Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson - [Book Review]

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Book Details:

Title: Not Quite Dead Yet

Author: Holly Jackson

Genre: suspense thrillers, women sleuths

Publisher: Bantam

Print Length: 400 pages

Source: A copy from the local library

Blurb:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • A WASHINGTON POST AND NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • The author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder—now a hit Netflix series—returns with her first novel for adults: an “irresistible” (The Washington Post) thriller about a young woman trying to solve her own murder, “full of the writer’s signature twists and turns” (People).

The stunning hardcover of Not Quite Dead features a custom-stamped case, beautiful endpapers, and a premium dust jacket!

“This truly unique premise snowballs into a roller-coaster ride of page-turning suspense and knock-out twists!”—Freida McFadden, author of The Housemaid

In seven days, Jet Mason will be dead.

Jet is the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Woodstock, Vermont. Twenty-seven years old and back home, she’s still waiting for her life to begin. I’ll do it later, she always says. She has time.

Until Halloween night, when she is violently attacked by an unseen intruder, suffering a catastrophic head injury. Doctors are certain that within a week, the injury will trigger a fatal aneurysm. To her parents’ dismay, Jet rejects an extremely risky operation in order to guarantee herself at least a few more days.

Jet never thought of herself as having enemies. But now, in the one week she has left, she looks at everyone in a new light: her family, her former best friend turned sister-in-law, her ex-boyfriend.

As her condition deteriorates, she reconnects with her childhood friend Billy, the only one willing to help her. With Billy at her side, she’s absolutely determined to finally finish something:

Jet is going to solve her own murder.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

This book is about a young woman, 'Jet', who is dying in the next 7 days due to a serious attack on her. Jet wants to prove herself to others before she dies, so she ventures to investigate her own murder case. 

So, the story starts with her investigation, watching videotapes captured from their doorbell camera, enquiring people in the family, neighbourhood, and all others associated with her life. During this process, she reconnects with her childhood best friend, Billy, and they both investigate and uncover many secrets about their families and friends. 

The story takes multiple turns and takes unpredictable twists, but will Jet be able to find out her murderer before she dies? That's the remaining story. 

What is great?

The writing is funny and engaging. Jet is very funny and responds in an unexpected, honest way when she talks to others. 

The characterization and multiple layers of each character are definitely a plus for this novel. The twists and turns are at a different level when compared to other mystery novels. While Jet and Billy learn something new every time they talk to different people, they are unsuccessful until the end in identifying the murderer. The reader keeps on guessing the murderer without much success, either. 

What might have been better?

The twists and turns keep us engaging for sure, but some seem fabricated and not real. It felt like the author decided to make it more thrilling and added too many twists. So, from the middle of the book, I was waiting for it to end faster. I got bored at one point in time. I wish the story had been crisp and shorter.

My Rating: 4/5

About the Author:

Holly Jackson started writing stories from a young age, completing her first (poor) attempt at a novel aged fifteen. She lives in London, and aside from reading and writing, she enjoys playing video games and watching true crime documentaries so she can pretend to be a detective. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is her first novel. You can follow Holly on Twitter and Instagram @HoJay92

Until next time,

The Tenant by Katrine Engberg - [Book Review]

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Book Details:

Title: The Tenant

Author: Katrine Engberg

Genre: Mystery, thriller, suspense

Publisher: Gallery / Scout Press

Print Length: 368 pages

Source: A copy from the local library

Blurb:

When a young woman is discovered brutally murdered in her own apartment, with an intricate pattern of lines carved into her face, Copenhagen police detectives Jeppe Korner and Anette Werner are assigned to the case. In short order, they establish a link between the victim, Julie Stender, and her landlady, Esther de Laurenti, who’s a bit too fond of drink and the host of raucous dinner parties with her artist friends. Esther also turns out to be a budding novelist—and when Julie turns up as a murder victim in the still-unfinished mystery she’s writing, the link between fiction and real life grows both more urgent and more dangerous.

