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Release date: January 1, 2017

Publisher: Orenda Books

Genre: Psychological Thriller 

Blurb: 

Andy Boyd thinks he is the luckiest man alive. Widowed with a young child, after his wife dies in childbirth, he is certain that he will never again experience true love. Then he meets Anna. Feisty, fun and beautiful, she’s his perfect match, and she loves his son like he is her own. When Andy ends up in the hospital on his wedding night, he receives his first clue that Anna is not all that she seems. Desperate for that happy-ever-after, he ignores it—a dangerous mistake that could cost him everything. 

Review: 

Remember a few months back when I was raving everywhere I possibly could about Behind Closed Doors? I even said it was domestic noir at its finest. I still adore that book, but A Suitable Lie is edging it out of it’s spot now. This book really gets under your skin, it consumes you and I mean that in the best possible way. 

I don’t think this is a huge spoiler, but just in case here is your warning. Andy and Anna are in a abusive relationship, but the unique twist here is that Anna is the abuser and Andy is the victim. There are loads of books about domestic violence where women are being abused, but there are not many with a male victim. Malone sheds some light on an important issue in a profound and harrowing manner. 

I totally fell in love with Andy right from the start. He’s bold, funny, vivacious, strong, and loving. He’s a single father as his first wife, Patricia passed away. When he meets Anna, he’s immediately drawn to her and as they fall in love he feels like the happiest man alive. As soon as the marriage begins, Anna reveals a side of herself that is ugly and cold. As the story progresses, watching the breakdown of Andy truly broke my heart. Seeing him shrink and wither away before my eyes was both upsetting and unsettling. He became a shell of his own self and was almost completely unrecognizable. The beauty of this unraveling is that as a reader I was able to experience the awful transformation of Andy right along with him. This brought up so many different feelings that by the end, I was emotionally spent. I don’t mean that in a negative way, it was quite the experience and it left a lasting impression with me that I won’t soon forget.

A Suitable Lie is exquisitely crafted and tightly plotted. Watching a dysfunctional relationship was much like watching a car accident in that I couldn’t look away even if it was painful to watch. This book is truly special and unforgettable, I was moved to tears more than once but there were also moments of joy and laughter. I can’t recommend it more highly and I only hope that my review conveyed how highly I regard both this novel and the author. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Karen at Orenda Books for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon|Amazon UK
Release date: September 8, 2016

Publisher: Bonnier Zaffre 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 

Blurb: 

For fans of Twin Peaks and The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair, this brilliant debut is dark yet hilarious, suspenseful and sad.

Everyone has a secret in Tall Oaks . . .

When three-year-old Harry goes missing, the whole of America turns its attention to one small town.

Everyone is eager to help. Everyone is a suspect.

Desperate mother Jess, whose grief is driving her to extreme measures.

Newcomer Jared, with an easy charm and a string of broken hearts in his wake.

Photographer Jerry, who’s determined to break away from his controlling mother once and for all.

And, investigating them all, a police chief with a hidden obsession of his own . . .

In Chris Whitaker’s brilliant and original debut novel, missing persons, secret identities and dangerous lies abound in a town as idiosyncratic as its inhabitants. 

Review: 

My last read was a massive disappointment so I decided to pick up Tall Oaks after it had come highly recommended from both Annie at The Misstery and Renee at It’s Book Talk. I am so glad that they brought this gem of a book to my attention as it has a firm spot in my top reads of the year!

I’m sure we’ve all seen and read plenty of books that claim that everyone has secrets, then you read it and are left wondering, that was the big secret? The opposite happens here, everyone really does have a secret and they are all mind blowing and surprising. Three year old Harry has been missing for months and many residents of Tall Oaks are affected by his disappearance. Things like this just don’t happen in the town, which by the way, the town is a character in itself. I’m not sure if small town America has ever been portrayed so brilliantly before.

The characters in this book make it stand out above others. They are all complex, well developed and they make you feel something. You may love them, hate them, feel unsettled and uncomfortable by them, but you won’t forget them easily. Jessica is Harry’s mom and she’s been in a downward spiral ever since her son vanished. Jim is the chief of police and this is the case that will always haunt him. Jerry works at the local photo shop and he stole a piece of my heart. Jared is a mysterious outsider and his secret is a huge one. Then, my favorite was Manny. This kid was one of the best characters I’ve come across in quite awhile (and I read a lot, 243 books so far this year). He’s politically incorrect, and unapologetic about it, he has the mouth of a sailor, he’s crude, and most of what comes out of his mouth is for the shock value alone. But underneath all the false bravado he’s sensitive and smart. He is so funny, he fancies himself an old school gangster and tries to shake down local businesses. I had tears from laughing so hard, I don’t think I’ve ever been so tickled while reading a thriller before!

