Book Reviews Archives

March 26, 2022April 7, 2022

The Perfect Suitor-Baxter-Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

The Perfect Suitor by Cole Baxter is the second psych thriller I have read in the past week that bills itself as one thing but turns out to be more like something else.

Still good, just not what I expected. It is certainly more suspense than psych.

Many psych thrillers have prologues as a way of setting the scene for what occurs later in the book. Sometimes it is completely in the past, sometimes it is a point that is midway through the plot.

In The Perfect Suitor, the prologue is solidly in the former category. In fact, the prologue is pretty much a completely separate event that only serves to set the frame of mind for Charlene.

Of course, like a good psych thriller, there are additional questions and influences, and there may (or may not) be another reason for the prologue. You’ll have to read the book to find out.

Because of the situation she finds herself in, I believe that we are supposed to feel sorry for Charlene. Sympathy is the emotion that was evoked.

But I didn’t feel it.

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Not because the author didn’t do a good job of painting her as a sympathetic character because she absolutely was. If anything, though, she is almost too pathetic to feel sympathy for her. I found the passages of her self-pity, uncertainty, and hopelessness to be long and tiresome.

Now, fortunately, I have never been in her position, so that may have something to do with it. And other readers may find her to be instantly relatable. It isn’t a complete deal-breaker within the story either.

I just wanted to get through the long inner-monologues to the plot at hand, because that is the heart of the story and it’s a really good one.

As my mantra goes, I’m not dropping plot spoilers here. But suffice to say if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

There are quite a few twists, including a few toward the very end that I did not see coming at all. And Charlene’s growth as she becomes stronger and more aware is very well done.

For me, the push through the beginning was the hardest part of the book. Once Charlene meets the perfect suitor, the action picks up and it is a solid psych thriller from there.

Author Bio

Cole Baxter loves writing psychological suspense thrillers. It’s all about that last reveal that he loves shocking readers with.

He grew up in New York, where there, crime was all around. He decided to turn that into something positive with his fiction.

His stories will have you reading through the night—they are very addictive!

The Perfect Suitor is his first psychological thriller with Inkubator Books.

March 25, 2022March 24, 2022

After the Wedding-Elliot-Review-Thriller-Available Now

After the Wedding by Laura Elliot is a thriller that is better if you know what it’s actually about.

Let me try to explain.

The blurb says it is a psych thriller, so the reader goes in expecting that something happens at a wedding and the rest of the book has to do with the immediate aftermath. It is a logical assumption.

However, this is not that book.

Yes, there is something that occurs at a wedding in the opening chapter. Then the action switches and we are several years in the future (from the wedding). The wedding is barely a blip in the big scheme (for the most part). I suppose the whole thing is after the wedding if you want to look at it that way.

The rest of the book is definitely more thriller than anything else. I did not get a psych thriller vibe from it at all. In fact, it is a detailed and complicated plot that involves much more than meets the eye.

I don’t want to give anything away, but if you want to enjoy After the Wedding, you definitely need to have the mindset that it is NOT a quick and entertaining psych thriller. It is more of a complicated crime thriller with mystery.

The author’s style of writing is sometimes difficult to follow. A scene will be in the present and then within a paragraph of explanation, the action will be days or weeks later. This happens a lot, so the reader does need to pay close attention.

I did not get much of a feel for any of the characters. I think the reader is supposed to feel for Christine because of her past. But for me, her self-destructiveness gets in the way of her being a truly sympathetic character.

And let’s not talk about Jessica and Richard. The less said about them, the better.

As I mentioned at the beginning, Laura Elliot has a good story in After the Wedding. You just need to understand what you are getting into. But trust me, you will still enjoy it.

**Twitter:** **@Elliot_Laura**
**Facebook:** lauraelliotauthor/

Author Bio:
Laura Elliot lives in Malahide, a picturesque, coastal village in Dublin, Ireland. She enjoys writing psychological thrillers — in the UK she is published by Bookouture, Sphere and Avon — and by Grand Central Publishing in the US. Her novels have also been widely translated.

AKA June Considine, she has written twelve books for children and young adults. In her earlier career, she worked as a journalist and magazine editor.

For more details check http://lauraelliotauthor.com/

March 24, 2022March 22, 2022

The Painter’s Girl-Fripp-Review-Historical Fiction-Available Now

I was thoroughly taken by The French House by Helen Fripp. It is historical fiction at its finest. So, you can imagine my excitement when I saw The Painter’s Girl. While I don’t think it quite lives up to her previous novel, there is plenty to like about it.