But Esther’s role in this twisted scenario is not quite as clear as it first seems. Is she the culprit—or just another victim, trapped in a twisted game of vengeance? Anette and Jeppe must dig more deeply into the two women’s pasts to discover the identity of the brutal puppet-master pulling the strings in this electrifying literary thriller.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

The Tenant is a great example of a murder mystery thriller. I am not looking forward to reading a crime thriller, but this book was recommended by other bloggers. This book really impressed me.

The story is about two investigators, Jeppe and Annette, solving a murder mystery that becomes too complex with a web of unknown elements. The investigation starts with Julia's murder, but then it progresses to the murder of her friend Kristopher and the abduction of an old lady, Esther. 

During the investigation, many characters are introduced. Each character has multiple layers and secrets. The characters of Erik and Christopher are different in their own way.

What is great?

I love the story and twists. The story takes many turns that we don't expect. So, it gets interesting and stays like that till 3/4th of the book.

The characterization is great. The way the author reveals details and family secrets gradually is interesting to read. 

What might have been better?

Not much to say about negatives. The reasons for the murder are a little bit implausible, and the relationships of the characters make it more complex. 

Overall, a great crime thriller if you are into that genre.

My Rating: 5/5

Until next time,

The Night she disappeared by Lisa Jewell - [Book Review]

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Book Details:

Title: The Night she disappeared

Author: Lisa jewell

Genre: thriller, mystery, fiction

Publisher: Atria Books

Print length: 368 pages

Blurb:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Then She Was Gone and The Family Upstairs comes another riveting work of “gloriously twisted” (Marie Claire) psychological suspense.

On a beautiful summer night in a charming English suburb, a young woman and her boyfriend disappear after partying at the massive country estate of a new college friend.

One year later, a writer moves into a cottage on the edge of the woods that border the same estate. Known locally as the Dark Place, the dense forest is the writer’s favorite area for long walks and it’s on one such walk that she stumbles upon a mysterious note that simply reads, “DIG HERE.”

Could this be a clue towards what has happened to the missing young couple? And what exactly is buried in this haunted ground?

With her signature “rich, dark, and intricately twisted” (Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author) prose, Lisa Jewell has crafted a dazzling work of suspense that will keep on the edge of your seat until the final page.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

Loved this. A perfect thriller I would say. Till the last few pages, it's impossible for us to predict the storyline. 

The story narrated by different people makes it still enjoyable. How the stories of 2 other people intersect at one point is interesting -  Tellulah, a teenage girl who disappears, and Sophie, the girl friend of the new school headteacher. There are many other exciting characters with mystery around them.

My Rating: 5/5

About the Author:

LISA JEWELL was born in London in 1968.

Her first novel, Ralph's Party, was the best- selling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has written another twenty novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs and The Night She Disappeared.

Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over twenty-five languages. She lives in north London with her husband, two teenage daughters and the best dog in the world.

Until next time,

Touch and Go by Lisa Gardner - [Book Review]

 Book Details:

Title: Touch and Go

Author: Lisa Gardner

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: Headline

Print length: 432 pages

Source: A copy from the local library

Blurb :

The perfect family. The perfect crime?

'Lisa Gardner always delivers heart-stopping suspense' Harlan Coben
'An amazing writer' Karin Slaughter

The addictive thriller from Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller Lisa Gardner, featuring Detective D.D. Warren.

Justin and Libby Denbe have it all: a beautiful daughter; a gorgeous house; a great marriage, admired by all.

Arriving at the crime scene of their home, investigator Tessa Leoni finds no witnesses, no ransom demands or motive - just a perfect little family, gone.

But Tessa knows that flawless fronts can hide the darkest secrets. Now, she must race against the clock to uncover the truth. Who would want to kidnap such a family? And how far would they be willing to go?

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review :

The story is a perfect investigative thriller with many unexpected turns. This is a second book in the series of Tessa Leoni's investigations but can be read independently.

While the head of Denbe constructions - Justin Denbe and his family goes missing suddenly, Tessa is involved as a corporate investigator. Wyatt, a local Sheriff, and Nicole come together to solve this case. They interview all top-level employees from Denbe constructions and learn many corporate and personal secrets of the Denbe family.

The story takes many turns even after they get ransom notice from kidnappers.  Who are the kidnappers? What is their motive? to kill Denbe's family or something else? this forms the crux of the story.