As much as the mystery plays a central role here, this is so much more than your typical thriller. It’s one of those books that makes you feel every emotion imaginable. It has appeal to any reader, there’s even a sweet romance developing between Manny and Furat for the YA crowd. 

I don’t often feel compelled to reread a book but I really want to here. This really needs to be a movie, these characters deserve to be brought to life. I’ll miss every single one of them and will think of them often. The ending and beginning of this book was utterly perfect, it had one of the best opening chapters I’ve ever read. And the twists were unexpected and totally unpredictable. I can’t recommend this one enough and I can’t wait to read what Whitaker comes up with next.

Overall rating: 5/5

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Release date: November 15, 2016

Publisher: Henry Holt

Genre: YA/Contemporary Romance 

Blurb: 

Pen Lupo is sick and tired of hiding who she is. On the outside, Pen is popular, quiet, and deferential to her boyfriend. On the inside, however, Pen is honest, opinionated–and not quite sure that she’s like other girls. Do they have urges like she does?

His classmates may consider him a nerd, but Benedict Pendleton knows he’s destined for great things. All he has to do is find a worthy girlfriend, and his social station will be secured. Sure, Benedict is different–but that’s what he likes about himself.

When fate intervenes, both Pen and Benedict end up at the same vacation resort for winter break. Despite their differences, the two are drawn together. But is there such a thing as happily ever after for a nympho and a nerd?

Review: 

Ugh you guys. This was a painful and cringeworthy read. That pretty much sums up my thoughts on this book. Just ugh. I hate writing negative reviews, I really do. But I cannot allow some other unsuspecting soul to think like me and say, oh this sounds cute and original! It’s not. It tries really hard to be but it misses the mark by like a mile. I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway and thank god, because I would’ve been pissed had I actually spent money on this.

There’s two POV here, Pen and Benedict. Pen is popular and sex obsessed. Weird that’s how I describe her, right? I have no choice because the author ensured that ninety nine percent of what she thought about was sex. She talks about how much she masturbates constantly, then as if that isn’t enough, there are multiple scenes where she’s masturbating as well. Look, maybe I’m just old, or prudish, but I don’t want to imagine a sixteen year old girl masturbating, much less have to read about it in detail. I felt like a voyeuristic creep way more than I’m comfortable admitting. 

Benedict has more substance to him than Pen, but honestly, that’s not saying much. He’s a nerd but he is overly confident and doesn’t care what anyone thinks. He’s unabashedly honest and totally awkward. Oh but behind all that he’s gorgeous, because of course he is. This hit every annoying YA trope you can think of.

My biggest gripe, (and I have many) is that there was so much shaming going on. Fat shaming, slut shaming, nerd shaming, it went on and on. Then, everyone used the word retard or retarded as an insult all the time. Even the adults! Why? This is not ok, it’s disgusting and totally insulting. 

This is way too risqué and sexually explicit for a YA novel. It’s recommended for kids 14-18 and there is no way in hell that I would be comfortable recommending this to a freshman. No way. I can see where the author was trying to go and a message of self acceptance was there, but it was hidden beneath insta love, terrible language and overused tropes. 

There was one thing I liked and it’s only fair to point out, but the acknowledgment  was awesome. The characters in the book helped write it and that was unique and fresh.

Overall rating: 1.5/5

Thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for my copy. 

Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK|Author Website
I’m so pleased to be a stop on the blog tour for Scared to Death. Read on for my review and a Q & A with the author.

Release date: December 6, 2016

Publisher: Saxon Publishing 

Genre: Crime Fiction, Mystery Thriller 

Blurb: 
A serial killer murdering for kicks. 

A detective seeking revenge.

When the body of a snatched schoolgirl is found in an abandoned biosciences building, the case is first treated as a kidnapping gone wrong. 

But Detective Kay Hunter isn’t convinced, especially when a man is found dead with the ransom money still in his possession.

When a second schoolgirl is taken, Kay’s worst fears are realised.

With her career in jeopardy and desperate to conceal a disturbing secret, Kay’s hunt for the killer becomes a race against time before he claims another life.

