Such a Loving Couple

I selected this book for the Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge. The word "couple" is one of the choices for November. This psychological thriller was published in November 2023.

The publisher's summary:

A man smiles warmly at me from the end of my bed. ‘Honey, I’ve been so worried,’ he says gently. ‘Do you remember me? I’m your husband.’ My blood runs cold. I don’t know where I am, or who I am. All I know is I’ve never seen this man before…

As he packs my things, the nurses tell me Freddie hasn’t left my bedside since the accident. He’s so loving, so kind, we seem like the perfect couple. But deep down I know something isn’t right.

Then flashes of memory come back. First my name, then the terrifying moments before the crash – the pouring rain, a sudden scream. But most heartbreaking of all are the haunting images of a blue-eyed little girl,who is nowhere to be seen…

Freddie is determined to keep me safe. But if we aren’t the really loving couple he wants us to be, why am I here? What does Freddie want? Who is the child? And how far will I have to go, to discover the truth?

Wow is my first reaction to finishing the book. It was an intense, fast paced thriller that kept me guessing about the outcome. The beginning was slightly slow but now that I have finished reading it, I see that the most important clues were there. The pace picked up around page 80 of this 315 page novel when I was in a restaurant eating breakfast. I think I stayed long after my welcome but I had to finish reading before starting my daily errands. My gosh this was such a good book!

There are four main characters: Toby, Freddie, Magdalena and Becka, the protagonist. Their relationships are seriously messed up. Toby and Becka are married. Freddie is single but allows Magdalena, Mags, to move in to his home. Freddie is a successful photographer and is frequently away from home. While Mags is in his home she begins a cake baking business but also makes goodies for her elderly neighbor across the street. Freddie, Mags and Becka were close friends in high school. Freddie had been dating Mags at that time but Becka stole him away. Becka also destroyed Mags' art portfolio which resulted in Mags being denied entry into art school. Becka was involved with watercolors and she had the opportunity to go herself and she was admitted. The three of them went their separate ways after high school.

Twenty years later Becka and Toby are married and struggling to stay together. Mags had happened to run into them in a parking lot and not long after that Mags is having an affair with Toby. Then the accident happened. The novel began with the flooding that caused Becka to be submerged in the waters. She was rescued and the story unfolds from there. There was an incredible ending that kept me reading at the restaurant until I finished the book.

If you like intense, gripping psychological thrillers then you must read this book. 5 out of 5 stars!

Family Money

I woke up at 2 am last night and couldn't go back to sleep. I found the synopsis of Chad Zunker's Family Money on Kindle Unlimited. I loved the summary and immediately picked up a copy of it. I read the book right away. It was absolutely wonderful! 

The publisher's summary:

Alex Mahan is married to his high school sweetheart, Taylor. They have two daughters and a beautiful home, and Alex’s startup business is about to explode thanks to massive private funding from his compassionate and supportive father-in-law, Joe. With millions more to come, all is perfect—until Joe is abducted and murdered during a family trip in Mexico.

Alex’s world is about to be turned upside down. He can’t bear to tell his grieving wife why. The man they’ve both idolized has been keeping secrets. The pledged millions are nowhere to be found. The source of the original investment is a mystery, even to Joe’s financial adviser. No one, it seems, has any idea who the man they knew, loved, and trusted really was.

As Alex digs deeper into Joe’s shadowy life, the most shocking surprises are yet to come. Deadly ones, too, because every lie that Alex uncovers in Joe’s dark past puts his family in more danger.

There was so much suspense in the first chapter that I was completely hooked. This story was so, so good. Every chapter ended with a cliffhanger that kept me reading. The characters were realistic and I loved all of them, except for the two "adorable" screaming kids. Alex's thought process on how to protect his family was believable but I knew that some of his decisions would not turn out well. I could almost hear violins playing in the background as there is a Twilight Zone feel to the story. Taylor was a dull character. Her father Joe on the other hand was uber pleasant. He was such a lovely man that it was hard to believe later on in the story that he had secrets. Joe did not seem to be that kind of guy. He was solid. As Alex kept researching Joe's life he found puzzling facts and that ratcheted up the suspense a notch or two. The ending was shocking as I expected it would be given the plot. 

This is an amazing thriller. Readers of all genres will love this novel. 5 out of stars.

My Husband’s Affair

Ruth Heald is one of my favorite authors. She recently published a new psychological thriller on April 10, 2024. Her books are always mesmerizing with plenty of suspense so I picked up a copy of it. It did not disappoint and, as the advertising says, it is unputdownable.

The publisher's summary:

I thought I had the perfect marriage. But as our beautiful children sleep soundly in the next room, I stare at the messages between my husband Rob and another woman, their promises to run away together bringing tears to my eyes. My heart stops when I see the latest one: ‘Leave my wife to me. I’ll get rid of her.’

