“The house on Biscayne Bay” Chanel Cleeton

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Berkley (Penguin Random House). (Includes “Author’s Note.”) To be published April 9, 2024.

Henry Flagler had just built his railroad, and people were starting to trek down to Southern Florida. After twenty-two years of marriage Anne thought she knew her husband very well but was shocked when he presented her with “Marbrisa” by Biscayne Bay. She hated Florida on sight and couldn’t understand why he’d want to build a lavish 61 room home in the middle of nowhere. With the Great War over he believed Florida was going to be a huge tourist draw and was determined to build the biggest house in Miami as his legacy. Anna didn’t know that, because of him, Marbrisa would forever be associated with the events of one spine-chilling evening.

America was on the verge of war in 1941, and Carmen was on her way from Havana to join her sister Caroline in Florida after her parent’s deaths. Her older sister had married a rich American who bought a huge estate named “Marbrisa,” which was unwelcoming and foreboding. When Carmen found out animals were being killed and two women had been murdered there over the years, she was fearful. Within days her life was turned upside down and, as she tried to figure out who was behind the catastrophe, she didn’t know the killer had his eyes set on her.

This page-turning thriller told through Carmen and Anna’s alternating voices had me sitting on the edge of my seat. I was sure I knew who the murderer was but kept being foiled. The author did a great job keeping that identity hidden until the book’s final, gripping pages.

Highly recommended for Adults.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“I am not alone” Francisco X. Stork

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. Scholastic Press (Scholastic). 306 p. (Includes “Author’s note” and “Mental health and Crisis resources.” Published July 18, 2023.

Alberto is 18 and has been living illegally in the United States for three years with his sister and her young son. He works at odd jobs, sending half of his earnings to his mother and sister in Mexico, while trying to earn his high school equivalency diploma. Alberto was upset when he started to hear a voice calling him names or telling him to do bad things. Hoping to keep the voice at a distance he called it Captain America, but the voice grew louder. When a woman was murdered at a job he was working, Alberto couldn’t remember what happened. The police wanted to arrest him, but Alberto went on the run – hoping to prove his innocence.

Grace had her life planned out. In a few months she would graduate, attend college with her boyfriend, and become a psychiatrist. When her parents divorced, she seemed to lose focus. School and her boyfriend paled in importance as she struggled to figure out her place in the world. When she met Alberto, he was cleaning the windows in her apartment and seemed nice. They shared time together making pottery which he’d learned how to do in Mexico, so Grace was surprised to hear he was accused of murder.

His illegal status, the voices he heard, and the murder accusation were red flags signaling her to stay far away, but Grace was certain she needed to help him. However, time is running out because Captain America has decided Alberto doesn’t belong in this world and Alberto is listening to him.

Stork realistically portrays Alberto’s mental state of mind, while Grace’s character depicts a bystander who sees this struggle and decides to either turn away or help. Stork emphasizes not losing sight of the person behind a mental illness.

I believe this should be a 2023 Pura Belpre Young Adult Author winning title. Here’s hoping the January 2024 announcements from the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards will prove me correct. I will be in attendance that day to root for “I am not alone” to win.

Highly recommended for ages 17 and older.

“Out of the ashes” Kara Thomas

Rated 4 stars **** ebook. Thomas & Mercer.2023.

As soon as she could, Samantha escaped her dead-end town of Carney, New York and moved to Queens. There she made a life for herself as a nurse, always trying, and failing, to bury the tragedy of the murder of her parents, uncle, and little sister twenty-two years earlier. When her uncle’s death brought her back to Carney, Travis Meacham from the N.Y. State Police told her he’d been working on her case and had new leads.

Samantha was skeptical because a local police officer had it in for her family, so she didn’t trust the police. She was sure he had murdered them, especially when she heard more stories of crimes he’d committed on the job. She didn’t think Travis could add anything to the case. When she found out her former best friend was missing, she began questioning her old friends. As a result, another person disappeared, and one was murdered. Someone is not happy Samantha is asking a lot of questions about her family and the missing girls.

This was an interesting book, with a surprise ending.

Recommended for Adults.

“Cleopatra’s dagger” Carole Lawrence

Rated 3 stars *** ebook. Thomas & Mercer. 2022.

New York City in 1880 is a city of contrasts. The squalid conditions of those struggling for survival in its crime-filled tenements are contrasted with the genteel lives of the rich. Twenty-two-year-old Elizabeth van den Broek comes from a well-heeled family, but pretends she’s a regular New Yorker because she has a job her mother hates, and is not pining because she’s not a member of Mrs. Astor’s “Four hundred.” Occasionally she remembers her fancy apartment, rich clothing, and job are all a result of benefitting from her father’s name and wealth, but quickly relegates such thoughts to the back burner because she takes a train to work and doles out dollars and change here and there to those less fortunate.

