Category: Book Reviews

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Best Friends Forever-Grant-Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

Best Friends Forever by Cathryn Grant is a psych thriller that wanders around for a while, drawing the reader in, finally leading to a surprising ending.

It is not exactly linear, but it is very easy to follow.

Abbey and Raven were best friends in college. A tragedy caused one of them to drop out. But neither of them has followed the best path into their current lives.

When the opportunity arrives for a road trip to a college reunion, they have the chance to bury some memories, clear up some misunderstandings, and create new beginnings.

It’s not a spoiler to say that things don’t go exactly as planned.

I’ll be boring and repeat that I don’t do spoilers. But I don’t think it is a spoiler to say that you have to suspend your disbelief for this one. People who haven’t spoken in over a decade don’t just randomly meet up and go on a road trip together.

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Friends-Forever-gripping-psychological-ebook/dp/B09X1SYJ8W
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Best-Friends-Forever-gripping-psychological-ebook/dp/B09X1SYJ8W

It makes for a good (and pivotal) plot point but isn’t exactly believable. Some of the actions of both women are also questionable and seem to be more for plot than for character development.

The point of the women traveling is that they have a shared incident from college that each has a completely different perspective on, and the road trip is a way to clear the air (so to speak).

I didn’t really like either one of them. They were each narcissistic in their own ways, and it is easy to see why their college (and subsequent) years turned out the way they did.

That being said, I liked how the author kept the past events a little mysterious so the reader never really knew who was the worst one and who was responsible for what aspects of the tragedy.

And the ending is a total shocker. The author went in a direction that is seldom taken in a psych thriller, and I applaud her for this. It was a great ending to a decent book.

Facebook: CathrynGrant.Writer/
Instagram:cathryngrant_fiction/
Twitter: CathrynGrant/

Author Bio 

Cathryn Grant writes psychological thrillers, psychological suspense, and ghost stories. She’s the author of twenty-three novels. She is endlessly fascinated by the twists and turns, and the dark corners of the human mind.

When she’s not writing, Cathryn reads fiction, eavesdrops, and tries to play golf without hitting her ball into the sand or the water. She lives on the Central California coast with her husband and two cats.

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Summer at the Cape-Thayne-Review-Women’s Fiction-Available Now

I enjoyed the first two visits to Cape Sanctuary, so I was excited to visit again in Summer at the Cape. RaeAnne Thayne has created a location that evokes childhood memories for me. You can see my reviews of The Sea Glass Cottage and The Path to Sunshine Cove for details about the setting.

While this one didn’t quite have the charm of the first two, I still was happy to be back on the Cape.

For whatever reason, this plot felt unnecessarily complicated. It’s not that it is difficult to understand, it just seemed that there is a lot going on.

Cami is the older sister of twins, one of whom (Lily) has met a tragic end. So, she is coping with being the odd one out but also with losing a sister.

Violet, the twin who is still alive, is dealing with her own demons. Who is she now that Lily is gone? It isn’t easy coping without her other half.

Their mom, Rosemary, who was all in on a glampground project with Lily, is a free spirit who begs Cami to come back and help sort out estate and land issues.

Buy Links:  BookShop.org Harlequin  Barnes & Noble
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I should note that Cami left the more relaxed Cape Sanctuary when she was 14. She grew up with her dad in Los Angeles. She has a lot to adjust to when she returns, beyond the complicated family issues.

I didn’t really connect with any of the characters the way I did in the past two books. That makes a difference in how enjoyable a book can be. It is still an engaging story, but I didn’t have that personal connection that takes it to the next level.

As always, I liked the secondary characters. They seem realistic and are appropriate to the story. And I love the setting. This is another pleasant read from RaeAnne Thayne.

I can’t really say I loved it, but I definitely liked it and it is another solid entry in the Cape Sanctuary series. I’ll keep returning for the location alone.

Twitter: @raeannethayne
Facebook: RaeAnne Thayne
Instagram: raeannethayne

Author Bio: 

New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful norhtern Utah mountains where she lives with her family.   Her stories have been described as “poignant and sweet” with “beautiful honest storytelling that goes straight to the heart.”  She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.

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Garden of Secrets-Kelman-Review-Historical Fiction-Available Now

Suzanne Kelman has become one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Her stories are always well-balanced between contemporary and historical storylines. She always manages to find a unique aspect of history to use as a starting point. Garden of Secrets is no exception.

In this case, I feel like the author succeeds in unique settings for both timeframes. In the contemporary, Laura works as a garden restoration artist. After a personal loss, she accepts an offer to stay with friends and restore a garden on an old estate.

This leads her to a 75-year-old mystery that she feels compelled to solve. Is it because of her own losses? Or is there something else driving her to discover the truth behind the note and items she finds?

