#5star Archives

October 12, 2018October 12, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: The Wife’s Secret

If you read any psychological thriller, make sure it is this one. I know I’ve said this, or something close to it, a few times, but I guess I have just been lucky when it comes to psych thrillers lately. I had never read anything by Kerry Wilkinson, but the description of this one grabbed me, and I am so glad that I chose it. While there were parts that I almost guessed what was going on (a bad habit due to too many psych thrillers, I think), there was enough to keep me guessing. I was really impressed with the way the story was laid out: from the groom’s point of view in the present, then from differing points of view in the past. It was all layered very nicely to build the story towards the climax. I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.

The Wife’s Secret by Kerry Wilkinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
So many books these days have a tagline similar to this one: “A gripping psychological thriller with a heart-stopping twist.” Some don’t live up to the hype, while others rise to the occasion and earn the tag. This book is solidly in the latter category. At first glance, it seems as if the alternating chapters of present and past, with the past coming from multiple viewpoints and at varying times, would be confusing. But the author keeps juggling everything, and does so with finesse. The method highlights the dread of knowing that everything is not as it seems, while building layers of plot that make the twists true “OMG” moments. I loved every page of this book, and upon finishing immediately downloaded other books by Kerry Wilkinson. An excellent psych thriller in a crowded market. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

October 4, 2018October 4, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: Under My Skin

I’ve been reading so many books lately, that there are times where I can’t keep them straight (sad, but true); this is especially the case when it comes to psychological thrillers. This is a genre that has exploded recently, and it sometimes seems that everyone who can type has written one. Now, I’ve read quite a few good ones, but it takes a lot to really make one stand out in a crowded field. This is that book!

The atmosphere is set when we learn that Poppy’s husband was killed just about a year prior to the action, and she hasn’t dealt with the grief very well. That’s actually quite an understatement. Poppy’s uncertainty about what her own life has become is made even more confusing by mysterious events that occur. Ultimately, the line between dreams and reality are irrevocably blurred, and Poppy needs to make some difficult decisions as to whether she is strong enough to move forward.

This book had twists and turns galore, and had high tension all throughout. A real page turner, I can’t recommend it highly enough! Below is my Goodreads review:

Under My Skin by Lisa Unger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Good. God. This book was amazing! I could not turn the pages fast enough to get through the twists and turns of this psychological thriller. The characters are very real, even as they may not actually exist, and the plot is very well-crafted. The reader is essentially in Poppy’s shoes as she navigates her increasingly mysterious life. The author did an incredible job with tone and atmosphere, as there were times where I could literally feel Poppy’s panic as my own. The revelations that begin to clear up the mystery are well-done, and timely within the plot. I especially liked how the author kept me off balance; just when I thought I had something or someone figured out, something else would occur to make me doubt what I knew. This was extremely effective, because it mirrored Poppy’s experiences. And the “what the heck” moment that comes in every psych thriller? Yeah…didn’t see it coming at all. Incredible story, with excellent resolution. Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin-Hanover Square Press, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

September 25, 2018September 25, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

I love science fiction. I love Downton Abbey. Did I ever think that I would find a book that would meld the two together in a plausible manner? No. Did I actually find such a book?

Yes.

This is probably the most unique book I have read in a long time. I don’t even know how exactly to classify it. It’s mostly mystery, but there’s more to it than that. I don’t know how to describe it without giving major plot points away, because just the story arc itself is unique. The writer keeps the reader as off balance as the characters are, and that’s no easy feat. If you’re looking for something out of the norm that will take up a few days of reading and make you forget about other stuff, find this book. It will draw you in and hold you until the end. My Goodreads review is below:

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Every once in a while, there comes a book that forces you to slow down your reading and really savor the story being told. This is that book. It’s Downton Abbey, as written by Agatha Christie, starring Sam Beckett (from Quantum Leap). And it all works. Ultimately a mystery, this book is also a stunning tapestry of the lives of the characters, both the rich and the servants. In that regard, I suppose it’s a little bit like Upstairs, Downstairs as well. Regardless, it is a highly atmospheric book with very vivid characters. The author does a fantastic job of creating a feeling of foreboding that the reader shares with the main character as the plot progresses. I really can’t go into the plot, because it is truly a book that needs to be discovered and unraveled slowly. Which brings me to another point: clear time to read this. It is not a fast read. You’ll need to take your time to really get all of the nuances (and to keep all of the characters straight). Highly innovative and intriguing, I hope this author writes more like it! Definite five stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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September 21, 2018September 25, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: One Dark Night

Release Date: 10/23/2018
(Low Pre-Sale Price)

