Tag: Book Review

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The Assistant – Blog Tour (Review) – Psych Thriller-Available Now

I have read three of this author’s books (The Good Neighbor, The Good Mother, and The Guest), and I usually find them to be decent psychological thrillers. This one is no exception.

One of the hallmarks of a good psych thriller is keeping the reader guessing right up until the very last pages. There should also be a good number of twists and maybe even a few red herrings to keep that thrill going.

This book had both of those in spades.

From the title and description, I thought that it would be a completely different plot than what it ended up being, so that was pleasantly surprising. I enjoyed that aspect of it.

I liked the juxtaposition between Vanessa and Laura. In spite of their differences in jobs (and attitudes), they actually had more in common than either one realized, which made their conflict a little more interesting.

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While their interactions were realistic, I found each of them on their own to be a little bit more confusing. Vanessa ran very hot and cold about her working relationship with her boss. It wasn’t until very late in the book that it became clear as to why she was confused. It also took a couple of eye-opening events for her to see the truth.

Laura was more of an enigma to me. She started out as a seemingly bitchy workmate, but quickly revealed herself to be overambitious and driven. But to what detriment? Has she always been this way? And what really happened with her ex-husband?

That last question sat with me for a long time, because I felt like there was more to the story that we never got. Her memories of time with him seemed to stop abruptly when there was more to be mined.

I did feel like the plot lost focus a bit. It almost seemed like the author wanted to cover too much: workplace gossip, the drive to succeed, the struggle of women in the workplace, how simple moments can be misunderstood leading to bigger problems….there was a lot to unpack.

I did think the author used a unique way to show how much Laura’s fears preyed on her mind. And her obsession with running was a great metaphor for her work life. I thought that was particularly well-done.

All told, this story did have me guessing right up until the final pages. That wasn’t entirely because there was “edge of my seat” action, but because I kept trying to figure out where the main point of everything was. As I said, it got a bit muddled and unfocused.

I’m going to go with “ambition can be a killer and drive a person mad.” You’ll have to read the book to find out why.

Social Media:
Twitter: @CathrynGrant
Facebook: CathrynGrant.Writer/
Website: https://www.cathryngrant.com/
Instagram: cathryngrant_fiction/

About Cathryn Grant:

Cathryn Grant writes psychological thrillers, psychological suspense, and ghost stories. She’s the author of twenty-three novels. She’s loved crime fiction all her life and 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.

Cathryn is the author of The Guest, The Good Mother and other psychological thrillers. THE ASSISTANT will be her fourth novel published with Inkubator Books.

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Dead Woman Crossing (Books On Tour Review-Crime Thriller-Available Now)

I’ve never hidden my excitement at finding a new detective/crime series. This time, it comes in the form of Kimberley King, a transplant from NYPD to Custer County, Oklahoma.

I thought the premise was timely, probably even more so than the author intended. Kimberley has decided to move to Oklahoma (where her mom lives) to be able to spend more time with her young daughter.

From the beginning, there are also hints of something that happened on the job, but the reader gets that in flashback form, as events in her new town lead Kimberley to remember a pivotal case in NYC.

I thought that the connection between the two could have been stronger. Kimberley’s memories and motivations didn’t seem to be pivotal as they could have been. Perhaps if the crimes had been more similar? The only it seems to work for me is if the author is laying the groundwork for a through-line for future book plots.

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I liked Kimberley, for the most part. (Caveat: I’m picky of everything to do with NYC and NYPD due to my personal connections with both. So, some of this can probably be taken with a grain of salt). I thought her instincts were good, and I liked how she was torn between trying to fit into the confines of her new job but still maintain her self-imposed standards.

However, I also felt that her attitude didn’t always ring true. There were a few times where she seemed more caricature or stereotype rather than a legitimate person. Again, that’s a personal observation, not necessarily any fault of the author.