My blood runs cold. I know this woman. I’ve let her into my home, where she’s bounced my rosy-cheeked baby on her knee. She could ruin my life in moments – she knows things about me even Rob doesn’t…

They think they can get rid of me so easily. They think they can just tear apart the perfect life we’ve built. But they've made a mistake underestimating me. He doesn't know I've uncovered his secrets. And now I know just enough to destroy him.

I can play the perfect wife for just a little longer. I’ll do anything to protect my children and my life. And he has no idea just how far I’ll go…

The story was one wild ride. The identity of the mistress was easy to figure out but because earlier books by Heald had many uncertainties, I could not be sure. Heald is known for throwing her readers for a loop. I kept thinking about all the female characters as possible mistresses. I didn't particularly like the main character Jen. She was a stepford wife whose only goal in life was to keep a clean home for her husband and cook his dinners, which was always later than when his kids ate. Jen lived to please him. When she finally got sick of that husband Jen sought revenge. She was more likeable as an angry wife.

Jen has two close friends, Natasha and Amy. One is in love with Jen and the other is in love with Rob. Jen doesn't know any of this until at least page 250 of this 350 page novel. Rob is the perfect villain. He not only cheats on his wife but he doles out money for household expenses only as they are needed. Jen does not have any money of her own but isn't aware of it because he always gives her what she needs. Any other woman would see him as controlling and demand access to bank accounts.

Lots of plot twists kept coming and it was hard to tell how this story was going to end because these relationships were weird. I wasn't sure which character was going to come out in top. I hoped Jen would win in the end but, hey, I'm not going to tell you. Read the book. It's awesome!

5 out of 5 stars.

Twice on Christmas

I selected Twice on Christmas for the Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge. It is a psychological thriller by McGarvey Black and it was published in 2023. This is the second book of his that I have read and he is now one of my favorite authors.

The publisher's summary:

After choir practice for midnight mass, college sophomore Rose Grandon takes a short-cut through Harbor Park. Grabbed from behind, she is violently assaulted, beaten and left for dead. The last thing she hears is a tenor voice singing Silent Night. Several hours later, the police find Rose lying in a ditch. Badly beaten - but alive. As she recovers in hospital, Rose is told she's pregnant. She has a terrible choice to make. She decides to keep the baby. Nine months later, she gives birth to a beautiful baby girl. She names her Mary. Rose lives quietly in her small Connecticut hometown raising her daughter - the one good thing to come out of her horrible ordeal. She begins to get her old self back. But her evil attacker has never been caught. He strikes twice a year. Once on Christmas Eve, once on Christmas Day. And until he's behind bars, Rose and her baby can never be safe. But now he's found out he has a daughter. And that changes everything . . .

This story was incredibly fast paced. Each chapter ended with sky-high suspense that kept me reading from page 1 until the end in one sitting. The ending was shocking and I am still thinking about it several days after finishing my read.

The police investigation took place over fifteen years. There weren't a lot of clues to follow up on as the perpetrator only killed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. He also did not kill in the same state twice so local law enforcement initially did not connect the crimes. A FBI Agent figured out the connection but, still, there were not enough clues to determine the identity of the perp. For the first half of the book, the time period of the chapters was one year after the last chapter. The reader sees a new assault and murder in every chapter and this ratcheted up the suspense.

Rose stopped dating men after her attack. She began to have coffee dates with male family friends and two priests who served at her church after about 12 or 13 years. They all made her feel uncomfortable so she always stopped these casual dates. Her daughter had behavior issues but not with her new 3rd grade teacher, David Zeliga and a new priest in her parish, Thomas Villane. Mary was prone to hitting other children at school and drew horrifying pictures of stick figures attacking people with knives. The reader gets the feeling that these new folks in Rose's life could be the perp. The aha moment in law enforcement resolution of the crimes came toward the very end. I won't tell you what it is but I must admit that the author came up with a brilliant connection between the crimes.

Twice on Christmas is a scary story that sticks with you for days. I am rating it way over 5 out of 5 stars. You simply must read this book.

Darling

I selected this book for the Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge. It's a psychological thriller that takes place in Britain just after the Brexit vote. Teenager Lola's father Thomas Waite has taken up with a black woman named Darling White and proposed marriage to her only three months after their initial meeting. Both Thomas and Darling are single parents. Lola and Darling dislike each other big time. Although happy in her new relationship, Darling is burdened by her five year old son Stevie's illness. He has Duchenne Muscular Distrophy, a severe muscle weakness disease, which will cut his life short. Thomas is confused by Darling's behavior. She frequently receives phone calls that she refuses to answer and appears to have a shadowy past. Lola cannot stand her Caribbean cooking and will do anything to destroy the marriage in order to get Darling out of her life.

