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Release date: November 1, 2018

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

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Release date: November 1, 2018

Publisher: HQN

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

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Release date: November 1, 2018

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

After the end of her marriage, Kate Granger has retreated to her parents’ home on Lake Superior to pull herself together—only to discover the body of a murdered woman washed into the shallows. Tucked in the folds of the woman’s curiously vintage gown is an infant, as cold and at peace as its mother. No one can identify the woman. Except for Kate. She’s seen her before. In her dreams…

One hundred years ago, a love story ended in tragedy, its mysteries left unsolved. It’s time for the lake to give up its secrets. As each mystery unravels, it pulls Kate deeper into the eddy of a haunting folktale that has been handed down in whispers over generations. Now, it’s Kate’s turn to listen.

As the drowned woman reaches out from the grave, Kate reaches back. They must come together, if only in dreams, to right the sinister wrongs of the past.

Review:

This is an absolutely perfect book to read during this time of year, it’s dark and gothic and heavily involved with the supernatural, it really read like a classic ghost story without the super disturbing horror type elements. If you’re the type of reader who doesn’t like really scary stuff or graphic details then this is for you. The mystery is on the lighter side and while it’s eerie, it’s not terrifying and will most likely not disturb you.

This flips back and forth between the present day and the early 1900’s and follows Kate and a young woman named Addie. I liked the way their stories intertwined and while I was able to guess the mystery in the end, I still found it to be an enjoyable read. I think this was because I was so immersed in the great atmosphere Webb created, it was super haunting and spooky and incredibly easy to picture. I loved the gothic vibes and the mix between past and present, and I don’t mind supernatural stuff in a thriller occasionally and again, for this time of year I was into it. Throw in some light romance and an engaging mystery and you have a fun fall mystery that entertained me.

Daughters of the Lake in three words: Eerie, Atmospheric and Mesmerizing.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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Release date: October 30, 2018

Publisher: Kensington

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Blurb:

When Natalie Shelton thinks back to how things were before the car accident, she remembers a great marriage. She and her husband, Zack, seem as strong and dependable together as the houses he builds. They live in Portland, Oregon, and Natalie is co-owner of a successful accounting firm. They’re happy, she’s almost sure of it. 

Yet as Natalie lies trapped in a coma, unable to communicate though aware of everything around her, she realizes that her husband is hiding something. Zack has always been reticent about his past, which she attributed to an unhappy childhood. Now the strange calls he’s receiving, the apologies when he thinks she can’t hear him, and her fragmented memories from the morning of the accident suggest a deeper secret. 

When she finally awakens, Natalie is determined to find out the truth. Sorting through clues as her brain heals, she realizes she has a rare opportunity—to reexamine the life she’s made and the man she’s made it with. But as answers come to light, she faces surprising, heartrending decisions, as well as a danger that could upend her world once again, as Zack’s past finally catches up with them . . . 

Review:

This was my first CL book and I’m sitting here in disbelief that I haven’t read her before now, especially since she has written several books. The best part of that is I don’t have to worry about waiting for her next book because if I need more CL in my life I can work my way through her back list and I feel like everyone needs a bit more of her in their lives.

Don’t you just love being surprised by a book? I’m not talking about being shocked by plot twists, I’m talking about when a book is just slightly different than what you expected, but in a really good way. I guess I thought this would be sorta sad, maybe even a bit depressing, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It was so funny and humor was the last thing I expected to encounter but I so appreciated it. If her books generally have the same style of good natured fun please let me know because I adored it.

While the plot here was great, it definitely maintained my interest, the star of the show was most certainly the characters. Natalie herself was a little shining star, but every single other character was amazing as well. Her dad, her husband, her two best friends and her mom were all super fun and quirky and totally the type of people you only wish you knew in real life. They were vibrant and full of life and energy, the type you expect to leap from the pages and a few even left an imprint on my heart. Recommended for anyone who needs some laughs and loves to love characters, a super fun read.

The Man She Married in three words: Funny, Sweet and Quirky.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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Release date: October 9, 2018

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Historical Fiction

Blurb:

On a freezing night in January 1941, a little Jewish girl is found on the steps of an apartment building in Bucharest. With Romania recently allied with the Nazis, the Jewish population is in grave danger, undergoing increasingly violent persecution. The girl is placed in an orphanage and eventually adopted by a wealthy childless couple who name her Natalia. As she assimilates into her new life, she all but forgets the parents who were forced to leave her behind. They are even further from her mind when Romania falls under Soviet occupation.

Yet, as Natalia comes of age in a bleak and hopeless world, traces of her identity pierce the surface of her everyday life, leading gradually to a discovery that will change her destiny. She has a secret crush on Victor, an intense young man who as an impoverished student befriended her family long ago. Years later, when Natalia is in her early twenties and working at a warehouse packing fruit, she and Victor, now an important official in the Communist regime, cross paths again. This time they are fatefully drawn into a passionate affair despite the obstacles swirling around them and Victor’s dark secrets.

