PARTY OF LIARS

4 stars out of 5

Make no mistake: Throughout the entirety of this book, I really did hang on every word - even staying up extra late to make it to what was an exciting twist of events. That said, by somewhere around the 70% mark, I was so tired of the back-and-forth chapters that offered perspectives of the main characters that I violated my normal bedtime to read so it would be over almost more than because I wanted to learn the "truth." That writing technique is popular and certainly can be effective, but for me, at least, it also gets very old very fast.

The gist of the whole thing is this: Ethan and his third wife, Dani, are living in an expensive, eye-popping historic home, the entire back of which is a glass sheet that overlooks a steep ravine (think of your doll house as a kid that had no back on it so the contents can be seen and played with). They have an infant daughter, Charlotte, and an Irish nanny named Orlaith, the latter because Dani seems to be mentally unstable - perhaps a bit beyond postpartum depression. Ethan is a psychiatrist with partner Curtis, a childhood friend (kind of surprising that everyone refers to him as "Mr." and not "Dr." - hmmm, is that some kind of clue)?

Ethan's second ex-wife, Kim, is a disgraced veterinarian and mostly functioning alcoholic; together, they had daughter Sophie, who lives with mom and is very popular and drop-dead gorgeous. It's her Sweet Sixteen party at her dad and stepmom's big house that's the focus of the story; besides all three parents, Sophie's long-time best friend, mousey Mikayla, will be there with countless others, some of whom actually wish Sophie well. Not a single character, in fact, is without flaw - apparently, no one nice lives in Comal County, Texas.

And oh, did I mention that the house is rumored to be haunted?

As you might expect - well, I did, anyway - things go horribly wrong at the party almost immediately. Readers don't know exactly what happened, or to whom, though - the purpose of those character perspective switchbacks is to provide hints and clues that will keep us guessing right up to the end. Trust me, it's a doozy - I just wish it had happened a little sooner. But all told, it's a terrific read, and I definitely recommend it. Thanks go to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox (Minotaur Books, July 2025); 325 pp.

DON'T TELL ME HOW TO DIE

5 stars out of 5

I first became acquainted with this talented author by way of his collaborations with prolific and best-selling author James Patterson (specifically, in the NYPD Red series). But I've also read and enjoyed another in which he flew solo, so I didn't hesitate to grab this one. And I certainly wasn't disappointed.

In part, that's because I can relate. Like Maggie Dunn, who watched mostly unattached widows try to catch her still-hunky father after her mother died, I watched the same thing happen when my tall, white-haired father moved into an assisted living community shortly after my own mother passed away. "He's good looking and still walks upright," I told my husband at the time. "He'll get swooped on at the first breakfast he eats in the dining room."

My story had a great ending in the form of a sweet stepmother, who said yes when Dad was 86 years old. Maggie's, alas, did not; the vixen who set her sights on her father was a con artist extraordinaire. So when Maggie learned she'd inherited the same terminal disease as her mother, she vowed to find an appropriate candidate to become her soon-to-be-widowed husband's wife Sub 2 and the stepmother of their two kids.

The story is told through a ton of reminiscing, with chapters flipping through various time frames. And each time that happens, more background is revealed - almost always adding some kind of twist - right up to the end, when the roof blows off. Details, of course, I won't provide, but I will say I'm glad I got within an hour of the finish line in time to get it done right before bedtime - otherwise, it would have accompanied me because at that point, no way would I have put it down.

Nothing left to say, then, except I loved it - and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to dive into a pre-release copy.

Don't Tell Me How to Die by Marshall Karp (Blackstone Publishing Inc., March 2025); 320 pp.

HOUSE OF GLASS

5 stars out of 5

I have a rule, albeit unwritten, that I never take a book to bed to finish unless I've reached at least the 90% mark (only once that I recall did I ever breach that rule, and then only by a percent or two). Until this one. So engrossed was I when it was time to head upstairs to bed that I actually ran back down to grab my e-book reader and cut short my usual bedtime routine so I could see how it turns out - with a little over 25% of the book left to go. To say I was hooked from the git-go, then, is an understatement.

Here's the skinny: An attorney who represents and advocates for children, Stella Hudson is assigned to the case of 9-year-old Rose Barclay, whose wealthy parents are in the midst of a divorce that's as amicable as divorces can get. After a thorough investigation that involves getting to know Rose's parents Ian and Beth, Rose's beloved grandmother Harriet, who lives with them, and Rose herself, Stella will make a recommendation to the court as to who will get custody of Rose. Both parents, of course, want her; and while they're seemingly agreeable to abide by a third-party decision, they're both chomping at the bit to make sure Stella is aware of all their good parental qualities.

