You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover #226

- 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

The author of Big Little Lies, Liane Moriarty has a new book coming out this fall - Nine Perfect Strangers. The US cover is on the left and the UK cover is on the right. Okay, we have two very similar looks. Different fonts, vertical vs. horizontal. As a quilter, I appreciate the more 'rainbow' presentation of the colours. But I like the flow of the US colours. The US cover is a little softer with the partial blue background. The lack of background colour and the stronger font on the UK cover makes it more 'in your face.' I'm going with the US cover this week. What about you? Which cover do you prefer? Any plans to read Nine Perfect Strangers?

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

The Other Woman - Sandie Jones

The Other Woman is newly released from Sandie Jones.

Emily has finally found him - the man she wants to be with for the rest of her life. He's absolutely perfect. The only problem is  his mother Pammie...she determined to split them up. And Adam, so devoted to his mother, doesn't notice a thing. Emily tries really hard to win Pammie (this is just the perfect name for this character!) over, but is bested every time.

"I wanted to tell him what had really upset me. I didn't want there to be any secrets between us, but what was I supposed to say? I think there a chance your mother could be a vindictive witch?"

Oh, there's no doubt, Pammie is a real piece of work. She smiles to Emily's face and thwarts her at every turn. The nastiness only increases as the relationship moves forward. Jones's depiction of Pammie is downright disturbing. Just when I thought she couldn't get any worse, she did.

Now my thoughts on Emily. I get that she wanted to be with Adam (more on him in a minute). But for the life of me I couldn't understand why she didn't turn tail and run. The behaviour, the apron strings and the devotion was way beyond the norm. This reader would have packed up the suitcase and let out a big sigh. I think Emily saw it as a competition with only one winner to be left standing at the end. And....Adam. Okay, in my eyes he was no prize. I think Emily had her blinders on and her game plan wasn't going to change. Some of his behaviour should have also had her putting on her boots. So, unlikable characters all round for me.

But... I couldn't stop turning pages! I wanted to know how far things would go. Who would 'win'. Jones throws in a twist and turn at the end that will change your thoughts on what you've read. Nicely done! Here's an excerpt of The Other Woman. #bewareofpammie

Over the Counter #432

What book caught my eye this week? Well, I actually found this one on a new book list online, not at the library...fill r up!

It's A Gas!: The Allure of the Gas Station Hardcover by Sascha Friesike.

From Gestalten Publishing:

"The first gasoline was sold in pharmacies—but this was to change in the 1950s. As the car experienced its great rise in popularity, gas stations began to pop up like mushrooms out of the ground. Futuristic and progressive, these modern temples of mobility became roadside reference points for young people hungry for independence, and to everyone who strove for a sense of freedom.

It’s a Gas! explores the surprisingly diverse world of the gas station—a functional high tech temple, a transit zone, a film set, a converted residence, or an abandoned ruin hidden in a backyard. The world of pumps is full of surprises, ready to be discovered in this book."

(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!)

Vox - Christina Dalcher

You’ve read The Handmaid's Tale and you're caught up on the last episode of the series. Now what? Here’s one that might fill the bill - Vox by Christina Dalcher.

It’s not hard to imagine a future (present or past) where women’s lives are controlled by men. And how is that control achieved in Vox? By language - the lack of, to be precise. In Vox women are only allowed 100 words a day. They wear a silver band on their wrist that shocks them if they go over that limit, increasing in voltage with every word above the limit. It's all part of a return to 'traditional values'. "Pure"

Jeanne McClellan was a neurolinguist before her voice was taken away. It is only when the new president needs a cure for his brother that her bracelet is taken off and she’s brought in to resume work on her research - restoring language to brain-damaged individuals. But with every suppression...there's resistance. Vox details a time in the near future that isn't too hard to imagine.

I enjoyed Dalcher's world building. And yes, it's not much of a stretch to see the traditional value, male dominated society. Dalcher herself has worked in the linguistics field and that knowledge gave the plot depth and detail. There's lots of action as the tension ramps up to the final 'showdown'. The author has created a good cast of characters in both Jeanne and supporting players. I did find myself more drawn to those supporters though, instead of  Jeanne. I didn't agree with some of her decisions or treatment of other resistance members.

