was just me. I did enjoy the book but I felt it was missing this intensity. It’s like hearing that music from the Jaws movie and expecting something exciting or intense to occur. The ending of the book, I didn’t really care for that part either.

I think this was a good read, it contained lots of twists and interesting characters. The story kept me on my toes and I look forward to reading more from this author. 3.75 stars

Subject matter: rape, death, alcoholism,

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Adele Parks, and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book to me in exchange for an honest opinion.

Her Pretty Face by Robyn Harding

This, this was like, amazingly good. I loved how the two stories connected and then wow! To me, the story led me down some dark streets as the characters were dealing with some pretty heavy issues. Disturbing issues. These are the books that have my eyes glued to the pages, every word is engrained in my head, and I can’t stop thinking about these individuals, that have consumed me, no matter how loud my life has become.

When her son Marcus gets accepted into the Academy, Frances thought her life was now headed into the right direction. Boy, she was wrong. Not fitting the Academy image, Frances finds that she’s not even close to the holding the ticket. After an incident, she slides further down the ladder until she meets Kate.

Hello Kate! Kate was also a new mother at the Academy. Kate, was one individual that you loved and you also hated. You hated her because she’s so perfect and you loved her because she’s so perfect. Kate has a son named Charles and teenage daughter, Daisy. Charles becomes friends with Marcus and is a huge help to him. As I was reading, I kept wondering when would Charles’ moment be? When would he turn on Marcus? Was he really as nice as he seemed to be? Daisy was a teenager with loose strings, she seemed to be running wild yet looking at Kate, you would think she would have this child under her wings.

As the families come together, their friendships build, the trust between them becomes dependable. With talk of their past and the secrets that they have kept hidden, it’s no wonder their current lives are in the shape that they are in. I enjoyed the book’s twists and I highly recommend this book. 4.5 stars

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

I’ve heard and seen this book everywhere so I had to read it. Shooting your spouse five times in the face and then, pulling the silent treatment, now that is a good defense. What would cause someone to commit such a crime? I had to know.

I didn’t know if I really trusted Alicia throughout the book, although I didn’t know who I trusted really. Theo and Alicia both seemed sketchy to me. In parts of this books, I felt that I was secretly doing one of those sinister laughs as I read it. So who was getting the raw end of the deal now?

Alicia was admitted to the Grove, six years ago for a crime that she committed against her husband. Theo, feels that he’s qualified for the available position of forensic psychotherapist at the Grove, which will also provide him the opportunity to work with Alicia. Oh Theo, right off the bat, you feel that you are uniquely qualified to help the unresponsive Alicia and that myself, has me questioning your motive.

As I learned more about the two of them, both what is presently occurring and their past, it’s no wonder things are a mess. What I thought for one of them, I ended up thinking for the other one eventually. While I was reading, I was trying to figure out which one of them was clever and which one of them was smart. What was their motive? What did they really want? I never saw that ending coming nor did I suspect it.

I thought the book was a fun, entertaining read. I can see why some individuals really loved the book, I enjoyed it but I didn’t love it. I’m glad that I read it and I look forward to reading what this author writes in the future.

Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline

I enjoyed this book even though I thought I knew what was going on. Thinking about this book, what I believe enticed me were the characters and the book’s timeline. I really needed to know the “why” behind the threads of this story, what was the motive?

When Allie hurt her leg during cross-county tryouts, Sasha came back to help her. Sasha had never said much to Allie before then, which to me was a red flag. Sasha points out the two boys, Julian and David, who were in the distance, and wouldn’t you know it, they ended up talking to them.

There seemed to be quite a bit of trauma and drama in the lives of these four teens before they even got together. Between the four of them, they had a recent divorce, a close family death, one teen already living alone as the parents were never home and one teen who, I thought, was too controlling. These teens become an instant four-some as they hung out together. I started to dislike a few of them, their attitude and concern for others turned me off. Looking into the lives of these individuals and their families, I got a good understanding of them and their situations. I appreciated how the author included this information in the text.