Complicating the situation is the recent death of Rose's beautiful young nanny Tina, who somehow managed to fly through a third-story window in the family's century home, ending up quite dead. Rose, who witnessed Tina's fall, was so traumatized that she suffers from traumatic mutism; in layperson's terms, she is unable to speak. But what, exactly did she really see? The police investigation is inconclusive; no evidence was found of foul play - nor was a suicide note. The notion that Tina was pushed, though, raises the question of who did the deed? One of the parents? The grandmother? Or even (gasp!) little Rose?

Stella grapples with those questions as she tries to come to a decision that's fair, equitable and, most important of all, in Rose's best interests. Meanwhile, readers learn that Stella has some issues of her own - some eerily close to the situation she's now investigating. The pace doesn't let up till the end, when everything gets resolved. Therein, though, I have to admit to feeling a bit disappointed. That's not because it's terrible, or the writing started to fall apart; it's only because I was expecting - and really, really hoping - that a different character would be the culprit. Oh well. It still made for a riveting story - and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Super good!

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen (St. Martin's Press, August 2024); 352 pp.

LADYKILLER

3.5 stars out of 5

Despite an abundant supply of truly unlikable, mostly unrelatable characters, this story grabbed me from the beginning and enticed me to hang in there right to the end - if only to see which of them finally got their comeuppance. Then I got to the end, and well, that didn't exactly happen - quickly deflating my bubble of anticipation.

But let's back up: Central to the story are Abby and Gia, who became best friends as children at Gia's family home in Greece. When they were mostly grown, some kind of tragedy occurred during the summer before college that resulted in a bit of a rift between them. Abby ended up in Atlanta after finishing law school, but the two haven't been close in recent years. Abby is surprised, then, to be invited to a fancy resort in Sweden to help Gia celebrate her 30th birthday and see her younger brother Benny and, most important, her new husband, Garrett. Given Gia's custom of going off the rails whenever and wherever she is, Abby is taken aback - but not surprised - to learn they married within a scandalously short time after meeting each other.

Besides the party, Gia is preparing to sell the family home - mostly out of financial necessity; she's still rolling in dough, but the inheritance left by her late father is meager is comparison to the amount he gave away so it won't last forever. Amid all this, Gia says she's decided to write another memoir (her first book was a modest success). The manuscript, which reflects major events in Gia's life, then becomes chapters in this book that are interspersed with snippets from Abby's perspective. Soon, it becomes clear that much of the plot hinges on what awful thing happened that summer more than a decade ago mingled with the awful goings on in Gia's newly married life. And for sure, there's a lot - including a mysterious couple and an abundance of fairly graphic sex scenes (I offer this as a warning to those who don't like to read about such things).

Gia's birthday party, meantime, takes a surprising turn; when Abby and Benny arrive, in fact, Gia isn't there. They get no response at first to text messages and calls to Gia in Greece, followed by messages from Gia that don't quite ring true. Something's gone wrong for sure, so Abby and Benny head for Greece in hopes of setting matters straight - with Abby continuing to hope her friends never find out what really happened in that summer long ago. As an aside, I'll note that readers learn the truth - which in my opinion turned out to be much ado about nothing.

Of course, the story is more complicated than that - but you'll have to read it for yourself to find out the details. There are several interesting and, dare I say, dangerous twists, though most didn't come as a big surprise to me. What WAS surprising is how gullible an otherwise worldly grown woman can be. Then came that ending, which I eagerly approached thinking all the loose ends would be tied up. But that was not to be, leaving me disappointed (but with a vague thought that perhaps there's a sequel in the works).

Still, there's plenty to like here, so overall I'm happy for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy (for which I thank the publisher, via NetGalley). 

Ladykiller by Katherine Wood (Bantam, July 2024); 368 pp.

THE FURY

5 stars

Have mercy - he's gone and done it again! If this book by ubertalented Alex Michaelides doesn't cause a fury of excitement among readers, I'll eat your hat (I'll have to borrow it because mine got blown along with my mind even before I got to the end).

Narrated by Elliott Chase, one of the main characters, the story recounts what happened on Aura, a small Greek island owned by retired and highly acclaimed motion picture star Lana Farrar. She's invited a couple of friends plus her husband Jason and son Leo there for a weekend getaway - as much to get some much-needed sunshine for herself as anything else. But the get-together stretches the concept of "friends" to the limit and beyond; before the weekend is out, tragedy will strike one of them. Was it triggered by the winds - the menos, or "fury," for which the island is known - or was it a deliberate act by one (or more) of the humans? And if so, who's the culprit, and what on earth was the motive?