That is one thing I really enjoy about this author’s works. She allows the characters to have real reasons for their actions. They don’t fit a stereotype or only do what is expected. People react to things differently, and her characters are always individuals.

The story then unfolds with Laura in the present chasing down clues and trying to figure out the meaning of what she finds. Those chapters alternate periodically with Anya’s (in the past) and a few from Nikolai (also in the past).

Buy Link:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B09RGD1VMWsocial
Audio:
UK: zpr.io/ZHdEfdPFKNie
US: zpr.io/hyTY6z7Us5Jd

Anya and Nikolai’s story is fascinating, although I was slightly slower to warm to it for some reason. I’m not sure why, because it is by far one of the most interesting threads I have read in recent memory.

It is more common to see Germany as the enemy in historical fiction novels, and it is rarely remembered that Russia was an enemy as well – at least to a point.

I don’t want to give anything of their plot away. Usually, I like one storyline slightly better than the other, but in this case, I was eager to get back to either plot. That’s the way to keep a reader engaged.

I do have to say that I love the analogy using the Avon River. Having been there (and it being one of my favorite places ever) I was able to picture it clearly. Not to mention, it was just good life advice as well.

Garden of Secrets is another great entry in the historical fiction genre, and I can never get enough of Suzanne Kelman’s books and I always look forward to the next one.

Try these great historical fiction novels from her as well: A View Across the Rooftops, Under a Sky on Fire, When the Nightingale Sings, When We Were Brave

Facebook: suzkelman
Instagram: suzkelman
Twitter: suzkelman

Author Bio:

Suzanne Kelman is a 2015 Academy of Motion Pictures Nicholl Finalist, Multi-Award-Winning Screenwriter and a Film Producer. As well as working in film she is also an International Amazon Bestselling Fiction Author of the Southlea Bay Series – The Rejected Writers’ Book Club, Rejected Writers Take the Stage and The Rejected Writers’ Christmas Wedding. Born in the United Kingdom, she now resides in Washington State.

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The Breakdown-Richmonde-Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

There were times in The Breakdown by Arianne Richmonde that I thought the psych thriller would give ME a breakdown.

Seriously, there were so many times that I wondered exactly what was going on.

And there is a LOT going on.

At first, I thought it had a very Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights feel to it. Perhaps that is because of Jayne’s name, or the situation where the nanny is entering into a strange family situation in a fairly secluded area.

I don’t know if that is the intention, but it is a strong vibe.

As I got further in the plot, however, I realized that there was an undercurrent of action that I had missed because I was set in my initial mindset.

At that point, I dropped everything I thought I had figured out and just went along for the ride. Trust me when I say the book is best enjoyed if you do this from the beginning.

Buy Links:
         https://geni.us/B09RQPHRX7social
Audible:
UK: zpr.io/eCy5KBxjpCwS
US: zpr.io/wmV3DWmBH37H

I don’t want to say too much about the characters, because this is a case where one thing could give away a bigger plot point.

There is not a large cast of characters, but everyone is hiding something. It does take a bit of concentration to keep everything straight. There are more than a few “blink and you’ll miss it moments.”

And even if you don’t blink, by the time you get to the end, you’ll wonder if there IS something you didn’t notice. Because there are twists you will not see coming. Right up to the very end.

Even though it started a little slow, The Breakdown ended up being another great psych thriller from Arianne Richmonde.

Here are some more of the author’s books to try: The Newlyweds, The Guilty Sister, The Wife’s House

Facebook: AuthorArianneRichmonde/ 
Twitter: A_Richmonde

Author Bio:

Arianne Richmonde is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the psychological thrillers, THE WIFE’S HOUSE and THE NEWLYWEDS (published by Bookouture, Hachette UK). Her Pearl series has sold more than half a million copies worldwide. Her stories are always character-driven and full of unexpected twists and turns.

When not writing about the passions and fragilities of human nature, she loves to spend time with her husband and their animals, including a femme fatale Husky with one blue eye and one golden eye. Arianne’s a chocoholic and sometimes sneaks off to sunny, exotic locations, all in the name of research.

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The Favor-Murphy-Review-Thriller-Available Now

The Favor by Nora Murphy may just be one of my favorite thrillers this year, if not ever.

It’s not that it is thought-provoking in a groundbreaking manner, nor is it anything that hasn’t been addressed before.

However, it IS an excellent look at a very real problem that is often “not talked about” and it is approached so cleverly that the reader feels the emotions of the two main characters in real time.

As always, I don’t want to give too much away. But the reader knows right from the start that Leah is in a really bad place. She is instantly sympathetic.

And as we meet McKenna, the author wisely allows the reader to assume they know what the story will be about through Leah’s actions.

Chances are, you will guess wrong about this.

