Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson

 

I read The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson back in 2022. I really enjoyed this novel and have wanted to read another novel by Peter Swanson ever since. 

Earlier this month, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson, which was nicely narrated by Karissa Vacker. 

The narration for Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson is the most positive thing I can say about this suspense/thriller novel! The first half of Every Vow You Break is sooooo painfully slow and things didn't pick up until the second half of this novel. 

Additionally, I can't say as I liked any of the characters either for Every Vow You Break. The storyline and plot weren't that engaging either. Most of the storyline and characters seemed so two dimensional at best. 

I was tempted to 'dnf' this book on several occasions, but since I really enjoyed the first novel I read by Peter Swanson, I pushed forward in hopes it would turn out to be a better read. I liked the premise of this novel, but sadly, Every Vow You Break wasn't a winner in my eyes.

Below is the publisher's summary for Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson found on Goodreads:

A bride’s dream honeymoon becomes a nightmare when a man with whom she’s had a regrettable one-night stand shows up in this electrifying psychological thriller from the acclaimed author of Eight Perfect Murders.

Abigail Baskin never thought she’d fall in love with a millionaire. Then she met Bruce Lamb. He’s a good guy, stable, level-headed, kind—a refreshing twist from her previous relationships.

But right before the wedding, Abigail has a moment of uncertainty. The drunken one-night stand from her bachelorette weekend, the sexy guy who wouldn’t give her his real name, didn’t really mean anything she keeps telling herself. She puts the incident out of her mind, and now believes she wants to be with Bruce for the rest of her life. Their honeymoon on a luxurious, secluded island in Maine will be the beginning of their blissful lives together.

Then the mysterious stranger suddenly appears—and Abigail’s future life and happiness are turned upside down. He insists that their passionate night was the beginning of something much, much more. Something special. Something real—and he’s tracked her down to prove it.

Does she tell Bruce and ruin their idyllic honeymoon—and possibly their marriage? Or should she handle this psychopathic stalker on her own? To make the situation worse, strange things begin to happen. She sees a terrified woman in the night shadows, and no one at the resort seems to believe anything is amiss… including her perfect new husband.

I am giving Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Lilith by Eric Rickstad

 

Lilith by Eric Rickstad was my first read for the month of June 2026. Eric Rickstad is a new to me author this year. I was drawn to this novel due to the plot summary provided by the publisher.

Lilith is a work of contemporary fiction and is a triller/suspense novel! This novel sucks you in from the very start. I loved the action/suspense/tension building by the author. Elisabeth Ross is the protagonist in Lilth. She is a single mother and elementary school teacher by profession.

Lilith by Eric Rickstad focuses its topic on gun violence and school shootings. Elisabeth is required as a teacher to perform monthly drills with her students on what to do during an emergency lockdown. 

Little does Elisabeth know that something bad will happen on the day she and the rest of the teaching staff are to perform an emergency lockdown drill with their students. A real life shooting occurs and it is horrific! Elisabeth saves her students by breaking protocol from the required instructions specified by the school district. 

Additionally, Elisabeth's son, Lydan, also attends the same school where she teaches. Elisabeth somehow manages to save Lydan's life as well even though he isn't a student in her class. We read and feel the angst and terror that only a mother can feel about her child's near death experience and long term recovery from their traumatic injuries.

Jumping forward in Lilith, Elisabeth grows angry with the lack of gun control efforts and school shootings that she takes matters into her own hands vigilante style.

Although, I enjoyed Lilith by Eric Rickstad quite a bit. It wasn't perfect by any means. There were interactions between Elisabeth and her son, Lydan, that seemed unrealistic. Plus, some of the plot details were lacking in parts or unrealistic at least in my opinion. For instance, I found the scene where Elisabeth's son saves the day to be unrealistic based on the scope of his injuries. Additionally, Lydan has a few bizarre paranormal type of experiences that didn't seem to fit well with the storyline. Otherwise, Lilth is a good read.

P. S. I listened to the unabridged audio version of Lilith. This book is well narrated by Brittany Pressley.

Below is the publisher's summary for Lilith by Eric Rickstad I found on Amazon's website:

Mother. Hero. Villain. Killer.

After her son, Lydan, suffers traumatic injuries in a school shooting, single mom Elisabeth Ross grows enraged at men in power. If they won’t do anything to help end this epidemic of violence, she will. Believing it’s her destiny, she sets out to awaken the world to the cowards these men are and commits her own shocking act of violence.

Going by the name Lilith—the first wife of Adam who fled Eden rather than serve a man—she posts a video of her crime that reverberates throughout society.

Praised by some, demonized by others, and hunted by the FBI and vigilantes alike, Elisabeth must keep her identity a secret as she tries to care for her son.

As events take startling twists, Elisabeth begins to question her act of violence and the very roots and mythology of violence itself. Was her act justified, or has she become the monster that the original Lilith was accused of being?

As the FBI draws closer and Lydan starts to display odd, terrifying behavior, Elisabeth plots to avoid capture and keep her son safe at all costs, fearing she’ll never escape what she’s done without losing her son forever.

Written with Rickstad’s singular command of language, human insight, and unnerving suspense, Lilith is a tale of our times. Tragic and profound, it echoes in the mind and lingers in the blood.

I am giving Lilith by Eric Rickstad a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke

 

Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke has been on my radar for awhile. I hadn't added this horror novella to my reading wishlist or anything and didn't have any plans to read actually.