The chapters alternate between the perspectives of Lola and Darling. I was somewhat confused on and off throughout the story because of the excessive use slang terminology that the author used. Lola's chapters in particular were unreadable. For example, in the beginning of the story there were six consecutive pages that I did not understand at all. Perhaps my British friends will understand all the slang. The book is mainly about Lola and Darling's characters. Once Thomas married Darling he was pretty much out of the picture. This seemed odd. 

This book was advertised as a psychological thriller. A thriller it isn't, although the prologue was exciting. The prologue kept me reading because I wanted to know who was killed and by whom. However, the book was a big miss for me and I am rating it 2 out of 5 stars.

The Woman Inside

I selected this book for the Monthly Key Word Challenge and am happy to state that I have found another author whose work I love. Anna-Lou Weatherley's The Woman Inside is an absolutely gripping, addictive psychological thriller and I loved it.

The publisher's summary:

Daisey Garrett wakes up in a hospital bed. She remembers her boyfriend has left her for another woman, but she doesn’t remember what happened to her the night she was attacked in her own home. Daisey shouldn’t be alive but against all odds, she’s survived an ordeal most would never recover from. But Daisey’s mind is broken. She’s on edge, drinking too much and, despite the painful breakup, finds herself in bed with her ex, Luke. And while she desperately tries to keep herself together, she can’t shake the feeling that she is being watched. Yet the missing pieces of that fateful summer night are beginning to surface… The lies she told the police. The lies Luke told her. Daisey’s memory is flickering like a faulty light bulb, flashing with images just out of reach. She can’t remember. She mustn’t.

I love serial killer stories and The Woman Inside is one of the best. The book is the 4th book in the Detective Dan Riley series but the first that I have read. The plot is about a killer who selects victims who have flowers as their first name and who work at Warwick's department store. When the bodies of Fern Lever and Jasmin Godden are discovered Detective Riley observes that they have had their throats slashed with their arms are folded across their chests and they are displayed naked with one pink rose. After leaving the store's annual summer party, Daisey is attacked in her home. She is lucky though. Daisey survived her attack but has amnesia and cannot identify the attacker or even how she was attacked. Ex-boyfriend Luke becomes a suspect but because Daisey lied to the police about having seen him earlier in the day he is off the hook. I cannot imagine any other woman lying for an ex-boyfriend. Daisey's agreement with Luke did not seem realistic. It was quite realistic for Daisy to begin drinking a little too much in order to cope with her situation. Luckily, her new flat mate, Iris, helped her think through her memories as well as her problems with Luke.

The story takes place in London during the present day as well as in the 1980s. The story is told from the alternating perspectives of Detective Riley and Daisy Garrett. The perspectives were written so smoothly I hardly noticed the changing perspectives.  The ending of the story was quite shocking. I never would have figured it out on my own. There were some clues about the identity of the killer about 2/3s the way through the story but I missed them. Frankly, the title of the book has the main clue. 

The pace was fast but picked up even more quickly at the midway point in the story and never stopped. The Woman Inside was such a good read that I am considering re-reading it in order to check for early clues to the identity of the serial killer.  It is definitely a must read. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Waitress

OMG! This book is fantastic! I just finished reading it and had to write a review immediately. The Waitress is one of the best, if not the best, psychological thriller I have ever read. With a twisty ending, I was totally surprised when the reveal was made on the last page.

The publisher's summary:

Anne Marie’s life isn’t easy. She’s a single mom in a dead-end waitressing job with a beater car and bills to pay. Adding to the pressure, her teenage son, Dave, is out of control, and no matter what she does, Anne Marie can’t seem to get through to him.

Then, out of the blue, Dave completely changes. He’s kind, he’s thoughtful, he helps out around the house and looks after his mom. Anne Marie can’t believe her luck.

Until she discovers the reason for her son’s sudden transformation – he’s done something really awful and he’s terrified he’ll be caught. Even worse, someone out there knows about it and they’re blackmailing him.

Anne Marie is desperate to protect her son and knows she has to somehow stop the blackmailer. But how?

As she considers her choices, Anne Marie realizes she may be taking the first steps on a path that will lead her straight to the gates of hell.

How far is she willing to go to save her only child?

As I was reading, I wondered why the book title was about Anne Marie. After all, most of the story was about her son's bad choices. However, Anne Marie was spending all her time trying to fix the problems that Dave brought to her. There were so many and, one by one, she addressed them wholeheartedly. She was trying to prevent her son from becoming like his evil father. 

