The Silver Coin (Coins: Book Two): Andrea Kane

"All her life, Breanna Colby has lived on the precipice of fear, her only joy the recent reunion with her beloved cousin, Anastasia.  With her violent father now locked away in jail, the repressed young woman can emerge from her cocoon and pursue all the joys she's been denied.  But she finds--to her terror--that not all the shadows have lifted, and an evil from the past stalks both her and Anastasia.  When authorities are unable to help with this assassin lurking in the darkness, the Colbys turn to the brilliant, unconventional Royce Chadwick, England's foremost expert on finding people who don't want to be found.

"Hard, detached Royce has always been a loner who operates by his own set of rules.  He has little patience for weakness.  Delicate Breanna Colby is an eye-opener to him, for beneath her fragile exterior lies a core of steel.  As the two face overwhelming danger side by side, Royce discovered a woman he never dreamed existed--one who, despite his cynicism, he is losing his heart to.  But their future together can never be--not unless Royce kills the assassin before the assassin kills them."

Having sped through the first in this two book series, The Gold Coin, I was eager to pick up the second and see what happens in Brianna's story.  Lucky for me, I happened to have this one sitting on my shelf as well!  After such an explosive ending to the Stacie's story, I couldn't wait to see what the aftermath looked like.  What sort of fallout came of Stacie and Breanna thwarting the assassin?  What would life be like for Breanna now that she was finally free of her violent, vindictive father?

The story takes place shortly after Breanna's twenty-first birthday -- just a few months after the conclusion of Stacie's book.  Breanna has been working on organizing the construction of Stacie and Damen's new home on the grounds of Medford Manor.  She excitedly anticipates their return from their honeymoon trip to America where they were able to oversee their new banking venture.  However, the joy is not to last.

A mysterious package arrives at Medford Manor.  It it addressed only to Stacie.  And it contains mutilated dolls which bear an uncanny resemblance to Stacie and Breanna, as well as an explicit threat.  Though Breanna takes the dolls to Bow Street, there is little they can do for her.  They are spread far too thin as it is with a slew of odd murders and disappearances amongst the ton.  Stacie realizes Bow Street will be of no help and she must figure out how to handle the threat on her own.  It seems as if the assassin whose finger she shot off when she thwarted his attempted murder of Stacie has come back to England.  Not only does he seek revenge for his mutilated hand, he wants Breanna to suffer.  A brilliant villain, he knows the best way to do this is to go for her weak underbelly.  He intends to make her watch Stacie die before he then kills Breanna.  The stakes become all the more desperate when Stacie and Damen return from their trip and announce that Stacie is expecting.  Not only does Breanna have to worry about keeping her beloved cousin safe from the assassin's gun, she now has an unborn child to consider.

Ever the devoted husband and soon-to-be-father, Damen is determined to do everything in his power to keep his family safe.  He calls upon an old friend, Royce Chadwick, to help track down the mysterious assassin before he can pull the trigger.  The depth and breadth of the assassin's depravity is astounding.  He is brilliant and fearless...but Royce must be even more cunning if he is to save the life of the woman he has come to love.

What follows is an intense game of cat and mouse which kept me on the edge of my seat.  I swear I was drowning in anxiety the entire time I read this book!  Kane does such a brilliant job with creating palpable tension and moving the plot along.  There was nothing stagnant about this book.  I was as desperate as the characters to see what the assassin would do next, when and where he would strike.  The plot was brilliant and the assassin was terrifying.  It was an impossible situation, especially when Kane did such a great job of closing any loopholes and avenues Stacie and Breanna may have had to escape the fate intended for them.

I enjoyed seeing Breanna come into her own in this story, but she did still seem to remain true to the character we saw in the first book.  She is soft-spoken and seems fragile, but it hides a quick intelligence and strong soul.  This is what causes Royce to fall for her.  He was adamant from the very beginning that he detests weakness and shows of tears.  It is no wonder he is impressed when he meets Breanna and finds no wilting flower.  However.  I will say that this was just about all I could come up with as to why Royce fell for her.  There wasn't much from his perspective in regards to this transition (though we did see inside his mind a great deal more than we did Damen's in the first book), so it wound up feeling like a bit more of a leap than it should have.  In fact, it actually suspended escape into the story quite a bit.  The same went for Breanna's attraction to Royce.  We saw that she was physically attracted to him, but what else was there?  I suppose I wanted a bit more about about why and how they fell in love to make this a tad bit more believable.  It could have been as simple as showing some interactions between them which weren't all about tracking down the assassin.  Their coming together and declarations of love felt far more abrupt than they probably should have been.

I enjoyed seeing more of Damen and Stacie, though I will say that they felt a little bit "hollow."  Damen was reduced to a stereotypical overly-protective husband.  I wanted to see his quick mind and wit.  Stacie was more reserved as well.  I might attribute this to her wanting to protect her unborn child and experiencing the woes of the first trimester, but I can't blame it fully on that.  I realize they were not the center of attention in this book, but I wanted to see the glimmer of their characters here as well.

The chapters from the assassin's perspective were brilliant.  I loved how dark and sinister they felt and I truly enjoyed seeing the way his mind worked.  He really was an evil genius adept in terrorizing his victims to their cores.  Kane shielded him perfectly and I had no idea who he was until the characters did.

The overall plot was extremely complex and far grander than I could have imagined.  This book clearly took an extraordinary amount of work and planning to execute.  For this, I commend Kane.  She wrote brilliantly and kept me interested from the very first page.  I waited for the final confrontation with a tremendous amount of anticipation.  I suppose I wanted a bit more than I was given when it came to revealing the assassin, but I suppose it all worked out for the best.

As a minor note (which I hope doesn't give too much away), I did find the very last chapter to be a tad bit too "Brady Bunch" for my personal tastes.  I'm sure not everyone will feel this way, but I did feel the need to mention it.

Overall, I did like this series quite a bit.  I enjoyed the blend of romance, mystery, and suspense.  I was never bored and, for the most part, I found the characters to be interesting and the style to be captivating.  I made a few notes about the romance between the male and female leads in each of these books, but these are by no means deal breakers.  I recommend this series to any lover of romance who is looking to liven up their reading material!

