The Night of the Storm - Nishita Parekh

The Night of the Storm is Nishita Parekh's debut novel. And if you're a fan of twists and turns, you'll find them here. 

The cover gives you a good idea of what you'll find inside. The storm in question is Hurricane Harvey and the house is where Jia, her son and other family members choose to hunker down - instead of evacuating. A perfect setting for a 'locked' room mystery. Because...yes, you guessed it...one of them turns up dead. So who is the killer?

Parekh's characters all have their own secrets and agendas. And each one of them is offered up as the culprit as the plot unfolds. This changes often and Parekh leads the reader down the garden path more than once. The only character I liked was Jai - and my thoughts on her changed more than once. Parekh takes inspiration from her own life, family, mores etc. and inserts it in her novel. "She (Parekh)  is a software programmer but a writer at heart, and loves writing about her experiences as a woman and an immigrant." 

I enjoyed the twists and turns up to a certain point - and then I felt they were becoming just too unbelievable. The epilogue cleans up all the questions and 'where are they now' info, along with another twist. And Jai makes a decision that I whole heartedly disagree with. 

The Night of the Storm was a good debut novel and I liked it, but didn't love it.

See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Night of the Storm. 

The Fourth Rule - Jeff Lindsay

Jeff Lindsay has created some great lead characters in his books. I devoured the Dexter series, but somehow missed the Riley Wolfe series. I've since caught up with the latest entry - The Fourth Rule. This is a series, but can absolutely be read as a stand alone. 

Like Dexter, our lead character Riley lives on the other side of the law - as a thief. But not any old thief. Sometimes its just to see if he can steal the unstealable. And sometimes it's a paid job. The word heist comes to mind and I truly adore heist books and films.

The Fourth Rule is told in first person. The reader feels like Riley is recounting a tale to us and we're privy to all the details.

One of those details are the self made rules that Riley operates under. Number four? "Even if you're the best there is, watch your back. Because somebody better is coming." Riley has an ego, but it's been earned. But - for how much longer? 

Lindsay has a great (and devious) imagination when it comes the heists. I love the details that surround the thefts and the sheer audacity of the attempts. Oh, his disguises as well. Improbable? That's the fun of heist tales - to do what they say can't be done.

I'm going to leave things there as I don't want to provide spoilers. The Fourth Rule was inventive, lots of fun and made for easy, addictive reading. And a great last chapter that hints at the future. Maybe...

See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Fourth Rule. 

The Déjà Glitch - Holly James

Well, the title and the cover of Holly James' new novel, The Déjà Glitch, give you a pretty good idea what will be found inside.

And if you still need a clue - I think this blurb from the publisher says it all.

"To break out of a 24-hour time loop, all Jack needs is for Gemma to fall in love with him in a single day. All Gemma needs is to remember him first . . ." 

This isn't a new premise, but James puts her own delightful spin on things. 

Gemma is a great lead character - one you'll immediately like. She's real and you want her to find happiness. And what about the the sidekick/bestie? That would be Lila. She's loud, outgoing and wants only the best for Gemma. Now what about Jack? Oh, he's a keeper! 

The fun is in trying to convince Gemma that she is reliving the same day over and over again. What will change the outcome? I'm going to let you discover that!

James has penned a lovely rom com read. But she also touches on some other relationships - notably family - and exes. 

And yes, this is one of those books where you can predict the ending. But it's the journey there that you'll enjoy. I do feel the ending could be shortened up a bit. But overall, this was the perfect book to tuck into my beach bag. See for yourself - read an excerpt of  The Déjà Glitch.

Dead Eleven - Jimmy Juliano

Dead Eleven is Jimmy Juliano's debut novel. 

I liked the premise of the book. Clifford Island is an insular, small island in Wisconsin that seems to be stuck in 1994. Willow Stone thinks the island holds clues, and maybe answers as to the death of her son. But something about Clifford Island is wrong...very, very wrong. 

Juliano keeps the reader guessing as to what that wrong is - and what's up with the throwback to the 90's. I loved the world building of the island, the town and it's residents.