What I liked is the mystery and unexpected turns and the sequence of events building up suspense. The characters are fine.

What I didn't like is the title of the book. It didn't feel very relevant and the book cover also doesn't feel apt. The suspense and turn of events are good, but the climax fell flat from my expectations. 

My Rating:

4/5

About the Author:

New York Times #1 bestselling crime novelist Lisa Gardner began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. A self-described research junkie, she has parlayed her interest in police procedure, criminal minds and twisted plots into a streak of bestselling suspense novels. Her 2010 novel, THE NEIGHBOR, won Best Thriller from the International Thriller Writers. Most recently, she was honored with the Silver Bullet Award for her work with at-risk kids and homeless animals. Lisa loves to hike, travel the world, and yes, read, read, read!

Readers are invited to enter the annual "Kill a Friend, Maim a Buddy" Sweepstakes, where they can nominate the person of their choice to die in Lisa's latest novel. People have nominated themselves, spouses, bosses. It's cheaper than therapy and twice as much fun! For more details, visit Lisa's website.

Lisa's latest novel BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED, is available January 19, 2021. Meet Frankie Elkin, an everyday average woman who specializes in finding missing people. When the locals have given up, when the media has never bothered to care, Frankie takes on the challenge. Her latest mission has brought her to Mattapan, Boston to find a missing Haitian teen. Eleven months later, Angelique Badeau's disappearance remains a mystery. What happened to the quiet, studious teen? Frankie learns quickly the dangers of asking too many questions, but that won't stop her from discovering the truth behind what happened BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED.

Until next time,

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell - [Book Review]

 Book Details:

Title: The Family Upstairs

Author: Lisa Jewell

Genre: Mystery, thriller, suspense

Publisher: Atria Books

Print length: 352 pages

Source: Copy from the local library

Blurb :

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A GOOD MORNING AMERICA COVER TO COVER BOOK CLUB PICK

“Rich, dark, and intricately twisted, this enthralling whodunit mixes family saga with domestic noir to brilliantly chilling effect.” —Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author

“A haunting, atmospheric, stay-up-way-too-late read.” —Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Then She Was Gone comes another page-turning look inside one family’s past as buried secrets threaten to come to light.

Be careful who you let in.

Soon after her twenty-fifth birthday, Libby Jones returns home from work to find the letter she’s been waiting for her entire life. She rips it open with one driving thought: I am finally going to know who I am.

She soon learns not only the identity of her birth parents, but also that she is the sole inheritor of their abandoned mansion on the banks of the Thames in London’s fashionable Chelsea neighborhood, worth millions. Everything in Libby’s life is about to change. But what she can’t possibly know is that others have been waiting for this day as well—and she is on a collision course to meet them.

Twenty-five years ago, police were called to 16 Cheyne Walk with reports of a baby crying. When they arrived, they found a healthy ten-month-old happily cooing in her crib in the bedroom. Downstairs in the kitchen lay three dead bodies, all dressed in black, next to a hastily scrawled note. And the four other children reported to live at Cheyne Walk were gone.

In The Family Upstairs, the master of “bone-chilling suspense” (People) brings us the can’t-look-away story of three entangled families living in a house with the darkest of secrets.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review :

I got this book from our local library intrigued by the blurb. 

Oh my God! It's a perfect mystery thriller with a lot of unexpected twists in the story. I thought it is a horror while reading the first few pages. The story parallelly narrates  2 different time periods touching 3 to 6 characters.

Libby who unexpectedly inherits the ancestral house in Cheyenne walk is excited as well as curious about this inheritance. She tries to learn more about the house and the mysterious murders that happened 25 years ago with her friend and an investigative journalist Miller.

Lucy with an abusive ex-husband and 2 children, tries to come back to the house after 25 years to find the baby they left in the house long ago.

Henry is a pivotal point to the story and the most mysterious character. Clemency, Justin, and Phin play an important role in revealing the facts gradually about the house and their families.

Connecting the dots from past and present and reading the story from different people's perspectives is the most interesting part of the book. 

What's great?

