Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Simon Lelic's "The New Neighbors"


What if your perfect home turned out to be the scene of the perfect crime?

Londoners Jack and Syd moved into the house a year ago. It seemed like their dream home: tons of space, the perfect location, and a friendly owner who wanted a young couple to have it.

So when they made a grisly discovery in the attic, Jack and Syd chose to ignore it. That was a mistake.

Because someone has just been murdered. Right outside their back door. ~taken from Goodreads

Jack and Syd think they've hit the jackpot when they buy their first home together. From the first few days they move in, weird things start happening...

This story is told from alternating perspectives in the form of journal entries from each couple. It was a unique writing style I didn't quite like at the beginning, but it seemed to grow non me and worked out for the best by the end of the book. 

The characters are unique and intriguing and kept me engaged. There are plenty of plot twists to keep me wanting to read more. While this wasn't the most compelling and riveting psychological thriller I have read, I did enjoy it and it did keep me guessing. 

The ending was a bit rushed, and I had a hard time following as all the questions i had throughout reading unraveled so quickly. The weird happenings throughout the story were explained, but it was a bit too neatly wrapped up. 

This book is due to be released here in the U.S. in April 2018. If you are looking for a quick read, you can pre-order now! I give this book a 3.5 star rating! 

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group to allow me the eARC to read and give my honest review.

Happy Reading!

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

"The Broken Girls" by Simone St James


Vermont, 1950. There's a place for the girls whom no one wants--the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too smart for their own good. It's called Idlewild Hall. And in the small town where it's located, there are rumors that the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their budding friendship blossoming--until one of them mysteriously disappears. . . . 

Vermont, 2014. As much as she's tried, journalist Fiona Sheridan cannot stop revisiting the events surrounding her older sister's death. Twenty years ago, her body was found lying in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And though her sister's boyfriend was tried and convicted of murder, Fiona can't shake the suspicion that something was never right about the case.

When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during the renovations will link the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past--and a voice that won't be silenced. ~taken from Goodreads

"Mary Hand, Mary Hand, dead and buried under land.... Faster, faster. Don't let her catch you. She'll say she wants to be your friend...." 

Author Simone St. James does a brilliant and seamless job at blending a mystery/thriller with a bit of paranormal/ghost story! That aspect alone kept my read chilling, mysterious, and hard to put down. 

This book alternates time periods and main characters to tell the stories and myths surrounding the all girls boarding school of Idlewild Hall. Fiona is a journalist who's sister was murdered and placed in the old field on Idlewild's grounds. She learns that a rich benefactor has bought it to restore the school, she can't help but wonder who and why.

We also follow a group of girls who are roommates and attend the school in the 1950's. They are all girls who, in some way, have been discarded by both their families and the world. One goes missing on weekend, and the course of the remaining girls' lives change forever. 

There is also a myth that a ghost named Mary wanders the grounds in a black dress and veil and has been around since the school was built. She has a supernatural way to get into people's minds to whisper exactly what people fear most about their lives. 

Are all these stories connected? Who killed Fiona's sister? What happened to the missing roommate? Is Mary real or just a myth?

The one thing I can say about this book is READ IT!!!
It was my first read by the author, but I have already added his other books to my TBR pile! 

The Broken Girls is due to be released here in the USA on March 20, 2018. Preorder it now because the second it is released you will want to stay up all night to finish it! 

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me an egalley to read and give my honest review. 

Happy Reading! 

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