Willow's sleuthing gives credence to her suspicions. But it also marks her as a problem. When she disappears, her brother Harper comes to the island to find her. 

The second part of the book introduces an alternative reason for the actions, patterns and rituals of the residents that would explain much. But is it reality or conjecture? Or madness? The next part ramps up on the way to the final answers. Juliano often touches on grief in Dead Eleven.

I know I've been a bit obtuse, but I'm trying to not provide spoilers! A strong debut and an interesting take on horror. I did find some of the same ideas to be a bit repetitive. And I found myself looking for a bit more 'action'. But overall, an interesting debut

See for yourself - read an excerpt of Dead Eleven.  And as always - stay out of the basement.  (And A&E have picked up rights already!)

The Secrets of Hartwood Hall - Katie Lumsden

There is no better book to read on a dull and rainy day, than a Gothic mystery. The weather in my part of the world was the backdrop on a wet Sunday for Katie Lumsden's debut novel, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall. The cover and title promised the perfect tale. 

What makes this genre such a favorite of mine? Well let me tell you... it's the historical time frame, the run down manor, the village nearby and it's refusal to have anything to do with the manor and it's inhabitants, the whisper of ghosts, the knock in the night, the mixed personalities of the staff, including the handsome gardener, the mystery that surround the Lady of the manor and her son and last but not least the new addition to the manor - a recently widowed governess. Oh - and secrets - lots of secrets!

Katie Lumsden's book is set in 1852. She has captured the social strata, manners and mores of the time period. Her descriptions of the setting(s) are rich in detail and provided strong mental pictures for me. The cast of characters is perfect and I really liked Margaret as a lead character. She isn't one to accept all of those rules and expected behaviors. Hers is the only point of view. Lumsden has taken all of those facets I look forward to and added her own touches to the Secrets of Hartwood Hall. The ending caught me off guard as I had expected a different outcome. On reflection it's a fitting one that's perfect. 

If you enjoy this genre, than this is a book for you. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall. I quite enjoyed this debut and wouldn't hesitate to pick up her next book. More please!

The Shadow Murders - Jussi Adler-Olsen

Department Q is back! I've enjoyed each and every book in Jussi Adler-Olsen's wonderful series. The latest entry (#9) is  The Shadow Murders.

For those who haven't heard of this series...Carl Mørck is the head of Copenhagen’s Department Q - a small unit of four that investigates  cold cases. They're an eclectic bunch and do things their way - which has not endeared them to the rest of the police department. But, what no one can argue, is their success rate. Their latest case is foisted on them by Carl's superior, Marcus Jacobsen. One of Marcus's first cases has haunted him for decades. When a woman from that case dies, he wants them to have another look. I'll stop there...

Adler-Olsen has crafted a dark, disturbing and devious plot. Parts of it are not so far from some of today's newspaper headlines. We're given a insider look at the perpetrator and their mindset. Scary...

The tension grows with each page turned. There's a deadline in place. Will Carl and the crew solve the whodunit it in time to save a life? Their investigation is hampered by a number of factors, making it even more of an 'edge of your seat' read. 

Adler-Olsen has kept the lives of the four characters current and moving forward in every book. I've always enjoyed the banter amongst this eclectic four. And especially Assad and his proverbs. I find their personal lives are as much of a draw for me as the cases are. 

While there's a satisfactory ending to the case, the door has been left open for the next book. Actually it's a bit more than the door being open. Metaphorically, Carl has fallen down the basement stairs. I can't wait to see what the next book brings. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Shadow Murders. 

Safe in My Arms - Sara Shepard

Safe in My Arms is the new novel from Sara Shepard.

The Silver Swans preschool is the place the yummy mummys want to send their children. Three moms have just enrolled their children. But they don't fit the mold and it seems someone doesn't want them at the school. Vitriolic notes are found in their kid's backpacks telling them quit the school.

The three meet each other and band together - they're determined not to be drummed out of the school. The thing is though....Andrea, Lauren and Ronnie all do have secrets that they don't want brought to light. And the person leaving the notes seems to know those secrets....