Some developments and plot directions seemed a bit quick,  if you will. There were points where I felt there should be more plausibility built in. But, on reading the publisher's notes, I learned that Vox was written in two months - which is pretty darn amazing.

There's lots of food for thought in Vox, mirroring many of today's news headlines. I was thoroughly entertained  by Vox and would be curious to see what Dalcher writes next. Here's an excerpt of Vox. (And that cover is great isn't it?!)

Giveaway - Rush - Lisa Patton

Don't you love the cover of Lisa Patton's new novel Rush? It just invites you up the steps and into a great story! And I have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader!

What's it about? From St. Martin's Press:

"Set in modern day Oxford, Mississippi, on the Ole Miss campus, bestselling author Lisa Patton’s Rush is a story about women—from both ends of the social ladder—discovering their voices and their empowerment.

Cali Watkins possesses all the qualities sororities are looking for in a potential new member. She’s kind and intelligent, makes friends easily, even plans to someday run for governor. But her resume lacks a vital ingredient. Pedigree. Without family money Cali's chances of sorority membership are already thin, but she has an even bigger problem. If anyone discovers the dark family secrets she's hiding, she’ll be dropped from Rush in an instant.

When Lilith Whitmore, the well-heeled House Corp President of Alpha Delta Beta, one of the premiere sororities on campus, appoints recent empty-nester Wilda to the Rush Advisory Board, Wilda can hardly believe her luck. What’s more, Lilith suggests their daughters, both incoming freshman, room together. What Wilda doesn’t know is that it's all part of Lilith’s plan to ensure her own daughter receives an Alpha Delt bid—no matter what.

For twenty-five years, Miss Pearl—as her “babies” like to call her—has been housekeeper and a second mother to the Alpha Delt girls, even though it reminds her of a painful part of her past she’ll never forget. When an opportunity for promotion arises, it seems a natural fit. But Lilith Whitmore slams her Prada heel down fast, crushing Miss Pearl’s hopes of a better future. When Wilda and the girls find out, they devise a plan destined to change Alpha Delta Beta—and maybe the entire Greek system—forever.

Achingly poignant, yet laugh-out-loud funny, Rush takes a sharp nuanced look at a centuries-old tradition while exploring the complex, intimate relationships between mothers and daughters and female friends. Brimming with heart and hope for a better tomorrow, Rush is an uplifting novel universal to us all." Read an excerpt of Rush.

"Lisa Patton spent over twenty years in the music industry before discovering her passion for novel writing. A breast cancer survivor, Lisa is now the bestselling author of Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter and Yankee Doodle Dixie. Both novels have been featured on the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) Bestseller List and in 2010 Lisa was selected by Target as an Emerging Author. Southern as a Second Language is the third and final book in what Library Journal calls, “the beloved Dixie series.” Lisa’s fourth novel, Rush, set inside a fictional sorority house at Ole Miss, provides not only a gaze inside the most exclusive sorority Recruitment in the country, but at the lives of both the sisters and the all African American staff. Born and raised in Memphis, Lisa spent time as a Vermont innkeeper until three sub-zero winters sent her speeding back down South. The proud mother of two sons and a little Havanese pooch named Rosie, she and her husband live in Nashville, Tennessee." You can connect with Lisa Patton on her website, like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

If you'd like to read Rush, enter to win a copy using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US only, no PO boxes please. Ends Sept 8/18.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway - Feminasty - Erin Gibson

It's Giveaway Monday - and I've got a non-fiction title for you this week!

Feminasty: The Complicated Woman's Guide to Surviving the Patriarchy Without Drinking Herself to Death by Erin Gibson.

What's inside? From Grand Central Publishing:

"A collection of hilarious personal essays and political commentary from the charming, feminist and wickedly funny creator and host of the "Throwing Shade" podcast and TV Land show.

"Am I allowed to do this? Most of my decisions in life have been preceded by this question. Some of the rules women are expected to follow are obvious... DON'T: be loud/muscular/good at math... DO: be helpful/have babies/smile. Some are ambiguous and subjective."