For the killer, the game has only just begun…

Scared to Death is a gripping fast paced crime thriller from author Rachel Amphlett, in a new series introducing Kay Hunter – a detective with a hidden past and an uncertain future…

Review: 

Oohhh what a fantastic beginning to a new series! I love nothing more than getting caught up in a new series and I’m so excited about this one featuring detective Kay Hunter. She’s intelligent, capable and tough, but she has enough skeletons in her closet to keep things interesting. She also has a keen intuition which makes her a sharp and formidable detective.

The book starts out with a bang, a couple is racing against the clock to try and save their teenaged daughter. Melanie has been kidnapped and there is a ransom demand. I could feel the terror of her poor parents, I can’t imagine the despair and helplessness they were feeling, so awful. When things end in the worst possible way, Hunter has a huge mess to wade through and clean up. Can Hunter and her team outsmart this ruthless and cunning killer before he strikes again?

The killer here is quite frightening, he literally scares his victims to death and there were times that I was pretty scared myself! He’s crafty, cocky and sinister and seems to enjoy toying with the police and his victims. The pace here is snappy with short chapters that urge you to keep reading. This is dark and gritty, with surprises that I didn’t see coming. There is also a good mix of business and pleasure as you get glimpses into Kay’s personal life and relationship with her boyfriend Adam. There were some funny scenes between the two that added some warmth and humanity to an otherwise dark story. I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series and can definitely recommend this to crime fiction fans.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Q & A

Novel Gossip Author Q&A

 

1. What’s a typical writing day for you look like? Describe your perfect writing environment.


 

I’m really lucky because I have a dedicated writing space at home, but that tends to get used for the “business end” of stuff most of the time, although I write in there when I’m doing sprints with author buddies in the evenings.

 

I still have a part-time job, so the majority of my writing takes place on the train during my morning commute – it’s a 35-minute trip into the city from where I live on the fringes of Brisbane, and in that time I can get upwards of 700 words done, and the same on the way back on a good day.

 

2. How did you get started writing? Was it something that you’ve always loved?


 

Yes, definitely. I could read before I started school, and we used to have regular fortnightly trips to the library when I was little because my parents couldn’t afford to keep up with my reading habits otherwise. I wrote my first short story at eight years old, but my mum had to type it up because no-one could read my scrawl. I had a school report at the time that stated my handwriting “resembled a spider walking across the page”.

 

 

3. Who are your favorite writers/inspirations?


 

When I set out to write the Kay Hunter series, I read every single interview I could find with Peter James, Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Michael Connelly – I love their books, and I learned so much from them about the craft of writing a well-researched fast-paced crime thriller. It was like going back to school – I’ve got pages of notes!

 

I also enjoy books by Lee Child, Robert Crais, CJ Sansom, Ken Follett, Robert Bryndza and Angela Marsons – there are plenty of others, but I’d probably crash your blog page if I listed them all here! I love paperbacks, but Kindles are dangerous – every time I switch mine on, I forget I’ve downloaded another ten books…

 

4. Anything you can tell us about upcoming projects?


 

I’m just completing the first draft of the second book in the Kay Hunter series and over December while I’m promoting Scared to Death I’ll be outlining books 3 and 4 so I’ve can get on with writing those in early 2017. I’ve also got to sit down and start researching for what will be the fifth in my Dan Taylor espionage series…

 

5. Normally how do you develop plots/characters? Brief us on your process.


 

I’ll have an idea rumbling around in my head for a few weeks, over which time I’ll jot down scenes in a new notebook (any excuse for more stationery!). Once those start coming together more quickly, I’ll use the index card feature in Scrivener (a writing software app) and move scenes around until they start to make more sense.

 

For each scene, I’ll write out a couple of sentences about what happens and what I need to write. I outline about 50% of the book in this way before I start, which speeds up the writing process considerably – I let the characters dictate the rest, but having a structure keeps me on track and ensures I keep the story moving forward.

 

  

 

6. Preferred method for readers to contact you?


 

The easiest way for readers to keep up to date with me is by joining the mailing list via my website (www.rachelamphlett.com), but you can also find me here:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelamphlett.author/

Twitter: @RachelAmphlett

Instagram: @RachelAmphlett

 

I always respond to emails personally, so feel free to drop me a line.

