The Last Caretaker: a mystery suspense thriller which doesn't live up to its premise

The Last Caretaker by Jessica Strawser is a mystery suspense as one woman tries to move forward with her life. Katie needed a fresh start and her best friend, Bess, offered her a new start. The job is as a residential caretaker at a nature preserve. She wasn’t exactly a nature person but she is willing to try. From the moment she arrived, something was off. The farmhouse looks like the last caretaker simply disappeared and her belongings were left behind. When a frantic, terrified woman arrives late at night, Kate realizes that the caretaker job is much more than she realized. Unsure who to trust or where to turn, Katie begins to dig deeper into what the last caretaker left behind and she must decide how much she is willing to risk in order to do the right thing. 

I was intrigued by the premise and I looked forward to a spine tingly mystery. However, from the beginning, I was bored. Even after the woman arrives late at night and the mystery opens up, I was bored. There was no intrigue. It was so slow for a thriller suspense. The storytelling didn’t flow smoothly and I found my attention drifting. The writing style was choppy and some sentences were confusing and did not make sense. There was no suspense, no thrilling tension and the final twist fell flat. The characters weren’t people I wanted to root for or see to the end. I understand what the author was trying to do and cover an important topic; however, I feel it didn’t work well. I did not enjoy this story at all. I do not recommend The Last Caretaker. 

The Last Caretaker is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Girl at the Party: a thriller mystery of a young girl's death and someone wants to keep it unsolved

The Girl at the Party by Danielle Stewart is a thriller mystery of one girl’s death. Stephanie left the end of the year party and walked home alone. Some say she was crying while others heard an argument between Stephanie and someone else. However, no one would see her alive again. Four years later, Stephanie’s friends are still haunted by the events of that night. She was the perfect one, who stayed out of trouble and looked out for her friends. Where were her friends looking out for her? Laura is truly stuck as she cannot move past Stephanie’s death especially since her case went cold. All she wanted was to forget that horrible night. Until one day when another friend, Chris Mills comes to her with a proposal: help him investigate Stephanie’s death and discover the truth. Together, they start their investigation and it becomes clear that someone does not want them to discover the truth. Warnings and break ins meant to scare them off. Is Stephanie’s killer closer than they think? 

The Girl at the Party starts off interesting as readers see the final moments of Stephanie’s life However, as Laura and Chris start their investigation, the story slows and gets bogged down. The book is described as a slow burn mystery; unfortunately, it is so slow that almost nothing happens until the mad run to the ending. I didn’t care for the long winded paragraphs about the patriarchy, women being forced to be caretakers and ableism. While those topics are interesting and important to discuss, there is a better way to blend them into the story without being a lecture. The mystery of Stephanie’s death certainly became secondary and the personal lives of the other characters were the main focus. Even with Chris and Laura’s statements that Stephanie had been forgotten and they seem to forget why they are investigating in the first place. And the reveal about the details of Stephanie’s death was so disappointing. I did not enjoy this story. I do not recommend The Girl at the Party. 

The Girl at the Party is available in available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Women in White: thriller mystery with parapsychology experiments that go wrong and one woman's search for the truth.

The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen is a thriller mystery as a woman searches for old friends and finds herself investigating a decades old mystery. In 1964, four young women at a respected university became subjects of parapsychology experiments by a visionary scientist. These women truly have a special gift whether it would be called extrasensory perception or a sixth sense. When something goes terribly wrong, the four women mysteriously disappear. Decades later, Riley Bell begins to work for an elderly widow, Betty, as her live-in caretaker. Betty’s home is trapped in another era with no television, no cell phones and no internet. Why would Betty live in such isolation and why does she need Riley now? When Riley innocently offers to find Betty’s friends that she hasn’t seen in decades, she finds herself chasing the truth of secrets long buried. What starts as a simple plan to reunite old friends becomes a life or death situation. 

