Giveaway - Shadow Child - Rahna Reiko Rizzuto

Literary historical fiction. Sound like a read you'd enjoy? Then you're going to want to enter to win a copy of Shadow Child by Rahna Reiko Rizzuto. (releases May 8/18)

What's it about? From Grand Central Publishing:

"For fans of Tayari Jones and Ruth Ozeki, from National Book Critics Circle Award finalist Rizzuto comes a haunting and suspenseful literary tale set in 1970s New York City and World War II-era Japan, about three strong women, the dangerous ties of family and identity, and the long shadow our histories can cast.

Twin sisters Hana and Kei grew up in a tiny Hawaiian town in the 1950s and 1960s, so close they shared the same nickname. Raised in dreamlike isolation by their loving but unstable mother, they were fatherless, mixed-race, and utterly inseparable, devoted to one another. But when their cherished threesome with Mama is broken, and then further shattered by a violent, nearly fatal betrayal that neither young woman can forgive, it seems their bond may be severed forever–until, six years later, Kei arrives on Hana’s lonely Manhattan doorstep with a secret that will change everything.

 Told in interwoven narratives that glide seamlessly between the gritty streets of New York, the lush and dangerous landscape of Hawaii, and the horrors of the Japanese internment camps and the bombing of Hiroshima, SHADOW CHILD is set against an epic sweep of history. Volcanoes, tsunamis, abandonment, racism, and war form the urgent, unforgettable backdrop of this intimate, evocative, and deeply moving story of motherhood, sisterhood, and second chances." Read an excerpt of Shadow Child.

"Rahna Reiko Rizzuto is the author of the memoir Hiroshima in the Morning, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle. Her debut novel, Why She Left Us, won an American Book Award. The first woman to graduate from Columbia College with a BA in Astrophysics, she was raised in Hawaii and lives in Brooklyn." You can connect with Rahna Reiko Rizzuto on her website, like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

Enter to win a copy of Shadow Child using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US and Canada, no PO boxes please. Ends May 12/18.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover #208

You can't judge a book by its cover - which is very true. 

But you can like one cover version better than another.

US cover

UK cover

Karin Slaughter is hands down one of my favourite crime novelists. Her writing is dark, gritty and oh so good. She has a new book, Pieces of Her coming out in August on both sides of the pond. The US cover is on the left and the UK cover is on the right. Hmm...So here we go again with the 'woman's face' cover on the US cover. The startling green eye is, well, eye-catching. The fractured picture pieces illustrates the title well. The UK cover has a tag line that gives you a better idea of what the story might be about. But, I feel like we've seen the 'shadow of a woman in an ominous looking forest' cover before as well. So, I'm not really a fan of either cover this week. But if I had to make a choice, the darker colours of the UK would catch my eye quicker. So, UK for me this week. What about you? Which cover do you prefer? And plans to read Pieces of Her?

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover is a regular feature at A Bookworm's World.

A Breath After Drowning - Alice Blanchard

A Breath After Drowning is the third book from author Alice Blanchard.

Kate Wolfe is a child psychiatrist. A teenager is dropped off by her mother at the hospital Kate works at. During her inteviews, the girl reveals that she knows unsettling details of Kate's personal life - notably the fact that Kate's younger sister was brutally murdered. The man who perpetrated the murder is on death row awaiting execution - and still proclaiming his innocence. Kate is then contacted by the police detective who solved the case - he too is now questioning the man's guilt.

Whew, lots going on. A Breath After Drowning has a busy plot. Blanchard moves her story along with many clues and developments being added. I did find some of those clues to be just a tad too fortuitous and convenient. I forgot, I just found, I remembered. For this reader, the story seemed to bog down in the middle and started feeling repetitive. Things do pick up closer to the end. Blanchard does provide numerous other suspects along the way, but the final whodunit wasn't overly surprising.

I really never engaged with the lead character. I found her insecurities at odds with the profession she has chosen. And I questioned the hospital and therapy sessions - they don't seem to be realistic or follow protocol. Kate's personal life with her fiancé seemed forced and didn't make her any more sympathetic or likeable for me. They both seemed like cardboard cut outs to me.