First of all, Paris. Who doesn’t like a novel set in Paris? Then add a circus. And impressionist painters.

Yes, it might seem like a lot going on, but I promise it all makes sense in the course of the plot. Although, it does seem a bit “busy” at times, with so much going on.

As always, you can read the gist of the plot in the blurb on any number of sites. I will say that as I read, I had mixed vibes. Maybe it was the subject matter, maybe it was the setting. I don’t know.

But at various times, I got vibes that were Les Miserables, Moulin Rouge, and La Boheme. Not sure if that was the intention, or just my personal knowledge seeping in, but it all added an extra level of enjoyment to my reading.

The plot itself is pretty straightforward even as there are twists and turns in Mimi’s life. And she certainly experiences the fickleness and unpredictability of an artist’s personality. Then again, she is an artist as well, soooo…..

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There are a few things that I had difficulty with. It felt a little rushed and complicated where it didn’t need to be. But when I think about it, it seems as if a couple of decades of history are condensed into this story. So that could be part of it.

There are also a lot of characters to keep track of. It’s not an insurmountable amount, but you do have to pay attention.

As with any good historical fiction novel, there is a mixture of historical fact and fiction to tie it all together. In this case, it works for the most part.

I think if a reader goes into this with the knowledge that a lot is going on, but with the eye to being entertained, they will find The Painter’s Girl to be an excellent read. I look forward to reading more from Helen Fripp.

Twitter: helenfripp
Facebook: helen.frippauthor.3

About the author

I love delving into the past and uncovering new stories, and in my writing, the tiniest historical detail can spark an idea for a whole chapter. My female characters rail against the social constraints to which they are subject and often achieve great success, but they are of course flawed and human, like the rest of us. It’s the motivations, flaws, loves and every-day lives of my characters that I love to bring life, against sweeping historical backdrops – and I will find any excuse to take off and research a captivating location or person for my next story.

March 23, 2022March 22, 2022

The Girl in the Shadows-Kummerow-Review-Historical Fiction-Available Now

Following A Light in the Window and From the Dark We Rise, Marion Kummerow continues the story of Margarete in The Girl in the Shadows, another striking historical fiction novel.

The author has done a fantastic job of tracing Margarete’s path as she navigates the perilous times of World War II – with a stolen identity.

(No, that is not a spoiler. It is the conceit of the books and clearly stated in the blurb).

At this point in her journey, Margarete is well-established as Annagret Huber. But even as the identity is a blessing that keeps her alive, it is also a curse as she discovers what she is now responsible for as Annagret.

That blessing/curse dichotomy becomes most prevalent in this installment of the story. In fact, it feels like the previous two books were building to this one. It makes sense because this is a planned trilogy (more on that in a minute).

While the path so far has been rocky and there have been frightening moments for Margarete, this is the closest she comes to full exposure.

There is a lot given away in the blurbs (I hate that). So, you know that this is where Margarete stands up and takes action against the atrocities she is seeing.

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But she continues to walk a thin line because she strings Thomas along even as she is helping Stefan. This is not a thriller in the typical sense. But there are tense moments that feel like the whole thing will crash down in a horrible way.

That is partly due to the subject matter (naturally) but is more largely due to the author’s talents in telling the story in such a way that whatever Margarete is feeling the reader feels too.

It is more than good description, but it is hard to put my finger on. There is just something real about the way she is written. It is easier to experience right along with her instead of just being told something is happening.

I know that probably doesn’t make sense, but it fits perfectly in my mind.

The author also does a great job of detailing how corrupt the entire German process was at the time. How nobody really emerged with clean hands (even though several claimed to).

Even those who are purportedly helping the Jews don’t always escape cleanly.

It is all a thoughtful exploration into the depths of what people will do when their convictions are tested. The choice is not always black or white. I will also say that given what happens to a few characters, karma has a way of working.

There is so much to this story, in fact, that the author has decided to add a fourth book to the planned trilogy.

After starting another new path in The Girl in the Shadows, I very much look forward to seeing what Marion Kummerow has in store for Margarete in the next book.

Facebook: AutorinKummerow
Instagram: marionkummerow
Twitter: @MarionKummerow

Author Bio:

Marion Kummerow was born and raised in Germany, before she set out to “discover the world” and lived in various countries. In 1999 she returned to Germany and settled down in Munich where she’s now living with her family.