The Gold Coin (Coins: Book One): Andrea Kane

"As children, identical cousins Anastasia and Breanna Colby swore always to protect each other.  Now that Anastasia's beloved parents have died, she has come to live with Breanna...and Breanna's father, whose raging temper has locked his daughter into a life of fear.  What is more, Anastasia soon realizes that her uncle is involved in a sinister scheme that places both young women in deadly danger.  Fearing most of all for her cousin, Anastasia turns to the only help she can think of, the man who holds the reins to her considerable fortune--the fascinating, enigmatic Damen Lockewood, Marquess of Sheldrake.

"From the moment Anastasia and Damen meet, blazing passion flares between them.  But in the face of overwhelming peril--and threats on Anastasia's life--thoughts of love cannot be indulged.  Not unless the mystery that entraps them is solved will they at last be able to pursue the future their feelings command them to share.  But is the danger stalking them really gone?"

Andrea Kane is a new author on my list.  I've had a few of her books sitting amongst my collection for quite a few years, but this is the first that I've picked up.  I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised.  I don't know if I initially realized that there was more to this story than a romance novel, but it quickly became apparent that there was far more to this book than I'd believed.

We are first introduced to young Stacie (Anastasia) and Breanna as they make their first decision to trade places in an effort to save Breanna from getting into trouble with her father.  Being that their fathers are twins and their mothers, sisters, the cousins' auburn hair and jade-green eyes are so similar that there is no one who can tell them apart -- not even their own parents.  This sparks a pact between them which will much later become an integral part of their survival.  That evening, they are pulled aside by their grandfather and given some very special, very secret gifts:  For Stacie, a gold coin; silver for Breanna.  He tells them that they must keep them safe and never under any circumstances present them to anyone.  Though they are young, the girls take his words to heart.  Little do they know what an impact those coins will make upon their lives.

Years pass and Stacie returns to England after having moved to Pennsylvania with her parents soon after that night when she and Breanna had first switched identities.  Both of her parents have died and she returns to the beloved home shortly after her grandfather's own death.  Her uncle, Breanna's father, is now Viscount Medford.  It is clear that he has taken to running his family's company and lording power over his daughter.  With their grandfather gone, Breanna's world had shrunk to the size of Medford Manor.  Both girls are overjoyed at being reunited, but there is a sinister undercurrent at Medford Manor which unnerves Stacie and causes her concern for her beloved cousin.

Her fears grow when she witnesses just how sheltered and locked away Breanna has been all these years.  Part of the reason appears to be that Medford has his eye on Damen Lockwood, Marquess of Sheldrake, as a future son-in-law.  Not only is Damen incredibly brilliant and wealthy, his family is renowned for its credibility and standing in the financial world.  No doubt this has played into Uncle George's desire to bring Damen into his family.  His greed and lust for power was never a secret; in fact, it was one of the things which drove a wedge between the Colby men for many decades.  Though between them lies an even darker secret which Stacie's father carried to his grave, Breanna knows not of, and George has allowed to fester in the dark hole in which his heart should have existed.

It is clear that the new Viscount Medford is furious at being kept away from Stacie and Breanna's inheritances, and that Stacie is now owner of her father's share of the family shipping company.  He hadn't anticipated having a woman as a business associate, let alone one as outspoken and meddlesome as his niece.  He can only hope that Damen, the man wisely named as custodian of Stacie's inheritance, will keep her from making any foolish financial decisions and squandering away the money before Medford can find a way to get his hands on it.

Little do Medford and Damen know that Stacie is far more than she first appears.  Having inherited her sense of business and learned financial savviness from her father, Stacie is thrilled to finally be able to have a part in the family business.  What she hadn't counted on, however, was having to answer to a man such as Damen when it came to spending those funds -- at least until her twenty-first birthday.  At first, she finds Damen to be cold and far too observant.  He thwarts her attempts to invest in what she believes to be a brilliant financial opportunity and she does everything she can in order to realize her dreams.  Her determination is what eventually draws Damen to her.

Damen is far too busy to play custodian to this Americanized young woman, Lady Anastasia Colby.  He has many more pressing matters to attend to, a bank to run, and investments to manage...still, he finds himself spending more and more time with her under the guise of discussing her inheritance.  He doesn't expect her to brazenly approach other potential investors at her coming out party after he turns her down.  He's drawn to her fiery personality, her rapier wit, and her enthralling beauty.  It would seem that she is the only woman in the world who could entice him to mix business with pleasure.

As Damen and Stacie become closer, Medford starts to see the threads of his careful plot begin to unravel. No one realizes the depth of his debt and the strength of his determination to not lose everything.  He will stop at nothing to win everything back.  Even if it means sacrificing what little family he has left.  Greed has blinded him and driven him to the edge of sanity.  It becomes apparent that Medford is involved in something very dangerous, very dark, and very illegal.  His desperation could very well put Stacie and Breanna's lives in jeopardy if he isn't stopped in time...

I found the undercurrent of romance between Damen and Stacie to be quite enjoyable.  It wasn't as overt as a "true" romance novel, but there was just enough to put this solidly in the romance genre.  I liked the progression of it, which flowed rather well with the complex plot.  However, I will say that I felt like I needed more from Damen's point of view.  A vast majority of this book was from Stacie's perspective (or Medford's, but I'll get into that later) and I wanted to know more about how Damen fell so hard and so fast for Stacie.  He was such a logical, methodical character that there had to be something rather extraordinary going on in his mind to make this happen.  We got very few chapters from Damen's point of view, and I would have very much liked to have seen at least several more.  I'm much more used to a more equitable division of perspective.  What was different from the more traditional romance genre was that the characters declared love rather quickly and rather easily.  Once it hit them, they didn't resist or hide it; they accepted it and moved on with plans to make a future as best as they could.  This felt a little bit off to me, but it could have been simply because I'm so used to characters having to work through more issues in their relationship.  Of course, Damen and Stacie had many other obstacles they needed to overcome...

I mentioned that a portion of this book is told from Medford's perspective.  I found this to be an excellent tactic.  It was a great way to create tension and also expose the readers to his descent into desperation and madness.  It was dark and disturbing at times, but it definitely created a great villain for the mystery/suspense portion of this story.  Medford was a selfish, greedy, hateful man -- and we never would have known the depths of his depravity were we readers not privy to his inner thoughts.

