"The Lightning Girl", by Sam Ripley

 Sarah returns to her hometown after her father’s death only to find that old memories of thirty years ago will haunt her. Her best friend Genevieve survived being struck by lightning had proclaimed to be a witch and that this event had given her power.

Till one night Genevieve slipped and fell of a cliff to the sea and met her end…she has never been recovered or seen since…..Where is she…..

Returning home, Sarah thinks more and more about her friend especially the last night she was alive. She begins to question the story she’s believed for many years …. Then Genevieve reached out…..and as readers we fall in a psychological tug of war…what is real and what is not……..

My thoughts:

I admit that after the first 5 chapters I didn’t think I would push on. Not really my style but lo and behold a was struck by a magical spell and from then on, I was hooked.

What a mystery this turn out to be. Gen keeps popping up and talking to Sarah. Not frightening but definitely disconcerting. What happened to Gen, was she murdered and by whom…. Gen will divulge tidbits to Sarah just enough to push her to uncover the truth and this goes on and on, a teaser well done till the very end. This uncertainty kept me engaged and questioning Sarah’s interpretations of events. I enjoyed this and played along.

Some may say there is a supernatural element here but I think it is more a psychological brain game. Guilty conscience plays tricks on you: Sarah sees and hears her friend and talks to her….but is she really there talking back.

The pacing is steady giving us enough twists and clues for us to keep turning the pages. Sarah is a good character as is the ghost Gen….

If you like a mystery with originality you may like this one. I know I did.

My thanks to Atria Books as well as Netgalley for this ARC

"Nightmare in Summerset", by Melinda Woodhall

A Bailey Flynn FBI Mystery book# 11

When a book from Melinda comes out, I can’t resist. Even if this is the 11th book in the series the story is fresh and as expected filled with suspense and many unexpected twists that will derail us and keep us on our toes. This fine plot inevitably played out by charming and villain characters has a way to hook us and keep us captive till the closing chapter. As always, I was immersed in the story and I enjoyed every moment I spent reading it.

Well said and well done and most of all entertaining

The story in a few words:

Special Agent baily Flynn is investigating a horrific murder of a would-be actress who had vanished without a trace from the Scorched Pine Studios. Bailey while on the task finds chilling clues to the murderer’s twisted motive and is soon lured into his nightmarish fantasy.

Enjoy.

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review

"The Alias Conspiracy", by Simon Gervais

Caspian Anderson #3

As usual Simson Gervais’ storyline is fantastic and absorbing and this one is as usual tension-filled and adrenaline fueled. This latest delivers a compelling story with lots of action, emotion and most of all intrigue. Lots in going on, so this tale demands our full attention from the very beginning through the excitement till we reach the surprising finish.

The story in a few words;

The abduction of an investigative journalist unravels an intricate conspiracy of corruption—both deadly and deeply personal.

My thoughts:

The top-notch characters make this story fantastic. The two main players Caspian and his German agent/girlfriend Liesel Bergman are well developed and complex.

When a journalist was abducted before their eyes, they were pulled into action and chased the truth across Europe, uncovering a network of corruption…As the pieces of the puzzle came together, more players entered the game, and the tension peaked…..This story is well-written and well done for our entertainment.

“The Elias Conspiracy”, is the 3rd book in the trilogy what a shame with it comes the end of excellent storyline. Maybe Mr. Gervais will reconsider and keep Caspian going…..

In a few words:

This story is suspenseful, riveting, fast-paced and pulse-pounding words reflecting many reviewers’ point of view.

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer as well as Netgalley for providing this ARC

"Dead Men Don't Fetch", by David Rosenfelt

Andy Carpenter # 33

A Legal thriller

in this latest installment David Rosenfelt has Andy Carpenter investigates a wealthy dog lover's unusual death.

Andy Carpenter wanted to retire for a long time but when his friend, Lou Campanelli who runs a rehab center, asked for a favour, Andy cannot refuse. One of his patients, a homeless veteran, is charged with first degree murder, the attorney in him springs into action and Andy will do his best to exonerate Jason, the accused….. The story proceeds with gathering evidences, the trial and the verdict……

My thoughts:

What a puzzle Andy is enmeshed in, a case that is as twisted as one can imagine. Facing the Russo crime family, suspects laundering money, lowlifes supplying drugs, enforcers on the move, all of them, plus, thirsty for revenge. The best of all Andy’s courtroom shenanigans, although he still shines, his actions were more muted than in the past.

This story is smooth sailing and easy to follow even with all the characters that populate the pages. Andy’s team definitely does a whiz-bang job of investigating. The prosecutor doesn’t give him an easy job and Andy give us a hell of a good time. Not all his attention is on the case, he still keeps his eyes on the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue operation and takes time to play with his three pooches.

Andy tells the story in his own words, the first-person narrative is funny, sarcastic and amusing and hilarious at times. I simply love him and since I am a huge fan I am eager to see what Andy and his crew will come up with next.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for this ARC which I received via Netgalley.

"Fear the Reaper", by David Housewright

A Mac McKenzie Mystery book # 23

If you are a classic P.I. fan you will enjoy this one. I assure you even if it’s you first experience reading works by this author you will fit right in and not be lost, I know I did, I stepped right in and I enjoyed every moment, although reading this installment piqued my interest for the previous ones….

While visiting his friend in Minong Flowage Mac and his friend dropped in at local winery tasting room for some chat and wine when a man barged in carrying an AR-15. Bobby an officer in the Homicide Unit immediately recognizes the danger and the two sprung into action to take him down. Unfortunately, Wisconsin is an open-carry state…. Their actions started a whole new ball game…Afterall what appears to be a mass murder attempt may be something else……you have to read this book and see what develops…..enjoy.