I quite liked the three moms, although I admit to having a soft spot for Andrea.
Each of the women bring a different mindset and skill set to the friendship. The reader becomes privy to what their secrets are as the story progresses and three new plot lines are added to the book. Things at the school escalate and the three friends seem to now be suspects. So.....they decide to investigate on their own. I did find I had to suspend disbelief in a number of situations, including the police investigation into the crime at the school.

Shepard is the author of the successful teen series Pretty Little Liars. I'm not aware of any other adult books that she's penned, but I could be wrong. For me, I found this book to have a simpler style of writing. The tone was what I would call light suspense, not the edge of your seat suspense. Shepard does throw some turns into her tale as the end draws near. And kudos for doing it for all four plotlines. I did find the wrap up went on too long for me as the explanation for everything that has gone on is detailed in the run up to the final pages. And she throws in one more twist. Not sure that last one worked for me.

In the author's notes at the end, Shepard says that "As I wrote this story, much of the world felt unstable, uncertain and in flux, though as a result, I felt even more inspired to acknowledge the struggles of motherhood and how it's not always about being the 'best' or 'perfect", but accepting where you're at and cutting yourself some slack." Safe in My Arms was an interesting vehicle to carry this message.

A good book for the beach, but not as suspenseful as I had expected.  See for yourself - read an excerpt of Safe in My Arms.

The Music of Bees - Eileen Garvin

Are you looking for your next feel good read? Looking to escape Covid for a little while and disappear inside an book? Look no further than Eileen Garvin's just released debut novel, The Music of Bees.

Alice has withdrawn from friends, family, neighbours and more following a series of heartbreaks. She goes to work and then goes straight home. She is alone except for her beloved bees. "Alice kept certain thoughts behind a firmly closed door in her mind..."

She literally runs into eighteen year old Jake one evening - and knocks him out of his wheelchair. Jake too has withdrawn from his friends, interests and his dysfunctional family. "He hated what he had done to his stupid life and that he had no one else to blame. He was broken in a way that could not be undone."

Harry has been living with his great uncle in a condemned trailer, hiding from his past, his parents and any social interactions. "Harry, stuck as he was between the recent debacle of his past and the uncertainty of his future, was happy to pause here, suspended between what he had done and what he might make of himself."

Three people that have no idea how to fix themselves - but maybe together they can find a way. 

Alice's beehives touch each character in a different way and become the propolis that cements their friendships. What is propolis you ask? Well, it's "glue-like material is used by bees to build their hives and fix any cracks and tears and also creates an even and hard surface inside the beehive." I learned that and much more about bees, hive life etc. in The Music of Bees. It was only on finishing the book and reading the author's bio that I discovered Garvin is a beekeeper herself.  Her knowledge and love of bees certainly shows in her descriptions and settings. Take the time to read the bee quotes at the beginning of every chapter - they directly tie into what's happening with Alice, Jake and Harry.

All three characters are so wonderfully drawn and the reader can't help but feel their pain and hope that they can heal and go forward. There are antagonists as well - some particularly nasty co-workers for Alice and a "nefarious pesticide company". 

Having a friend is the start and from there goals, a purpose, courage, happiness and yes, even love seems possible again for each of the three. The Music of Bees is uplifting, heartbreaking and heartwarming.  An excellent read - and especially now. Here's an excerpt for you.

In Case of Emergency - E.G. Scott

In Case of Emergency is the newly released second book from E.G. Scott.

As the book opens, we meet Charlotte. There's something in her background that she alludes to more than once, but doesn't define right away. She also is worried about her boyfriend Peter - she's not heard from him and is afraid he's missing. But he's told her his job is clandestine and she is not to worry when she doesn't hear from him. So, she doesn't go to the authorities. Instead, the authorities end up calling on her. There's a body she needs to identify as she was listed as the emergency contact. Problem is - she doesn't know the person.

Okay, I thought that was a great premise - so much could be done with this start. The missing boyfriend has lots of possibilities as well.

We also meet Rachel, Charlotte's friend and colleague. She too has secrets that end up taking a while to learn about. And yes, those slow reveals absolutely work in a suspense novel. But, I have to say the opening salvos were overly enigmatic.

