"Family Feud: by Daniel Kowalski

 

A husband relieved when his kidnapped wife shows up unharmed soon learns she has a dark past that threatens their entire family. ‘Family Feud’ is a fast-paced mystery/thriller that begins when missing supermom Kelly McCarthy is dumped on a rural stretch of highway by the people who kidnapped and held her hostage for two weeks without any demands. Her ex-military turned security expert husband Joe, young-son Tommy, and abrasive mother-in-law Faye are all relieved to have her back relatively unharmed. But as everyone tries to readjust to life again, Joe begins to worry that Kelly is not being entirely truthful about her ordeal and the people that abducted her. He moves the family to his cousin’s rural estate so that his wife can recover in anonymity, but it’s not as safe as he expected. Strange things start to happen and it becomes clear to Joe that Kelly is not out of the woods yet with her kidnappers and now the entire family is in danger. The only way out of this will be an inevitable confrontation that not everyone will walk away from in this exciting mystery/thriller novel. ~taken from Goodreads

This was my first novel from author, Daniel Kowalski, and I have to say I really liked it! I read the premise and it sounded unique and interesting. It had been awhile since I read an action thriller and I was really in the mood for something good. I crossed my fingers and dug in. 

I immediately got hooked on the plot. It was an immediately interesting and suspenseful storyline. From the start we know Kelly is lying about who actually kidnapped her but we don't know why. She starts withdrawing from her family at a time when they uproot their lives to keep her safe. Her husband, Joe, is doing everything in his power to protect her and the rest of the family.

I have to be honest and say that at first I thought this book would be filled with more action scenes and technology descriptions than my brain could handle. There were some instances where there was a bit too much detail in security cameras and the technological setup for safeguarding the family than I could comprehend. But it eased up and the character development started to blossom.

As the story unfolded the characters grew and we got to know more about how they thought and felt. By a quarter of the way in I felt like I was invested in the journey and really looked forward to reading everyday. There wasn't a dull moment in the plot. It was actioned filled from start to finish.

The ending was a strong finish and had such a twist. It was a highly entertaining and fun read. 

Special thanks to author Daniel Kowalski for the advanced eARC to read and give my honest review. 

"Family Feud" is set to be released April 16, 2024 here in the U.S. so preorder now! It was a 4 star read! 

Happy Reading! 

"The Hungry Dark" by Jen Williams

 

As a child, Ashley Whitelam could often see odd things nobody else could: quiet, watchful figures she called the Heedful Ones kept a strange vigil wherever she went. As an adult, she keeps these visions to herself, but she’s turned her taste of the beyond into a career as a “psychic”­ – parting people from their money with a combination of psychology and internet research. When the Lake District is gripped by a series of grisly child murders, Ashley offers her services to the police for the free publicity. But as Ashley leads the police on a fruitless search around the small town of Green Beck, she catches a glimpse of those old ghosts of her childhood and, following them into the woods, she finds something she never expected: the corpse of the latest missing child.

The press fly into a frenzy and the police grow suspicious: either Ashley’s psychic abilities are real, or she is guilty of murder. Hounded by interviews and interrogations, Ashley teams up with Freddie Miller, a podcaster covering the crimes. As they investigate, Ashley realises that there’s no way to distance herself from these murders: whoever or whatever it is that’s haunting the Lakes is haunting her, too.

Master of unsettling suspense Jen Williams is back with another chilling, dark read that will draw readers into a gruesome and atmospheric nightmare. ~taken from Goodreads

Another Jen Williams novel for me. It's not my first, and the plot premises always are so unique that I am excited to give them a read! A Dark And Secret Place and Games For Dead Girls are two previous books that I've read by the author, and both I gave around 3 stars. I hate to say that this one was no different. 

There were interesting concepts of this book, but for some reason nothing meshed well together. This was a very slow moving story as well. For a thriller, I need to be wowed here and there, and this just didn't do that. I found myself skimming paragraphs quite regularly through this entire book.

This did have a creepy, eerie vibe, which was enjoyable. The best parts of the story are the glimpses into Ashley's past. 

I am sure there are those who will enjoy this book much more, but this was not for me. 

2.5 stars is what I give this. 

The Hungry Dark is out today, April 9, 2024 here in the U.S. so get your copy today. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me an advanced digital copy to read and give my honest review. 

Happy Reading! 

 

"Murder Road" by Simone St. James

July 1995. April and Eddie have taken a wrong turn. They’re looking for the small resort town where they plan to spend their honeymoon. When they spot what appears to be a lone hitchhiker along the deserted road, they stop to help. But not long after the hitchhiker gets into their car, they see the blood seeping from her jacket and a truck barreling down Atticus Line after them.