The details lie in Elliott's narration - expertly crafted by the author, of course - which takes readers back to view interactions among the characters that led up to the events of the day; nothing is as it seems (and maybe never was). Once I got the gist of what was happening, I was hooked; it was next to impossible to put the book down, and as I neared the end, I knew I'd never sleep unless and until I got there no matter how much beyond my regular bedtime that happened. The intricacy of the plot from the start to the "Oh, my gosh" finish is nothing short of awesome.

Since I'm duty-bound not to reveal too much, all I can say is it's a winner in my book, one I know will be at the top of my list of favorites for some time to come. Many, many thanks to the publisher for the privilege of reading a pre-release copy. Brilliant!

The Fury by Alex Michaelides (Celedon Books, January 2024); 320 pp.

GONE TONIGHT

4 stars out of 5

When I started this book, I was thrilled with the unique plot potential. Catherine, a recent nursing grad who's headed for a new job at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, lives with her mother, Ruth. Their relationship leans toward dysfunctional - to say Ruth is overprotective would be an understatement. But Catherine's attitude softens quite a bit when she learns that her mother most likely has early-onset Alzheimer's (and Ruth confesses that her own mother had it as well). As a many years long-term care ombudsman who spent considerable time with residents in various stages of dementia, I was super-interested and considered that to be a great angle for a psychological thriller. I even made some guesses as to how that might play out as the story progressed. 

But quite a few chapters later, plot shifts left me very disappointed (to avoid spoilers I can't explain that any further). That's because thereafter, the plot became not too different from many others I've read; one character can't (or doesn't think she can) reveal past experiences to the other, with both constantly on the run because the secretive character fears that those experiences will catch up to them in a very not good way. And of course, the character from whom those secrets have been withheld begins to catch on - unbeknownst to the other one.

So it is that Catherine, who has always wondered about her mother's background, begins to dig around and unearths facts that contradict what Ruth has told her all these years. Why, Catherine wonders, have we moved around so often and so hastily? How much of what my mother has told me is the truth, if any - and why has she withheld it? For the most part, Ruth is oblivious to Catherine's investigations, continuing to stick the story she's told in the apparent belief that she's doing it all to protect her precious child.

For her part, Catherine suspects far more sinister motives; and the more she digs, the more the trust gap widens between the two and her actions threaten their very lives. Toward the end, of course, those threats turn into reality. There's no shortage of action throughout the whole thing, and it all comes to a bang-up end (just not one that involves what I'd hoped it would involve). Still, it's a solid and entertaining book, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen (St. Martin's Press, August 2023); 337 pp.

PROM MOM

4 stars out of 5

This story follows the lives of four main characters, and although the plot itself is totally engrossing and entertaining, not a single one of the four characters had any redeeming social value, at least to me. There's Joe, who abandoned his tutor-turned-lover, Amber, on prom night when his ex-girlfriend beckoned him back to her arms. There's Amber, forever to be identified a a girl who killed her newborn baby on that same prom night. There's Meredith, a reconstructive surgeon, whose troubled background makes her an uber-neurotic wife to Joe. And finally, there's Jordan, a petulant but beautiful young thing who's determined to take Joe away from Meredith and Amber.

Needless to say, all four ar
e on a collision course; but how their lives are entertwined, when those tendrils will start to unravel and what the fates have in store is the stuff of which a juicy story is concocted. 

Chapters shift in time so readers can get peeks into what conspired to tie these four together, starting with that fateful prom night when Joe abdicated his responsibility for taking care of Amber, who clearly was in distress. Sure, they weren't destined for marriage and neither realized she was even pregnant, much less about to deliver the baby (go figure - I've got no clue). But both have moved on; Joe to marry Meredith and Amber to live a relatively happy life that now includes relocating from New Orleans to Baltimore to open an art shop.

Joe, however, is miserable; his financial life in Baltimore is in shambles (mostly of his own making, and unknown to Meredith), and he still feels guilt over what happened on prom night all those years ago. To ease the troubles, none of which really are his fault, he's prone to straying to other women's beds, most notably Jordan's. Then as fate would have it, he spots Amber's art shop, and Amber, and the race to the finish begins in earnest.

What that finish will be, though, isn't known till the end, which is a doozy. No doubt readers will differ as to which of the four should have had which comeuppance - personally, I didn't like any of them, so I wasn't rooting for anyone in particular. But their trip was well worth reading about - from somewhere around midpoint on, I had trouble putting it down. I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for letting me ride along by way of a pre-release copy. Good one!

