"Their Deadly Truth" by Carl Kovach

 

The silver car sits on a quiet suburban street, lit by the flicker of a nearby streetlamp. It hasn’t moved for days. Nobody noticed it arriving, and nobody knows what’s hidden inside…

When Lindy Pickering answers the door to police officers, she isn’t prepared for what they tell her. Her brother, Kain, was discovered dead that morning, locked inside a car owned by her late mother.

As the police begin to ask questions, Lindy admits that she and Kain hadn’t spoken in weeks, but she remains tight-lipped about the reason the siblings hated each other.

When neighbours begin to gossip, it seems that everyone had a reason for wanting Kain dead and Lindy realises that she can’t trust anyone around her. And as another body is found, killed in the same way as Kain, it’s clear that someone is keeping a close eye on the investigation, and they’re prepared to kill to keep their deadly secret hidden… ~taken from Goodreads

Detective Gina Harte is back with another novel! This can be read as book number 18 in the series but also works fine as a stand alone. 

I had to think about how to rate this book, as I was teetering on a star rating. This story was all over the place and to be honest it was overwhelming at times. There are so many characters and trying to remember who is who and how they fit in what almost too much. 

Add to the fact that I really did not like a single person in this story, including DI Harte. As of late, she seems to be just whiny and "woe is me" and frankly it has gotten old. 

 DCI Briggs, Harte's ex-lover who she is still in love with, is pulled off the case, as he is somehow involved, DI Harte doesn't know how and it's driving her mad not knowing. A new DCI is brought in to take Briggs' place and low and behold he is an old work friend of Gina's that may have been a bit more than a work buddy in the past. WINK WINK!

There are plenty of ways this book kept me engaged. There are interesting clues that left me wondering how and why they were related to the murders. The chapters written by "anonymous" gave an eerie aspect, and of course Gina Harte's love life brought the desired drama! 

Overall this kept me guessing and entertained. I rate it 4 stars! 

"Their Deadly Truth" is out today here in the U.S. and you can get it now! Don't forget to check out Carla Kovach's other books I've reviewed also! 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an advanced ecopy to read and review! 

Happy Reading! 

"The Hitchhikers" by Chevy Stevens

 

It’s the summer of 1976 and Alice and Tom set out on the remote Canadian highways in their new RV, hoping to heal their broken hearts after a devastating tragedy.

They’ve planned the trip perfectly, taken care of every detail. Then they meet two young hitchhikers down on their luck and offer them a ride. But Simon and Jenny aren’t what they seem. They’ve left a trail of blood, destruction, and madness behind them.

Now Alice and Tom are trapped, prisoners in a deadly game, with nowhere to turn. As the tension builds, the lines blur, and the question becomes, In whose heart does evil truly lie? What secrets are Jenny and Simon hiding? And who will live another day? ~taken from Goodreads

"Dark Roads" by this same author was a masterpiece! It's a book I wish I could re-read for the first time. I was so excited to read this latest book. 

I am not sure how to ease into it, so I am just going to rip the band aide off. This book was not it for me. So many things made this so awful to finish. Let me break it down. 

For starters, I feel like we were thrown into a story with no background. There was no getting to know the characters before we were forced into an RV and headed down the road. Every character was so one dimensional that I wasn't invested in a single one. 

I actually didn't even like any of the characters which made it hard for me to even continue reading. I didn't care what happened to any of them. Add on top of that, every chapter blended in to the previous, as they all involved driving down a highway with not-so-exciting happenings. 

It was so hard to like a story where the "good guys" repeatedly get beat up and the "bad guys" keep getting their way. There was no tug-of-war to make it interesting. 

This could have been a much shorter story. The backstory of the wanted couple was interesting, but not enough to carry the novel. The ending was predictable but there was a tense instance or two.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me an e-copy to read and give my honest review. It was a 3 star read. 

"The Hitchhikers" is available today (in the U.S.) wherever you get your books! 

Happy Reading! 

"My Husband's Wife" by Carla Kovach

Five years ago I buried my husband. Today I saw him with his new wife.

‘Thank you for agreeing to be our wedding planner. Theo is on his way,’ Madison says as we meet to plan her dream wedding. The moment her fiancé enters the room, a newborn baby in his arms, my whole world shifts and I grab hold of my desk to stop myself from falling.

Theo shakes my hand as he introduces himself, but I already know who he is. He’s my husband. The man I thought had died five years ago.

‘Lovely to meet you, Eva,’ he says, carefully avoiding my frozen stare. I’d recognise his smooth voice anywhere.

I want to scream, ask him why he’s doing this to me. But I know just how good a liar my husband is. And he knows my darkest secret. I can’t risk him destroying everything I’ve worked so hard for.