There are many more plot twists and additions as things move forward. The red herrings were done well. But for me, it was tooooo much and way overdone. In the end, the final 'whodunit' was ridiculously unbelievable.

Here's the other thing - I didn't like either character at all. Charlotte is supposed to be brilliant, yet her actions speak otherwise. And this is just something that annoyed me - they two of them call each other 'honey' - over and over again.

E. G. Scott is the shared pseudonym of authors Elizabeth Keenan and Greg Wands. And upon discovering this, it explained much. In Case of Emergency reads like two people wrote it - and every idea that was brainstormed was included.

This one wasn't for me - but you can find lots of folks who enjoyed it on Goodreads. And here's an excerpt of In Case of Emergency.

The Last Act - Brad Parks

I've really enjoyed Brad Parks' last two stand alone suspense novels and was looking forward to reading his latest - The Last Act.

The premise is one I always enjoy - 'everyday guy in a bad situation'. In The Last Act it is an actor named Tommy Jump. The work has dried up, he has a child on the way and he needs monehy. Then he receives an offer from an FBI agent he knew when they were kids. Go undercover in a prison and cosy up to a banker convicted of working for a drug cartel. The FBI needs documents the banker he has hidden in order to bring the cartel down. The pay they're offering would set up Tommy nicely - and it's only for six months. Tommy takes the job......And you just know something's going to go wrong......

Oh boy! Parks has written an absolutely addicting read! Tommy is a great lead character and you can't help but cheer him on. There are some chapters from his girlfriend Amanda as well and I liked her just as much. The drug cartel is also given a voice. As we hear from them, it just ramps up the danger factor as we realize what Tommy has gotten himself into.

Parks put lots of stumbling blocks in front of Tommy as he tries to elicit the information the FBI needs. Often I find I can guess where a plot is going to go - but Parks truly surprised me with the first big twist in the book. I did not see it coming. And he follows up with several more twisty turns I had not anticipated. There are many red herrings along the way to keep the reader guessing as well.

And yes, some of the plotting requires a few grains of salt, but just go with it. The Last Act reads like a movie and I can absolutely see it on the big screen. Here's an excerpt of The Last Act. Brad Parks is firmly on my 'must read' list of authors - I can't wait for his next book!

The Woman Inside - E.G. Scott

The Woman Inside is a debut collaboration from E.G. Scott - a pseudonym for two NYC-based writers, one a publishing professional and one a screenwriter.

The Woman Inside is told from two viewpoints - Rebecca the wife and Paul the husband. They've been married for twenty years and each of them came to the marriage with secrets. And after twenty years, there are new secrets. Paul is having an affair and it looks like he's planning a new future for himself. Rebecca has a serious drug problem, but is not going to let Paul throw away their marriage. They're each capable of so much....

"I didn't realize what I'd done until many minutes later. Sometimes my anger is like that. The rage has been within me for so long....I've worked hard to keep it under wraps, especially from my husband."

Ahh, what follows is a lovely game of cat and mouse between the two. The reader is aware of what each player is thinking and scheming. There's also a back and forth narrative - giving us insight into the early days of the marriage.

But things takes a turn with an unexpected twist and the two are now forced to work together against a common threat. But the reader is still privy to that insider knowledge - and I could see what was coming. But I wasn't completely right - there was still another few surprises. You'll have to suspend belief on a few plot devices, but go with it.

Neither character is likeable and both are distinctly unreliable. The characters I did like were the police detectives - I found their back and forth banter quite entertaining. (Perhaps we'll see them in another book from this duo?)

If you're looking for domestic noir with some really nice twists, this is a really good bet. (But I'm not sure about that cover....) Read an excerpt of The Woman Inside.

The Woman Inside reads like a film - and TV rights to The Woman Inside have already been bought!

Closer Than You Know - Brad Parks

Closer Than You Know is the latest stand-alone from author Brad Parks. Last year's Say Nothing was the first time I'd read Parks and it was a book I couldn't put down. (my review) I was eager to read this latest - and I couldn't put it down either!

As he did in Say Nothing, Parks' premise preys upon a parent's worst fear - their child disappearing.

