Suspense – Page 2 – One Chapter

Escape From Chernobyl by Andy Marino

4 stars YA/ Middle School

It was cover love that brought this book to me. I didn’t know that this was book one of a series and after reading this one, I don’t think I will continue with the series as the ending was disappointing to me. For me, there was no ending. As I listened to this book, I was hooked, I felt a deep connection to the characters and their fate and then, the book ended. I had been cheated. There had to be more! Was there book #2 to finish this story? No, it was over, and I felt cheated.

It’s April 26, 1986, the place Pripyat, Ukraine. This city was built for the individuals who would work at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. I liked the variety of characters as it gave a great view of what was happening around this event as it was unfolding,

It was Yuri who I fell for in this book. He was the one who had less at stake but gave the most. While those with higher titles, rattled off commands or walked among the clouds, Yuri was on the ground with his eyes open, watching and risking everything. Alina, Yuri’s relative, was just like him, but at times, her emotions got the best of her. Who could blame her, considering what was transpiring right in front of her. Yuri knows Chernobyl like the back of his hand. Yuri is a janitor at Chernobyl. They treat him better than a janitor but that’s still what they consider him to be. Yuri hopes that one day, yes one day, they’ll realize the potential that Yuri has and move him up into a more suitable title. While at work on April 26, Yuri notices something isn’t right. His eyes have been on the ground since day one but today, today is different. Today, there is no going back.

What was happening inside Chernobyl? Sofiya dad is an engineer at the power plant and getting his perspective as the day’s events spiraled downhill added an intensity to the drama unfolding. Despite everything, Sofiya tries to help the residents of Pripyat. Sofiya had a different emotional burning within her than Alina but together they show the confusion and turmoil that the residents faced as this event changed their world.

This book covers April 26, 1986. One day. I felt cheated as I wanted and needed to know what happened after this day. I felt a deep connection to the characters and as I closed the book, I was sad and disappointed that there wasn’t something to help bring me closure.

The Tenant by Freida McFadden

5 stars Thriller

Ha! That was definitely a great read for me! Talk about some twists and turns. I’ve enjoyed Freida’s books in the past but the way that she’s able to spring her twists and turns in her stories are grabbing me in awe. I knew something had to be coming my way as I was reading but I was not ready for the deer-in-the-headlight stop I got. Unscrambling everything that I knew at that point was a process, a process that thanks to Freida was just the beginning of this rollercoaster of a book.

Blake was living the dream. He had a nice job, a girl on his shoulder, and he was trying to get his cards all aligned for the life that he wanted to lead. He could see his future unfolding in front of him, a prosperous future, one that could lead to many possibilities. It happened suddenly. Doors started slamming and Blake’s prosperous land of opportunity was now being taken away from him. Why? Blake didn’t know but he was trying desperately to hold onto every last bit of what was left. It was a downhill spiral and Blake is tumbling hard. To help financially, Blake and his fiancé decide to open their home to a tenant, someone who could help take part of the burden off temporarily. Whitney seemed to be the perfect fit for their household, sweet young Whitney.

I could feel the tension and stress as they all adjusted to this new living arrangement. Blake thought he had problems before, but now with Whitney in the mix, they’ve just complicated things. Whitney arrives with her own stories and history, and boy, does she shake things up! Don’t start thinking that you can put this book aside or concentrate on your own issues once Whitney joins the household. The escapades and finger-pointing intensify, and I could think of nothing less than the characters inside this book and the who and why associated with that.

I liked how I started to question my own thought process and how I began to wonder where the holes in this story lived. Were the characters’ actions and words matching up? Had I overlooked something? Was I rooting for someone I shouldn’t be? This was a fun, twisted book which I really enjoyed. Wowza – a 5 star read for me, for sure.

The Crash by Freida McFadden

5 stars Thriller

The scene: you’ve had enough and you’re ready to start over, you jump in your car planning to visit your sibling until you can figure out what to “do next.” Sounds like a good plan until you’re on the road and then, it hits you. It’s winter and you’re in a rural country; Maine to be exact. Your car, not the most reliable and rugged vehicle to be driving in these conditions. But it’s too late now, she’s committed and there’s no going back.