The case itself was decent, if a little underbaked. I liked how the author laid everything out, but kept some facts hidden which caused me to suspect more people than I needed to; I like it when an author does that.

I did also like that there was an uneasy feeling about a couple of characters from the start. It was an effective way to make the reader suspicious, but without being able to pinpoint exactly why or what to be suspicious about. It made the resolution just a bit more interesting as well, which was good, because at the same time it kind of came out of nowhere.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I liked the personalities of the sheriff’s department, and hope that future books continue to explore the different officers and their backgrounds. I think there is enough there to keep this series going for a while.  

Instagram: jradlerauthor/
Twitter: @jradlerauthor

Author Bio:
Originally from Wisconsin, J.R. Adler currently lives in Ithaca, New York with her husband, Drew, and her English Bulldog, Winston. When not writing, you can find her reading, playing board games, travelling, and binge watching The Office for the umpteenth time. 

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The Bluebell Girls (Books on Tour Review-Summer Romance-Available Now)

I love working with different publishers because I get a cross-section of genres, and I never know what my next read will be. After a string of psych thrillers, crime procedurals, and historical fiction, I was thrilled to read this pleasant story about family ties and romance.

After being introduced to the town in The Lilac House, I was so excited to visit Lake Summers again. The author has a knack for creating a place that makes the reader feel like they’re “coming home” just like the characters (in this case, Jenna). There is something about the way the author describes towns and houses that is just…comfortable.

Once again, small-town life and politics is captured perfectly, warts and all. It is heartwarming to read about people who still care about their hometown, and who support each other when the chips are down. That kind of love and pride for a way of life means something, especially these days.

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I particularly liked the generational aspect of this story. The set-up is simplistic but effective. Sweet still lives in Lake Summers. Jenna (her daughter) moved away and started a family of her own…until her husband decided he wanted a different family.

Jenna is considering a permanent move back to Lake Summers to lick her wounds and figure out the next chapter in her life, brining her teenage daughter, Sophie, with her. That plan accelerates when Sweet has an unexpected fall down the stairs and exhibits signs of memory loss (early Alzheimers?)

It’s effective plotting that bring three generations of women together at a time when each is at a turning point in their lives. At any given time, I could relate to each of the characters: Sweet, for what she is no longer able to achieve; Jenna, for not knowing which way to turn; and Sophie for having her world upended.

If The Lilac House had me at “ballet,” The Bluebell Girls had me at “theater.”  

I especially related to Sweet and her love for facilitating theater productions for the town. That’s exactly what I used to do. The descriptions of how Sweet seemed more alive and was able to get everything done was familiar and felt personal. Her “two words” especially struck a chord in me.

As to the romance, I liked how the author hinted at something that happened between Jenna and T.J. when they were younger, gradually letting the story build (and it’s not what you expect it to be).

However, you know that they’re destined to be together. But it isn’t easy, and the journey to get there is heartfelt and realistic. I also like how the author uses flowers to explore aspects of humanity (as in Jenna realizing why her mother planted bluebells). And the covers are just gorgeous!

Get this one to read before the very last vestiges of summer are gone. I’m glad I did. I’ve fallen in love with this town and the characters. I hope I get to visit it and explore with the author a few more times!

www.BarbaraSolomonJosselsohn.com
Facebook: BarbaraSolomonJosselsohnAuthor 
Twitter: @barbarajoss

Author Bio:
Barbara Josselsohn is an award-winning journalist and novelist who loves crafting stories about strong protagonists facing a fork in the road. Her novels center around second chances, family relationships and, of course, romance. She is the author of the Lake Summers series set in the fictional town of Lake Summers, nestled in the Adirondacks Mountains, which includes the books The Lilac House and The Bluebell Girls. Before joining with Bookouture, she published The Last Dreamer, a women’s-fiction novel from Lake Union Publishing, along with hundreds of articles and essays in major and regional publications about family, home and relationships. She lives just north of New York City and enjoys escaping to the beach or the mountains whenever she can. Other than writing, her biggest passion is her family: husband, her three kids, and her indefatigable shih-poo! 

