Release date: August 8, 2017

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

The stunning new novel from the international #1 bestselling author — a searing, spellbinding blend of cold-case thriller and psychological suspense.

Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind…

Twenty-eight years ago, Charlotte and Samantha Quinn’s happy small-town family life was torn apart by a terrifying attack on their family home. It left their mother dead. It left their father — Pikeville’s notorious defense attorney — devastated. And it left the family fractured beyond repair, consumed by secrets from that terrible night.

Twenty-eight years later, and Charlie has followed in her father’s footsteps to become a lawyer herself — the ideal good daughter. But when violence comes to Pikeville again — and a shocking tragedy leaves the whole town traumatized — Charlie is plunged into a nightmare. Not only is she the first witness on the scene, but it’s a case that unleashes the terrible memories she’s spent so long trying to suppress. Because the shocking truth about the crime that destroyed her family nearly thirty years ago won’t stay buried forever…

Packed with twists and turns, brimming with emotion and heart, The Good Daughter is fiction at its most thrilling.

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Review:
I’m going to structure this review a little differently than normal, I feel like I need to do something a bit special to highlight one of my all time favorite authors and show why Karin Slaughter is one of the best crime fiction writers out there. Besides, her books are always really difficult for me to review in terms of the plot as she’s the master of the gut punching twist, so instead I’ll be trying to convince you why you’re missing out if you’re a thriller reader and you haven’t read her before.

She’s bold, unflinching and refuses to be ignored.

Some readers may not be able to stomach such a dark, gritty writing style full of vivid imagery and descriptions, but if you can handle it, there is no better writer. Her prose is sharp and considered, yes it can be brutally graphic and harrowing and Slaughter doesn’t shy away from disturbing subject matter and horrifying crimes against women and children, (think rape, abuse, etc) BUT it serves a purpose. It’s not gratuitous, it’s part of the plot for a reason and is never meant to glamorize victims. 

Her characterization is unparalleled. 

Slaughter has the uncanny ability to craft characters that are extremely complex and beyond fascinating. The Quinn family is no exception and there was much to explore here. Sam and Charlie are sisters so of course they have a complicated relationship, but they also experienced a God awful tragedy when they were just teenagers that has completely shattered their relationship. Their father Rusty is another highly tricky character and the sisters relationship with him was an additional layer to this already multilayered work. I was very invested in the Quinn family and they stirred my emotions in unexpected ways. 

Her plotting is the type that I just know makes other writers jealous.

Brilliant is not a word I use lightly, but there is no more apt description here. The plot of this book was so intricate that I’m scared to even really discuss it here! I was totally hooked by the time I finished the first page and that never changed for an instant throughout the 500 odd pages of this book. Slaughter is a very detailed writer, but she only reveals what is necessary when she is ready and not a moment sooner. Just when things start to come together and you feel like you have another piece of the puzzle, a twist will be delivered that shakes things up again. 

She creates settings that are unmatched. 

The Good Daughter is set in Pikeville, Georgia and has that small town, backwoods feel. The residents are judgmental, unaccepting fools for the most part, but they are real. There is something so immersive about the way she crafts a setting even though Pikeville is a stifling, claustrophobic place. I could feel the hostility, the tension in the air and envision every single scene she laid out. 

There’s an emotional component to her work.

I don’t know about you, but when I pick up a thriller, the last thing I’m expecting is to have an emotional, visceral response to the book. Not only does she create characters that you’ll be totally invested in, they’ll evoke emotions in you that will catch you off guard. Every time I finish one of her novels I have the same initial thought; she shattered my heart then slowly pieced it back together again. 

I want to close by pointing out that I was pleasantly surprised by how diverse this book was. Not that Slaughter’s other books haven’t been diverse, it was just unexpected and appreciated. I really hope I’ve piqued your interest about The Good Daughter, I feel like this is Slaughter at her best, she can really do no wrong in my eyes. 

Overall rating: 5/5 (Can I give it a 10/5?!)

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website

Release date: August 15, 2017

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Women's Fiction

Blurb:

When her estranged mother wins a Jersey Shore bed and breakfast in a lottery and heads east to survey the prize, Faith Sterling fears her mother has fallen victim to yet another scam. Their visit to the B & B confirms her suspicions. Wave’s End is not as advertised—it's nowhere near the beach, it's sorely in need of an overhaul, and its finances are shaky. But despite Faith’s attempts to dissuade her mother, Connie Sterling is determined to try her hand at running the inn.