However, I was looking for a quick read and had stumbled upon Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke while scrolling around on Hoopla. After reading the publisher's summary and discovering that the audio edition of Sour Candy was 2 hours, 36 minutes in length, I figured why not make this my next read? After all, Sour Candy sounded like an interesting read.

Well, Sour Candy is definitely an interesting read. It's a work of contemporary fiction with a focus on horror and suspense. The author is good at building suspense and creating a slow, but steady pace for this novella. I found myself hooked immediately while reading the first chapter and wanted to see where this book lead me.

For the full storyline, read the publisher's summary below. For me, Sour Candy is all about whether the main character, Phil Pendleton, is sane or mental ill. Did he really have an otherworldly/paranormal experience that lead to his demise or was he dealing with mental health issues? The ending makes it look like the events that occurred weren't all in Phil's head, but really did happen.

If you've read Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke, I'd be curious to read your thoughts about this novella.

Lastly, it's worth noting that I listened to the unabridged audio version of Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke, which was wonderfully narrated by Andrew Gibson.

Below id the publisher's summary for Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke:

At first glance, Phil Pendleton and his son Adam are just an ordinary father and son, no different from any other. They take walks in the park together, visit county fairs, museums, and zoos, and eat together overlooking the lake. Some might say the father is a little too accommodating given the lack of discipline when the child loses his temper in public. Some might say he spoils his son by allowing him to eat candy whenever he wants and set his own bedtimes. Some might say that such leniency is starting to take its toll on the father, given how his health has declined.

What no one knows is that Phil is a prisoner, and that up until a few weeks ago and a chance encounter at a grocery store, he had never seen the child before in his life.

I am giving Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Woman in the Garden by Jill Johnson

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Woman in the Garden by Jill Johnson, which is well narrated by Rachel Capell.

Jill Johnson is a new to me author. I'm always on the look out for new to me authors. I was drawn to the plot summary for The Woman in the Garden as this novel contains "a Professor of Botanical Toxicology with only her extensive collection of poisonous plants for company" and also a mystery is involved.

First off, I found the protagonist, Eustacia Rose, annoying!! She's very smart, but very odd, quirky and eccentric... These can be good things, but I found her to be simply annoying for the most part throughout much of this novel... However, by the end of the novel, Eustacia Rose had grown on me.

Overall, I liked this mystery novel featuring a woman sleuth. There was a lot of twists and turns throughout The Woman in the Garden. By the end of the novel, I was glad it was over with though. The Woman in the Garden is the first novel in Eustacia Rose mystery series. I think I'll be passing on reading the rest of the series.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Woman in the Garden by Jill Johnson, which I found on Goodreads:

Every garden has its secrets…

Eustacia Rose is a Professor of Botanical Toxicology with only her extensive collection of poisonous plants for company. Her life is quiet, her schedule is unchanging, and her closest friends are the specimens she tends to. But she does have one other watching her neighbors through her telescope, taking extensive notes on their lives for research.

When Eustacia hears a scream one evening, the temptation to investigate proves irresistible. Through her telescope, she catches a glimpse of her extraordinarily beautiful new neighbor, Simone, and soon becomes obsessed with her and her life. But who are these four men that orbit Simone? And why does Eustacia get the feeling she needs to protect her from them?

One day, Eustacia comes home to find her precious garden destroyed and learns that someone close to Simone has been murdered with a rare poisonous plant. As she is drawn deep into the crime, Eustacia's closed-off life begins to crumble, forcing her to break free from the walls of her secret garden and take matters into her own hands. Soon, she's forced to realize that the world is filled with people who are just as toxic as her plants....

I am giving The Woman in the Garden by Jill Johnson a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens

 

The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens is my third read by this author. Thank you Dorothy @ The Nature of Things for introducing me to Allen Eskens works! I've enjoyed his novels very much.

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens, which was nicely narrated by Ilvana Muratovic.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this thriller! It was super engaging. I finished The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens in four days. The novel is well written. The storyline follows two time lines, present day Minnesota and Bosnia in 1995. Each chapter alternates between each time line until the storyline converges. Then the remaining ten chapters takes place in Minnesota for the grand finale.

I liked the main character Hana Babic/Nura Divjak a lot. She seems like an unassuming, quiet librarian working in Minnesota. Hana/Nura is 47 years old and originally from Bosnia. At the start of this novel, a police officer comes to visit Hana/Nura at work. Hana/Nura learns her best friend (also from Bosnia) has been killed in a suspicious manner. It's at this point onward where we begin to learn more about Hana/Nura and that not all about her is as it seems. 

Hana/Nura lived a very difficult existence in Bosnia during the war. We learn that Hana/Nura witnessed her entire family being killed right in front of her. We continue to learn about what happens to Hana/Nura in Bosnia throughout the novel and how she came to the USA. We also read about Hana/Nura doing her own sleuthing into her friend's death.

All in all, The Quiet Librarian is a great read, especially if you like thrillers. I highly recommend it. The ending for The Quiet Librarian is great. I loved it!!

Below is the publisher's summary for The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens through the Goodreads website:

After the murder of her best friend, a librarian’s search for answers leads back to her own dark secrets in this sweeping novel about a woman transformed by war, family, vengeance, and love, from award-winning writer Allen Eskens.

Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared.

Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head.

Now, someone is hunting Hana, and her friend has paid the price, leaving her eight-year-old grandson in Hana’s care. To protect the child without revealing her secret, Hana must again become the Night Mora—and hope she can find the killer before the past comes for them, too.