Prom Mom by Laura Lippman (William Morrow, July 2023); 312 pp.

A TWISTED LOVE STORY

5 stars out of 5

The title says it all: Well, most of it, anyway; stories don't get much more twisted, but I'm not sure how much love has to do with it.

At the center of it all are Wes and Ivy, who met in college and have been crazy in love ever since. I'm talkin' really crazy; apparently, they can't live without each other, but they can't live with each other, either. The first part of the book is ups, downs, scraps, fights (both verbal and physical), vendettas, one upmanships and every possible mix of those that two co-dependent idiots can muster up - to the point at which I actually said this out loud: You know, if this entire book is going to be nothing but a pair of unstable jerks yelling, scheming, making up and doing it all over again, I'm outta here.

Happily, a few pages later that started to change. As Wes and Ivy's world expands, readers start to see what's gone on (and going on) around them in an intricately woven plot (not unexpected from this talented author, BTW). Much of it happens after Ivy tries a ploy to get Wes back after their most recent blow-ups that crosses the line and puts their relationship in the crosshairs of police detective Karen Colglazier, who's like a dog with a bone. 

Mind you, no character here is anything close to lovable; all are flawed, some seriously (and irrevocably), and each has connections with Wes and Ivy that, as they're revealed, lead readers toward an ending that's, well, not exactly expected (nor, in some respects, is it satisfying). All in all, it's a riveting journey into the lives of some very disturbed people - and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. Loved it - and I think you will, too!

A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing (Berkley, July 2023); 400 pp.

THE QUIET TENANT

4 stars out of 5

Overall, my impression of this story is that it's a little confusion mixed with a lot of melodrama. Still, as I'd be likely to say about any book about a serial killer and a woman he's held captive for an almost unbelievable five years, it didn't fail to capture and hold my attention throughout. Told primarily through the perspectives of three main characters - the captured-but-not-yet-murdered victim, known as Rachel, the killer's 13-year-old daughter, Cecilia, and the woman who wants to be his girlfriend, Emily - it delves into each of their psyches amid what can only be called the worst times of their lives.

The kidnapper-killer is Aiden Thomas, who is for the most part well thought of in his community, working as a utility lineman. Clearly, he's been plying his extracurricular trade for some time - after all, we hear from Rachel the trials and tribulations of her long confinement in his shed as well as get glimpses from other victims - but when his wife dies, he seems to go off the deep end. He becomes overly protective of Cecilia; is his interest more sinister than that? Inquiring minds, including Rachel's and mine, want to know. Then, he's forced to move from the home he shared with his late wife that - exactly why that happened isn't clear to me, either. And for some inexplicable reason, he continues to keep Rachel a prisoner instead of doing away with her as he did with others- another mystery that never was fully resolved in my mind (and maybe not in his and definitely not in hers).

The plot thickens after they all move to a new house and Rachel becomes an imprisoned "tenant" in an upstairs bedroom - but who, surprisingly, is allowed to interact with Cecilia on a limited basis. As would be expected under the circumstances, Rachel begins to fight with herself - should she do as she has been doing and simply play along to stay alive or come up with an escape plan that has just as much chance (and probably more) of ending up dead as alive? 

The ending, while satisfying by some measures, seemed a little perfunctory (no hints here, of course, except to say it couldn't have been that simple). I'm pretty sure many fans of psychological drama (and trauma) will enjoy this one; it's not quite my cup of tea, but at the same time, I really didn't want to put it down. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Quiet Tenant by Alison Gaylin (Knopf, June 2023); 320 pp.

GONE AGAIN

4 stars out of 5

Told mostly from the perspectives of sisters Celia and Genevieve and in two different time frames - when they were kids living with holy-rolling parents from hell and the present, 25 years later - the details on both ends of the quarter-century span are engrossing, but disturbing. Once out of high school, Celia finally escapes to build a life elsewhere - leaving her beloved younger sister Genevieve and even younger sister Celeste to the not-so-tender mercies of their father and mother.

Not too long ago, Celia and Genevieve reconnect; in fact, thanks to Celia's generosity, Genevieve and her husband relocate to be near Celia and her husband. Celia has just celebrated her 40th birthday with a big bash, many gifts and a card with a nasty message that rattles her brain. Who would hate her enough to spoil her birthday? Unable to sleep, Celia wanders off to clear her head and disappears off the face of the earth. The rest of the story centers on efforts to find Celia and flashbacks to the sisters' childhood secrets - including one that's a whopper. Of course, I must keep it all a secret as well so as not to spoil it for others.