For this reader, A Breath After Drowning was just an okay, middle of the road read - I had hoped for more. Read an excerpt of  A Breath After Drowning. I'm in the minority on this one - check out what others thought on Goodreads.

Over the Counter # 415

What book caught my eye this week as it passed over the library counter and under my scanner? Comfort food this week....what's yours?

The Comfort Food Diaries: My Quest for the Perfect Dish to Mend a Broken Heart by Emily Nunn.

From the publisher, Atria Books:

"One life-changing night, reeling from her beloved brother’s sudden death, a devastating breakup with her handsome engineer fiancé, and eviction from the apartment they shared, Emily Nunn had lost all sense of family, home, and financial security.

After a few glasses of wine, heartbroken and unmoored, Emily—an avid cook and professional food writer—poured her heart out on Facebook. The next morning she woke up with an awful hangover and a feeling she’d made a terrible mistake—only to discover she had more friends than she knew, many of whom invited her to come visit and cook with them while she put her life back together. Thus began the Comfort Food Tour.

Searching for a way forward, Emily travels the country, cooking and staying with relatives and friends. Her wonderfully idiosyncratic family comes to life in these pages, all part of the rich Southern story in which past and present are indistinguishable, food is a source of connection and identity, and a good story is often preferred to a not-so-pleasant truth. But truth, pleasant or not, is what Emily Nunn craves, and with it comes an acceptance of the losses she has endured, and a sense of hope for the future.

In the salty snap of a single Virginia ham biscuit, in the sour tang of Great-Grandmother’s Mean Lemon Cake, Nunn experiences the healing power of comfort food—and offers up dozens of recipes for the wonderful meals that saved her life. “The Comfort Food Diaries is nothing less than a tour de force by Emily Nunn, our most hilarious and touching food writer. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry...and you’ll get hungry” (Mark Bittman, author of How to Cook Everything)."

(Over the Counter is a regular feature at A Bookworm's World. I've sadly come the realization that I cannot physically read every book that catches my interest as it crosses over my counter at the library. But... I can mention them and maybe one of them will catch your eye as well. See if your local library has them on their shelves!)

Come From Away - Genevieve Graham

Genevieve Graham's latest novel, Come From Away, takes us back to the small fishing outport of East Jeddore, Nova Scotia - also the setting for her previous book, Tides of Honour. (my review)

Tides of Honour was a historical piece set in WW1 featuring Danny and Audrey. I was thrilled to see that Come From Away continues the story of the Baker family with the next generation. It is now 1942 and war is yet again raging. The three Baker sons have headed off to fight, leaving sister Grace at home to help her parents and work in the village.

Here's the facts - German U-boats (submarines) did in fact patrol along Canada's East Coast - and sunk over 44 Canadian ships, including the SS Caribou, a passenger ferry. But, here's the absolutely fascinating bit - Come From Away is based on a local legend that is very possibly quite true. In 1942, a small group of German soldiers attended a local Christmas dance in East Jeddore. And it is this incident that is the inspiration for Graham's latest novel. What a great premise!

Where to start? I love the setting. Having visited this area, I was able to easily visualize the village, the sea, the landscape and the beauty of this part of Canada. Graham captures the tone and timbre of those war years, detailing everyday life, the difficulties and heartbreak that war brings but juxtaposing that with the perseverance, community spirit and strong family ties of these Nova Scotians.

But it is the characters and their lives that make the books for me. I loved revisiting - it felt like catching up with old friends. But this book belongs to Grace - and her love story. 

Could this have really happened? I like to think so. Come From Away is a lovely story. If you enjoy historical fiction with a strong helping of romance, you're going to want to read Genevieve Graham. Read an excerpt of Come From Away.

And the title? Come From Away is a traditional term used for anyone who wasn't' born there.

You can connect with Genevieve Graham on her website, like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter. 