The Women in White is a dual timeline between Riley in the present day and Betty in 1964 as the mystery unfolds with paranormal elements. From the opening chapters, I was intrigued as the story unfolded with questions. Why did Betty need Riley? Were the women truly gifted? The story also gave a clear picture of the unethical practices which were common at the time when dealing with human subjects. The beginning of the story was a bit slow as the mystery unfolded; however, once Riley was deep into her investigation, the story sped up and I was on the edge of my seat. Overall, I enjoyed this story. There were shocking moments and moments when I was angry at the treatment these women were receiving. I closed the story with a “wow” and I was satisfied with the ending. If you enjoy a dual timeline story with a thrilling mystery, I highly recommend The Women in White. 

The Women in White is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Whisper Creek: one family's fight against nature and the evil plans of man

Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan is a thriller about one family’s fight for their land against enemies and a massive storm. After the sudden death of her husband, Ellen McKenna is determined to keep their family farm a success. With hopes to expand, they are facing tough times and more expensive than she ever imagined. Many of their neighbors are packing it in and selling land to a local businessman. However, Ellen refuses to break to the same pressure. To add to their troubles, a series of recent storms have ravaged the region with another massive heavy rain still on its way. With all hands on deck to prepare for the storm, the discovery of an injured dog and a man barely clinging to life, a victim of a home invasion. When Ellen’s younger kids check on a neighbor and unknowingly walk into a threat. With no way to call for help, Ellen and her family do all they can to fight back and survive. 

I was intrigued by the description of the story and I was expecting a “twisty, tense” combined with “family drama” with the “unforgiving power of nature.” The story did start off great with mood and tension building; however, the story faltered from there. It took way too long for any real action and it was obvious who was behind the threats and break ins. Overall, I did not find it thrilling, twisty or tense. There were times when I screamed at the character to do something instead of what they did. One instance is when Ellen, who checks on a pregnant neighbor, decides to take the neighbor back to her house to keep an eye on her and yet decides to stop at another neighbor's house “real quick” while worried about the roads flooding. It just didn’t make sense! If you are a fan of Allison Brennan, you may enjoy Whisper Creek. However, I did not enjoy this book and I do not recommend Whisper Creek. 

Whisper Creek is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

The Good Lie: a killer has been caught or has he?

The Good Lie by A.R. Torre is a crime mystery thriller as a killer has been caught or has he? Six teens have been abducted and found murdered. The last victim manages to escape and return home where he names his abductor. Defense attorney Robert Kavin is still traumatized after his teenage son was one of the six victims. However, when he sees that a victim has escaped and names a local school teacher Randall Thompson as his captor, he is convinced of Thompson’s innocence and takes his representation. While the evidence against Thompson is damning but Robert is still convinced they have the wrong man. He hires psychiatrist Dr. Gwen Moore, to create a psych profile of the killer. Gwen is an expert on killers. She spent a decade treating some of the most depraved predators and learning their motives. As Robert and Gwen work together, growing closer, the investigation raises more questions than answers. 

A.R. Torre is known for crime mystery thrillers and I was expecting a story of twists and turns and continued guesses until the final reveal. As a student of psychology, I enjoy the deep dive into why criminals, especially killers, follow the patterns that they do. The story started out interesting as I knew the named suspect was not the killer. However, as I read I felt the story slowing down and that the story dragged too much especially with Gwen and Robert’s relationship. It was more their relationship than the investigation and trial. I started to skim in order to just find out who the killer was and felt a little disappointed at the reveal. Some of the reveals were definitely surprising but underwhelming. Overall, the story wasn’t bad but I wasn’t wowed by the story or the characters. If you are a fan of crime mystery thrillers, you may enjoy The Good Lie. 

The Good Lie is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Fix: a survivor of a brutal attack has a chance to save another victim

The Fix by Mia Sheridan is a romantic suspense thriller as a survivor of a brutal attack has a chance to save another victim.  Eleven years ago, Cami Cortlandt’s mother and sister were killed in a violent home invasion. While the trauma and the notoriety still follows her, Cami has built a life in her hometown, trying to put it all behind her as best she can. Until one day, one phone call puts another life on the line. A distorted voice asking if she wanted a do-over. A video of a young boy trapped in a room with bars on the window. A boy who looks vaguely familiar. She has four days to find him. With the help of an old classmate, Rex Lowe, Cami races to find the boy and answer the questions racing through her mind. Where is he? Who is he? And why is Cami the only one who can save him? 