Erin Gibson has a plan for women to make our future the one Beyonce already thinks we have. In Feminasty--titled after her nickname on "Throwing Shade"--she has written a collection of make-you-laugh-until-you-cry essays that expose the hidden rules that make life as a woman harder and deconstructs them in a way that's bold and funny and provocative. Whether it's shaming women for having their periods, allowing them into STEM fields but never treating them like they truly belong, or dictating strict rules for how they should dress in every situation, Erin feels that oppression is both organized and chaotic, purposeful and unintentional. That doesn't make it impossible to dismantle, it just means we have to recognize and destroy the problems one by one. In Feminasty she will start the revolution."

"Emmy-nominated Southern loudmouth Erin Gibson is an expert at mixing social commentary, political satire, and vagina jokes into neat little comedy packages. Based in Los Angeles, she's one half of the Throwing Shade empire, which includes an award winning political absurdist comedy podcast, international live touring show, the Funny or Die web series and a TV Land late night show. She developed her social commentary chops as the host of "Modern Lady" and sharpened them writing and directing political sketches for Funny or Die, where you've seen her impersonate terrible women like Michele Bachmann, Megyn Kelly, Michelle Duggar and Ivanka Trump. She also created the long running Emmy-nominated "Gay of Thrones" starring her real-life hair stylist, Jonathan Van Ness. Feminasty is her debut book of comedic essays." You can connect with Erin on her website, like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

And if you'd like to read Feminasty, enter to win a copy using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US and Canada, no PO boxes please. Ends September 8/18.

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Thomas and Friends Character Encyclopedia - DK Canada

Little Guy is a huge fan of Thomas the Tank Engine - dvds, television shows, magazines - and books. But the newly released Thomas and Friends Character Encyclopedia from DK Canada had him literally jumping up and down in excitement!

There's lots to see before even cracking the covers. See that little Thomas engine on the top of the book? Well, it's not a picture - it's real and rides back and forth on a little enclosed track! There are characters/engines portrayed on both the front and back cover, labeled with their names. We had to stop and look at each engine to see if we knew him/her. (I'm actually not surprised that he pretty much knew every one!) There are over 100 characters detailed within the book.

That detail includes a description of the character, a fun fact, an image of the real engine that was the basis for the toy train, a quote, a fact box, their home base, likes, dislikes and interesting things to note about each engine. All in full colour! The layout is what I've come to expect and love from DK - bright, appealing and easy to read.

Little Guy is a stickler for order, so we did start off reading from front to back. Subsequent readings though had us looking at the table of contents (a newly discovered item for him) and picking the page number he wanted to go to. There's also a glossary and index at the back.

Now Gramma has become fairly well versed in who's who in Thomas land, but I was quite surprised to discover how many trains there actually were. The encyclopedia includes railway friends like Harold the Helicopter and a few others.

The book held his attention for long periods of time - we read many a page at a sitting. Thomas and Friends Character Encyclopedia is a wonderful addition to his 'collection' and will be read again and again. Five stars and a big thumbs up from Gramma and Little Guy.

If you too have a little Thomas fan, you're going to want to pick up the Thomas and Friends Character Encyclopedia. Check out the excerpt below.

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover #225

- 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've always enjoyed Stephen King's books and curious to read Elevation, coming out in Oct 30/18 on both sides of the pond. Here's a quote that will have you wondering..."Elevation is an antidote to our divisive culture, as gloriously joyful (with a twinge of deep sadness) as “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The US cover is on the left and the UK cover is on the right. Two different looks this week. The sky features in both - one at night and one in the day. The constellation (?) on the US cover seems to promise an 'out of this world' read. The UK has a letter floating off into the wild blue yonder. An easy choice for me this week - I'm going with the UK cover - it just really appeals to me. What about you? Any plans to read Elevation? Which cover do you prefer?

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

Excerpt - When the Lights Go Out - Mary Kubica

I'm the fifth stop on the TLC excerpt tour for Mary Kubica's forthcoming novel, When the Lights Go Out. (releasing Sept. 4/18) Here's the tour link with previous and forthcoming excerpts.

What's it about? From Park Row Books:

"A woman is forced to question her own identity in this riveting and emotionally charged thriller by the blockbuster bestselling author of The Good Girl, Mary Kubica.