I read this book rather quickly despite its length, which I find to be a good testament to its readability.  I liked the strong characters and captivating plot.  Stacie was intelligent and outspoken while Breanna was an excellent foil to her more brazen cousin.  I did enjoy seeing Breanna come into her own as the story moved along and I looked forward to seeing more of her in her own book.  I found Damen to be witty and charming, impressively intelligent and wise beyond his years.  He was an excellent male lead; I just wanted a bit more insight into the workings of his very interesting mind.

I definitely recommend this book to those seeking to branch out a bit from straight "romance."  This can add a bit of variety into your reading without too much culture shock.  The sense of danger fairly dripped from every page and kept me wanting to read more...so much so that I've actually already finished the second book in this pair!

When Maidens Mourn (Sebastian St. Cyr Series, Book Seven): C.S. Harris

"Tales of King Arthur and the Lady of Shalott provide inspiration for this latest gripping installment in the Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series.  Just four days wed, the aristocratic investigator and his fiercely independent bride, Hero Jarvis, become caught up in a twisted intrigue involving ancient legends and a deadly family curse.

"Regency England, August 1812:  Sebastian's plans to escape the heat of London for a honeymoon are shattered when the murdered body of Hero's good friend Gabrielle Tennyson is discovered drifting in a battered boat at the site of a long-vanished castle known as Camlet Moat.  A beautiful young antiquary, Miss Tennyson recently provoked an uproar with her controversial identification of the island as the location of Camelot.  Missing and presumed dead are also Gabrielle's two young cousins, nine-year-old George and three-year-old Alfred.

"Still struggling to define the nature of their new marriage, Sebastian and Hero find themselves occasionally working at cross-purposes as their investigation takes them from London's medieval Inns of Court to its grimy back alleys, and from a newly built country estate to a rural enclave where ancient Celtic beliefs still hold sway.  Probing deeper, Sebastian discovers dark secrets at the heart of the Tennyson family and an enigmatic young French lieutenant who is concealing mysteries of his own.

"As Sebastian and Hero race to unmask a ruthless killer and unravel the puzzle of the missing children, they soon realize that both their lives and the growing love for each other are at risk, threatened by powerful men in high places...and by a tall, dark stranger who may hold the key to Sebastian's own parentage."

This is, unfortunately, another severely delayed review.  I finished reading this book in August of 2019 and, as I mentioned in another review I just posted, I was so frustrated with myself for having accidentally deleted a rather lengthy review that I simply stopped reviewing my books as I read them (that, and I was extremely distracted because we were also purchasing a new home and I was 6 months pregnant in August!).  *Edit:  I was able to figure out how to backdate my review to post on the correct date that I finished this book; the review was written on May 19, 2020.

This was a fitting installment in the Sebastian St. Cyr series of period mysteries.  As always, Harris did not disappoint with her rich, captivating narrative and complex plot.  She remained true to her brilliant, headstrong characters and darkly twisted mystery.  I was exited to see Arthurian mythology playing a prominent role in this particular story.  As a bit of a British literature and history buff, I don't think we see much of an acknowledgment of this in popular literature (unless someone blatantly chooses to write about it with characters and plots specifically set within said mythology).  I even once wrote an entire presentation on the importance of the Arthurian legend in British culture -- specifically how King Arthur makes a resurgence in times of need and strife.  He represents a very specific brand of nationalism (and this happens to tie in perfectly with the plot of this particular book!).  I loved how much this came into play - not only with Gabrielle's claims that Camlet is THE Camelot, but with the mystery surrounding the circumstances of her death.

The plot takes you in a winding journey from suspect to suspect - each seemingly more guilty than the last.  All the while, the simmering tension and desire between Sebastian and Hero is at war with their respective desires to be "in charge."  Each is brilliant in his/her own right, yet they cannot seem to let go of the longstanding battle of wills that stands between them.  As they attempt to work together to solve this mystery, they discover the growing strength of their own relationship and fresh marriage.  This presents a nice undertone to the mystery and tragic murder of Hero's friend.

In this case, solving the murder is not enough.  There is still the matter of the missing boys.  Who has the means and motive to kill the intelligent young woman and kidnap her cousins?  What role does the dashing Frenchman play in all of this?  Could a jealous relative be behind the murder, or is there something much larger at play here?  Could Hero's father have been behind it all along?  If so, what does that mean for the relationship between Hero and Sebastian; or Hero and her father, for that matter?

Another undercurrent in this book is the mystery surrounding Sebastian's true parentage.  We encounter a very intriguing stranger who may just have all the answers -- if he was willing to talk...

The multifaceted nature of this story (in fact, the entire series) makes for a very compelling read.  The period nature of this plot creates a dark and gritty (almost gothic) setting, perfect for those of us who have an interest in period literature.  The characters are all richly crafted and the mysteries are complex and keep you guessing until the very end.  Overall, I am still thrilled with this series and look forward to moving to the next one.

I Know Who You Are: Alice Feeney

"Meet Aimee Sinclair, the actress everyone thinks they know but can't remember how.

"Except one person.

"Someone knows Aimee very well.

"They know who she is and they know what she did.

"When Aimee comes home and discovers her husband is missing, she doesn't seem to know what to do or how to act.  The police think she's hiding something and they're right, she is--but perhaps not what they thought.  Aimee has a secret she's never shared, and yet she suspects that someone knows.  As she struggles to keep her career and sanity intact, her past comes back to haunt her in ways more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.

"In I Know Who You Are, New York Times bestselling author Alice Feeney proves that she is a master of brilliantly complicated plots and killer twists that will keep you guessing until the final page."

I'm baaaaack!  I've been on a hiatus for what feels like forever and, for that, I apologize.  If I'm totally honest, it began because I originally wrote a spectacular review of this book in June of 2019...and accidentally deleted it instead of saving it.  Stupid me.  And there was no recovering it because I had written it on a computer without automatic backup.  Ugh.  I'm still annoyed by that to this day; however, I think my extreme disgust and quick temper had something to do with the fact that I was also four months pregnant.  Yes!  We have a new little reader in our household!  My son, J, is just over six months old now and I've been reading to him to show him how amazing the written word can be.  I hope he's going to be a little bibliophile, just like his Mommy.