After reading Mia Sheridan’s previous books, I knew her stories would be a bit darker with twists and turns. However, as I closed the book, I was left with indifference. I wasn’t wowed by the story but I didn’t hate it either. I enjoyed Cami’s story and her resilience to rebuild her life. I also enjoyed Rex’s character. Their romance was subtle and didn’t overwhelm the mystery or suspense of the story. The twists and the turns of the story kept my interest as I wanted to know who was behind the boy’s kidnapping and why Cami was given the chance to save him. However, there were certain character injections that left me confused and wondering how they fit in the overall mystery. While it is revealed, it felt underwhelming, Overall, I did enjoy the story but I wasn’t wowed. If you enjoy romantic suspense thrillers, you may enjoy this book. I recommend The Fix. 

The Fix is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Every Reasonable Doubt: a legal suspense thriller

Every Reasonable Doubt is the first book in the Vernetta Henderson series by Pamela Samuels Young. Vernetta Henderson comes off a victory in a case which yielded the biggest verdicts of her career. While looking forward to some downtime, Vernetta is quickly partnered with Neddy McClain to take on the defense for the biggest murder case of their careers. The two women aren’t thrilled to be working together; however, they must put aside their strained relationship for the case. Their client, socialite Tina Montgomery, is charged with the brutal murder of her husband, Max Montgomery, a high profile businessman. As Vernetta prepares for trial, she feels the pressures from all areas of her life: home, career, and public opinion. What she doesn’t count on is the new bond formed with Neddy. Can they prove Tina’s innocence beyond every reasonable doubt? 

Every Reasonable Doubt is my first book by Pamela Samuels Young and it starts off running. The opening prologue readers witness the brutal murder and it leads into a fast paced whodunnit. I liked Vernetta from the start and the initial conflict with Neddy was tense. I liked Neddy as well. Her no nonsense attitude makes her a great character. The suspense was good. I was constantly questioning if Tina really did kill her husband or not. There were plenty of suspects to cast doubt on the case. I liked that there was enough legalese to inform readers about the process without bogging down the story. Overall, I enjoyed this story and look forward to more cases with Vernetta Henderson. If you enjoy legal suspenseful thrillers, I highly recommend Every Reasonable Doubt. 

Every Reasonable Doubt is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Five Survive: a slow burn young adult thriller with surprising twists and turns

Five Survive by Holly Jackson is a young adult thriller which takes place over eight hours with six friends and one sniper threatening their lives. Eighteen year old Red Kenny is on a Spring Break trip with her friends. A road trip in an RV from Philadelphia to the beach. When the RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere, with no cell service and no one around to help. Suddenly, the wheels of the RV are shot out, the friends realize that there is a sniper out in the dark, watching them and knows exactly who they are. Someone in their group has a secret that the sniper is willing to kill for. The friends desperately try to get help as well as discover who had the secret. As the hours pass, the friends discover that they all have secrets buried deep. They have nowhere to run and tensions run high, someone will not survive. 

After reading the author’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder trilogy, I looked forward to reading her other thrillers. Five Survive is a slow burn thriller that picks up in the final quarter of the book with dizzying speed. At one point, I questioned whether I cared about these characters or the secret someone was hiding or how the events played out. I considered putting the book away. Oh I am so glad that I didn’t! There were so many twists and turns that I was on the edge of my seat to the very end. Each character seemed sketchy and trying to hide something. Even Red, the narrator, left me questioning her motives. The how and why behind their adventures was shocking and the identity of who dies is unclear even to the final page. If you enjoy thrillers, even a young adult one, I highly, highly recommend Five Survive. 