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The Stolen Letter (Books on Tour Review-WWII Fiction-Available Now)

I’ve made no secret of how much I like to learn from historical fiction novels. I would be willing to bet that most people who read the genre do so for the same reasons. There’s just something about learning while enjoying a good story as well.

I’ve been fortunate in this regard, especially lately, because I particularly like learning about aspects that are usually overlooked. Oddly, this is the second book in a week that centered on an English woman in Italy during the rise of Mussolini in the early days of WWII.

I actually like it when this happens, because (as I have mentioned before) I love to learn from historical fiction. When I find (even by accident) books that have similar themes, I feel like I gain a deeper understanding of the period and the issues. That’s certainly the case here. I really liked this author’s previous book, In Darkness, Look For Stars, so I was looking forward to this one.

I thought the set-up was a grab, and it drew me in right away. I mean, any time you are in WWII fiction and you have Nazis in the opening scene, you know that there is going to be some hidden meanings or events.

As much as I liked the story, the premise was a tad shaky. A 19-year-old English female traveling to Italy in September 1938 seems foolish, especially if anyone at the time had been paying attention. But that relocation was vital to the plot, and Stella did seem pretty sheltered, so I was able to overlook it .

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I could tell right away that Monica and her brother were up to no good. But the intrigue was certainly well-written. At times I felt more like I was reading a mystery, which made me that much more invested in figuring out what was really going on with the dynamics.

And yes, there were times that I wanted to yell at Stella to stop being so naïve. Thank goodness Ted was there to do that for me! I think he was my favorite character, only because most of the time he seemed to just “get it.”

He was aware when others weren’t and seemed to be a voice of reason. He was also the personification of perseverance, and I love how he taught that to Stella.

I particularly liked the motivating factors behind the entire plot. I have always found the plundering of art by the Nazis to be a particularly fascinating psychological study, largely due to their (illogical) reasonings and excuses for their actions in this regard. I thought the author handled this very well with both facts and speculation (for the purpose of the plot).

Another strength was the author’s descriptions of Florence. I know that there were many changes over the years, especially having to rebuild after the war, but I was there in the 90s, and there were several locations that were familiar. That was a nice stroll down memory lane for me.

I’d definitely recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, and even to those who like a little bit of mystery.  

Twitter: @ClaraBooks
Facebook: ClaraBensonBooks/

Author Bio:

Clara Benson is the author of the Angela Marchmont Mysteries and Freddy Pilkington-Soames Adventures – traditional English whodunits in authentic style set in the 1920s and 30s. One day she would like to drink cocktails and solve mysteries in a sequinned dress and evening gloves. In the meantime, she lives in the north of England with her family and doesn’t do any of those things.

To find out about new releases and receive a FREE, exclusive Angela Marchmont short story, sign up to her mailing list at clarabenson.com/newsletter.

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Into the Burning Dawn by Natalie Meg Evans – Books On Tour (Review)

If you’re like me, you enjoy different genres of books. But I have recently found that even within a genre, there can be different approaches. I know that seems obvious but bear with me for a minute.

Take historical fiction, for example, and let’s use WWII. There are some books that set the action smack dab in the middle of the war, and others that use a dual storyline of modern day to historical, tying threads together. Of course, there are multiple approaches, but those are two of the most common that I have come across.

Then there are books like Into the Burning Dawn, that use the war more as a backdrop. Now, I know there’s more to this book than that, but I found the perspective of an English nanny in Naples pre-WWII during the rise of Mussolini (and further into the war) to be fascinating and informative.

It was apparent that the author already had a background in this era or had completed copious amounts of research, because the details of the region were plentiful and well-described. In the early pages, I could practically smell the lavender and garlic as well as the sea air.

Actually, the amazing descriptions continued, but later on it became petrol burning, smoke, and dust. That’s how talented this author was when it came to creating full scenes.