When the hitchhiker dies at the local hospital, April and Eddie find themselves in the crosshairs of the Coldlake Falls police. Unexplained murders have been happening along Atticus Line for years and the cops finally have two witnesses who easily become their only suspects. As April and Eddie start to dig into the history of the town and that horrible stretch of road to clear their names, they soon learn that there is something supernatural at work, something that could not only tear the town and its dark secrets apart, but take April and Eddie down with it all. ~taken from Goodreads

Simone St. James has done it again! I love the supernatural thrillers this author puts out. Time and time again I am entertained by every turn of the page. Every time I start a St. James book I wonder how spooky of a mystery I will get myself into.

This one was just as unique as the others I have read and reviewed. It took me back to the mid 90s before cell phones and handheld internet devices. Before widespread GPS tracking. Back when hitchhikers could go missing without a trace. 

The main characters, Eddie and April, are young and optimistic, but each have secrets and demons in their past. Ones they don't really want to share with each other. They are newlyweds on their way to their honeymoon when they take a wrong turn and become entangled in what seems to be decades long serial killings of hitchhikers in the area. They find themselves suspects of the latest murder. 

Determined to figure out how exactly they became involved, whether it was fate or something supernatural, it becomes clear to them that this town holds secrets too. Why are the police so determined to pin this horrific crime on them? What facts about the past murders are they not sharing? Who is the identity of the very first murdered hitchhiker on Atticus Line?

This was such a good book! It was a slow burn, but at a good, steady moving pace, if that makes sense. I loved the character development. I loved the supernatural elements. The whole thing was a 5 star read. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing my an advanced e-copy to read and give my honest review. 

Murder Road is set to be released on March 5, 2024 here in the U.S. so pre-order now. You do not want to miss this one! 

Happy Reading! 

"Bye, Baby" by Carola Lovering

 

Every friendship has its shadow...

On a brisk fall night in a New York apartment, 35-year-old Billie West hears terrified screams. It's her lifelong best friend Cassie Barnwell, one floor above, and she's just realized her infant daughter has gone missing. Billie is shaken as she looks down into her own arms to see the baby, remembering―with a jolt of fear―that she is responsible for the kidnapping that has instantly shattered Cassie’s world.

Once fiercely bonded by their secrets, Cassie and Billie have drifted apart in adulthood, no longer the inseparable pair they used to be in their small Hudson Valley hometown. Cassie is married to a wealthy man, has recently become a mother, and is building a following as a lifestyle influencer. She is desperate to leave her past behind―including Billie, who is single and childless, and no longer fits into her world. But Billie knows the worst thing Cassie has ever done, and she will do whatever it takes to restore their friendship… ~taken from Amazon




Carola Lovering's latest novel is a lot of things, but a suspense, mystery, or thriller is not one of them. I have read two other books from this author, Too Good To Be True and Can't Look Away and enjoyed them both. This book was no different, it was a very satisfying read, though I just wanted it to be clear that if you are looking for a mystery/thriller/suspense, like this book is presented as, then you might look elsewhere.

There are trigger warnings that should come with this book including sexual abuse, severe end stage Alzheimer's, and toxic relationships. 

This is told in alternating perspectives and we are also given glimpses into Billie and Cassie's past relationship. It was interesting to see the stark difference of how Cassie and Billie barely speak to one another in modern day compared to how they once were each other's everything. 

There are parts of this story that are VERY unbelievable. Instances that honestly barely worked but had to or the plot wouldn't move along like it was supposed to. There are many characters introduced and I can honestly say that I didn't actually like a single one, including the main characters. Despite not liking the characters I really did like the book. My disdain for the characters is what kept me reading. 

The plot was a bit slow at first and I was wondering, at times, where it planned to go. There seemed to be so many side stories to fill the pages. Too many topics to cover- sexual abuse, Alzheimer's, friendships, social media influencers, motherhood, and more. The little side topics were an annoying distraction from the big, main incident. 

The ending I did enjoy and it was satisfying. 

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me an advanced e-copy to read and give my honest review. 

Bye, Baby is set to be released on March 5, 2024 in the U.S. so pre-order now! It was a 4 star read for me! 

Happy Reading! 

"The 13th Girl" by N.V. Peacock

 

After decades in a mental health hospital, Dee knows that people find her creepy – because they tell her so. Once the reluctant star of an infamous documentary, she is trying to blend back into the outside world. But when a string of local girls disappear, only to be found dead days later, she becomes fixated on the case and decides to film her own True Crime documentary.

There is a serial killer on the loose - The Righteous Wraith. Girls are being found one by one, their bodies gruesomely staged in the most innocent public spaces. With the killer taunting the police and public fear mounting, the armchair detectives begin pointing fingers at one suspect. But for Dee, something isn’t adding up.

She knows what it’s like to be accused of something that you didn’t do.

She resolves to prove his innocence, unmask the real killer, and save The 13th Girl.

But who will believe her? ~taken from Goodreads

I really enjoyed the previous NV Peacock novel, so I was looking forward to reading this latest by the author. The premise sounded promising- thrilling with a twist of supernatural and horror. 

