How Can I Help You - Laura Sims

How Can I Help You is Laura Sims' new novel - and it's such a good one!

Why? Okay, let's start with the setting. The main locale is an older public library in a small town. Having worked in a public library myself, I can say that Sims has really captured every day in a public service setting. The patrons, the services offered, the telephone calls, the inappropriate use of the net in a public space, the verbal abuse, the undercurrent of violence that could erupt any time and so much more...

But what about the staff? How Can I Help You is told from Margo's point of view. She is stone. cold. dangerous. What the other staff see is "only her middle-aged normalcy, congeniality, and charm." And that's enough to sustain Margo's even keel. Until a new librarian named Patricia joins the staff and disrupts Margo's world. What's really in Margo's thoughts will have your skin crawling. Patricia is also given a point of view. Her inner thoughts surprised me in the beginning. As readers we know what both women are thinking. And that only serves to ramp up the tension and the fear that something bad is going to happen...

How Can I Help You is addictive, edge of your seat reading. Kudos to Sims for an such a creepy plot and such disturbing characters. See for yourself - read an excerpt of How Can I Help You.

Dark Angel - John Sandford

Dark Angel is John Sandford's latest novel and is the second tale in the new Letty Davenport series. 

I’m a longtime fan of John Sandford’s writing and have read everything he’s written. Letty Davenport was introduced quite a few books back. I wasn’t sure about her in the beginning but she’s grown on me, and I’m happy to see that she is going to be permanent with her own series.

Letty proved herself with her last assignment for Homeland Security, and they think she’s the perfect fit for a new undercover assignment. It starts with infiltrating the shady world of hackers, ransomware but travels to other unforeseen places and people. And along the way, Letty wonders about the response she’s getting from the government folks. She feels like they’re lying to her and her partners…

Letty really is a chip off the old block. You can recognize many of Lucas‘s personality traits, and thinking in Letty’s actions, behaviour, and dialogue. 

The action starts in the first page and it really never stops until you hit the end pages. It would make a great action film.

The dialogue is quick, snappy, and sharp. But it’s also humorous in a dark fashion, quite like Lucas and Virgil. Every lead character needs a side kick in that’s found in two characters. In this book one is Baxter, who is going undercover with Letty. And the other is Cartwright, an agent in an unnamed alphabet government agency. I think we’ll be seeing her in the next book.

The plotting of Dark Angel is intricate, detailed and brings many newspaper headlines to mind. Keeping everything straight in this plot will take a little bit of effort. And I admit, I did have a bit of trouble with keeping up with who’s who and what their connection is, etc. But that's on me.

Overall, another great book from Sandford. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Dark Angel.

Racing the Light - Robert Crais

Robert Crais pens another of my favorite series - the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike crime novels. The 19th entry is the newly released Racing the Light. 

Elvis Cole is a private investigator in Hollywood, California. Cole's methods are sometimes unorthodox, and his manner is irreverent, but he's a dogged detective who sees every job to it's conclusion. I love his tenacity. His partner is Joe Pike, a man of few words, but lots of action. Jon Stone also has a role in this latest. 

Their newest client is Adele, who comes to the office with no appointment and two 'minders'. Her adult son is missing and she's brought payment in cash. According to her, the cops aren't doing much, so he hears her out. She starts talking about conspiracies and he almost....almost says no. But he's intrigued.

Well, kudos to Crais for this 'absolutely no way I could have ever predicated' plot! Multilayered, intriguing and yeah - conspiratorial. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll stop there. 

The case is great, but for me it's the characters that are the stars. They have personal storylines, with Elvis's taking the stage in this book. His past is back in the form of an ex-girlfriend and her son. And again - the 'I got your back' relationship between Elvis and Joe. 

Crais' writing is wonderful. I can't put his books down. They're action filled and move very quickly as one clue leads to another. But there's also humor woven in - Elvis's dialogue is often not what you have expected. 

Another great read from Robert Crais that I finished too quickly. I'm looking forward to Robert Crais' next book. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Racing the Light. And if you're a fan of John Sandford's Davenport and Flowers books, you need to read Robert Crais. 

A Season for Second Chances - Jenny Bayliss

A Season for Second Chances is Jenny Bayliss' new novel. 