When Kyle moves into the area, Sasha invites him to hang-out with them. Imagine that! Oh, did I mention that Kyle is nice to look at. I feel that adding him to the mix isn’t going to be good but I didn’t anticipate what actually occurred. I have to give credit to Kyle though, he acted smart when he was first approached by the group. They offered to let him become a member of their gang and Kyle was hesitant. I thought they were all getting along okay but I could feel some tension was building. Three boys and two girls, that just doesn’t sound like a good combination especially when you add in their personalities.

They don’t know what went wrong. At least, that is what they are saying. The four who fled the area that night, all take that same position. The one who was left, they don’t even know what happened. Was this a game or murder?

We time travel in this book, as the author takes us forward in time. One of the individuals from that night has now passed away and individuals are gathering for the funeral. Friends are gathering and reacquainting themselves with one another. Will the three others who were in attendance that night gather and discuss what happened 20 years ago? Will I learn anything different than what I already know? The book is not over my friends, it’s only just beginning. 4.5 stars

Thank you, G.P. Putnam’s Sons for sending me an ARC of this book for an honest review.

She Crossed the Line Too Many Times. Too Close by Natalie Daniels

If only she had listened to her gut feelings, perhaps her life would have turned out differently. I had to wonder as I turned countless pages, was this woman really off her rocker or was it something else that pushed her over the edge? This was one of those stories that carried me along, page after page, chapter after chapter (and those chapter are long!) until the very end.

I met Emma, a forensic psychiatrist, who was assigned Connie, a patient at a mental hospital. Emma has a great professional front but personally, Emma is hiding something. What Connie did to land in the hospital, I have no idea at this point, but Emma’s job was to decide if Connie would be able to stand trial. I immediately liked Connie when I met her but as story progressed, my feelings towards her were all over the place. Connie was clever, crafty and also manipulative yet at times, I was wondering what had possessed her, her actions were driving me up the wall!

The story flashes back and forth, from the past to the present. We get the story how Connie ended up hospitalized and also about Connie and her relationships now. The author threw in a few dramatic punches in the stories which I really enjoyed and I couldn’t get this book out of my head.

With the doctor constantly visiting, Connie gets tired of her endless questions and battering. She just doesn’t know the answers and doesn’t want to remember. Then, Connie sees an opportunity and decides to turn the tables. It becomes rather fun now when the doctor arrives, as Connie tries on her own invisible white coat and plays her own version of doctor. In the doctor’s volatile state, Connie manipulates her way into the doctor’s head rather quickly. I began to wonder with the door closed, who was the patient and who was the doctor, as the line began to get rather blurry.

It all still comes back to, what did Connie do to land herself into the hospital? The plot deepens as her children are introduced and their feelings towards her are revealed. I liked that the author slowly reveals parts of this mystery to the readers throughout the chapters, creating suspense and drama. I could feel the tension building. This was a great suspenseful story, one that I really enjoyed and one that I highly recommend.

Thanks to HarperCollins Publishing and BookPage for supplying me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I won a copy of this book in a Sweepstakes at BookPage. I’m sorry that I missed the ARC’s debut deadline.

The Vanishing Season By Joanna Schaffhausen

It’s that time of the year again, Ellery’s birthday is right around the corner. For Ellery, unfortunately, she suspects that again, this birthday will not be a time for celebration. It always began with her mail. Opening the envelope, Ellery knew the minute her eyes landed on the colorful front what she was holding. The greeting inside was just the beginning, its deception was just a part of the mystery that Ellery was a part of. Would this year be any different?

Ellery is a female officer who has moved into a small town where she is the only female on the payroll. Ellery believes that some murders have been committed yet there haven’t been any bodies recovered. She has been connecting the “dots” in a few cases and she believes that she’s uncovered a pattern. Now, Ellery is predicting the next murder. However, no one is listening to her. The real story is, Ellery is not telling her colleagues everything she knows about these cases and the clock is ticking. What are you going to do Ellery? You can’t delay your birthday.

With twists and turns, I enjoyed this griping mystery as Ellery works to uncover the pieces and get everyone on board. I enjoyed the small town of Woodbury, the main characters with their flaws and the character’s history. This was an entertaining, exciting book and Joanna Schaffhausen is an author that I look forward to reading in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Chain by Adrian McKinty

When I first saw the cover for this book, I was intrigued and then, when all the reviews started popping up saying how great it was, I put myself on the list to read it. As I started reading it, I couldn’t stop thinking about it and then, I started applying the book to my own personal life. What would I do if I was in Rachel’s shoes? How far would I go? I was literally sucked into this book! In the end, what really surprised me, was how involved Rachel became. I was captivated by what was happening inside these pages but Rachel was possessed.

