THE WOMAN IN THE LIBRARY (2022) - Review

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On sale: June 7, 2022

And now for something completely different. Author Sulari Gentill has concocted an unexpected format for her mystery. It's a story within a story within a story. Similar to locked room puzzles, there seem to be only four possibilities for the murderer, but are there?

FIRST SENTENCE: "Dear Hannah, What are you writing?"

QUOTE: "And so we go to the Map Room to found a friendship, and I have my first coffee with a killer."

THE STORY: Hannah Tigone, an Australian author had planned to visit Boston to write her next book. When the pandemic puts a halt to her traveling, Leo, a colleague who lives there becomes her beta reader. Every chapter ends with a letter from Leo offering advice and details about Boston and American life.

Then there's the story of the book itself. Winifred better known as "Freddie" is writing "The Woman in the Library". She has won a Marriot Scholarship to enable her to write her mystery set in Boston. Working in the Boston Public Library, she is attempting to decide the plot for her mystery when a woman screams. Four other people seated nearby begin to talk about what might have just happened and they quickly become friends. When they discover the woman has been killed, they become sleuths.

WHAT I THOUGHT: The author has written a carefully written and plotted mystery adding humor as the story unfolds with its many twists and turns. Besides the puzzle the friends seek to solve, the story is about friendship and writing (every character is writing a book). It's always fun to recognize the current references to things we know that are scattered throughout.

More than once, especially in the beginning, I found myself wondering what story I was reading, but it's worth the struggle. Although you can listen to the audio book, I would expect it could add another level of confusion.

The book also includes A Reading Group Guide and ‘A Conversation with the Author’ about how she stumbled on her plot.

BOTTOM LINE: RECOMMENDED

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of "The Woman in the Library" by Sulari Gentill from NetGalley/Europa for my honest review.


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PANIC ATTACK (2021)

Panic Attack by Dennis Palumbo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On sale: September 21, 2021

I love thrillers and the better written and circuitously plotted, the faster I consume the story. Suspending disbelief, sometimes I don't even attempt to solve the mystery. I'm just along for the ride and what a ride this book is! I actually tossed aside a literary novel that I've been reading for weeks and finished "Panic Attack" in a couple of days. At 1 o'clock in the morning.

FIRST SENTENCE: "On a bitterly cold afternoon in late October, I was one of twenty thousand witnesses to a murder."

THE STORY: In front of a football stadium filled with students and parents, the college mascot, dancing on the field, is struck down by a sniper. Pandemonium breaks out. While the authorities scramble to calm the public and find the shooter over the next few days, more deaths occur. Although the victims seem randomly chosen, Dr. Rinaldi suspects there is something that links them all together. Can he find the key to stop these dreadful attacks before it's too late?

WHAT I THOUGHT: This is the sixth entry in the Dr. Daniel Rinaldi series and I have read and reviewed them all. Author Dennis Palumbo hooked me by setting the stories in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I lived for many years. His narrator, a psychologist who consults with the Police on difficult cases, is surrounded by interesting characters, who don't always behave normally, Dr. Rinaldi ends up in all kinds of trouble.With great dialogue, well-drawn characters, and sense of place, you won't have any trouble seeing this as a television series or movie.

For an earlier entry in the series I wrote that although there is the requisite violence and sex, Palumbo knows when to back off and let the reader's imagination take over. I'll have to change that to say violence and sex has been ratcheted up a bit. As a matter of fact the body count in "Panic Attack" is pretty high.

Luckily there are five other Dr. Rinaldi titles and, although you can read them as stand alones, reading them in order is much more fun. In order "Mirror Image"; "Fever Dream"; "Night Terrors"; "Phantom Limb"; "Head Wounds"; and "Panic Attack". Find them. Read them.

BOTTOM LINE: A solid entry in the series. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

DISCLAIMER: Thank you to NetGalley / Poison Pen Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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OUTSIDER (2020)

Outsider (Kate Burkholder #12) by Linda Castillo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

On a day when summer heat and humidity has finally arrived, reading a story where everyone is snowed in seems the perfect choice to cool off. And if you haven't been following the series, book #12 in the Kate Burkholder series can be read as a standalone.

Starting with a bang, the story is off and running. A policewoman from the big city, who can't think of any place safe to run from dirty cops, seeks out her old friend Police Chief Kate Burkholder, who runs the Police Department in Painters Mill, a tiny community in northwest Ohio where many residents are Amish. Kate herself grew up Amish but left the order.

In a massive snowstorm on a back road in Painters Mill, the wounded Gina crashes her car. An Amish family out for a sleigh ride comes across the damaged half buried car and begins a search for the driver. Helping those in need is the Amish way.

FIRST LINE: "She'd always known they would come for her."