Jessie Sloane is on the path to rebuilding her life after years of caring for her ailing mother. She rents a new apartment and applies for college. But when the college informs her that her social security number has raised a red flag, Jessie discovers a shocking detail that causes her to doubt everything she’s ever known.

Finding herself suddenly at the center of a bizarre mystery, Jessie tumbles down a rabbit hole, which is only exacerbated by grief and a relentless lack of sleep. As days pass and the insomnia worsens, it plays with Jessie’s mind. Her judgment is blurred, her thoughts are hampered by fatigue. Jessie begins to see things until she can no longer tell the difference between what’s real and what she’s only imagined.

Meanwhile, twenty years earlier and two hundred and fifty miles away, another woman’s split-second decision may hold the key to Jessie’s secret past. Has Jessie’s whole life been a lie or have her delusions gotten the best of her?" Check out the excerpt below!

"Mary Kubica is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Good Girl and Pretty Baby.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in History and American Literature. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and two children and enjoys photography, gardening and caring for the animals at a local shelter." You can connect with Mary on her website, likeher on Facebook and follow her on Twitter as well as on Instagram.

Our House - Louise Candlish

I loved the premise of Louise Candlish's new novel Our House.

Our home is our sanctuary, a place you've made your own. What would you do if you came home to find a moving van? Not moving your stuff out - but moving another family in. A family that has what looks to be legitimate papers proving they've bought your house. That's what happens to Fiona Lawson and her estranged husband Bram.

Oh, there are so many possibilities as to where this scenario could go!  Candlish unfolds her story in an epistolary format, with Fiona's plight being recounted on a victims of crime podcast. I enjoyed the addition of comments from viewers. Bram's narrative is revealed through a word document he is writing. With the two stories running parallel, the reader is privy to what is happening and has happened to both Fiona Bram.

Despite being the 'victim', I wasn't firmly in Fiona's corner. I thought she made some questionable decisions. And her 'house proud' attitude rubbed me the wrong way. But hey, it's those choices and developments that drew me deeper into the story and ramped up the tension. Bram? Well, I didn't even have a smidgen of sympathy for him at all - until the last quarter of the book. I had pretty much decided how things were going to end - and then Candlish threw in a last twist and turn in the final pages. A really good one that there was no way of predicting.

Our House was a great read for me and I look forward to Candlish's next book. Here's an excerpt of Our House. You can connect with Louise Candlish on her website.

Over the Counter #432

What book caught my eye this week as it passed over the library counter and under my scanner? Well it was more of my sweet tooth than my eye this week...

Sheet Cakes and Slab Pies: Easy to Make, Easy to Serve by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough.

From St. Martin's Griffin:

"Sheet cakes and slab pies have long been a staple at holidays, family reunions, and potlucks everywhere. Now authors Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough are reinventing these American originals with their new book All-Time Favorite Sheet Cakes & Slab Pies. And why not? Slab pies are the perfect flavor trifecta of flaky crust, jammy filling, and crumbly topping, while sheet cakes ensure that every bite of cake has a thick layer of frosting—satisfying even the most voracious sweet-tooth. Best of all, these delightful sweets are simple to make and can serve a crowd with ease.

Whether you're looking for a timeless classic like Blueberry Buckle or craving something simply indulgent like the Bacon-Peanut Butter Cake with Maple Buttercream, with over 100 recipes inside you’ll find the perfect dessert for every occasion. In addition to the cakes and pies there are also recipes for cheesecakes, Danish, coffee cakes, and more. With some simple ingredients and a trusty sheet pan, you'll soon be whipping up scrumptious pies and cakes—all of them easy to make, fun to serve, and wonderful to eat."

(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!)

The Saturday Night Ghost Club - Craig Davidson

I picked up Craig Davidson's new novel, The Saturday Night Ghost Club on a lazy Sunday morning and literally couldn't put it down until the last page was turned. Yup, that addicting.

Our protagonist is Jake Baker - we meet him as the adult neurosurgeon he is today and the young boy he was, living in Cataract City (aka Niagara Falls, Canada. In Latin, cataracta means waterfall), circa 1980. Jake is that odd kid out - overweight, shy with no real friends. He hangs out with his Uncle Cal, who owns the Occultorium on the tourist lined streets of the Falls. Cal believes in the otherworld, ghosts, conspiracy theories and more. When Billy Yellowbird moves into town, Jake has finally found a friend. And Cal has two members for his proposed Saturday Night Ghost Club.