As the first female crime reporter with the Herald newspaper, Elizabeth faces scorn from many who believe she doesn’t belong in a man’s job. Despite their disdain she’s determined to prove herself by figuring out the identity of a serial killer who is murdering prostitutes and leaving clues related to Egyptology. What she doesn’t know is that the killer has decided it’s time for Elizabeth and him to get a little closer.

I would have given this book 2 stars but, since I like historical fiction and it talked a lot about aspects of life in New York City during the 1880’s, I upped it to 3 stars. The reason I wanted to give it 2 stars was because too many events were tossed into the mix that didn’t have satisfactory endings or didn’t belong with the narrative. See below my spoiler alert if you want to read more about what I mean.

I will leave it up to you Adults to decide if you want to read it or not.

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I didn’t like how Elizabeth was assaulted with no follow through on solving the crime. Also, young John Astor had nothing to do with the storyline, so I have no idea why he kept being included. In addition, what’s the deal with Simon Sneed? He was introduced as “a sleek, slippery sort of person who seemed to leave a trail of slime in his wake, like a slug.” Elizabeth said she felt his eyes on her from her first day at work, and he made her feel “confused, flustered, and unsure of herself.” Lawrence puts him in almost every chapter, with Elizabeth reverting to the opposite of the strong female character she’s supposed to depict. I don’t understand what the point was of him leering and Elizabeth falling apart over it. Wasn’t she supposed to be a strong woman defying all the odds? Anyway, these are just a few of the issues I had with this book.

“Thicker than water” Megan Collins

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Atria (Simon & Schuster). To be published July 11, 2023.

At a very young age Julia’s mother taught her to never trust a man, and those words reared their ugly heads when her husband was accused of murder. Though Jason had a knight-in-shining-armor complex, and had disappointed her many times, Julia never thought him capable of murder. However, with Jason in a coma and the evidence against him piling up, Julia is filled with questions. Did she really know the man she married? Is he guilty?

Sienna would never believe her brother committed such a heinous crime, as he has always been her rock in every storm. Julia, her sister-in-law, is her best friend but is wrong to think he could have murdered anyone. Since neither Julia nor the police believe he’s innocent, and he can’t talk for himself, it’s up to her to prove his innocence. The police will serve him an arrest warrant as soon as he wakes up, and Sienna is determined to have evidence to prove his innocence. She will stop at nothing.

Through alternating voices, Sienna and Julia compete for the reader’s attention. Collins spins such a fine web of deceit that it’s not until the final pages we receive answers to our many questions. “Thicker than water” will keep readers guessing until the very end.

Highly recommended for Adults.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“First born” Will Dean

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Emily Bestler Books (Atria). To be published July 5, 2022.

For twenty-two years identical twins Molly and Katie Raven were each other’s best friends, soul mates and confidantes. Though they looked exactly alike their personalities were different, as Molly was withdrawn and fearful while Katie was outgoing and fearless. When Katie moved to New York City to go to school, Molly was devastated. She was even more distraught when she received the news that Katie had been murdered.

Though Molly was terrified of flying she headed to New York, determined to find out who killed her sister. After meeting Katie’s boyfriend, best friend, neighbor stalker and lecherous professor, Molly suspected all of them. Her investigations led to more questions, and she began to realize that Katie seemed to have been leading a secret life. Molly would soon have to fly back home to England and didn’t want to leave without answers but, on the eve of her departure, a few secrets were uncovered that forever changed her life and the lives of her suspects.

The author had me anxiously turning pages to find out who killed Katie. I gasped in shock when he revealed something I never suspected, then startled anew at other unexpected plot twists. Dean has a knack for leading readers down one path then doubling back and astonishing us with something new. He certainly had me aghast and dismayed. Though I wasn’t a fan of the ending, I see it as another way to appall his readers. Kudos to you Mr. Dean for a job well done.

Highly recommended for Adults.

I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Woman last seen” Adele Parks

Rated 2 stars ** ARC. ebook. HarperCollins. To be published February 1, 2022.

Leigh and her best friend Fiona were in their thirties and still single. Both were unmarried, but couldn’t find the right guy until Leigh hit the jackpot with Mark. Still reeling from his wife’s sudden death, and trying to be a single dad to his two young sons, Leigh was in the right place at the right time to pick up the pieces.

While readers learn about Leigh and her new life with Mark and his sons, we’re also introduced to Kai and her rich husband Daan. They’re the perfect couple, in love, incredibly happy, and with everything money can buy.

