Murder Mile by Lynda LaPlante

I am very glad I read Murder Mile. It is only the second book I've read that focused so intensely on the police and their efforts to solve a murder. In this case, several murders! Still, focused on just the police, I was afraid the story might be slow or even boring. I am so glad to say it was neither! By sticking to a limited amount of characters (there are still plenty), it feels like the story stays on point. I adore it when authors respect my time and stick to the plot...yet I still want a great story. Murder Mile delivers! It is detail oriented, fast paced, always interesting, and kept me guessing. Even right at the end I was convinced I knew who the murderer was, happily I was wrong. If you like police centered books, good murder mysteries, or just a great read, then this book is for you! 

This review was written for BookishFirst, a great site if you haven't visited. BookishFirst and the publisher Zaffre provided an advanced copy, this book is to be released September 4, 2018.

The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams

A couple of months ago I read a great book by three authors, one of which is a favorite of mine, Karen White. I loved it, but more about that title in another review. When July's months Book of the Month choice list came out, I zeroed in on a familiar name....one of the other two authors of that story I enjoyed so much. The novel is The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams. Believe it or not, I consulted hubby about which title to get. The thriller, as always, had me drooling. What if reading a whole book by Beatriz Williams activated by raging case of "whole set-itis", requiring me to have a complete set of something, or in the case of books, read everything by an author? Let's face it, I need another author to follow like I need another hole in the head. (Side note, what an ugly saying. )Since you're reading a book blog, I'm sure you understand.  In any case, hubby urged me to get out of my thriller rut and venture on to The Summer Wives. For the record, I consider my love of thrillers to be loyal passion, not a rut, but I'm not arguing with someone who brought me a gift of a book last week.

The Summer Wives is about the differences between rich and poor, specifically on an island on the northeast United States. It kinda reminds me of the old mansions in Newport. Got it? While not the author's point, it also raised themes for me like 'us versus them', and 'locals versus visitors'. I live near a famous resort area. Tourists invade by the thousands in the spring, summer and fall. Traveling costs go up, traffic is tied in knots, restaurants are inaccessible. In short, it's a pain. However, thought must be given to the privilege of living in an area that people spend huge amounts of money to visit. In addition, the local economy would crumble without these tourists, willing to shell out up to $20,000 for a week in a "cottage", then more for food, souvenirs and let's not forget booze.

I know you think I have lost it and have no point, but I do. This book actually translated into issues in my own life, not intended, but really interesting. I've been reminded to be more grateful. In any case, Beatriz Williams weaves a story, not a page turner, but just a good old fashioned story about people. It has the ocean, a great big old house, a great lighthouse, lots of New England-ness, and a murder mystery. It is very interesting the way the story unfolds and despite appearing fairly straightforward there are several surprising twists. The writing and pace are perfect for the plot and kept me coming back for just one more quick chapter, then another and another. Yes, this was a very enjoyable read. Hubby gets an A+ for insisting that I make this my BOTM choice. Unfortunately, I'm gonna have to start looking at all the other books written by my new pal, Beatriz Williams. I can't help it, it's a sickness that I'm not interested in curing.

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

A few days ago, it was National Book Day! Who knew there was such a thing? There is a day for everything now. Not that I'm complaining. Heck NO! AND as luck would have it, dear darling hubby came home from work with a gift. Seems his last meeting was shorter than expected so he ventured out to Barnes and Noble to pick up Shari Lapena's new book An Unwanted Guest for me. Alright, this is where you all chime in together..."awwwww."  I know, he's a keeper...usually. I'm surprised he actually listened to me the ninety-five plus times I mentioned the book, pouting like a 2-year-old that I had too much to read already and would wait until it came out in paperback. Okay, now you and I, as book junkies, know that was never going to happen, but it made it look like a valiant, self-sacrificing effort to show some control. I know, funny, huh?!