Yes, “The Crash.” Tegan suffers a crash while out on the rural roads while driving to her brother’s house in Maine. Tegan was not aware that she was driving into a winter storm. That’s not the worst of it, she’s also 8 months pregnant and now, she’s hurt. I love how Tegan is on high alert when someone finally approaches her as she is pinned inside her car, this girl knows her thrillers and knows from a distance that this shadowy figure could be hiding some secrets. Helping Tegan from the car, Tegan discovers this shadowy figure is a large man who is very friendly and offers to bring her home until the storm passes. With a wife at home, the couple seem very friendly and try to make Tegan comfortable but Tegan senses something else.

Tegan begins to question the friendliness and hospitality of the couple while the couple begin their own assessment of Tegan. Is the couple keeping secrets, did Tegan notice something while staying in their basement? Tegan seems to be giving all the correct answers, but the couple senses that Tegan is keeping something from them. What is she hiding from them? As each character gives voice to the predicament playing out, the situation changes, making me wonder what exactly the outcome might be.

Tegan wants to go to the hospital for her injuries and to make sure her unborn child is okay. The wife sees Tegan as a gift, an opportunity, something to fulfill a need that she has. Her husband, he seems to be caught in the middle. See, he loves his wife, and he wants to make her happy but he’s wondering about her need, and he’s concerned about the welfare of Tegan. It’s a balancing act and the clock is ticking.

I really enjoy these thrillers. They get my blood pumping and get my mind off of my everyday life because isn’t that what reading is supposed to do- give us an escape. Sure, some of the characters are predictable but so are some of the people in our life but then again, some of the characters throw something into the mix and I’m off. I’m off into another world, a world where you just don’t know where you’re going to land. 5 stars.

The Housemaid is Watching by Freida McFadden

4 stars Mystery

That was a complicated, twisted story. Having read the first book in this series and wanting more, I somehow just jumped into the third book. Not realizing that I had missed the second book in this series until I was completely absorbed in the depths of this book, I didn’t feel lost. I liked the continuation of some of the characters from the first book and the introduction of new individuals into the mix and the storyline felt the same, yet I felt like it was trying to get me off track.

Millie’s family has finally moved into a new home, and she couldn’t be happier. No longer a maid to a family living in such a home, this is hers. She’s bursting with high expectations and dreams which slowly start to fade as the family begins unpacking and settling into their new neighborhood. Nothing was perfect but I started wondering if anything was right with this move. Sure, you have the neighbors peeking out of the curtains at the new arrivals on the block but what if they never stop or how “friendly” can these neighbors be? This small family unit soon encompasses those around them and the show begins.

I enjoyed the relationships among the characters and how the neighborhood operated. Reading the characters’ thoughts and feelings, suspicion was the theme. This theme, I thought, took quite a while to address. I enjoyed how the book ended and now, I must read book two. 4 stars

The Unsub by Meg Gardiner

4.5 stars Thriller

She still has it. I used to be a big Meg reader many years ago and when I saw this book on vacation a few years ago, I had to pick it up. Meg kept me entertained, never letting me go as Caitlin takes over in her father’s shoes tracking down The Zodiac killer.

After a lengthy absence, The Zodiac killer has returned. Caitlin is assigned to the case with the hope that her history with the case, they’ll be able to catch The Prophet this time. He’s predictable, yet there’s something different this time with the killings. Caitlin is drawn in, The Prophet knows exactly what he’s doing and he’s pulling Caitlin along with him. Her father Mack knows that feeling all too well. Mack had worked on this same case years ago when The Prophet first emerged and now Mack is playing the price. Caitlin asks her father for advice, his expertise on The Prophet and Mack’s warns his daughter about the emotional impact this case can have on her but Caitlin is determined to bring The Zodiac killer down.