Unbury Carol - Josh Malerman

Josh Malerman's first novel, Bird Box, is one of my favourite audio books. His latest release is Unbury Carol.

At times of stress, Carol goes into such a deep coma that she appears to be dead. She finds herself in a place she has dubbed 'Howltown'. Carol's greatest fear is that she will go into a coma and no one will realize that she is still alive. With the death of her mother, there are only two people who know about her condition - her husband Dwight and her long ago lover, the outlaw James Moxie. And Dwight has just decided that he doesn't need a wife any longer, just her money. When the next coma occurs, Dwight declares her dead.

The dark, what might happen in the dark, and what might be hiding in the dark have been a constant in the three books I've read of Malerman's. This latest addresses a classic fear - being buried alive. Along with the something else that wants Carol dead...

Malerman has set Unbury Carol in an Western setting. I'm not sure if it's past or future as there are references to an 'Illness' sweeping through. But, this setting is absolutely perfect for this tale. Townsfolk, a sheriff who is willing to ask quiet questions, a dangerous trail populated by outlaws, an evil witchy woman, a deranged killer named Smoke and the outlaw James Moxie. Yep, he's the one you'll be urging onward. Will he get to Carol in time?

Malerman is known as a horror author, having been nominated for the Bram Stoker award. But, for me, his work is hard to slot into a predefined genre. His plotting is unusual and his premise and setting are unique. I had no idea where the book was going to take me. (Although, the publisher's descriptive phrase "Unbury Carol feels like Cormac McCarthy rewriting Sleeping Beauty" is pretty darn good.) Yep, it's a love story as well.

I enjoyed the multiple points of view in Unbury Carol. We get to know many characters, including some minor ones and I felt more immersed in the story with so many perspectives to draw on.

The ending is satisfying, but leaves a question with the reader. I know what I want to transpire - I hope it does! Another great read from Malerman. Read an excerpt of Unbury Carol.

You can connect with Josh Malerman on his website, like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover #207

You can't judge a book by its cover - which is very true.

But you can like one cover version better than another.

US cover

UK cover

"In this twisty psychological thriller from the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of The Girl Before, an actress plays both sides of a murder investigation." That's the premise of JP Delaney's forthcoming novel, Believe Me. The US cover is on the left and the UK cover is on the right.So....two different looks. Red vs. White. A person vs. a place. Snap judgement - I would pick the UK cover as I am v. tired of women's faces on covers. But that US cover looked somewhat familiar to me. It took me a bit, but I finally remembered the book it reminded me of - In the Blood by Lisa Unger. The UK cover is very similar in tone to Delaney's first novel, The Girl Before. Just a different shot of the same house. So, this week is kinda been there, done that for me. But if pushed to choose, it would be the UK cover. What about you? Which cover do you prefer? Any plans to read Believe Me?

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover is a regular feature at A Bookworm's World.

I'll Be Gone in the Dark - Michelle McNamara

I love a good, fictional murder mystery and rarely read true crime. But I was eager to read I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara. It was the subtitle that grabbed me: "One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer."

McNamara was a journalist and the founder of TrueCrimeDiary.com. I say was, as she passed away before her book was published.

Michelle's instincts and drive for answers led her to delve deeply into the decades old case of a serial rapist and murderer who terrorized California for over the course of ten years.

It was truly fascinating to see the timeline, clues and hypothesis she built from her painstaking search.  McNamara pursued the tiniest of leads, coming up with connections that kept moving her forward. Her investigative skills were truly impressive. And along with fascinating, I'll Be Gone in the Dark is just as frightening. Definitely don't listen to this at night. Alone. By yourself.

The timeline of the book does jump around - keep an eye or an ear on the heading for each chapter. Despite that, it's not a problem to follow the story at all - it makes for riveting reading or listening.

McNamara offers up pieces of her own life in I'll Be Gone in the Dark. And for this reader, it was this personal aspect that had I'll Be Gone in the Dark encompassing more than simply a 'true crime' label.