Kylie was taken from the bus stop. As she makes her way into their car, Kylie’s mind reflects back to all the warnings that she had received over the years about getting into a stranger’s vehicle. Yet, here she was, sitting next to a hooded man, driven by a woman she didn’t know.

Her mother, Rachel will soon receive the first of many calls from an “Unknown Caller, and she will wish that she had done many things differently.” Rachel will then begin fulfilling the requirements to get Kylie back. Rachel, a woman who is fighting cancer hopes that she too, can fight this chain letter which she will discover, cannot be broken.

I enjoyed all the different viewpoints that the author provided in this story. I felt these gave me a complete picture of the events and it provided a more elaborate account of what was happening. I liked how Rachel matured in the story. In the beginning, Rachel was scared and timid but by the end of the novel, she was a totally different character. As the story progressed, I felt as if something came over Rachel and she was on a mission. I kept wondering what came over her, why was she acting the way she was and when was this going to end? Planting myself in her shoes, I don’t know if I could have stepped where she did or went as far as she went.

I did feel that the book changed tempo halfway through. One part felt intense and vibrant while the other part felt stealthy and sly. This was a fantastic, on-edge mystery that kept me focused till the very end.

Some Choose Darkness by Charlie Donlea

4.5 stars Mystery

She’s talented. Perhaps it all started when she was younger and her great aunt showed her how to repair porcelain dolls or it’s her own strict attention to detail, Rory is great at her job. As a forensic reconstructionist, Rory gives everything she has, when she is working. It begins with the task of restoring a porcelain doll which belongs to a grieving father and extends to Rory tending to her father’s affairs after his death. Rory attention to detail, investigation and competition extends to all aspects of her life, no matter the outcome.

Reconnecting with her great aunt in a new environment, Rory uses the toy to try to reconnect her great aunt to the real world. The simple closing of her father’s business, after his death, turns into a major undertaking as she uncovers some information about her father. Where exactly that puts Rory now that she is part of her father’s business is another question she has to consider?

I thought this was a fast read and I couldn’t put it down/stop thinking about it after I got about halfway through it. I liked the twists and turns that this novel provided in the second half. I enjoyed the characters and I liked that Rory felt like a normal, everyday person. I enjoyed the drama. I couldn’t get too comfortable, as something would change in the novel and I would have to readjust my thinking. This is my first novel by this author but I am looking forward to more by Charlie.

I received a copy of this novel from Kensington Publishing Co. in exchange for an honest opinion. – thank you!

Stone Mothers By Erin Kelly

4 stars Mystery

I was confused when I first started this novel but because I loved He Said/She Said so much, I continued reading and I am so glad that I did. Although, you can promise never to speak about your past, that doesn’t mean that it ever goes away or that the repercussions of it are gone. Your past will always be there, somewhere.

As the story began to unwind, I finally understood Marianne’s reaction when she was presented with her own apartment at Royal Park Manor. These luxury units are now sitting on the site of a former mental hospital which she had ties to, when she was younger. Seeing this Manor, brings back a memory of something that had occurred when Marianne was younger. Becoming nervous, Marianne’s afraid that a secret that was shared with a few other individuals, will be exposed. I liked that the author included here, a flashback of Marianne with the events surrounding that secret, so that I could witness the event and understand Marianne’s fear.

We also get to hear from Marianne’s daughter and a character named Helen, who have an important part in Marianne’s mysterious secret.

There were a few surprises for me as I read, things that I didn’t expect to occur but which I totally enjoyed and then, there were the twists that the author added. I ended up having a great time with this novel. This was not a fast read for me as the author describes some of the scenes in detail and I didn’t want to miss anything. I also found that in the beginning it was confusing and I ended up rereading that section again but this book is really great overall. I look forward to Erin Kelly’s next novel.

Thanks so much to MacMillan Publishers for a copy of this novel in exchange for my own honest opinion.