It’s a dark thriller where it’s a race against time. The Zodiac killer takes and takes as he has a goal in mind and nothing will stop him. Caitlin and her team must discover the motivation behind such a corrupt mind and find a way to stop him. The clock is ticking ……go!

After reading the last few pages of this book, I realized that this was a series. Now, that was a shock to me, as I hate to read series until I know a few of the books in the series are already published. Knowing this, I checked and found that yes, there are four books in this series. I immediately put book #2 and #3 of this series on hold at the library because I need to know what happens next. 4.5 stars

The Vicious Circle by Katherine St. John

4 stars Fiction Mystery

I was hoping that something fantastic would happen to Sveta after what her fiancé put her through. When I read that they decided to take a break from one another, I was so relieved as I thought that Chase was still too much of a mama’s boy to get married. Finding out that her uncle Paul left her an unexpected inheritance, I was so excited for her and just hoped that it was enough that she could get rid of Chase permanently.

I knew Sveta still cared for Chase, but I really wished she would not have told him how much the inheritance was worth or who died. That information put him over the edge. She was now worth more than his family and there was no way that he would let her go now. Urg! Sveta must now make her way to her uncle’s funeral which is in the remote jungles of Mexico. Arriving, she meets her uncle’s attorney, Lucas, and they make their way to Xanadu, the wellness compound that Paul created. It has been many years since Sveta has seen her uncle, but she knows of his work. A famous spiritual leader, Paul had many followers and was known for his teachings. His estate, valued at 180 million dollars, is more than Sveta ever dreamed of.

Xanadu takes them both by surprise as they are both greeted warmly by Kali, Paul’s wife. I feel that there has to be some resentment for not getting Paul’s estate since she was his wife. There is some hesitation, as both Lucas and Sveta take in their surroundings. All electronic devices are stripped from them and a communal computer is made available to them and the other members of the compound. All individuals wear special clothing including Sveta and Lucas and this spiritual retreat compound is becoming more eerie by the minute. Lucas and Sveta start to ask questions about Xanadu and Paul yet the answers they receive aren’t what they expected. They’re learning and it becomes clearer what is actually happening here.

I really enjoyed the language in the book as the author drew me in. The whole picture was slowly being presented as the story unfolded. I was drawn in with the relationship of Sveta and Chase and I couldn’t wait for Sveta to venture to Mexico where I thought things would turn around for her but actually, things clicked into high gear as they realized what they had walked into. 4 stars

This book was part of the Scene of the Crime Early Read Program. Thank you for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

The Chamber by Will Dean

4.5 stars Mystery Fiction

What kept me up at night? It was this interesting story line that had great characters who were trapped inside a small vessel. I’m not claustrophobic but I could be under their circumstances since now, their 30-day mission is now terminated. Tea Bag is dead. They all knew, and they all executed the strictest rules of cleanliness and hygiene since boarding, so what went wrong? Living in such tight quarters, the fear of contamination and illness would spread rapidly amongst the six of them, so what happened?

The remaining five individuals barely get Tea Bag’s body and samples ready for transport outside the vessel when another one of the team members is found without a pulse.

“valve mask, pulse, compressions, IV, more adrenaline.”

Unfortunately, another team is now dead. What is happening! Holy Mogoly folks! The remaining team members are on high alert as there are only four members of the team left. The outside team requires them to follow the same protocol on this body as they did with Tea Bag’s, as they provide them with the necessary supplies. I felt on high alert myself as these individuals were friends. This team knew each other, they respected each other and their work and now, they’re dying.

Each team member was now having second thoughts on everything and everyone. There’s no room for them to stretch out and get away from each other. They’re stuck with each other and their thoughts while the outside team works to safely bring them back home. The stories they told and how they dealt with each minute and hour as they waited helped to pass the time, yet in the back of their minds, they were searching for the truth.

I was caught up inside the heads of these individuals as they were confided inside this vessel and their own thoughts. Their stories were interesting and gives everyone a look into who they. A storm makes the situation more pressing as the team tries to do their own investigating. Is the outside team part of their “team” or are they just “players” in a game? Being stuck inside the vessel, they are given limited information and the windows to the outside world can only provide a narrow view. They were frustrated and I understood why. Was information being held back?

