This dark as ink tome covers several trending topics such as small bookstores closing due to online and big box chains, true crime everywhere in books, tv and podcasts and obsessive friendships and/or love interests. This debut novel does all this in a remarkably fresh voice. Roach works at a London struggling bookstore which she uses to her full advantage to get in unlimited free reading material of true crime books. The home office sends in a team to revamp the store for one last hurrah including one perky, no nonsense Laura who charms everyone even the polar opposite goth Roach. Almost from the beginning Laura is borderline openly hostile to Roach which only makes Roach want to win her over even more. What starts out as curiosity is now becoming an obsession not only with Laura herself but with what Roach feels is a shared love of true crime. This sets Roach on a true crime journey of her own with a beautifully murky ending. Frightening and violent this is just the ticket for true crime aficionados, rabid fans of Caroline Kepnes YOU and stories of toxic relationships. 4 stars
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Simon Winchester always tackles the tough questions and this book is no different. In this journey down the road of world knowledge we begin at the first inkling of recorded knowledge in Mesopotamia and finish with today's artificial intelligence. This is not a quick journey but a rewarding one if you love to ponder ancient libraries, museums and cultures from long ago. What immense collections have been learned and saved and sadly lost. He also delves into what the future holds for humans who turn to machines to find, act on and store knowledge without our brains having to do much at all. This in depth look at how we learn, who we learned from and what we are in danger of losing made me think that the author would be proud of how much knowledge he has passed on with his books. 3 1/2 stars
Whiplash is the best way to describe a Taylor Adams thriller.
Emma and her trusty golden retriever are housesitting a remote beach house. While boredom is setting in and she is not getting exercise except for a beach walk she still has virtual mountains of cheap e-books and playing hangman on a whiteboard with her recluse neighbor to look forward to. After finishing one REALLY badly thought out and horrifically written book she leaves a scathing one star review online. The author contacts her and pleads for her to take it down which she declines to do. End of story? Not on your life. Said author begins leaving her menacing messages and some how manages to find where she lives. No lights, no phone, big storm, unreliable neighbor , a dog who would rather lick you than bite and a madman on the loose. You think the end is near many times but just wait dear reader, Taylor Adams is not finished with you yet. Spine chilling, twisted and possibly one author's literary way of getting rid of one star reviews - this will keep you up at night. Fans and readers of Stephen King's MISERY or Anthony Horowitz will love this. 4 scary stars for book reviewers like me! Joshilyn Jackson writes truly terrifying stories. They are violent, scary and involve women who find themselves caught in bad places by people who seem like anyone you would pass on the street. Her bad guys/girls are always invisible and hard to deduce before the author's final pages. In this story an actress gathers up the one love in her life, her autistic pre-teen daughter and flees LA after a stalker intensifies his threats. Settled in Atlanta Meribel begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel and breathe only to find that the "Marker Man" is after them again sending letters and gifts. All the security, motion detectors and hiding behind curtains can't protect them once the "bees start buzzing" in their heads and it is anybody's guess who is a knight in shining armor or deadly threat.
Don't read this alone! Guaranteed to have you looking over your shoulder and think about taking self defense classes. 4 stars A delicate and perfectly measured balance of the playful wit of Julia Child with a spicy murder mystery. The story takes place in post war Paris where a young American woman is visiting her beloved Grandperes. She is with her good friend Julia Child when they discover a dead woman after a party at the Child's and Julia's sister's residence. Suddenly she is thrown into the lobster pot along with the other party guests as suspects by an unfeeling French detective. Adding a pinch of sleuthing seasoning Tabitha decides to investigate on her own and clear her friend's name but just like the mayonnaise that gives Julia so much trouble, it will take the exact balance of luck and a level head to catch the killer. A touch of Agatha Christie style mystery blended with enough Parisian atmosphere and French cooking to make your mouth water ,this will give armchair detectives and amateur chefs a culinary and literary treat. 4 delicious stars
No one messes with "The Danny Horst" rule which states that super attractive guest hosts don't date or fall in love with less attractive people. This is Sally's go to rule proven time after time while writing for the famously popular late night comedy show (think Saturday Night Live). Even when her cowriter looks like he might be breaking this namesake rule by getting engaged she still believes it to be true. This may be why she pulls away from, doesn't take the flirting seriously and tries really hard to ignore her attraction to super hunky music guest Noah Brewster. Life is moving at a breakneck speed for both of them so it is no surprise when they part ways but a shock when Noah reaches out as COVID is ramping up. Subtle but also in your face hilarious (insert laugh track) this is a clever story about how we are always so certain about the rules we follow to protect ourselves until we aren't. It made me want to NOT believe everything I see on social media. For fans of DAISY JONES AND THE SIX and comedian memoirs.