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In the beginning, I also got a definite “Sound of Music” vibe, with the young nanny brought up in a convent, seeing to the kids of a stern, older landowner. There were more parallels as well. Imogene’s war with herself over who and how to love, her care for children even at the peril of her own life, and her desire to do the right thing all felt very “Maria-ish.” That’s not a bad thing.

I found the juxtaposition between the two brothers to be interesting as well. Fabrizio was the dashing, dangerous cad, while Giancarlo was the level-headed leader of business. I do think Imogene was blinded by “bad boy” vibe of Fabrizio (which is logical, given her upbringing). (There was a touch of Captain Von Trapp in Giancarlo as well).

I did find Imogene to be inconsistent at times. In the early days of the war, when people referred to the British soldiers, planes, and ships as “her Army/Navy/etc.” she made a distinct point of correcting them and saying that they weren’t “hers.” But at the same time, she thought of them as hers.

I suppose that would be logical confusion given the climate and culture, but it made her seem a bit weak-minded. Which is actually interesting, because I think she saw herself the same way a lot of the time. But she still managed to persevere and survive. And it wasn’t at all easy for her at any point.

Out of all of the secondary characters, I especially liked Annabella. She was down to earth, but also practical and realistic about situations. There were times when it seemed like she was Imogene’s conscience.

I’m not going to tell you how everything turns out, because that would ruin the story for you. Suffice to say that the author continues her realistic portrayal of war and the path of havoc it wreaks all the way until the last pages.

For an epic story of family and loyalties and accurate retellings of wartime, look no further than this one – you’ll be engrossed from beginning to end.  

TWITTER:  @natmegevans
FACEBOOK: NatalieMegEvans  

Author Bio:

Natalie is a RITA nominated, USA Today Bestselling author of six novels: The Dress Thief, The Milliner’s Secret (re-titled “The Girl who Dreamed of Paris”), The Wardrobe Mistress, Summer in the Vineyards, The Secret Vow and most recently, The Paris Girl. Look out for a heartwrenching WW2 inspired novel set in Italy, due out Autumn 2020.

Visit her website at https://www.nataliemegevans.uk

Natalie Meg Evans has had a varied career, first as an actor in London’s fringe theatre, then as a PR exec and company director and finally, dream achieved, as a full-time writer. She lives with two very lively dogs in rural mid Suffolk.

Natalie has collected numerous awards for her writing including the UK’s Harry Bowling Prize (2012). The Dress Thief was nominated for a coveted RITA Award by Romance Writers of America and it won the Greek Public Book award for the best foreign novel; also, the UK’s Festival of Romance readers award (where readers rather than industry professionals select and judge). The Milliner’s Secret was shortlisted for the same award.

Natalie was also nominated for the coveted Daphne du Maurier award and was named a finalist for a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award.

Natalie’s titles are available as Spoken Word. She loves to hear from readers.

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Their Silent Graves by Carla Kovach – Books On Tour (Review)

In my review of the previous book, Her Last Mistake, I wrote that “there were a few times I felt that Gina’s memories bogged the plot down. I wanted to get back to the action of the story.”

Well, I got my wish. This time Gina’s past actually becomes more of the story (more on that in just a minute).

As with previous books, the author jumps right into the action, giving the reader a peek into an event in the past, 24 year ago…but of whose past we’re not quite sure. We then jump forward 12 years to another incident, but still with no real clue as to the connections.

I love the way this author set all of that up, because when we get to present day, we have some sort of background on current events; we know more than the police do, anyway. Not that it helps too much, because as always, this is a clever plot that keeps the reader guessing.

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I will also mention now that it’s set around the end of October, so it’s excellent reading for this time of year. While it’s still a cracking good investigation, there’s a spooky element to it that fits the season perfectly.

As always, the team works together smoothly. We get a few more insights into their dynamics, but for the most part, it’s just good, steady investigative work from everyone.