I am giving The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

The Shimmer by David Morrell

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Shimmer by David Morrell, which was nicely narrated by Phil Gigante. My only complaint is about the audio production for this novel. It is a tad difficult to hear the narrator reading this novel due to the audio quality. 

The Shimmer by David Morrell was my last read for 2025. I'd read Morrell's novel, Murder As Fine Art, in November 2024. I have been meaning to read more of his novels ever since then. In fact, Murder As Fine Art is the first novel in a series. I need to finish this series.

I like The Shimmer as it is different from what I normally would read or gravitate towards. David Morrell seems to do a lot of research for his novels, which I enjoy as it gives his books more depth due to both his research and his writing style. I especially enjoyed hearing David Morrell read the afterward he wrote for The Shimmer as he discussed how he came to write this novel.

If you are a fan of of thrillers and suspense novels, then you may enjoy The Shimmer as well. I enjoyed the writing, storytelling and the characters for this novel. There are so many layers to The Shimmer, which makes it an engaging read.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Shimmer by David Morrell from Chirp's website:

Creator of Rambo and co-founder of the International Thriller Writers organization, David Morrell has been called “the father of the modern action novel.” Now this award-winning, New York Times bestselling author delivers The Shimmer, a novel of chilling impact.

When police officer Dan Page’s wife disappears, her trail leads to Rostov, a remote Texas town where unexplained phenomena attract hundreds of spectators each night. Not merely curious, these onlookers are compelled to reach this tiny community and gaze at the mysterious Rostov Lights.

But more than the faithful are drawn there. A gunman begins shooting at the lights, screaming “Go back to hell where you came from!” then turns his rifle on the innocent bystanders. As more and more people are drawn to the scene of the massacre, the stage is set for even greater bloodshed.

To save his wife, Page must solve the mystery of the Rostov Lights. In the process, he uncovers a deadly government secret dating back to the First World War. The lights are more dangerous than anyone ever imagined, but even more deadly are those who try to exploit forces beyond their control.

With The Shimmer, David Morrell takes readers on a brilliant, terrifying journey. Suspenseful, yet thought-provoking, it is the master at his very best.

I am giving The Shimmer by David Morrell a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Shrouded Memory by Krista Wagner

 

I snagged the unabridged audio version of Shrouded Memory by Krista Wagner, which is narrated by Leo Goodman, from Chirp for 99 cents. 

I'd never heard of the author before. However, based on the summary of Shrouded Memory and the 99 cent price tag, I decided to give this novel a try. I like thriller/suspense novels, so I figured I'd enjoy Shrouded Memory.

Shrouded Memory was definitely not to my liking! The premise behind this novel was sound, but the execution was not. It was very boring overall with only the last two chapters having anything exciting to read about.

The leading character, Rian Field, has a traumatic experience. She was attacked by two masked men in her own home. She suffers from PTSD from this event and by another follow up event that triggers her PTSD all over again two years after the first event.

I sympathize with Rian's circumstance, but the author essentially shows Rian having the same haunted thoughts and actions throughout most of the novel. This grows old and boring after a while. There needed to be other interesting plot developments and scenarios to keep this book more engaging for readers.

Below is the publisher's summary for Shrouded Memory by Krista Wagner from Chirp's website:

A gripping psychological thriller: Marine biologist Rian Field survives a shark attack — only to be haunted by fractured memories of masked men invading her home. As nightmares bleed into reality and a new break-in shatters her illusion of safety, she begins to suspect those closest to her. To survive, Rian must confront the past before it destroys her…

I am giving Shrouded Memory by Krista Wagner a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

A Killing Truth by D. V. Berkom

 

A Killing Truth by D. V. Berkom is my third read during the month of December 2025. 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of A Killing Truth, which was not so well narrated by Kristi Alsip. The narrator mispronounced a word or two and I also heard her swallow and other sounds a few times throughout this novel. So, I won't be seeking out any other books which are narrated by Kristi Alsip.

As far as the novel goes, I enjoyed it. I like thriller novels with strong leading female characters in not so traditional careers. A Killing Truth is the first novel in the 'Leine Basso Crime Thrillers' featuring female assassin, Leine Bass. I like Leine's character. She's one tough cookie and also a single mother of a twelve year old daughter. 

I enjoyed the writing and plot development for A Killing Truth. As much as I enjoyed this first novel in a series, I'm not sure if I will continue with it or not. Time will only tell.

Below is the publisher's summary for A Killing Truth by D. V. Berkom from the author's website:

They say the truth will set you free, but what if it kills you first?

Leine Basso eliminates terrorists for a living. After a routine assassination almost gets her killed, she chalks it up to a fluke. Her lover and fellow assassin, Carlos, has another idea altogether. He thinks their boss is setting them up for a fall.

When Carlos goes missing and a bombing thwarts another mission, Leine suspects the stakes are far higher than she could ever imagine, and wonders if the man in charge might have it in for her after all.

A Killing Truth is the chilling start to the award-winning Leine Basso thriller series of crime novels. If you like no-nonsense heroines, page-turning plots, and twists you won’t see coming, then you’ll love D.V. Berkom’s tension-filled series.

I am giving A Killing Truth by D. V. Berkom a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Savannah Sleuth by Alan Chaput

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Savannah Sleuth by Alan Chaput, which was nicely narrated by Allyson Ryan. In fact, Savannah Sleuth was my last read for the month of October.

I was able to download Savannah Sleuth by Alan Chaput for FREE from Chirp's website. Each week, Chirp Audiobooks offers a few free audiobooks for a limited time. 