"This city is haunted by ghosts. Uncle C used to say this, though not to scare me. He'd say it with a cocked eyebrow and an inscrutable smile, a merry jester beckoning me to embark on a grand adventure."

I could vividly picture the setting, having visited the Falls many times. The busy, congested, neon party that is Clifton Hill sprang to life. Davidson takes us behind those streets to the lives of the permanent residents of Cataract City. I appreciated the cultural references woven throughout the book....."We did what Canadian kids do on unbearably hot summer days: watched reruns of The Beachcombers and Danger Bay on the CBC..."

Initially there's a 'Stranger Things' feel to The Saturday Night Ghost Club - exploring the haunted landmarks and sites of the Falls. That's the setting, but the story is much more than that. Friendship, love, family, coming of age - and memory. "The brain is the seat of memory, and memory is a tricky thing."

Davidson is a one heck of a storyteller. His prose flow so easily and draw the reader into the world he's created. His characters leap to life and will break your heart. Those last fifty pages? So very, very good. And once you've turned that last page, head back to that first chapter again. You'll look at it with different eyes. An absolutely wonderful read. Here's an excerpt of The Saturday Night Ghost Club.

Giveaway - The Other Sister - Sarah Zettel

Love psychological thrillers? I've got a giveaway you're going to want to enter! The Other Sister by Sarah Zettel.

What's it about? From Grand Central Publishing:

 "Two sisters. One murder plan.

Everyone thought reckless, troubled Geraldine Monroe was the bad sister - especially when she fled town after her mother's death twenty-five years ago.

But people don't know the truth.

Marie Monroe knows. She was there for their father's cruel punishments, the constant manipulation, the lies. Everyone thinks she's the perfect daughter - patient and kind, and above all obedient. No one would suspect her of anything. Especially not murder.

Now Geraldine's home again, and she and Marie have united in a plan for the ultimate revenge. But when old secrets and new fears clash, everyone is pushed to the breaking point... and the sisters will learn that they can't trust anyone - not even each other.

An intense psychological thriller full of family secrets, perfect for readers of The Woman in the Window and Watch Me Disappear." Read or listen to an excerpt here.

"Sarah Zettel is an award-winning author. She has written eighteen novels and multiple short stories over the past seventeen years in addition to practicing tai chi, learning to fiddle, marrying a rocket scientist and raising a rapidly growing son." You can connect with Sarah Zettel on her website, like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter. 

And if you'd like to read The Other Sister, enter for a chance to win a copy using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US and Canada, no PO boxes please. Ends Sept.1/18.

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You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover #224

- 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

The 23rd installment in Lee Child's Jack Reacher series releases in November on both sides of the pond. The US cover is on the left and the UK cover is on the right. There are two very different images used - an urban area vs. a country road. Now, having read the synopsis, I can tell you that both images are part of this latest story. I do find the blue colour jarring, but it suits a neon motel strip. The light coming through the trees on the deserted road appeals to me much more. And the image of a lone man walking immediately conjures up Jack Reacher. So, it's the UK cover for me this week. Which cover do you prefer? Any plans to read Past Tense?

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

Over the Counter #431

What book caught my eye this week as it passed over the library counter and under my scanner? Look to the trees.....

Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness by Dr. Qing Li.

From Viking Books:

"The definitive guide to the therapeutic Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or the art and science of how trees can promote health and happiness

Notice how a tree sways in the wind. Run your hands over its bark. Take in its citrusy scent. As a society we suffer from nature deficit disorder, but studies have shown that spending mindful, intentional time around trees--what the Japanese call shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing--can promote health and happiness.

In this beautiful book--featuring more than 100 color photographs from forests around the world, including the forest therapy trails that criss-cross Japan--Dr. Qing Li, the world's foremost expert in forest  medicine, shows how forest bathing can reduce your stress levels and blood pressure, strengthen your immune and cardiovascular systems, boost your energy, mood, creativity, and concentration, and even help you lose weight and live longer.