The Favor - book cover link to buy
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Favor-Nora-Murphy-ebook/dp/B09CNDZP8S/

The story is told in two parts, from Leah’s and McKenna’s points of view. But roughly halfway through, the author pulls a trick that is so sly that you almost miss it.

It is one of the cleverest devices I have seen in recent memory.

I keep using the word “clever” (or variations of it) because I think it covers the gamut of things that this book is.

The author is never preachy about a touchy subject and handles it with grace and enough emotion that the reader feels it but doesn’t feel overwhelmed by it.

I’m going to start talking in circles to avoid plot points, so I’m going to stop here.

But seriously, do yourself a favor and read The Favor by Nora Murphy. I guarantee you’ll find it to be amazing.

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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.

Website:  www.karenmcquestion.com

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.

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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.

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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.

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The Family Holiday-Boland-Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

I am a fan of Shalini Boland (see my reviews of some of her other books at the end of this review). A psych thriller from her is usually interesting with good twists. The Family Holiday is one of her best.

It kicks off with a mystery narrator (I love those). The reader knows something bad has happened. But the exact situation and victim are unknown until very late in the book (I love that also).

After the brief prologue, the action jumps to Beth and her husband Niall as they decide to take a family holiday to Italy and decide to try a house swap. That’s really all you need to know at this point.

The action is told mainly from Beth’s point of view. A few chapters are from Amber’s (the owner of the other house in the swap) perspective. Italy for England – it certainly seems like Beth and Niall are getting the better end of the deal.

However, there are several layers moving below the surface of the plot, and this is where the story truly becomes a page-turning psych thriller.

Amber is hiding something, but what? Niall is obnoxious and obviously doesn’t want to be on holiday. Why not, if he was the one to suggest it in the first place?

And who is the mystery narrator who appears in brief, periodic chapters?

The Family Holiday psych thriller blog tour schedule
Buy Link:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B09Q9BFP6Lsocial
Audio:
UK: zpr.io/KVRFJ2u8S5FP
US: zpr.io/QZMg83H4H9F7

Anyone who has read this blog knows that I read a lot of psych thrillers. It is difficult to get one by me because I often try to “outwit the author” and guess what the motives and twists are.

That is why, when I find one that has me guessing throughout, I’m super excited to talk about it. And The Family Holiday once again fits that description.

Just when you think you know why Niall is being a jerk or what Amber is hiding, the author throws another twist in.

Honestly, I was up late into the night because I just couldn’t put the book down when I got to the last third of the story.

And when everything is wrapped up and the characters have reached their endpoints, the author still has more in store for the reader.

The Family Holiday is one of the most well-crafted, best-paced, layered psych thrillers I have read in a while. Shalini Boland just keeps getting better.

Other psych thrillers from Shalini Boland: The Other Daughter, One of Us is Lying, The Wife, The Couple Upstairs

Shalini Boland psych thriller headshot
Instagram: shaboland
Twitter: ShaliniBoland

Author Bio:

Shalini lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two children and Jess, their cheeky terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).

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Confessions of a Helicopter Mummy-Bruton-Review-Rom-Com-Available Now

I chose to read Confessions of a Helicopter Mummy by Catherine Bruton because it looked like a funny rom-com. While it does fall solidly in that category, what I am about to write is a different kind of review.

I’m not going to tell you why I liked or didn’t like the book. I am going to write about why I think other readers may enjoy it more than I did.

Let me be clear. I thought it was okay. And I learned a lot about myself and my likes and dislikes when it comes to reading material. So, for that, I am grateful to the author.

But I am absolutely 100 percent certain that other people will love this book and think it’s amazing. That’s okay. I honestly think that I am not the target audience for this book. And that’s okay too.

I found there to be too many characters and too many references to things that I actually have no frame of reference for. Frankly, I felt too old. And for me personally, the book was full of activity and information.

At times it actually felt frantic to me. But again, I’m here to tell you why other people will love this book.

Confessions of a Helicopter Mummy rom-com blog tour schedule
Buy Links
Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Confessions-Helicopter-Mummy-TikTok-generation-ebook/dp/B09SBD7ZR4
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Helicopter-Mummy-TikTok-generation-ebook/dp/B09SBD7ZR4

Younger moms with teenagers will thrive on the numerous characters, character types, and lingo of the age. They’ll also love the situations the mummies find themselves in, and they’ll relate to the trials and tribulations of raising a teenager.

If they’re single moms (for whatever reason) they will completely relate to Anni and her dating escapades. They’ll understand the parallels between Cassie’s life and what is happening to Anni.

Most of all, they’ll enjoy the attitude that going with the flow can be cathartic, and not taking life so seriously can be healing. And they will completely relate to parenting in the digital age.

Great messages to be found in this cute rom-com by Catherine Bruton.

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