Inspired by the true story about her grandparents, who belonged to the German resistance and fought against the Nazi regime, she started writing historical fiction, set during World War II.

March 22, 2022March 21, 2022

Stone Broke Heiress-Owen-Jones-Review-Rom-Com-Available Now

After a long list of psych thrillers and family dramas, I was very excited to read a rom-com, and Stone Broke Heiress by Danielle Owen-Jones totally fit the bill.

It had everything a person could want in a romantic comedy.

The heroine, Bella, is a mess. But she is a funny mess. The blurb spells out her downfall, but it doesn’t do justice to just how brilliant and blazingly spectacular the fall is.

Let’s just say that Bella truly has the worst of all days and has to start a new life that is quite literally the polar opposite of what she is used to.

There are times when her ineptness is a bit too much. The author does a good job with the “fish out of water” theme (there is certainly a lot of comedy to fill out the “com” part of rom-com).

And I suppose there truly are some people who are just that clueless.

But there are a few times that it seems over the top. For me, those happen to be the ones where Bella is thinking about things. In a strange way, her thoughts don’t always match her actions.

For example, she is upset when she screws up soup. But also worries about her clothes or where to get sushi. It’s like her brain doesn’t connect at all times.

However, I suppose that she could just be that pampered and isolated. But we do not see it as much as being told it. Maybe that’s why it doesn’t always ring true.

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The only other thing that got annoying was the pet names that Bella’s parents have for her. Again, I guess that is her mom’s “French-ness” coming through. But it seemed at times that the author was trying too hard to think of cute names.

There are also a few stilted phrases. And if you are not familiar with Liverpool, you may want to have a search engine handy to look up slang and commonly-used words.

These actually add a level of authenticity that I appreciate.

I like the trajectory of the story. I thought the overall plot was good, the setting was different, and I liked the characters. They were just unique enough to be interesting.

I would have liked a little bit more of Elsie. She needed more scenes. And I think it took Bella waaaay too long to come to the realization of how she could truly help the situation.

Oh, and I asked my son (who is a football expert) the following question: “If you are in Liverpool and someone asks you ‘blue or red,’ what do you say?” He immediately answered: “Hmmm, Everton or Liverpool…..” So, that was kind of funny.

All in all, I really enjoyed Stone Broke Heiress and would recommend it for a quick, pleasant rom-com. I look forward to more from Danielle Owen-Jones.

Facebook: @danniowenjonesauthor
Twitter: @danniowenjones
Instagram: @danniowenjonesauthor

About the author

Danielle Owen-Jones grew up in Merseyside. She started her career as a senior journalist and features writer before launching her own freelance PR and content writing business. Danielle now calls Cumbria home, where she lives with her husband, Tom, and adorable cockapoo, Poppy.

Danielle is represented by Clare Coombes of The Liverpool Literary Agency and published by Bookouture (Hachette UK). To find out more about Danielle, visit her website or follow her on social media

March 21, 2022March 19, 2022

The Lying Club-Ward-Review-Thriller-Available Now

The Lying Club by Annie Ward is a thriller that draws the reader in via clever connections and red herrings before gut punching with a heck of a twist.

But first, the author starts with a prologue that sets the tone right from the start. It also lets the reader know that Natalie is an unreliable narrator. The question then becomes whether she is naturally so, or if there are reasons for it.

Just another layer of the mystery that unfolds.

The other two narrators, Asha and Brooke, are slightly more reliable But, they have their own issues as well. So, the reader is never sure if the women are putting their own spin on events or if the reactions are legitimate.

One thing I really liked about this author’s writing style was that the chapters from the various women’s points of view reflect their personalities.

Natalie’s are hazy and wander. Asha’s are scattered and a bit frantic. And Brooke’s are sharp, in focus, and get to the point.

To be honest, I didn’t entirely get that as I was actually reading the story. I did notice that the book held my interest and felt fresh throughout. In writing this review, I realized the chapters may have something to do with that.

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The plot itself unfolds in an interesting manner. We know there is an incident in the beginning, and then the author goes back in time to the events leading up to the event before moving forward from it.

That’s all I want to say about it because I don’t want to give details away. Suffice to say that characters who may seem superfluous probably aren’t and you need to pay attention to relationships.

For example, even if Natalie can’t make a connection, you should be able to.

I will also say that the author did a fantastic job with a sensitive subject while illustrating that true monsters are among us in our everyday lives.