Melanie Barrick goes to pick up her infant son Alex from the childminder, only to be told that Social Services has taken the child. A large amount of cocaine has been found in Melanie's house. Police are on their way to find her - and Alex is gone. Melanie protests her innocence, but at every step of the way, the evidence against her grows - and her chances of ever seeing her son again lessen.

Great premise and Parks only builds the tension with every new plot development, ensuring that I stayed up much too late, reading 'just one more chapter.' Parks manipulates the reader with some red herrings, alternate paths and more than one 'whodunit' to choose from along the way to the final pages. There were a few plot points that I thought were perhaps a bit far-fetched, but I didn't think too hard about them - instead I just kept turning pages. And although my suspicions were proven out in the end, I really enjoyed the journey to the final reveal.

Closer Than You Know is told from more than one viewpoint. I was drawn to Melanie and her inner thoughts. I did find her a bit calm in situations that I would have been losing it. The background Parks has drawn for her addresses this. The next door neighbor Bobby Ray was also a character I quite liked. Amy, the Assistant DA was a character I initially had high hopes for, but as the story progressed, her tunnel vision frustrated me. But my hands down fave was Melanie's rumpled, unprepossessing lawyer Mr. Honeywell.

All in all, Closer Than You Know was a fast paced, entertaining read. Fans of Linwood Barclay and Harlan Coben will enjoy this one. (And this reader will be eagerly awaiting Parks' next book.) Read an excerpt of Closer Than You Know.

You can connect with Brad Parks on his website, like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

The Scarred Woman - Jussi Adler-Olsen

The Scarred Woman is the latest (#7) in Jussi Adler-Olsen's Department Q series.

Department Q is the division of the Copenhagen P.D. dedicated to the resolution of cold cases. The staff is not large - it's only Detective Carl Mørck and his assistants Assad and Rose. The characters and their interplay are the main reason I am so enamoured of this series. But the cases Adler-Olsen comes up with run a close second.

In The Scarred Woman, the body of a woman is found dead in a park. But aspects of the case are similar to an unsolved case from ten years back. And so the new case is assigned to Department Q. Young women are also being targeted in Copenhagen and Carl and Assad insinuate themselves into this case as well. As always, the threat of dismantling the 'Q' is there if the cases are not solved. Carl has a running feud with the higher ups and I always enjoy the sparring between them.

Adler-Olsen's dialogue is infused with a wicked sense of humour. The back and forth between Carl and Assad is a source of great amusement for me - especially Assad's camel analogies. Carl's inner dialogue is wickedly wry.

These two latest cases are wonderfully different. The young women case presents an opportunity for some social commentary - wonderfully shaped and presented with skewed thought processes and dialogue. The reader is privy to three sides of the story - from the police, the perpetrator and victims.

The mystery of Assad continues as Adler-Olsen continues to slowly dole out snippets of information about his past in each book. But it is Rose who takes center stage in this latest. Her troubled past has been alluded to in previous entries, but is fully revealed in The Scarred Woman. Carl's personal life has also moved along in each book. The supporting characters in his life are just as appealing - especially Hardy. And I've taken a shine to Gordon, the newer fourth member of the 'Q' team.

I love this series - the complex, unusual cases, but especially the 'left of center' cast. I will be eagerly awaiting book nine. Read an excerpt of The Scarred Woman.  And if you like the sounds of this series, I would suggest starting with the first book - The Keeper of Lost Causes.

Don't Let Go - Harlan Coben

I get so excited when I see that a favourite author is releasing a new book. I've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Harlan Coben's latest - Don't Let Go. And as always, I couldn't put it down - and finished it far too quickly.

Don't Let Go is a stand alone novel and introduces us to New Jersey Detective Nap Dumas. (I would love to see more of Nap in future books) Nap's twin brother Leo and his girlfriend were tragically killed when they all were in high school. It was deemed an accident, but Nap has always wondered. Leo and his friends were fascinated by the highly guarded government facility just outside of town. Could there be a connection? Just around the same time Nap's high school sweetheart Maura disappeared. For years Nap has been trying to come to terms with the deaths and the disappearance.