I quite enjoyed last year's The Twelve Dates of Christmas and was eager to get lost in another escapist read.

Annie is forty four years old and is a successful restaurateur with two wonderful sons ... and a husband who is a serial philanderer. When she catches him, um... red handed it's the final straw. When she spies an ad for a seasonal caretaker for a wee cottage in a seaside town, she knows that it's just what she needs - to get away and reassess her life.

Ahh, I loved the setting. Living by the water in a quirky historical building sounds perfect! The rest of the town is also well drawn and I would happily sit in the pub with a pint, catching up with the latest.

Annie is a great lead character. I liked her being older (not that forty four is old!) and could connect with her. She's kind and friendly, as are the rest of the residents of Willow Bay. The supporting cast is eclectic and quirky as well. Annie easily slips into village life. 

Except for John - the nephew of the elderly lady who owns the building Annie is living in. He has his own plans for for it. But...he is rather handsome...

All the bits are there for a fun rom-com, will they, won't they read. And yes, this is a seasonal read. Willow Bay hosts a large number of festivals and events, with Christmas being the biggest hurrah. I wanted to put up my decorations right away!

I quite enjoyed A Season for Second Chances but ... yes, I have a but. There's a sex toy introduced in the book club that whole element just felt awkward, forced and not realistic. Frankly, it wasn't a needed piece of the story and I found it took away from the feel of the book. Other than that, a fun read in the run up to Christmas.

Read an excerpt of A Season of Second Chances.

Christmas by the Book - Anne Marie Ryan

Yes, the Christmas reading continues! Don't you love the cover of Anne Marie Ryan's new novel, Christmas by the Book? 

Bookstores are always wonderful, but even more so at Christmas - finding just the right book for a family member or friend. What about for someone you don't know? 

Nora and her husband, Simon have run a bookshop in their small British town for over thirty years. But as Christmas approaches, the writing is on the wall - and the bailiff at the door. The shop will close after the Christmas season. The pair are determined to thank the village for all their support over the years. Simon comes up with the idea of anonymously giving a Christmas book to those who might need a pick-me-up. 

I loved all the titles referenced throughout the book, but especially those seasonal titles. Ryan's love of books and bookshops is evidenced on every page. Now, those books are wrapped, so Nora simply drops one in each of the mail slots, not knowing who is going to get what title.

Here's the Christmas magic bit that I loved - each of the books is perfect for the recipient in one way or another and...... well you're going to have to read Christmas by the Book to find out the rest.

I loved Nora as a lead character. She's someone you'd love to have for a friend. Nora and Simon's relationship is lovingly drawn and is believable. The villagers are a lovely mixed bunch and are again, folks you'd love to have as neighbours and friends.

I know where I would be spending much of my time if I lived in this village - at the bookstore. I created vivid mental pictures of the shop with Ryan's descriptions. Cosy, creaky floors, a working fireplace, large easy chairs by that fire, a children's area, book clubs, events and so much more. Nora and Simon live above the shop - don't you think that would be a fabulous flat to live in! Oh, and there's a shop dog too. :0) 

Christmas by the Book was wonderful seasonal reading for me. Best read with a cup of tea and a quilt.Booklovers, I think this one might just fit in your stocking!

Fans of Jenny Colgan would enjoy this one. Jenny says "A heartfelt and lovely Christmas tale for book lovers everywhere!" I agree! Read an excerpt of Christmas by the Book.

The 22 Murders of Madison May - Max Barry

Max Barry opens up his latest book, The 22 Murders of Madison May, with a prologue that gave me the shivers. A lone real estate agent named Madison May and a prospective buyer at a showing....Felicity Staples is the reporter who ends up covering the murder. 

Sounds like a straight forward murder mystery right? Nope. Barry throws a curve ball. Look at the title again. Madison May has been murdered numerous times - in numerous realities. (not a spoiler - this is part of the publisher's description) 

Felicity becomes obsessed with the case and becomes part of the shifting realities. I enjoyed Barry's take on how that might look. Parts of Felicity's life remains the same with every shift, but with subtle differences. I was quite curious to see what version of Felicity's boyfriend Gavin would appear each time. As well as what version of Maddy. The other constant is Levi, a crusty old reporter who also works at the newspaper. I quite enjoyed his dialogue. The killer's dialogue and interactions are definitely creepy. But he seemed one dimensional to me. (pun intended) Other shifters are part of the hunt as well. I was drawn to the enigmatic traveler Hugo.