Below is my honest, unbiased review for Savannah Sleuth by Alan Chaput.

Savannah Sleuth by Alan Chaput is the first novel in the 'Vigilantes For Justice' series. Based on the publisher's summary, I felt like Savannah Sleuth would be a good fit for me. It's a cozy mystery novel (I love cozy mysteries) set in Savannah, Georgia and the plot sounded intriguing enough for my taste.

However, Savannah Sleuth was a huge disappointment to me. I felt like there were way too many topics/bylines in this novel that received more attention than they should've. These side topics/bylines were too distracting. 

Additionally, the main character, Patricia Falcon, was too wimpy for someone who works with other women to help rescue badly abused women in Savannah, Georgia. Patricia seemed too emotionally fragile for this type of work. 

Speaking of rescuing abused women, Patricia Falcon and her crew only did one rescue of an abused woman at the start of the novel. After that, the rest of the novel was focused on other topics. If part of the novel's focus is to highlight the fact that Patricia and her crew rescue abused women, then I'd have liked to see more of that focused on in Savannah Sleuth rather then focusing on other nonessential bylines.

Savannah Sleuth also seems to fall into the Christian fiction genre as well. I don't have any specific beef with the Christian fiction genre. But Christian fiction isn't something I gravitate towards. There was too much talk about the church for me in this novel.

Below is the publisher's summary for Savannah Sleuth by Alan Chaput from Chirp's website:

Though born to heirloom pearls, designer dresses and lush garden parties, Savannah social icon Patricia Falcon and three of her closest friends spend their days in Savannah’s dark side rescuing abused women. Patricia’s darling mother, a prominent philanthropist, drops dead, and the police are baffled by her untimely death. Patricia recruits her three friends to help her investigate what she believes is murder. “Savannah Sleuth” is a page-turning journey from Savannah’s Southern wealth and grace into the hidden corners of Savannah and across two continents in a deadly pursuit of justice.

I am giving Savannah Sleuth by Alan Chaput a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars. Needless to say, I won't continue reading the remaining novels in the 'Vigilantes For Justice' series.

Listening time for Savannah Sleuth by Alan Chaput is 8 hours, 14 minutes.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones, which is narrated by Kirsty Rider. 

The Earthquake Bird is a novel that had been sitting on my reading wishlist for quite a long time and I finally made the time to read it this month. The Earthquake Bird also happens to be the author's debut novel. 

The Earthquake Bird is billed as a psychological thriller. I enjoy reading psychological thrillers, which is one of the features that attracted me to this novel. Another factor that drew me to this novel is that the story takes place in Japan and also features an unreliable narrator named, Lucy Fly, as the leading character. If done correctly, unreliable narrators are a fantastic feature in a novel.

So, what did I think of The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones? The pacing of this novel is kind of slow. 

Yes, I like unreliable narrators, but I've seen better unreliable narrators in other novels I've read over the years. 

There was too much switching back and forth between the first person perspective and third person perspective in the The Earthquake Bird, which I found disconcerting. I guess you can say this only added to the main character's unreliability. However, I still don't like the lack of clarity when an author switches perspective on a reader as it is does cause some minor confusion.

The ending for The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones was dull. For me, it's clear who the killer is to me. But it felt like the author was trying too hard to be creepy in a psychological way that didn't hit the mark. 

The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones is a good, debut novel, but I think it could have been so much better. 

Below is the publisher's summary for The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones from Chirp's website:

Now a major Netflix film starring Alicia Vikander and Riley Keough, a haunting psychological thriller set in Tokyo probing deep into the mind of a murder suspect

The grisly headline leaves nothing to the imagination: “Woman’s torso recovered from Tokyo Bay. Believed to be missing British bartender Lily Bridges.” The only suspect is Lucy Fly. Her friend is dead, her lover has disappeared, and as far as anyone is concerned, she’s as good as guilty.

Trapped in the interrogation room, Lucy begins to unravel two stories. One, for the police, is a spare outline, offering more questions than answers. The other–the real one, if you believe her–is a gripping dive into an obsessive mind, revealing the checkered past that brought her to Japan, her complicated friendship with Lily, and a tempestuous affair with a missing Japanese photographer named Teiji. As she excavates the dangerous secrets–both past and present–that haunt her waking mind, Lucy relates an unsettling life story that spans bustling Tokyo, the British countryside, and remote Japanese islands, each step taking us closer to the chilling truth about Lily’s death. An all-consuming crime story like no other, Susanna Jones’s mesmerizing debut novel is a neo-noir thriller as shocking as it is exquisitely composed.

While listening this novel, I learned that Netflix made a movie, 'Earthquake Bird', based on the novel in 2019. I might watch the movie version.

I am giving The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next, post happy reading!!

Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson, which is well narrated by the author. 

I picked Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson because I'd read and enjoyed two previous novels by the author and also because this novel sounded like a really great read based on the blurb on the back of the novel. However, after I first began listening to Mother May I, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. In fact, I almost ditched Mother May I for another read from my 'to be read' pile. But I pressed onward and I am glad that I did.

Although, I enjoyed Mother May I, it isn't my favorite novel written by Joshilyn Jackson to date. Overall, I think the writing, storytelling, plot, and characters are well done. I like suspense/thrillers and this novel has that down to a science. The first couple of chapters made it difficult for me to get into this novel. Also, the last chapter glossed over how things turned out in a way that was too tidy for my liking after the busy pace that kept the reader on edge for most of the novel... In other words, the ending was soft, too soft.