While there were several hit and run car accidents that Dave was involved with, what forced Dave into good behavior was the blackmailed threats left in their doorstep. These threats are what Anne Marie feels she must address in order to protect him. In this sense, the blackmail was more important to the plot than the accidents. As the story advanced it was apparent that Anne Marie was just as messed up as Dave. She believed that his behavior was inherited from his father. Anne Marie had issues of her own that Dave most likely picked up from being raised by her.

The writing was  suspenseful and I was blown away by the ending. It was a shocker that I did not see coming. In fact, I reread the last 3 pages three times in order to confirm what I thought that I had read because it was so unexpected. 

The Waitress is a must read. 5 out of 5 stars.

Salt House Place

Salt House Place is the debut novel of Jamie Lee Sogn. It is advertised as a twisty thriller about the allure of the past and the danger of the truth as a young woman dives headlong into a cult. 

The publisher's summary:

In the far reaches of the Pacific Northwest, three best friends spend a day at the lake…but only two come home. Ten years later, Delia Albio is tormented by the mystery of what happened to fifteen-year-old Zee on the lake that day. When she receives an email from Cara, the remaining friend in the trio, she can’t resist the pull of the “life-changing” news in the message. Delia, hopeful for answers, travels home to see her old friend. Cara is gone by the time she gets there, setting off another mystery. When Delia hears about the women’s empowerment group that Cara joined, she sets out for the group’s retreat property on the Oregon coast to find her. Delia feels this could be her chance to reconnect with Cara and reckon with that fateful day at the lake. Instead, Delia uncovers a possessive group with a dark agenda. As their leadership closes in, Delia hurtles ever closer to the truth―if only she can survive a cult that will protect its secrets at any cost.

 I had a hard time becoming interested in the story. It just didn't grip me as I expected it would. We read about main character Delia's everyday habits and exchanges with her family but none of it had any bearing on the plot. The story picked up 50 pages into the story which is my DNF cut-off point. At this point in the story Dee is investigating the Artemis cult that Cara had joined. It is a new age cult that reminded me of scientology. My interest in the story waxed and waned throughout my read. I continued to read because I was interested in finding the answer to the fundamental question of why Zee died and how did Cara end up in a cult.  I got those answers but the book did not satisfy me.

While the book has received some good reviews it was not my cup of tea. I would recommend passing this one by. No rating.

The Shallows

The Shallows is a gripping novel about two women who are neighbors in one of Sydney’s most exclusive suburbs. Emma and Ariella appear to have it all. They have expensive five story homes, wealthy husbands, and seemingly perfect lives. Both of them have dark secrets about their marriages that lurk beneath the surface. Ariella's secrets aren't too heavily buried. Her husband has a minder with her 24/7 and other neighbors have noticed. Mateo owns several strip clubs while Emma's husband Charles works for a security company. The two ladies slip notes to each other and share secrets when the minder isn't looking. Ariella's last message says she has a secret to share with Emma. However, Ariella was found murdered the next day after Emma’s daughter Kiki unknowingly filmed the killing while she made a You Tube video that she posted immediately. When Emma’s husband Charles forces the family to leave their perfect life and escape on their yacht, Emma feels trapped and tries to get answers from him. What or who are they hiding from? What did Ariella have to tell her? Does anyone else knows Emma’s own secret?

This story is a page turner. It is told from two perspectives. One is told three months in the past and the other is told in the current date. As the novel progresses three months become two, then one and then weeks. The suspense is ratcheted up from this literary device. Halfway through the book the story is only told in the present day. 

I loved the characters. Both Emma and Ariella were sympathetic ladies. Both of the husbands were villains but Mateo is the ultimate villain. He runs a string of strip clubs where teenagers work and people regularly disappear. He cannot even trust his own wife although he probably had no idea she wanted to leave him. They married when she was just 18 and had no idea what life had in store for her. Ariella did not know much about Mateo's business but she knew enough to fear him. Emma’s two kids, Kiki and Cooper, are a big part of the plot too. 

The Shallows is the debut novel of Holly Craig. It's amazing to me that her first book is this good. 5 out of 5 stars.

Date Night

Date Night is a psychological thriller featuring married couple Libby and Sean Randell. Libby thinks that she has a solid marriage to Sean. Then one morning there's a note on her windscreen telling her that her husband is having an affair. She confronts him and of course, he denies it. She doesn't believe him but they go on a date night for dinner to try and ease the tension. The date does not go to well, so they return home. When they get there babysitter Sasha is missing. A few days later Libby is arrested under the suspicion of murder. 

The story alternates from the recent past to the present. This confused me in the first couple of chapters until I noticed the pattern. The writing, however, made the book a breeze to read and I couldn't put the book down until I finished reading it. There are numerous twists in the story that all lead up to the reveal of the murderer. With all of the characters having secrets, and the need to lie about them, I couldn't figure out the whodunnit. It was a total surprise when the killer was finally revealed. The whydunnit was not revealed until the last page and it was a shocker. Date Night is the perfect psychological thriller that reads like an Alfred Hitchcock story.