Now, back to the review...  I'm going to attempt to recreate some of my review of this book, but I'm positive it's going to pale in comparison to the real thing simply because it's been so darn long since I read it.  I'm a bit frustrated that I've completely thrown off my book count for 2019 and 2020 because I stopped reviewing what I was reading, but such is life.  *Edit:  I was able to figure out how to backdate this review to when I originally finished reading it.  This review was written on May 19, 2020.

When re-reading the synopsis of this book, the first thing that struck me was how amazingly twisted it was.  Feeney's writing left such an impression on me that, even nearly a year later, I recall how gut-wrenchingly shocking her writing was.  Similar to her other book Sometimes I Lie, the book starts off compelling, but rather ordinary.  The characters are interesting and the plot is unique, but you wonder where everything is going.  It's a brilliant mixture of familiarity and suspense - if that makes any sense at all?  We begin with the disappearance of Aimee's husband.  It's interesting and suspenseful, but I've learned to expect more from Feeney.  What dark and twisty turns await the readers?  Hm.  The cops seem to lay an extreme amount of suspicion at Aimee's feet.  In fact, some hints and clues make the readers doubt Aimee as well.  What is her secret?  What does want to keep in the dark?  For that matter, who is this woman she claims to have stalking her?  A crazed fan?  Something more?  Could this woman be responsible for everything that's going on?  What could she possibly want with Aimee?

And when we finally learn more about Aimee's past - her deep, dark secrets - we realize that there's more to her character than meets the eye.  The revelation brings to light a great deal of what makes up Aimee's inability to share herself...and the possibility that she may very well have blocked out some very important information.  In an attempt to try not to reveal too much, I will say that her childhood is every parent's worst nightmare...

Then, when the ending comes about, we are exposed to the psychological havoc that abuse can wreak upon a person's psyche - just how damaged they become when their formative years are devoid of love and nurturing attention.  I found the culmination of all of the suspense nothing less than shocking.  Feeney is truly a master of dark suspense and psychological thrillers.  She has shed light upon the dingiest corners of the human mind and exposed characters who are the epitome of damaged.  This book left an indelible mark upon me.

I will caution readers who are easily disturbed by rape and child abuse to steer clear of this book.  Even though I found the story highly disturbing, it was a story I simply could not put down.  If you love twisted suspense, then this book is definitely for you.

The Couple Next Door: Shari Lapena

“HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR?  OR YOUR HUSBAND?  OR EVEN—YOURSELF?  PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF ALMOST ANYTHING…

“A twisty roller-coaster ride of lies, betrayal, and the secrets between husbands and wives…  How far would you go—if pushed to your limit?

“Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all—a loving relationship, a wonderful home, and their beautiful baby, Cora.  But one hot summer night they were invited to a dinner party next door, and a terrible crime is committed.  Suspicion immediately focuses on the parents.  But the truth is a much more complicated story.

“Inside the Contis’ curtained house, an unsettling account of what actually happened unfolds.  Detective Rasbach knows that the panicked couple is hiding something.  Both Anne and Marco soon discover that the other is keeping secrets, secrets they’ve kept for years.

“What follows is the never-racking unraveling of a family—a chilling tale of deceptions, duplicity, and unfaithfulness that will keep you breathless until the final shocking twist.”

Here’s the last of my delayed reviews!  Hopefully I do a little bit better the rest of the year.  This one comes courtesy of a recommendation from a friend of mine.  She told me she had a hard time putting this book down so, naturally, that piqued my interest.  It took me a while to finally get my hands on it and I’m pretty happy that I did.

What starts out as a seemingly insignificant night out turns into a family’s worst nightmare.  Anne and Marco Conti live in a beautiful townhouse and seem to have everything they could hope for.  Anne comes from a great deal of money.  She left her job in an art gallery to be a stay-at-home mom to her beautiful new daughter, Cora.  Her husband, Marco, runs his own business.  One evening, they’re invited to a dinner party by their immediate next door neighbors.  They contemplate canceling when their babysitter backs out, but Marco convinces Anne that they’ll only be next door – in reality, just on the other side of the wall from Cora.  They take the baby monitor and check on Cora every half hour.  When they finally return home in the wee hours of the morning, something doesn’t seem right.  The unthinkable has happened:  Anne discovers Cora is missing from her crib.

From the start, the Contis are a source of great suspicion.  The lead detective has seen his share of missing children and strongly believes the Contis are involved in some way.  Clues like a loosened lightbulb in a backyard motion-detecting spotlight, a silent car seen driving down the alley at the perfect time, and Anne’s diagnosis of postpartum depression all serve to cast doubt upon Marco, Anne, and their story.  The media vilifies them as horrible parents who left their infant unattended – that they got what was coming to them – while their marriage falls on rocky ground as Anne wonders what really happened to her missing daughter.  Could someone they know be involved?  What could their motivation be?  If it’s money, they’re willing to offer up any amount to have their daughter back.  However, when the ransom is paid and Cora still isn’t returned, they realize something much darker and more complex is taking place.

What ensues is a story filled with all the great twists and turns of a successful tale of lies, suspense, and hidden motives.  This book will make you question your own morals and ask yourself just how far you would be willing to go to save your family.  This story really does beg the question of how well you really know your neighbors, the people you consider friends, and even the members of your own family.

A captivating read, this book was very difficult for me to put down.  I found the pacing quite well done and the story, exciting.  I definitely recommend this book to lovers of mystery and suspense.  It has a twisted, complicated plot that will keep you guessing and fascinated right up until the very end.

Happy reading!

The Girl on the Train: Paula Hawkins

“THERE SHE SITS, THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN.  WHAT SHE SEES, GAZING OUT THE WINDOW, WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING.

“EVERY DAY THE SAME

“Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night.  Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck.  She looks forward to it.  She’s even started to feel like she knows them.  Jess and Jason, she calls them.  Their life – as she sees it—is perfect.  Not unlike the life she recently lost.