I did choose to listen. Gabra Zackman was the narrator. She has a clean, crisp, no nonsense voice that matched the mental image I had for the author. Her inflection captures the tone and tenor of the content. An 'easy to to listen to' narrator that did a great job interpreting a not so easy narrative. Listen to an excerpt of I'll Be Gone in the Dark.

Gillian Flynn provides a great introduction to the book. And the title? "He pointed a knife at her and issued a chilling warning: "Make one move and you'll be silent forever and I'll be gone in the dark."

The case remains unsolved......

(Gentle readers, this is not the book for you -  the cases are somewhat graphic in their detail.)

Over the Counter #414

What book caught my eye this week as it passed over the library counter and under my scanner? Oh, that cover image....

Cringeworthy by Melissa Dahl.

From Portfolio Books:

"New York magazine's "Science of Us" editor explains the compelling psychology of awkwardness, and asks: what if the moments that make us feel most awkward are actually valuable?

Have you ever said goodbye to someone, only to discover that you're both walking in the same direction? Or had your next thought fly out of your brain in the middle of a presentation? Or accidentally liked an old photo on someone's Instagram or Facebook, thus revealing yourself to be a creepy social media stalker?

Melissa Dahl, editor of New York magazine's "Science of Us" website, has. After a lifetime of cringing, she became intrigued by awkwardness: a universal but underappreciated emotion. In this witty and compassionate book, Dahl explores the oddest, cringiest corners of our world. She chats with strangers on the busy New York City subway, goes on awkward friend dates using a "Tinder-for-friendship" app, takes improv comedy lessons, and even reads aloud from her (highly embarrassing!) middle school diary to a crowd of strangers.

After all of that, she realizes: Awkward moments are opportunities to test yourself. When everyone else is pretending to have it under control, you can be a little braver and grow a little bigger--while remaining true to your awkward self. And along the way, you might find that awkward moments unite us in our mutual human ridiculousness."

(Over the Counter is a regular feature at A Bookworm's World. I've sadly come the realization that I cannot physically read every book that catches my interest as it crosses over my counter at the library. But... I can mention them and maybe one of them will catch your eye as well. See if your local library has them on their shelves!)

Then She Was Gone - Lisa Jewell

Then She Was Gone is Lisa Jewell's newest novel.

Laurel's fifteen year old Ellie Mack disappeared without a trace ten years ago. The loss of a daughter and sister has affected all members of the Mack family. When Laurel meets a man named Floyd and decides it's time to date again, she is stunned when she meets his young daughter. Poppy is the spitting image of Ellie.

All kinds of roads that this story could go down, isn't there? Astute readers will suss out the most obvious one as the story plays out.

There are multiple points of view in Then She Was Gone. Laurel and Ellie, but also Floyd and another protagonist. The timeline goes from a past to present narrative as well. All of the characters are strongly depicted and the reader will have no problem making up their minds about them. I did find Laurel's decision making to be a bit iffy. But, without those bad choices, there wouldn't be a story!

The plotting of Then She Was Gone was a bit predictable. But, I was surprised by the way Jewell chose to end the book. I wasn't sure about it, but it's fitting.

Then She Was Gone is an entertaining, easy read, perfect for the beach bag this summer.

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover #206

You can't judge a book by its cover - which is very true.

But you can like one cover version better than another.

US/Canadian cover

UK cover

"A remote lodge in upstate New York is the perfect winter wonderland getaway... until the bodies start piling up." That's the premise of Shari Lapena's forthcoming book, An Unwanted Guest. And yes, it's been added to my TBR list. The US/Canadian cover is on the left and the UK cover is on the right. Okay...so the colour tones used on both covers are in the blue/black spectrum. Title fonts are in white. But, I like the red of the UN on the US cover. I feel like we've seen the 'mysterious lit window in a house with birds flying by a dark tree' cover before. I much prefer the androgynous head in the armchair. It's ominous in it's simplicity. So, easy choice for me this week - US/Canadian. What about you? Which cover to you prefer? Any plans to read An Unwanted Guest?