WHAT I THOUGHT: The first Kate Burkholder story I discovered was Her Last Breath #5 (Jul 17, 2015). The I quickly devoured Sworn to Silence #1 (July 21, 2015) and Pray for Silence #2 (July 26, 2015). Then I stopped because I found the crimes against the Amish, especially the young women, too overwhelming. But because the series is so popular, I decided to try again. I'm glad I did. Although violence and death occur, there is more than enough life and happiness to balance the story. The reader knows just enough of what is coming to anxiously keep turning the page.

All the characters are well-established so that you care what happens to them with, of course, the exception of the villains.

Although the narrative shifts from third person to first person, it is done seamlessly. There were red herrings along the way that added to the tension.

One of the delightful things about this series is the author's inclusion of Amish language and customs.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.This entry filled in a lot of backstory for Kate and how she left her Amish family and became a police officer in Columbus. The ending ensures there will be a #13 entry in the series!

Disclaimer: A copy of Outsider was provided to me by Minotaur Books/Net Galley for an honest review.

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books (July 7, 2020)
ISBN-10: 125014289X
ISBN-13: 978-1250142894

Originally from Ohio where her Amish thrillers are set, Linda Castillo knew from an early age that she wanted to be a writer--and penned her first novel at the age of thirteen.  She's published thirty books for three New York publishing houses and won numerous industry awards, including a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover, the Golden Heart, the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, and a nomination for the prestigious Rita. (from her website)

LIES by T.M. Logan (2018)

A roller coaster of a ride riddled with lies. Once you start reading you are hooked. Twists and turns and surprises are around every corner. Guaranteed to keep you up late at night.

FIRST SENTENCE: "My son's first word wasn't Daddy or Mummy. His first word was Audi."

THE STORY: Joe Lynch is happy with his life. He has a beautiful, loving wife and an adorable four year old son. As a teacher he can spend quality time with his child. It only takes one impulsive seemingly innocent decision to bring down his whole life.

WHAT I THOUGHT:Good writing, careful plotting, full of unexpected twists makes this a fun read.

BOTTOM LINE: If you like psychological thrillers, you will totally enjoy LIES. Just be sure to suspend disbelief since some details may seem a bit unrealistic.

Hardcover:  432 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (September 11, 2018)
ISBN-10: 9781250182265
ISBN-13: 978-1250182265

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of  LIES by T.M. Logan from NetGalley/St. Martin's Press  for my honest review.

Bestselling author T.M. Logan was a national newspaper journalist before turning to novel-writing full time. His debut thriller LIES (2017) was one of Amazon UK's biggest ebooks of 2017, selling 330,000 copies and gathering more than 1,300 5-star reviews so far. It is now being published in ten other countries worldwide. His next thriller, 29 SECONDS, will be published in the USA in summer 2019. Tim lives in Nottinghamshire, UK, with his wife and two children.

THE TWENTY-THREE (2016) Promise Falls Trilogy #3

The Twenty-Three by Linwood Barclay
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When I discovered Linwood Barclay's thrillers, I waited anxiously each time until I could get my hands on the next one. This one won't be available until November 1, 2016 but you have lots of other choices before then.

I love the fact that his story telling can surprise the reader. His plots are clever. His characters unexpected. The Promise Falls, New York setting is a small town we know. It's a lot like where we all live but with unthinkable things happening.

THE FIRST LINE: "I know I won't be able to get them all. But I hope I'll be able to get enough."

THE STORY: Book 1: Broken Promise - "With a demanding job at the Boston Globe, single parent David Harwood cannot find enough time to spend with his son. The solution he chooses is to go back home and work for the local paper in Promise Falls. Things start going wrong immediately."

Book 2: Far From True - "A group of teens are planning to attend a final showing at the local drive-in theater, smuggling in beer and one of their friends in the car trunk. They are in line when there is an explosion, the screen collapses, and people are killed. The reader is hooked! From there the author begins feeding out various story lines. The daughter of one of the victims asks Cal Weaver, a private investigator, to help solve a break-in at her father's house where he finds a hidden room. Meanwhile Detective Barry Duckworth is trying to solve two murders, one three years old, that he suspects are linked. And lurking in the background is the ominous Mr. 23."

And finally Book 3: The Twenty-three - People are suddenly being felled by a mysterious illness which is quickly identified as the town's water supply (shades of Flint, Michigan). Private investigator Cal Weaver focuses on who could benefit from such a tragedy while Detective Barry Duckworth investigates another murder which seems to be part of a pattern. David Harwood is back with his troubles too. How will it all end?

WHAT I THOUGHT: The confusion of characters I noted in my review of the second book just becomes more intense here. I actually had trouble getting into the story but by the time I was halfway through, I was committed to finding out the answers. Barclay does a great job of reminding the reader of who characters are, but I find it annoying sometimes. Will I read his next offering? Of course. Linwood Barclay is a masterful storyteller.