And then the past comes crashing into the present when Maura's fingerprints are found at a murder scene smack dab in Nap's jurisdiction. Where has she been? Where is she now?

I liked Nap as a character - he's sworn to uphold the law, but doesn't mind giving things a little nudge to get where they should be. He's got a dangerous edge that is hidden. In addition to a great lead character, the supporting players are just as well drawn and interesting. Even those that don't actually have a voice. Without giving anything away, I had formed an opinion of one character and found myself quite surprised when my assumptions were proven wrong.

Myron Bolitar's cameo was a treat to come across. Those who know and love Myron will mention the sense of humour of that series. Dark as it seems, Coben has infused humour into Don't Let Go as well. You'll also find a lot of well expressed and explored emotions - loss, love, grief, anger and more along the way.

The plot of Don't Let Go is quite inventive and takes inspiration from actual (and disturbing) events in Coben's own past. Don't Let Go was another satisfying read from Coben - read an excerpt. Can't wait for the next book!

Say Nothing - Brad Parks

"Their first move against us was so small, such an infinitesimal blip against the blaring background noises of life, I didn't register it as anything significant."

That's the opening line of Brad Parks's new thriller Say Nothing.

And then it becomes real significant, real fast. Someone has kidnapped Judge Scott Sampson and his wife Allison's twins. Why his family? What do they want? Money? No, it's something else....

Parks has crafted an addicting read. There's a nice mixture of suspense, family dynamics and some legal scenes along with the tension filled race to try and get the children back. Who can they trust? And who could be doing this to them?

"That was like the first thing they said to me and the last thing: Say Nothing. Say Nothing."

Parks manipulates the reader with some red herrings and alternate paths along the way to the final pages. Chapters from the kidnappers are interspersed throughout the book. So, the reader knows the danger the children are in even as Scott tries to fulfill the kidnapper's demands and not involve law enforcement.  I have to say, Parks caught me off guard a few times with some of the turns his story took - most notably in the final pages. I like unpredictable. There were a few plot points that I thought were perhaps a bit far-fetched, but I didn't think too hard about them - instead I just kept turning pages.

Say Nothing was an entertaining read that was hard to put down. And it raises the question - what would you do to protect your family? I'm looking forward to the next book from Parks. Read an excerpt of Say Nothing. Fans of Linwood Barclay and Harlan Coben will enjoy Say Nothing.

You can connect with Brad Parks on his website, like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Fool Me Once - Harlan Coben

Harlan Coben's latest book is Fool Me Once.

Coben returns to a format he does very well - a lead character thrust into an impossible situation that couldn't be possibly be true....could it?

Special-ops vet Maya has returned home from war, suffering from PTSD. Her sister was murdered while she was overseas and that only adds to her burden. Unbelievably, her husband is also murdered four months later. A caring friend gives Maya a nanny cam to keep an eye on the woman looking after her young daughter Lily while she goes back to work. Ready? While reviewing the footage from the camera, she sees Lily with someone - her dead husband Joe.

I love the impossible situations Coben imagines and following along with the lead character as she tries to unravel the mystery and find the truth. Coben has concocted another inventive plot, sure to keep the reader engaged. And in trademark Coben fashion, there's a nice little twist at the end.

But, what took this one from five stars to four for me was Maya. Unfortunately, I just didn't connect with her, even though I felt like I should. I also found Joe's family to be a bit cliched. And some plot points stretched credulity.

Fool Me Once isn't my favourite by Coben, but definitely an entertaining read for the beach. Read an excerpt of Fool Me Once.

You can connect with Harlan Coben on his website, find him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

The Alphabet House - Jussi Adler-Olsen

I'm a huge fan of Jussi Adler-Olsen's Department Q mysteries featuring Detective Carl Morck.

I thought it was the next entry in the series, but it's actually an older stand alone book from Adler-Olsen making a North America debut.

Two British pilots, James Teasdale and Bryan Young are doing flyover photo reconnaissance of a German town during WW2 when their plane is shot down. In an attempt to avoid capture, they jump on a train of wounded German soldiers. And finally in desperation, they throw two Germans off the train and take their places. Unbeknownst the them until later, the train is full of shell shocked SS officers bound for a mental hospital.