Five Survive is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

I Would Die for You: a slow burn thriller with twist and turns to keep you guessing

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones is a slow burn thriller in which a woman’s past comes roaring back. Is she prepared to fight back? Nicole Forbes lives a quiet life in southern California with her husband and daughter. It is shattered when a journalist comes to her door and asks her for information about the downfall of Secret Oktober, the biggest British band of the 1980s. The same day, her daughter is picked up from school by her aunt. The only thing is her daughter doesn’t have an aunt! Nicole is faced with the threads of her life and hidden past that is quickly becoming unveiling. In 1986, sixteen year old Cassie is obsessed with Secret Oktober with an intense crush on Ben Edwards. She is determined to do anything she can to capture his attention among the cheering fans and groupies. What she doesn’t count on is Ben meeting her older sister, Nicole. What happened to Secret Oktober? What does Nicole know? 

Sandie Jones is a new author to me and I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book. A dual timeline story with multiple POVs as Nicole searches for the person behind the events of today and Cassie as her obsession with Secret Oktober and Ben grows taking her down a dangerous past. As events of today and yesteryear begin to shine light on the truth, the twists and turns were interesting and kept me hooked. However, as the mystery was revealed, the ending was confusing and a bit abrupt. My first thought when I closed the book was “what?!?” Throughout the story, I liked the character of Nicole and the mystery about who was bringing up the past and why was engaging and kept me guessing. Overall, I enjoyed the story. The mystery was engaging, the ending was just abrupt. If you like dual timeline, multiple POVs stories with a bit of suspense and mystery, I recommend I Would Die for You. 

I Would Die for You is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

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

Family Money: a thriller suspense with lies, secrets and a fight to the truth

Family Money by Chad Zunker is a thriller suspense as one man’s secrets put his family in danger. Alex Mahan is happily married to his high school sweetheart, Taylor. With two beautiful daughters, a great home and a thriving business, Alex even enjoys the support of his in-laws especially his father in law, Joe. However, his world is turned upside down when Joe is abducted and killed during a family trip to Mexico. As executor of Joe’s estate, Alex goes through his finances and he realizes some things aren’t adding up. The more he investigates, the deeper the mystery becomes. It seems the man they knew, loved and trusted was not who they thought he was. As Alex continues to dig into Joe’s secrets, a threat lurks in the shadows and with every lie uncovered, Alex and his family are more and more in danger. 

I am new to Chad Zunker’s books and while described as a thriller suspense, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect as I don’t normally read this genre. From the opening chapter, I was intrigued by the mystery of who Joe truly was and why he had so many secrets, dangerous secrets. I took in every detail as Alex uncovered secret after secret and hooked until the very end as Alex fights to protect those he loves. Alex was an enjoyable character and one readers will want to root for and see through to the end. Family Money reads a lot like a thriller spy movie. The story’s elements were a bit far-fetched, like most spy movies are, but I still enjoyed the story and closed the final page with satisfaction. If you enjoy a thriller suspense story, I recommend Family Money. 

Family Money is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Prestige: a thrilling suspense story with a hint of romance

Prestige by Marci Bolden is the suspenseful thriller with twists and turns that will keep readers guessing. Troy Buchanan is a Lochlin Private Security team lead. He has never lost a client until now. When Richard Bantam and his wife Sharon are discovered brutally murdered in a safe house, Troy takes their son and runs, fearing for the young boy's life. Meri Osborne left Lochlin and started fresh at Prestige Security and Investigation Services. When Troy, her former teammate, shows up unannounced and asks for her help, she jumps into action. Together, they do all they can to keep the boy safe and discover who killed his parents. Is the killer someone they know? Can they trust anyone, even each other? 

I have been a reader of Marci Bolden’s books for a long time and Prestige is a change of genre for me. However, this story was filled with twists and turns with suspense that kept me glued to the page. It is a gritty, dark story filled with danger behind every corner. There were surprises at every turn and even the culprit was a complete surprise. The characters were great. I enjoyed Troy and Meri and their supportive characters. There is a bit of history and romance between Troy and Meri which adds to the suspense of who can trust whom. If you enjoy a suspenseful thriller with a hint of romance, I recommend Prestige. 