BOTTOM LINE: My recommendation would be to read some of the stand alone titles first. If you find, like me, that you love Linwood Barclay, then go ahead and read this trilogy. You can find reviews of other titles on my blog. One of my favorites is Never Look Away.

Title: The Twenty-Three (Promise Falls Trilogy #3)

Author: Linwood Barclay

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Berkley

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

No. of Pages: 464

Copyright: November 1, 2016

ISBN-10: 0451472721

ISBN-13: 978-0451472724

Disclaimer: An advanced reading copy (ARC) of this book was provided to me by Berkley and Net Galley for an honest review.

Linwood Barclay is a former columnist for The Toronto Star and the author of several critically acclaimed novels, including Too Close to Home and No Time for Goodbye, a #1 Sunday Times (UK) bestseller. He lives near Toronto with his wife. (from Amazon)
 

THE PASSENGER (2016)

The Passenger by Lisa Lutz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

THE STORY: Instead of calling 911, Tanya DuBois decides to run when she finds her husband's body even though she insists she isn't guilty of anything. Changing her identity, not for the first time, she attempts to start another new life, but it's not that easy in this day and age. Luckily (or not) she meets Blue, a bartender, and they trade identities. Still, Tanya continues to look over her shoulder.

WHAT I THOUGHT: This is one of those books. The kind that keep you up past your bedtime because you have to know what is going to happen. Peppered with e-mails that give clues to the past, the cat and mouse game criss-crosses the U.S. always just steps ahead of whoever is searching for Tanya.

Escaping one's life through reinvention fascinates us. Told in the first person, Lisa Lutz has created a compelling story and some interesting characters, whose sense of morality is slightly off plumb. There's not a lot of depth, some repetition, but a good ending.

FIRST SENTENCE: "When I found my husband at the bottom of the stairs, I tried to resuscitate him before I ever considered disposing of the body."

BOTTOM LINE: If you love thrillers, add this to your to-read list. You won't be disappointed.

DISCLAIMER: Invited by NetGalley to request and receive this title for an honest review.

Title: The Passenger

Author: Lisa Lutz

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

No. of Pages: 320 pages

Copyright:March 1, 2016

ISBN-10: 1451686633

ISBN-13: 978-1451686630

Lisa Lutz is the author of the New York Times bestselling, Edgar Award– and Macavity Award–nominated, and Alex Award-winning Spellman Files series and the novel The Passenger. She is the coauthor of Heads You Lose, written with David Hayward. She lives and works in upstate New York.(from Amazon)

DEVIL'S BRIDGE (2015)

Devil's Bridge by Linda Fairstein
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's been a little more than a year since I read Linda Fairstein's Terminal City (2014). Before that I had read Dark Angel (2013).  My reaction each time is the same. The best part of her books is New York City and the historical details she works into the story.

In Devil's Bridge, Fairstein continues her winning formula with this 17th entry in the Alexandra Cooper series. This time her focus is the Manhattan waterfront, the Statue of Liberty, the George Washington Bridge, and Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse.

Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cooper specialized in crimes against women and children. The plot is a disappearance and how it is solved. What's interesting for this outing is the story is told from Detective Mike Chapman's point of view as he scrambles to find Coop. Friends for many years, they have recently settled into a more intimate relationship.

It takes a long time before the historical information starts showing up, which is my favorite part. Unfortunately I don't care for the characters very much and that includes Alexandra Cooper. I have noted before that she is treated like a child and this story perpetuates that notion. Perhaps it's time for me to move on, but rest assured that those who love this series will be anxiously awaiting the next installment.

Bottom Line: If you are not already a fan of this series, you might try one of the earlier books in the series first.

Title: Devil's Bridge
Author: Linda Fairstein
Genre: Police Procedural/Thriller
Publisher: Dutton
ISBN - 10: 0525953892
ISBN - 13: 978-0525953890
No. of Pages: 384 pages
Copyright: August 11, 2015
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Source: NetGalley

DISCLOSURE: Invited by NetGalley to request and receive this title for an honest review.

Linda Fairstein Linda Fairstein was chief of the Sex Crimes Unit of the district attorney's office in Manhattan for more than two decades and is America's foremost legal expert on sexual assault and domestic violence. Her Alexandra Cooper novels are international bestsellers and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. She lives in Manhattan and on Martha's Vineyard. (Amazon)

BROKEN PROMISE (2015)

It took me long enough to get around to reading one of my favorite thriller writers! I won a copy from the Good Reads First Reads Contest back in May. Where did May and June go? It's a long story. I am now working to get back to the business of reading and writing reviews.

Once I actually was able to start reading Linwood Barclay's Broken Promise, I devoured the book in my usual way. Two days tops.