If you want to read something you know you will enjoy, pick up Date Night. 

5 out of 5 stars.

Final Call

Final Call is Alex Lake's eighth psychological thriller. Lake is a British writer who now lives in Maine. The book was published on June 8, 2023. 

The publisher's summary:  

They thought it was a simple flight home. The pilot had other plans…

A moment of calm

Heading home after a conference, the senior leadership of a global corporation relax on their private jet ahead of their Christmas break.

A flash of fear

But their peace is shattered when they realise their jet isn’t taking them home. Instead, it’s heading east—out over the Atlantic Ocean.

A journey of terror

And things go from bad to worse when their pilot tells them she is going to crash into the ocean if one of them doesn’t confess to murder…

Final Call is a spellbinding read. The author had my full attention from the first page. After beginning the story I did not notice the passage of time until I had already read half of the book. I finished it in one sitting completely enthralled by all of the suspense that I just lived through in this story. It is simply superb.

The main character is the villain. Stacy Evanston lost her daughter and husband in a fire that destroyed their home. The police thought she also died in the fire but didn't find her body. Her daughter Cherry became deathly ill at school and almost died from sudden onset liver failure. Three other children in her school also got infected from something but they passed away. Stacy believes that the fire was an attempt by someone to silence her from asking questions about what happened to the children. While Stacy is a victim of something, no one really knows what, she sets out to get revenge on whoever killed her daughter. 

I believe the CEO of a food company was a secondary character even though she made up much of the action in the story. The food company was based in Barrow, Maine where the Evanston family had been living. Stacy believes the food company is at fault for the children getting sick but does not know what or how they were involved.

The setting of a flying plane inched up the suspense. There is a limited amount of fuel on the plane so the occupants have to quickly figure out how to survive the flight. This is where the truth is finally revealed and believe me, this was one wild ride.

5 out of 5 stars.

Stolen in the Night

I selected Stolen in the Night as my May book for the Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge. While I have read earlier books by Patricia MacDonald, it has been awhile since I have read them. It is time I rediscovered her as I remember that I enjoyed those books.

The publisher's summary:

TWENTY YEARS AGO.

Tess’s heart pounds and she rubs her eyes, wondering if she is really awake or in a nightmare. Her sister Phoebe’s blue eyes are wide with fear, a dirty hand with ragged fingernails covering her mouth. Pressed against Phoebe’s neck is a knife that makes a dent in her skin.

“If you make one peep or tell anybody, I’ll kill your sister here. Do you understand me?” the man hisses at her.

Nine-year-old Tess DeGraff is the only witness to the knife-point kidnapping of her teenage sister, Phoebe, at the beautiful lakeside New Hampshire campsite where she’s staying with their parents and brother.

Phoebe’s body is found two days later and a local offender is arrested. The trial lasts only three days after Tess describes the abductor and points to him in court.

NOW.

Tess has finally got herself together. She has a beautiful home and her ten-year-old son is the light of her life.

But new DNA evidence exonerates her sister’s killer. Tess is left questioning everything she thinks she knows. If he didn’t do it, who did?

Tess must go back to where it all happened and find out what really went on that night.

The book is advertised as a gripping psychological thriller.  While the mystery of the whodunnit was compelling, I wouldn't say that the story was gripping in any sense of the word. I felt more affinity with the potential perps than I did with our main character Tess or any of her family members. Tess was a little dull and her accusations against this person and that person based on nothing realistic was annoying. She was an excitable character that I did not like. What kept me reading? I really wanted to know who killed Phoebe. 

Most of the twists and turns came near the end of the story and I felt that they were almost on top of each other. I had to concentrate hard on catching them as they came quickly. Also, some of the twists seemed far-fetched but maybe that is just a result of them coming all at the same time. It would have been better to have them equally placed throughout the plot. 

The whodunnit drives this story although the whydunnit was surprising. For this reason I am rating the book at 3 out of 5 stars.