“UNTIL TODAY

“And then she sees something shocking.  It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough.  Now everything’s changed.  Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel goes to the police.  But is she really as unreliable as they say?  Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved.  Has she done more harm than good?

“Compulsively readable, The Girl on the Train is an emotionally immersive, Hitchcockian thriller and an electrifying debut.”

Here’s another delayed review (sorry!).  I’d been meaning to read this book for a while now, especially after I’d been told by people who weren’t avid readers that this was worth the read.  I still have not seen the film adaptation, but I’m now definitely looking forward to watching it.

I think what really makes this book the Rachel’s unreliability as a narrator.  A majority of the book is told from her perspective with interjections from other characters – most of which take place prior to Rachel’s experiences.  At first, Rachel seems stable, employed, and – though she’s upset about her divorce – she seems to have tried her best to move on.  As the story progresses, however, we learn the depth of Rachel’s inability to cope, the lengths to which she goes to hide her life from her flat-mate, and how she simply cannot let go of her ex-husband and former life.  She paints a relatively rosy picture of her former married life; one with a loving husband, a home she adored, and the possibility of a future.  As she opens up more to the readers, we learn how much her own dysfunctionality played a part in the downfall of her marriage and her husband’s affair and subsequent marriage to his mistress.  I was torn between feeling sorry for Rachel and getting the sense that she was more than a little to blame for all of it.  Her drinking began during her marriage and only intensified afterwards.  We learn that she cannot wait for her drinks on the train ride home – that she practically lives for them.  Her other obsession is watching a beautiful couple with their (she believes) idyllic life on her train ride into the city.

Each morning, Rachel spies the couple breakfasting in the sunshine.  She imagines lives and hobbies and romance for them.  She pictures the perfection of their life in their trackside home and feels as if she truly knows them.  Surely they must be the epitome of happiness?

Rachel lives for the little ray of sunshine spying on them brings to her miserable existence.  It isn’t until she sees something very unexpected in their back garden that the story seems to spiral out of control.  What shows up on the news shortly thereafter convinces Rachel of the importance of what she witnessed…

Who do we believe?  Rachel, the woman who drinks and cannot recall what happens during her all-too-common blackouts?  The snippets of information we are given from the points of view of the other characters in the months leading up to the incident?  When she cannot take it anymore, Rachel goes to the police with her suspicions and her information.  They largely appear to dismiss her – especially when they learn of her volatile history and habits of contacting and harassing her ex-husband and his new family where they live several doors down from her idyllic fantasy couple.  Could Rachel have had something to do with what happened?  How can anyone trust her – how can she trust herself – when her memory is filled with a large black void during with absolutely anything could have happened?  Frustrated, Rachel takes some drastic measures and entangles herself in a web of lies as she tries to do what she believes is right.  As the story unfolds, however, she wonders if she’s done the right thing – and whether or not she’d just jumped head-first into dangerous waters.

The dark twists and turns of this intense story will keep you on the edge of your seat.  The unreliable narrator makes you second guess your own opinions and assumptions.  The surprise ending will leave you breathless.

I definitely recommend this book for any fan of suspenseful fiction.  The characters are raw and real; that reality is very slowly unveiled, making you question what you thought you knew about them.  Hawkins is a talented author with a knack for keeping her readers in the dark until just the right time (even though I did end up guessing the surprise ending, I still give her props for disguising it so well).

A Simple Favor: Darcey Bell

"A Simple Favor is a feverish and expertly plotted tale of psychological suspense--a twisting free fall filled with betrayals and reversals, secrets and revelations, love and loyalty, murder and revenge.  Darcey Bell exposes the dark underbelly of female friendship in this taut, unsettling, and completely absorbing story that holds you in its grip until the final page.


"It starts with a simple favor--an ordinary kindness mothers do for one another.  When glamorous Emily asks Stephanie to pick up her son after school, Stephanie happily says yes.  Emily has a life that would make any woman jealous. She is the perfect mother with a dazzling career working for a famous fashion designer in Manhattan.  Stephanie, a widow with a son in kindergarten, lonely in their Connecticut suburb, turns to her daily blog for connection and validation.  Stephanie imagines Emily to be her new confidante and is shocked when Emily suddenly disappears without a trace, leaving her son and husband with no warning.


"Stephanie knows something is terribly wrong.  Unable to keep away from the grieving family, she soon finds herself entangled with Sean, Emily's handsome, reticent British husband.  But she can't ignore the nagging feeling that he's not being honest with her about Emily's disappearance.  Is Stephanie imagining things?  How well did she really know her 'best' friend?

"Stephanie begins to see that nothing--not friendship, love, or even an ordinary favor--is as simple as it seems."

My friend and I wanted to see the film adaptation of this book when it came out a short while ago, but we never got around do it.  When I finally saw a copy of the original book on the shelf at my local library, I knew it was something I had to check out.  The promos made the book look deliciously twist and suspenseful.  After beginning my journey into this book, I was not disappointed.

We open with Stephanie's blog posts -- a blog she writes to reach out and connect with other moms out in the world, for kinship, validation, and friendship (whether or not she even truly realizes the last).  She and her son, Miles, make their lonely way through life after the death of Stephanie's husband, Davis, and her brother, Chris, in a tragic car accident.  Stephanie, perhaps, doesn't realize how lonely she really is until she finds what she believes to be a true and honest friend in Emily, the mother of her son's favorite playmate in school.  They bond over shared secrets and wine, as well as the challenges of raising sons in their Connecticut suburb after leaving the bustle of New York.  Stephanie is very quickly enamored of Emily and her lifestyle, her seeming perfection and elegance.  Having no one else to turn to, Stephanie quickly turns to her blog when Emily doesn't show to pick up her son from Stephanie's house after school one evening.  At first, Stephanie believes she may have misheard Emily or perhaps Emily's emergency had pulled her away for longer than anticipated.  It's only when Emily's continued unresponsiveness and days pass that Stephanie's concern blossoms into true fear.  She reaches out to Emily's husband, Sean, while he's on a business trip overseas.  At first, Sean's lack of concern and knowledge of Emily's hectic schedule makes Stephanie feel like a worrier.  It isn't until Sean returns to the States and Emily still hasn't returned that the two of them find a shared bond over their fear for Emily's safety.  Where had she gone?  Why had she left?  Was she still alive?  As more and more evidence is uncovered, more questions seem to pop up rather than answers.  What happened to Emily?  These questions seem to be answered...but there were far too many pages left in the book for this to be tied up in a nice, neat little package -- I always find this terrifying; when everything seems to work out, but then there is too much book left for this to actually be the case.  What on earth can the author have in store for me?!  This was absolutely the case with A Simple Favor.

