Strange Sally Diamond

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent 
7/30/24; 320 pages
Gallery/Scout Press

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent is a very highly recommended psychological thriller following flawed characters and dysfunctional families.

Sally Diamond was caring for her dying father who always told her when he was gone she should put him out with the trash. Sally, who is in her early forties and takes everything very literally, does just that, and since they burn their trash she tried to burn her father's body. This thrust her into the limelight, with the police and the media because it also brought forth her background and the reason why she can't remember events before she was seven years old.

After a very traumatic early childhood, Sally was adopted by her father, Thomas, a psychiatrist, and her physician mother who passed away years ago. Sally often tells others that she knows she is socially deficient, but she does have a few friends through her father that she trusts. She learns that her father left her three letters to read after his death, so Sally follows the advice to slowly read them one week at a time. They are supposed to help explain why she is the way she is, someone who doesn't like to talk to people, never cries, and loves playing the piano, however someone from her past is also contacting her, calling her "Mary," and sends her a toy bear she immediately recognizes.

Strange Sally Diamond starts out feeling like a familiar novel, but everything dramatically changes after part one. The narrative moves back and forth in time between two different perspectives that provide incredible insight into her background but also expands the story into an even darker, traumatic tale. As Sally tries to talk to people and make her way in the world, she learns that people don't always say what they mean and you can't always say everything to them.

The writing is excellent and Sally is a fully realized, complicated, and sympathetic character. The supporting cast of characters are realistic and add a depth to the plot as they help Sally navigate her way through increasing her social interactions. There is another character who is also fully realized, although not sympathetic. It isn't always easy novel to read as the topics handled are horrific and show how evil people can be. It also shows that there are good people who care and can be trusted in the world.

The big change in the narrative transformed Strange Sally Diamond from an expected plot projection to something entirely different that showed the darker side of human nature. Strange Sally Diamond held my complete attention to the end. This might be a good choice for book clubs who appreciate deep discussions about human nature and evil in the world. Thanks to Gallery/Scout Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Festival

The Festival by Louise Mumford
7/30/24; 336 pages
HarperCollins/HQ

The Festival by Louise Mumford is a highly recommended thriller/mystery.

Libby who is till dealing with her complicated feelings after her mother's death agrees to go out to a club with her best friend, Dawn. Unbelievably, Libby wins two tickets to the Solstice, a music festival on Midsummer’s Eve in Wales at the Blakes family farm. This is a huge event for those who like to go to these sorts of music festivals. It was started by Abel Blake along with his mother Ma Blake, and brother Silas. Dawn is thrilled about the tickets and talks Libby, who is hesitant, into going. It turns out to be a huge mistake.

The narrative unfolds in dual time narratives and includes mixed media stories. After a strong start, the plot becomes uneven and heads down a bumpy road. I wasn't thrilled with the folklore/superstition/mysticism parts of the story which were off-putting. In the mix is a twenty-year-old mystery that becomes very important. The reveals are huge and drama is over-the-top at the height of the final scenes. I had to suspend disbelief several times. 

This is a fast-paced summer read, although it did confirm a music/solstice festival will never interest me. The final denouement raised my opinion of the whole plot as it is actually uplifting and positive. Thanks to HarperCollins/HQ for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp

Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp by Michelle Moran
7/30/24; 320 pages
Random House

Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp by Michelle Moran is a very highly recommended real story of Maria von Trapp's life and how it contrasted with the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music. Most people know the story according to the musical, however that doesn't portray the true, real life events.

In the 1950s, Oscar Hammerstein is writing the lyrics to a new Broadway musical based on the life of Maria von Trapp. When Maria saw the script supposedly based on her life, she headed to talk to Hammerstein to set the record straight. Maria ends up meeting with his secretary, Fran, who meets with Maria several times to hear her real life story. Fran dutifully writes down all of Maria's concerns to give to Hammerstein and the two strike up an unlikely friendship.

Nostalgia runs high in Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp. Some readers interested in this novel will already be acquainted with some of the true events in Maria's life. Moran does an excellent job telling the real story which also serves to show why the choices were made to write the play as it was.

The narrative alternates between Maria recounting her life story to Fran and Fran's life leading up to the Broadway opening of the play. Maria wasn't as perfect as depicted in the play and Georg wasn't quite as stern in real life. The complete, true story is much more compelling, complicated, and difficult than the movie version. The movie does contain some of the real events in their lives.

After she saw the play, Maria thoughtfully commented that it wasn't exactly their life story, "But our love for God and family was there, and this is what has always been most important." As Moran hoped, this novel truly is like a plate of warm, sweet cookies baked by your grandmother and it will renew any obsession you have with The Sound of Music. Thanks to Random House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Woman Who Lied

The Woman Who Lied by Claire Douglas
7/30/24; 400 pages
HarperCollins

The Woman Who Lied by Claire Douglas is a recommended psychological thriller.

Emilia Ward lives with her second husband, Elliot, their son Wilfie, and Jasmine, her teenage daughter from her first marriage. She is also the bestselling author of the Miranda Moody detective novels who is about to publish her 10th book in the series. Then strange things begin to happen and Emilia suddenly becomes aware that the incidents resemble scenes from her books. As it continues, she begins to become concerned for the safety of her family. Once something from her current unpublished novel occurs, she realizes that whoever is doing this is among her trusted group of friends.

The narrative follows Emilia in the present day, excerpts from her latest book, and later, a third story line. Emilia's concern for her family is real. Along the way, Douglas includes plenty of red herrings and clues to follow that point to the guilt of different characters. The multiple story lines all come together at the end, but for me this wasn't a successful plot device. At first the pacing seemed slow for a thriller, but it does pick up. I enjoyed the thriller, but not as much as other novels Douglas has written. Thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Summer Club

The Summer Club by Hannah McKinnon
7/23/24; 336 pages
Atria/Emily Bestler Books

The Summer Club by Hannah McKinnon is a highly recommended domestic drama. I'm recommending this as a title for older YA readers. Certainly the subject matter is for a more mature teen, but the teens in this novel are the focus.

The exclusive Mayhaven Club offers members golf, tennis, a beach, and restaurant. Ned Birch is the president of Mayhaven, which basically means he's the general manager who handles the running of the club, although the board of directors, especially Dick Delancey, like to have their hands in it too. His wife, Ingrid, has started working as a realtor again. Their two children are Darcy, 17, and Adam, 15. Darcy is working as a summer camp counselor at Mayhaven. She was an excellent golfer well on her way to earning a college scholarship for it, but she suddenly announced she was giving up golf. Ned has set up a job for Adam, who is neurodivergent, at Mayhaven using his strength with numbers.

Moving in next door to the Birches is Flick Creevy, 17, his mother, Josie, and stepfather, Stan. Stan likes to flaunt his wealth with noisy pool parties and the huge RV now in the driveway. Coming from NYC and a working class background, Flick is doing his best trying to understand this strange, new life in a Massachusetts suburb. He gets a job in the kitchen at Mayhaven and gets a first hand look at the difference between being on the inside or the outside.

This isn't really a beach read full of rollicking summer fun. Topics handled in the plot are a bit more serious than that. The big secret Darcy has will be very apparent for astute readers to pick up on and it is clear that the story arc is going to result in revealing it. In spite of the predictability of the plot, the writing is very good and the overall message at the end is positive.

The narrative is told through chapters from the point-of-view of Ned, Darcy, and Flick and they are the characters who are the most fully realized and portrayed with more than surface characteristics. They all experience growth as characters. For teens, Darcy and Flick are sympathetic characters displaying insight and wisdom. Thanks to Atria for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Liars

Liars by Sarah Manguso
7/23/24; 272 pages
Random House/Hogarth

Liars by Sarah Manguso is a very highly recommended scathing portrait of a marriage. Due to the brutally honesty revelations of the relationship Liars is not an easy novel to read and for some readers it will bring up painful memories or experiences.

Jane, a writer, meets John Bridge, a filmmaker, and the two fall in love, marry, and plan to continue to both have fulfilling, creative lives. When their child is born, Jane is thrilled, but is also thrust into the role of main caretaker, and cleaner, while John is often absent, doing what he wants. She is now a wife and mother whose life is overtaken by John’s ambitions, whims, and ego. Jane says, "I was in charge of everything and in control of nothing." John frequently moves them all across the country as he pursues new jobs, another form of control, while never admitting to any mistakes.

Jane tries to keep her writing and marriage going throughout all the upheavals. Her health suffers, both physical and mental. She says something that many women face, "My time, which is to say the time that was mine, for me alone, had disappeared. And at once I understood why I hadn't felt like myself in years. My own time - my own life - had disappeared, been overtaken." The novel follows their 14 year relationship. Readers know John will be divorcing her. It is clear from the start. Jane is the narrator of the story and includes within her account, her personal writing about the issues in her marriage and how marriage can make liars of us.

Honestly, this is an impeccably written but an emotionally draining novel to read, especially if you have experienced some of the same things Jane did. I appreciate Manguso naming her main characters John and Jane, common names, and having the child simply be the child. Many readers will be projecting themselves and their personal experiences into the lives of the characters. I saved many quotes from Liars, including this true fact: "He said that the clearest indication of cheating was contempt on the part of the cheating spouse."

Liars is presented as fiction, but while reading it does not feel like fiction. It feels like a realistic, raw memoir about a failing marriage. Thanks to Random House/Hogarth for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

A Hunger to Kill

A Hunger to Kill by Kim Mager, Lisa Pulitzer
7/23/24; 320 pages
St. Martin's Press

A Hunger to Kill by Kim Mager, with Lisa Pulitzer is a highly recommended true crime novel merged with a memoir. It follows Mager's interrogation of serial killer Shawn Grate starting on September 13, 2016 when the emergency dispatchers in the small town of Ashland, Ohio,  received a 911 call from a terrified woman who claimed to be kidnapped. Shawn Grate was the man holding her hostage.

With over 20 years of experience, Detective Kim Mager conducted a series of brilliant interviews with Grate over a period of eight days. She recorded everything , including all his confessions marking Grate as a kidnapper, rapist, and serial killer. He confesses to at least five additional rapes and murders. It is suspected he may have been responsible for more. Mager had gotten enough evidence for Grate's conviction. He was sentenced to death in June 2018.

A Hunger to Kill is a true crime book that details the investigation and Mager's intense and insightful interviews, but it also has an autobiographical aspect as it shares Mager's personal story as well. True crime aficionados may not appreciate the biographical details. Those interested in what makes a good detective, investigator, and interrogator, especially for a female officer, may appreciate the background information. That said, I enjoyed both parts but the transitions between the crime investigation and the memoir didn't always feel smooth.

Part of my appreciation of the personal information is the depiction of Mager juggling work and a family, while dealing with the interviews and horrific topics. Reading about her handling of the interviews is masterful as she is empathetic and establishes a rapport with Grate, all while getting him to confess to his crimes. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Guilty Creatures

Guilty Creatures by Mikita Brottman
7/23/24; 288 pages
Atria/One Signal Publishers

Guilty Creatures: Sex, God, and Murder in Tallahassee, Florida by Mikita Brottman is a recommended psychological examination of a true crime story.

Couples Brian and Kathy Winchester and Mike and Denise Williams all met while students at North Florida Christian High School. They all remained friends after high school and attended a Baptist church. On December 16, 2000, Denise’s husband Mike disappeared while duck hunting on Lake Seminole. His body was never found. Mike's mother never gave up hope that her son was still alive and the search for her son should continue. Denise had Mike declared deceased and collected $1 million in life insurance. 

Then within five years of Mike’s disappearance, Brian divorced his wife and married Denise, which started rumors about their relationship. With ongoing pressure Mike’s mother put on the police and the help of a Tallahassee Democrat reporter the investigation reopened and gathered momentum. Denise later divorced Brian, but the two were forever connected by their secret. Brian snapped, kidnapped her, and upon his arrest and questioning the truth came out.

Brottman examines the psychological aspects of the couple and their soul crushing bond based on holding a terrible secret for eighteen years. This is a murder story with ties to religion and sex. The book is more a focus on Brian and Denise self deception concerning their guilt. The presentation of the material and information surrounding the case is interesting and written in a matter-of-fact manner rather than one that creates any suspense. I knew nothing about this case before reading this account. Thanks to Atria/One Signal for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Only One Survives

Only One Survives by Hannah Mary McKinnon
7/16/24; 400 pages
MIRA Books

Only One Survives by Hannah Mary McKinnon is a very highly recommended, remarkable, twisty psychological thriller. Once I started reading Only One Survives it was impossible to put this excellent thriller down.

After the two discovered their similar interest in music while in high school, drummer Vienna Taylor and guitarist Madison Pierce became best friends and began playing music together. After high school they briefly formed a duo called EmVee. Their success led them to form an all-female rock band called The Bittersweet, with some resistance from Madison, that also took off with a record deal. As they are heading up in the Catskills to a party to celebrate their success, their van crashes in a blizzard. They are injured and need to find some where to shelter - and not everyone will survive.