So, hubby arrives home not only with a new novel but a salad for lunch. After literally snatching the book from his arms, a gasp of glee and quick peck on the cheek (generous aren't I?), I'm reading. This book is supposed to be a modern retelling of Agatha Christie's and Then There Were None, set in the Catskills of New York. I admittedly have a soft spot for the Catskills, so am already intrigued. The plot dives right in, introducing characters as they travel to the inn where they are to be weekend guests. The story moves quickly, we learn of the imperfection of each person and motives they have for crime. When someone ends up murdered, they all suspect each other, rightfully so. The author is masterful, shining the light of suspicion on one person, then as soon as I'm sure they are guilty, she moves the spotlight to someone else who seems just as plausibly the murderer. The book races to a classic "whodunnit" finish with a little extra twist on the very last page, just for good measure. Loved it. Despite my self-confessed pokey reading I was done in less than twenty-four hours, admittedly it kept me up much of the night. God Bless my booklight!

A couple of side notes, that have nothing to do with An Unwanted Guest.

I've read both of Shari Lapena's other books, A Stranger in the House and The Couple Next Door. I really liked both of those stories as well, so if you enjoy this perhaps you'll find them worth a look. Next, there are so many funny takes on this Agatha Christie story in TV and movies that you might like. Family Guy does a great episode, also a couple of older movies come to mind. Clue, with Leslie Ann Warren and Tim Currey. Also, the famous Murder by Death by the genius Neil Simon loaded with talent like Maggie Smith, Peter Sellers, Peter Falk, David Niven, Alec Guinness, Eileen Brennan, Elsa Lancaster, James Cromwell, Nancy Walker, Truman Capote, James Coco, and more. This satire pokes fun at how some authors cheat at the end of mysteries. The characters in the house for the weekend are take offs from books, with names like Dick and Dora Charles, Sam Diamond, etc. It is very funny.

The Dream Daughter, again

The Dream Daughter is still on my mind. I'm currently reading several other books, not just reading, but totally into three other books. Yet, Diane Chamberlain's book lingers. For that matter so does, Before We Were Yours, about the siblings in the Tennessee Children's Home.  This makes me wonder, what makes a book stay with you so? Is it a certain genre? As I've repeated until, not only I am blue in the face, but undoubtedly so are you (send Violet Beauregarde to the juicing machine), I love thrillers. Yet, I'm trying to think of a thriller that stays with me like these books.

So, is it a genre that makes books linger? Is it a story that has children or perhaps is sweeping in time, showing much of a life giving us a very full story? Is it love that lingers?

The person that figures this out will probably call the NY Times Bestseller List home.

The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain

I just read The Dream Daughter, by Diane Chamberlain. This book, published by St. Martin's Press will be for sale October 2, 2018.

I was nervous about reading this book. It has time travel and medical stuff, both of which I completely avoid. I was absolutely mesmerized by this book, reading it in three days when I had other things I should have been accomplishing.

This is the story of Carly, a young physical therapist who loses her husband in Vietnam, but discovers that she is carrying his child. Happy to have that remaining piece of him, Carly is crushed to hear that the baby has a fatal heart flaw and will die right after birth. There is help, however, in the form of Carly's brother-in-law, Hunter, who has traveled back in time to 1970 and stayed there because of his love for Carly's sister and their young child. Hunter proposes teaching the pregnant Carly to time travel, sending her to 2001, where she might be able to get the baby's heart fixed while still unborn producing a normal, healthy child.

The story moves quickly, keeping the attention on the small cast of characters. Carly and family are completely endearing. The ending is a surprise and perfection, completely satisfying. I am struggling as I don't want to give the story away, but it is interesting and beautifully written. It makes you wonder what you would do for the person you love. When does that love become selfish? Best of all this is one of those kind of books that lingers, staying with you, maybe forever.

Our House by Louise Candlish

I was so fortunate to receive an advanced reader copy of Our House by Louise Candlish. This book is published by Berkley and hits stores on August 7th, although you can pre-order now. Huge thanks to Berkley publishing not only for the book copy but for all the work you do!