Follow You Home

Follow You Home is an eerie psychological thriller by Mark Edwards that was published in 2015. I selected it for the What's in a Name Reading Challenge and, boy, am I glad that I did. It was fantastic.  The story begins with Brits Daniel Sullivan and Laura Mackenzie traveling to Romania at the end of a two month trip through Europe.  Planning to marry and have children, they decide that they should have one last holiday together before family issues come in the way. They have already visited Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Hungary and Belgium and want to see Eastern Europe as a contrast to the traditional European sites. Daniel is an app developer and Laura works in marketing for a children's charity. After boarding a train to Romania, the couple meets Ion and Alina. Alina is a comic writer and Ion, well, he is a professional bully. When Ion convinces them to take a nap in a sleeping car that is unused, they wake up to find that their passports, credit cards, and phones are missing from their bags. Soon they are confronted by a train conductor who is checking tickets. After explaining that they were robbed, the conductor throws Daniel, Laura and Alina off the train. The terror begins but when the return to London, Daniel and Laura are emotionally unable to even mention what happened after they were let off that train in Breva, Romania. Laura begins to see ghosts and is the first to realize that something evil followed them home.

This is an atmospheric thriller. We don't know what actually happened in Breva until the midway point of the story when Daniel finally tells his psychologist what happened. I expected the couple to have seen something pretty horrific in order to substantiate their diagnoses of PTSD and Daniel's excessive drinking. Laura began seeing ghosts, something that she also dealt with in childhood. While it was bad, I expected more. The eerie atmosphere begins when they get home and Laura starts seeing Alina, who was killed in Breva, and other men whose faces they both remember seeing in Breva. Daniel believes that every person he tells about the horror he experienced is being murdered and he feels that all these events are connected. His psychologist is killed in a fire and his best friend kills himself one night when he was should actually be happy about getting a record contract. Connected? Maybe. I don't want to be a spoiler.  

I thought this was a fantastic story.  It kept my interest from the first pages all the way to the end. I am rating it only 4 out of 5 stars because I wanted the Breva horror show to be more dramatic.

The House in the Pines

The House in the Pines is Ana Reyes' debut novel. She began writing it in 2015, as her thesis for an M.F.A. program at Louisiana State University. After graduation Reyes moved to Los Angeles, where she lined up several jobs teaching English composition at local schools. Eventually she wrote a second draft and then a third. The book sold fast as it was recommended by Reese Witherspoon.

The publisher's summary:

Maya was a high school senior when her best friend, Aubrey, mysteriously dropped dead in front of the enigmatic man named Frank whom they’d been spending time with all summer.
 
Seven years later, Maya lives in Boston with a loving boyfriend and is kicking the secret addiction that has allowed her to cope with what happened years ago, the gaps in her memories, and the lost time that she can’t account for. But her past comes rushing back when she comes across a recent YouTube video in which a young woman suddenly keels over and dies in a diner while sitting across from none other than Frank. Plunged into the trauma that has defined her life, Maya heads to her Berkshires hometown to relive that fateful summer—the influence Frank once had on her and the obsessive jealousy that nearly destroyed her friendship with Aubrey. 
 
At her mother’s house, she excavates fragments of her past and notices hidden messages in her deceased Guatemalan father’s book that didn’t stand out to her earlier. To save herself, she must understand a story written before she was born, but time keeps running out, and soon, all roads are leading back to Frank’s cabin.... 

The story opened well. There was an introduction to fascinating characters as well as some action. I felt that the story slowed somewhat in the middle. Also, there is a supernatural aspect to the plot which isn't exactly my favorite genre but I kept an open mind because the opening was strong. However, in the middle of the story it was hard to tell if there was something supernatural happening or whether Maya was in the throes of mental illness. I would describe the book as an atmospheric mystery, instead of a psychological thriller. I am not a fan of atmospheric stories but I know there are many readers out there who love this kind of book. If you happen to be one of them, I can highly recommend the book to you. For me, it was an OK novel.

3 out of 5 stars.

Hide

Hide is Tracy Clark's 5th novel. It is also the first book in a new series that takes place in Chicago, which is why I wanted to read it. Chicago is my hometown. It's a captivating, fast paced read which felt good to read after the past couple of dull books that I recently read.

The publisher's summary:

When a young red-haired woman is found brutally murdered in downtown Chicago, one detail stands out: the red lipstick encircling her wrists and ankles.

Detective Harriet Foster is on the case, even though she’s still grieving the sudden death of her partner. As a Black woman in a male-dominated department, Foster anticipates a rocky road ahead acclimating to a new team—and building trust with her new partner isn’t coming easily.

After another victim turns up with the same lipstick markings, Foster suspects she’s looking for a serial killer. Through a tip from a psychiatrist, Foster learns about Bodie Morgan: a troubled man with a twisted past and a penchant for pretty young redheads with the bluest eyes. As Foster wades into Morgan’s sinister history, the killer continues their gruesome assault on Chicago’s streets.

In her desperate race to catch the murderer before they strike again, Foster will have to confront the darkest of secrets—including her own.

This book is a perfect crime thriller. It also touches on current problems in policing such as racism, sexism, police power and female officers. With one character being a psychologist, we also read about the psychology of serial killers. Author Tracy Clark knows alot about police procedures and its culture. She is an editor in Chicago and must have learned alot about policing from her day job. 