At the end of the meeting, I watch the happy little family walk away, and I don’t miss Theo’s eyes staring at me just a second too long. He knows I’m onto him. But only I know what I’m going to do next… ~taken from Goodreads

I am always up for a new read from Carla Kovach. Just pop her name in the search on my blog and you can see I have read and reviewed several of her books. She has an easy going way of writing that immerses you in the happenings and keeps every chapter as interesting as the last. 

This was a very unique plot and I have to just say, highly unrealistic, but it was a wild read! If you think you have it figured out, believe me you don't. 

This is broken up into three separate points of view- the first from Eva, who tragically lost her husband a few years ago. The second from Madison, who's soon-to-be husband looks almost exactly like Eva's ex-husband. The third point of view is from Nicole, a new friend of Eva's who has a link to Eva's new husband. How does she fit into all of this?

  Yes, the characters in this book got annoying at times. There wasn't a single relatable one. The weird twists and crazy turns that showed up in the last quarter of the book were unexpected. This was just a highly entertaining read. I really liked it! 

I, of course, won't give away the ending, though I am not sure I could summarize it if I tried. The sheer drama of the wrap up will leave you shocked. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an advanced digital copy to read and give my honest review. It was a 4 star read! 

"My Husband's Wife" is available now in the U.S. so get your copy now! 

Happy Reading! 

  

 

"The Wrong Daughter" by Dandy Smith

 

In a shockingly twisty, addictively dark, engrossingly intense psychological suspense for readers of Freida McFadden, Adele Parks, and B.A. Paris, a woman’s world is shattered when her sister returns 16 years after she was abducted from their childhood bedroom.

“Do you have a sister, Ms. Fairview?” The little girl’s question, in all its buttery innocence, slices through me, and the answer catches in my throat. It isn’t as simple as yes or no. It hasn’t been, in nearly sixteen years.

The evening Caitlin and Olivia's parents leave them to go to a dinner party, both girls are bubbling with excitement. At ages 10 and 13, they are at last old enough to stay home alone. After all, in their idyllic town no one even bothers to lock their doors.

As the summer light fades, after TV and popcorn, the sisters finally put themselves to bed. They’re unaware of the figure watching them through an open window. Or of the back door opening once they’ve fallen asleep.

When their parents return, they will find Olivia's bed empty. Their golden-haired, long-limbed, eldest daughter gone. Never to return. Until now.

But is the woman who claims to be Olivia all she seems? Is everything Caitlin said she saw that night the whole truth? Their family have dreamed of this moment, but both sisters are keeping more than one secret. What price will they all pay if they end up believing the wrong daughter? ~taken from Goodreads

Well, that was something. This book started off so good. The story was interesting and I was engaged. The first couple chapters really hooked me, as the plot rolls along in a steady pace with lows and highs happening left and right. I was completely captivated. 

The author did a great job building tension. The characters are relatable but complex and seem to all have an ulterior motive. I was questioning the moves of everyone. 

The dual storylines is wild. We have one story of Caitlin dealing with the return of her sister, Olivia. It is a pretty realistic situation that's grounded in reality. Then we have the storyline of Elinor and Heath, the siblings who live in a mansion and have a Flowers In The Attic type life- creepy, gothic and not realistic at all. The contrast between the two kept me constantly confused. 

Eventually it all becomes clear and no shocker, it was a completely obvious and predicable ending. I finished this book out of sheer curiosity on how this crazy train would end and it ended exactly how I expected. There were good parts and it was entertaining here and there. It was not a complete waste of time. 

 

This book should come with a trigger warning of incest. Not everyone is keen on reading about such things. This was a slow burn with suspenseful moments. I give it 3 stars. 

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

"The Wrong Daughter" is set to be released here in the U.S. on August 26, 2025 so pre-order your copy now! 

Happy Reading! 

"One Dark Night" by Hannah Richell

 

On Halloween, a group of teenage students meet in the woods near Sally in the Wood, a road steeped in local lore and rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a murdered girl. By the end of the night, one student will be dead.

Rachel, the school guidance counselor, is trying to keep a handle on her increasingly distant teenaged daughter, Ellie, while students and parents panic and mourn. Her ex-husband and detective Ben, dealing with a personal crisis of his own, has concerns about his daughter’s safety as he investigates the death of one of her classmates. Meanwhile, Ellie is keeping secrets from both her parents, including one about where she was that night.

Told from multiple perspectives and with Hannah Richell’s distinct “atmospheric and ever-twisting” (Emylia Hall, author of the Shell House Detective Mysteries) prose, One Dark Night is a white-knuckled and suspenseful thriller about urban legends, privilege, and how the past continues to haunt us. ~taken from Goodreads

This was my second novel from author, Hannah Richell. I really loved  "The Search Party" and was so excited to read this latest novel. I have to admit up front, this one went by VERY slow. 