We're back in Promise Falls, New York, where  previous stories have taken place. Those of us who have read Barclay's books will recognize David Harwood and his son from Never Look Away (2010).

THE STORY: With a demanding job at the Boston Globe, single parent David Harwood cannot find enough time to spend with his son. The solution he chooses is to go back home and work for the local paper in Promise Falls. Things start going wrong immediately.

By the end of the story it was obvious that not all the mysteries raised in this book were going to be addressed. When I did a little research, I discovered that this is the first book in what will be a three books series the second and final installments being released at nine month intervals.

WHAT I THOUGHT: Reading one of Barclay's thrillers, there is always the relief that one's own life is safe from the cascade of bad things that are happening to these good people. That seems to be his formula. The author creates impossible scenarios for the protagonist so the reader will wonder how in the world the story threads can possibly be untangled.

With a nod to modern culture and characters enduring the same life problems, it's easy to relate and wonder 'what would I do' in this circumstance.

FIRST SENTENCE: "A couple of hours before all hell broke loose, I was in bed, awake since five, pondering the circumstances that had returned me, at the age of forty-one, to my childhood home."

BOTTOM LINE: If you don't intend to read the other two books, you will find the ending unsatisfactory. Otherwise it's a quick and engrossing read. RECOMMENDED.

DISCLAIMER: I won an ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) of this book from the Good Reads First Reads project.

Title: Broken Promise

Author: Linwood Barclay

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: NAL

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

No. of Pages: 512

Copyright: July 28, 2015

ISBN-10:  0451472675

ISBN-13: 978-0451472670

"Linwood Barclay is an American-born Canadian author, noted as a novelist, humourist, and columnist. His popular detective novels are bestsellers in Canada and internationally, beginning with No Time for Goodbye in 2007." Wikipedia
 

I'm a Winner!

Look at the happy message I got from Goodreads today: "You are one of our First Reads lucky winners! You will soon receive a free copy of Broken Promise: A Thriller [Linwood Barclay​] in the mail."

Descent (2015)

Descent by Tim Johnston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tim Johnston's novel is very disturbing. I realized it shortly after beginning, but I kept reading.

OPENING LINE: "Her name was Caitlin, she was eighteen, and her own heart would sometimes wake her - flying away in that dream-race where finish lines grew farther away not nearer, where knees turned to taffy, or feet to stones." 

Visiting Colorado on vacation, Caitlin, with her younger brother Sean tagging along, goes for a run leaving her sleeping parents behind. What happens then is every parents' worst nightmare. Only Sean returns.

The story explores the aspect of each person's life as it is affected by the disappearance, not just the immediate family but others in the community as well. The author brings the Colorado mountains to life. As a matter of fact, his descriptions would easily transfer to a visual story telling medium.

For most of the story I was totally anxious about what was going to happen and it only got worse as the end approached.

Don't misunderstand. This is an excellent story beautifully told. Almost like a impressionist watercolor painting, details and feelings are only suggested in beautiful and emotional language. And the reader doesn't see everything all at once. Instead bits and pieces are revealed over time.

This haunting thriller will stay with you for a long time.

BOTTOM LINE: Well written, plotted, and with incredibly real characters, this book is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Title: Descent

Author: Tim Johnston

Genre: Literate Thriller

Publisher:  Algonquin Books

No. of Pages: 384

Copyright: January 6, 2015

ISBN-10: 1616203048

ISBN-13: 978-1616203047

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Net Galley

Disclaimer: An advanced copy of Descent was provided to me by Algonquin/Net Galley for review purposes.

Tim Johnston , a graduate of the University of Iowa and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, has done a lot of writing and won awards for it, but Descent is his debut novel. He currently teaches in the Creative Writing Program at the University of Memphis.

FEAR THE DARKNESS (2015)

Fear the Darkness: A Thriller by Becky Masterman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was excited to read Becky Masterman's second thriller in a series featuring Brigid Quinn, a retired FBI agent pushing 60. And yes, finishing Fear the Darkness kept me up past my bedtime. Written in the first person, the reader is drawn into Brigid's world.

Married late in life, Brigid is working hard to build a different kind of world for herself in Tucson, Arizona where she has married for the first time in her life. Her husband Carlo, an ex-priest, is now a professor of philosophy and a good balance for Brigid. With her beloved pugs and friend Mallory, life seems pretty good.

Then her sister-in-law dies and Brigid makes good on her promise to help by allowing her niece Gemma-Kate, to move in. It doesn't take long before it appears that something isn't quite right about the 17 year old.

What a delight it is to have a heroine who is older but still strong and capable!

During the time I was reading the book, I began taking blood pressure medicine and started exhibiting many side effects. It made the story even more personal as Brigid tried to function while unwell.

Like many series, reading the books in order will enrich the experience.