Unexpected twists, parallel stories, interesting characters, and mystery maintained till the end.

What might have been better?

I would love to read more about Henry. The story ends well, but the curiosity about Henry stays when you finish the book. 

I didn't feel the title is apt. Yes, the mysterious family of David stays upstairs. But, I felt, there is more to the story overall.  

I would love to read more about David and his personality. A few pages from the perspective of David / Birdie / Justin / Henry Sr / Mom might have been better to understand the reasons for their strange arrangement. It really seems unbelievable that David could twist the mind of the main family members and use them to his advantage. I wasn't sure about his final goal. 

My Rating:

4/5

I recommend this book to readers who love suspense stories with multiple unexpected twists. 

Until next time,

The Institute by Stephen King - [Book Review]

 Book Details:

Title: The Institute

Author: Stephen King

Genre: Mystery, thriller, suspense

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Print Length: 577 pages

Blurb:

In the middle of the night, in a house on a quiet street in suburban Minneapolis, intruders silently murder Luke Ellis’s parents and load him into a black SUV. The operation takes less than two minutes. Luke will wake up at The Institute, in a room that looks just like his own, except there’s no window. And outside his door are other doors, behind which are other kids with special talents—telekinesis and telepathy—who got to this place the same way Luke did: Kalisha, Nick, George, Iris, and ten-year-old Avery Dixon. They are all in Front Half. Others, Luke learns, graduated to Back Half, “like the roach motel,” Kalisha says. “You check in, but you don’t check out.”

In this most sinister of institutions, the director, Mrs. Sigsby, and her staff are ruthlessly dedicated to extracting from these children the force of their extranormal gifts. There are no scruples here. If you go along, you get tokens for the vending machines. If you don’t, punishment is brutal. As each new victim disappears to Back Half, Luke becomes more and more desperate to get out and get help. But no one has ever escaped from the Institute.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

My Review might be biased as this is my first audiobook ever. So, there will be a lot of difference in the experience while reading a book Vs listening to the book.

Coming to the audio narration, it is excellent and the narrator's voice brought life to the author's words. The story is unique and the concept is about psychic kids which is interesting for me to pick the book. 

I loved the characters and the details the author has put in. The research about psychic abilities and how they can help mankind is interesting to know. The pace of the story is perfect making it a good thriller. But, I felt, the last part after Luke reaches a small town in South Carolina is too much dragging. 

The story is thrilling for sure, but dragging at the end made it less interesting. The last few pages might have been edited and cut short. Other than that, everything else is just perfect for a mystery story.

Avery Dixon and Luke steal the show for their bravery. Overall, a bit lengthy but a satisfying thriller.

My Rating: 4/5

About the Author:

Stephen King is the author of more than fifty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His first crime thriller featuring Bill Hodges, MR MERCEDES, won the Edgar Award for best novel and was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award. Both MR MERCEDES and END OF WATCH received the Goodreads Choice Award for the Best Mystery and Thriller of 2014 and 2016 respectively.

King co-wrote the bestselling novel Sleeping Beauties with his son Owen King, and many of King's books have been turned into celebrated films and television series including The Shawshank Redemption, Gerald's Game, and It.

King was the recipient of America's prestigious 2014 National Medal of Arts and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for distinguished contributions to American Letters. In 2007 he also won the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America. He lives with his wife Tabitha King in Maine.

Until next time,

Mainely Power (A Goff Langdon Mainely Mystery Book 1) by Matt Cost - Book Review

Book Details :

Title: Mainely Power (A Goff Langdon Mainely Mystery Book 1)

Author: Matt Cost

Genre: Mystery, Cozy mystery, Investigative mystery

Print length:304 pages

Publisher: Encircle Publications (September 18, 2020)

Source: A free review copy from the author

Blurb:

Was Harold Dumphy killed to cover up something at the nuclear power plant where he was the head of security?

This is what Harold’s widow asks Goff Langdon, a private detective, to find out. Langdon is a laid back, slacker detective, happy with his work, friends, and way of life in the town of Brunswick, Maine. To complement his income in small-town Maine’s scarce private detective market, Langdon also owns and operates a mystery bookstore named after his trusted companion, Coffee Dog.