Now that I've finished, though, I must say it's rare for me to advise an author to lengthen a book - more often than not, books tend to be padded with pages of trivial details that are marginally significant to the plot. In this case, however, there are holes are big enough to drive a snowplow through with room to spare. I won't dwell on them, but say only that many readers, including myself, will be left with some heavy-duty questions that another 50 or so pages could have answered without making this almost-too-short-to-be-a-book too long.

But despite my leftover questions, I enjoyed the reading experience - to the point that I held up starting to make dinner because I was too close to the end to put it down willingly. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Gone Again by Minka Kent (Thomas & Mercer, March 2023); 239 pp.

THE THINGS WE DO TO OUR FRIENDS

4 stars out of 5

Definitely one of the strangest books I've read in a while, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I suppose the only turn-off - and it's a slight one - is that it took longer than it probably should have to confirm what I suspected almost from the beginning.

But the learning process was an intriguing one despite almost totally unlikable, unrelatable characters - starting with story narrator Clare, a beautiful woman who appears to be in some kind of exile in Scotland to escape serious transgressions in France. In school at Edinburgh, Clare meets Tabitha, a beautiful, rich and totally annoying young woman (or was it that Tabitha meets Clare - whatever) and her small cadre of snobby friends. Clare is both repulsed and drawn to the fiercely loyal group, especially Tabitha, but for the most part her distaste turns sweet when she's admitted to their inner circle.

The bond becomes even stronger when Tabitha decides that they'll start a business - a big-money "project" that turns the group into, well, you'll have to read it to find that out. Despite misgivings all around - except for Tabitha - they all go along with the plan, because, well, what Tabitha wants, Tabitha gets. Readers, though, get only limited glimpses into their activities - I'd love to have been privvy to more - but most of Clare's recollections focus on her and her interaction with the others. Interspersed are hints as to how horrific her youthful transgressions really were and what the ending holds; those who pay attention will have a pretty good idea what that is by the time they get there. Overall, it's a well done debut novel and a treat, I think, for those who enjoy head games. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Things We Do to Our Friends by Heather Darwent (Bantam, January 2023); 336 pp.

THE HOUSE IN THE PINES

3.5 stars out of 5

Overall, this is far from a bad book; problem is, I never quite got "into" it nor felt much of a connection with any of the characters. More often than not, I was a little confused as to the current time period - chapters flip back and forth between main character Maya's past and present lives - and being a bit annoyed with her unending paranoia and rationalizing why she can't share her experiences with her boyfriend or mother. The ending was pretty much what I'd expected, although the details were rather intriguing.

When Maya was a senior in high school, she was expecting to head for college when she met Frank, with whom she instantly formed a relationship that made her want to stay put. Her bonds with her best friend, Aubrey, are loosening somewhat when Aubrey dies abruptly and in front of Frank. It's a trauma from which Maya has trouble escaping, although she manages to go on to college, with help from an addictive drug prescribed by her therapist. Now, she's living in Boston, has a boyfriend (with whom she hasn't been totally honest) and is trying to kick the drug habit.

In between, she keeps consulting an unfinished book written in Guatemala by a father she never knew; can it somehow help her deal with what she experienced with Frank, even though she has no idea what that really was? In the end, it's a tale of manipulation and head games that many readers will find very appealing. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes (Dutton, January 2023); 330 pp.

SUCH A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY

3 stars out of 5

I had high hopes for this story, if for no other reason than I'm a fan of other works I've read by this author. But while I read it eagerly from start to finish, most of my attention centered on the hope that the three main adult characters would stop behaving like children and there would be a bang-up surprise ending. Alas, neither happened. The only character who had both common sense and intelligence, in fact, was a boy who had way too much of both to be believable at his newbie-teen age. And the ending? A ho-hum resolution, leaving me with the feeling that nothing much really changed from the beginning to the end.

Here's the gist: Nora Harmon has a wonderful husband, two growing-up-fast children and a successful career. Out of the blue, she's contacted by Jane Bell, the owner of a whiz-bang software company, who makes Nora an offer of employment she can't refuse (never mind that any sensible person would have done exactly that, at least until the "too good to be true" sound of it was debunked by facts). Very soon, it becomes clear that Jane is at the very least emotionally needy; there's nothing she won't do, it seems, to solidify her relationship with Nora and make Nora's family hers - and that includes lying through her teeth.