Bottom Line:
Interesting characters, setting, and Brigid herself all make this a worthy second entry in the series which establishes Becky Masterman as a writer to watch. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Title: Fear the Darkness

Author: Becky Masterman

Series: Brigid Quinn Series (Book 2)

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Minotaur Books

No. of Pages: 336 pages

Copyright: January 20, 2015

ISBN-10: 0312622953

ISBN-13: 978-0312622954

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Source: NetGalley

Disclaimer: An advanced copy of Fear the Darkness was provided to me by Minotaur/Net Galley for review purposes.

An acquisitions editor for a press that specializes in medical textbooks (forensic examiners and law enforcement!), Becky Masterman grew up in Florida and received her M.A. in creative writing from Florida Atlantic University. Her debut thriller, Rage Against the Dying, was a finalist for the Edgar Award  for Best First Novel, the CWA Gold Dagger Award for Best Crime Novel of 2013, the ITV Thriller Award, as well as the Macavity, Barry, and Anthony awards. She and her husband actually live in Tucson, Arizona. This is her second thriller.

THE GREAT ZOO OF CHINA (2015)

The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

About a quarter of the way into this book, I thought about not finishing it. From the very beginning, the reader thinks "Jurassic Park" but with dragons. More like a comic book story and exhausting with non-stop action, this book demands an enormous suspension of disbelief.

The amount of blood, gore, destruction, death, and just plain awfulness was over the top. I even worried that the budget for a faithful movie would be unattainable.

Matthew Reilly is a best-selling author but I had never read him before. It annoyed me that he often repeated facts multiple times, which I consider writing down to the reader.

The Chinese government has kept secret for forty years the fact that they have found a species that no one has believed is real and they have built an incredible facility to house it. Now it is time to invite a few select people to view their achievement and report back to the world. One of them is our protagonist Dr. Cassandra Jane “CJ” Cameron, a writer for National Geographic and an expert on reptiles.

It's not hard to guess what comes next. What you have to admire is the detailed world the author has created.

Many reviewers and readers thought this was an amazing book, so let's just say it's not my type of read.

Bottom Line: To sum up my personal feelings all I have to do is quote CJ, " Oh, you have got to be kidding me".

Title: The Great Zoo of China

Author: Matthew Reilly

Genre: Action/Adventure

Publisher: Gallery Books

No. of Pages: 416 pages

Copyright: January 27, 2015

ISBN-10: 1476749558

ISBN-13: 978-1476749556

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Source: NetGalley

Disclaimer: An advanced copy of The Great Zoo of China was provided to me by Gallery Books/Net Galley for review purposes.

Matthew Reilly "is the international bestselling author of twelve novels: Ice Station, Temple, Contest, Area 7, Scarecrow, Hover Car Racer, Hell Island, Seven Ancient Wonders, The Six Sacred Stones, The Five Greatest Warriors, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves and The Tournament. Matthew’s books are published in over 20 languages with worldwide sales of over 7 million copies." (from the author's website)

THE LIFE I LEFT BEHIND (2015)

The Life I Left Behind by Colette McBeth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Colette McBeth's first book Precious Thing so when I had the opportunity to read her second The Life I Left Behind I didn't hesitate to request a copy. I wasn't disappointed.

This time out McBeth uses her storytelling skills through the voices of three young women.

Melody Pieterson, viciously assaulted by a supposed 'friend' six years earlier, has worked hard to rebuild her life but the betrayal has left her scarred and damaged. When her convicted attacker is released a woman's body is found and there are too many similarities to overlook.

Eve Elliot tells her story from the 'other side' in the manner of Sebold's The Lovely Bones. Eve has been investigating irregularities in the case before her death. McBeth handles this artfully and the reader is drawn in especially since Eve is the only one who knows what really happened.

The third voice is detective Victoria Rutter, who has also begun to question the handling of the evidence.

These three narratives twist and braid together revealing clues, new information, constantly getting closer to a resolution. Interesting and well-drawn characters carry the story along. Saying too much about the story would ruin the experience for the reader.

Sometimes I read and like a book but that doesn't mean I'll automatically read another by the author. On the other hand, I'd be delighted to read any story Colette McBeth writes.

Plan to stay up late reading. It is hard to put this taut, compelling, psychological thriller aside.

View all my reviews

Bottom Line: Looking for a tense, psychological, well-written thriller? Read The Life I Left Behind and then pick up a copy of Precious Thing. Both are worthy and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Title: The Life I Left Behind

Author: Colette McBeth

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Minotaur Books

No. of Pages: 352 pages

Copyright: February 24, 2015

ISBN:  125004121X

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Source: NetGalley

Disclaimer: An advanced copy of The Life I Left Behind was provided to me by Minotaur/Net Galley for review purposes.