Does Langdon stand a chance against corrupt cops, crooked politicians, greedy millionaires, radical environmentalists, and a deadly assassin named Shakespeare?

With the help of Bart, the bear of a cop; Jimmy 4 by Four, the hippie lawyer; the immigrants Jewell and Richam; and his true desire and employee, Chabal—Langdon sets out to do just that. And then he is framed for not one, but two murders, and events become very complicated.

Follow Langdon and his band of friends as they attempt to untangle the web of intrigue and return Brunswick to “the way life should be.”

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review :

Mainely Power is a detective / investigative mystery. The story starts with Harold Dumpy's murder investigation by a private detective Mr. Langdon in a small town in Maine. Langdon, and his close friends Bart, four by 4, Peppermint Patti, Chabal, Lord, Richam, Jewel etc., come together to understand the mystery behind Harold's death. 

They also get stuck in challenging situations during the investigation and Langdon is charged for the murder of 2 people making things messier. Thanks to the combined effort of his friends, he entangles the mystery and comes out safe. 

What I liked about the story?

The story and characters are real. Unlike other detective mysteries where usually it's a one-man show, here it's an effort from a team. The characterization is great and relatable. 

While Chabal and Peppermint Patti stand out as strong and helpful friends, Bart, Richam, Jewel and four by 4 are reliable. The names are a bit funny though. I didn't like Amanda's character. Abigail's character is unique. 

The blurb is interesting and the title of the book is very apt.

What might have been better?

The pace of the book might have been uniform. The last 1/4th of the story covers more than the first 3/4th. 

The book cover might have been attractive, but just a thought. It might have been good if the mystery is revealed gradually instead of everything at the end. 

The synopsis given by Langdon at the end is very good though. 

My Rating: 4/5

I recommend this to the readers who love small-town mysteries with real characters.

PS: I have received this book from the author for free in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on the book. 

Until next time,

Hawthorn Woods by Patrick Canning - [Book Review]

Book Details:

Title : Hawthorn Woods

Author: Patrick Canning

 ISBN: 979-8-663-48797-9 (pb) 978-0-578-72823-0 (ebook) 

Publication Date: Aug. 4, 2020 

Formats: Paperback, ebook 

Available On: Amazon,

major online retailers Price: $15.95 paperback $9.99 ebook

 Page Count: 300 

Genres: Domestic Suspense, Thriller, Mystery 

Source: A free review copy from the author

Logline:

Seeking to rediscover herself after a divorce, a detective-minded woman embarks on solving the small mysteries of a Midwest neighborhood, only to learn the secrets hidden there are more horrifying than she could have ever imagined.

Synopsis: 

Summer, 1989.

 Reeling from a catastrophic divorce she just can’t seem to leave behind, Francine Haddix flees San Francisco for a two week stay at her sister’s house in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. 

The quaint neighborhood of shady trees and friendly neighbors seems like the perfect place to sort through her pain and finally move on with her life—but the tranquility doesn’t last long. Beginning with a complete stranger throwing a drink in her face at her own welcome party, Francine soon discovers the supposedly idyllic suburb is hiding a disturbing number of mysteries. 

Why is the handsome-ish guy next door lying about who he is? What’s hidden in the back of the teenage troublemaker’s shed? Who wrote a threatening message in blood? Which of the smiling neighbors has a secret they’d kill to keep?

Seeking to reclaim a natural passion for sleuthing numbed by her divorce, Francine rewrites her prescription from one of relaxation to one of investigation. If she can detect the lies, follow the clues, and remember how to trust herself, she might get to the bottom of what’s so very wrong in Hawthorn Woods. She might even be able to believe the future can be good again—assuming she lives long enough to be in it. 

My Review:

When I started reading the first few chapters, I got a feeling of reading a chick-lit. But, the story slowly transforms into a mystery as well. 

Hawthorn woods is just like any other neighborhood with different types of people and gossips around. Laura Jean is my favorite actor and I can relate to those kinds of people in real life. They are great friends and fun to share our lives with.