The many twists and turns of this dark and suspenseful story kept me guessing.  I was so sure I knew what was coming right from the very beginning, but I admit that I changed my guess several times over until the truth was finally revealed.  The complex plot and multifaceted characters made for a psychological thriller that was difficult to put down; the tension never really abated.  The first lines of the book ring true throughout:  no one tells the truth and everyone has secrets.  Sometimes even the most innocuous of individuals have the deepest, darkest secrets of all.  Can you ever really, truly know someone?  This book definitely plays off of insecurities about opening up to one another, and the possibilities that people we hold dear are not actually who they seem to be.

At first the narration bounces back and forth between Stephanie's blog and her point of view (which is far more honest and revealing than her public online posts).  This is the first clue that there is a lot more to all of the characters than we see.  Gradually, more is revealed about Stephanie's past and she's not the perfect woman/mother she portrays on her blog -- then again, is anyone really as perfect as the profess to be on social media?  We realize the depth of her relationship with Emily and why Stephanie felt the two of them were so close.  This sets up the tension surrounding Emily's disappearance quite well.

Eventually, we become privy to the points of view of a couple of the other characters.  This adds even more depth and complexity to the plot.  What secrets have these characters kept?  Are they even telling us, the readers, the truth?  What are they choosing to omit and how much will it impact the story?

This is a book that will well and truly keep you on the edge of your seat.  I finished it in the matter of a few days and found it difficult to stop reading.  There are so many violent turns and rapid twists that I couldn't see what was coming at me around the next bend.  This is the mark of a good suspenseful psychological thriller, is it not?  The characters had layer upon layer of personality and secrets.  It was nearly impossible to trust any of them, even when you really wanted to do so.  I was captured right from the start and drawn into this mysterious world of secrets, lies, and questions.

I'm definitely even more interested in seeing the film adaptation of this book.  I wonder how true to its dark nature they will keep.  From what few previews I've seen, I think the casting was done well, given the descriptions in the book.

I recommend this for those of you who like darker psychological thrillers.  Fans of Gone Girl will really enjoy this one as it makes you question reality and the reliability of the very characters themselves.

What Angels Fear (Sebastian St. Cyr Mysery, Book One): C. S. Harris

"The year is 1811.  As old King George III sinks deeper into madness, and the threat of social unrest and revolution haunts the privileged classes, a beautiful young woman is found raped and savagely murdered on the altar steps of an ancient parish church not far from Westminster Abbey.  An ornate dueling pistol discovered tangled in the blood-soaked folds of Rachel York's cloak and the damning testimony of a witness both point to one man, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, a brilliant young nobleman shattered by his experiences in the Napoleonic Wars.  When a vicious attack during his arrest leaves a constable near death, Sebastian must run for his life.

"Now a fugitive, Sebastian calls upon his experience as an agent during the war to embark on a desperate quest to catch a brutal killer and prove his own innocence.  Ranging from the glittering ballrooms and sedate salons of Mayfair to the squalid back alleys and fetid churchyards of St. Giles, Sebastian accumulates a band of unlikely allies, including a street urchin named Tom, an opium-eating Irish doctor, and a lovely but mysterious actress who calls herself Kat Boleyn.  Years ago, Kat broke Sebastian's heart.  Now she may hold the key to his salvation -- or doom him to destruction.

"For as he plunges into a world of intrigue and espionage, Sebastian discovers that Rachel York was more than what she seemed.  When the twisted path leads from a French spymaster to a Machiavellian power broker, and from there to the future Prince Regent, Sebastian begins to realize that Rachel's death holds ominous implications not only for Sebastian's own family, but also for the future of the British monarchy.

"Seamlessly weaving historical fact and an intimate knowledge of the period with a multilayered and compelling story, What Angels Fear is a stunning fiction debut by a powerful new master of mystery and suspense."

I stumbled across a later installation of this series on the New Release shelf at my local library.  Anyone who reads this blog knows I've been on a bit of a mystery/suspense kick as of late, and I particularly favor period mysteries.  This one fit in perfectly.  To my surprise, my local library actually had the first book in the St. Cyr series and I very much looked forward to cracking it open.  I was hoping that it would be a captivating blend of murder-mystery and period drama; I was not left disappointed.

Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is implicated in the gruesome murder of a young actress in a church.  He's known to have some strange characteristics and abilities, making people suspicious of the young lord newly returned from the violence of the Napoleonic battlefields.  Perhaps the horrors of war have scarred him too deeply to allow him to walk freely amongst the people of London.  With the impending announcement of the Regency, England is uneasy and wary of any nobleman who might get away with such a violent, twisted crime.  There are calls for Devlin's blood and he does the only thing he can do:  He runs.  Though he knows the timeline for the murder is impossible -- he's entirely innocent of any such crime on English soil -- no one believes him.  And matters are only made worse when the unfortunate injury of a constable during Devlin's arrest appears to mark him as the violent animal everyone believes him to be.  Calling upon his skills attained on the Continent from his time spent as a spy for the British cause, as well as his unnatural physical abilities, Devlin manages to evade capture as he doggedly sets out to prove his innocence and seek justice for the slain young woman.

What Devlin does not expect to uncover is the complex web of lies and alliances, the network of political subterfuge, and the multitude of pawns in play on the intricate board that is Europe during the early nineteenth century.  Each fact he discovers seems only to reveal more questions, leading him down yet another wending path with blind turns and danger as his only companion.  Along the way, Devlin realizes that his family is more involved in the scandal than he originally believed.  Still, he remains determined to uncover the truth, even if it means the ruin of the St. Cyr name.