The writing is crisp and this is what make it such a quick read. It's been awhile since I have read a novel written this good and I couldn't put it down. Even though the book is almost 400 pages, I finished it in one afternoon. The setting descriptions in the beginning of the story are spot on. As a Chicagoan myself, I recognized all of the street names and locales, including the lower level streets where are killers operate. Even the jogging path a character took was accurate. 

The main character is Harriet Foster. She has been a police officer for 15 years but is coming into a different police district for this story. Her first partner, Officer Lonergan, is a long-time officer who does not care for female or minority officers and uses slang terms from a bygone era. I found them amusing but only because I am old enough to know these phrases. Harriet has a soft side because her son died, her marriage fell apart and her former police partner commit suicide. She is still reeling from these events but is trying to put them out of her mind so that she can continue to work. Harriet, or Harri, is a great character to base a series on.  I can see that there is alot of room for character growth. Her second partner, Vera Li, connects with Harri better and I hope that they remain partners in future installments of the series.

Hide is a fantastic novel. I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

Her Perfect Life

Her Perfect Life is Sam Hepburn's first novel. She later published Gone Before in 2020 and A Good Mother in 2021. Hepburn writes psychological thrillers. This is the first book of hers that I have read. The premise for the story is how far would a person go to create the perfect life. Character Gracie Dwyer has it all, the handsome husband, the adorable child, the beautiful home and the glittering career. The perfect life. Her new friend Juliet doesn’t exactly fit in. She’s a down-on-her-luck single parent with no money and not much hope. So just what is it that draws Gracie and Juliet together? And when the cracks start to appear in Gracie’s perfect life, can both of them survive?

When I began reading I thought that the story sounded familiar and that perhaps I already read this book. After reviewing my previously published book reviews I noticed that in 2020 I reviewed Valerie Keogh's book The Perfect Life.  It is exactly like this novel. I also got it confused with Hank Phillippi Ryan's 2021 book, also titled Her Perfect Life and wondered whether I purchased the right book. I knew that I was going to read a book with this title for the Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge but failed to write down the author's name, not knowing that there could be more than one book with this title.

I was not thrilled with the Hepburn book. It had a slow start. There was no suspense and I felt nothing for the characters. While the plot is similar to the Keough book, the writing is not as good as Keough's. Since I thought the Keough book was mediocre, this book was a big disappointment.

The New Girl

Ruth Heald is one of my newest favorite authors.  I read her The Wedding and I Know Your Secret, both of which were fantastic psychological thrillers. When I saw an ad for her newest book, I couldn't wait to get it. Heald now has a respectable six novels to her credit. She only writes the psychological thriller genre and is superb with this type of writing. Heald studied Economics at Oxford University and then worked in a mix of sectors from nuclear decommissioning to management consulting. She worked at the BBC for nine years before leaving to write full time. Heald stated on her website that she is fascinated by psychology and finding out what drives people to violence, destruction and revenge.

Sophie Williams has moved from Dorset to London in order to escape her past. She thought that she could keep her past a secret by moving with no possessions other than a few clothes. She soon lands her dream job in advertising and it comes with a bonus. Sophie is offered the use of an apartment that her new employer owns for free. She is attracted her boss James and he feels the same about her. With James by her side, Sophie begins to feel safe again, more secure than she has felt in years. However, Sophie begins to hear odd noises at night and has a feeling that she is being watched. James convinces her that she is imagining things but when a new dress appears in her closet, Sophie wears it to work the next day. She is stunned when the atmosphere becomes chilled. 

Wow! This was a page turning mystery with many twists and turns. I found my heart beating fast everytime something happened to Sophie. I thought she was pretty gullible and knew she would be in danger because of her poor decisions. She should have known that all of the gifts that her new employer gave her were for a reason, a reason not good for her. I think most women would have had their antenna up and swirling furiously. I began dreading each new chapter because I knew she would find a simple reason to excuse all the bad things that were happening and ignore the obvious. The author did a great job of writing suspense into each chapter. The suspense was so high that I was scared for Sophie. It's been a long, long time since I cared this much for a character. However, I have had similar experiences with men and recognized every trap that she fell into. 

5 out of 5 stars.

The Perfect Home

This is Kevin Lynch's second book. The Perfect Home is a psychological thriller set somewhere in the UK. The place is not mentioned but since the author uses the anglicized spelling of words, it must be in either England or Ireland. The author lives in Dublin so Ireland is a good guess. 

The story opens with June Sweeney gardening in her back yard. She loves her home, which she retained in her divorce from Nick. It is where she raised her two kids who are now college age. June has filled every room with family photographs and trinkets. She especially loves the garden and works on it every day. June likes the neighbors in her cul-de-sac and the feelings are mutual. The neighborhood is peaceful. She has the perfect home . . . until Steve Murray moves in next door.