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover is a regular feature at A Bookworm's World.

The Beloveds - Maureen Lindley

I love the cover of Maureen Lindley's new novel, The Beloveds. Those overgrown vines covering the door hint at a tangled tale within.

And it is. Sisters Betty and Gloria have never really got along. Everything seems to come easy to the sunny-natured Gloria, but not so for Betty. Betty is not one of the "Beloveds". In her own words..."I am not one of the Beloveds. You know those people with a star above their heads: loved and admired, lucky in love, lucky in everything."

Betty yearns for the day when Pipits, the family home will be hers by birthright as the oldest child. The house speaks to Betty and she loves it and the gardens surrounding it. But when the girls' mother dies, she leaves the estate to Gloria - and that does not sit well with Betty. Not at all.

What follows is a dark and twisted tale of Betty's attempts to regain what she sees as her birthright. Initially I could understand Betty's anger and resentment. But Lindley takes Betty further down the path of animosity and obsession than I could have imagined. Her schemes to take back Pipits grow darker and more dangerous. As does Betty's mindset. The reader is along for the ride as she descends into what can only be termed madness. And yet.....I still felt sorry for her.

"It's true that I have learned how to appear calm when I am angry. But that doesn't mean I don't feel things. To have my way, I practice charm, keep my true nature hidden. People find it hard to deal with a person who doesn't emote in the way they expect. The want you to empathize with their trivial problems. They shy away from superior intellects, so I find it easier to act the part of loving sister, forgiving sister-in-law, accepting friend. I'm a good actress."

The Beloveds is told through Betty's point of view, with Gloria's actions and dialogue as seen by her. I wondered about Gloria - is she really the 'Beloved' she appears to be? Or is she aware of what losing the house has done to Betty?

I quite enjoyed the descriptions of Pipits and the grounds. The house is also a character in the book, not just a setting.

Deliciously dark and disturbing. The publisher has described The Beloveds as "An exploration of domestic derangement, as sinister as Daphne Du Maurier’s classic Rebecca, that plumbs the depths of sibling rivalry with wit and menace." Quite apt I would say. Read an excerpt of The Beloveds.

Over the Counter #413

What book caught my eye this week as it passed over the library counter and under my scanner? Looking for a vacation destination?

Holidays in Soviet Sanatoriums by Maryam Omidi

From Fuel Publishing:

"Architecturally diverse and ideologically staunch, Soviet sanatoriums were intended to edify and invigorate

Visiting a Soviet sanatorium is like stepping back in time. Originally built in the 1920s, they afforded workers a place to holiday, courtesy of a state-funded voucher system. At their peak they were visited by millions of citizens across the USSR every year. A combination of medical institution and spa, the era’s sanatoriums are among the most innovative buildings of their time.

Although aesthetically diverse, Soviet utopian values permeated every aspect of these structures; Western holidays were perceived as decadent. By contrast, sanatorium breaks were intended to edify and strengthen visitors: health professionals carefully monitored guests throughout their stay, so they could return to work with renewed vigor. Certain sanatoriums became known for their specialist treatments, such as crude-oil baths, radon water douches and stints in underground salt caves.

While today some sanatoriums are in critical states of decline, many are still fully operational and continue to offer their Soviet-era treatments to visitors. Using specially commissioned photographs by leading photographers of the post-Soviet territories, and texts by sanatorium expert Maryam Omidi, this book documents over 45 sanatoriums and their unconventional treatments. From Armenia to Uzbekistan, it represents the most comprehensive survey to date of this fascinating and previously overlooked Soviet institution."

(Over the Counter is a regular feature at A Bookworm's World. I've sadly come the realization that I cannot physically read every book that catches my interest as it crosses over my counter at the library. But... I can mention them and maybe one of them will catch your eye as well. See if your local library has them on their shelves!)

Giveaway - If We Had Known - Elise Juska

Elise Juska's new novel, If We Had Known, releases on April 17th and I have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader!