Teasdale and Young are too good at their subterfuge - they end up admitted to the hospital and subjected to treatment. Much time passes - until one of them escapes. And one is left.

I thought this was a great idea for a book. Indeed, it has its basis in reality. Adler-Olsen's father worked in a psychiatric facility and Jussi wondered about malingerers or those living out their lives in such a facility.

Once the two Brits land in The Alphabet House, the pacing of the novel slows down. Adler-Olsen draws out the time, echoing what the two servicemen would be feeling. There are many cringe worthy moments that can only make the reader appreciate that much of this is based in reality.

The second half is from 1975 when the the first goes back looking for his comrade. In this second half the pace picks up as we discover what happened in the last thirty years to both men. And how the past has a long reach....

The Alphabet House explores war, friendship and the innate desire to live, all couched in a tense, atmospheric narrative. Read an excerpt of The Alphabet House.

The audio version has Graeme Malcolm as a reader. He's one of my favourite narrators - his rich, sonorous voice easily conveys emotions and ambiance. And I love his accent! Listen to an excerpt of The Alphabet House.

And the next Department Q novel? The Hanging Girl is due out in September 2015. Definitely on my must read list!

The Marco Effect - Jussi Adler-Olsen

I stumbled upon the first book in the Department Q series back in 2011 and immediately became a devoted fan of Jussi Adler-Olsen. The fourth in this series is The Marco Effect, newly released in North America.

Detective Carl Morck heads up Department Q in the Copenhagen Police Dept. It's a rather small department with only three employees - Carl, Rose and Assad (who started off as the cleaner).

Although Dept. Q usually tackles cold cases,  Rose and Assad decide the team should tackle a missing persons case. And that investigation leads them to start looking for a young man named Marco. Marco is on the run - not just from the cops, but from his Uncle Zola - the leader of a gypsy gang. Marco knows about that missing person.

I love this series! Carl is wonderfully cantankerous, but is incredibly tenacious, determined to find answers. Rose is mercurial and combative, but brilliant. Assad. Well, Assad is a mystery. Over the last three books, hints have been dropped and sly references made about Assad's past. In The Marco Effect, even more is revealed. But the man is still a mystery. The three combine to make an effective if eclectic team. Although the upstairs bosses have decided that Carl's team could use another member.The bickering between Carl and Assad is humourous and Assad's camel analogies were priceless.

The secondary storyline of Carl's personal life at home is just as addicting. He shares a home with his stepson, his paraplegic ex-partner, the ex-partner's physiotherapist and the physiotherapist's partner. And Carl is hoping that his relationship with his therapist can step outside the office. This rich secondary plotline absolutely rounds out Carl's character.

And let's not forget the case! Adler-Olsen is wonderfully inventive when it comes to crime. This one is far flung, reaching from Africa to Denmark.  Marco is also given a voice in this book. We are privy to his thoughts as he's on the run, desperate and afraid.

The Marco Effect was another great read from Adler-Olsen. Read an excerpt of The Marco Effect. I can't wait for the next in the series. But Adler-Olsen has a stand alone due out in North America in February 2015 - The Alphabet House - that's on my must read list.

Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker - Jennifer Chiaverini - Review AND Giveaway

When I hear Jennifer Chiaverini's name, I immediately think of her Elm Creek Quilt series.

In her latest book, the stitching continues, but the story is much bigger in Mrs Lincoln's Dressmaker. Chiaverini takes us to Washington in the Civil War era.

I was fascinated to learn that Chiaverini's lead character Elizabeth Keckley is a real historical figure. Keckley was a slave who bought her own freedom with money earned from her considerable dressmaking skills. Those skills took her to Washington where she caught the attention of First Lady Mary Lincoln Todd. The business relationship evolved into more - Keckley became a confidante of Mary and was indeed privy to the inner workings of the Lincoln family. Keckley published her autobiography in 1868 - "Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House." I did go and read bits and pieces of Keckley's book. Much of Chiaverini's research is culled directly from this narrative.