As if we didn’t need another narrator readers are now introduced to Detective Clements, who appears on the scene when both Leigh and Kai go missing. Neither woman seems like the type of person to run away from families and responsibilities, but something about the case gets under Clements’ skin. Daan doesn’t seem to be especially upset at Kai’s loss, while Mark is devastated that Leigh is missing. His sons are angry and sad, while Fiona is upset. Could one of them have had something to do with the disappearances?

The more I read the rambling and convoluted narration in multiple voices, the more confused I became as suspect after suspect were paraded out by the author. The circuitous narration wound around so much it’s a wonder the characters didn’t fall down from being tangled up in their lies. It did hold my interest, but I had several issues I’ll reveal in a spoiler alert that necessitated giving it 2 stars.

I’ll leave it up to you Adults to decide if you want to read it or not.

***************SPOILER ALERT ***********SPOILER ALERT*************SPOILER ALERT***********

I absolutely hated how the book ended. It was not at all satisfying, causing me to fling it across the room in disgust. I also didn’t like how the author never gave a hint of how Leigh wound up in the room in the first place. How could the kidnapper get an unconscious body past a 24 hour concierge? It had too many loose ends for me.

I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Her perfect family” Teresa Driscoll

Rated 5 stars ***** ebook. Thomas & Mercer. 2021.

Gemma was thrilled to finally be graduating from university. She’d just broken up with her controlling boyfriend, but had found a new love. Her happiness quickly turned sour when she realized she was pregnant and he was avoiding her. Gemma knew what she needed to do, but first had to make it through graduation. She then planned to face her problems head on, but didn’t know someone would try to kill her.

Rachel and Ed Hartley were thrilled to see their daughter graduate, never expecting their beautiful baby girl to wind up on a hospital bed in a coma after being shot. Who would do this? Ed had his suspicions, but wouldn’t share them with the detectives because he didn’t want Rachel to find out about something he’d kept hidden for decades. Meanwhile Rachel is hiding her own secrets. She’d allowed Gemma and Ed to believe everything was perfect, but the thought of losing her daughter made her realize secrets have a way of being found out.

Matthew had left the police force but, despite his wife’s protests, is drawn into the attempted murder investigation. When someone starts stalking his family Matthew will have to put the clues together very quickly before time runs out.

This fast-paced thriller, told in alternating voices through flashbacks and the present time, kept me on the edge of my seat as I eagerly tried to figure out who shot Emma. The author very cleverly drew me down the rabbit hole, leaving me completely unprepared when the killer’s identity was finally revealed. To Driscoll I say “well done.” 

Recommended for Adults.

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

“Welcome to Cooper” Tariq Ashkanani

Rated 4 stars **** ebook. Thomas & Mercer. 2021.

Detective Thomas Levine was not proud of the life he led in D.C., feeling as if his banishment to the hick town of Cooper, Nebraska was a suitable punishment. He soon finds out Joe, his new partner, has been working with a drug cartel and expects him to toe the line he sets, whether Thomas wants to or not.

When a young woman is found strangled with her eyeballs removed, Joe sets Thomas up. He knows the person accused of her murder is not the killer, but Thomas is not in a position to argue. Soon a friend of Thomas’ is found with the same M.O. but, this time, he plans to make the killer pay. With the state police breathing down his neck Thomas will have to move fast, but a surprise is waiting that will change everything.

“Welcome to Cooper” kept me guessing until the very end. I’ll admit I never saw it coming, so give the author kudos for the revelations.

Recommended for Adults.

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

“Choose me” Tess Gerritsen

Rated 5 stars ***** ebook. Thomas & Mercer. 2021.

Taryn has been in love with Liam since they were in middle school. Together, they left behind their little town in Maine to attend college in a new state to start a future together. But, during their senior year, Liam broke up with her. Taryn is upset their plans are ruined, so is determined to keep showing him they’re meant to be together. After weeks of stalking and obsessing over him, she’s enraged when she finds out he has a girlfriend.

Professor Jack Dorian loved teaching at Commonwealth. His senior seminar delved into forbidden love between men and women over the centuries, and he admired his brightest student who was able to see beyond superficialities in the literature about the strength of women scorned by their lovers. He never expected admiration to lead to an affair, but it doesn’t take long for Taryn to become incensed when he won’t leave his wife to be with her.

Jack and Taryn’s lives are intertwined throughout the book as they tell their stories in alternating voices. When Taryn is found dead the lead detective thinks it might have been suicide but, as she learns more about the men in her life and finds out Taryn was pregnant, she feels they have motives for murder. “Choose me” is a story of strong, powerful women whose voices are stronger than the men who want to keep them under their thumbs, but where no one comes out a winner. It will resonate with readers, and keep them pondering, long after the last page is turned.

Highly recommended for Adults.