April 2022

April 10, 2022April 5, 2022

Mrs. England-Halls-Historical Fiction-Available Now

I’ve decided to change it up a little this year. Every once in a while, I’ll be scattering promo posts into the blog tours and reviews. Maybe you will find a new author or a new genre to try.

This will give you, the reader, a chance to see a book that you might not have been aware of, but without my opinions influencing your choices or mindsets.

So, without further ado, here is the first one of the year.

Cover

**Buy Links:** BookShop.org Harlequin Barnes & Noble
Amazon Books-A-Million Powell’s

Mrs. England Summary:

Simmering with slow-burning menace, Mrs. England is a portrait of an Edwardian marriage. It’s an enthralling tale of men and women, power and control, courage, truth, and the darkest deception.

West Yorkshire, 1904. Recently graduated Ruby May takes a nanny position looking after the children of Charles and Lilian England, a wealthy couple from a powerful dynasty of mill owners. At first, she hopes it will be the fresh start she needs. But as she adapts to life at the isolated Hardcastle House, it becomes clear something is not quite right about the beautiful, mysterious Mrs. England.

Distant and withdrawn, Lilian shows little interest in her children or charming husband. She is also far from the angel of the house Ruby was expecting.

As the warm, vivacious Charles welcomes Ruby into the family, a series of strange events forces her to question everything she thought she knew. Ostracized by the servants and increasingly uneasy, Ruby must face her own demons in order to prevent history from repeating itself. After all, there’s no such thing as the perfect family—she should know.

This captivating new feminist novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Stacey Halls is her third work of fiction and proves her one of the most exciting and compelling new storytellers of our time.

A Sunday Times bestseller!

Author Bio:

**Social Links:**
Author Website
Twitter: @stacey_halls
Instagram:@staceyhallsauthor
Goodreads

Stacey Halls grew up in Rossendale, Lancashire. She studied journalism at the University of Central Lancashire and has written for publications including the Guardian, Stylist, Psychologies, the Independent, the Sun and Fabulous. Both of her first two novels, The Familiars and The Lost Orphan, were Sunday Times bestsellers, Mrs England is her third novel.

April 6, 2022April 4, 2022

214 Palmer Street-McQuestion-Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

214 Palmer Street (previously The Uninvited Guest) by Karen McQuestion is a cleverly written psych thriller with lots of suspense that actually lives up to the billing.

From the opening chapter when we meet Sarah, the reader knows that something is just off. But it takes a while to figure out what that is.

And then it takes even longer to figure out why that is.

The author does a great job of slowly building the suspense while allowing the reader to question events right along with Sarah. It makes for an engaging and active read, which I appreciate.

I don’t want to talk story too much, because (yeah, I’m repeating myself) I’m not a spoiler type of blogger.

But I will say that due to the awesome writing style and tight plot, I suspected everyone of something at one point or another. Even Sarah, who is supposed to be the victim, does not escape suspicion.

Is there gaslighting going on? Maybe. But between what characters? And what does 214 Palmer Street have to do with any of it?

**Buy link**
https://geni.us/B09MFNDMT2social

The chapters alternate between “Then” and “Now” and it is helpful to pay attention to each one so you can keep the action straight. Not that it’s confusing, but it does jump around to fill in the gaps of the story as Sarah puts pieces together.

There is also a mysterious “Her” narrator who has occasional chapters. You might guess who it is, but chances are that will happen pretty far into the book. It’s just another engaging aspect of the story.

Actually, in writing this review, I realize that the author does to a certain character exactly what other characters did in the story. I don’t want to say any more than that, but when you read it, you’ll recognize who I mean.

And you should read it.

Even though a couple of my suspicions were correct, I was not expecting the climax to occur the way it did. Talk about a thriller! As that suspense built, I was turning pages late into the night to find out the end result.

And that’s not something I often do.

214 Palmer Street is a solid psych thriller. I always look forward Karen McQuestion’s books. I don’t see that changing.

About the author

Karen McQuestion is an Amazon Charts bestselling author who’s written more than twenty novels and has sold over two million books worldwide. She’s also the co-host, (along with USA Today bestselling author Tess Thompson), of the popular podcast, BEHIND THE BOOK.