The opening chapters set the tone and atmosphere of the charged months leading up to the Civil War. Although much of it is simply factual, Chiaverini gives us a different view by describing the events through the eyes of historical figures. I must admit that I started peeking ahead a few chapters. I am familiar with this period in history and found the opening chapters a bit slow and more of an overview. I wanted to get to know the characters more intimately.

We do get a more personal view once Elizabeth is ensconced in Mary's inner circle. But that view seems to focus primarily on Mary and Elizabeth's action and reactions to Lincoln's life and crises. Details of Keckley's life are woven in, I just never felt like I connected with this character. I wanted to - her story is fascinating. My strongest reactions were for the Lincoln's - the President is well portrayed and the reader sympathizes with the difficult times and choices he must make, Elizabeth doesn't fare as well - she's unlikeable and difficult.

Chiaverini's previous series also explore history, but are much loved for the warm female relationships, 'folksy' feel and the sense that you too, are sitting around the table with the characters. That sense of being 'in the book' was missing for this reader in Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker. I wanted more fiction than fact.  Still, it was well written  - Chiaverini is a talented wordsmith. Read an excerpt. A reading group guide is also available for book clubs.

January 2014 will see the release of Mrs. Lincoln's Rival - "the First Lady’s very public social and political contest with Kate Chase Sprague." You can keep up with Jennifer on Facebook and on Twitter.

"Jennifer Chiaverini is the author of the New York Times bestselling Elm Creek Quilts series, as well as five collections of quilt patterns inspired by her novels. Her original quilt designs have been featured in Country Woman, Quiltmaker, Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volumes 3-5, and Quilt, and her short stories have appeared in Quiltmaker and Quilters Newsletter. She has taught writing at Penn State and Edgewood College and designs the Elm Creek Quilts fabric lines from Red Rooster Fabrics. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago, she lives with her husband and two sons in Madison, Wisconsin."

See what others on the TLC book tour thought. Full schedule can be found here.

Jennifer Chiaverini fans will want to add this title to their library (and quilting aficionados - there is a quilt in Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker) Thanks to the generosity of Dutton Books, I have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader. Simply leave a comment to be entered. Ends December 14/13. Open to US and Canada.

The Absent One - Jussi Adler-Olsen

I read the first book of Jussi Adler-Olsen's Department Q series (Keeper of Lost Causes - my review) and just knew I would be in a for another fantastic read with the second book - The Absent One.

Department Q is the division of the Copenhagen P.D. dedicated to the resolution of cold cases. The staff is not large - it is only Detective Carl Morck and his assistant Assad. The characters and their interplay are a big reason I am so enamoured of this series. 

Carl is struggling with some demons, but he is a brilliant detective. He has trouble tolerating other staff and really other people in general.  Except Assad. We don't know much about the enigmatic Assad - although in this book Adler-Olsen lets us see a little more behind the ever smiling, tea bearing façade Assad wears. A new member is added to Dept. Q in this book - Rose - just as much as a (brilliant) misfit as the other two. And just as prickly as Carl.

In The Absent One, it is a closed case that lands on Carl's desk. If the case is closed, why is the file here? Who left it? And that's enough to spark the interest of Carl - especially when he's told to leave it be.

The case is the murder of a brother and a sister twenty years ago. A student at a wealthy boarding school confessed to the murders and is still in jail. As Carl digs deeper, he finds that the other students in the student's circle of friends have gone on to positions of wealth and power. But, there are whispers of violence around them. And the one female in the group is living on the streets, hiding from the police and her past.

Enough to whet your appetite? Good - because this is another excellent tale from the Department Q files. Adler-Olsen has imagined a frighteningly creepy plot - gentle readers be warned, there is a fair amount of violence. My interest was grabbed from the first page and held to the last.

Adler-Olsen has just released the fifth book in the Department Q series in Denmark. This reader will be eagerly awaiting the release of number three - A Conspiracy of Faith - to North American markets - due out in May 2013. Carl's life is taking some unexpected turns and I really want to know more about the mysterious Assad. An excellent series and definitely recommended. Read an excerpt of The Absent One.