From Grand Central Publishing:

"A literary tour de force from the acclaimed author of The Blessings-a riveting new novel about one of the most urgent crises of our time.

One August afternoon, as single mother Maggie Daley prepares to send her only child off to college, their world is shattered by news of a mass shooting at the local mall in rural Maine. As reports and updates about the tragedy begin to roll in, Maggie, an English professor, is further stunned to learn that the gunman had been a student of hers. Nathan Dugan was an awkward, complicated young man whose quiet presence in her classroom had faded from her memory-but not, it seems, the memories of his classmates.

When a viral blog post hints at the existence of a dark, violence-tinged essay Nathan had written during Maggie’s freshman comp seminar, Maggie soon finds herself at the center of a heated national controversy. Could the overlooked essay have offered critical red flags that might have warned of, or even prevented, the murders to come? As the media storm grows around her, Maggie makes a series of desperate choices that threaten to destroy not just the personal and professional lives she’s worked so hard to build, but-more important-the happiness and safety of her sensitive daughter, Anna.

Engrossing and provocative, combining sharp plot twists with Juska’s award-winning, trademark literary sophistication, If We Had Known is at once an unforgettable mother-daughter journey, an exquisite portrait of a community in turmoil, and a harrowing examination of ethical and moral responsibility in a dangerously interconnected digital world." Read an excerpt of If We Had Known.

"Elise Juska‘s fiction and nonfiction have appeared in Ploughshares, Gettysburg Review, The Missouri Review, Good Housekeeping, The Hudson Review, and many other publications. She is the recipient of the Alice Hoffman Prize for Fiction from Ploughshares and her work has been cited in The Best American Short Stories. She lives in Philadelphia, where she is the director of the undergraduate creative writing program at the University of the Arts." You can connect with Elise Juska on her website and follow her on Twitter.

If you'd like to read If We Had Known, enter for a chance to win a copy using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US and Canada, no PO boxes please. Ends April 21/18.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Need to Know - Karen Cleveland

I initially passed over Karen Cleveland's debut novel, Need to Know. I saw the phrase "CIA counterintelligence analyst." I'm not a fan of espionage/spy novels. But, I kept reading great reviews and realized the premise wasn't quite what I had imagined.

Vivian Miller is an analyst working on finding Russian sleeper agents in the US. She's hacked her way into a Russian handler's computer. And what she finds stuns her - a photo of her husband Matt. What will she do? Turn him in? Protect him? After all they have four children together.

Cleveland has penned a fast paced thriller, one that moves forward very quickly with each development. Along the way, the reader's assumptions and deductions will change with each new twist Cleveland adds.

The focus of Need to Know is not so much about the espionage - in fact I questioned whether Viv could have actually gotten away with some of the things she does.  But, then I discovered that Cleveland was herself a CIA analyst, so I will defer to her inside knowledge. Need to Know instead focuses more on the choices Vivian has to make and what she will do to protect her family - especially her children.

I chose to listen to Need to Know. The reader was Mia Barron. She was a good choice. Her voice is clear and concise. Her voice 'moves', conveying the emotion and action of the story easily.  Listen to an excerpt.

"Charlize Theron will produce and star in the spy thriller “Need to Know” for Universal Pictures."

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover #205

You can't judge a book by its cover - which is very true.

But you can like one cover version better than another.

US cover

UK cover

I was so excited to see that Emma Healey has a new book coming out. I really enjoyed her first book, Elizabeth is missing.  Two very different looks this week for the forthcoming Whistle in the Dark. (And I love that title) The US cover is on the left and the UK cover is on the right. The blue of the US cover is appealing. There are faces hidden in the wash of colour. The blue has movement, the font used is simple and suits the tone of the cover. The UK cover is busier. It too has movement with the birds in flight. I'm not a fan of the colours used though. But the tagline would definitely have me picking up the book. "How do you rescue someone who has already been found?" If the books were side by side on a bookstore table I would pick up the US version first. So, US for me this week. What about you? Which cover do you prefer? Any plans to read Whistle in the dark?

