Laura was a child star in an iconic horror film. The reason for its succes had nothing to do with the quality but instead was built around its reputation for being cursed and responsible for the deaths of most of the people who worked on it. Years later they are making a remake and Laura is a journalist given the task of writing an article about it. Almost from day one she begins to see a shadowy figure and the body count begins. To make matters worse , she is one of the main suspects. Not only must she come to grips with the trauma of her childhood but she must find and put The Needle Man behind her for good. The question is how many people will die before she can make it stop. Super scary story that brings to mind all those 90's slasher films as well as the current obsession with true crime. 3 1/2 stars
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A young woman whose sister has just been murdered must take in boarders to make the rent. These brief interludes with strangers usually last a few days but the new guy will be with her for a longer stint. He is quiet and keeps to himself but Tess is unable to stop herself from rummaging through his things and reading his diary. There is a spark between them but not knowing the identity of the secret woman in his diary is driving her crazy. Is it her or is it his old girlfriend that he is still hung up on? Tess is also stalking her sister's ex boyfriend convinced that he is the killer. Is it REAR WINDOW voyeurism or a THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW mental breakdown? The danger intensifies as Tess monitors everyones movements. This should warn off any armchair detectives. 3 1/2 stars Lady Somerset is a widow after her much older husband passed earlier in the year. After months the will is finally read and it comes as a bit of a shock especially to the Somerset relatives who are aghast to find that Eliza has inherited the bulk of the estate. For the first time in her life she is in control and without the concerns that bind most women and the only thing keeping her from reclaiming the heart of the man who captured hers years ago is a pesky morality clause in the will. She is having to adhere to society's many rules about how to act as a grieving widow but only for a few more months. Eliza is already pushing the limits and enjoying the first taste of freedom but can it last? Fans of Bridgerton will find much to love here. 4 stars
Sara is a rape victim. While the trauma still haunts her eight years later there is one bright spot - her daughter Alana. Sara has protected Alana from knowing anything about her father (convicted of the rape and in prison) and his family. She must risk the secrets coming out when she heads home to spend the last few precious months with her dying father. She knows she can't keep her return a secret for long but is totally unprepared when she meets Jacob, her rapist's brother. Jacob has no love for his incarcerated brother but doesn't have any trouble putting two and two together when he meets Alana. She is a math savant and looks exactly like their dead sister. In Alana's best interest Jacob and Sara form an uneasy alliance. While you don't always get to choose who you fall in love with and the baggage they carry with them, you do get to choose if you can get past the past and forgive. Sara's dad communicates through poetry and it adds a beautiful element to the story. Family relationships, forgiveness and redemption are all strong themes here along with a plethora of classic poetry in this moving debut. I was so happy to see the list of poetry included. This will resonate with readers of complicated family relationships. 4 1/2 stars
A gothic ghost story of a house that is just "wrong" and two families that lived there and lost while under its roof. The Reeve is a sprawling old house near the English cliffs. Gardens, a pond and countless rooms to explore, it should be the perfect place for children. Sadly, families soon find that it is not. Dead birds, noises, imaginary friends and images caught in the corner of your eye all designed to make any caregiver wary and discredit them at the same time. A debut with all the earmarks of a classic haunted house story with a nod to the isolation that single mother's caring for children single handedly often face. A spooky read sure to give you a quiet chill. 4 stars This is not an easy story nor should it be. A spirit that cannot be contained is born through enslavement and continues through the next several generations to the 90's when a strong woman will go back to Ghana and complete the circle. This trauma is passed onto each generation forcing them down through bondage, poverty and violence. Mothers are helpless, fathers lash out and the children grow bearing the scars of the past. A child grows up with daily beatings for failings he doesn't even know he has. A G.I. goes off to fight a war halfway around the world only to find the same trauma haunts him. Vivid language that doesn't sugarcoat the pain and violence makes this a slim and very powerful book. 4 stars
Happy book birthday to America and DAYS AT THE MORISAKI BOOKSHOP by Satoshi Yagisawa
Takako has just been dumped by her boyfriend after announcing that he is getting married to someone else. Working with him like nothing happened is out of the question so she must quit her job. When her uncle calls out of the blue asking for help running his used bookshop it seems like the perfect time for a life reset. She develops a love of books, her uncle and the neighborhood in this little town of 150 bookshops. Powerless to deal with her own issues Takako tries to help others and in turn fixes herself along the way. Translated from the original Japanese, this is a quaint slim novel that shows the power of trust, new beginnings and family where you find it. 3 stars Now retired librarian Bob Comet takes walks without any destination in mind. When on a walk he guides a lost mute woman back home he forges a new path that leads to a new family. Bob begins volunteering at the senior center and every day brings him closer to a diverse group and his own place in it. Memories and the past both bittersweet and lonely come bubbling up giving the reader insight into his life spent helping people through books and a kind word. Full of witty dialogue, colorful characters and quiet applause, this is the story of a life well lived. Fans of Ann Patchett's reflective writing with a dollop of THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY and unique characters of Fredrik Backman will immediately become immersed. 4 stars
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