When Natalia is suddenly offered a one-time chance at freedom, Victor is determined to help her escape, even if it means losing her. Natalia must make an agonizing decision: remain in Bucharest with her beloved adoptive parents and the man she has come to love, or seize the chance to finally live life on her own terms, and to confront the painful enigma of her past. 

Review:

One of the best parts of reading really well researched HF is learning about otherwise little known pieces of history and I knew next to nothing about what things were like in Romania during World War Two. The author really knew what she was talking about here, her care and attention to the subject matter was heavily apparent and she did a gorgeous job of bringing this story to life while also educating me, such a great bonus!

Stories about parents forced to make heartbreaking decisions always hold my attention and when Natalia’s biological parents leave her behind when they are forced to flee for their lives I could only imagine the pain behind this choice. To know the one chance your child has to live is for you to leave them in such a perilous situation? Ahhh SO devastating. This follows Natalia from that life changing moment over the course of several years and I was wholeheartedly invested in her story. Would she be reunited with her birth parents? Would her and her adoptive parents even survive? It was an emotional tale and one that left an impact on me that I won’t forget.

Besides a truly compelling plot, this was written so beautifully, almost delicately especially considering the subject matter. It explored the bonds of family and how deep a mother’s love can be, it was about sacrifice, struggle but it was also hopeful and inspiring, such a beautiful combination that always slays me. Highly recommended for HF fans, Veletzos is an author to watch.

The Girl They Left Behind in three words: Emotional, Engrossing and Heartbreaking.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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Release date: October 19, 2018

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Eeeny meeny, miney, moe. Who lives, who dies only I know. 

When the body of a doctor is discovered brutally murdered in local woodland, Detective Kim Stone is shocked to discover the victim is Gordon Cordell – a man linked to a previous case she worked on involving the death of a young school girl. Gordon has a chequered past, but who would want him dead? 

As the investigation gets underway, Gordon’s son is involved in a horrific car crash which leaves him fighting for his life. Kim’s sure this was no accident. 

Then the body of a woman is found dead in suspicious circumstances and Kim makes a disturbing link between the victims and Russells Hall Hospital. The same hospital where Gordon worked. 

With Kim and her team still grieving the loss of one of their own, they’re at their weakest and facing one of the most dangerous serial killers they’ve ever encountered. Everything is on the line. Can Kim keep her squad together and find the killer before he claims his next victim? 

The killer is picking off his victims at a terrifying pace, and he’s not finished yet. 

Review:

I want to warn you right away that if you haven’t read book eight in this series there may be some slightly spoilerish stuff in this review, it’s unavoidable but wanted to give you a heads up!

Raise your hand if you’re still not over the loss of one of the team members in book eight? I know I’m sure not, the emotional impact that event had on me is so rare in a crime book but months later and I’m still upset by it. I was also apprehensive about how this devastating loss would effect Kim and her team, but with her usual deft hand Marsons handled their grief with impeccable care and respect and authenticity. You get a front row seat as the characters work through it, and they behave in the manner as you would expect. Ahem Kim Stone may be closed off and stubborn, shocker! 😂 But they all have jobs to do and that is still very much the main focus of the book, what’s a KS book without an intriguing case?! Add in a new replacement that will never fill their lost colleagues shoes, a string of murders, a missing teenager and you have one heck of a lot of exciting stuff going on here.

The characters in this series are so complex and meticulously crafted and once again I learned more about each of them and their lives and personalities. I’m always blown away by the fact that there is more to be revealed about them but I’m endlessly fascinated by what is discovered and am always wanting to learn more. Marsons is at the top of her game, she genuinely gets better and more assured with each installment and book ten can’t land in my hands fast enough!

Fatal Promise in three words: Meticulous, Nuanced and Gripping.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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Release date: January 15, 2019

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

A seemingly perfect marriage is threatened by the deadly secrets husband and wife keep from each other, for fans of B.A. Paris and Paula Hawkins.

Susannah, a young widow and single mother, has remarried well: to Max, a charismatic artist and popular speaker whose career took her and her fifteen-year-old son out of New York City and to a quiet Vermont university town. Strong-willed and attractive, Susannah expects that her life is perfectly in place again. Then one quiet morning she finds a note on her door: I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. 

Max dismisses the note as a prank. But days after a neighborhood couple comes to dinner, the husband mysteriously dies in a tragic accident while on a run with Max. Soon thereafter, a second note appears on their door: DID YOU GET AWAY WITH IT?

Both Susannah and Max are keeping secrets from the world and from each other —secrets that could destroy their family and everything they have built. The Perfect Liar is a thrilling novel told through the alternating perspectives of Susannah and Max with a shocking climax that no one will expect, from the bestselling author of The Headmaster’s Wife. 