Prestige is available in paperback and eBook

The Keepers of Metsan Valo: a mix of Nordic folklore, family traditions and mystery

 The Keepers of Metsan Valo by Wendy Webb is a mix of Nordic folklore and family traditions and finding a new future. In Metsan Valo, on the shores of Ile de Colette in Lake Superior, Anni Halla’s family home has been a place of happy memories, where she and her twin brother, Theo, explored the vast forests and listened to their grandmother’s folk stories. She comes back after the sudden death of her beloved grandmother and finds herself learning there is more to the family stories than just entertainment. As the family gathers for the reading of her grandmother’s will, there is tension in the air and not just between the family members. There are whispers in the wind, bursts of laughter when no one is around and nights filled with strange dreams and visions. As she investigates the strange occurrences, Anni learns there is more truth to her grandmother’s stories than she realized. 

Wendy Webb is one of my go-to authors for thrillers. The Keepers of Metsan Valo is a sleeper thriller with a mix of folklore, family drama and mystery. The story was engaging and mysterious. It was spooky enough to keep me reading and looking forward to more but not so spooky that I was frightened. The way Ms Webb incorporates forests and the animals into the story adds to the eeriness and atmosphere. I enjoyed the incorporation of Nordic folklore which isn’t used in literature very often. I enjoyed all the characters and how they interact with each other throughout the story. I also enjoyed the theme of staying connected to the family, the past and ancestors, remembering their stories and who they were. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I am looking forward to more books by Ms Webb. If you enjoy sleeping, gothic type thrillers, I highly recommend The Keepers of Metsan Valo. 

The Keepers of Metsan Valo is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Haven: a gothic suspense thriller

The Haven is the second book in the Outer Banks series by Nicola Marsh. The Haven has been a refuge for many; however, for Rylee it has been a sheltered life. While she loves her father, John, and her grandmother, Leah, she wonders about life outside of her home. When an opportunity to work at the Arcania, a wellness retreat near her home, Rylee is excited but Leah isn’t thrilled. Rylee is also on a journey to search for the mother who left suddenly when she was a newborn with long buried family secrets ready to be uncovered. What Leah is hiding is that decades earlier, she arrived at The Haven and got a job at the nearby Arcania. However, horrors she witnessed there sent her running. As Rylee’s fascination with finding her mother and the Arcania grows, Leah believes Rylee is now in harm’s way. How far will Leah go to protect her family? 

OMG! What a story! As I began the book, I was curious how the Haven could be related to the Arcania, the story we see in The Retreat (2023). Although you do not need to read The Retreat first to enjoy The Haven, I would highly recommend it. As Rylee begins to subvert her grandmother’s control and truly begins her search for answers, the gates open and the story begins a twisted tale of suspense, thrills, and turns of events you won’t see coming! I love how Rylee finds her courage and stands up for herself as she demands answers. And the ending! Are there plans for a third book? Oh, I hope so! With the haunting setting and unexplained happenings, this story will draw you in until the final page. I highly recommend The Haven as well as the first book, The Retreat. If you enjoy gothic suspense thrillers, you cannot miss the Outer Banks series! 

The Haven will be available on October 31, 2023 in paperback and eBook

The Hacienda: a haunting thriller and supernatural mystery

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas is a supernatural suspense story set in the aftermath of the Mexican War of Independence (1810-1821) in a remote village, a sinister haunted house and a young woman left to defend herself. After her father is executed and her home destroyed, Beatriz is left at the mercy of family. When Don Rodolfo Solórzano proposes, she immediately says yes. The promise of a home and security for her and her mother is too good to pass up despite the circulating rumors about his first wife’s death. However, Hacienda San Isidro is not the sanctuary she was hoping for and while Rodolfo works in the capital, she is plagued with visions and voices at night. Despite her concerns being brushed aside, she knows something is wrong with the house. Beatriz turns to a young priest, Padre Andres, who is familiar with the house and its history, for help. Together, can they fight the malevolent spirit and return peace to Hacienda San Isidro? 

Billed as Mexican Gothic (2020) meets Rebecca (1938), which I have not yet read either, The Hacienda is a haunting thriller which hooks the readers on a journey of a supernatural mystery that leaves them gasping for breath! As I read, I was reminded of Shirley Jackson’s The House on Haunted Hill (1959), as the house is a character in itself. After reading the author’s notes, I can see why I got that vibe as Ms.Cañas was paying homage to Shirley Jackson who was known for her horror and mystery stories. While I am not usually a fan of horror stories, The Hacienda is a mix of gothic horror with historical commentary of what people will be to gain and keep power. It is a story of resilience and resistance. I cheered for Beatriz and Andres as they battled this evil spirit and turned each page with anticipation. Ms. Cañas created such a mood and atmosphere that it was hard to put down! I highly recommend The Hacienda. 

