IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK

4 stars out of 5

This story started off on such a sad note that I don’t think I ever fully recovered despite a satisfactory ending under the circumstances. It’s a murder mystery, yes, but it seems more about racism than just following a trail to find whodunit.

Nadeeka Prasanna, a Pakistani divorcee with two young daughters, is living with James Golding (Jamie) with hopes for a bright future together. But seemingly out of the blue, Jamie begins to act strangely like her ex; not so strangely, Nadeeka begins to suspect he’s having an affair. One day, she’s pretty sure she can catch him in the act and makes a beeline for their residence. She’s surprised, all right, but in the worst way; Jamie, the love of her life, has been murdered right in their living room. Police are everywhere, one of whom, Detective Inspector Burton, politely asks that she turn over her phone and laptop, saying it will be returned soon. Shortly thereafter, she’s relieved to find those same police have thoroughly cleaned up the entire mess and restored some semblance of order.

Unable to return to her home despite the clean-up, Nadeeka stays with her former mother-in-law, with whom she remained friendly. And her mind wanders wildly; is it possible Jamie was at home with his new lover – when she called him on the phone, she’d heard a female voice, after all? And why had he brought home – and put away in a drawer - a photo of him, her and the girls that he’d had on his desk at work?

Hearing nothing from Burton about her electronic devices after several days, she visits the police station to ask if she can have them back. Here, she gets yet another shock: according to the desk clerk, no such detective is employed here and – even more puzzling – they have no record of Jamie’s murder. Nadeeka is turned over to Detective Lauren Caldwell, head of the Major Crimes Unit; she and her lower-grade partner, Fraser Hogan (also Lauren’s significant other and near-future husband) will be taking over the case. But investigation won’t be easy since those phantom police thoroughly cleaned up the crime scene, destroying any real or potential evidence.

What they do find, though, is both confusing and deeply upsetting to Nadeeka. Jamie worked for a company involved with brownfield development; police learn the firm’s head honcho deleted some of Jamie’s files, raising significant questions. But more disconcerting is what they learn about Jamie himself; could it be that he isn’t the loving, accepting partner Nadeeka believes in her heart of hearts that he is?

The answer to that and other weighty questions is for other readers to find out; suffice it to say there are more than a few twists as the investigation progresses and a whopper at the end. The whole thing was a bit heavy on the political aspect, but I’ll give that a pass just because it really is an important issue. And the story itself is well-written enough to grab my attention and hold it throughout (actually, that part came as no surprise; I’ve read five of this talented author’s other books and enjoyed every single one). Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh (Sourcebooks Landmark, September 2026); 413 pp.

THE BUTLER

5 stars out of 5

I’ve read nothing to suggest this is the first book in a new series, but after reading it, I’ve got my fingers crossed. The ending, too, is suggestive of things that may come, so that gives me hope as well. The star of the show, a professional butler named Baxter, is an intriguing character I truly want to read more about.

Baxter, who uses no first name, had a quarter of a century’s highly successful experience in the industry, but his most recent gig ended in a bit of a disaster. He found work at an agency, and he’s just been hired to cater to guests at Villa Serenite in southern France, not far from the Cannes Film Festival. The host for the week is wealthy Alec Prescott, and guests include his current much-younger love interest Kaitlin as well as his ex-wife Sylvie (now that’s a recipe for disaster if ever I read one). Curiously, at least to Baxter, is that his employer, a Russian lady, asks him to see what he can find out about Alec’s finances – something foreign to him, a man who prides himself on never snooping while butlering (hmmm, is that a word)? But he’s curious; whatever is she hoping he’ll find?

Guests also include Alec’s grown son, Carter, and his current squeeze Jade. The son is, for the most part, being financially supported by his father – a rather tenuous situation given his father’s irascible temperament. Carter is accompanied by gorgeous young thing Jade, who he introduces to his father for the first time (or, as Baxter suspects, perhaps not).

Put all these and a couple of other guests with interesting backgrounds, and readers quickly suspect all will not exactly go well. And for sure they don’t – starting with bickering and nitpicking and ending with murder. Who gets bumped off, how, why and who did it I’ll of course not reveal, but suffice it to say it’s quite a romp to learn the answers. Amid all of it, Baxter manages to do his job in fine fettle with a smile and a “Certainly, Madam” coming from his lips. He’s a pro, no doubt about it, but he’s also pretty darned good at figuring out a mystery. It’s why I’m eager to see him again – and why I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to sample what I hope is the first installment by way of a pre-release copy. Loved it!