I had a hard time putting The Lying Club down. It is certainly a great thriller, and I highly recommend it.

Author Website
Twitter: @_annie_ward
Facebook: @anniewardbooks
Goodreads

Annie Ward is the author of Beautiful Bad. She has a BA in English literature from UCLA and an MFA in screenwriting from the American Film Institute. Her first short screenplay, Strange Habit, starring Adam Scott, was an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival and the Grand Jury Award winner at the Aspen Film Festival. She has received a Fulbright scholarship and an Escape to Create artist residency. She lives in Kansas with her family.

March 19, 2022March 21, 2022

The Villa-Boyd-Review-Family Drama-Available Now

I started The Villa by Clare Boyd with a completely different idea in my head as to the trajectory of the novel. Family drama does not even begin to do this story justice. It went in directions that I completely did not see coming.

The reader knows from the very beginning that secrets are plentiful in this family. But there is no way of knowing just how twisted they can get.

And boy, do they get twisted.

The characters have a depth that is hard to find in family dramas. They are not caricatures.

Emma is prickly. She is difficult to like which makes her character most intriguing. I think we are supposed to think that she has a good reason to be that way, but I didn’t feel that was entirely fleshed out.

It is clear that she is holding a grudge for her childhood. But it doesn’t become clear until much later exactly what she is doing so.

Libby is the peacemaker. In reality, she is the one who should be most upset about…things. I don’t want to say more than that, because that is a twist that I do not want to spoil.

Let’s just say that is one of the biggest “oh my goodness” moments I have experienced in a book in a long time.

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And then we have Nora. The matriarch, the reason for the trip to the villa, the person responsible for everything that occurs.

She struck me as an enigma. We know her history, but I am not sure that it came through in the character itself.

What was absolutely obvious, however, was that she lived her life on her own terms, and she was determined to continue to do so.

Again, no spoiler here. But the author has a perspective that may be shocking to some readers. But people who have parents of a certain age may not be surprised.

I know I have been cagey in this review of The Villa, but that is only because I think a reader should experience the family drama without any preconceived notions.

Clare Boyd has carefully crafted the story, and it deserves to unfold as intended.

Other books by Clare Boyd: The Pretty One; My Perfect Wife

Facebook: clare.boyd.14
Twitter: clareboydclark
Instagram: claresboyd/

Author Bio

Clare lives with her husband and their two daughters in Surrey, where her little green shed at the bottom of the garden provides a haven for her writing life. Before becoming a writer, she enjoyed a career in television, as a researcher in documentaries and then as a script editor in drama at the BBC and Channel Four, where her love of storytelling took hold.

March 18, 2022March 16, 2022

The Break-Hurst-Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

In The Break by Daniel Hurst, one woman’s desire for a little time away from her family turns into a psych thriller of a nightmare.

Karen is a typical harried mom: always busy, always running errands, never a chance to breathe or rest. And she never misses an opportunity to tell people about how busy she is.

Although I will say that I completely and totally agree with her perspective on family vacations. She nails that one correctly.

However, her constant mention of her busy schedule makes her a prime target for a scam artist. Or is there a deeper, darker reason for Karen to be targeted?

You won’t find the answer to that here. It’s a spoiler-free zone, after all. I will just say that when something seems too good to be true, it probably deserves closer scrutiny.

There are a lot of good moments in the book. Even though I figured out the culprit early on (it seems very obvious) I was interested enough to keep reading to see how far they would go.

And boy, do they go far.

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The characters are not very deep, but I don’t feel like The Break is that kind of a book. It is more about the action and plot than fully-fleshed-out characters.

There are also some parts that are uneven or repetitive. Karen tends to go on and on about how busy she is. We get it. And towards the end, she gets quite preachy about “happy families” and looking within oneself to find happiness.

That doesn’t exactly fit with how much complaining she does throughout the book. However, events late in the story could have bearing on how her attitude changes.

Again, that’s all I’m going to say about that.

The author does a good job of keeping the action moving, however, making The Break a quick read (I read it in one sitting). I definitely recommend it for a take-your-brain-out psych thriller.

And check out these other psych thrillers from Daniel Hurst: The Passenger, The New Friends

**Facebook**: danielhurstbooks
**Instagram**: danielhurstbooks/
**Twitter**: dhurstbooks

Author Bio

Daniel Hurst writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

March 17, 2022March 16, 2022

A Life For a Life-Wyer-Review-Crime Thriller-Available Now

In A Life for a Life, Carol Wyer has once again written a compelling crime thriller that offers a cracking good case while furthering the main character’s story arc.