The Hacienda is hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

The Retreat: You can check in but you may never leave

The Retreat by Nicola Marsh is a “You can stay, but you may never leave” gothic thriller. Arcania is a wellness street in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Its guests enjoy a week of digital detox where all forms of technology are not permitted and relaxation is the goal. The gothic mansion is a welcome haven but for some it is a nightmare. When her mother dies suddenly, Lucy discovers a mysterious Viking tattoo on the bottom of her mother’s foot. The tattoo is linked to Arcania and impulsively Lucy books a week. The staff seems welcoming enough but soon the creepy house and some of its inhabitants are urging Lucy to leave. Cora Medville is the current owner, arrived at the house forty years ago. She falls in love with the house, Harlan, the dashing heir, and finds the sense of belonging she desperately craved. She stayed. There’s a terrifying truth to the house, how far will Lucy go to discover the truth? How far will Cora go to protect its secrets? 

I have known Nicola Marsh for her domestic psychological thrillers. Now she can add gothic thrillers to her repertoire. Wow! What a story! The Retreat is like a slow burn fire which builds into an inferno that makes it hard to pull away. A thriller that pulls readers into a story that can’t quite be trusted. At the beginning of the story, Lucy seemed too meek and mousey to take such a leap to visit Arcania with so little information. But is there more to Lucy than meets the eye? Is she playing everyone? Or is Lucy slowly going crazy? Could Arcania really be haunted? What are Cora's motives and secrets? There were plot points that were guessable; however, I think that could have been by design. Giving the readers a little tidbit before revealing the big shocker of the story. There were twists that I didn’t see coming and left me gasping in surprise as I turned the page. If you enjoy Nicola Marsh’s psychological thrillers or enjoy gothic thrillers, I highly recommend The Retreat. 

The Retreat is available in paperback and eBook

214 Palmer Street: a psychological suspense thriller with one house, one secret, and a woman with nothing to lose

214 Palmer Street by Karen McQuestion is psychological suspense thriller about one house with a secret and a woman with nothing to lose. Sarah Aden tells Maggie Scott, the elderly neighbor of the Caldwells’ at 214 Palmer Street, that she’s the housesitter. At the last minute, Cady asks Sarah to stay for the month that she’s gone. Since she’s warm and pleasant, Maggie is happy that the house won’t be empty for so long but inside Sarah’s panicking. No one was supposed to see her there. Sarah is on a mission. There’s a secret buried with the house and she is determined to discover the truth. What Sarah doesn’t know is that someone else knows that she’s in the house. Someone else suspects that the house holds the key to a mystery that she has spent decades trying to unravel. Will the truth be revealed? 

Psychological suspense thrillers have grown in popularity and Karen McQuestion has found a new genre to explore. From the opening chapter, I am intrigued with the idea of a mysterious person inside a house that’s supposed to be empty. With alternating points of view, the story takes the reader on the twists and turns of a wild roller coaster. I enjoyed that the story wasn’t so complicated that my head was buzzing with so many details and red herrings that I failed to pick up on the clues but it wasn’t too simple that I figured out the secret before it was revealed. It had characters to like, characters to hate and characters that you aren’t sure you can or should trust. Even right to the end, you weren’t sure if all was truly well with how the events played out. Overall, I really enjoyed and recommend 214 Palmer Street. 

214 Palmer Street is available in eBook and audiobook

If She Saw: a quick read but decent thriller

If She Saw by Blake Pierce is the second book in the Kate Wise series. Semi-retired and legendary FBI agent Kate Wise is enjoying life. She is spending time with her granddaughter and the blossoming relationship with her boyfriend when she is asked to take on another case when two couples are found brutally murdered in their homes with no motive. The only clue is a piece of a child’s blanket that is found at each crime scene. As Kate and her partner, Special Agent DeMarco, follow the clues, they realize they are on a race against time as the killer may strike again at any time. Are the victims chosen at random? Are they connected somehow? What is the meaning of the piece of cloth left behind?