It also becomes clear that Nora and her aging parents have been hiding a dark secret - and her attempts to justify never telling her supportive husband David nor their children Hailey and Trevor left me shaking my head. Still another turn-off is that despite some serious misgivings, Nora also manages to justify Jane's attempts to ingratiate herself into the family, even when it's clear they're doing more harm than good.

Of course, it doesn't take readers long to figure out that Jane may have an ulterior motive, and not much longer to figure out what it is. From that point on, it's just a matter of when (or if) Nora - or anyone else in the family besides Trevor, who as I mentioned earlier somehow managed to end up with the brains of the family - figures out what Jane's really up to. The result for me is that while the book is well written and definitely held my attention throughout, overall it was a bit disappointing. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Such a Beautiful Family by T.R. Ragan (Thomas & Mercer, November 2022); 266 pp.

LOOK CLOSER

5 stars out of 5

It's been a while since I had a book on my Kindle that I really didn't want to put down. When it comes to this one, make that really, really, REALLY didn't want to. Not that I was expecting a dud, mind you - I've read and enjoyed other books by this author, including those with which he shares authorship (is that a word??) with James Patterson. But IMHO, this one's his best yet. 

After just a few chapters, the line from Shakespeare's "Hamlet" started to slither through my brain: "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." It begins on Halloween when Simon Dobias eyeballs a woman's body hanging from the balcony of her foyer; how she died is no mystery, but who did the deed isn't quite so cut and dried. One other thing is clear - Simon is acquainted with Lauren, the victim who's married to a filthy rich old codger.

Years ago, readers learn, Simon knew Lauren; but today, he's a law school full professor in waiting who is happily married to his wife Vicky, and both of them have so many secrets that it's hard to keep track of them all. In fact, just about every character in the book has secrets; as the chapters shift in and out of time frames and from the perspective of one character after another, nothing, and no one, is what and who they seem to be. Did I mention how much fun that is?

Those chapter shifts, which normally drive me bonkers, are very easy to follow here, I hasten to add. Still another perspective is that of the local police, led by Sergeant Jane Burke, who gets Lauren's case dumped in her lap. Her Spidey instincts kick in big-time once she learns about a $21 million trust that's set for payout less than a week after Thanksgiving. A high-rolling financial planner who's hot to trot to invest said trust fund, a pending job promotion that's threatened by the wealthy father of one of the candidates and a years-old family vendetta add even more fuel to the fire. Oh, wait, did I mention how much fun that is?

The surprises keep coming right up to the end when, for the most part, things get sorted out (nope, can't reveal more than that). What I will say - again - is that I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it highly. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Outstanding!

Look Closer by David Ellis (G.P. Putnam's Sons, July 2022); 459 pp.

THE BOYFRIEND

3.5 stars out of 5

In all honesty, I enjoyed this book overall, just as I have several other of this prolific author's works. Also in all honesty, though, I can't say it's his best.

The story centers around Jodie Parker, whose father, a much-revered community leader, recently and unexpectedly passed away. He and Jodie's mother aren't together anymore, and in his will he left his house to Jodie, totally shutting out her older brother Mike (who, understandably, isn't pleased about it). But as she goes through the house to get rid of unwanted "stuff," she finds an article of clothing connected to a long-ago boyfriend who is assumed to have been murdered. That makes her question everything she believed about her father; why on earth would he have it at all, much less stored in an attic where she was always forbidden to go?

Answering that question forms the basis of the plot, but it also was a source of frustration for me; it seemed like half the book was taken up with her questioning, musing, wondering, suspicions and indecision about whether or not to involve the police (read: over-the-top repetition). The other details, though, kept things interesting - including her relationship with old friend Fiona, her teenage son Owen, her ex-husband Darren (whose current wife is very pregnant) and her brother, whose wife Samantha is intent on making sure he gets his fair share of the inheritance pie. Complicating the whole mess is Paul McIntosh, who was convicted of murdering Jodie's boyfriend Ben all those years ago but swears he's innocent, decides to return home upon his release from prison.

Jodie waffles back and forth for the rest of the book, and I won't say I'm happy with the ending, which brings a tragedy that complicates that decision even more (if that's possible). But even though there was never any question about what I would do if all this happened to me, the ending does provide food for thought and, for those who might think otherwise, underscores the fact that nothing is written in black and white. In short, it's a more-than-decent choice for reading at the beach or next to a cozy fireplace in winter, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Boyfriend by Kerry Wilkinson (Bookouture, June 2022); 334 pp.

THE HEIGHTS

4 stars out of 5

Imagine for a moment that you look up at a rooftop terrace and see a man you've hated with a passion for years - a man responsible for a horrific crime that devastated your family. Then imagine you can't believe your eyes; he's been dead for something like two years. And you know that because you killed him.