I enjoyed this book, much more than I thought I would, going into it. I’m not one who likes technical books and when they started talking about valves and pressure, I was nervous. I thought this book might be too technical and detailed for me. It wasn’t a scary book (horror) but more of a mysterious, intense drama read that’ll pull you through until you discover the answer. 4.5 stars.

The Resort by Sara Ochs

4.5 stars Mystery

There are two things that drew me to this book, the beautiful cover and the author’s name. My maiden name is Ochs which isn’t a very popular last name, so I knew I had to read this. Thailand, the home to one of the most renowned diving islands is made of permanents and tourists. Neil landed there three years ago and never went home. He’s now a scuba instructor to those on the island. Cass arrived the next year and like Neil, she now calls the island home. Cass is living her life as a diving instructor but she’s also running from her past and the island creates a great barrier.

Using the last of her money, Brooke arrives on the island with other tourists to enjoy what the island has to offer. It’s possible Brooke might become one of the permanents as she fits right in, enjoying herself and the island. When Cass receives an anonymous note, it creates an eerie element to the book as what Cass has tried to conceal all these years has now been discovered.

Deaths start to tally up but who is the killer. If this continues, this will hurt the island as they need the tourists to survive. Why now has this started happening and what does Cass’s secret have to do with the killings? With likeable characters and a story that moves quickly, this was a great read. 4.5 stars

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

5 stars Thriller

Ha! What a fun way to end that book. Millie is trying to keep her past a secret when she applies for the position of Housemaid, but her secret is nothing compared to what awaits her. When Mrs. Winchester, Nina, interviews Millie, she knows she is underqualified, and she tries her best to dodge the questions that will reveal her past. Millie just needs some money to get back on her feet and a place to rest her head, beside her car which has now become her home. When Nina telephones Millie asking her if she would like the position, there is some doubt how Nina could have chosen her, but Millie accepts because total freedom is on the horizon.

As a housemaid, Millie tries her best to run the household and help with Cece, their 9-year-old daughter. Millie is provided with a very small attic bedroom which the furnishings were shocking to me considering how elaborate the rest of the house was. Millie notices confusing and strange activities and issues around the house. Are these because of the lifestyle that they lead, something that Millie is not familiar with. Millie begins to wonder what it would be like to walk in Nina’s shoes, to live a life with no worries. Yet Millie does not know what Nina is keeping from those outside their home.

It’s a fantastic book, one where the layers are slowly peeled away. I enjoyed all the little secrets where the players were trying to outsmart one another and throughout the book, I was wondering who was going to win. Andrew thought he was such a player, a gem of a husband who could work Nina like a puppet. Nina acted like an obedient mother and wife, and she was such a great actress. Millie was the innocent player who just wanted to sneak into their lives, undetected, do her job and walk away with a good job reference and some money. Such a great read and the ending…….fantastic! 5 stars

You Better Watch Out by James S. Murray

5 stars Thriller

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“You gotta see this.””

I couldn’t see fast enough nor read fast enough as Eddie and Jess tried to make sense of the world that had become their new world. As my husband was driving the car, I was trying to read him some of this book, but my mouth and my eyes were not in sync. I was talking gibberish and as my husband suggested, I just read silently, as silent as I could with all my gasps and shoutouts. Dang, I wasn’t expecting the last half of this book to be this exciting!

For only 225 pages, this book packs a punch! At first, the book reminded me of one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes and I was intrigued to find out how this one was going to end. What would they find at the end of this so-called, “town”, if they ever do find the end and were they going to make it out alive? One-by-one, we meet the characters in this book and I’m trying to find their common dominator. They’re all stuck inside this little make-believe town but what is the purpose and what type of game is this that they are the “players” when they don’t know the rules. Dang, this book is one that I will definitely have to reread again, if I can ever get it out of my head! 5 stars++