It wasn't until half way through the plot that the story even got remotely interesting. I really had to convince myself to pick up this book daily, as the characters weren't that interesting and the plot moved at a snail's pace. 

I completely missed the alternating character points of views until almost 2/3 of the way through. I am not sure what that says about the writing. 

The ghost story aspect had so much potential, but in all honesty it could have been taken out of the story completely and not made a bit of difference in the overall plot. It was like it was a great set up but then an afterthought.  

The story itself had some good twists and turns, and because it had so many characters there were some good side stories that caused confusion and overall surprise in the ending. 

I think this should be listed more as a young adult mystery. Had I known going in there would be so much teen drama I would have gone in with a different mindset. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for allowing me a digital copy to read and give my honest review. It was a 3 star read! 

"One Dark Night" is available now in the U.S. so get your copy now! 

Happy Reading!

"The Wrong Sister" by Claire Douglas

 

You’ve known her all your life. Or have you?

Tasha and her older sister Alice may look alike, but they couldn’t be more different. Tasha’s married with two children and still lives in their hometown near Bristol. Alice is a high-flying scientist who travels the world with her equally successful husband.

Yet each sister would trust the other with her life.

When Tasha and her husband Aaron need a break and Alice offers to stay in their home with the kids, Tasha knows her family is in safe hands.

She couldn’t be more wrong.

The call from home is devastating. Alice and her husband Kyle have been attacked, leaving Alice in intensive care and Kyle dead. Rushing to the hospital, Tasha finds the police trying to piece events together. She can’t think why anyone would attack her sister.

Then the note arrives, addressed to Tasha:

It was supposed to be you . . .

Every family has secrets. Some more deadly than others. ~taken from Goodreads

This was my first venture into author Claire Douglas' books and I have to say it was a very slow burn. The premise was so unsettling and suspenseful. I couldn't wait to dive in to this crazy-sounding story. 

It started out so promising. The characters were interesting. The scenes were described perfectly. The pace was quick and kept me interested. The story alternates from the perspectives of several different characters, giving a broad and unique perspective of all sides of the story as it moves along. 

Then it comes to a grinding halt. It moves at a snails pace. The characters become irritating and start acting child-like. The story takes weird turns and I wondered where this was headed and why I was even still reading because I was bored out of my mind. 

It is very clear that everyone is keeping secrets, but I honestly did not care because there wasn't a single character that I liked. The biggest secret I seem to have figured out pretty early on. There were also characters added to the story that brought nothing to the plot and could have been left out completely, as they just muddied the already messy storyline. 

Overall, the read itself was easy and quick. I am not sure sure I would classify this as a thriller, but more of a mystery. It was a 3 star read for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for allowing me an E-copy to read and give my honest review.

"The Wrong Sister" is set to be released here in the U.S. on August 5, 2025 so pre-order your copy now! 

Happy Reading! 

"Don't Let Him In" by Lisa Jewell

 

He’s the perfect man. It’s a perfect lie.

Nina Swann is intrigued when she received a condolence card from Nick Radcliffe, an old friend of her late husband, who is looking to connect after her husband’s unexpected death. Nick is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling…

Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband, Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation, but Martha can’t share the feeling that something isn’t right.

Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in. But the past won’t stay buried forever. ~ taken from Goodreads

I'm going to need a few minutes to gather my thoughts and compose myself. This book left my blood boiling! Okay, let's start the review.

Once again, Lisa Jewell has written a book with a one-of-a-kind plot that hooks you from the get-go. You think you know that story that is about to unfold, but you really have no idea what you are about to get into. 

The way this is written is brilliant with the current, modern day narrative being written in third person and the past narrative being written in first person. It makes the timelines blend and flow, and also provides a way for the reader to distinguish between the two presences without too much thought, as there are quite a lot of characters to remember.

Speaking of characters, each was so well written. The emotional state of every single person was perfectly portrayed. Their ups and downs, the vulnerability, their meanness, their complete openness and trust, their fears and suspicions- all written out perfectly so the reader could get a full picture of each character's state of mind. 

Go into this read blind. Don't search too many reviews because there are some out there that will spoil this ending for you. The ending... how do I describe it? I was so angry, until I wasn't. Like other plot twists in this book, I thought I knew, but I didn't know. 

Thanks To Netgalley and Atria books for allowing me an advanced e-copy to read and give my honest review. It was a 4 star read! 

"Don't Let Him In" is available now wherever you buy or borrow books. It's a great way to start your summer!

Happy Reading!