How's that for a zingy opener? Of course, if that were all there is to the story, there wouldn't be much need for a book. In fact, there's much more; chapters weave in and out of different time frames in the lives of Ellen Saint, whose almost college-age son Lucas lost his life in an auto accident that involved the aforesaid man (Kieran Watts) on the rooftop. Since then, she and Lucas's father, Vic, have separated, although they're still in contact (in large part through shared grief). Now, she's married to Justin, who has a teenage daughter Freya who lives with them. 

For the most part, Justin has adopted the role of sympathetic spouse and Vic has tried to get on with his life; Ellen - always a protective mother, to say the least - wants no part of moving on. She wallows in sorrow and blame, gaining some solace when Kieran went to jail for his part in Lucas's death. But that was before he was released; after that, Ellen's angst and vitriol toward Kieran approaches an entirely new level (which, for the record, was a big turn-off for me).

Readers know from the start how her bitterness translated into action, so needless to say, seeing the man she's sure is Kieran comes as a shock. The rest of the book follows her resolve to take matters into her own hands and looks back at where she is now and how she got there. I must say I wasn't thrilled with the ending, although I think that's in part because I was less than thrilled with Ellen's character. That said, it's an engaging story that made for good reading on a couple of snowed-in days. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a prerelease copy.

The Heights by Louise Candlish (Atria Books, March 2022); 413 pp.

THE MAID

5 stars out of 5

If nothing else, I'll give this one 5 stars for originality, not to mention grabbing my attention from the beginning and holding it throughout. The focus is on Molly Gray, who is employed as a maid at a fancy hotel. But she's neither typical nor run-of-the-mill; I'd describe her as someone who is seriously socially deficient with OCD. Her whole life is wanting to please and going to extremes to follow instructions to the letter from those she respects - her boss and, until her death a few months ago, her grandmother, with whom she lived.

Now, one of her two life's compasses is gone - her Gran - leaving her to fend for herself with nothing but memories of things the elderly woman used to say to keep her grounded. More than ever before, Molly's work becomes her life; nothing makes her happier than making a guest's room spotless - just as she continues to make her home that way even though Gran is gone. The slightest rule infraction by others or upset in her routine drives her almost over the edge; imagine, then, her reaction when she starts to clean the hotel suite occupied by wealthy Charles Black and his beautiful wife Giselle and discovers the man in his bed - quite dead.

As the subsequent investigation proceeds, Molly finds herself moving from person of interest to prime suspect. In her naivete, Molly is, if nothing else, a trusting soul - totally unable to see the bad in people or comprehend that anyone would ever even think about taking advantage of her. That attribute cost her dearly in the past, and it stands to do her in now as she turns to for help to people who may not be on the up-and-up. On the plus side, she's certainly not devoid of real friends - people who understand her quirkiness and social shortcomings and want to help. Eventually, everything gets sorted out, with a couple of twists I didn't see coming (though they're not as serious as I'd expected to see happen).

Bottom line? If you're looking for a story that's thoroughly entertaining and a bit different, I suggest giving this one a try. I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Well done!

The Maid by Nita Prose (Ballantine Books, January 2022); 304 pp.

THE TRAPPED WIFE

4 stars out of 5

When I read my first book by this author back in 2018 - The Reunion- I called it one of the best books of the year. No surprise, then, that I jumped at the chance to read and review a pre-release copy of this one, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley. It also was no surprise, at least to me, that I enjoyed this one very much as well, although a titch less than the other one.

The plot is complex enough to be totally confusing, but - thanks to the author's writing skills - it's relatively easy to follow even before all the loose ends start coming together. Readers get a glimpse of a years-ago "friendship" between two school kids that turns evil; then one of Jenn, a recent widow with fuzzy memories of something awful that happened in her past. Then suddenly, we're in her present, as she learns she's unexpectedly pregnant and gets an unwanted visitor named Scott, who makes her skin crawl but won't leave. Chapters shift perspective from one of the youngsters to Jenn to that of her good friend, Rhonda. Tossed into the mix are Jenn's teenage son, Kierin, and Rhonda's teenage daughter, Caitlin.