I enjoyed this story a great deal. It is a fast paced and quick read filled with suspense. I like Mac, he is bad-ass so determined no matter what the cost to himself to do the right thing and along the way he entertains us. There are a lot of people populating this story it may be a bit confusing at times to place them, don’t worry you will do so.

This is a very engaging story giving us a few twists and turns some I could guess others not so much but what I liked the most is how Mac untangled the mystery and how the story is intercepted with Mac’s” inner voice” …pretty entertaining. Boy the man loves to express his thoughts out loud…fun book. I could go on but I will spare you.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for this ARC

"AKA Montana", by Fabio Amato

The Rise and Fall of an Italian Drug Lord

Based on the true story of a boy from Salerno. Donato lived in the slums of Salerno when at eighteen he left with little in his pocket and a debt to repay. By twenty he was sentenced to three years in a Manhattan Detention Center and from then on, his life spirited out of control, from a small drug operator to a master in brokering kilos of cocaine into Italy, Spain even Australia. He made friends also enemies…When the situation got hot, he bailed out. Donato was the one who walked away clean, his close friends died, in prison or were extradited…

Fabio Amato tells his remarkable story, a journey through the dangerous world of international drug trafficking. He brings his voice, experiences and reflections to us his audience. From the heights of the underworld to confronting his choices to rebuild his life made a very humbling and honest account.

Aka Montana, the moniker giving to Donato, is a raw, honest and powerful account of crime, resilience and how someone can do an about turn and change.

Of course, the story highlights criminal activities at its best: drug trafficking and substance abuse, lots of violence and murder. We will see betrayal and manipulation and emotional distress….all activities eventually ends with law enforcement on someone’s tail…..

The tempo is steady and the cadence was perfect to have kept my full attention till the very last page…. Depiction of the players was up to par and I enjoyed every bit of them even if Donato and his buddies were criminals.

This story is well-said and well-done. Kudos for sharing, this was a very enjoyable read.

My thanks to Book Whisperer for this ARC

"Traitors", by Robert B. McCaw

A political thriller

Robert Cooper, a Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the DOJ’s National Security Division has dedicated his life to hunting spies. When approached by a stranger on a lonely beach exposing Russian moles deep under cover embedded with the American government. Cooper pursues the trail that will lead him into the nation’s most protected corridors of power….

This is a gripping tale of espionage, betrayal and deception. Not a dull moment: fast-paced, high stakes international intrigue. I love how Mr. McCaw has combined this espionage thriller with legal aspect making one of the most riveting novels of its kind.

Explores the Department of Justice is quite a step away from the author’s Koa Kane Hawaiian Mystery series I loved so much to penned a thriller about a Russian campaign to take control of the White House. Cooper had to negotiate with Russian sleeper agent who is willing to divulge details of a plan which involved a Russian mole in the FBI. Suspenseful following him through a series of hurdles to achieve his goal flushing the traitors. I loved the finale a punchy one that began on a fishing trawler off the Canadian coast and provided a very satisfying payoff.

Being a former lawyer and Army lieutenant, Mr. McCaw has definitely brought unique authenticity to his gripping, very well written and cleverly told tale.

My thanks to W.W. Norton & Company to this ARC whish I am happy to review.

"The Last Time We Saw her", by Jaclyn Goldis

It has been 10 years when a legend of buried treasure lured a group of teenagers on a camping trip to Sao Miguel in the Azores archipelago. The vast value will turn the finder’s life to gold and what follows is a frenzied treasure hunt that turned tragic…a camper, Sydney Azulay, was never seen again.

10 years later, a memorial service brings back to the island Sydney’s closest circle of friends to honor her memory…..This story will tell us what their conversations were about and how they agreed to participate in a documentary reliving that terrible day.

My thoughts:

Although this is not a very long book, the pacing was so slow moving, it felt like it would never end. Said in turn by all the friends, one at the time they chat what they experienced during this first trip then in the next chapter was another friend and then up to the next…etc. it went on like that rehashing their perceptions of what may have happened to Sydney and who may have killed her, it seemed the chit-chat never wanted to end. I didn’t care much for the characters they are not particularly memorable.

The pacing having more spunk would have made a far more engaging read. Fortunately, this psychological thriller ramps up the action in the last third of the book salvaging the story with shocking twists and secrets…. a bit over the top, formulaic and largely predictable.

This book may not have love to my expectations it nevertheless received some great reviews.

Thank Atria Books and Netgalley for this ARC

"The Secrets of Eaton Square", by Alexander Larman

Sex, Scandal on the Road to Buckingham Palace

This book is an exploration of the history of London’s most sought-after address revealing live of notable figures from the past and present, including royals and political leaders….

Juicy London gossip, social insight fulling tabloids and a delicious romp through British history combining historical accounts with scandalous tidbits. Eaton Square is the largest residential garden square in London located in London’s Belgravia district and is one of the most expensive places to live.

My thoughts will be short and sweet.

For those interested in London’s history ranging from the 1600s to present time written in a clear language, this book could be incredibly interesting. For those like myself a North American (Canadian) not so much. Most people mentioned I had no idea who they were and cared even less.

I struggled with this book and the style. It seemed at times the author was losing focus and babbled (he wasn’t really), eventually I had to drop this and close the book.

Although, if you are an historian or a British aficionado looking for a fun glimpse of people who live in Eaton Square, this book may be for you.

I sadly join those who said that they were not the target audience for this book.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me access to this ARC.