Every once in awhile, a book really leaps out at you, grabs you, and takes you on a crazy terrific ride. You know what I mean? There are the books that are fun outings, where you progress leisurely and finish with a happy sigh. Then there are the books that say “screw that” and careen through the action, keeping you off balance, where you’re practically gasping for breath and thinking, “what the hell did I just experience?”. This is solidly in the latter category. A page-turner by any definition, “One Dark Night” explores how a reaction to a simple, every-day occurrence can have far-reaching and (very) unintended consequences. Trust me, you’ll re-think being angry at the next person who cuts you off on the highway! A smart author also knows that it is difficult to credibly sustain a particular action for an entire book. Tom Bale recognizes this, and changes up the story to give the reader little breaks and shifts in focus. This works wonderfully to keep the tension level high, but not with pointless filler. If you’re looking for an action movie in book form, look no further. This one is for you!

Here is my Goodreads review:

Sit down, buckle up, and get ready for one heck of an adrenaline rush! This book starts off fast and never really lets up. From the opening event to the wrap-up, I was enthralled and couldn’t read fast enough. What made this book unique was that the author zigged when I thought he was going to zag, and every time I thought I had a bead on what was happening, the author switched gears. No matter what the setting, the descriptions were so vivid that the atmospheres felt very real. The action is at times thriller, crime, suspense, mystery…but it is fluid and morphs naturally from one to the other. This was the first book I’ve read by this author, and I will certainly be looking for his other ones! An excellent entry in the Mystery/Thriller genre. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

September 19, 2018September 19, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: Perfect Girls (Detective Rachel Prince Book 3)

As you’ve probably been able to tell, I don’t stick to one genre of books. I read whatever strikes me (or whatever is up next on my NetGalley list). As a result, I sometimes end up with a book that is part of a series. I usually don’t like to read these for two reasons: 1) it can feel like reading the end of something to know what happens before reading the rest or 2) there’s so much detail from the previous events, it’s not worth going back and reading the others. I get happy when I find a series that doesn’t do either. This is one of those. However, don’t be me: find the first one and start from the beginning. Below is my Goodreads review.

Perfect Girls (Detective Rachel Prince #3) — Published
9/18/2018

Perfect Girls by Alison James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a cracking good crime thriller! The third in the Detective Rachel Prince series, it’s the first one I’ve read, and I will definitely be going back to read the first two. Det. Prince is a flawed heroine; she apparently has a tendency to think romantically about people she works with (according to references to previous events), tends to be obsessive, and seems off-balance in some of her familial relationships. All of this makes her more human, and not the usual “superhero cop” who solves a case easily. The story unfolds in “real time,” with the actions of Rachel and co-workers interspersed with brief perspectives from the perpetrator of the crimes. This lends authenticity to the story, and the glimpses of the criminal mind slowly draw the reader deeper into the investigation. The author has researched well; the description of travel and locations are accurate and vivid. The time constraint that Rachel is working under compels the reader to keep up with Rachel’s sense of urgency. The crimes at the heart of the story are timely, especially in the age of social media saturation. Not really a spoiler, but you probably won’t look at a certain growing trend in travel the same way ever again. A great read, and I look forward to adding this series to my “follow” lists. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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September 17, 2018September 18, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: Consumed

38622279 — J.R. Ward
Release Date
10/02/2018

This was a really good book. It could have been set in a police station, because first-responder attitudes are very similar, but then the title wouldn’t have made any sense. And the title is very cleverly chosen in this case. Fire, passion, life…how easy it to be consumed by any or all of these things? Even the heroine’s name (Ashburn) is a nod to the fire theme of the story. This is not your typical romance, but it is one heckuva story. Below is my Goodreads review.

At times haunting and poetic, this book is a masterful crime story wrapped in a tale of loss, sorrow, and renewal. It opens with a tragic fire, and this event drives all facets of the plot. When it comes to the lives of firefighters, the author writes with precision. From the descriptions of the gear and machinery, to the procedures, and even the thoughts and attitudes, everything is accurate. I especially appreciated the voice in which the author wrote. No matter what the character, the “inner thoughts” matched the “outer voices.” There are several moments of dark and/or sarcastic humor, which is how first responders often cope with the issues they face. (One passage about “non-conforming conformists” was especially funny). The characters are real; their motivations and reactions are organic and not contrived for dramatic effect. I actually felt like I was reading a story that could have been told about any real-life firehouse and the members who inhabit it. I was slightly disappointed in the heroine at one point, because she veered into a stereotypical reaction that seemed out of character. But that moment was actually small enough that it didn’t affect her overall character. All in all, this was an excellent story and I would definitely recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.