Once you've discovered the healing power of trees, you can lose yourself in the beauty of your surroundings, leave everyday stress behind, and reach a place of greater calm and wellness."

(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!)

Foe - Iain Reid

Iain Reid stunned me with his last book, I'm Thinking of Ending Things. I couldn't wait to start reading his latest, Foe.

I love the cover, the starry skies above, the isolated barn highlighted from above. But it's the skewed title word that had me wondering what I might find inside.

What I found was a story I couldn't have imagined - one that took me only a day to devour.

Set sometime in the future, Foe is the story of Junior and Hen, a married couple who live on an isolated property. One day Terrance, a government agent of some sort, arrives to let Junior know that he has been selected for the long list. What list? "For the Installation. .... You might even get to be part of the first move. The first wave. You might get to live up there." And to that end, Terrance begins to interview Junior over the course of the next couple of years. His interviews, measurements and diagnostics take a more intimate and intrusive path as they progress. And the final piece? He needn't worry - Hen won't be alone if he is chosen to go.

For the reader, those interviews lets us have an inside look at their marriage. What builds a relationship? Memories? Plans for the future? Wants, desires, dreams? What is love? But still, there is something off with their interactions. Is Hen done with the marriage? Does she want something else for her life? Unsettling undertones are present in almost every conversation.

And just like I'm Thinking of Ending Things, the final chapters of  Foe will have you questioning everything you just read. And I have to say, I loved the turn things took on the last pages. Startling, but so fitting. Here's an excerpt of Foe.

Foe is another stellar read from Iain Reid - unusual, unexpected and finished too fast. You can connect with Iain Reid on Twitter. 

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover #223

- 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've enjoyed Sophie Hannah's new mysteries for iconic 

detective Hercule Poirot. The newest, The Mystery of Three Quarters, releases in late August on both sides of the pond. The US cover is on the left and the UK cover is on the right. Agatha Christie's signature is front and centre on both covers. Both covers announce that this is a new Hercule Poirot mystery. The images used are quite different. The splotched ink leaking from the fountain pen hints at something amiss. But I'm not a bit fan of the background colour. I do like the blue and black of the UK cover. Wrought iron gates are either keeping something or someone in or out - there will be a story there. And I live the little moustache homage on the gate. Overall, it's the UK cover for me this week. Which cover do you prefer? Any plans to read The Mystery of Three Quarters?

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

Day of the Dead - Nicci French

Nicci French is the author of the Freida Klein series. Freida is an enigmatic psychologist who has drawn the interest of a serial killer named Dean Reeve. French has written seven previous books with this pair, each with a puzzling crime. The tension and danger has built over the course of those seven books, with an endgame drawing near. That last book is here - Day of the Dead. (To fully appreciate and enjoy this series, start with the first book - Blue Monday.)

Day of the Dead starts off without Freida and I wondered how she would be introduced into the storyline. (Faithful readers of this series will remember how the last book ended...) And when Dean Reeve would make an appearance.

I have always enjoyed Freida as a lead character - her quiet way of speaking and listening, considering everything, yet giving nothing away. The fierce, loyal group of friends she has built are just as enjoyable. I'm drawn to recent addition Josef and his son Alexie.

The crimes and the solving of are always well done. The lost rivers of London, England have played a part in previous books and are part of this book as well. I took a break from reading to search for more about this piece of history.

The path to the final pages is populated with lots of questions, narrow escapes, culminating in a finale that has been building over the course of many years. The outcome? Sorry, you're going to have to read the book for that answer! Here's an excerpt of Day of the Dead.

And the title? "She knew it would be over soon. She knew it was the endgame at last, the day of the dead." A bit of me hopes that this isn't really the end....I'd love more Frieda and friends please Nicci and Sean!

Nicci French is the pseudonym of English wife-and-husband team Nicci Gerrard and Sean French. Their acclaimed novels of psychological suspense have sold more than 8 million copies around the world. You can follow them on Facebook as well as on Twitter. See what others on the TLC book tour thought - full schedule can be found here.

I received this book for review from HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours.

Over the Counter #430

What book caught my eye this week as it passed over the library counter and under my scanner? Ghostly photos this week....

