If Something Happens to Me - Alex Finlay

I'm an avid suspense reader, so I'm always on the lookout for more! I have enjoyed Alex Finlay's previous books, so picking up his latest  book, 'If Something Happens to Me", was an easy decision.

The story is told through multiple characters. Five years ago Ryan was knocked out and his girlfriend Ali was taken. No body was ever  found - and Ryan was the prime suspect. And then he sees a man that he has seen before... And a cryptic clue starts the hunt all over again. 

A Philly mobster is the second voice and a new to the force sheriff’s deputy is the third. I really liked Deputy Poppy McGee! (Nudge, nudge maybe she'll turn up up in another book?) There's a number of supporting players as well.

 

I always like a tale that is told from more than one viewpoint. We're privy to what's going on in all three threads. Well, we do and we don't in this plot that is. By the time you get back to the first voice, things have changed. Finlay is a master at giving the reader many many twists and turns - also another element I really enjoy.

The pedal is on the metal in this suspense, action filled novel. An entertaining beach read for sure. See for yourself - read an excerpt from If Something Happens to Me. 

I also think it would make a great streaming series!  

The Boy Who Cried Bear - Kelley Armstrong

Oh my gosh, I have been eagerly waiting for the second entry - The Boy Who Cried Bear - in Kelley Armstrong's Haven's Rock series. 

Now, you could read the book as a stand alone, but you'd be missing some great tales in the books before this title.

What is Haven's Rock? It's a well-hidden town surrounded by forest, way up north in the Yukon. It's a refuge for those who need to disappear. Which opens the door to so many plots!

All of the favourite characters are back - notably Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton. The core group of supporting players are also back. But, there are some new faces as well. And for the first time, a child has been granted a place in the town. 

Max is only ten. When he goes into the forest, he thinks he has seen a bear. But when he goes back to town and tells everyone that the bear had human eyes, he is told not to tell tales. Yeah, you can see where the plot is gong to go, right?

Here's the things that I love about this series. The plot is never a straight road, instead there are new ideas, events, deductions and more that change that road into a winding path to the final answers. I change my opinion on whodunit with each new revelation. I really enjoy how Casey and Dalton think things through, coming up with new avenues. They're adept in reading both people and the wilds. They're a couple in both work and at home. Their personal lives move forward with each book.

The idea of that town off the grid is somewhat tantalizing. What would it be like to walk away from it all? Armstrong gives us a look at her idea how it might look - and how  it would function. There has to be some structure. And there will always be someone who says differently.

There's answers to the goings on in this latest, but the door is open for what's going to happen next. I can't wait!

I really like Armstrong's writing. Her books make for addictive reading. So, my advice would be to clear a day on your calendar, hunker down and make a visit to Haven's Rock.

See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Boy Who Cried Bear. An easy five stars!

 

The Expectant Detectives - Kat Ailes

The Expectant Detectives is Kat Ailes' debut novel. Now, three guesses - what might these amateur detectives night have in common? If you said 'they're all pregnant' - you're a winner. 

Alice and her partner Joe have moved to Penton, a small village in the Cotswolds. Of course! Penton is home to a varied (and quirky) bunch of residents. The population is down one when a local shopkeeper is found dead downstairs in his shop - while Alice is upstairs at the same shop attending her prenatal class. 

As they're all suspects now - (bar one) four of the women decide to band together to help the local constabulary find the culprit. The group is made up of a wonderful group very different women.

Alice is our lead character and honestly, her actions and dialogue had me laughing out loud. Ailes is a funny woman and writer. Now I have to mention the four footed character Helen - Alice's dog. Again, very funny. She steals the show in a few places.

And what about the crime? Ailes gives us lots of possibilities for the whodunit. And has us questioning just about everyone's innocence. It wasn't easy to suss out the final ah ha!

Fans of Finlay Donovan will love this new series. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Expectant Detective.

Dead Tired is the follow up to The Expectant Detectives, coming out on June 4/24. It's most definitely on my 'want to read' list!

The Curse of Penryth Hall - Jess Armstrong

It was the beautiful cover of The Curse of Penryth Hall that first caught my eye. As well as that little sticker letting me know that Jess Armstrong's debut has earned the 'First Crime Novel Award from Mystery Writers of America'. I was hooked before I turned a page.