I read a lot of books and believe me when I say that this is not an easy task. But this author handles it with ease.

Well, not all with ease, because I’ve seen some of her social media posts. 😊 But, she should be assured that regardless of the worrying she has done, she has once again produced an excellent story.

I’m not going to go into too much detail, because by this point if you haven’t started the series, you need to.

Yes, the crime is pretty much standalone. So, you could read it for that and still enjoy the book.

But what really drives this story is Kate’s determination, and that has its basis in the aforementioned story arc. To truly understand her, you need to go back to the beginning (so go check out An Eye for an Eye).

And thank me later.

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What I liked most about this book is that Kate has progressed. Her obsession to find the truth and hunt down the culprits in a crime close to home has grown. (You can get details from the blurb).

This obsession actually makes her able to relate to the culprit in the current case that she is dealing with.

Ray Bradbury once said, “Insanity is relative. It depends on who has who locked in what cage.”

Kate finds herself slipping away as she realizes how close the people who committed the “personal” crime actually are. I think the quote describes her perfectly.

The author does make an effort for this to be standalone. If you want to read it for the crime-solving, you can certainly do so.

But Detective Kate Young is a deep character full of nuance, and you will enjoy the layers of the story much more having read the other books by Carol Wyer.

(P.S. She has a couple of other series with kick-ass women lead characters. So, take a look at Detective Natalie Ward (start with The Birthday) and Detective Robyn Carter (start with Little Girl Lost).

Instagram: carolwyer/
Twitter: carolewyer
Website : https://www.carolwyer.co.uk

Author Info

February 2021 saw the release of the first in the much-anticipated new series, featuring DI Kate Young. An Eye For An Eye was chosen as a Kindle First Reads and became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Amazon Australia.

She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr. Grumpy… who is very, very grumpy. When she is not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.

March 15, 2022March 11, 2022

The Stepchild-Trope-Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

The Stepchild by Nicole Trope is one of those psych thrillers that is good on the surface but has a deeper current of something more sinister.

A psych thriller that can manage both a compelling surface story and underlying tension – and do so effectively – is a winner in my book.

On the surface, it is a simple missing child case. Those parts are fairly straightforward and easy to read. Stepsister is babysitting, little sister goes missing, parents panic, police get involved.

But there is much more to it. I don’t want to give anything away (because you really should enjoy it spoiler-free, like I did), but everyone has secrets.

Where was Leslie (the mom)? Why wasn’t Randall (the dad) around? And what is Shelby (the stepsister) not telling everyone?

The answers to these questions and many more are revealed gradually. I appreciate that, because it is a tactic that allows the action to continue without giving everything away too soon.

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Interspersed between Leslie and Shelby’s points of view is Ruth’s story. Ruth is an odd duck – that is apparent from the very beginning.

But as Ruth tells her story in short bursts, you realize that this is where the undercurrent is. This is the heart of the story – and where the twists really come into play.

All of this takes place (as I mentioned) while Millie (the child) is missing. The author does a fantastic job of weaving everything together, keeping the focus on finding Millie, even as character’s secrets and actions threaten to derail the case.

Honestly, it’s a great juggling act and the author handles it deftly with lots of engagement.

I will admit that I guessed at a pretty big twist, but I’ve made no secret about how I like to challenge myself. The author resolves everything to great satisfaction – everyone’s story is realistic.

There should probably be a trigger warning on this book, as it does deal with a pretty serious issue. I really don’t want to say what it is, because that would totally give away big sections of the plot.

You can search other reviews that will most certainly mention specifics. Not here though.

But again, the author handles a very sensitive subject with tact and efficiency, using just enough to get the point across without being heavy-handed or preachy.

Now that I think of it, The Stepchild (and who is the stepchild, really?) is about as close to perfect a psych thriller as a reader could hope for.

Other psych thrillers from Nicole Trope: The Girl Who Never Came Home; The Family Across the Street; The Mother’s Fault; The Nowhere Girl

Facebook: @NicoleTrope
Twitter: @nicoletrope

About the author

Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because-as her professor pointed out- ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’ She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree in Children’s Literature.

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story. Nicole went on to publish a further five novels in Australia before joining Bookouture in 2019. She is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.