 

 

7. On average, how long does it take you to write a book?


 

A first draft typically takes me between 9-12 weeks, no more. The above process makes it so much easier to bash out the words – if I can’t settle into one scene of a morning, I’ll move onto another, even if it’s out of sequence. As long as I get the words down, it doesn’t matter.

 

8. Which one of your characters do you relate to the most?


 

Probably Kay, because I’m stubborn and I don’t give up easily.
 

 9.What’s the best compliment that you’ve received about your work?


 

Any time someone compares me to one of my writing influences in a review for one of my novels, that’s a big pat on the back. It’s nice when those crop on days where I might be struggling with the word count for the next book!

 

 

Thanks for having me on your blog, Amy!

Check out all of the stops on the tour!

Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: November 1, 2016

Publisher: Lake Union 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

Evelyn Tester is sleepwalking through her suburban life—until a late-night phone call startles her awake. Her husband, a prestigious psychiatrist, has been in an accident. And he isn’t alone.

Suddenly Evelyn’s world isn’t as tidy as she thought. And in the midst of it all is Juliette, not only her husband’s secret lover but also his patient. If news of the affair were to get out, it would ruin more than just Evelyn’s marriage. Although it’s a bitter pill for Evelyn to swallow, protecting her family means staying silent—even if, as she begins to discover, the night of the accident has consequences far more dangerous than the unmasking of an affair.

But the more Evelyn learns about Juliette’s picture-perfect life—complete with a handsome, unsuspecting husband—the more she yearns for revenge…and satisfaction. Her growing obsession fuels her rage, burning away her complacency. What will be left of her after it flames out?

Review: 

Told in alternating timelines, before and after, the entire story is from Evelyn’s perspective. Before starts immediately when the accident happens and after deals with the aftermath until everything finally merges together and there is one final chapter entitled now. I know many are sick of alternating timelines, but it really worked well here. The Evelyn from both was almost like reading about two different characters as she evolved and grew so much. You have a vague idea of what happened, but there are missing pieces, yet everything ties together and makes sense in the end.

Evelyn is caught in a monotonous life, and she doesn’t even realize that’s she unhappy until her husband’s accident. She’s a typical suburban mother who’s entire identity has been so wrapped up in being the perfect mother and wife that’s she’s totally lost track of herself. Plagued with self doubt and insecurities, she’s weak and doesn’t even realize she gave up all of her hopes and dreams to support her doctor husband, Gary and her bright and charming son, Cameron, until after the accident changes everything. Though there are many secondary characters that play important roles in this book, this is truly Evelyn’s story. She is a very well developed character and she undergoes a startling transformation by the end of the book. She’s wholly relatable and easy to like, even when she was behaving erratically I was rooting for her. 

This is yet another one where I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say that it was a very engrossing read. It’s on the shorter side too, so it can be read fairly fast. I’ve also seen some griping about the romance here, but I don’t see the problem. This isn’t a romantic love story, it’s full of lust, desire and obsession. I also felt it was an important part of Evelyn’s journey and it just made sense to the story. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Lake Union for my review copy. 

Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: April 25, 2017

Publisher: Atria Books

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 

Blurb: 

A young bride, a lonely single mother, and an amnesiac man of dubious origin lie at the heart of New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell’s next suspenseful drama that will appeal to fans of Liane Moriarty and Paula Hawkins.

In a windswept British seaside town, single mom Alice Lake finds a man sitting on the beach outside her house. He has no name, no jacket, and no idea how he got there. Against her better judgment, she invites him inside.

Meanwhile, in a suburb of London, twenty-one-year-old Lily Monrose has only been married for three weeks. When her new husband fails to come home from work one night she is left stranded in a new country where she knows no one. Then the police tell her that her husband never existed.

Twenty-three years earlier, Gray and Kirsty are teenagers on a summer holiday with their parents. Their annual trip to the quaint seaside town is passing by uneventfully, until an enigmatic young man starts paying extra attention to Kirsty. Something about him makes Gray uncomfortable—and it’s not just that he’s playing the role of protective older brother.

Two decades of secrets, a missing husband, and a man with no memory are at the heart of this brilliant new novel, filled with the “beautiful writing, believable characters, pacey narrative, and dark secrets” (London Daily Mail) that make Lisa Jewell so beloved by audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.

Review: 

This is my first experience reading a Lisa Jewell novel but it most certainly will not be my last! I was completely blown away by this book, it was absolutely stunning. It came highly recommended, especially from my buddy Renee at It’s Book Talk. If anyone has read any other of Jewell’s books and has a favorite, please let me know!

