"The Lake Of Lost Girls" by Katherine Greene

 

Using suspenseful podcast clips to weave a twisty tale of a missing student and her sister who is desperate for answers, The Lake of Lost Girls is perfect for fans of I Have Some Questions for You.

It's 1998, and female students are going missing at Southern State University in North Carolina. But freshman Jessica Fadley, once a bright and responsible student, is going through her own struggles. Just as her life seems to be careening dangerously out of control, she suddenly disappears.

Twenty-four years later, Jessica's sister Lindsey is desperately searching for answers and uses the momentum of a new chart-topping true crime podcast, Ten Seconds to Vanish, that focuses on the cold cases, to guide her own investigation. Soon, interest reaches fever pitch when the bodies of the long-missing women begin turning up at a local lake, which leads Lindsey down a disturbing road of discovery.

In the present, one sister seeks to untangle a complicated web of lies.
In the past, the other descends ever deeper into a darkness that will lead to her ultimate fate.

This propulsive and chilling suspense is a sharp examination of sisterhood and the culture of true crime. ~taken from Goodreads

Told in alternating timelines and dual points of views, The Lake of Lost Girls had so much potential. I think it started out lackluster from the get-go by being labeled a thriller because a thriller it is not. This is a murder mystery. A slow moving one. 

Remains are found near a lake, 24 years after Jessica went missing. Could it be her? Her family never got any answers and feel like the police botched the whole investigation. 

Her sister, Lindsey, starts learning about her sister's past thanks to a new Podcast that is shedding light on similar murders that happened in the same area around that time and also via a very weird and shady reporter who is poking around.

I figured out the suspect pretty early on in the book. It was very clear. The writing style of this story is very choppy. I couldn't get into the flow. The characters are all sad and angry; there wasn't a single person I liked.  

Despite the negatives, it was a fast read. Given the podcast aspect it is a modern-type mystery. 

The Lake Of Lost Girls is set to be released November 5, 2024 here in the U.S. so pre-order your copy now. Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me an advanced digital copy to read and give my honest review. It was a 3 star read. 

Happy Reading! 

"Absolution: A Southern Reach Novel" by Jeff VanderMeer

 

Ten years after the publication of Annihilation, the surprise fourth volume in Jeff VanderMeer’s blockbuster Southern Reach Trilogy.

When the Southern Reach Trilogy was first published a decade ago, it was an instant sensation, celebrated in a front-page New York Times story before publication, hailed by Stephen King and many others. Each volume climbed the bestsellers list; awards were won; the books made the rare transition from paperback original to hardcover; the movie adaptation became a cult classic. All told, the trilogy has sold more than a million copies and has secured its place in the pantheon of twenty-first-century literature.

And yet for all this, for Jeff VanderMeer there was never full closure to the story of Area X. There were a few mysteries that had gone unsolved, some key points of view never aired. There were stories left to tell. There remained questions about who had been complicit in creating the conditions for Area X to take hold; the story of the first mission into the Forgotten Coast—before Area X was called Area X—had never been fully told; and what if someone had foreseen the world after Acceptance? How crazy would they seem?

Structured in three parts, each recounting a new expedition, there are some long-awaited answers here, to be sure, but also more questions, and profound new surprises. Absolution is a brilliant, beautiful, and ever-terrifying plunge into unique and fertile literary territory. It is the final word on one of the most provocative and popular speculative fiction series of our time. ~taken from Goodreads

I'm not even sure where to start with this. It has been so long since I finished the third book, yet it seems like yesterday. The Southern Reach Trilogy (or what was previously a trilogy), were books that stuck with you. If you are a fan of the books, this is a must. There is no way to NOT read this. That being said, if you haven't read any of the previous books, this is not the book to start with. Pick up book number one and start there. 

This book is written into short novellas- three to be exact. These three parts are actually a prequel to when we were first introduced to Area X. 