Francine is depressed by her divorce and still cannot come out of those memories yet. She seeks comfort in using her detective skills for an investigation along with Bruno and finally falls in love with him.

Until the truth is found, Ronald is my second most favorite character. Calm and sensitive individual looking for a relaxing retirement life. 

The characterization is great. I loved the portrayal of Charlie, Bruno, Eric, and Lori. The narrative is interesting. It's basically a cool read, unlike a suspense thriller. There are one or more great twists in the story and unexpected turns, but till the last few pages, it's smooth and predictable.

The pace is just right to me. The title and the book cover are appropriate. I loved the tag line of the book and the lines from the questionnaire before each chapter. Those lines before each chapter are relevant to the story. 

I don't have anything that I disliked about the book. If you are looking for a chick-lit mixed with a little mystery, you will love this book.

My Rating : 5/5

PS: I have received this review copy from the author in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on the book.

 Author:

 PATRICK CANNING is the author of three novels, including Cryptofauna (2018), The Colonel and the Bee (2018), and his latest, Hawthorn Woods (2020). He has also published several short stories. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys playing beach volleyball, following space exploration, and losing at bar trivia. Patrick lives in Los Angeles with his dog Hank, who some consider to be the greatest dog of all time. 

patrick@patrickcanningbooks.com

Katie.schnack@smithpublicity.com www.patrickcanningbooks.com 

@catpanning 

Until next time,

Sealed by Naomi Booth - [Book Review]

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Book Details:

Title : Sealed
Author: Naomi Booth
Genre: Horror, Suspense, thriller, Psychological literary fiction
Print Length: 240 pages
Publisher : Titan Books
Sold by : Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Source: A copy from the local library

Blurb:

Sealed is a gripping modern fable on motherhood, a terrifying portrait of ordinary people under threat from their own bodies

Heavily pregnant Alice and her partner Pete are done with the city. Alice is haunted by rumors of a skin-sealing epidemic starting to infect the urban population. She hopes their new remote mountain house will offer safety, a place to forget the nightmares and start their family. But the mountains and their people hold a different kind of danger. With their relationship under intolerable pressure, violence erupts and Alice is faced with the unthinkable as she fights to protect her unborn child.

Timely and suspenseful, Sealed is a gripping modern fable on motherhood, a terrifying portrait of ordinary people under threat from their own bodies and from the world around them.

Purchase Link :

Amazon

My Review :

I am very picky when I have to select some random books from the library. I always scroll through best sellers or read the blurb and decide. The blurb and cover of this book seemed interesting.

Sealed is a psychological thriller. The suspense lies in many aspects - the plot, a disease with unknown reason, the narration of the story, the characters, the scenes, the environment etc., I really liked the narration. At a few places, the thoughts of the protagonist itself are spine chilling. 

The story starts with Alice and Pete moving to the quiet mountain town away from city life, planning to start their new life with baby. But the fears of the past are not easy to forget. 

Alice who used to work in a government office is haunted by the events, people and her investigations related to a disease 'Cutis' which seals some parts of the body making people die. The reason is not known, but Alice finds through her investigations that the disease might be due to air pollution, heat waves, chemicals etc., Wherever she goes, whatever she eats, she is concerned and scared about catching Cutis. 

To add to the problems, she is heavily pregnant and there are no medical facilities in the place they move. Without even a working phone line or internet connection, she is isolated. Pete strikes off her anxiety as pregnancy hormones and she doesn't have anyone to clear her doubts about her current state of body and mind.

The story takes some unpredictable turns after this and there are shocking scenes in the climax. The ordeal she has to go through alone makes us numb with shock. 

I liked the suspense and narration. I would have loved to read an epilogue or prologue about Cutis. If you love mystery and psychological fiction, you will love this.