A frustrated Faith heads back to Brooklyn, dreading the havoc her mother's proximity will wreak on her well-ordered and successful life. She doesn't have to wait long. When a supersized hurricane pummels the East Coast, Faith reluctantly agrees to return and help her mother run Wave’s End…temporarily.

But just as inn life settles into a comfortable rhythm, a grievous secret about Wave’s End surfaces, threatening the inn’s future and fraying the already fragile mother-daughter bonds.

Review:

You guys know I'm a huge sucker for a pretty cover and this one is swoon worthy! Anything beach themed grabs my eye, and while this is set near the ocean, there's a twist. This isn't about some amazing vacation where the characters sit with a fruity cocktail in their hand, it's a story about what happens after tragedy strikes in the form of a devastating hurricane and how several people are effected and changed by it. It's a beach read with depth and heart, it explores family bonds as well as the bonds that can be formed quickly between strangers when a natural disaster strikes. There is a little something for everyone, a hint of a mystery, some love and romance, and some wonderful themes and lessons.

The characters in At Wave's End are great, they're very realistic and wholly relatable. Faith is a chef based in NYC who heads to Wave's End to help her mom, Connie after Hurricane Nadine hits. Both women are flawed and have made plenty of mistakes in their lives, they haven't had the easiest relationship, but aren't mother/daughter relationships always tricky?! When they team up to help the residents of Wave's End they become a force to be reckoned with and I loved watching them grow and change throughout the story. There is a great cast of secondary characters that also undergo tremendous growth and seeing them all band together restored my faith in humanity a bit.

The Mermaid's Purse is the inn that Connie wins in a lottery and despite it being rundown, there is something magical about it. The entire setting has a bit of magic to it as seeing the community come together was such an inspiration. The kindness of strangers was heartwarming and the resiliency of the people effected by the hurricane was amazing. This was a really lovely read full of heart, strength and meaningful relationships developed during a tragic event, I truly enjoyed this one.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

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Release date: August 1, 2017

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Genre: Women's Fiction

Blurb:

Set on the glamorous Italian island, Emerald Coast is a touching and humorous story about marriage and the difficulty of finding love and happiness at the same time.

Lily Bristol arrives at a luxurious resort in Sardinia for the grand opening of her newest home furnishing store on the Emerald Coast. She's a successful business woman with an international chain of stores from San Francisco to Milan. Thirty-two and newly divorced, she's ready to handle things on her own. At least until her private butler, Enzo, escorts her to a beautiful suite where she notices a suspiciously familiar pair of men's slippers and shaving kit.

Lily is horrified. Her ex-husband Oliver moved out of their restored Connecticut farmhouse six months ago, but they booked this trip when they were trying to save their marriage and never cancelled the reservation. Oliver, a food critic for the New York Times, is here covering Sardinia's hottest new restaurant. The only other available room is the adjoining suite; and worse, Oliver isn't alone. He's brought a twenty-something named Angela with him.

Lily is determined to make do and enlists Enzo to find her a suitable man. But it's not as easy to find new love as they both expected. When Lily and Oliver find themselves alone on a very important night, they turn to each other. Sparks begin to fly, but can they be together without breaking each other's hearts?

Review:

If you're looking for the perfect book to completely escape into, Emerald Coast is it! While I was reading it I felt like I was indulging myself, it had a decadent feel to it as most of the people visiting this exotic locale are glamorous. Though it wasn't quite as scintillating, I still felt a similar vibe to Nigel May and Jackie Collins, it had that same breezy style and stunning setting that their books both have.

The premise for this put a fresh spin on a standard romance; Lily and Oliver are already divorced so there is no brand new love story here. Instead, they both reflect on their relationship throughout the book so you learn about their past that way, which was fun. Both were pretty complex characters with their own quirks and habits that made them endearing. I connected more to Lily than to Oliver, she was a lovable scatterbrain while he was a bit annoying at times.

My favorite part of this was the gorgeous setting, Hughes did a fabulous job of bringing the Emerald Coast to life. The writing was rich and the descriptions were vivid and so easy to conjure up. Add in a little humor and a bit of raciness, what more could you want for a fun, summer beach read?!

Overall rating: 4/5