Part One takes place 20 years prior to Area X's barrier. Part Two takes place 18 months before the barrier and Part Three takes place during the first expedition and 1 year after the barrier was erected and Area X was sealed off. 

At first I was bored with this book but then it picked up and everything became so unexpected in true VanderMeer fashion. If you think you know what to expect from this book because you read the previous ones, think again. Author, Jeff VanderMeer, is a brilliant mind and a master of words. 

We get points of views from characters that we didn't even know we needed. We are introduced to new characters that were there at the beginning and a look at the infamous first expedition. We get answers to previously unanswered questions, but we are left with so many more. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for allowing me an advanced copy to read and give my honest review. It was a 4 star read! 

Absolution is available now so pick up your copy now! 

Happy Reading! 

"One Last Prayer" by Carla Kovach

 

She races home, her young son clasped tightly to her chest, glancing over her shoulder at every face she passes. She reaches the safety of her home, closing the door behind her. Little does she know the danger that awaits her inside…

When local vicar, Sally, packs away the brightly coloured toys and dog-eared books left over from a morning parent and toddler group, her heart pounds as she discovers a note left

‘Help me.’

Sally knows the mother who sat in that spot. Rushing to Nell’s small house nearby, her feeling of dread grows. Her frantic knock goes unanswered. Inside, she hears Nell’s one-year-old son Alfie crying, but still Nell doesn’t come.

Running to the back of the house, Sally’s breath catches at the sight of Nell’s lifeless body laid out in the garden.

When police investigate the young mother’s tragic death, rumours start to spread. Some say Nell had enemies. Some say she wasn’t telling the truth about who she really was. And some say she was running from a dark past.

With reports of a mysterious figure seen watching Nell’s house, it’s clear whoever took her life is close by. And when a break-in at the church ends with a brutal attack on Sally, the vicar who found Nell’s body, it’s clear that this killer isn’t finished yet… ~taken from Goodreads

"One Last Prayer" is number 16 in the Gina Harte detective series. I started reading this series pretty well into it. These can be read together or as a stand alone. I had no problem jumping right in and getting to know the characters and their backgrounds half way through the series. 

All of Kovach's mysteries are well written with great character and plot development. This narrative has the perspective of several different points of views, giving the mystery a bit of a twist for the reader. There's also diary entries from an unknown character that adds to the thrill. 

There are several people who make for good suspects, so as more information is known, and the the plot thickens (LOL) the mystery deepens and the thrill builds. 

On the subject of several suspects, there were a lot of people to keep track of in this storyline. I was very confused and at times frustrated trying to figure out who was who from previous chapters. 

Then, of course, there is the continuing storyline of Detective Gina Harte. This book's involvement in Gina's personal life seemed a bit unexpected yet boring at the same time. 

All in all, this was another good read from Carla Kovach! One Last Prayer is out now here in the U.S. so pick up your copy at your favorite book retailer or local library! 

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

Happy Reading! 

"The Puzzle Box" by Danielle Trussoni

 

It is the Year of the Wood Dragon, and the ingenious Mike Brink has been invited to Tokyo, Japan, to open the legendary Dragon Box.

The box was constructed during one of Japan’s most tumultuous periods, when the samurai class was disbanded and the shogun lost power. In this moment of crisis, Emperor Meiji locked a priceless Imperial secret in the Dragon Box. Only two people knew how to open the box—Meiji and the box’s sadistic constructor—and both died without telling a soul what was inside or how to open it.

Every twelve years since then, in the Year of the Dragon, the Imperial family holds a clandestine contest to open the box. It is devilishly difficult, filled with tricks, booby traps, poisons, and mind-bending twists. Every puzzle master who has attempted to open it has died in the process.

But Brink is not just any puzzle master. He may be the only person alive who can crack it. His determination is matched only by that of two sisters, descendants of an illustrious samurai clan, who will stop at nothing to claim the treasure.