The Great War has ended and Ruby Vaughan has found her niche, working in a rare books store and trying to just enjoy life. When the owner of the shop asks her to deliver a box of books to a small hamlet in Cornwall, she readily agrees, as it will give her a chance to visit her old friend Tamsyn.

Oh, all the bits of a gothic mystery are starting to fall into place - secluded village, a great hall that houses Tamsyn and her husband, old traditions and ways that are adhered to, a death and a search for the who, what and why of a demise. A curse! Delicious! Now, that's what I had expected (it's a favorite genre of mine) but... there was so much more added to the plot. A dash of a possible romance, a serving of other unseen happenings and so much more. Armstrong keeps the reader on their toes. And I quite liked the 1902 time frame. Murder must be investigated with foot leather, interviews, intuition and supposition. 

Ruby is a wonderfully drawn lead character. She speaks her mind - and that mind is very quick and sharp. And she does what she wants to, despite what others might think. She's got a sassy air to her that I quite  like. The supporting cast play their roles very well. But there's one player named Ruan Kivell, who is definitely more than a supporting player. He's a Pellar - a term I had not come across before. Ruan's addition to the main line of the book opens up so many avenues and possibilities. 

I was caught up in the tale, guessing who the culprit was until the last pages. And I quite liked the last bit where everything is accounted for, and what might be next for all of the players. I'd be happy to see Ruby again! See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Curse of Penryth Hall.

When I'm Dead - Hannah Morrissey

Hannah Morrissey's third book, When I'm Dead, takes us back to the town of Black Harbor. But, this latest book can absolutely be read as a stand alone.

Black Harbor is the setting of Morrissey's books, dark, grim, foreboding, dusty and dirty from the coal mine backdrop. A place that everyone wants to leave. As much as Black Harbor is the setting it seems to also be a character - with its own agenda. Here's one example - but there are many more.

"He knows the haunting air belongs to Forge Bridge which isn't far from here, its rusted rungs and railroad ties groaning and whispering, beckoning people to its edge." Shivers! I love how Morrissey has blended this into the entire narrative.

Return readers like myself will be happy to see that Investigator Nikolai Kole returns in this third entry. He's an excellent lead - determined to do the best he can, knowing that his window of leaving is getting smaller and smaller. Other characters from the first two books take larger roles. They too are well drawn. The reader is privy to their thoughts on the crime, the why, the self rumination. This plays a key part of Morrissey's intricate plotting. I also liked how tendrils from the first two books have insinuated themselves into this book. 

Morrissey's writing is unsettling and so addicting. There's no way to predict where the plot is going to go. There are many many choices for the final whodunit. I thought I had solved the case, only to be proven wrong. I love being proved wrong.

A gritty, dark tale that's another five star read for me from Morrissey. See for yourself - read an excerpt of When I'm Dead. I'm hoping there are more stories to be told from Dark Harbor. #WHENIMDEAD

Speak of the Devil - Rose Wilding

Speak of the Devil is Rose Wilding's debut novel. 

New Years Ave 1999. Seven women are gathered in a hotel room - along with the remains of a man. A man that all seven women have a connection to. Who killed him? Each women says they didn't. Does it matter? Will they be found out? Why are they all together? Why has he been killed?

It's this last question that brings us to know the seven and their connection to Jamie. Jamie - well, he's not a very nice man. Wasn't.

I found it a bit difficult in the beginning chapters to get a handle on and remember who was who. The eighth person is the female detective on the case. As the book progresses we slowly see learn about each of their relationships to Jamie - and each other. The women are all of different ages, so the book goes back and forth from 1964 to 2000, depending on who is 'speaking'. I think it's a big undertaking to have so many viewpoints. I found it to be very busy and in the end, I hadn't bonded with any of them. 

I think Wilding did a good job with constructing her antagonist. He was perfectly awful. I wasn't totally sold on the women and their situations though. Although they have been wounded, I was angry with more than one of them. I won't say why as I don't want to provide spoilers. But, no man is worth some of the choices made.

The answer to the questions above are answered by the last pages, but the ending was anticlimactic for me.

It's a good debut, but it isn't a standout for me. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Speak of the Devil. 