Her publishing story has been covered by the Wall Street Journal, Entertainment Weekly, and NPR and she has appeared on ABC’s World News Now and America This Morning. McQuestion’s books share common themes of connection and kindness. She lives in Hartland, Wisconsin.

April 2, 2022April 10, 2022

A Plot Most Perilous-Essig-Review-Historical Mystery-Available Now

I really enjoyed Deception Most Deadly (the first Cassie Gwynn historical mystery from Genevieve Essig). So, I was eagerly looking forward to A Plot Most Perilous.

It didn’t hurt that this time, the crime occurs in conjunction with the arrival of a traveling theater company.

I mean, historical mystery, feisty heroine, theater, Florida…seriously, what’s not to like?

It also doesn’t hurt that Pirates of Penzance is my favorite Gilbert & Sullivan. (Isn’t it everybody’s?)

I like the attention the author gives to what some might consider minutiae. I, for one, found the ins and outs of 1880s theater to be fascinating. Others might feel that the level of detail gets in the way of the plot. I can see both sides of that.

I will say that this is a “thinking person’s” type of historical mystery. If you are looking for lighthearted and mindless, this might not be for you.

There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and the author likes to go into extensive detail. Again, I appreciate it, because it feels like the author is mimicking the writing style of the time as well as the social mores, language, etc.

In fact, in some ways, the secondary and “extra” characters are more entertaining than Cassie herself.

Regardless, it is all a ball of fun, and reading Genevieve Essig’s books make me feel like I am watching a penny newsreel in an old Nickelodeon.

(No, I’m not that old, but I remember them at amusement parks as “novelties.”)

You don’t need to read the first one to enjoy A Plot Most Perilous, but you will enjoy this one more if you do – if only to be able to understand who at least some of the standard characters are.

Another enjoyable read!

Instagram: essigauthor
Facebook: essigauthor
Twitter: essigauthor

About the Author

I now proudly call New Orleans home, and when I’m not writing or getting lost down research rabbit holes, I spend my time practicing law, shooting pool, performing operas and musicals, ogling old buildings, acting for film and television, futzing with inventions that address highly specific and possibly only-annoying-to-me problems, traveling, ranting at bartenders about the evils of straws, riding horses, and petting strange cats.

April 1, 2022April 1, 2022

The Killer’s Family-Smith-Review-Thriller-Available Now

The Killer’s Family by Miranda Smith is another psych thriller that is more like a mystery suspense than what I think of as a psych thriller.

Although now that I think about it, there are elements of psych thriller in it. For example, there are plenty of red herrings and other false leads that keep the reader guessing who is responsible for…well, everything.

But I am getting ahead of myself.

The opening setting is a funeral – and that kind of event definitely sets the tone. Three sisters (Cara, Rachel, and Molly) mourn the loss of their father, a short time after they also lost their mother.

Their parents were essentially pillars of the community.

But, soon, questions arise that make the reader ask “Or were they?”

The sisters find information that casts a decidedly dark shadow on their father. And at that, one might think that the story that follows is low-key, as the “big reveal” happens early on.

Or does it?

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09PNCZLXWsocial
Audio:
UK: zpr.io/qPEadvnqDRpW
US: zpr.io/7vStXMteEU2s

As always, no spoilers here. The author does a great job of balancing the story between the three sisters. Throughout the plot, they each contribute insight to solving the mysteries they are unwittingly thrust into.

Another thing, and I think the parallel is supposed to be made, but I was reminded of the Zodiac killer who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 60s. I found there to be similarities with the Gemini killer.

The author also cleverly casts doubt on just about everyone at one point or another. And the final reveal is one that you will not see coming. It finally answers who the killer’s family actually is, and it probably isn’t who you think.

Miranda Smith has written other psych thrillers that you should check out as well.

Facebook: MirandaSmithAuthor
Twitter: msmithbooks
Instagram: mirandasmithwriter

Author Bio:

Miranda Smith writes psychological and domestic suspense. Before completing her first novel, she worked as a newspaper staff writer and a secondary English teacher. She now lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three young children.