The Butler by Clare Mackintosh (Podium Publishing, June 2026); 201 pp.

HOSTAGE

5 stars out of 5

Note: I finished this book on May 11, but as per the publisher's request, my review has been withheld until about 4 weeks prior to release.

Have mercy! Granted, I'm one of those fear of flying fruitcakes (make that terrified), but this book is one of the scariest I've read in I can't remember when. That I'm still shaking in my shoes days after finishing it, though, is testimony to the author's skillful presentation of a story that would be at least a little frightening no matter who wrote it - but she hit it out of the park. Put another way, wow!

Mina and her husband, Adam, have a precocious adopted young daughter, Sophia, who suffers from several psychological disorders and, to put it mildly, is a handful. For the past dozen years, Mina - who once dreamed of becoming a commercial airline pilot - has been a flight attendant. Now, she gets the chance to serve on the 29-hour inaugural nonstop flight from London to Sydney - taking her away from Adam and Sophia just before Christmas.

Even before the plane is in the air, Mina has misgivings about the flight. It gets real, though, when a passenger gives Mina a note that chills her to the bone: Unless she cooperates, the plane - and all its passengers - will never get to Sydney. As the story progresses, the situation becomes more dire by the hour, especially after one passenger turns up dead. Chapters shift perspectives to present information on various passengers and what's happening back home with Adam, Sophia and their babysitters, making a guess fest for readers as to who did what, when and why and putting me on the edge of my firmly grounded sofa for the rest of the ride. 

To say this one is a thrill a minute would be an understatement - and that doesn't count a bang-up surprise ending. Suffice it to say this one's a winner in my book - many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. If you like thrills and chills, do not miss this one!

Hostage by Clare Mackintosh (Sourcebooks Landmark, June 2021); 362 pp.

LET ME LIE

4 stars out of 5

If plot twists were swooshes, this book would give Nike a run for

its money. Just when I thought I had it nailed, the next chapter came along and forced me to think again.

The whole thing starts on a faulty premise: Anna Johnson's parents, Tom and Caroline, committed suicide seven months apart (each waiting for high tide before jumping off a cliff into the ocean). Anna is devastated, but she's beginning to deal with the heartbreak with the help of her new baby, Ella, and Ella's father, Mark Hemmings. She's never been convinced that her loving parents would have done themselves in, so a year later when she gets an anonymous note telling her that the deaths weren't suicides, she becomes even more determined to find out what really happened.

Needless to say, that ruffles some feathers; for sure, Mark (who's a mental health counselor) isn't pleased, and neither is Tom's brother Billy, co-owner with his brother of a once highly profitable car dealership. Despite their misgivings, Anna takes the note to the police, where it ends up in the lap of retired detective Murray Mackenzie, who's still with the department but relegated to a desk job. He's got personal issues as well, in the form of a much-loved wife who is in more than out of a mental rehabilitation facility. In fact, Murray no longer has any real authority to investigate, but something about the case piques his interest and he forges ahead while skirting official channels.

Much of the focus is on what's going on with Anna and Murray (the latter of whom I'd love to read more about). Chapters shift from Anna's and Murray's perspectives to that of an unknown person familiar with the situation, as the TV news wonks are fond of saying. Each chapter adds tidbits of new information, culminating in an exciting, and for the most part surprising, final chapter.

Notice I didn't use the word "ending;" that's because what it actually means isn't clear (I think I know, but then what do I know, really)? And if I'm honest, much as I loved the book, even though we see Anna grow more and more paranoid, some of her reactions somehow didn't seem to "fit."

But hey, it's the sum of the parts that make a whole, and this book is a whole lot of good. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it.

Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh (Berkley, March 2018); 395 pp.

I SEE YOU

4 stars out of 5

If you're a person who follows a set routine day after day after day, this book likely will scare you into changing your ways long before you get to the end. For the rest of us, it's just another great book from the author of New York Times best-seller I Let You Go.

Like that one, I found it a bit hard to get into at the beginning. But by the time I finished a dozen chapters or so, I was hooked even though it's somewhat predictable in terms of format, with chapters that alternate from the points of view of two main characters and build up to a surprise ending. Well, make that sort of; there are a couple of surprises, but I guessed one of them early on and had an inkling in the back of my head about the other that turned out to be spot-on.