I so love converging storylines, I like trying to figure out how they’ll all end up being connected and intertwined. You have three separate stories here; Alice is a single mom of three children who sees a man sitting for hours in a storm outside her house. He has no idea who he is or where he came from. Meanwhile Lily is a young woman who was recently married. Her husband never returns home from work one evening which is completely out of character for him. Then, we flashback to 1993 to a family on vacation. This may sound like a little bit too much going on, but trust me, it’s not confusing at all when you’re actually reading it. 

Jewell’s writing really draws the reader in, I was totally hooked and captivated by the plot and the characters. I adored Alice and loved her openness and honesty. She’s far from perfect and she’s not afraid to admit it. Whenever I want to befriend a book character, I know I’ve found a winning book. Lily is so very different from Alice, she’s only twenty one and from the Ukraine and has no one besides her now missing husband in the U.K. Even though I thought I knew exactly how their stories would merge, I was wrong. The additional story from over twenty years ago added an extra layer of mystery and intrigue as well as even more fantastic characters. Gray and his sister Kirsty are on a vacation with their parents. They are just an average, normal family and I was so curious as to how they would all fit into everything.

This is yet another book that I would recommend going into blind, so I won’t be delving too far into the plot. I’m fascinated by the thought of amnesia and found myself thinking how terrifying it would be not to know anything about my life. This book has a little bit of everything, there is mystery, suspense, romance and family drama. I really didn’t want to put it down anytime I had to, it was that fantastic. It’s already a hit in the U.K. and I’m quite sure that it will be here in the US as well. Look out for this one in 2017; preorder it, request it on Netgalley, badger the publisher for a copy, just plan on reading this one. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher and Jellybooks for my copy.

Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: July 19, 2016

Publisher: Scout Press

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 

Blurb: 

From New York Times bestselling author of the “twisty-mystery” (Vulture) novel In a Dark, Dark Wood, comes The Woman in Cabin 10, an equally suspenseful novel from Ruth Ware—this time, set at sea.

In this tightly wound story, Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. At first, Lo’s stay is nothing but pleasant: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for—and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo’s desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong…

With surprising twists and a setting that proves as uncomfortably claustrophobic as it is eerily beautiful, Ruth Ware offers up another intense read. 

Review: 

In A Dark, Dark Wood was one of my favorite reads of 2015, so I was really curious about Ware’s sophomore novel. Would she be able to keep momentum with this one? Or would it end up being a huge disappointment after such a stellar debut? While I wasn’t as blown away by this one, I still thought it was good read.

Lo is a journalist who has been handed a plum assignment. She’s been invited to be a guest on the maiden voyage of a luxury cruise ship, Aurora. This wasn’t a typical city at sea type of cruise ship, but rather a smaller, boutique style craft with only ten guest cabins. On the first night aboard, Lo hears a woman scream and a splash and when she investigates, she swears she sees a hand disappear beneath the inky surface of the frigid water. Desperate to help whoever this woman is, Lo tries to enlist the help of the crew and guests. But no one seems to believe her as there are no missing guests or crew members. 

I loved the premise for this novel. Is Lo crazy, did she really see and hear what she thinks she did? I had no idea if she was reliable or not for most of the book and I liked the questions and concerns that were swirling around in my head. The setting was also fantastic, it was so isolated and claustrophobic. Everyone is completely cut off from civilization except for their fellow passengers and crew and at least one of them is at the very least dangerous and sinister, if not a killer. I was unsettled and pretty creeped out, which is exactly how I want to feel when I’m reading a mystery.

Lo was annoying, and I’m not the first, nor will I be the last person to say this. She’s weak minded and paranoid and I just couldn’t sympathize with her as much as I probably should have. She gave off a nervous energy that made me anxious and feeling unsettled. I think it’s mainly due to the fact that I couldn’t trust her or anyone else aboard the Aurora. All signs were pointing to her being delusional and though I had moments where I wanted to believe her wholeheartedly, I just couldn’t fully back her. 

Ware has a sharp and clearly defined writing style that held my attention for most of the book. There were a few parts that were a little bit slow, so some patience is required here. I do believe the payout is worth it in the end as the ending was completely unpredictable for me and I didn’t see it coming. Bottom line? A solid mystery with a fantastic setting. I’m a Ruth Ware fan and will be following her closely.

Overall rating: 4/5