This book is set in England, where a couple with two children live a nice life in an area where real estate values have dramatically increased. Their home is now worth substantially more than they paid for it, in fact more than 2 million pounds. One day the wife, Fi, (short for Fiona) comes home to find her husband, Bram, (short for Abraham) in the backyard inside the children's playhouse. The kids are in bed asleep but Bram isn't playing alone in the little house, he is with one of their female neighbors. Shortly after this infidelity, Fi and Bram Lawson separate.

One day, when Fi is going out of town, she pops back to the house to discover someone else moving in. She confronts the intruders to discover that all her and the children's belongings are gone and indeed, the house has not only been emptied but has been legally sold. The money paid for the home is missing, but the deed has been transferred. The act complete, her house is gone. Fi tries in vain to reach her estranged husband, who now has a disconnected phone and is nowhere to be found.

I don't want to say anything more about the plot, but suffice it to say I love the plot. In fact, this could have been one of my all-time favorite thrillers. Could have been. Sadly, for me, this book's pacing is way too slow. The facts learned by page 150 could have easily been told in 20 pages.  As the story progresses past the halfway mark of this over 400 page book, the pacing increases slightly.  I'll give you an example, something happens to Fi, you as the reader witness it. Then Fi tells the neighbor what happened, instead of just saying that she explained the occurrence to the neighbor, no, the author retells every detail. Then the neighbor retells someone else....again....geez. I really liked the story but don't want to read the same portion retold over and over. This is what holds up the pacing. The plot has all the makings of a blockbuster thriller, I mean it is a really interesting idea, it should be a page turner. My eyes should be bloodshot from reading without sleep because the story drives forward so quickly. Instead I kept putting the book down, yelling at it to just move on. Then there is the end. The end is abrupt and completely unsatisfying. I guess you could say it is ironic, but I was left saying "What, that's it?".

Now, please keep in mind I read a lot of thrillers that move very quickly. I have never read anything from Louise Candlish before, maybe this pacing is her style and something I am just not used to. Remember every book simply cannot be for every person. While this book was too slow for me, the plot was wonderful and the pacing maybe perfect for you. I hope you love it.

The Red Ledger Reborn by Meredith Wild

I was lucky to receive an advanced copy of The Red Ledger Reborn by Meredith Wild. I had never heard of this title or author. Upon receiving this book I googled Meredith and found some very interesting things. First, I don't think this is the first novel in what appears to be a series. It does not matter, this book stands on its own. Next, I discovered an interesting story about the author. It seems she usually writes romance and used to self-publish. Apparently finding it difficult to get books into brick-and-mortar stores, she started her own publishing house.

Good for you, Meredith Wild, and good for Waterhouse Press (her publishing brand). I so adore when someone hits a wall and can't find a way around, then blasts through to make their own door, saying "Take that, book world!" Now I'm intrigued. So I start the novel the author classifies as suspense. Thriller, suspense, tomato, toe-maato. Right from the beginning...(I'm smiling here because it has an usual beginning that I desperately want to tell you, but I won't, it's too good not to read for yourself)...right from the beginning I'm hooked.

The story is about a hitman who is about to kill a young woman who is his target, but he realizes that she knows him. Some parts of his memory are unclear so he wonders if her knowledge would help him, but then again he does have this "job" to do. I don't want to say more.  Know that the book moves quickly, stays on topic, is well written and is pleasant and interesting reading. One thing that might annoy readers is that this narrative alternates back and forth, being told from the perspective of each of the two main characters, Isabel and Tristan. Frankly, it didn't bother me in the least and I really found it a helpful way of telling the story. I found myself looking forward to the perspective change so I would know what the other character was thinking. A very enjoyable book, indeed.

I want to thank Meredith Wild, Waterhouse Press and Bookish First for the copy of this great novel. It will be released on August 7, 2018 and is available for PRE-ORDER NOW.  I'm heading to the bookstore myself. I want to read everything else Meredith has written!