I have three other novels to read by Joshilyn Jackson in my 'to be read' pile that I look forward to reading in the future. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I like them better than Mother May I. 

Below is the publisher's summary for Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson from Goodread's website:

A novel of domestic suspense in which a mother must decide how far she is willing to go to protect her child and the life she loves -- a tale of power, privilege, lies, revenge, and the choices we make, ones that transform our lives in unforeseen ways.

Revenge doesn't wait for permission.

Growing up poor in rural Georgia, Bree Cabbat was warned that the world was a dark and scary place. Bree rejected that fearful outlook, and life has proved her right. Having married into a family with wealth, power, and connections, Bree now has all a woman could ever dream of.

Until the day she awakens and sees someone peering into her bedroom window--an old gray-haired woman dressed all in black who vanishes as quickly as she appears. It must be a play of the early morning light or the remnant of a waking dream, Bree tells herself, shaking off the bad feeling that overcomes her.

Later that day though, she spies the old woman again, in the parking lot of her daughters' private school . . . just minutes before Bree's infant son, asleep in his car seat only a few feet away, vanishes. It happened so quickly--Bree looked away only for a second. There is a note left in his place, warning her that she is being is being watched; if she wants her baby back, she must not call the police or deviate in any way from the instructions that will follow.

The mysterious woman makes contact, and Bree learns she, too, is a mother. Why would another mother do this? What does she want? And why has she targeted Bree? Of course Bree will pay anything, do anything. It's her child.

To get her baby back, Bree must complete one small--but critical--task. It seems harmless enough, but her action comes with a devastating price.

Bree will do whatever it takes to protect her family--but what if the cost tears their world apart?

I am giving Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Case of the Velvet Claws by Erle Stanley Gardner

 

The Case of the Velvet Claws by Erle Stanley Gardner is the first novel in the Perry Mason series. There are 57 novels in the Perry mason series, which is an impressive number of novels for a series!

I recently wanted to read a book by Erle Stanley Gardner, so I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of The Case of the Velvet Claws, which is excellently narrated by Alexander Cendese.

I must say that I was pleasantly surprised at how much I truly enjoyed listening to The Case of the Velvet Claws. It contains wonderful characters, a tight storyline, excellent writing, and a few plot twists too. The Case of the Velvet Claws is definitely a hard-boiled novel... so, if this is appealing to you, then check out The Case of the Velvet Claws! I will definitely be listening to more novels in the Perry Mason series.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Case of the Velvet Claws by Erle Stanley Gardner:

Thanks to a bungled robbery at a fancy hotel, the already-married Eva Griffin has been caught in the company of a prominent congressman. To protect the politico, Eva's ready to pay the editor of a sleazy tabloid his hush money. But Perry Mason has other plans. He tracks down the phantom fat cat who secretly runs the blackmailing tabloid -- only to discover a shocking scoop.

By the time Mason's comely client finally comes clean, her husband has taken a bullet in the heart. Now Perry Mason has two choices: represent the cunning widow in her wrangle for the dead man's money -- or take the rap for murder.

I am giving The Case of the Velvet Claws by Erle Stanley Gardner a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

After Oz by Gordon McAlpine

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of After Oz by Gordon McAlpine, which is well narrated by Maria Ru-Djen. Gordon McAlpine is a new to me author.

I was initially attracted to After Oz by Gordon McAlpine because of it's association with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. After Oz isn't so much a retelling of L. Frank Baum's classic novel, but a novel that comes up with what actually might have happened to Dorothy and her dog, Toto, after she returns to Kansas from the land of Oz... And what a creative storyline Gordon McAlpine writes in After Oz!

After Oz is a combination mystery/thriller/suspense novel and historical fiction novel set in the late 1890s than it is a fantasy novel. Although, the events of After Oz are centered on Dorothy Gale's life after the tornado and her 'subsequent' visit to Oz occurred,  Dorothy herself isn't really the main character of After Oz. In fact, I would have liked to see Dorothy's character play a larger role in After Oz, but I am getting ahead of myself.

After Oz begins with the tornado and its aftermath. The setting is in Kansas, of course, during the late 1890s in a rural farming community. Dorothy had gone missing just prior to the tornado and is found with her dog, Toto, a few days later disoriented in a neighbor's pumpkin patch.

Physically, Dorothy is unhurt, but her fantastical tale of Oz with its flying monkeys, talking beasts, the scarecrow, the tin man, and both a good witch and a bad witch have the very conservative and religious townsfolk up in arms over Dorothy's mental frame of mind. The fact that Dorothy states she accidentally killed the 'bad witch' while in Oz with water that melts the 'bad witch' only further solidified that her mental health is off.

A few days later, a local woman within the community is found dead in her home. No one in the community liked the dead woman and many people often called her a witch. To make matters worse, the woman's face was melted a way through the use of lye. Due to Dorothy's statement that she killed a bad witch while visiting Oz and the way in which the 'bad witch' was supposedly killed, the locals feel that Dorothy killed the local woman. Long story short, Dorothy is committed to an insane asylum for the crime of murder and she's only eleven years old girl.

It isn't until 28 year old psychologist, Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford, discovers Dorothy's case and comes to the asylum where Dorothy has been committed and evaluates Dorothy for herself. Dr. Wilford determines that Dorothy is innocent of murder and is set out to prove it by finding the guilty party. This leads Dr. Wilford back to Dorothy's hometown where she interviews the important townsfolk pertinent to Dorothy's case. After Oz becomes more of a mystery/thriller/suspense novel at this time and is primarily told through the point of view of Dr. Wilford and also an unknown narrator from the community. Lots of twists and turn happen within After Oz and an unexpected ending as well.