I have such mixed feelings about this entire book though. Overall it was an interestingly fun read. Nothing about it was boring and I had a good time trying to figure out who the killer was. It was a fast read and I like Peacock's writing style. 

The down side was, I feel this should have been labeled more of a young-adult book. Every character, though they were adults, seemed highly immature. The way they behaved was so hilariously unbelievable. Also, the entire aspect of Dee having once been possessed could have been left out of the story- there could have been another way to go about the mental health aspect other than a demonic possession. For some reason that bothered me. 

There were characters that were introduced in the story that I felt could have been omitted completely. They added a bit of mystery, but in the end the explanation of their involvement was annoying, confusing and nonsensical. 

I felt the ending was wrapped up too quickly and without any real planning or thoughtfulness. It seemed messy and I would have liked more explanations and closure to some of the characters. 

All in all this was a 3 star read for me. Thanks to Netgalley and Hera for allowing me an advanced e-copy. 

"The 13th Girl"  is available today in the U.S. so get your copy now!

Happy Reading! 

Carla Kovach's "On A Quiet Street

 

Every family has its secrets. Some are more deadly than others…I live on a quiet tree-lined street with my perfect husband Cain. But when 18-year-old Charlotte knocks on the front door, what she says has me questioning just how well I really know my husband. ‘I was adopted as a baby and I’m looking for my biological parents. I was told they live here.' 

My heart races as I fear Cain has been keeping a huge secret from me. Does he have a child he never told me about? And has he been lying all these years? I can’t trust anything Cain says. Desperate for answers, I agree to meet Charlotte in secret. But it’s Charlotte who is full of about our lives, our relationship. It’s only when she lets slip the name of the road I used to live on, that I realise how much she knows about me, too…Cold fear floods through my body. My husband may not have told the truth, but his lies are nothing compared to mine. If Charlotte knows my darkest secret, my whole life could fall apart. ~taken from Goodreads

"On A Quiet Street" is a standalone novel by Carla Kovach, the author most known for her Detective Gina Harte series. I love the Harte series and have read and reviewed several of them over the years here on the blog. 

Kovach's writing style is always seamless. It's descriptive enough that the story just flows, but not so detailed it becomes boring. The characters are always so well developed. The plot of all her books are well thought out, with twists and turns in all the right spots. 

This novel was no different plus the storyline was so unique. I have to admit there wasn't a single character I liked in this book though. The plot is broken into parts and it also alternates between characters. I do like that I got to see the full story from different perspectives- certain blanks getting filled in as I read the same scene happen from another character's view. 

Despite the unlikable characters I really did like this book and do recommend it. The plot and ending is unpredictable, which is the most fun of any mystery. At no point in the story did I know what was going to happen next. 

"On A Quiet Street" is set to be released on January 15, 2024 here in the U.S. so pre-order it now! It was a solid 4 star read! Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the advanced e-copy to read and give my honest review. 

Happy Reading! 

"The Search Party" by Hannah Richell

 

A spellbinding locked-room mystery about a glamping trip gone horribly wrong when a powerful storm leaves the participants stranded and forced to confront long-held secrets and a shocking disappearance.

Max and Annie Kingsley have left the London rat race with their twelve-year-old son to set up a glamping site in the wilds of Cornwall. Eager for a dry run ahead of their opening, they invite three old university friends and their families for a long-needed reunion. But the festivities soon go awry as tensions arise between the children (and subsequently their parents), explosive secrets come to light, and a sudden storm moves in, cutting them off from help as one in the group disappears.

Moving between the police investigation, a hospital room, and the catastrophic weekend, The Search Party is a propulsive and twisty destination thriller about the tenuous bonds of friendship and the lengths parents will go to protect their children—perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley. ~taken from Goodreads

This was a fast paced thriller set from multiple points of views. Every chapter alternates between several different character points of views. To be honest, it was very confusing for the first half of the book. 

We have several families, each with several family members all gathered for a glamping experience in the the middle of nowhere but near the cliffs of an ocean. We are told right from the start that there was a body at the bottom of the cliffs but the entire book is figuring out who it is by starting at the beginning of the weekend as told by the characters. 

I have to say that there wasn't a single likeable character, but that didn't stop me from reading on. The fact that every single one was a horrible person and was capable or deserving of murder made the read that much more fun. 

It is not a story that kept me up wanting to read from start to finish in one sitting, but I did look forward to opening my Kindle and reading every night. The character development was terrific. The setting was spectacular. Very well written and easy to follow along once you get the characters sorted out. 

The ending was a surprise even though the death wasn't. That sentence will make sense one you've read the book. 

This was a highly enjoyable 4 star read for me. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for allowing me an ARC to read and give my honest review. 

"The Search Party" is set to be released here in the U.S. on January 16, 2024 so pre-order now! 

Happy Reading!