The Survivors by Jane Harper

Hello everyone. Hope your day is going well.

Have you ever gone to the beach off season?  Maybe you like Myrtle Beach in the winter to play golf or the Outer Banks to watch the wild horses.  I live near two beach resort areas and can tell you that many people prefer to go after labor day. Rates drop, kids are back to school, the pace of life slows down.  Of course, some people like the winter. There are fewer restaurants open and less excitement in the air, obviously no swimming or sun bathing...still it is a special time.  There is a sort of melancholy, at least on the NC beaches, that envelops you.  Not a sad state exactly, but a peaceful, thoughtful one. You can walk beaches normally packed with tourists and not see another person for miles. If you've always wanted a picture of your favorite knobby sweater with your hair tousled and the ocean behind you for your social media, maybe you should consider a winter trip.

I recently read The Survivors by Jane Harper, my first by this author.  This mystery is FULL of atmosphere and perfectly describes a beach resort town off season.  You will feel exactly what it's like to be a resident.  The imagery is flawless, without the author running through endless pages of description, she gives you just enough to lead you in the right direction. The book is full of characters, the residents of this small beach community.  The author reveals each person and their traits in a natural way, not bogging down the story with specific introductions.  

The story begins with the death of a young girl. As the reader slowly discovers who might be responsible, an older tragedy is revealed.  What did this earlier natural occurrence do to this quaint seaside town and who has it haunted for years?  Unlike the thrillers I adore, this story is told slowly, allowing us to ponder what is actually happening and feel like a real part of the town.  The mystery is interesting and the writing wonderful, but the star here is the way the story is told, how we can smell the salt air and feel the sand under our feet. While this is my first Jane Harper, I will be purchasing the back list. I wonder what other worlds she has created.

Don't blame me if you suddenly want clams and salt water taffy.

Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan

Hello everyone. I hope you're having a great day.

In the past I've told you about the neighborhood I grew up in, how people would call it "peanut butter hill" because once you purchased a house there all you could afford to eat was peanut butter.  Of course, those price standards have long passed. I think my parents paid under $30,000 to have their house built, including a large lot. Let's face it, thirty grand barely gets you a car these days. It was a nice place to grow up, the neighborhood and the town.

I recently read Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan.  I really don't know what to tell you about this book.  It is about the dynamics of a specific neighborhood, one woman dislikes the family next door.  She convinces the residents of other houses on the street to feel negatively towards this family as well.  A sinkhole opens up in the park across the street, complicating matters.  As the story unfolds we learn more about each character, their past and present.  The book is interesting and hard to put down, in an odd way.  This story is dark, very dark and has a shocking ending. When I finished I put the book down feeling bewildered.  I wasn't sure if I liked it or actually hated it.  It has been a week since I finished Good Neighbors and I still don't know how I feel about it.  I guess my advice would be that it's interesting but be very aware it is seriously dark.

So glad we had no sinkholes in my neighborhood, I had enough trauma playing in the sandbox with three younger sisters.

The Push by Ashley Audrain

Hello everyone.  Hope you are well.

Do you have kids?  We don't.  I was afraid to go through that whole, grow someone inside you, process. In addition, we were young, money was tight and paying to raise a child seemed utterly impossible.  I often wonder what our life would have been like as parents. How would children change the dynamics between us as a couple?  What kind of parents would we have been? I can answer part of that already, my husband would have been a great parent.  He recognizes things from his childhood he didn't like and instead of repeating those issues he learned from them. And he's a gigantic goof ball.  He looks for any excuse to make up some weird voice or invent some joke that he thinks is ground breaking (truly Tonight Show WITH Johnny Carson worthy) but isn't.  He'd be the worlds best dad, next to my own, of course.  As for me being a mother, I would probably be terrible. I'd insist some kid eat their green beans for the nine thousand, six hundred and fifty-third time and the child would smother me in my sleep. Hey, don't give me that look, green beans are good for you. Eat some!

I recently read The Push by Ashley Audrain.  This is the story of a couple, Blythe and Fox, who welcome their first child, Violet into the world.  While happy, Blythe wonders if she is as bonded to her new daughter as she should be.  Despite a few issues they remain generally happy, eventually adding baby Sam to their tribe. Violet seems to love Sam, but odd things begin happening, often in front of mom, Blythe, only. This leaves the dad to think of his daughter much more affectionately than mom.  

If you read the book Baby Teeth, the thriller that was big about three years ago, this story has similar vibes.  Perhaps it's because I've just read The Push and Baby Teeth was a while ago but The Push seems much more diabolical.  Still, if you've had your fill of bad kid stories, skip this.  If you want something that is a fast read, will hold your interest and has a satisfying ending, check this one out.

Just to be safe, maybe you should put this book where your kids can't find it.  Wouldn't want to give them any ideas.

ps. While checking the spelling hubby walked by reading this post. He said laughing, he has no idea where I got that "goof ball thing". Told ya.

The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher

Hello everyone.  Hope you and your family are staying safe.

The internet can be a great thing. When we are watching tv and hubby thinks he recognizes somebody from a 1970's sitcom that actually looks nothing like the person he now insists is the same actor, I can look up cast members. It's quick, easy, nips in the bud any possibility of a ridiculous argument creeping up over some actor who means nothing to either of us, except, of course, who is correct. (obviously it's me). What I've really grown to hate is how on social media people post the best parts of their lives. It's generally not any condition they are suffering with, or their tedious work schedule, or the puppy that refuses to potty outside.  Nope, it's always close up pictures of wine glasses, toes over some pool or beach, or sunset over some Bahamian island with the title "23 days until our next trip!" Don't get me wrong, I love seeing what friends are up to but I find it impossible to measure up.  Don't they vacuum, do dishes, bake chickens?  My point it that the grass is always greener, but if you look really closely everyone has issues, whether they advertise them or not.