If She Saw is a fast-paced thriller which will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Although I found the “false” suspects to be a bit too obvious, I enjoyed reading as Kate and DeMarco take every road that opens with each new clue and suspect. Kate does make one decision that I didn’t like and thought why she didn’t just say “I’ll start in the morning?” It is a decision she later regrets and wishes she did say just that. But I feel this makes Kate human. How many times have we made decisions in a split second only to realize it could have waited?  I look forward to reading the next titles in this series. There are currently seven books in this series. If you haven’t read the first book, If She Knew, I highly recommend picking it up. If you enjoy mystery thrillers, I recommend If She Saw.

If She Saw

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Blindsided: when one woman decides to fight back against the evil chasing her

Blindsided by Kate Watterson is a suspense thriller, a cat and mouse game and a race against time. Dr. Cadence Lawrence knows she’s being followed. She knows someone has been in her house when she’s gone and has gone through her belongings. She even knows who it is, but he has managed to stay one step ahead and avoid apprehension. FBI Agent Thea Benedict is on the trail of a serial killer, tracking him all over the country and knows he may be heading to settle a score. When Cadence makes the sudden decision to flee Indianapolis and head north, she is trapped on a snowy road, Michael “Mick” McCutcheon offers her a place to stay until she can get her car out of the snow. At first, she is reluctant to allow Mick to get close, but she finds him to be caring and generally concerned that she opens up with her story. Mick finds himself enthralled with the beautiful doctor and can’t help himself as he helps her battle against this evil. As Cadence, Thea, and Mick follow this man’s trail, he realizes his time is short and steps up his efforts. Will they be able to stop him before he hurts someone else?

Blindsided was an interesting twist from a usual suspense thriller. From the beginning, you are told who is stalking Cadence, you are told why but he remains a suspenseful evil lurking in the dark. I enjoyed each character. Cadence was a strong, independent woman who knew to fight back but at the same time she realizes she is afraid, vulnerable and fights anyway. Mick is a dashing knight in shining armor who is confident but can be shaken. One of my favorite scenes is when Mick is worried and nervous about meeting Cadence’s parents as their investigation takes them to her hometown. And Thea, the confident FBI agent, who is like a cat on the hunt. She is determined to catch her prey. I thoroughly enjoyed Blindsided as a fast paced, attention grabbing thriller which keeps you reading until the last page. I highly recommend Blindsided.

Blindsided

will be available July 9, 2019

in hardcover and eBook

By the Light of Embers: a story of a young woman's fight for love and her dreams against the odds

By the Light of Embers by Shaylin Gandhi is the story of a young woman who must fight against the prejudice and societal expectations of the 1950s. It’s 1954 and Lucia Lafleur is a college graduate, engaged and just got accepted to medical school. Before heading home for the summer, her fiancé gives her an ultimatum: him or medical school. She heads home to Bellefontaine, Louisiana with her friend, Gretchen. Soon she befriends Nicholas Fletcher, a man from her childhood and someone she was supposed to stay away from. But Nicholas is unlike any man she has known, and she can’t help be drawn to him despite the danger. As their friendship blooms into something more, she realizes she is heading down a road that her hometown may not be ready for. Which man will she chose: the safe, logical one or the man who matches her passion and intelligence? Does she follow her heart or her dream?

By the Light of Embers is a story I wasn’t expecting. From the description I knew it was a story of a white woman and a black man in a relationship which was not acceptable in the South. As I read and was swept away by the passionate love story of Lucia and Nicholas, the drama of prejudice of those around them and the building of events which led to an amazing climax. The book didn’t end the way I thought it would, but it was a satisfying ending, wasn’t farfetched and just fit the story. It was a suspenseful and exciting story up to the very last page. I was so engrossed in the story that I didn’t realize it was coming to an end! I highly recommend By the Light of Embers!

By the Light of Embers

will be available May 9, 2019

in eBook