As to Gina’s personal matter, we know from past books that Gina has some traumas that have left her scarred and shaken. This time, one surfaces in the most unexpected way. As she is busy with the case at hand, she also has to determine what the truth is about this new twist from her past.

It all weaves together for a page-turning crime thriller. And a special shout out to the title which has an awesome double meaning.

Sometimes it’s difficult to write a review about a series, especially when it gets to later books, because the “newness” may wear off. When that happens, later books can seem repetitive.

However, there is something to be said about knowing that you are going to get a solid criminal investigation with interesting plot points (and twists), engaging characters, and a ruthless killer.

That’s what you get here, and it’s another winner.

Facebook: CarlaKovachAuthor/
Twitter: @CKovachAuthor
Website: https://griffbuck.wordpress.com/

Author Bio:

Carla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. Author of supernatural drama ‘Flame,’ psychological thriller ‘To Let,’ crime thriller ‘Whispers Beneath the Pines,’ and holiday comedy, ‘Meet Me at Marmaris Castle.’ Carla also writes stage and screenplays, some of which have been produced in the Worcestershire area.

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The Orphan of Cemetery Hill by Hester Fox – Blog Tour (Review)

I thought this book would be a great read for this time of year, and I wasn’t wrong. But it was so much more than a spooky story. It was poetically dark yet uplifting. I know that sounds counter-intuitive, but I found it riveting.

As you can read from the blurbs, Tabby has the ability to communicate with the dead. She and her sister, Alice, were orphaned at a young age, but then Alice also disappeared once they got to Boston, so Tabby has been on her own for many years.

Taken in by Eli, who tends a local cemetery, she only uses her gift (she doesn’t see it as such) sparingly, and usually to try to communicate with Alice (who she assumes is dead).

Through a chance encounter when she is young, her life becomes intertwined with that of Caleb, who is of a different station than she is, and they meet again later in life, striking up an undefined friendship. But they are still worlds apart.

However, events shortly occur that upend both of their lives. Bodies are being stolen from the cemetery and Tabby soon finds out that there is much more than your normal, everyday grave robbing occurring. The reality is much darker and nefarious than she can imagine.

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I found Tabby’s story to be intriguing and realistic. I really liked the setting of 1844 Boston; it was a look at a pre-Civil War city, where the rich had frivolous interests and the poor stuck to the shadows.

The story was strongest at the beginning while Tabby was in Boston and it seemed a little muddled when Caleb and Tabby’s storylines diverged from each other. But it became apparent as to why that plot point was necessary. That being said, time was very fluid, and some of the sequential events didn’t seem to match up.

I thought the author did a great job detailing customs of the time, especially those centering around the dead and dying. “Watchers” and “layers” were essential. And I thought the concept of the resurrectionists was especially fascinating.

I also liked the connections that Tabby had with the various characters. I don’t want to give anything away but there were subtle similarities in the actions of a few of them that were nicely done.

I hesitate to call it gothic fiction (although several do) because I just can’t reconcile “gothic” and “pre-Civil War” in my mind. Regardless, I would definitely recommend this book, especially heading into a spooky season.

And I will certainly be looking for more books by this author.

Author Website: http://hesterfox.com/
TWITTER: @HesterBFox
Insta: @trotfoxwrite
Goodreads: Hester_Fox

Hester Fox is a full-time writer and mother, with a background in museum work and historical archaeology. Most weekends you can find Hester exploring one of the many historic cemeteries in the area, browsing bookshops, or enjoying a seasonal latte while writing at a café. She lives outside of Boston with her husband and their son.

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Chance of a Lifetime by Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets – Blog Tour (Review)

I have been on such a lucky run of books lately, with several unique plot twists or storylines making for very interesting reading.

This one takes the cake, putting a spin on a time-traveling romance in a way that makes it intriguing and thoroughly plausible (especially if you have particular beliefs – more on that later).