Steve keeps 3 or 4 cars parked in his driveway and plays music loudly all day and night while he repairs them. June meets with her neighbor Fred almost every day to discuss their mutual complaints about Steve. When June brings her complaints to son Sam and daughter Cathy, they do not side with her. They believe Steve is an OK guy. He is just trying to recover from a setback. June begins to feel all alone in her misery thinking that it can't get worse. It does. Strange things are happening in her house late at night and even more disturbing, June’s cheating ex-husband suddenly seems to always be at her house. It’s almost as if he’s stalking her. Then Fred is murdered. What is happening to June's perfect home?

I love finding new authors who can write these tension filled thrillers. Kindle seems to bring many of them to my attention and I am thrilled (pun intended) to discover Kevin Lynch. He had my complete attention from the first page and I couldn't put the book down until I read it in one sitting. The pace is fast as each page moves the plot forward. There is no wasted dialogue or setting descriptions other than this perfect cul-de-sac, referred to in the book as "the estate." I am not sure what that is but in my mind I picture a cul-de-sac.

June is presented as a June Cleaver on steroids. With the eerie atmosphere of the novel, I can see her as a character in the movie Psycho. The story felt like it could have been written by Alfred Hitchcock and would have made a great episode of the Twilight Zone. 

I am rating this a 5 out of 5 stars. It is a must read for all.

Trust

Trust is Sharon Mitchell's 2nd book in her When Bad Things Happen series of psychological thrillers. Her first book Gone was fantastic. Novels 3, 4, 5 and 6 have already been published.  Selfish was published in May 2021, Instinct was published in October 2021, Reasons Why was also published in October 2021 and Mine was published on January 7, 2022. The author is currently writing the 7th novel in the series. 12 books are planned for the series and it looks like they are all going to be fantastic.

The publisher's summary:

Elizabeth thought that after all they'd been through, the bad parts were over. Guess not. After saving herself and her little boy from abductors, Elizabeth yearns to put the terror behind them, to cocoon with her sone, safe and secure at home. Court hearings confirm that they suffered the worst betrayal possible. She never dreamed that she'd have to battle the law to protect her medically fragile boy when his life and sanity are on the line. When her son is targeted and taken, Elizabeth will do anything to save him. 

 

I absolutely LOVED this book. It continues the story of Elizabeth Whitmore and her four year old son Timothy from Gone. In this installment of the series Elizabeth is awaiting the trial of her ex-husband who tried to kill her. She keeps her son within her eyesight at all times and does not let him socialize with other children. Elizabeth does not trust anyone near him not does she trust her neighbors who try to be friendly. Timothy is not speaking since the attempted murder but he did have a late onset speaking ability from birth as well as a seizure disorder. However, whatever gains he made in speech he lost. We see inside Elizabeth's mind as she grapples with day to day decisions on who to trust. Elizabeth does eventually trust someone but it turns out horribly bad.

The novel was full of emotion but had plenty of suspense. With Elizabeth's emotions highly charged the reader cannot figure out what she is going to do and this is what creates the suspense. I don't think that she even knew herself how she was going to handle each new day. As I was reading, I thought that the villain might be Elizabeth's tormented mind.  However, Timothy's court ordered psychologist becomes the villain toward the end of the story. I was surprised at the psychologist's actions and did not see her machinations coming. It was a great ending.

5 out of 5 stars.

The Tenant

OMG!  I think The Tenant is the best book I have read this year. Advertised as a suspense novel, that is quite an understatement. Suspense exuded not only from every page but from every sentence.  The story begins with landlord Alex Mason painting one of the units in his luxury apartment complex in Philadelphia. He hopes to rent it quickly when he is approached by Stephanie Winters, a woman who works for a U. S. senator.  Alex signs a lease with her without checking her background references or employer. Big mistake. Soon another tenant's cat is found dead and dismembered on their doorstep. Then yet another tenant is murdered in his home.  Alex believes that Stephanie is the culprit in these incidences. Hindered by state laws giving tenants plenty of legal rights, Alex begins to investigate his tenant after she threatens his family. 

This book reminded me of Apartment 6 which I read last year.  It was written in Hitchcock style. The tension began with the first chapter and continued through to an unexpected ending. I loved it. Stephanie's past history explained her behavior but it was just as interesting as what she was doing in the plot. She would make an awesome character for a crime series. Alex was timid for a landlord. I have never had one myself that did not care if a tenant broke the rules. To be more believable, Alex should have been a screaming bastard. However, he needed to be unsuspecting for this spectacular plot to work.

10 out of 5 stars!