I recently read The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher.  This is the story of a woman, Juno, who isn't well.  She has moved in with a couple and their son. Nigel and Winnie have a beautiful home, great son and plenty of money. What could be wrong?  This is one of those stories with some very careful writing, that will have you assuming things repeatedly that aren't true. Realizing that you, the reader, have gotten things wrong adds to the twist and turns of the story.  The book itself is interesting and quick to read.  During these trying times perhaps a word of warning here, this book is fairly dark in tone and feeling.  It is, after all, a thriller and not a walk through the park with Mary Poppins, but be aware it will not lighten your mood.

Okay, I won't keep you any longer. I'm sure you have photos to take of your toes...at least order a few books while you're at it.

He Started It by Samantha Downing

Hello everyone.  I hope your week has been a great one.

You know how some people are egotistical and always believe they are right?  Well, I freely admit I am terrible at many things, one of them is direction (the north, south, east, west kind). Now if you're going to say it's because I'm female, then I have a few choice words for you that I'll withhold for the health of this blog. However, I swear I might have a negative sense of direction.  Not only do I get lost going to the grocery store, which is two miles from my house and just two turns (I think), but I once got lost walking in our old neighborhood.  Turned out I was only a block from our house. Obviously, hubby does a lot of the driving in our household.

I recently read He Started It by Samantha Downing.  She is the author of the very popular My Lovely Wife, which gave me an evil laugh when I told my family how twisted it was but I couldn't stop reading it.  He Started It is about a family that has lost it's grandfather.  In his will, the wealthy man has left a hefty inheritance.  To collect their money, the now adult grandkids must recreate a lengthy road trip they once took with their granddad.  So they begin the repeat adventure complete with spouses, and the book also begins to reveal to the reader what happened on the original trip. This time the adults bring their own baggage and secrets.  You might think this is simply a story about memory lane, until several odd things happen and they realize they are being followed.  This is an enjoyable, quick read.  Thriller lovers will appreciate a break from the evil neighbor/spouse novels that are so common these days.

I often read a book out loud to my husband when we are on a long car trip.  I wish I had read him this one to watch him squirm.

  

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

Hello everyone. Hope you are well.

Are you a house lover or are you happy where you happen to land?  Hubby and I love houses and are always looking at the real estate listings.  We recently saw a mansion, yes, a real "have a heaping helping of our hospitality" Beverly Hillbillies mansion, that is on a street we used to live on.  We've been in this enormous, nine bedroom, house several times. The mega-estate is on the market and the listing is shocking. The current owners have filled this historic house with glass block walls, seven foot tall concrete nude statues, and enough gilded brick a brac that even Belle Watling would throw up. Guess it's a good thing that there are endless kinds of houses, something for everyone's taste (even if it's bad). Books are the same way, fun for all.

I recently read The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins.  This thriller is a wink to Jane Eyre, which you'll recognize if you've read the classic.  A Wife Upstairs is about a young girl, Jane, who has started a dog walking business and works in a prestigious neighborhood. One day she meets Eddie, the mysterious owner of the house she admires.  She finds him charming and is saddened to hear that his wife has passed away recently, in a boating accident.  Of course, in true genre form, Eddie has secrets, but so does Jane. As a romance between Jane and Eddie blooms, Jane becomes nervous her secrets will be told and that perhaps Eddie isn't the dream man she thought he was.  This was a quick, fun read.  I guessed the ending early on, so will you if you read lots of thrillers, yet it was still very enjoyable and had a satisfying end. 

Back to the REALLY important stuff, if you don't know who the Beverly Hillbillies are or their theme song, I'll be forced to throw you in the ce-ment pond! If you don't know who Belle Watling is....frankly, my dear, I don't give a...

People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd

Hello everyone.  I hope your year is off to a good start and I certainly hope it's better than last year!

Are you a big tech person? My niece and nephew are fluent in cell phones, excuse me, they say it's just "phones"...saying "cell phones" means you're old. We can be having a holiday dinner with lively, hysterical discussions and they'll still have their phones (notice I did it right that time, I'm so hip) under the table, their thumbs, obviously bionic, operating in a blur. I once told my niece that when I was little I had a vacuum cleaner (yes, even way back then), that when you pushed it, little colored wooden balls would pop up inside like a deranged popcorn popper.  Her response was that she can't help it if my generation is technologically challenged.  I think that was one of the first times I really felt old, well, that and the first time someone called me ma'am, but that's another story.

I recently read People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd.  This is a book about technology, well, the life of a well known Instagram personality.  Emmy is a high producing influencer that shows the tougher sides of being a mom. The book shows us the pressure people in that position are saddled with, always being driven to produce interesting and photogenic content. This book is a thriller so I feel no shame in telling you that Emmy has a stalker, one that tells the reader she's going to do terrible things to Emmy.  This ominous warning comes early in the book so I was reading frantically to find out what was going to happen. I'll tell you....nothing.  Okay, not nothing, you know I won't give you any spoilers but 97% of the book is about being an Instagram star.  Then when the villain is at their worst, they take time to garden.  A gardening villain?  Like some kind of possessed Snow White with birds flying seed packets around and Bambi nudging over the watering can?  This book was disappointing, at best.  Now, if I had known it was a book about being on Instagram and the pressures, great, I would have read it and really liked it.  Unfortunately the novel is being sold as a thriller making it completely miss the mark for me.

Sorry to start the new year on a negative note, but you may love People Like Her, especially if you live on your phone (see, did it again...guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.)