Gentle readers, there are many triggers and this may not be the book for you.

The Poisoner's Ring - Kelley Armstrong

The Poisoner's Ring is the second book in Kelley Armstrong's 'A Rip Through Time' series. Now, you don't have to have read the first book to enjoy this tale as Armstrong provides enough backstory in the opening chapters to catch up. 

In 2019, Mallory, a American Homicide Detective who went on a trip to Edinburgh, was attacked and left for dead in an alley. But, Mallory isn't dead. And here's where the series title comes in - she wakes up in a hospital to find herself in the body of a housemaid, who was also attacked in the same alley. But.....in 1869. What a great set up! 

From the outside looking in, she appears to be a maid, but once a detective, always a detective. This latest case is too close for comfort for Mallory's benefactors. I really enjoy how the cases are solved - which is the 'old fashioned' way - using deductions, legwork, suspicions, observations and more. Forensic science is in it's infancy and Mallory can help with that.  Armstrong always comes up with a well written, not easy to solve, crime. This latest is no exception - I changed my guess multiple times on the way to the final pages. 

I quite like Mallory as a lead character. We're privy to her inner thoughts as she tries to adapt to the time frame, keep up a façade and help her benefactors solve local crime. She has to think of everything - what her behaviour should look like, the language she uses and how to navigate in a past she doesn't really know much about. The supporting cast is excellent - the master of the house and his sister have skills and interests that intersect with Mallory's talents. 

 

I also appreciate the detailed description of the settings and the social strata as well. 

A unique premise, great characters, a keep 'em guessing mystery and more. I feel a romantic thread may develop in the next entry? The ending is satisfying, but there are still questions to be answered. The biggest being if Mallory can ever get back through the rip. And on the other hand...where is Catriona?

 See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Poisoner's Ring.

Blind Spots - Thomas Mullen

Thomas Mullen is a new to me author. His latest book is Blind Spots.

I was really intrigued by the premise. In the very near future, everyone on the planet goes blind. I love dystopian fiction and I am always fascinated by an author’s world building. Blind Spots opens seven years after 'The Blinding.'

Think about the logistics of society continuing on. And who or what is going to pop up ready to take charge. You got it - it’s not big Pharma but it’s big Tech to the rescue. Most people have jumped on board and wear their "vidder" which interacts directly with the wearer’s brain and allows them to see. But what happens if somebody takes that technology and abuses it? 

Someone does just that and it leave the police department divided. After all - can you really believe what you see?

Blind Spots was almost like two books melded together for me. On one hand, you’ve got the logistics of the tech, those that chose to use it and those who won't. This is the part that really had me thinking. What would life look like? (sorry couldn't help it) I thought the descriptions and scenes that depicted the blind were well done. On the other hand, we've got a murder case that's completely different and our lead is taking two steps forward and one step back in both his personal and professional lives. In this plotline, the amount of detail in identifying someone or something seemed like too much in my opinion. 

Overall, Blind Spots was a truly different listen for me that combined sci-fi, dystopia - and murder. 

I chose to listen to Blind Spots, which seemed apropos! The reader was award winning Gary Tiedemann. He's got a really interesting voice with a little something underneath. His speaking is crisp, clean and easy on the ears. He has interpreted Mullen's book well, hitting all the right places in terms of plot, action and dialogue. He has lots of movement is his narration. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt of Blind Spots. 

 

What Have We Done - Alex Finlay

Do you like twisty suspense reads? Yes? Then you need to pick up Alex Finlay's latest book - What Have We Done.

The book opens with a prologue from the past that sets the tone for the rest of the book. Five teen residents of a group home commit a crime that will link them together forever. Twenty five years on, they've all done well for themselves, but don't really keep in touch. Until.....it looks like someone else knows about that night. And they want retribution.

There are multiple points of view in the book. We hear from not just the five, but the ones hunting them down as well. As readers we become privy to information from both sides. The timeline switches from past to present and back again. I enjoy this style of story telling. 

Finlay expertly leads the reader down the garden path and provides lots of red herrings along the way. He also ends many chapters on a suspenseful note, ensuring I needed to just read 'one more chapter' before turning out the lights. Now, about figuring out the whodunit - Finlay is a master of the 'twist'. He caught me off guard many times and with each twist the narrative changed. I love being kept on my toes. 