I will admit straight off, I am not generally a fan of regency romances, they just aren’t my thing, (which kind of doesn’t make sense, because I like historical romance) so at first, I was leery of this one. I worried that there would be too much set in that part of the story and it wouldn’t be interesting.

I was totally wrong. And I may have even found a new genre to explore, or at least give another chance.

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I liked the simplicity of the set-up of the initial meeting between Liam and Cora (told via Liam’s memories). It seemed as if relationships and connections were much more clear cut.

That’s important, because things get complicated quickly.

You see, Liam has a task based on his previous life actions. He needs to help Cora fall in love with the right person – because apparently he screwed up so badly in their original lives that each of her successive lives has ended in tragedy.

Can he ignore his love for her and complete his task? Can love be forced? Or are soulmates meant to be together regardless of the potential consequences?  

If you look at those questions, you may think that this has a lot of new age/past lives stuff in it, but aside from the premise, the authors deal with the concepts in a straightforward manner that made for easy and intriguing reading.

I really enjoyed Liam the most, because he was the one with the task. I thought it was funny that the angels gave him just enough knowledge to get by in the modern world, which made some of his revelations highly amusing.  He was also the only one who knew what was stake which added depth to his actions. However, I liked Cora’s slow realization as well.

For me, it was a great illustration that there are many things we don’t know – past lives is just one of them. I happen to believe that our energies continue when our bodies are gone, which is why we have feelings of déjà vu, or feeling totally comfortable with someone you’re just met. Cora puzzles over these very things.

I’m not going to give you the ending, because that wouldn’t be fair. But trust me when I say that you really should read this one for its unique perspective on undying love. I’m hoping it won’t be the only book like this from these authors.

Author Website: https://judedeveraux.com/
TWITTER: @JudeDeveraux1
FB: @JudeDeveraux
Insta: @Judedeveraux

Jude Deveraux is the author of forty-three New York Times bestsellers, including For All Time, Moonlight in the Morning, and A Knight in Shining Armor. She was honored with a Romantic Times Pioneer Award in 2013 for her distinguished career. To date, there are more than sixty million copies of her books in print worldwide.

Author Website: https://tarasheets.com/
FB: @TaraSheetsBooks
Insta: @tarasheets

Tara Sheets is an award-winning author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Her debut novel, Don’t Call Me Cupcake, won the 2016 Golden Heart® award sponsored by Romance Writers of America. Tara began her career as an author in the Pacific Northwest, inspired by the rain and the misty mountains and the rivers of Starbucks coffee. She now lives in the warm, wonderful South where she can stand outside with no coat on, and she finds that pretty inspiring too. When not writing, Tara enjoys life with her book-loving family and a book-eating dog named Merlin. You can find out more about her on the web at www.tarasheets.com, on facebook/tarasheetsauthor, and on twitter @Tara_Sheets.

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First Girl Gone by L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain – Books on Tour (Review)

This new crime thriller series is not your normal run-of-the-mill for one simple reason: its main character has a shall we call it…unique sidekick who also acts as her conscience.

Charlie always swore she would not return to Salem Island after her twin sister disappeared, tearing her family apart. But her uncle, a private investigator, is battling cancer, and Charlie is back to help out.

The story jumps off to a very quick start when Kara Dawkins goes missing. Charlie takes the case, but the investigation is off to a fairly slow start, with very few clues. Until another girl goes missing.

As Charlie tries to draw parallels and make connections, events happen that bring her past to the forefront, making the investigation even more challenging.

I’m not going to tell you anymore because that would be giving away the plot (which I don’t like to do). Suffice to say that it is well-plotted, well-written, drew me in, and kept my attention. That’s no easy feat these days.

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Now, let’s talk characters.  

I really liked Charlie. She was human, with fears and foibles. Being back in her hometown, she meets up with a lot of ex-classmates, including Will who was an unrequited high school crush…or was he?