Colette McBeth was a BBC TV News Correspondent for ten years. She lives in West London with her husband and three young children. She attended the Faber Academy Novel Writing Course in 2011. Precious Thing was her first novel. This is her second. She lives in London with her husband and three children but dreams of being beside the seaside. (from the author's website)

NO SAFE HOUSE (2014)

No Safe House by Linwood Barclay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sometimes you read a book you like but aren't inclined to read others by the same author. It was the particular story or setting  or characters that attracted you.

Sometimes you read a book and can't wait to get your hands on the next story that the author writes.

That's how it is for me with Linwood Barclay. I've read or listened to a half dozen of his books and all of them have delivered the goods. His mind works in devious ways that are absolutely delightful in a thriller!

Since I couldn't track down a preview copy of No Safe House, I actually pre-ordered it for my Kindle so I could read it as soon as it was released. Even having read the prequel No Time for Goodbye a while ago, I needn't have worried that I might not be up to speed. Barclay is a master at making sure the reader knows exactly what she/he should be aware of and makes sure the reader doesn't know the rest until the appropriate time.

In No Time for Goodbye, 14 year-old Cynthia awakes to find her entire family gone.  Twenty-five years later, with her husband Terry and young daughter Grace, she agrees to a TV documentary that will reopen the case. The aftermath is terrifying.

It's seven years later in No Safe House and we find the family still coping with issues that are causing problems. Cynthia decides to live apart from Terry and Grace while she struggles with her demons. Grace is hanging out with a young man who convinces her to so something illegal and we are off and running.

Barclay tells his tale in alternating chapters using Terry's voice in the first person followed by third person narrative about what's going on elsewhere. Sometimes the timing overlaps, which is a neat trick to pull off so successfully.

Barclay has been referred to as the 'King of the Suburban' thriller. His characters' lives don't seem much different from ours before unexpected things start happening. The good guys sometimes make questionable decisions and the bad guys sometimes do the right things.

There is  a lot of suspense and threat in his stories but Barclay seems to have a great feel for just how much violent description the reader actually wants or needs.

Some reviewers have found fault with the story for being a stretch. I haven't read a thriller yet that wasn't. A little suspension of disbelief is what makes the story such a roller-coaster ride. It's just plain fun. Can I confess that I actually cried at one point?

Bottom Line: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Title: No Safe House
Author: Linwood Barclay
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: NAL Hardcover
No. of Pages: 464 pages
ISBN: 0451414209
Copyright: August 5, 2014
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Amazon

Bestselling author Linwood Barclay was born in the United States but moved to Canada just before turning four years old when his father's job took the family across the border.

Linwood obtained an Honors B.A. in English at Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario.
Initially he began working for a number of local newspapers, eventually landing a job at the Toronto Star in 1981. His break came with No Time for Goodbye in 2007. It became a runaway bestseller in the U.K. selling a million copies there and elsewhere.

PHANTOM LIMB (2014)

Phantom Limb: A Daniel Rinaldi Mystery by Dennis Palumbo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dennis Palumbo now has four thrillers (as of September 1, 2014) in the Daniel Rinaldi mysteries set in Pittsburgh, where he grew up. That is one of the features that drew me to the series since I lived there happily for a number of years. It isn't necessary to be familiar with Pittsburgh; but if you are, it's fun to recognize the locations the author describes.

Daniel Rinaldi is a psychologist who reluctantly gets called in by the police from time to time, to help with difficult cases needing his skills. His specialty is traumatized victims of crime including sexual assault. But never fear. Since author Dennis Palumbo is also a psychologist in real life, he never goes too far with the violence or the sex. The focus is on one heck of a good story.

In Phantom Limb, things start off with a bang. Set in Pittsburgh, this roller coaster ride of a thriller is a worthy fourth entry into the series. Hollywood Starlet Lisa Harland now married to a very wealthy older man is kidnapped as she leaves her session with Rinaldi, who of course gets knocked out. Why does the kidnapper insist on Dr. Rinaldi being the one to make the ransom drop?

I tend not to tell too much of the story since part of the fun of thrillers is the surprise and unexpected plot twists. And Palumbo precisely lays out the various story lines, carefully pulling them together at the end. Except, of course, those things that MIGHT be part of the next book.

If you start with the first book in the series, you will feel like the reoccurring secondary characters are old friends. Palumbo has filled his stories with people that are memorable, quirky, cranky, and fun.

I read lots of thrillers and have to say that Dennis Palumbo is one of the best writers in the genre and he gets better with every new entry in this series.

Bottom Line: If you read and enjoy thrillers, add Dennis Palumbo to your list of authors to follow. You won't be disappointed! It's not necessary, but I would still suggest reading the other three books first. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Disclaimer: A copy of Phantom Limb was provided to me by Poisoned Pen Press/Netgalley for review purposes. Dennis and I were in a community theater production together in Pittsburgh many years ago.