The action starts in the first chapters and the pace never really eases off. Over the top in places? Absolutely, but it's a heckuva fun read. I could see this tale as an action movie. See for yourself - read an excerpt of What Have We Done. 

( Gentle readers, there are some triggers.)

Murder at Haven's Rock - Kelley Armstrong

Kelley Armstrong's 'Rockton' series is hands down one of my favorites. Murder at Haven's Rock brings us the next chapter - in a new location. (Squee!)

Haven's Rock will also be a town that doesn't exist on any map, completely off-grid, hidden deep in the Yukon. The residents? They'll all be running from something or hiding from someone. What will be different about this new town is that Sherriff Dalton and his wife Detective Casey will get to decide which applicants will be accepted. A number of Rockton inhabitants will be back as well. I'm glad to hear that, as I've grown attached to many of them. And not for some. But it makes for an interesting milieu. Oh, and Storm the dog too.

With construction nearing the finish line, Dalton and Casey head up to check it out. What they find is two missing workers....And with that, they're back into work mode. 

I love the idea of a hidden town, a microcosm of society, with good and bad. The inhabitants all have a reason to be living off grid up in the great white North. And that makes for lots of great, inventive plot lines.  Along with the mystery, Armstrong gives her characters detailed personal lives.

The book is told from Casey's point of view. I enjoy being with her as she investigates the latest mystery (okay, it indeed is most often a murder.) I like her internal reasoning and subsequent deductions as she investigates without access to DNA databanks etc. The mysteries Armstrong presents are not easily solved and I quite like being kept guessing. This latest is no exception. There's a wealth of suspects to choose from and my choice changed quite often. 

A great first entry in the Haven's Rock series! The door is open for the next book and I can't wait. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Murder at Haven's Rock. 

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun - Elle Cosimano

Elle Cosimano has just released Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun - the  third entry in this fun, light hearted crime series. 

I would suggest starting with the first book, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, as each new entry builds on the one before. That way, you'll know how she got into this mess....

Finlay is a mom of two and writes romance novels as her job. All is well in her world...until it's not. Through a series of crazy events, she and her nanny Vero are now adept at hiding bodies, but aren't killers. Somehow though, a lot of dangerous people think she's - well - a contract killer. 

What ensues is laugh out loud chaos - in all three books. The predicaments are far fetched, but honestly, the more preposterous the plot is, the more fun it is to read. This latest has Finlay and Vero still trying to fix what's gone before. Perhaps attending a community police camp might help them in finding and appeasing the 'real' bad guys. And bonus points for the sexy detective running the camp. He and Finlay have a complicated relationship. And really, Finlay also needs to do some research for her latest romance novel. Right?

It's impossible to not like Finlay as a lead. I'm not always so sure about Vero. I think there's much about her that we don't know yet. There's a large group of supporting characters that appear in each book.

If you're looking for a fun, light-hearted, escapist read, you'll find in this series. 

When I read the first book, I immediately thought of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books. Indeed, Evanovich has provided a blurb for  this latest...."Fresh, heartfelt and witty, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is a twisty page-turner, and its relatable heroine Finlay Donovan is irresistible!" —Janet Evanovich.

The Widowmaker - Hannah Morrissey

Hannah Morrissey's debut novel (Hello, Transcriber) last year was a fantastic read and put Morrissey on my must read list. Her second novel, The Widowmaker, has just released. 

While The Widowmaker is listed as a 'Black Harbor book', it can absolutely be read as a stand alone. 

The setting is indeed the town of Black Harbor, a dark, dirty, unsettling, foreboding place to live and work. Getting out seems to be the prevailing thought of many of the residents. Morgan Mori is one of the few who have come back to Black Harbor. When Morgan, a photographer, is asked to document the Christmas celebrations of the wealthy Reynolds family, she really has no choice but to take the job. She's desperate for money. But there's something just 'off' with them.

Investigator Ryan Hudson is trying to make a difference in Black Harbor. He ends up with not one, but two cases - one current day and another from the past. Those of you who have read that first book will be interested to know that Investigator Nikolai Kole returns in this second entry. 

Each and every character is the book is flawed, damaged or dangerous.