I also liked the interactions that Charlie had with pretty much everyone. As a private detective, she doesn’t have quite the authority of the police, which allowed her to be a little bit more relaxed in her investigation. I enjoyed that about her.

As for her Jiminy Cricket – her sister Allie is the one who keeps a running commentary in Charlie’s head. It was a super twist to a sidekick, and it allowed Charlie to have random thoughts and argue with herself (which we’ve all done).

She’s also the yin to Charlie’s yang, providing balance, levity, and a dose of tough love when Charlie needs to hear it the most. I loved their “conversations” and Allie’s monologues. They were a welcome aspect that gave a special twist to the story.

Just one more thing, though, and it’s totally nitpicky. A key character has the name Leroy Gibbs. Now, I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m a huge “NCIS” fan. And, of course, the main character is Leroy Jethro Gibbs (better known as just “Gibbs.”)

Every time the character in the book was mentioned, I thought of the TV character – and they couldn’t have been more different. It was an unfortunate distraction. But as I said, that was for me. If you don’t watch the show, it won’t bother you one bit.

I truly enjoyed this book, and I hope there are more Charlotte Winters investigations to come.   

Author Bio:
L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain are the authors of the Violet Darger series and The Scattered and the Dead series among others, which have collectively tallied over a million downloads. Their book, Dead End Girl, peaked at #3 in the US Kindle charts and has remained in the top 10 in multiple sub-categories since it was published in 2017.  

Website: https://ltvargus.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ltvargusbooks/  
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ltvargus  
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Flowers for the Dead by Barbara Copperthwaite – Books On Tour (Review)

Hands down, this is one of the most lushly described, detailed, creepy, and hauntingly beautiful serial killer stories I have ever read.

And those are words I never thought I would put together into a sentence.

Honestly, though, I can’t remember a time that an author paid so much attention to the criminal, and the story is so much better for that attention. It elevates this book beyond a normal serial killer/crime procedural.  

The author even manages to make the reader (well, at least this one!) sympathetic to the killer. That’s a tough road to go down, because it could make a person turn against the plot and dislike the book.

Not the case here.

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Adam obviously has some deep seated issues, but tracing his journey from sweet boy on his grandmother’s knee reading fairy tales to psychopathic killer who (for all intents and purposes) stalks his victims is fascinating.

In fact, I found myself more intrigued with Adam’s story than that of his main target, Laura’s. Not to say that she wasn’t interesting in her own right. The character study of her grief is the perfect backdrop for not being totally aware of the impending events.

I particularly liked how the author used flowers and their “language” (i.e. Wood sorrel: Maternal tenderness) as each chapter heading. It was a unique indication of a focus or point of importance of the chapter.

I highly recommend this book. But be warned: it is not one that you can just rush through. This one takes its time setting the stage and slowly entwining the characters (not unlike ivy or some other flowering vine). That’s not to say that it’s boring because it’s nowhere near that. But the action does accelerate to a thrilling finish.

The only other warning I can give is that you might find yourself wondering what’s wrong with you that you are feeling for (and maybe even rooting for) Adam’s misguided vision of love and protection. But don’t worry, you won’t be alone in that feeling.

Facebook: AuthorBarbaraCopperthwaite
Twitter: @BCopperthwait
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Website: www.barbaracopperthwaite.com

Author Bio:
Barbara is the Amazon and USA Today bestselling author of psychological thrillers INVISIBLE, FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD, THE DARKEST LIES, and HER LAST SECRET.

More importantly, she loves cakes, wildlife photography and, last but definitely not least, her two dogs, Scamp and Buddy (who force her to throw tennis balls for them for hours).

Having spent over twenty years as a national newspaper and magazine journalist, Barbara has interviewed the real victims of crime – and also those who have carried those crimes out. She is fascinated by creating realistic, complex characters, and taking them apart before the readers’ eyes in order to discover just how much it takes to push a person over a line.

When not writing feverishly, she is often found hiding behind a camera, taking wildlife photographs. 

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