Barry is a clever writer and will keep you on your toes following the various timelines and narratives. It was quite a different read for me and my first of Barry. I am a regular reader of mystery and crime fiction. While this is the vehicle the story begins with, it is the multiverse idea and the possibilities they provide that takes center stage. The book slowed down for me about two thirds of the way in and I was ready for the ending - which was perfect. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The 22 Murders of Madison May.

Suburban Dicks - Fabian Nicieza

Oh my gosh, I picked up Fabian Nicieza's debut novel - Suburban Dicks - and was hard pressed to put it down. It's a quirky, fun read with some really well drawn leads. Oh, and a murder or two.

It was only on turning the final page that I discovered that Nicieza is the co-creator of  Marvel's Deadpool. Uh, huh that same wry, sarcastic biting humor, an unusual, intriguing mystery (swimming pool permits are a key factor) and two decidedly different leads. 

Kenny Lee - "A Pulitzer at twenty-two, disgraced by twenty-seven, irrelevant at twenty-nine." And when he gets an inkling of what might be his comeback story, he's all over it. Can I mention that Kenny is a bit of a narcissist? He'll spin the story so he's the hero. But he'll need Andrea's help.

And the other lead? Oh, I couldn't get enough of her! Andrea Stern was an up and coming profiler with the FBI over ten years ago. And then she got pregnant, got married and is now expecting her fifth child. When she inadvertently stumbles across a crime scene it awakens the need in her to solve the crime, to bring justice to the victim. But she'll need Kenny's help. Her skills are still sharp, but the methods are a bit different - needs must. (Call in the Cellulitists!) And her mothering skills had me laughing out loud.

Fresh, fun and with no way to predict what would happen next, Suburban Dicks was a fantastic read for me. And with that said, I really hope there's another Suburban Dicks book in the works. The ending hit just the right note - but I want more Andy - and okay, more Kenny. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Suburban Dicks. 

Ocean Prey - John Sandford

Ocean Prey is the 31st entry in John Sandford's long running Lucas Davenport series. I've enjoyed each and every one and this series has only gotten better as it progresses. Now you might notice that Virgil Flowers is listed on the cover as well - this will be his 13th novel. There's always a cameo appearance by that f*****g Flowers in a Davenport book, but this time around, he has a pivotal role in the plot. I knew I was going to love Ocean Prey!

Three Coast Guardsman are killed as they try to apprehend a boat full of drug smugglers - and their product. The FBI's investigation has stalled and they need help (not that they'll admit that) Who to call? Uh huh - Lucas Davenport who is attached to the US Marshall's office, but really only reports to politicos. 

He and Bob, another Marshall make progress but need another player - an undercover agent - or two. Who better to play a perpetually stoned, scuba diving, small time criminal who's a bit witless? Yup, Virgil flowers. And Marshall Rae plays his girlfriend. 

Ocean Prey was nice change of pace from the political hot footing Lucas has been investigating the last few books - a different setting and a fresh crime, rather than building on the previous book. And one that truly takes inspiration from headlines and reality - drug running, organized crime and murder.

The dialogue is so snappy, wry and witty - and rings true. There's a dark humor running through much of the conversations and interactions. The action is fast and furious, the plot is intricate and believable and the danger is palpable. Which all adds up to one heckuva page turning read!

Sandford's writing is still fresh and engaging, even after so many books. I'm dreading the day he puts down his pen. 'Til then, bring on the next tale! Read an excerpt of Ocean Prey.

The Wicked Sister - Karen Dionne

Karen Dionne's debut novel, The Marsh King, was a runaway bestseller. She follows that success up with her newly released second novel, The Wicked Sister.

Rachel either committed or witnessed a horrific crime as a child. She has virtually no memory of the death of her parents at their remote log cabin. She ran into the woods and wasn't found for two weeks. Remarkedly, she was in good shape. Fifteen years later, she has chosen to keep herself voluntarily locked away in a psychiatric hospital. For company, she often speaks to the spider in the corner of her room. But when the journalist brother of another resident takes an interest in the killing and offers up new evidence, Rachel knows she has to confront her past - if she can remember it.