Morrissey's writing is unsettling most of the time, but addicting all the time. There's no way to predict where the plot is going to. I thought I had solved the cases, only to be proven wrong. (I love being proved wrong) Who is lying? Covering up? Keeping a secret? Who's the killer? Killers?

A gritty, dark tale that's another five star read for me from Morrissey. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Widowmaker. 

Gentle readers - this may not be the book for you as there are many triggers in The Widowmaker.

Outside - Ragnar Jonasson

Ragnar Jonasson is a new to me author. His latest release is Outside. What's it about? The tag lines on the cover say it all..."Four Friends. One Night. Not Everyone Will Survive."

Jonasson opens the book up with a prologue that will capture and hold the reader's attention. A storm, an isolated rescue hut - and something that shocks the four. He then takes us back to the day before and the who and why of the trip is detailed. The who is the important bit, as there are some dark undercurrents running through these friendships. Each of the four is given a voice and the reader becomes privy to their inner thoughts in the present as well as their past interactions. There are incidences from the past that are alluded to and the details are slowly doled out. And the masks of friendship starts to slip. Jonasson changes narrators at crucial moments, ensuring I stayed up reading 'just one more chapter."

If you like Scandi noir, you'll enjoy Outside. I liked the short span of time that the book is set in. In not even two short days, lives will be inexorably changed. Bad decisions are acted upon and the fallout increases with every choice made. The characters themselves are unlikable, each and every one. The cold of an Icelandic storm gave me goosebumps. I did find the ending abrupt, but on a second read of it, decided that it indeed fit. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Outside. 

 

A Rip Through Time - Kelley Armstrong

Happy Dance! A new series from Kelley Armstrong! A Rip Through Time is the first book.

2019. Mallory is an American Homicide Detective who has travelled to Edinburgh to say goodbye to her dying grandmother. She goes out for a walk in the evening hours and is attacked and left for dead in an alleyway. 

But, Mallory isn't dead. And here's where the title comes in - she wakes up in a hospital to find herself in the body of a housemaid, who was also attacked in the same alley. But.....in 1869. Oh, what a great set up! 

I really liked Mallory as a lead character. The reader is privy to her inner thoughts as she tries to figure out what she's going to do in the here and now, even as she wonders how she can return home. She has to think of everything - what her behaviour should look like, the language she uses and how to navigate in a past she doesn't really know much about. The supporting cast is excellent - the master of the house and his sister have skills and interests that intersect with Mallory's talents. How can Mallory keep her façade up, while still offering suggestions to the Detective in charge of the cases?

I really enjoyed how the case was solved using deductions, legwork, suspicions, observations and more. Forensic science is it's infancy and it too adds to the tools used on this case. Armstrong always draws the reader with the thinking and deductions of the investigator. Mallory reminds me a bit of Casey from Rockton. 

I also enjoyed the description of the settings and the depiction of the mores of the time.

Armstrong has given us a  unique premise with characters you can't help but like. The mystery and the solving of, is excellent. The ending is satisfying, but there are still questions to be answered. The biggest being if Mallory can ever get back through the rip. But on the other hand...where is Catriona?

See for yourself - read an excerpt of A Rip Through Time. 

The Night Shift - Alex Finlay

I was hooked by the premise of Alex Finlay's new suspense novel - The Night Shift.

New Years Eve 1999. Four teenaged employees of a video game store are attacked. Three die and one miraculously survives. The suspected killer disappears. Fifteen years later four teenaged employees of an ice cream parlor in the same town are attacked and again, one survives. Has the killer returned? Is it a copy cat?

The Night Shift is told from multiple points of view. That device really, really works for The Night Shift.

We've got Ella, the survivor from 1999. Now a therapist, the FBI and local police bring her into the case. After all, she knows what its like to be the only one survived. The FBI agents are a seemingly mismatched pair, but I really enjoyed them both. Keller is nine months pregnant and Singh is a newbie. Also involved is Chris Ford, a public defense attorney with his own secrets. And that brings us to the latest survivor. She's hard to read, initially vulnerable, then aggressive and she knows more about the old case than expected. Why?