Along the way, we meet a band of lively characters.  The undercurrent of romantic tension with Kat Boleyn was a pleasant and tense layer to this multifaceted story.  The history between them is complicated, to say the least -- each of them extremely stubborn.  Devlin knows Kat has connections and skills which could very well save his life; however, he doesn't know the dark secrets Kat must withhold even from the man she secretly loves.  Though Devlin suspects she's somehow embroiled in the complex web, he has no idea just how deep the connection runs.  And Kat will do everything she can to keep it that way.  Tom is a street urchin Devlin meets when the boy tries to pick his pocket at an inn shortly after Devlin's initial escape from custody.  The boy has remarkable skill and drive, lending an air of complexity to his character.  He has a deep sense of loyalty and a seemingly endless supply in the belief that the truth triumphs, despite the hints that his past has proven anything but.  His sense of humor and quick wit lend levity to an otherwise dark and heavy plot.  Though Devlin resists at first, he quickly learns that Tom can come in handy.  Even with Devlin's skills and abilities, Tom has a way with people and a knowledge of the streets which Devlin puts to very good use.  Tom even manages to help Devlin out of a few close calls along the way.  In addition to these very prominent secondary characters (though Kat is a bit more complex than a simple "secondary character" because several chapters are, indeed, from her point of view), Devlin encounters several others whom liven up the plot and aid him in his search for the true killer.  His old friend, an opium-addicted doctor from the war, uses his medical knowledge to clarify the facts of Rachel's death, revealing truths which reveal hidden motives and startlingly grim truths about the murderer.  Devlin even forms a connection with a well-dressed grave robber, an expert at procuring bodies for medical and...personal...purposes.  Along with these men come a bevy of possible suspects ranging from Devlin's own family to those in the higher echelons of the monarchy; a Frenchman in exile who is more than he appears; an Italian artist with remarkable talent and a fascination with the beautiful dead woman.  Readers are left guessing almost until the very last chapter who is responsible for Rachel's death.

Harris weaves together an intricate fictional storyline with historical and political fact.  The settings are remarkably detailed and vivid, revealing the truly ugly sides of nineteenth century London.  Even with the filth and grime, there's a morbid beauty in these descriptions of London which call to mind the glorious poems of William Blake (see his works "London" and "The Chimney-Sweeper" for excellent examples, if you're interested -- I can absolutely see echoes of Blake's work here).  The marked differences between the suffering of the people and the privilege of the aristocracy are made painfully blatant in this book, adding notes of reality to the plot.  This is, perhaps, one of the things which pulled me in the most.  There were no romanticized depictions here, only harsh, bleak realism.  This was a very different approach than what I am used to when reading period fiction and I, for one, appreciated it, especially because it was handled so artfully.  I felt transported; sometimes in a way which made me uncomfortable.  It was a new sensation which, to be honest, made me start and stop a few times within the first half of the book.  The delay in my reading had nothing to do with the quality of the writing or the interesting nature of the story, and everything to do with the fact that it made me think and it made me experience emotions I'm not necessarily accustomed to when reading.  These ended up being what make this story so special.  The story is violent and dark, twisted and mysterious.  It's not going to be a book for everyone, but, man, does it end up being an exciting, thought-provoking read.

Devlin was a fantastic lead.  A lot of the mystery/suspense books I've read lately are told from the first-person; I ended up enjoying the fact that this book was not.  It's a format I'm more used to and I find that I'm more drawn to a narrator who is more removed from the story -- I don't always want to feel like "I" am the main character because it can sometimes read a little bit like a Fanfiction.  It was very interesting to see the way in which his mind worked and to experience his abilities as we do.  At first, I thought his yellow eyes, heightened senses and reflexes were a bit over-the-top (more like the author was attempting to create a cool, superhero-like main character than one who was realistic, which felt slightly out of place in the hyper-realistic setting), but I was very pleasantly surprised to discover in the Author's Note that Devlin's abilities and physical attributes are part of a very real genetic mutation (I'm a sucker for this kind of stuff).  This made me appreciate him all the more and it turned a once-unbelievable main character (though cool, nonetheless) into one who was perfectly suited for the life of a spy and to get himself out of what appears to be a hopeless and impossible situation.

As this book is the first in a series, the conclusion sets up the possibility for more adventures.  It also leaves a great deal of unanswered questions about the heavily-guarded secrets of Devlin's family history -- things for which some would be willing to pay dearly and others would do anything to protect.  With his drive and talents, I think Devlin makes a captivating main character and I really am looking forward to seeing where the series takes him.

While the story took me a few days to really get into (which I've already explained above), the plot moved at an excellent clip and contained so many twists and turns that I was often left spinning, just like Devlin.  I was invested in his search for the murderer, and I desperately wanted to see him clear his name.  The subplot of his complicated romance with Kat was an excellent touch and really fleshed him out.  It gave him a rich backstory even more intricate than his just having an uneasy relationship with his surviving family members, and the fascinating time he spent at war.  The hints of PTSD were a realistic touch to his character.  Devlin is strong and unique, but not infallible.

I will reiterate that this book will not be for everyone.  Like most murder-mysteries, it has some very intense violence and grim themes.  The vivid writing style, however, can make this even more disturbing to some readers, so I will caution you if you're weak of stomach or have an averse reaction to such things.  This is not a happy book on any level, but it is a fascinating one.  It keeps you guessing, it makes you think, and you don't see the end coming until it practically slaps you across the face.  Kudos to an author who managed to hide the truth from me for about 300 pages -- this is no easy feat.  I hope the same can be said of the other books in this series.  Another part of what makes this book so masterful is the fact interwoven with the fiction.  Harris is an accomplished scholar and it is certainly apparent in her knowledge of the time period in which this book is set.  I recommend this book to those with a strong continence, a love of intrigue, an admiration for strong male leads who have a soft spot for a strong woman, and who enjoy more than a little suspenseful mystery.  I'm sure you'll be seeing more of Devlin in reviews to come.

The Broken Girls: Simone St. James

"Vermont, 1950.  There's a place for the girls whom no one wants--the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too smart for their own good.  It's called Idlewild Hall.  And in the small town where it's located, there are rumors that the boarding school is haunted.  Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their budding friendship blossoming--until one of them mysteriously disappears....