Brink’s quest launches him on a breakneck adventure across Japan, from the Imperial Palace in Tokyo to the pristine forests of Hakone to an ancient cave in Kyushu. In the process, he discovers the power of Meiji’s hidden treasure, and—more crucially—the true nature of his extraordinary talent. ~taken from Goodreads

This is book two featuring Mike Brink, puzzle master extraordinaire. Although it's book two, this could absolutely be read as a stand alone book. 

It's been a few years since the Jameson Sedge and Jess Price incident. Mike Brink is trying to get on with his life and just be as normal as he possibly can, given the genius that is his brain. 

Brink is invited to solve a very prestigious puzzle box by the Japanese Imperial Family. A puzzle which has killed every player prior. Everyone, including Brink himself, is sure that he is the one person who can solve this century old puzzle box. 

I had a really hard time getting into this book. I really liked The Puzzle Master and was looking forward to getting back into this series. I tried and tried, but the reading was slow from start to finish. 

I am not sure if it was the story itself, my little known knowledge of Japanese history, or a combination of both. I had the hardest time seeing the images in my head because I just had no idea the reality of what the scenery and architecture would look like. 

Then there was the story of the sisters and how they were connected both to the Japan narrative and somehow connected to Brink. It was just so confusing to try and get everything sorted out. 

Then there was the "ending". It was like suddenly the book was near the end and the author suddenly wrapped things up quickly and too perfectly. It was boring and predictable while being very unbelievable- as in there is no way it could happen. 

I wish I could give this a better review, but it was 3 stars for me. I do look forward to the next book in the series though! 

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me an eARC to read and give my honest review. 

"The Puzzle Box"   is set to be released here in the U.S. on October 8, 2024 so pre-order now. 

Happy Reading! 

"Red River Road" by Anna Downes

 

Katy Sweeney is looking for her sister. A year earlier, just three weeks into a solo vanlife trip, her free-spirited younger sister, Phoebe, vanished without a trace on the remote, achingly beautiful coastal highway in Western Australia. With no witnesses, no leads, and no DNAevidence, the case has gone cold. But Katy refuses to give up on her.

Using Phoebe’s social media accounts as a map, Katy retraces her sister’s steps, searching for any clues the police may have missed. Was Phoebe being followed? Who had she met along the way, and how dangerous were they?

And then Katy’s path collides with that of Beth, who is on the run from her own dark past. Katy realizes that Beth might be her best—and only—chance of finding the truth, and the two women form an uneasy alliance to find out what really happened to Phoebe in this wild, beautiful, and perilous place.

Anna Downes takes us on a twist-filled journey into the dark side of solo female travel, in this gripping novel that explores what drives us to keep searching for those we have lost, the family bonds that can make or break us, and the deception of memory. ~taken from Goodreads

This was my second novel from author, Anna Downes, my first being "The Safe Place" back in 2020. I was eager to dive into this book, as I enjoyed the previous one. 

I will be straightforward and say I had a really hard time with this book. It was really slow to get started and I couldn't connect with a single character. The fact that chapters switch back and forth between characters, but with no real way to know how their stories connect made it even more confusing. 

By the end of the book the story did start to become interesting, but by then I was so frustrated and bored that I just wanted it to end. The ending seemed unnecessarily drawn out and completely unsatisfying. 

This needs to come with a trigger warning about domestic violence, child neglect, and human trafficking. 

I think, perhaps, I am the minority with my opinion of this book, so please read some other reviews and pick up a copy to decide for yourself. 

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. 

"Red River Road" is set to be released August 27, 2024 here in the U.S. so preorder your copy now! 

Happy Reading! 

"Eye Of The Beholder" Emma Bamford

 

Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller Vertigo , the author of the “subtle and ominous” (Lee Child) debut Deep Water returns with a wholly original and sinister novel about the beauty industry, a ghostwriter, and the reappearance of the lover she thought was dead.