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover is a regular feature at A Bookworm's World.

Over the Counter #412

What book caught my eye this week as it passed over the counter and under my scanner? I'm fascinated by vintage trailers.....

Trailerama by Phil Noyes.

From the publisher, Gibbs-Smith:

"A celebration of the travel trailer’s unique place in twentieth-century America.

Trailerama provides a visual wonderland filled with fascinating and diverse imagery that will surprise the average reader. From sheet music to greeting cards, postcards to Hollywood, the travel trailer figured prominently in twentieth-century American pop culture. It’s put on grand display in this kitschy celebration culled from the coffers of Trailer Travel’s Phil Noyes.

Phil Noyes has been a television and film producer in Los Angeles for two decades, and produced a PBS special on the history of the RV in America called Mobile America. He cowrote the Gibbs Smith book Trailer Travel and also writes a regular column for RV Magazine called “Trailer Tribe.” He owns many vintage trailers, and his backyard could pass for a trailer park."

(Over the Counter is a regular feature at A Bookworm's World. I've sadly come the realization that I cannot physically read every book that catches my interest as it crosses over my counter at the library. But... I can mention them and maybe one of them will catch your eye as well. See if your local library has them on their shelves!)

All the Beautiful Lies - Peter Swanson

I would pick up All the Beautiful Lies on the cover alone - but it's Peter Swanson's writing and plotting that is the real draw for me.

When Harry's father Bill dies, he travels back to Maine to the home Bill shared with his second wife Alice. Harry doesn't know Alice very well, but he feels obligated to stay with her right now. He does find Alice - and her behaviour - a bit unsettling. When the police reveal that Bill's death was not an accident, his unease increases....

All the Beautiful Lies unfolds in a then and now timeline. We get to to know Alice from her childhood through to current day. No spoilers, but there are reasons she makes Harry uneasy. Her chapters were decidedly unsettling. There is another 'past' POV from someone in Alice's life that adds much to why and who Alice is. Again, I don't want to reveal too much. The present is the investigation into Bill's death and Harry's POV.

Oh, Swanson is a master of manipulating the reader. Just when you think you have things figured out, the story takes a sharp left. I honestly didn't see the first turn coming - or the ending twist. Another great read from Swanson. Here's an excerpt. (Gentle readers may find parts of this book disturbing.)

Thirteen - Steve Cavanagh

You know that little thrill you get when you realize you've stumbled onto a fantastic read? I had that from the first pages of Steve Cavanagh's latest novel, Thirteen.

This is the fourth book featuring Eddie Flynn - con man turned defense lawyer. Eddie is a great lead character - dogged and clever. He's impossible not to like.

A Hollywood star is accused of killing his wife. He protests his innocence, but the evidence against him is damning. Eddie is added to the defense team - but if things go south, it's Flynn who will take the blame. As the trial gets underway, Eddie has more than a few doubts about the case against Bobby Solomon....

Cavanagh's plot premise is just as clever. "The serial killer isn't on trial. He's on the jury." Uh, huh. Now how did that happen? The reader gets inside the killer's mind and motives through his own POV chapters that alternate with the trial.

Oh my gosh. Thirteen is so very, very good. The killer is truly devious - and downright terrifying. Eddie is everything you want in a lead character. (I'm going to be looking up the first three books in this series for sure) The supporting cast is just as well drawn - Judge Harry Ford was a favourite for me. The crime is fiendishly clever. The investigation is meticulously plotted. The legal scenes are riveting. Cavanagh's writing is so very, very readable. And edge of your seat. What more can I say - I absolutely loved it. If you enjoy legal thrillers, you need to read Thirteen. Start now - Here's an excerpt of Thirteen.

Who else likes Steve Cavanagh's writing?  "I've been tracking Steve Cavanagh for a few years now and Thirteen is his best, a dead bang beast of a book that expertly combining his authority on the law with an absolutely great thrill ride. Books this ingenious don't come along very often." - Michael Connelly

You can connect with  Steve Cavanagh on his website, like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.