"Vermont, 2014.  As much as she's tried, Fiona Sheridan cannot stop revisiting the events surrounding her elder sister's death.  Twenty years ago, her body was found dumped in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall.  And though her sister's boyfriend was tried and convicted of murder, Fiona can't shake the suspicion that something was never right about the case.

"When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it.  But a shocking discovery during the renovations will link the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past--and a voice that won't be silenced...."


I thought I would change things up a bit with this book.  And BOY DID I!  I pulled this reading choice from a list I pinned on Pinterest:  Books you won't be able to put down.  That was certainly the case with this one.  I simply could not wait to see what happened next.


This story strayed VERY far from my usual reading material.  I can't recall a time when I read a book of this genre; it had elements of mystery, horror, and a great deal of suspense.  I can admit that, prior to reading this book, I used to think it was silly whenever someone told me that a book terrified them.  I should have known better than to criticize this.  Logic says if we lose track of the outside world and fall into the realm of our characters when we read a particularly good book (we see, hear, feel, taste, smell, etc. everything that they do), then the same thing would happen when we read a "scary" book.  I am not usually a fan of "scary" movies, but I thought a book would be relatively harmless.  This story definitely changed my mind.  It proved to me that books can give us nightmares and make us feel as if we aren't alone in a room; they already make our imaginations run wild, so books in this genre really take advantage of that.  I made the mistake of reading this while home alone at night...not a great idea.


The way in which St. James plays with time and perspective -- jumping back and forth from 1950 to 2014 and switching from various points of view of Fiona and the girls attending Idlewild Hall -- was a superb technique to keep the tension high, the story moving, and make me want to keep reading.  The threads of the stories seemed to run parallel to one another, but it was only as I forged ahead that I realized just how complex a story this was and how those threads were actually complex intersections, like a spider's web.


I'm not usually one for a ghost story, but I found Mary Hand to be particularly chilling.  Everyone's experiences with her were different and this was, perhaps, the most chilling aspect.  What is more terrifying than a ghost who learns and adapts?


The shocking discovery during the renovations at Idlewild Hall threw such an unexpected twist into the story and really brought all of the worlds into a collision course.  There were many twists and turns such as this and the pacing was excellent.  The reading list was correct:  I really could not put this book down!


What really sold this book for me was the descriptions of Idlewild Hall.  I would be lying if I said I didn't get the chills a few times.  It seemed like such a miserable place to reside, let alone be forced to attend boarding school.  The writing style was eloquent and very readable.


The school and the characters are all haunted by their pasts in this chilling, thrilling story by St. James.  I found it incredible well-written and fast-paced.  The terrifying echoes of the past collide with the tumultuous future and make for a must-read book.  Honestly, I really was not expecting to like this book as much as I did -- if only because it is not my usual cup of tea.  I was pleasantly surprised with how enthralled I became with this story.  I simply had to know what was waiting around the next corner.


If you're not one for scary or chilling, this isn't for you.  It's not a happy read in any sense of the word.  If you want something thrilling and bone-chilling, then this is right up your alley.  I promise I'm not exaggerating when I say that this book kept me on the edge of my seat pretty much the entire time.  It started off thrilling and continued along with the same pacing throughout.  The twists and turns kept me guessing, the mystery and ghosts gave me chills.  If you're looking for an exciting escape, then look no further.

Gone Girl: Gillian Flynn

"What are you thinking Amy?  The question I've asked most often during our marriage, if not out loud, if not to the person who could answer.  I suppose these questions stormcloud over ever marriage:  What are you thinking?  How are you feeling?  Who are you?  What have we done to each other?  What will we do?  Just how well can you ever know the person you love?  This is the question that Nick Dunne must ask himself on the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary, when his wife Amy suddenly disappears.  The police immediately suspect Nick.  Amy's friends reveal that she was afraid of him, that she kept secrets from him.  He swears it isn't true.  A police examination of his computer shows strange searched.  He says they aren't his.  And then there are the persistent calls on his mobile phone.  So what really did happen to Nick's beautiful wife?  And what was left in that half-wrapped box left so casually on their marital bed?  In this novel, marriage truly is the art of war..."

I actually read this book in the matter of a couple of days while I was visiting my family out of state/housesitting/using the peace and quiet to finish writing my Master's thesis in early November of 2017, so I am, unfortunately, a little bit late on my review.  I swear I recall starting a review for this, but I cannot seem to locate it...  I heard such good things about this book (and the movie came out not too long ago), so I had been contemplating picking it up for awhile.  This trip seemed like as good a time as any -- especially when my younger cousin (15) was thrilled to see me reading it because it was a book she, too, loved.  (Part of the reason I read it so quickly was she wanted to watch the film version together after I'd finished the book...unfortunately, we couldn't find it on Netflix in order to do so...bummer.)

Anyhow, I feel like this review is going to be much shorter than my other recent reviews because I have to tread a VERY fine line between reviewing what I found to be so brilliant about this book, and not giving away any of the earth-shattering twists and brilliantly-written turns.  It's safe to say that I now understand why this is an award-winning book.  Flynn's knowledge and expertise in the field of the human mind was astonishing and her craftsmanship was spectacular.  There was never a boring moment.  Everything felt as if it was held together by invisible threads I couldn't fully see, nor did I completely comprehend them, but I could sense their presence...and I knew the culmination would be something epic.  I was not disappointed.

Nick and Amy - through her diary entries and accounts of her friends and family - were so deep and multi-faceted.  There were nuances and complexities that I could only fully appreciate after I closed the book and stared unseeingly off into the distance and contemplated what I'd just read.  This is a book that will leave you with aftershocks.  It will stay with you long after you've closed it.  It makes you question reality and just how well you (think) you know the people you love and with whom you surround yourself.  I am a firm believer that this is a mark of an excellent book:  when it stays with you and pops back into your consciousness every now and again.  It leaves an undeniable tattoo upon your soul.

I absolutely recommend this enthralling, disturbing, brilliant read.  Prepare yourself to be sucked right into this book and loathe to put it down until you've turned the last page.  This is a bit different from a majority of my other "for fun" reading material, but I'm so glad I branched out.  Enjoy!