Review:

I can’t even begin to count how many books I’ve read with the word liar in the title this year, it’s definitely a hot trend but despite its overuse I still don’t hesitate in picking them up. While the title may be not be highly original the contents were, this one kept me on my toes and the author has a well polished style that’s sophisticated but not snobby.

This was a read that totally snuck up on me, it was kinda strange because I was definitely interested right from the beginning but I wasn’t completely hooked until like sixty percent. I can’t really pinpoint why it took me that long to be well and truly sucked in, but when I hit that point there was a big shift for me and that’s the moment it became really unputdownable for me. Just wanted to start with that because if you choose to pick it up and aren’t impressed initially stick with it because the pay off was well worth it in my opinion.

The best part of this one was that you know right away that Susannah and Max are both liars, so neither are reliable. I didn’t trust either of them obviously, but I had so much fun trying to figure out who was lying about what and when they were being truthful. It was definitely a head game and one that was well executed with a strong ending, and for a reader that highly valued an ending, this one worked incredibly well for me.

The Perfect Liar in three words: Sophisticated, Deceptive and Unpredictable.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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Release date: December 1, 2018

Publisher: MIRA

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

Till death do us part

When they fell in love back in law school, Natalie and Will Clarke joked that they were so brilliant, together they could plan the perfect murder. After fifteen rocky years of marriage, they had better hope they’re right.

Their young son Jacob’s principal is accused of molesting a troubled student. It’s a horrifying situation—and the poison spreads rapidly. One night before bed, Jacob tells Natalie he is a victim, too. In that moment, her concept of justice changes forever. Natalie decides the predator must die.

To shelter Jacob from the trauma of a trial, Natalie concocts an elaborate murder plot and Will becomes her unwilling partner. The Clarkes are about to find out what happens when your life partner becomes your accomplice—and your alibi. 

Review:

I love the moral questions the premise alone brings up, could you kill someone if they hurt your child? I know my husband and I have had several conversations about this very subject and we both agree it could be tempting. That makes us sound no better than Nat and Will haha, but honestly the thought alone of someone molesting one of my kids makes my blood boil and I’m just saying that I can see why one would contemplate it.

Much like her previous book this is a lighter thriller, almost like Chick Lit with a dark edge. There is nothing super graphic or gory here, it really examines behavior instead and follows this couple as they grapple with really tough questions and choices. I’m not sure I can really say that I liked either Nat or Will but I did empathize with them and could even mostly understand why they made the choices that they did. They seemed realistic and genuine, just an average couple put in extraordinary situations doing the best they can for their son. While they seemed fairly realistic I do want to say that parts of this were pretty implausible, so fair warning.

I completely binge read this one and would once again recommend for a weekend or a vacation read. The pacing was incredibly fast and I finished in just a few hours as I just had to know what would happen to this family. Awesome domestic suspense that I can recommend for anyone looking for a lighter style read that still delves into the dark side of humanity.

For Better and Worse in three words: Binge-worthy, Addictive and Quick.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: October 16, 2018

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: Bloodhound

Blurb:

What if you were being stalked and no one believed you?

What if you were abducted in broad daylight?

What if you were chained to a bed and held captive in a cellar? What would you do?

Mackenzie Crawford screamed.

What if your wife went out at night and wouldn’t say where she was going?

What if she admitted she had a lover?

What if you came home one day and discovered she’d left?

What would you do?

Derek Crawford went to pieces.

What if a woman with an alcohol problem disappeared?

What if there was no evidence of a crime?

What if her brother asked you to help?

What would you do?

In Glasgow, DI Andrew Geddes put the case to the top of his list.

What if someone you loved was in harm’s way?

Review:

Over the last few years I’ve become quite the fan of Mullen’s work, he has two other series that follow private investigators and this standalone was quite the departure from his previous novels. It’s more of a domestic thriller, it follows several members of the same family and asks some unique questions, such as what if you went missing and no one was even worried? What if it was almost expected, what if no one is even looking for you because they don’t realize that you’re actually in danger? The thought alone terrifies me and made for an interesting premise.

Although the plot of this one was different from the authors previous books his easy, casual writing style still shines brightly and just always works so well for me. Each chapter is about one day from the lead up to when Mackenzie goes missing all the way until the end. Super vague, I know but saying more would be a spoiler and trust me, you don’t want me to spoil this one. None of the main cast of characters was particularly likable, but they were authentic, we all know people just like them in real life, bad behavior and all. I was pleasantly surprised by the appearance of Andrew Geddes who first popped up in the Charlie Cameron series, I just always love when authors cleverly bring old characters into new books and he was an excellent addition to the story.

This does have less action than in his other work, it examines the dynamics between a dysfunctional family and then in each of their three separate marriages and that never fails to fascinate me. Mullen is one of those writers that just gets better with each book and he was already good, I’m a firm fan and will continue to follow his career closely.

In Harms Way in three words: Smooth, Intriguing and Unexpected.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.