The storyline for After Oz is intriguing and captivating. The writing was good and the characters were interesting. I enjoyed After Oz quite a but, but the overly abundant religious overtones, some of the narrow minded townsfolk, and what seemed liked some implausibilities here and there with regards to what life might be like during the late 1890s made After Oz a tad less appealing.

Below is the publisher's summary for After Oz by Gordon McAlpine from the Goodread's website:

Gripping and emotionally riveting, this whimsical tale is an empowering and timely retelling of The Wizard of Oz where one little girl is forced to face head-on the prejudices of the Midwest in the late 19th century.

Kansas, 1896. After a tornado destroys the Gale family farm, 11-year-old Dorothy goes missing. As the days pass by, the Gales are increasingly terrified the worst has happened. But when the girl turns up unharmed four days later, the townsfolk breathe in a sigh of relief. That is, until Dorothy herself relates her account of the events that took place after her disappearance.

In vivid detail, Dorothy describes a fantastical land and its magical inhabitants, from the scarecrow, the tin man, and the cowardly lion to the wizard and the witch. Her recollections are not only regarded as delusional, but also as pagan and diabolical in nature, especially when the body of a local spinster is found.

Making connections between the evil witch Dorothy claims to have defeated and the ill-tempered old crone, authorities find what they believe to be incriminating evidence, sentencing Dorothy to the Topeka Insane Asylum.

When 28-year-old psychologist Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford arrives at the asylum to interview Dorothy, she begins to wonder if Dorothy truly committed the crime or if something unfathomable has really occurred.

In a small town full of insidious secrets, will Evelyn be able to save Dorothy from her terrible circumstances? Or is something menacing lurking just out of sight?

I am giving After Oz by Gordon McAlpine a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Murder As Fine Art by David Morrell

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Murder As Fine Art by David Morrell and narrated by Matthew Wolf. I had Murder As Fine Art by David Morrell on my reading wishlist for a long time. I finally listened to it last month in October 2024.

Murder As Fine Art by David Morrell is a work of historical fiction and the first novel in the Thomas De Quincy series. Wow, this novel was so much better than I expected it to be!! If you L-O-V-E historical fiction and mystery/thriller novels, then this is definitely for you! The writing is detailed and simply superb. I feel like David Morrell did a ton of research for Murder As Fine Art in terms of what life was like in London during the 1800s, along with researching the historical events in which the author writes about for this novel. I found the characters, the storyline and plot twists were engaging and at times felt like I was witnessing the details firsthand as the writing was so vivid.

Below is the publisher's summary for Murder As Fine Art by David Morrell from Amazon's website:

Gaslit London is brought to its knees in David Morriell's brilliant historical thriller.

Thomas De Quincey, infamous for his memoir Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, is the major suspect in a series of ferocious mass murders identical to ones that terrorized London 43 years earlier.

The blueprint for the killings seems to be De Quincey's essay "On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts". Desperate to clear his name but crippled by opium addiction, De Quincey is aided by his devoted daughter, Emily, and a pair of determined Scotland Yard detectives.

In Murder as a Fine Art, David Morrell plucks De Quincey, Victorian London, and the Ratcliffe Highway murders from history. Fogbound streets become a battleground between a literary star and a brilliant murderer, whose lives are linked by secrets long buried but never forgotten.

I am giving Murder As Fine Art by David Morrell a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Hunted by Darcy Coates

 

I listened to the unabridged audio Hunted by Darcy Coates and narrated by Angela Dawe. Listening time for Hunted by Darcy Coates is 10 hours, 29 minutes.

Darcy Coates is a new to me author this year. Hunted is the third Darcy Coates novel I've listened to this year and it is the best novel of the three novels by far.

Hunted is part thriller/suspense and part horror. I liked the storyline and the twists and turns in the novel itself... Unfortunately, towards the end of the novel, I did figure out who the perpetrator is. Although I enjoyed the storyline and plot twists, the characters for me are the issue in Hunted as well as with the other novels written by Darcy Coates I've read. It's not that they're bad characters, I just think most of the characters could have more dimension to them. I've noticed that the male characters created by the author aren't that exciting overall in particular... The characters need some sort of extra punch to them to make them more interesting and engaging.

Below is the publisher's plot summary for Hunted by Darcy Coates from Chirp's website:

Her disappearance wasn’t an accident. Her rescue will be a mistake.

22-year-old Eileen goes missing while hiking in the remote Ashlough Forest. Five days later, her camera is discovered washed downriver, containing bizarre photos taken after her disappearance.

Chris wants to believe Eileen is still alive. When the police search is abandoned, he and four of his friends create their own search party to scour the mountain range. As they stray further into the dark forest and the unsettling discoveries mount, they begin to believe they’re not alone in the trees… and that Eileen’s disappearance wasn’t an accident.

By that point, it’s too late to escape.

I am giving Hunted by Darcy Coates a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson and narrated by Scott Brick. 

Listening time for A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson is 6 hours, 44 minutes.

A Stir of Echoes is the 3rd book I've read written by Richard Matheson. I can officially say I am now a HUGE fan of Matheson's writing and look forward to reading more of his books in the future. A Stir of Echoes is very well narrated by Scott Brick.

