The Dark Hour: a dark thriller

The Dark Hour by KJ Young is a dark thriller. Mark Norman is desperate for a job. With bills and debts piling up, he takes a job as a live-in home health aide for Roy and Alma Walgrave, two wealthy elderly siblings. Living in the Alden Manor, a run-down mansion, the Walgraves are former stage magicians. While they give off eerie vibes, making strange requests of their employees, Mark ignores it all as they are wealthy and careless with their money. As he makes himself essential to the Walgraves, Mark finds himself dreaming of inheriting their fortunes. Despite warnings of evil, Mark ignores it all. Until odd and unsettling things begin to happen. He is terrified that he is losing his mind or even his life. But can he walk away when the possibility of a big financial windfall might be coming his way? 

I was looking forward to a good thriller. An eerie old house and warnings from a creepy stranger definitely sets the mood. What I got was a not-so-thrilling story as it reminded me too much of the film The Skeleton Key (2005). Mark is immediately unlikable and annoying and left me uncaring if he escaped this twisted web he found himself in. As the job offer comes to him, Mark thinks that luck is finally on his side. Even as he begins to suspect his job was too good to be true, his greed keeps him there. And the extent of the web he finds himself in was too convenient and left me wondering if I missed details that would link all the players. If you are a fan of dark thrillers, you may enjoy it. However, I do not recommend The Dark Hour. 

The Dark Hour is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

A Whole New World: what if Jafar got Genie's lamp first?

A Whole New World by Liz Braswell is a part of the Disney Hyperion A Twisted Tale series. What if Jafar got the lamp first? When Jafar finally obtains the Genie’s lamp, he uses his first two wishes to become sultan and the most powerful sorcerer in the world. Agrabah lives in fear as Jafar still has his third and final wish to make. To stop the madman, Aladdin and Princess Jasmine must find a way to unite the people of Agrabah and fight back. With the network of Agrabah’s thieves, they start to thwart Jafar’s plans. Will the Street Rat become a leader? A princess, a revolutionary? It all starts with the question: what if Jafar was the first to summon the Genie? 

I love the Twisted Tale series and A Whole New World is a great twisted story. With the beginning following fairly closely with the beloved Disney film, the twist occurs and the story turns gritty, dark and a thrilling ride to the very end. The story also adds elements of the Genie’s origins and history that was absent from the original movie. A Whole New World is my fourth book of this series and I cannot wait to read the rest. My only complaint is the ending seemed rushed and it was over quickly despite the build up. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this twisted story. If you love the Disney stories and want to experience a twisted tale, I highly recommend A Whole New World. 

A Whole New World is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

A Cry in the Dark: a dark mystery with secrets and hidden agendas

A Cry in the Dark by Denise Grover Swank is the first book in the Carly Moore series. Carly Moore is a woman on the run. Trusting no one and the ink barely dry on her new identity, she wants to simply disappear. When her car breaks down and with no money, Carly finds herself stuck in Drum, a smalltown in the Smoky Mountains. Drum is a town with secrets of its own and the residents keep a distrusting eye on any outsiders. Since she is stuck in town, she takes a temporary waitressing job at a local bar. It isn’t long before she witnesses a cold-blooded murder in a darkened parking lot. Carly soon realizes that she left behind one nightmare for another. The clock is ticking and bodies are piling up. Not knowing who to trust, Carly senses that if the killers aren’t stopped, she will be next. 

A Cry in the Dark is the second book by Denise Grover Swank I have read. The first was a romance that I didn’t care for. I hoped that her darker mystery books would be better. Unfortunately, it was not the case. I was bored. The book started great with an eerie, auspicious situation. However, Carly was a hard character to like and root for. While the residents of Drum were certainly distrusting and even when the murders started happening, I was bored. The events seemed far-fetched and the drama a bit overdrawn. How can you be jealous of a relationship that happened years before you met the individuals? A relationship that had run its course and there was no lingering feelings? I have a feeling that Denise Grover Swank is not the author for me. However, if you enjoy dark, gritty mysteries, you may enjoy A Cry in the Dark. 

A Cry in the Dark is available in eBook and audiobook

No More Words: dark family secrets, haunting memories and a path to the truth

No More Words is the first book in the No More Words series by Kerry Lonsdale. Fourteen years ago, Olivia Carson’s younger sister, Lily, ran away. Forced to choose between abortion or adoption, she ran, never to return. But once a year, Lily sends Olivia a letter and a picture of her son, Josh. Until one day Josh himself appears on Olivia’s doorstep. He’s alone and terrified. An accident has left Josh with language difficulties that makes it difficult for him to communicate. But as a prolific artist, Olivia discovers he can “speak” through his art. As she tries to decipher what happened to Lily, doors that have been long shut on the past have been opening. Each step brings her closer to the truth and threatens everything she thought she knew about her family. 

Kerry Lonsdale is known for deeply emotional dramas with no easy path to move forward. No More Words is a drama filled with family secrets and suspense. From the opening chapter, this story grabs hold of the reader and takes them on a roller coaster of the past, present and secrets that could threaten everything including one’s own life. Olivia is a deeply wounded woman who is haunted by the events surrounding her sister’s disappearance. Secrets, lies, and manipulation twist this story that Olivia doesn’t know who to trust. She knows one thing for sure, Lily is in danger and she needs to find her fast! No More Words is filled with twists and turns that don't let up until the very end. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I highly recommend No More Words! 

No More Words is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook