The Watcher by Caroline Eriksson; Tara F. Chace (Translator)
AmazonCrossing: 9/18/18
eBook review copy; 240 pages
paperback ISBN-13:
9781503905405
The Watcher by Caroline Eriksson is a recommended "Rear Window"-esque Scandinavian thriller translated into English by Tara F. Chace.
Elena has left her husband Peter during a trial separation and has moved
into a subleased townhouse. She's obviously distraught, unsettled, and
unable to sleep or unpack. Her sister is trying to help her with regular
Friday night dinners and checking up on her. Elena, an author, spends
sleepless nights rearranging books in the bookcase. She is also watching
her neighbors through the kitchen window. She discovers they are the
Storm family, husband, wife, and teenage son, Leo. Soon she thinks
something nefarious is happening between the Storms, and Leo, who is
stopping by her house to talk to her, is increasing her anxiety about
them. She is sure she is witnessing a marriage disintegrating and
suspects murder may soon happen. Her watching is also spurring on her
creativity, though, and she is beginning to write a new novel. Soon her
writing is at a frenzied pitch and something must be coming to a deadly
conclusion in both her novel and the neighbors marriage.
The plot unfolds mainly through chapters from Elena's point-of-view, but
there are also chapters from the Husband's point-of-view and excerpts
from the book Elena is writing. At first it is difficult to see what is
real and unreal. The connection between the separate narratives is
tenuous and the relevance of their inclusion is unclear, but the
correlation becomes more coherent as the plot unfolds. The ending brings
clarity to all the narrative threads.
It is an interesting novel and a quick read, although the plot is not
unique and the outcome is not unexpected. There are a few plot points
that were never completely resolved and I wish they were since they were
an ongoing part of the narrative. Elena clearly is unstable and is an
unreliable narrator, but this isn't handled quite as successfully in
this novel as compared to other recent novels that have utilized this
technique. If you enjoyed The Women in the Window, you might want to give The Watcher a try.
Disclosure:
My review copy was courtesy of Amazon Publishing via Netgalley.
Escaping the Rabbit Hole by Mick West
Skyhorse Publishing: 9/18/18
eBook review copy; 304 pages
ISBN-13:
9781510735804
Escaping the Rabbit Hole: How to Debunk Conspiracy Theories Using Facts, Logic, and Respect by Mick West
is a highly recommended, informative and helpful aid to talking with friends about their beliefs in conspiracy theories.
It may be surprising for many people to realize some of the widely held
beliefs in some of the conspiracy theories out there: The Earth is flat,
the moon landing was faked, the World Trade Center collapse was a
controlled
demolition, planes are spraying chemtrails, and
actors faked the Sandy Hook massacre. History confirms that some
conspiracies can be real, but the ones West is discussing are not. Those
who hold these false beliefs may need some assistance and gentle
guidance to see their way out from their mistaken beliefs.
West believes in treating those you are talking to as a friend, with
respect and patience, always striving to maintain a line of
communication, rather than treating them like an enemy you must destroy
with your logic and reasoning. It's a good statedgy. In this book he
shares his personal experience discussing, investigating, and debunking
false theories. He also draws upon the experience of others who have
successfully helped friends see the truth. Finally, he looks at the
literature in the field of conspiracy theories. Currently West has the
debunking website Metabunk.
The book is arranged into three parts. The first takes a look at
conspiracy theories, why they exist, why people believe them, and how
you can help them. Part two deals with four specific conspiracy
theories: Chemtrails; 9/11 Controlled Demolition; Sandy Hook was faked;
Flat Earth believers. Part three looks at some of the additional
complications you might encounter when talking to your friends about
their false beliefs, which include a three step process of maintaining
an effective dialogue, supplying your friend useful information, and
allow time for the information to sink in and change their views. At the
end of the book is a helpful glossary and extensive Endnotes.
I have to admit I was more than a little surprised by some of the
conspiracy theories, like flat Earthers and Sandy Hook was done by
actors. Some of these I had heard of before. I remember hearing and
being surprised by all the talk of chemtrails back in the 1990's. I
rather liked this observation by West, which covers a wide ranging
number of beliefs: "People who supported the losing side in an election
are more likely to
believe conspiracy theories that are supposedly orchestrated by the
winning side." This is an interesting, practical guide for people who
feel compelled to help their friends out of the rabbit hole of belief in
conspiracy theories.
Disclosure:
My review copy was courtesy of Skyhorse Publishing.
The Golden State by Lydia Kiesling
Farrar, Straus and Giroux: 9/4/18
eBook review copy; 304 pages
ISBN-13:
9780374164836
The Golden State by Lydia Kiesling is a recommended debut novel about a young mother on the edge of a breakdown.
Daphne has a 16 month old daughter, Honey, a Turkish husband, Engin,
who has been denied reentry to the USA by immigration officials, and a
good university job at the Al-Ihsan Foundation for the Study of Islamic
Societies and Civilizations in San Francisco when she suddenly decides
to pack up a few things for her and Honey, flee San Francisco, and head
to the high
desert of Altavista, California. She inherited a mobile home there that
she rarely visits, but her uncle has kept it in good repair. Stressed
out by Engin's absence and
haunted by the death of a student who was traveling on Institute funds,
she thinks she needs an escape, a break to a quiet, simple life. Daphne
is on the edge of a breakdown.
The novel follows 10 days in Daphne's life. Parenting alone with a 16
month old, trying to Skype with Engin to maintain their relationship,
and filling the time during what feels like endless days, in an
environment that is even more isolating for her is a dubious choice that
may serve only to increase Daphne's isolation and loneliness. She meets
a neighbor,
Cindy, who is part of an anti-government, anti-immigration secessionist
group, and
meets a 92-year-old woman, Alice, who speaks a little Turkish and is
visiting Altavista with a plan.
What worked was the raw emotion she captures in Daphne character. You
can feel her honesty as she worries about Engin and Honey, and tries to
be a good parent. She is struggling to find her way in her isolation.
Mothers will recall many of Daphne's struggles with Honey and should be
able to relate to the tantrums, the meal choices, nap time woes, and
what can feel like endless boring routines involved in caring for a very
young child who can't express themselves.
As for the writing - readers will have to be willing to overlook many
long, run-on sentences with few commas. Kiesling's writing style may
require some readers to pause and reread what they just read due to the
aforementioned long run-on sentences. I did so several times, and,
honestly, her writing style did begin to grate. The novel also begins to
drag a bit as nothing much happens until very late in the narrative.
The ending wasn't entirely successful for me.
Disclosure:
My review copy was courtesy of Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Lies by T. M. Logan
St. Martin's Press: 9/11/18
eBook review copy; 432 pages
ISBN-13:
9781250182265
Lies by T. M. Logan is a recommended psychological thriller that features a tangle of lies to uncover.
Joe Lynch and his 4-year-old son, William, are heading home when William
sees his mother's car. Joe assumes his wife, Mel, is meeting a client,
but impulsively decides to follow her so the two can say hello. When
they enter the Premier Inn,
instead of a client they see Mel in the hotel bar, arguing with her best
friend's
husband, Ben Delaney. Joe hustle's William back out to the parking
garage where they wait for Mel, but she leaves quickly without seeing
them, so Joe confronts Ben, who begins pushing him. Joe pushes back, and
Ben falls. Before he can summon help, William has an asthma attack and
he decides to get help for his son. When he checks back later, Ben is
gone, so Joe is assuming he is fine.
But later when he asks Mel about the meeting, she lies. Later she admits
it, but lies again. And then it appears that Ben is now taunting Joe
and trying to cause trouble, but Ben has disappeared, leaving his wife
behind. From this point on the novel is a tangled web of people
continuously lying, and amending their lies to new lies, and then
changing those lies. Let's just say everyone is lying all the time, you
can't trust anyone, and one of these liars is trying to ruin Joe’s
life.
The narrative in Lies covers an eight day period when Joe's world
is turned upside down and he must uncover the truth. It is certainly a
twisting tale of deceit and has an addictive start. After that it also
becomes a tad bit slow-moving and the lies aren't as shocking as they
continue. Once you realize there has been one big lie, and then that
morphs in to another big lie and then... Well, most people, even the
most trusting of souls, would have an inkling about the lies long before
the first one is told.
Joe is an appealing character and you will be rooting for him. He is a
good father and devoted spouse. Logan does an excellent job capturing
the emotional roller coaster Joe is going through while trying to find
the truth. However, I couldn't help but think as the plot unfolded that
Joe should have picked up on a few more clues along the way and noticed
what was happening so the current situation wouldn't be quite as
shocking as it is for him.
Disclosure:
My review copy was courtesy of St. Martin's Press
via Netgalley.
In Her Bones by Kate Moretti
Atria Books: 9/4/18
eBook review copy; 320 pages
ISBN-13:
9781501166471
In Her Bones by Kate Moretti is a highly recommended mystery/suspense novel about a woman on the run trying to uncover the truth.
Edie Beckett, 30, is just trying to live her life out of the spotlight.
Fifteen years ago, her mother, Lilith Wade, was convicted of murdering
six women, and sentenced to death row. The media frenzy continued after
the release of the unauthorized biography by an unknown author. Edie is a
recovering alcoholic who keeps to herself, has a co-dependent
relationship with her brother, and an unhealthy obsession with the
surviving family members of Lilith's victims. She keeps notebooks on
their personal information, stalks them online (and in person if
possible).
Edie's current obsession is
Peter Lipsky, whose wife was fatally stabbed by Lilith. She's stalking
him online, through a survivor's message board, and collecting
information about him and his late wife, Colleen. Colleen's murder is
the one that doesn't fit the profile of Lilith's other victims. When
Edie meets Peter during one of her reconnaissance missions, she ends up
drinking too much and and goes home with him. She leaves before he wakes
up, but is later found murdered that morning. She doesn't remember much
of the night and now she is the prime suspect for his murder. Edie goes
on the run while trying to uncover what really happened and who killed
Peter.
Edie is a sympathetic, fleshed-out character and the main narrator in
the book, although there are also excerpts from the biography of Lilith
included and a few from Gil Brandt, the detective who caught Lilith, but
also helped Edie. As the novel unfolds, Edie reminisces about her
troubled childhood with Lilith while dealing with her current situation.
Edie is also clearly a damaged character, and much of this began in her
childhood with Lilith.
While on the run rather than talking to detectives, she does make some
questionable/interesting choices along the way and has a few stumbles.
In her own way, she is a resourceful, smart, and street savvy character.
She is clever enough to evade being caught while trying to ferret out
the truth about Peter's murder, which also requires her to look back at
his wife's murder. Was Lilith responsible for it or is there another
killer running loose out there and could Edie now be a target?
I found this to be a well-written, compelling mystery (rather than
thriller). The pace is even, rather than fast, until the end, but the
steps Edie takes and her reasoning is interesting enough to keep your
attention. In Her Bones held my attention throughout. Although I
had all manner of guesses and suspects, I didn't have a clue about the
ending until just before it happened. Nicely played Moretti!
Disclosure:
My review copy was courtesy of Atria Books
via Netgalley.
Three Little Lies by Laura Marshall
Grand Central Publishing: 9/4/18
eBook review copy; 352 pages
ISBN-13:
9781478948568
Three Little Lies by Laura Marshall is a highly recommended mystery told over two time periods.
In 2017 30-year-old journalist Ellen Mackinnon reports to police that
her friend and roommate, Sasha North, is missing. Both of the young
women had received threatening letters from a man in their past, Daniel
Monkton, who was released from prison five years ago. Is he in London?
If he is, then both women might have a reason to fear for their safety
based on the events that happened twelve years ago on New Year's Eve.
Ellen must dig into Sasha's friends and the past to try and uncover what
happened to her.
In 2005 the glamorous Monkton's moved into Ellen's neighborhood. Ellen
and Karina, her best friend at that time, were both 17 and obsessed with
them. The family had two handsome teenage sons, Daniel and Nicholas.
The mother, Olivia, was a famous opera singer, while their father, Tony,
was a musician, and their goddaughter, Sasha, is a beautiful teen the
same age as Ellen and Karina. Ellen and Sasha soon become fast friends,
with Karina on the periphery. Ellen loves the family, and especially
Olivia who provides her with a life-long love of music. But then the
events of New Year's Eve happen when Karina claims Daniel raped her.
The novel opens in July 2007 with Olivia at Daniel's trial for rape, so
you know that this is going to transpire. Ellen is the main narrator of
the novel, past and present, with additional chapters from the
perspective of Olivia and Karina. The story is told through current
events and those that started back in 2005. The flashbacks through
Ellen's point-of-view help flesh out the characters and make Ellen a
sympathetic character. It is a bit difficult to comprehend Ellen's
frantic search for Sasha, when it becomes clear that Sasha is not the
most reliable character. Ellen is almost too desperate in her search for
Sasha. It seems that after years of being her friend she should already
have a few clues and more insight into Sasha's personality. You can
like a person and still acknowledge that they have flaws and
shortcomings.
In the end, Three Little Lies is an immensely readable,
well-written novel and you will find yourself desperate to discover what
happened years ago and if it has some impact on Sasha's disappearance.
Marshall does an excellent job increasing the tension incrementally to
keep you on the edge of your seat while reading. Likely you will also be
looking for the three lies, although at the final tally, there are more
than three.
Disclosure:
My review copy was courtesy of Grand Central Publishing
via Netgalley.
When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica
Park Row Books; 9/4/18
eBook review copy; 336 pages
ISBN-13:
9780778330783
When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica is a so-so novel of psychological suspense.
Jessie Sloane's mother, Eden, dies from cancer and now she must try to
continue on with her life after spending her teen years, since she was
15, caring for her mom. When the college she has applied to informs her
that her social security number belongs to a 3-year-old girl who died 17
years ago, she needs to find her social security
card, but can't. Jessie can't even find her birth certificate and she
doesn't have any other identification, like a driver's license. Eden
never told her the name of her father, so Jessie is running out of
options. She is also struggling with insomnia, which is causing
hallucinations and paranoia.
Between Jessie's narrative are flashbacks from Eden's past, beginning in
1996. Eden and her husband were newlyweds in 1996 and wanted to start a
family. Soon her inability to conceive became an obsession for Eden and
led to more expensive medical intervention to assist them. Her
obsession becomes increasingly unhealthy and threatens her marriage.
The quality of the writing is great, but the actual plot, not so much. I
struggled to get through this novel and kept talking back to the
plot/action because it didn't make sense. The ending, which was likely
supposed to explain all the things I was upset with in the novel only
resulted in pure disgust and reduced my rating to 2 stars. (It is 2
stars because Kubica gets 1 for her writing ability. Great writer; bad
plot device.) Saying anything about the extremely disappointing "twist"
at the end will ruin the novel for others, but I feel like it was a lazy
ending. When the ending technique used here has been tried in other
circumstances, it is consistently a hit or miss for people. This was a
total miss for me.
Disclosure:
My review copy was courtesy of Park Row Books.