Title: Phantom Limb: A Daniel Rinaldi Mystery #4

Author: Dennis Palumbo

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

No. of Pages: 250 pages

Copyright: September 1, 2014

ISBN: 1464202540

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: NetGalley

Dennis Palumbo is a writer and licensed psychotherapist. His first Daniel Rinaldi mystery, Mirror Image was published in 2010, followed by Fever Dream in 2011, and Night Terrors in 2013. He was formerly a Hollywood screenwriter and his credits include the feature film My Favorite Year. He also wrote for Welcome Back, Kotter.

ONE OF US (2014)

One of Us by Tawni O'Dell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Who the heck is Tawni O'Dell and why haven't I heard of her before? Maybe I should pay more attention to Oprah? Apparently a couple of years back one of her selections was the author's Back Roads.

I've read a couple of other Oprah choices and enjoyed them, so I looked a little more closely when I was offered the chance to read One of Us, which won't be available until late this summer.

What initially attracted me to One of Us was that it was a thriller with settings in Pennsylvania, places where I lived or visited growing up. I probably saw the allusions to a similarity with Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl too.

Sheridan Doyle, Danny to his friends, has overcome a difficult childhood and reinvented himself as a highly successful and recognizeable forensic psychologist in Philadelphia; but the minute he returns to his small Pennsylvania coal town to see after his aging grandfather, the past and his insecurities come rushing back.

Although set in the present, it is the connections, lies, and secrets from the past that intrude and drive the story. Lost Creek was the site of the hanging of a group of rebellious miners a century earlier. When a body is found on that site, things become complicated.

Told by two different narrators, we're well into Danny's account when Scarlet's version begins. Their connections run deep into the past. Danny's background is blue-collar while Scarlet's wealthy family has owned the mine for generations. The reader can't help but enjoy the descriptions of the things that these two share in common. Are they really that different?

With a dark, Gothic feel, this psychological thriller is an entertaining page-turner.

Bottom Line: Highly recommended for thriller readers. Crisp writing and some real surprises are served up.

Title: One of Us
Author: Tawni O'Dell
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Publisher: Gallery Books
ISBN: 1476755876
No. of Pages: 304 pages
Copyright: August 19, 2014
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: NetGalley

DISCLOSURE: Invited by NetGalley to request and receive this title for an honest review.

Tawni O'Dell is a bestselling author of four novels including Back Roads, which was an Oprah’s Book Club pick and a Book-of-the-Month Club Main Selection. Back Roads is currently in development to be made into a film. Her works have been published in over 40 countries.

Tawni was born and raised in the coal-mining region of western Pennsylvania, the territory she writes about with such striking authenticity. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism and spent many years living in the Chicago area before moving back to Pennsylvania with her two children.

(Source: Official website)

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Greg Iles at Nicola's Books in Ann Arbor

Monday, May 19th at 7:00 pm Meet New York Times Bestselling Author Greg Iles for a Discussion and Signing of His New Novel, Natchez Burning 

NYT bestselling author, Greg Iles will be at Nicola's Books for a signing and discussion of his novel, "Natchez Burning", the first installment in an epic trilogy that weaves crimes, lies, and secrets past and present into a mesmerizing thriller featuring southern mayor and former prosecutor Penn Cage.  Greg Iles was born in Germany in 1960, where his father ran the US Embassy Medical Clinic during the height of the Cold War.  Iles spent his youth in Natchez.  While attending Ole Miss, Greg lived in the cabin where William Faulkner and his brothers listened to countless stories told by "Mammy Callie," their beloved nanny, who had been born a slave. Iles wrote his first novel in 1993, a thriller about Nazi war criminal Rudolf Hess, which became the first of twelve New York Times bestsellers.  More information

                       

THE BURNING (MAEVE KERRIGAN #1) (2010)

The Burning:  by Jane Casey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you're a fan of UK-based mysteries and thrillers (think Tana French), the discovery of Jane Casey is a delightful surprise! The Burning is the first in a series of several books featuring Detective Constable Maeve Kerrigan, all now available in the United States.

From the intense opening when we fear for the life of a young woman, the author cleverly constructs a story that is part police procedural and part psychological thriller.

A serial killer dubbed 'The Burning Man' is responsible for four violent deaths in London. The police are scrambling for clues to stop the reign of terror against single young women.

When Rebecca Haworth's body is discovered, D.C. Kerrigan suspects a copycat murder and sets about learning all she can about the young woman's life.

Alternately told by D.C. Kerrigan and Louise, Rebecca's best friend, some other literary tricks to flesh out the story. Fast-paced, intelligently written, with characters you care about, Jane Casey has been added to my list of favorite authors. (I just requested The Reckoning, book #2 from my local library.)