4 stars A young mom and her daughter is haunted by a ghostly apparition that speaks to her about harming her and her kids. Alejandra is adrift. She takes care of two young children in a new city where she has no friends or family to turn to. Her husband is gone most of the time with a new job. Things progress to dangerous levels and finally she turns to a therapist who is also a Curandera. Together they trace family lines and histories and what they think is a generational curse. They believe that the Mexican spirit of La Liorona, who according to legend killed herself and her children and nows roams the earth wreaking havoc, is responsible. This slim book beautifully blends a horrific spirit and haunting with the fears and failings of a post partum mother seeking answers to her heritage. A contemporary frightening story immersed with rich Mexican folklore. 4 stars
Gretchen Rubin is once again diving into a new project to find happiness this time exploring our five senses. Chapters are broken into a deep dive into sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch. Along with her own awareness test of going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art every day (I mean who wouldn't want to do that!) she develops a heightened appreciation for all five sense. At the heart this is a personal guide to living more fully and appreciating the details that we usually overlook. Take time to enjoy a perfect flower bloom, the feel of sunshine in winter, a loved one making your favorite meal and children's laughter. You will be more aware of yourself and others plus a lot less stressed. 3 1/2 stars
Book two following CITY ON FIRE. Danny Ryan has just escaped Rhode Island with his elderly father and his 18 month old son. He has escaped the FBI, drug cartel and the opposing mob and now just wants to start over as far away as possible - L.A. His small crew is told to lay low with their share of millions and sadly they do not follow his advice. A movie is being made about their daring war in Rhode Island and they find themselves in the middle of it. He further complicates his life and those he loves by falling for the leading actress in the movie. Danny Ryan is a classic example of a knight in somewhat less shiny armor who wants to lead a good life but is constantly drawn into the dark side of it. Money, power and corruption on both coasts and it will take everything he has to survive. Looking forward to the conclusion which takes us to Las Vegas. For fans of THE GODFATHER, GOODFELLAS and that other do gooder , Jack Reacher it is a solid continuation of the trilogy. 4 stars
Welcome back to the great Midwest where you can always find your table waiting and count on a brandy old-fashioned as you wait for your Saturday night prime rib and finish with a grasshopper.
The Lakeside Supper Club has been an institution in the small Minnesotan town since Mariel's parents ran it and now Mariel and her husband are expected to take the reins. It is the kind of place that is handed down and expected to be there forever but new fast food restaurants are creeping in and that has Mariel worried. Her husband comes from fast food royalty and even he isn't thrilled with this turn of events. We witness the history of the supper club, her parent's complicated history and also the forces tugging at Mariel and Ned. The inescapable bonds of family combined with a horrible tragedy and moments of over the moon joy make this lovely story heartfelt and undeniably human. It doesn't matter if you live in the big city or a rural town in the Midwest, J. Ryan Stradal has a knack for bringing us a variety of characters and life moments that make us smile, cry a bit and stay in our head and heart. His many fans will love this as will readers of Fredrik Backman, Fannie Flagg and Laura Zigman. 4 stars |
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