What did I love about A Stir of Echoes? Just about everything! There were only a couple of minor issues, which didn't deter from my overall rating. 

Richard Matheson is a masterful writer. He really knows how to pace his novels and build intrigue and suspense. With each passing chapter, I found myself wanting to keep listening to see what transpire with the characters, the plot, and storyline. 

A Stir of Echoes was published in 1958 and is set in the 1950s in Hawthorne, California. The main characters are Tom and Ann Wallace. They are a young couple with a young son and Ann is pregnant with their second child. 

At the start of A Stir of Echoes, Ann's brother, Philip, is visiting Tom and Ann. Tom, Ann, and Philip go to a neighbor's dinner party early on in the novel. After dinner, Philip hypnotizes Tom as a party trick as a way to entertain the dinner guests. 

After everyone goes home for the night, Tom begins to experiences strange things throughout the rest of the novel... Like reoccurring ghost sightings of the same woman in their home, premonitions, nightmares, the ability to sense what other people are thinking and feeling, automatic writing, and so on.

Initially, both Tom and Ann don't understand what's going on with Tom since the hypnosis session. Ann is concerned and scared that Tom's losing his mind, which causes stress and tension in their marriage. 

As Tom and Ann both try and figure out what's going on with Tom and why he's experiencing what he is, there's also the mystery of the ghostly apparition that keeps reaching out to Tom and who she is. Come to find, the ghost is a woman who was murdered in the very home in which they live. Tom and Ann eventually figure out who the murdered woman was and who murdered her.

There's so much more to A Stir of Echoes. I simply gave broad brushstrokes to the storyline to prevent giving away too much of the plot twists and finer details for those that may want to read this novel for themselves.

Below is the plot summary for A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson discovered on Amazon's website:

This eerie ghost story, from Richard Matheson, the award-winning author of Hell House and I Am Legend, inspired the acclaimed 1999 film starring Kevin Bacon.

Tom Wallace lived an ordinary life, until a chance event awakened psychic abilities he never knew he possessed. Now he's hearing the private thoughts of the people around him-and learning shocking secrets he never wanted to know. But as Tom's existence becomes a waking nightmare, even greater jolts are in store as he becomes the unwilling recipient of a compelling message from beyond the grave!

I am giving A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Echoes In Death by J. D. Robb

 

Echos In Death by J. D. Robb is the third novel in the 'In Death' series I've listened to this year. Echos In Death by J. D. Robb is narrated once again by Susan Ericksen and she does a lovely job with the narration. Listening time for this novel is 13 hours, 43 minutes.

Of the three 'In Death' novels I've listened to this year, Echos In Death by J. D. Robb is the best. I enjoyed the storyline, characters, and writing.

The following is the publisher's summary for Echos In Death by J. D. Robb found on Chirp's website:

After a party in New York, Lieutenant Eve Dallas rides home with her billionaire husband, Roarke, happy to be done with cocktails and small talk.

After another party, not far away, a woman retires to her bedroom with her husband-and walks into a brutal nightmare.

Their paths are about to collide…

When the young woman-dazed, naked, and bloody-wanders in front of their car, Roarke slams on the brakes just in time, and Eve, still in glittering gown and heels, springs into action. It’s been a long night for the tired homicide cop, and it’s far from over.

Daphne Strazza is rushed to the ER, but it’s too late for Dr. Anthony Strazza. A brilliant orthopedic surgeon, he now lies dead amid the wreckage of his obsessively organized town house, his three safes opened and emptied. Daphne would be a valuable witness, but in her terror and shock the only description of the perp she can offer is repeatedly calling him “the devil” …

While it emerges that Dr. Strazza was cold, controlling, and widely disliked-and that he treated Daphne like a trophy wife-this is one case where the evidence doesn’t point to the spouse as the first suspect. So Eve and her team must get started on the legwork, interviewing everyone from dinner-party guests to professional colleagues to caterers, in a desperate race to answer some crucial questions:

What does the devil look like? And where will he show up next?

I am giving Echos In Death by J. D. Robb a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

 

Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith is another one of those novels that has been siting in my 'to be read' pile for 9-10 years or perhaps even longer. 

I FINALLY made time to listen to the unabridged audio version of Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter this month. I wasn't disappointed at all with this historical fiction/thriller/horror novel as it far exceeded my expectations of it. The writing is excellent... And the the plot, storyline, and character development were engrossing throughout the novel itself. 

I wasn't entirely sure what I was expecting when I first began listening to Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter, but I found the novel to be engrossing from the very start and also well narrated by Scott Holst. 

The novel chronicles the life of Abraham Lincoln from his youth through to his assassination. I liked that the novel focuses MAINLY on the life and times of Abraham Lincoln. The novel itself mostly reads like a biography with vampires added in an interesting fashion that almost (and I emphasize the word 'almost') makes it seems like the existence of vampires could possibly be credible. Vampires are not romanticized is this novel like they have been in so many works of fiction, which makes for a refreshing take on the topic of vampires in general.

I felt like the ending for Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter was a bit soft though. Perhaps the author could have written the ending differently for a stronger impact, instead of the ending that it was. If you've read Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter, what did you think of the ending?

I do LOVE the cover art for Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter. I was thrilled to discover a photo that shows both the front cover and back cover of this novel to share in my review. Yes, it's a bit gory, but seems appropriate for the title and topic of the novel.