The Apparitionists: A Tale of Phantoms, Fraud, Photography, and the Man Who Captured Lincoln's Ghost Hardcover by Peter Manseau.

From Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt:

"A story of faith and fraud in post-Civil War America, told through the lens of a photographer who claimed he could capture images of the dead

In the early days of photography, in the death-strewn wake of the Civil War, one man seized America's imagination. A "spirit photographer," William Mumler took portrait photographs that featured the ghostly presence of a lost loved one alongside the living subject. Mumler was a sensation: The affluent and influential came calling, including Mary Todd Lincoln, who arrived at his studio in disguise amidst rumors of seances in the White House.

Peter Manseau brilliantly captures a nation wracked with grief and hungry for proof of the existence of ghosts and for contact with their dead husbands and sons. It took a circus-like trial of Mumler on fraud charges, starring P. T. Barnum for the prosecution, to expose a fault line of doubt and manipulation. And even then, the judge sided with the defense-nobody ever solved the mystery of his spirit photography. This forgotten puzzle offers a vivid snapshot of America at a crossroads inits history, a nation in thrall to new technology while clinging desperately to belief."

(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!)

An Unwanted Guest - Shari Lapena

I've really enjoyed Shari Lapena's first two books, but her latest, An Unwanted Guest, is now my favourite. I started reading with my tea one weekend morning and finished up that evening, with the to-do list still waiting.

Mitchell's Inn is one of those cozy little family run hotels, perfect for a quiet, relaxing getaway. But for the latest guests of Mitchell's Inn, that's not going to happen. A winter blizzard knocks out the power. No wi-fi, no phones. The ice and snow makes it impossible to leave. Now here's the kicker....one of the guests turns up dead. It looks like she just may have accidentally fallen down the stairs. But then a second guest dies and this time there's no mistake - it is most definitely murder.

What's not to love!? Isolated setting. No contact with the outside world. And lots of suspects - there's no way to know if the murderer is one of the guests or staff or if there's an unknown someone on the premises.

Lapena has done a great job creating her characters. We meet the ten guests and get a feel for who they are. As things progress, we are privy to their inner thoughts - and secrets. Many of them have something in their past that they want to keep there. As the storm continues, the civility of strangers deteriorates. Suspicions and accusations are openly thrown about. And the body count continues.

Delicious reading! An Unwanted Guest will bring to mind an Agatha Christie novel - And Then There Were None. Lapena has crafted her own take on the 'locked room' mystery. There are enough possibilities presented as to who the guilty party might be, that I really never guessed who it was before the final reveal. And then.....Lapena throws in a last minute gotcha - an absolutely perfect way to end the book.

An Unwanted Guest was such a great read - I loved it! Read an excerpt of An Unwanted Guest.

Giveaway - Tailspin - Sandra Brown

Hello Sandra Brown fans! Sandra's latest book, Tailspin, releases tomorrow, August 7th - and I have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader!

From Grand Central Publishing:

"Don’t miss the spine tingling suspense and tantalizing romance in this thriller about a daring pilot caught in a race against time from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown.

Rye Mallett, a fearless “freight dog” pilot charged with flying cargo to far-flung locations, is often rough-spoken and all business, but soft on regulations when they get in the way of meeting a deadline. But he does have a rock-solid reputation: he will fly in the foulest weather, day or night, and deliver the goods safely to their destination. So when Rye is asked to fly into a completely fogbound northern Georgia town and deliver a mysterious black box to a Dr. Lambert, he doesn’t ask questions.

As Rye’s plane nears the isolated landing strip, more trouble than inclement weather awaits him. He is greeted first by a sabotage attempt on his plane that causes him to crash land, and then by Dr. Brynn O’Neal, who claims she was sent for the box in Dr. Lambert’s stead. Despite Rye’s “no-involvement” policy when it comes to other people’s problems, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to the intrigue surrounding his cargo . . . and to the mysterious and alluring Brynn." Read an excerpt of Tailspin.

"Sandra Brown is the author of sixty-nine New York Times bestsellers, including the #1 Seeing Red. There are over eighty million copies of her books in print worldwide, and her work has been translated into thirty-four languages. She lives in Texas." You can connect with Sandra Brown on her website, like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter. 