Bottom Line: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Title: The Burning
Author: Jane Casey
Genre: Police Procedural/Psychological Thriller
Publisher: Minotaur
ISBN: 1250006600
No. of Pages: 368 pages
Copyright: August 30, 2011 (American Edition)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: NetGalley

DISCLOSURE: Invited by NetGalley to request and receive this title for an honest review.

JANE CASEY was born and raised in Dublin. She is a graduate of Oxford with a masters in philosophy from Trinity College, Dublin. Her first book, The Missing, was published by Ebury Press in February 2010. It was shortlisted for the Irish Crime Book of the Year. This was quickly followed by The Burning (November 2010), The Reckoning (July 2011), The Last Girl (2013), and The Stranger You Know (2014). She lives in London with her husband James Norman, a criminal barrister, and their son. (Wikipedia)

THE FIXER (Mort Grant #1)

The Fixer by T.E. Woods
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Series are not my favorite thing. I often read the first book and stop right there. That will be the case with The Fixer.

From reading other reviews I appear to be in the minority, but I am not interested in torture of animals or people although I understand the fascination with vigilante justice.

My first confusion came with the title. I thought the series would be about 'the fixer'. It wasn't until later that I saw the clarification (Mort Grant #1). Mort is a detective with the Seattle Police Department who ends up handling and solving the murders.

So many characters were introduced at the beginning that I was having trouble keeping them all straight and Mort didn't show up for a while.

That being said, I did read the whole book. There was some talky exposition and the need to suspend disbelief, but the writing is good and there are some interesting and unique twists to the tale.

Basically the story is about a woman who fixes problems that the law cannot or will not handle. How she goes about her business is clever and intriguing. But has someone figured out who she really is?

The Red Hot Fix (Mort Grant #2) will debut on Kindle only June 10, 2014.

Bottom Line: RECOMMENDED if you like this type of thriller otherwise pass. Although the $2.99 price is hard to beat.

Title: The Fixer (Mort Grant #1)
Author: T.E. Woods
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Alibi
Kindle Edition Only
No. of Pages: 312 pages
Copyright: February 4, 2014
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Source: NetGalley

DISCLOSURE: Invited by NetGalley to request and receive this title for an honest review.

"Teri Woods is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Madison, Wisconsin. Her scientific writings are well represented in peer-reviewed journals and academic texts. Her literary works earned her First Place, Fiction at the 2008 University of Wisconsin Writer’s Institute. Dr. Woods enjoys kayaking, hiking, biking, and hanging around the house while her two dogs help her make sense of the world. Her habit of relaxing by conjuring up any manner of diabolical murder methods and plots often finds her friends urging her to take up knitting." (from Amazon)

VERY BAD MEN (2012)

Very Bad Men (David Loogan #2) by Harry Dolan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very Bad Men is the perfect title for the second story concerning David Loogan. As the tale is told, more and more of the characters earn that designation.

Harry Dolan's descriptions of character and place appeal to me. His plotting in this story is complicated but I never had any trouble keeping up. Rather than a roller coaster ride, which can be fun, Dolan varies his tempo. For me that makes it all the more compelling.

There are certain elements that make a review useful to the reader. It wasn't until I met someone who refused to read fiction written in the first person that I even paid any conscious attention to the voice.

Recently I read another blogger's review of a book I had previously read. They mentioned that the tension of the book came partly from the first person perspective the author had chosen to use to tell the story. My review didn't mention the fact.

Then I read a review of Very Bad Men that was not comfortable with Harry Dolan's choice to use both voices in one novel. I thought the transitions were obvious and  quite appropriate in moving the story along.

Dolan's style is noir and sparse, but not inelegant. Even though the story is set around the time of the Art Fair in Ann Arbor, Michigan (July), which should conjure up a colorful world, the pictures in my head were black and white movie with lots of shades of grey. Partly it is this air of moral ambiguity that I find attractive.

David Loogan, has taken over as editor of a mystery magazine after the death of the previous editor, a friend. He has become close to Detective Elizabeth Waishkey who appears in Bad Things Happen. Loogan is a good man but struggles with guidelines that don't always serve the moment. That's part of his charm.

A manuscript left at the offices of the mystery magazine, Gray Streets, seems to be connected to a Northern Michigan bank robbery gone wrong seventeen years earlier.

Bottom Line: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED but start with Bad Things Happen because you are apt to want to read all this author's books.

Title: Very Bad Men

Author:  Harry Dolan

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam

No. of Pages: 432 pages

Copyright: July 7, 2011

ISBN:  0399157492

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: NetGalley

Harry Dolan's latest book The Last Dead Girl goes on sale today (January 9, 2014) and the author will be speaking and signing at Nicola's Books in Ann Arbor. He graduated from Colgate University, where he majored in philosophy and studied fiction-writing with the novelist Frederick Busch. He grew up in Rome, New York, and now lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.