Questions loom large: Who were those two young schoolyard friends, and are they related to what's going on now? What happened to Jenn (and maybe more important, what really happened to her husband)? Who is the house-crasher and why can't Jenn - a physician, for crying out loud - make him go away? That last part is the only thing I had a bit of trouble with; I'm never been a fan of women who try to rationalize behavior that's outside of what my idea of a "normal" woman would (or, IMHO, should) do - kind of like those idiots in horror movies who run toward a dark alley instead of a well-lit store when a monster is chasing them. By the end, the real reason for Jenn's lack of backbone becomes evident, though, thus changing the opinion I had of her throughout most of the book (whether for better or worse I'll never tell).

All the parts herein are intricately and expertly woven and come together in the end - complete with a couple of knock-out surprises. In short, it was well worth the time I spent reading it. Recommended!

The Trapped Wife by Samantha Hayes (Bookouture, September 2021); 268 pp.

THE NEW HOME

4 stars out of 5

If there's any character in any book who personifies the old maxim, "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you," it's Freya Northcott, the main character in this book. But honestly, knowing that didn't decrease my urge to throttle her most of the way through the story. In fact, when other characters urged her to take anxiety-relieving drugs, I kept hoping they'd ignore her refusals, tie her down and get 'em in her one way or another.

But paranoia also can make for a don't-want-to put-down adventure, and this tale qualifies. Freya and her fiance Jack have moved to a fixer-upper home in the London suburb of Waybridge, which is closer to the hospital where he works as a cardiology consultant. Freya is a developer/producer of video documentaries, but she has no projects in the works at present, in part because the pandemic has put the brakes on most parts of the economy. She also has a vivid imagination, which can be helpful in her professional endeavors. In her private life? Maybe yes, maybe no.

When she and Jack first meet Emily and Michael, the couple next door, for instance, Freya gleans a hint that Jack and Emily aren't strangers. When they meet the elderly Cathy, the neighbor on the other side of the house, Freya intuits that life isn't all roses for Emily and Michael. When Emily and her young daughter Thea go missing, then, it's an easy leap for Freya's ever-suspicious mind to conclude that Michael is the culprit.

Something else that happens to Freya sends her paranoid genes into overdrive; after that, she vows not to stop until she's found Emily and Thea even though logic tells her they're dead. From that point on, she pretty much goes bonkers - going places and doing things that "normal" people - including the police and her fiance - consider both illogical and downright illegal. All the while, she rationalizes that she's doing it in the best interests of her close friend Emily (whom she's known for all of a few days total).

Needless to say, at least some of Freya's illusions may be real; as readers learn along the way, several characters aren't exactly who they claim to be (i.e., they have secrets they'd rather not be revealed). So how does Freya sort out truth from fiction (maybe more to the point, how can readers know who's who and what's what)? By the somewhat surprising end - in fact, even after it - I'm not totally sure any of us has a good answer. But getting there certainly was an engaging adventure - as expected from this talented author - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

The New Home by Chris Merritt (Bookouture, September 2021); 302 pp.

THE OTHER PASSENGER

4 stars out of 5

This is my first book by this author, and it certainly won't be my last. It kept me swiping through Kindle pages from beginning to end, with twists (some predictable, others not) at just about every flip. At the heart of the story are four characters: unmarried partners Jamie and Clare and Christopher ("Kit") and Melia. The first two live in a sumptuous home owned by Clare, who's also the primary breadwinner. The second couple are ensconced in somewhat of a dump, heavily in debt and nearly living hand-to-mouth. 
 

Jamie works in a coffee shop, commuting back and forth each weekday day on a ferry boat. One day he meets Kit there, they strike up a conversation and soon a friendship. Meantime, Melia joins the realty firm at which Clare works, and a similar friendship is born. When they discover that they don't live that far from each other, the friendship blossoms and spreads to after-work hours.

But one not-so-fine morning, Kit isn't on the ferry; Melia, sick with worry, calls Jamie, Clare and the police to report him missing. That anything bad happened to Kit is, to Jamie, unfathomable; after all, Kit rode the ferry with Jamie the previous night. But the next night, as Jamie debarks for the walk home, he's greeted by two police officers; he was, they tell him, the last person to see Kit alive - and what's more, a passenger on that same ride insists that Jamie had a reason to kill his so-called friend.

Chapters switch in time from Jamie and Kit's first meeting to the present - roughly spanning a year. Readers see what each character is thinking, how he or she is coping and what really happened that led up to Kit's sudden disappearance. Throughout it all, Jamie, who swears innocence, keeps trying to find out the identity of the ferry "snitch" - the mysterious other passenger. On the surface, it's just another puzzle the police need to solve. But my advice to readers? Don't get complacent (or, put another way, keep in mind that people and recollections aren't always what they seem).

All told, this is a very entertaining and well written book. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish (Atria Books, July 2021); 396 pp.