I enjoy multiple points of view in a book. The reader becomes privy to information that the other characters don't have. And that is multiplied with past and present chapters as well. And I was pretty sure I would solve the crime before the final pages. Finlay expertly leads the reader down the garden path and provides lots of red herrings along the way. He also ends many chapters on a suspenseful note, ensuring I needed to just read 'one more chapter' before turning out the lights. Now, about figuring out the whodunit - Finlay is a master of the 'twist'. He caught me off guard many times and with each twist the narrative changed. I love being kept on my toes. And no, I didn't solve it before the last pages. 

A page-turner! This was a first read of Finlay for me and it won't be the last. I'd like to see Agent Keller again as well. 

See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Night Shift. Fans of Harlan Coben and Linwood Barclay would enjoy Alex Finlay.

The Deepest of Secrets - Kelley Armstrong

Kelley Armstrong's books make for addictive reading. But, I have to say, the Rockton series is my favorite. The Deepest of Secrets is the seventh entry. 

Rockton is a town that doesn't exist on any map, completely off-grid, hidden in the Yukon. The residents? They're all running from something or hiding from someone. Nobody asks too many questions. A town full of liars, thieves and criminals provides a wealth of opportunities for story telling. But even this town needs some laws - and someone to enforce them. That's where Detective Casey Duncan comes in - she was a homicide cop 'down south'. She and Sheriff Eric Dalton are partners at work - and at home. What a great premise!

This latest finds secrets being brought to light - and bodies to go along with them. The books are written from Casey's point of view. I enjoy being 'with' her as she investigates. I enjoy her internal reasoning and subsequent deductions as she investigates. The mysteries Armstrong presents are not easily solved and I quite like being kept guessing. This latest is no exception.

Casey is such a great lead - she's tough, intelligent and determined - but not perfect.  Her relationship with Dalton is well written. I'm not a big romance reader, but Armstrong does it well. Their relationship is believable, not 'over the top' and enhances the book, rather than being the main focus. There are many, many supporting players, each with their own secrets, strengths and weaknesses. They all have a role to play and I've come to appreciate how they add to the overall depth of the plots and the fabric of Rockton. 

Why do I love this series so much? I'm fascinated with the idea of a hidden town in the northern reaches of Canada. It's certainly a possibility. Armstrong's imagining of this is so detailed, from settings inside the walls and beyond. But there's another threat in Rockton in this latest entry. The council, who dictate from afar what happens in Rockton, have issued a new edict. One that threatens everything and everyone in Rockton.

The Deepest of Secrets was another great read for me. I have my hopes (and fingers crossed) for where Armstrong might take this series. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Deepest of Secrets.

(Although there's a 'catch up' introduction, I would start with the first book, City of the Lost.)

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead - Elle Cosimano

I had so much fun reading Finlay Donovan is Killing It last year! It was the first book in a series from Elle Cosimano. The second entry - Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead - releases today. And it's just as good as the first book.

Who is Finlay and why does she make me laugh? Well, she's a single mom of two, an author with an editor breathing down her neck for a new book (Finlay does take inspiration from her own situation), a sister, a daughter, an ex who is being quite a pain -  and a contract killer. Well, technically not really - but the criminal underworld she's blundered across thinks she is. And fair enough, as she seems to stumble across bodies with frequency. Finlay is just so likeable. Her struggles are real and she's a hot mess a lot of the time. Every lead character deserves a dependable sidekick right? In this case it's Vero, Finlay's childminder. She's clever, has a sardonic sense of humor - and seems to have some dodgy connections herself.

Cosimano's plotting is inventive, clever and engaging. There's no down time in this book - action (and a body with the threat of another) propel things along at a fast paced clip, Yes, some situations are improbable, but just go with it. There's a side of romance included too. And more than one choice!

So, yes - a humorous mystery with a side of romance. What more could you want? Escapist reading at it's best. See for yourself - read an excerpt of  Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead. And yes, this reader will be waiting for the third entry.

I do think, for full effect, it would be good to read the first book and then pick up this latest. If you've enjoyed Janet Evanovich books, you'll want to meet Finlay Donovan.

A Flicker in the Dark -Stacy Willingham

“A smart, edge-of-your-seat story with plot twists you’ll never see coming. Stacy Willingham’s debut will keep you turning pages long past your bedtime.” ―Karin Slaughter

A debut novel that has a blurb from Karin Slaughter? (And many others!) A Flicker in the Dark was a must read for me.

