#Bookouture Archives

October 5, 2018October 5, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: Tell Nobody

I usually hate coming into the series in the middle, especially if it’s a serial story where continuity is important. It’s hit or miss; sometimes an author makes a passing reference that is intriguing and makes me want to read the previous books, and sometimes an author refers to previous events so much that I don’t feel a need to read any of the others. This book, the 5th in the Lottie Parker series, fits in the former category. A really cracking crime story, set in Ireland, it weaves several perspectives into one narrative. A perfect break from rom-coms and psych thrillers. If you like crime novels, I’d start with the first one of the series, only because you’ll get better continuity of characters. Below is my Goodreads review:

Tell Nobody by Patricia Gibney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Even though this was the 5th in the Detective Lottie Parker series, it was the first one I have read. Aside from a few references to previous events, it did not matter much that I was new to the series. This was a well-crafted crime thriller, with many threads weaving into one narrative. I loved the setting, and thought the author did a great job with detail. Told from different perspectives depending on the action, the narrative never got lost or jumbled. In fact, the differing voices gave credibility to the story, making it well-rounded. I found the law enforcement perspective especially interesting, because it was so similar to an American point of view; LE is universal! The author did a great job of dropping hints and revealing clues in a timely manner, so that there was always something driving the plot forward. I did feel like the first half was a little slower, as everything was being set up; but once I got halfway through, the pace really took off as more pieces started falling into place. I will definitely be going back for the first four books in the series, and will be looking for the next one! A solid 4.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

June 18, 2018September 7, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “The Perfect Friend”

This book was very interesting. At the beginning, I found it to be confusing and felt that the author was trying to do too much within the story. However, as I read further I realized that she was actually creating an amazingly deep and complex story that had many twists and turns: some were revealed openly and some took much longer to unravel. There was one point where I realized that I was completely mistaken in my understanding of parts of what I had read so far, which was a neat twist in itself. After that, I found myself reading much more carefully and questioning everything that was happening. In addition, the deeper exploration of how sometimes souls can recognize each other without conscious acknowledgment is skillfully illustrated by the experiences of both Carrie and Alex and their growing friendship. “The Perfect Friend” is one of the best psychological thrillers I have ever read. This was my first Barbara Copperthwaite novel and I can’t wait to read more!