My Rating : 4.5/ 5

Until next time,

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The Last thing she said by Lauren Carr - [Book Review]

"Too many twists and turns to easily share about this book. Nevertheless, Carr has pulled off another "hit" that kept me reading in one setting until the clues were so well together that the villain fell into our laps...or Chris's, LOL Carr has put a lot into the book beyond the mysteries this time...Characters enjoyed chocotinis, visited book stores...and even blundered into getting engaged (the ring had been purchased 4 months ago)... But, for me, a special thank you for the political spoof at a time when politics at the national level is devastating, gave me a laugh and lightened the load of it all!" - Review by Glenda Bixler, Book Reader's Heaven 

 

Book Details:



Book Title:  The Last Thing She Said (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #3) by Lauren Carr

Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  386 pages

Genre:  Mystery

Publisher:  Acorn Book Services

Release date:   July 22, 2019

Formats available for purchase:  paperback, ebook, audiobook (audible & itunes)

Tour dates: October 7 to November 15, 2019

Content Rating:  PG-13 (Lauren Carr's books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!

Book Description:

“I’m working on the
greatest mystery ever,” was the last thing noted mystery novelist
Mercedes Livingston said to seven-year-old Chris Matheson before walking
out of Hill House Hotel never to be seen again.

For decades, the writer’s fate
remained a puzzling mystery until an autographed novel and a letter put a
grown-up Chris Matheson on the trail of a cunning killer. With the help
of a team of fellow retired law enforcement officers, each a specialist
in their own field of investigation, Chris puts a flame to this cold
case to uncover what had really happened that night Mercedes Livingston
walked out of Hill House Hotel. Watch out! The clues are getting hot!

Buy the Book:

Amazon.com *
Add to Goodreads

My Review

"The Last thing she said" is a crime investigation thriller. I am not much interested in crime thrillers but the author has led this story in a unique way which I liked.

In the beginning of the story, Shannon writes a letter to Chris (who investigates cold cases )to solve the mystery in her life and find out the culprit who murdered her ex-husband. 

Investigating a 40- year old crime is not easy with all evidences wiped, many witnesses dead or unavailable. But the team of investigators - Chris, Helen, Francine, Doris, Elliott, Jacqui, Mac Faraday come together and collect all the information about the case from multiple sources. 

They talk to multiple people associated with the case, gather important information and at last find the murderer. 

The plot is complex and involves many characters, but the author could connect the dots logically at the end. The way mystery is revealed bit by bit made this novel interesting and intriguing till the end. The pace of the story is good. The suspense and logic are great.

I would recommend this Book to all suspense and crime thriller lovers.

My Rating: 5/5

PS: I have received this book from iread book tours in exchange of a review and this is my honest opinion of the book. 

Meet the Author:  

 Lauren
Carr is the international best-selling author of the Thorny Rose, Mac
Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries—over
twenty titles across four fast-paced mystery series filled with twists
and turns!



Book reviewers and readers alike
rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery,
suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.



Lauren is a popular speaker who has
made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at
conventions. She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German
shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

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Connect with the author:   Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Instagram

BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE:

Oct 7 – Working Mommy Journal – book review of The Last Thing She Said

Oct 7 - JB's Bookworms with Brandy Mulder – book review of Ice / giveaway

Oct 7 – Bookriot – audiobook review of Ice / giveaway

Oct 7 – Just Another Reader – book review of Ice

Oct 7 - Rita's Reading Room – series spotlight / author interview / giveaway

Oct 7 - Viviana MacKade – series spotlight / guest post

Oct 8 - Just Another Reader – book review of Winter Frost

Oct 8 - JB's Bookworms with Brandy Mulder – book review of Winter Frost / giveaway

Oct 8 – Amy’s Booket List – book review of The Last Thing She Said / giveaway

Oct 8 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book review of The Last Thing She Said / guest post /

             giveaway

Oct 9 - Cuzinlogic - series spotlight / giveaway

Oct 9 - JB's Bookworms with Brandy Mulder – book review of The Last Thing She Said /

              giveaway

Oct 9 – Just Another Reader – book review of The Last  Thing She Said

Oct 9 - The Voracious Bibliophile – book review of The Last Thing She Said

Oct 10 – Librorum in Sempiternum – book review of Ice / giveaway

Oct 11 – It's All About the Book – book review of The Last Thing She Said

Oct 14 – b for bookreview – series spotlight / author interview

Oct 15 - Buried Under Books - audiobook review of Ice / giveaway

Oct 15 – Pause for Tales – book review of The Last Thing She Said

Oct 16 – Locks, Hooks and Books – audiobook review of The Last Thing She Said /

                 guest post / giveaway

Oct 17 – Library of Clean Reads – series spotlight / giveaway

Oct 18 - Library of Clean Reads – book review of The Last Thing She Said / giveaway