The setting is London, so readers will need to adjust to across-the-pond terms like "adverts" (advertisements),"takeaway" (carry-out food and drink) and "queing" (standing in line). That's something I thoroughly enjoy, by the way - I've got a London born-and-bred daughter-in-law, and I'm always looking for a word or phrase new to me to share with her (guaranteed to be good for a few shared chuckles).

Zoe Walker, one of the primary characters, is a creature of habit - taking the same trains and sitting in the same seat on her way to and from work every day. On her way home one night, she peruses the local paper as usual and sees something very much out of the ordinary: Her own photo in a classified ad listing for a website called FindTheOne.com. She's puzzled, of course; she's got two grown children, is divorced from a cheating husband, has a live-in significant other and zero interest in putting herself on the dating market. So how on earth did her picture get in there?

More than a little concerned, Zoe begins to follow ads in subsequent newspapers, finding a new female face each day. Then, she realizes some of these women have fallen victim to crimes ranging from theft to murder. Now, she's sure there's a connection - and that any minute now, she'll become a victim herself. Every man she sees becomes a suspect; maybe he will be the one who intends to harm her. She's quickly turning paranoid, but as might be expected, her family and friends think she's simply turning crazy.

Enter Kelly, a police officer who is investigating the theft of keys from a woman's purse when she fell asleep on the "tube." It turns out that woman is one who appeared in one of the newspaper ads seen by Zoe, who reports it and thus gets on Kelly's radar. Interspersed here and there are italicized comments from the unknown culprit, who utters dire warnings (in particular about why it's a good idea for folks to vary their daily routines), no doubt for the purpose of scaring the pants off readers and ramping up intrigue.

In the mix are other major characters, among them Simon, Zoe's boyfriend; Matt, her ex; Katie and Jason, the narcissistic children who still carry a grudge at their mother's dumping of their father and hooking up with Simon; Melissa, Zoe's next-door neighbor who owns a string of financially struggling cafes; and Isaac, Katie's newfound older boyfriend who gets off on the wrong foot with mom from the git-go. Backgrounds on each of the characters are revealed, giving Zoe (and readers) reasons to suspect them all. As the story moves along amid plenty of action, it's unclear whether Kelly, who has personal and professional issues of her own, will be able to take down the culprit before he or she takes down Zoe.

When it's all said and done? Most likely another best-seller for the author, and, IMHO, deservedly so. Many thanks to the author and publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

I See You by Clare Mackintosh (Berkley, February 2017); 382 pp.

I LET YOU GO

4 stars out of 5

For openers, there's no question that it's an extremely engaging, well-written book that held my attention throughout. That is, perhaps, except for the first half or so, which dragged on more than I would have liked. There's only so much of the "runaway woman haunted by her past who finds a potential new boyfriend but can't make herself trust him" I can take before saying, a la Shakespeare's Macduff, "hold enough." But then comes the first twist - and it's a biggie I wasn't expecting - and things really start to get interesting and stay that way till the end.

The runaway is Jenna Gray, who is so haunted by her memory of a horrific auto accident that takes the life of 5-year-old Jacob that she sets out for anywhere but where she is - ending up in a dank, run-down cottage on the coast of Wales. There, she begins her new life, finding some success by selling photographs and postcards of her writings in the beach sand. It is there that she meets the potential boyfriend - a local veterinarian - and the "should I or shouldn't I" drama kicks in.

Meanwhile, back in Bristol, police officers including Detective Inspector Ray Stevens and his protege Kate (who, BTW, doesn't get a last name - Evans - until near the halfway point, making me wonder until then if that was some kind of clue), begin to investigate the hit-and-run. Along the way, readers get an in-depth look at the detectives' personal trials and tribulations, all leading up to that first game-changing twist.

From that point on, it's almost impossible to put this book down. There are two more what I'd call major plot twists, although I must say I suspected what both would be ahead of time). There's a third whammy as well - although if I'm honest, I have to say even though it came as a surprise, it's a bit of overkill (so to speak) and a titch too contrived. Overall, though, I absolutely recommend this book, which I expect will be a winner when it's released on May 3, 2016. I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh (Kindle Edition, Berkley, May 2016); 384 pp.