Dionne employs one of my favorite storytelling devices with past and present narratives. We follow Rachel in the present as she tries to find answers. And we meet Jenny, Rachel's mother as we come to know the past. How Rachel and her sister, Diana, grew up on a large wilderness property, communing with nature. That back and forth technique always makes for addictive reading - having to get back to a timeline, armed with new knowledge.

The Marsh King's Daughter had fairy tale elements woven through it and I found myself looking (and finding) the same in The Wicked Sister. Deep in a wood with an enchanted feel, animals endowed with a magical feel, a good sister vs. a bad sister, and more.

Dionne did a really good job with her characters. The confusion of one sister and the incarnate evil of the other jumped off the page. There are some really creepy scenes that had me shivering.

The title's a bit of a giveaway - we know that one of them is evil, but it's a roundabout trail to the final answer. One element used was a bit of a stretch for me -  but note that I am quite pragmatic. A decidedly different read with the suspense genre label. Here's an excerpt of The Wicked Sister.

Just for fun, look up the meanings of both names - I wonder if Dionne chose the names for her lead characters based on their meanings?

The Daughters of Foxcote Manor - Eve Chase

Oh. my. gosh. I cannot tell you how much I loved Eve Chase's new book, The Daughters of Foxcote Manor!!

After a tragedy in London, Mrs. Harrington, her son and daughter move to the family's country home. With them is Rita, a naive nanny who loves the Harrington children. The danger and tension ramp up - and nothing will ever be the same for any of them.

What's not to love? 1970 England. An isolated, crumbling house in a forest. The forest itself is hiding many secrets. An older housekeeper who insinuates herself into the lives of the inhabitants. Danger in the form of a husband and a lover, each vying for the same woman. There's a Gothic feel to this part of the book.

The story at Foxcote Manor is alternated with a second timeline. Forty years forward Sylvie is making changes in her life. She has decided to leave her husband and start over. But, the fact is she has never really addressed her own start in life. Not until her daughter uncovers a cache of newspaper clippings in her ailing grandmother's home.

How Chase ties these two stories together is brilliant. There are so many threads from the past that weave into the present  - in ways I hadn't seen coming.

The characters were so well drawn. My heart was with Rita. The relationships are just as well developed - complicated, intricate and entwined. The plotting is so imaginative and unique. And the settings will draw the reader in. For me, it was the forest that called.

Chase's writing is so very, very good - she is a brilliant storyteller. And it makes for addicting reading.  I can't recommend The Daughters of Foxcote Manor enough. Have a look - read an excerpt.

Fans of Kate Morton will want to read The Daughters of Foxcote Manor - or any of Chase's books - I've read and loved them all.

The Love Story of Missy Carmichael - Beth Morrey

I do love my mayhem and murder tales. But I like a story that grabs you by the heartstrings too. Such is the case with The Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey.

There are a lot of  books with seniors as the main characters - finding their way, robbing banks, starting revolts at the care home and more. I wonder if there's a genre tag for these?

No revolts or robberies in this one. Just a seventy nine year old, lonely ex-librarian named Missy Carmichael. Her husband is gone, she's estranged from her daughter and her son and grandchild live in Australia. (She's in England) She's lonely, but avoids people and spends her time waiting. For what, she's not sure.

And then something does happen - a dog named Bob, two eclectic women and a small boy invade her life, her home.....and her heart.

The publisher used this phrase to describe the book. And I think it's perfect....."a life-affirming, deeply moving “coming-of-old” story, a celebration of how ordinary days are made extraordinary through friendship, family, and the power of forgiving yourself–at any age."

Morrey does a wonderful job creating her characters. Missy is not a warm and cuddly person in the beginning. But as her life is remembered, I started to understand her pain. And as she starts to venture out into life again I was so happy for her and mentally kept urging her forward. Angela is bigger than life and I loved her 'pushiness'. Her son Otis gives Missy a chance to play and hug a small person again. And Sylvie - her enthusiasm for everything and everyone is infectious.

The plot grabbed me by the heartstrings and didn't let go. Every so often you need a pick me up tale. And The Love Story of Missy Carmichael is just right. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Love Story of Missy Carmichael.

Kudos to Beth Morrey - this was a fantastic debut novel.