"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! 

"Our Last Wild Days" by Anna Bailey

 

The Labasques aren’t like other families.

Living in a shack out in the swamps, they made do by hunting down alligators and other animals. To the good people of Jacknife, Louisiana, they are troublemakers and outcasts, the kind of people you wouldn’t want in your community.

So, when Cutter Labasque is found face down in the muddy swamp, no one seems to care, not even her two brothers. The only person who questions the official verdict of suicide is Cutter’s childhood friend, Loyal May, who has just returned home to care for her mother. When she left town at eighteen years old, she betrayed Cutter. Now with a ragtag group from the local paper where she works, Loyal goes in search of answers, uncovering a web of deceit and corruption that implicates those in town. It may be too late to apologize to Cutter, but Loyal has restitution in mind.

Weaving through the swamps and bayous of rural Louisiana, Our Last Wild Days is an atmospheric, smoldering suspense about our darker impulses—and how to set things right. ~taken from Goodreads

4 years! I have been waiting 4 years for author Anna Bailey to release her next novel. Ever since I had the honor of feasting my eyes on her debut, "Where The Truth Lies", back in summer 2021 I have been impatiently waiting. It was a a dark, heavy, physiological thriller that was filled with emotions and left a lasting impact. I gave it a 5 star rating and I encourage everyone to read it, but I do issue a trigger warning of drug abuse, physical abuse, alcohol abuse and homophobia along with it. 

That being said, Bailey's latest novel is also a dark, atmospheric read, but with a southern gothic feel. The Deep South seeps through the printed words in this story, and in true southern fashion this book is a slow burn. 

The characters are well thought out, very well developed, and all unique. The reality of small town life is brought to the forefront and the flaws, embarrassments, and unseen friendships that go along with that life are told along the way. 

Once again Bailey does a stand up job with writing an atmospheric novel with a unique plot, full of unique characters. The pure perfection that was written creating the southern scenery left me in awe. This story sticks to you like the oppressive southern humidity. 

The scenes are set so perfectly. The swamps, the alligators, the Cyprus trees, mosquitos, even the thick humidity were all felt with ever word read. This is a poor, rural town full of gossip, drugs, corrupt politics, and not-so-hidden classism and racism. I felt like I was there, investigating along the way. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for allowing me an advanced e-copy to read and give my honest review. It was a 5 star read. 

"Our Last Wild Days" is out today, May 20, 2025 here in the U.S. so get your copy now! It is the perfect read to take you into the Memorial Day weekend! 

Happy Reading! 

"The Ghost Woods" by C.J. Cooke

 

In the midst of the woods stands a house called Lichen Hall.

This place is shrouded in folklore—old stories of ghosts, of witches, of a child who was not quite a child.

Now the woods are creeping closer, and something has been unleashed.

Pearl Gorham arrives in 1965, one of a string of young women sent to Lichen Hall to give birth. And she soon suspects the proprietors are hiding something.

Then she meets the mysterious mother and young boy who live in the grounds—and together they begin to unpick the secrets of this place. 

As the truth comes to the surface and the darkness moves in, Pearl must rethink everything she knew—and risk what she holds most dear. ~taken from Goodreads

This is not the first C.J. Cooke novel I have sunk my teeth into. I absolutely loved "The Nesting" and you can read my reviews on previous books here.

"The Ghost Woods" is an eerie, creepy, atmospheric read. A gothic novel set in Scotland told in two different timelines. This started off intriguing and I could tell the two stories would eventually intertwine. The problem was that it took so long for them to connect that I lost interest. 

Chapters alternate between timelines, which at times left me confused as the two stories are very similar. This is labeled as a gothic horror and although it has its frightful moments, I wouldn't call it horror. The Scottish Folklore gave it a spooky element. Once the two storylines did connect, it was less than satisfying. 

I think it would be wrong of me if I didn't mention the possible trigger warnings of rape, familial rape, sexual assault, and loss of a child. 

Overall, I think this has great potential, but it never really captured my full attention. There seemed to be too much fluff in the middle. It was enjoyable up to a point, but then I just couldn't wait to finish it. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me an advanced digital copy to read and give my honest review. I give it 3.5 stars! 

"The Ghost Woods" is set to be released here in the U.S. on April 29, 2025. You can pre-order now! I give it 3.5 stars! 

Happy Reading! 

"Then She Vanished" by Carla Kovach

 

Thirty years ago, Ruth Pritchard’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Elissa, went missing. Police were called, neighbours were interviewed, and even Ruth’s own husband was investigated, but the case went unsolved. Elissa disappeared forever.

Now, Ruth watches the local news and hears about another girl gone from the same streets where her beloved daughter was last seen, and her heart races. A distinctive red scarf was found at a crime scene, and she recognises it instantly. It belonged to Elissa.

After Ruth alerts the police, they rush to speak to her, but nobody answers the door. Her small home stands eerily quiet. Just like her daughter before her, Ruth has vanished into thin air. 

Friends say that Ruth suspected someone close to home took Elissa. Others say she never trusted her husband again after he was questioned by police. Did she finally discover the truth behind her daughter’s disappearance? And will her friends and family ever see her again? ~taken from Goodreads

Here we are at book 17 of Carla Kovach's Gina Harte Series

and this book might be the best one yet! 

We once again are are swept up in the private life drama of Detective Gina Harte. Her past still haunts her, but recently someone is threatening to expose her secrets to her friends and coworkers. She is sure this will be the downfall of her career.  Her head needs to be in this very complicated and urgent case, but this life matter can't seem to wait and keeps her preoccupied and distracted. 

This storyline has so many characters and elements to it, it is a bit hard to keep sorted but believe me- it's worth it in the end! Told from multiple points of view makes this even more complex and gripping. Kovach has a way with words and this story flows nicely and easily. I read the majority of it in just 24 hours. 

When you think you might have it all figured out you realize you aren't even close to the end of the book. Then the author throws a twist you didn't even see coming. It's truly a one-of-a-kind storyline. It kept me guessing to the end and surprised me even after I thought it was all wrapped up. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an advanced digital copy to read and give my honest review. This was a 5+ star read!

"Then She Vanished is set to be released March 17, 2025 here in the U.S. so reorder you copy today! 

Happy Reading!