Chloe was twelve when her father confessed to the killing of six teenage girls in their small Louisiana town. Twenty years later, Chloe has tried to escape the past and the stigma, moving away and becoming a psychologist. When one of her teenage patients goes missing, it brings it all back. The similarities between this case and her father's crimes are eerily similar....

Willingham's lead character is wonderfully unreliable - a favorite device of mine. I love trying to see between the lines, interpret Chloe's memories, deciding what might be true and what may not. Alcohol and drugs magnify that unreliability. There's some gaslighting as well - again, another device I truly enjoy.

Willingham also gives us a myriad of suspects for the whodunit. The reader is kept guessing all the way to the final reveal with suspect behaviour, hidden agendas, ulterior motives and more. Willingham delightfully manipulates the reader and their perceptions with a final reveal that I only sussed out in the final pages. 

The premise of a serial killer father isn't new, but Willingham has put her own stamp on this idea. The writing grabbed me and it was hard to put the book down. See for yourself - read an excerpt of A Flicker in the Dark. I look forward to Willingham's next book!

HBO Max and Emma Stone are working together to develop an adaptation of Stacy Willingham's upcoming novel A Flicker in the Dark. Pretty impressive for a first novel!

Silent Parade - Keigo Higashino

Silent Parade is the latest North American release for award winning Japanese author Keigo Higashino. This is the fourth entry in his Detective Galileo Series - but you'll have no problem jumping into the story. 

'Detective Galileo' is actually not a part of any police force. Instead, he is a physics professor with an incredibly quick mind. His deductive powers could be compared to Poirot's. His good friend, DCI Kusanagi with the Homicide Division of the Tokyo police has drawn on Professor Yukawa's skill set before. 

Two young girls have been murdered decades apart. What they have in common is the suspect - and the investigator. DCI Kusangi worked the historical case and is determined to solve this latest.

There are many players in Silent Parade and I was appreciative of the list of characters at the beginning of the book. I liked the enigmatic style of  Professor Yukawa and the dogged determination of DCI Kusanagi. The family of the missing girl were very well drawn. The supporting cast is detailed enough to make each of them a suspect.

Higashino's plotting is detailed, intricate and downright devious. Just when I thought  had things figured out, he upended all my suppositions and the investigation headed in a different direction. This happened more than once - and I loved it! Higasino is a clever, clever writer.

I enjoyed learning more about everyday life, social mores and celebrations in and of the Japanese culture, as well as the legal system. Giles Murray was the translator and did a fantastic job. The prose never felt wooden or awkward at all. I enjoyed the pacing of the book as well - a slow burner that lets you become immersed in the tale.

I would absolutely read the next book from Higashino. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Silent Parade. 

Hello, Transcriber - Hannah Morrissey

The cover of Hannah Morrissey's debut novel caught my eye - and the description of Hello, Transcriber sealed the deal.

"Every night, while the street lamps shed the only light on Wisconsin's most crime-ridden city, police transcriber Hazel Greenlee listens as detectives divulge Black Harbor's gruesome secrets."

We meet lead character Hazel as she stands on a bridge in the city of Black Harbor...where the river is whispering to her to jump.

That dark, unsettling, foreboding tone and atmosphere continues on, living on every page. I was totally drawn into the story from those first pages. And the best bit of all was that I had no idea what was going to happen. The plot of Hello, Transcriber was different, unexpected and appreciated. I was caught off guard many times. Hazel was not what I expected at all. Her choices lead her into questionable relationships and dangerous situations. Definitely some 'don't go into the basement' moments.

The idea of a transcriber getting personally involved with a case was such a great premise. Fellow mystery lovers - can you imagine transcribing the details of a crime and following the investigation - let alone inserting yourself in it? 

The supporting players are also unpredictable and dangerous, each with their own secrets and agendas, keeping their own secrets. The city itself is a character as well, especially that bridge. Morrissey's description are visceral.

Hello, Transcriber was an atmospheric, gritty, addictive read for me. Kudos to Morrissey for a great debut - I'll be watching for her next book. See for yourself - read an excerpt.