Oct 19 – Bookriot – audiobook review of Winter Frost / giveaway

Oct 20 – Librorum in Sempiternum – book review of Winter Frost / giveaway

Oct 21 - Hall Ways Blog – audiobook review of The Last Thing She Said / giveaway

Oct 21 - Words And Peace – book spotlight / giveaway

Oct 22 – Kristin’s Novel Café – audiobook review of The Last Thing She Said

Oct 23 – Mystery Suspense Reviews – audiobook review of The Last Thing She Said /

                 guest post

Oct 24 – Haddie's Haven – audiobook review of Ice / giveaway

Oct 24 – FUONLYKNEW – book review of The Last Thing She Said / giveaway

Oct 24 - My Journey Back - series spotlight / guest post / giveaway

Oct 25 - Blooming with Books – audiobook review of The Last Thing She Said / giveaway

Oct 25 - StoreyBook Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway

Oct 26 – Bookriot – book review of The Last Thing She Said / giveaway

Oct 28 – Sefina Hawke's Books – audiobook review of The Last Thing She Said

Oct 29 - Buried Under Books - audiobook review of The Last  Thing she Said / giveaway

Oct 29 – My Reading Journeys – book review of Winter Frost / giveaway

Oct 30 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – book spotlight of The Last Thing She Said /

                 giveaway

Oct 31 – Dab of Darkness Book Reviews – audiobook review of The Last Thing She Said

                 / giveaway

Nov 1 – Life as Leels – book review of The Last Thing She Said / giveaway

Nov 4 – Books for Books – audiobook review of Ice / giveaway

Nov 5 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of The Last Thing She Said / giveaway

Nov 6 – fundinmental – book review of Winter Frost / giveaway

Nov 6 - My Reading Journeys – book review of The Last Thing She Said / giveaway

Nov 7 – Haddie's Haven – audiobook review of Winter Frost / giveaway

Nov 8 – Literary Flits – series spotlight / giveaway

Nov 11 – The Avid Inspri – book review of Ice / giveaway

Nov 11 - Books for Books – audiobook review of Winter Frost / giveaway

Nov 12 – Librorum in Sempiternum – book review of The Last Thing She Said / giveaway

Nov 13 – Celticlady's Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway

Nov 13 - A Fountain of Books - book review of The Last Thing She Said / guest post / giveaway

Nov 14 - T's Stuff – audiobook review of The Last Thing She Said / author interview /

                 giveaway

Nov 15 - The Avid Inspri – book review of Winter Frost / giveaway

Nov 15 – Nighttime Reading Center – book review of The Last Thing She Said / giveaway

Nov 18 – Laura's Interests – audiobook review of The Last Thing She Said / guest post /

                 giveaway

Nov 18 - Books for Books – audiobook review of The Last Thing She Said / giveaway

Nov 19 – JBronder Book Reviews – audiobook review of The Last Thing She Said

Nov 19 - Shalini's Books & Reviews – book review of The Last Thing She Said

Nov 20 - fundinmental – book review of The Last Thing She Said / giveaway

Nov 20 – Haddie's Haven – audiobook review of The Last Thing She Said / guest post /

                 giveaway

Nov 20 - I'm All About Books – book review of The Last Thing She Said / guest post /

                giveaway

Nov 20 - Svetlana's reads and views – book review of The Last Thing She Said /

                giveaway

Nov 21 – Books Are Love – book review of The Last Thing She Said / author interview /

                 giveaway

Nov 21 - The Avid Inspri – book review of The Last Thing She Said / guest post /

                 giveaway

Nov 22 - Adventurous Jessy – book review of The Last Thing She Said / giveaway

Nov 22 – SammieReadsBook – book review of The Last Thing She Said / author

                 interview / giveaway

Nov 22 -  Jypsylynn – book review of The Last Thing She Said

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

Ends November 30th, 2019

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time,