Below is the publisher's summary for Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith I found on Chirp's website:

Indiana. Moonlight falls through the dense woods that surround a one-room cabin, where a nine-year-old Abraham Lincoln kneels at his suffering mother’s bedside. She’s been stricken with something the old-timers call “Milk Sickness.” “My baby boy…” she whispers before dying. Only later will the grieving Abe learn that his mother’s fatal affliction was actually the work of a vampire. When the truth becomes known to young Lincoln, he writes in his journal, ”henceforth my life shall be one of rigorous study and devotion. I shall become a master of mind and body. And this mastery shall have but one purpose…” Gifted with his legendary height, strength, and skill with an ax, Abe sets out on a path of vengeance that will lead him all the way to the White House. While Abraham Lincoln is widely lauded for saving a and freeing millions of slaves, his valiant fight against the forces of the undead has remained in the shadows for hundreds of years. That is, until Seth Grahame-Smith stumbled upon The Secret Journal of Abraham Lincoln, and became the first living person to lay eyes on it in more than 140 years. Using the journal as his guide and writing in the grand biographical style of Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough, Seth has reconstructed the true life story of our greatest president for the first time-all while revealing the hidden history behind the Civil War and uncovering the role vampires played in the birth, growth, and near-death of our nation.

I am giving Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Dark Reservations by John Fortunato

Dark Reservations by John Fortunato is the first book I read/listened to for the month of November 2023. John Fortunato is a new to me author and the plot summary for Dark Reservations sounded really good, so I decided to give this mystery/thriller novel a go. I wasn't disappointed!

Dark Reservations by John Fortunato is a good read. It has an interesting storyline with appropriate plot twists. I liked the main character as well as the supporting cast of characters. The writing is solid. The novel itself is well paced and has a satisfying ending to round things out.

Below is the publisher's plot summary for Dark Reservations by John Fortunato I discovered on Chirp's website:

“An insightful take on life in the Southwest.” —Gene Hackman. Bureau of Indian Affairs special agent Joe Evers still mourns the death of his wife and, after a bungled investigation, faces a forced early retirement. What he needs is a new career, not another case. But when Congressman Arlen Edgerton’s bullet-riddled Lincoln turns up on the Navajo reservation—twenty years after he disappeared during a corruption probe—Joe must resurrect his failing career to solve the mysterious cold case.Joe partners with Navajo tribal officer Randall Bluehorse, his investigation antagonizes potential suspects, including a wealthy art collector, a former president of the Navajo Nation, a powerful U.S. senator, and Edgerton’s widow, who is now the front-runner in the New Mexico governor’s race. An unexpected romance further complicates both the investigation and Joe’s troubled relationship with his daughter, forcing him to confront his emotional demons while on the trail of a ruthless killer.Joe uncovers a murderous conspiracy that leads him from ancient Anasazi burial grounds on the Navajo Nation to backroom deals in Washington, D.C. Along the way, he delves into the dangerous world of black market trade in Native American artifacts. Can he unravel the mystery and bring the true criminal to justice, or will he become another silenced victim?

I am giving Dark Reservations by John Fortunato a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

 

Yes to FINALLY reading City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson and narrated by Pascale Armand!!! This young adult novel has been in my 'to be read' pile for a number of years now before getting around to reading it by the end of August this year.

I love the narration for the City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson. A good narrator always makes for a pleasurable listening experience. I liked the storyline for this young adult, mystery/thriller novel as well. 

City of Saints & Thieves is set in Africa, primarily in Kenya and also in the Congo as well. The exotic setting/locale made for interesting reading as one sees a different way of life being portrayed in this novel. 

I liked the main character, Tina, aka Tiny Girl, for City of Saints & Thieves quite a bit. Tina is a strong, resourceful, female character in her teens. Tina is living on the streets as a thief for the Goondas in Sangui City, Kenya to support herself. Tina (and her younger sister's) mother has been murdered. Tina strongly suspects that her mother's murderer is Roland Greyhill, the man her mother worked for as a maid. Her mother was also having an affair with Roland Greyhill. Tina had overheard Mr. Greyhill telling her mother that he was going to kill her. Tina is set on revenge to kill Roland Greyhill for killing her mother with the help of the her Goondas' cohorts. But, of course, things don't work out as expected, which is half the fun of the novel!

The action and pacing for City of Saints & Thieves is pretty steady throughout. I found myself wanting to keep listening to this novel to find out what was going to happen next to the characters as well as to whether Roland Greyhill was the murderer of Tina's mother or not. There are many twists and turns throughout this novel, which kept things captivating.

Below is the plot summary for City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson from Goodreads:

In the shadows of Sangui City, there lives a girl who doesn't exist. After fleeing the Congo as refugees, Tina and her mother arrived in Kenya looking for the chance to build a new life and home. Her mother quickly found work as a maid for a prominent family, headed by Roland Greyhill, one of the city’s most respected business leaders. But Tina soon learns that the Greyhill fortune was made from a life of corruption and crime. So when her mother is found shot to death in Mr. Greyhill's personal study, she knows exactly who’s behind it.

With revenge always on her mind, Tina spends the next four years surviving on the streets alone, working as a master thief for the Goondas, Sangui City’s local gang. It’s a job for the Goondas that finally brings Tina back to the Greyhill estate, giving her the chance for vengeance she’s been waiting for. But as soon as she steps inside the lavish home, she’s overtaken by the pain of old wounds and the pull of past friendships, setting into motion a dangerous cascade of events that could, at any moment, cost Tina her life. But finally uncovering the incredible truth about who killed her mother—and why—keeps her holding on in this fast-paced nail-biting thriller.

I am giving City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!