If you'd like to read Tailspin, enter to win a copy using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US and Canada, no PO boxes please. Ends August 18/18.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover #222

- 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 am hooked on The Handmaid's Tale. (Loved the book and the series is doing it great justice.) Christina Dalcher's forthcoming debut, Vox, seems to be in the same vein. The US cover is on the left and the UK cover is on the right. "On the day the government decrees that women are no longer allowed more than one hundred words per day, Dr. Jean McClellan is in denial. This can't happen here. Not in America. Not to her. This is just the beginning..."

Two covers utilizing the same colour scheme this week, but in very different ways. The X is used effectively on the US cover to illustrate the talking limit and the woman's voice being silenced. I'm not usually a fan of actual faces on covers, but I find this one works. I like the starkness of the white background. The black on the UK cover seems more ominous. A letter is also 'featured' - in this case it's the O. The lines around it illustrate speech or lack of. The words also give the reader a bit more of an idea about what might be waiting inside. This week I'm going with the US cover. Which cover do you prefer? Any plans to read Vox?

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

The Word is Murder - Anthony Horowitz

I've enjoyed Anthony Horowitz's previous adult mysteries and happily picked up his latest, The Word is Murder.

Oh my gosh, it is so very, very clever! I absolutely adored it!

The murder? A woman walks into a funeral home, plans her funeral and is found murdered six hours later. Ex police detective Daniel Hawthorne is called in to help with the investigation. Hawthorne is also looking for someone to ghost write his memoirs and approaches Anthony Horowitz. Yes, you read that right - Horowitz himself is a character in the book! I must admit to being unsure if this was a fiction book in the first few chapters. (it is) And if this concept would work.(it really does)  Horowitz is soon drawn into the case as he follows Hawthorne around on his investigation.

Hawthorne is such a great character - a brilliant detective, but somewhat lacking in personal interactive skills. I quite liked him. He reminded me a bit of Cormoran Strike. The publisher describes Horowitz as a Watson to Hawthorne's Holmes and its a spot on description. I had so much fun reading Horowitz's description of himself, his thoughts and reactions. Can you imagine the writing process? The interactions between the two are wonderfully depicted.

And just as well done is the actual mystery. Hawthorne picks up on the smallest clues and discrepancies. Horowitz also tries to investigate, but doesn't have the skill set of Hawthorne. It's not clear who is the culprit and I was kept guessing alongside of our protagonists.

Clever, clever, clever. The Word of Murder is excellent reading. Here's an excerpt of The Word is Murder. And....there is a sequel coming called Another Word for Murder. Can't wait!

Over the Counter #429

What book caught my eye this week as it passed over the library counter and under my scanner? Armchair travel and adventure for this reader....

Tip of the Iceberg: My 3,000-Mile Journey Around Wild Alaska, the Last Great American Frontier Hardcover by Mark Adams.

From Dutton Books:

"From the acclaimed, bestselling author of Turn Right at Machu Picchu, a fascinating and funny journey into Alaska, America's last frontier, retracing the historic 1899 Harriman Expedition.

In 1899, railroad magnate Edward H. Harriman organized a most unusual summer voyage to the wilds of Alaska: He converted a steamship into a luxury "floating university," populated by some of America's best and brightest scientists and writers, including the anti-capitalist eco-prophet John Muir. Those aboard encountered a land of immeasurable beauty and impending environmental calamity. More than a hundred years later, Alaska is still America's most sublime wilderness, both the lure that draws a million tourists annually on Inside Passage cruises and a natural resources larder waiting to be raided. As ever, it remains a magnet for weirdos and dreamers.

Armed with Dramamine and an industrial-strength mosquito net, Mark Adams sets out to retrace the 1899 expedition. Using the state's intricate public ferry system, the Alaska Marine Highway System, Adams travels three thousand miles, following the George W. Elder's itinerary north through Wrangell, Juneau, and Glacier Bay, then continuing west into the colder and stranger regions of the Aleutians and the Arctic Circle. Along the way, he encounters dozens of unusual characters (and a couple of very hungry bears) and investigates how lessons learned in 1899 might relate to Alaska's current struggles in adapting to climate change."

(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!)