When Maddy Wight is hired to ghostwrite the memoir of world-renowned cosmetic surgeon Dr. Angela Reynolds, she thinks it might just be her chance to get her career back on track. She travels to Angela’s remote estate in the Scottish Highlands to hunker down and learn everything she can. But the deeper she digs, the more elusive the doctor becomes. Is there more hidden beneath the surface of the kaleidoscopic beauty industry than Angela wants to reveal?

Sharing the estate is Angela’s enigmatic business partner, Scott, whose mercurial moods change as quickly as the conditions on the darkening moors outside. Confined to the glass-walled house, Maddy can’t shake the feeling of being watched. As objects go missing, handprints appear on the windows, and a stranger lurks in the grounds, she finds herself drawn ever closer to Scott. Returning to London once the book is finished, Maddy is excited for their future together. But her dreams are shattered at the book launch when Angela learns that Scott has leapt to his death from the Scottish cliffs.

Which is why, months later and lost in a fog of grief, Maddy is completely blindsided when she sees Scott entering the Tube station just in front of her. It can’t be him, can it? After all, Scott is dead...or is he?

In exploring the differences between looking and seeing, surface and depth, and the power of the female gaze, this tribute to Hitchcock’s 1958 film masterpiece If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, how much can you trust what you see? ~taken from Goodreads

Author, Emma Bamford's, "Eye Of The Beholder" sounded like an intriguing thriller. It started out great- Maddy chasing her dead presumed dead boyfriend through the streets and a nightclub. I was hooked and excited to see where this went. 

Then we get to the "before". The story slows to a snail's pace and turns into more of a love story than a thriller. I had trouble figuring out what the mystery even was. It wasn't until the last half of the book that it was even becoming clear, and by then it was a total let-down. The story was way too long and repetitive.

The characters are boring and unlikeable. Their actions seems disjointed and unrealistic. There wasn't a single one that I liked. 

I would never call this book a thriller. I don't think it even classifies as a mystery. It's a love story, at best. 

This was a 2.5 star read for me. Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery books for allowing me an eARC to read and give my honest review. 

"Eye Of The Beholder" is out today in the U.S. so you can get your copy now. 

Happy Reading! 

Drew Afualo's "Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve"

 

Drew Afualo is best known as the internet’s 'Crusader for Women' and is at the head of a new generation of entertainment’s rising stars, with more than nine million followers across her social platforms. She soon realized that men on social media were creating sexist content aimed at disparaging women, and also containing rampant fatphobia, racism, and other forms of bigotry with very real-life consequences. It didn’t take long for her to step into the role of unofficial watchdog for misogyny, and her signature laugh is now recognized as a feminist call to arms.Loud is part manual, part manifesto, and part memoir. It is a summoning cry to rid the internet (and our hearts, minds, and lives) of 'terrible men' and create a space to fight outdated patriarchal ideals. Above all, it makes it clear that behind Drew’s fearsome laugh is a mission and a life philosophy, a strategy for self-confidence from the inside out, and a pathway to once and for all remove men from the centre of how women and fems think about themselves. ~taken from Goodreads

Hey guys!

She has one of the most recognizable laughs in today's world. Depending on what kind of person you are you either love it or hate it. I, personally, LOVE her laugh. It means that a sexist, misogynistic, fatphobic (usually) man is about to get an ear full in the same tone that he dished it out. Drew Afualo gives it back the way it was served. 

This book does have her beloved comedic approach to it, but it does highlight what an intelligent, well-spoken woman she is. She covers her early life and even how she met Pili Tanuvasa, the love of her life. It gives insight on how she gained the confidence she currently has. 

This is part memoir, part self-help. I wish every person who has or is doubting themselves would read this book. In Drew's own words:

"A bad bitch is still a bad bitch, regardless of how many times she doubts herself." 

This is a book about learning to be comfortable with you body, your feelings, and your place in this world. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Farra, Straus, and Giroux for the e-ARC to read and give my honest opinion. It was a 4 star read! 

"Loud" is being released here in the U.S. on July 30, 2024 so preorder your copy now! I think this will even be a great audiobook if read by the author! 

Happy Reading!