The writing is absolutely brilliant and exceptional! I was engrossed throughout the whole novel. The narrative unfolds in dual timelines following Vienna and Madison and all the events along their path to fame that lead them to the struggle to survive. The plot in both timelines is equally compelling and captivating. To avoid spoilers I can't say too much more, but there are several huge, jaw-dropping twists that occur - HUGE ones that make you gasp and reread what you just read as your head threatens to explode.

There is a large cast of characters but it is easy to follow who is who and where they fit into the plot. Vienna and Madison are both depicted as fully realized, flawed, realistic individuals.

If you like music and psychological thrillers with twists, you have to read Only One Survives. Thanks to MIRA Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Perfect Sister

The Perfect Sister by Stephanie DeCarolis
7/16/24; 368 pages
Random House/Ballantine

The Perfect Sister by Stephanie DeCarolis is a highly recommended novel of psychological suspense set in The Hamptons and brimming with secrets.

Alex and Maddie Walker are sisters who have been there for each other no matter what throughout their unstable childhood and up until their mother's death. The two had a disagreement and now Maddie, a year older, has broken her life-long promise and will not be coming home for Alex's birthday week. Then, when Maddie doesn't even return Alex's phone calls, Alex takes matters into her own hands and head to The Hamptons where Maddie was supposed to have a job. 

When Alex arrives there she discovers Maddie was staying with a very wealthy family, The Blackwells, and they claim she headed back to New York City. Maddie's roommate there denies this and Alex suspects the Blackwells James, Katherine, and their two children, Theo and Lily, are all hiding what they know. They do allow Alex to stay in the pool house where Maddie stayed while she looks for her sister and reports her disappearance to the police. It seems that suspicions run high and secrets run rampant.

The well-written narrative unfolds through the multiple points of view Alex, Maddie "before", Lily, Katherine, Theo, James, and The Wharf. The chapters from Alex present day search and Maddie's from "before" are the most compelling, although the other narratives do add some depth to the story and potential suspects. I felt this technique is used quite effectively in The Perfect Sister and helped create tension and suspense.

This is a captivating plot, even though you do have to suspend disbelief several times, especially toward the end. I did this willingly because I had to know what happened to Maddie and who was responsible for whatever it was, which counts for a lot. Alex is a fully realized character and you will support her in her search. You'll also like Maddie. The whole Blackwell family veer more toward caricatures of a type of personality - the very wealthy.

The Perfect Sister must be the perfect choice for a summer read because I was engrossed in Alex's search for her sister and the truth. Thanks to Random House/Ballantine for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

In the Belly of the Whale

In the Belly of the Whale by Michael Flynn
7/16/24; 400 pages
CAEZIK SF & Fantasy  

In the Belly of the Whale by Michael Flynn is an epic science fiction journey that follows inhabitants aboard a colossal generation ship. This is a highly recommended final novel from Heinlein Medalist Flynn (1947–2023).

The Whale is a generation ship built within a hollowed-out asteroid that is set on a centuries-long journey to colonize the planet Tau Ceti and ensure the survival of the human race. Along with the hard science fiction elements involved with life aboard the unique space ship, Flynn closely follows the sociological changes that take place among the crew after generations spent on the ship.

After the Big Burnout, where a tenth of the ship has been basically abandoned, the original rules set in place for the efficient running of the ship and fair division of labor have now devolved into a stratification of the society with the privileged classes seeking power over everyone.  The differences in ideology, class, and cultural identity stirs up rebellion among the beleaguered crew, igniting the first whispers of revolution.

Admittedly, the list of personal at the start of the narrative was my friend as I tried to keep numerous names of characters and their stories straight. The main characters followed represent a selection of the diverse people across the society and include an detective, young lovers, politicians, and a non-commissioned officer, NCO. Once you can keep the unique names straight and come to know the characters, it makes following the plot a bit easier because you are no longer trying to keep characters straight.

There is no doubt that this is a dense novel, in scientific principles, language usage, the vision of the city in the ship, and the insightful examination of societal changes. It is a pleasure to read Michael Flynn's final novel as he is an intelligent writer who has always delivered a great story. Thanks to CAEZIK SF & Fantasy for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Shades of Mercy

Shades of Mercy by Bruce Borgos
7/16/24; 352 pages
St. Martin's Press
Porter Beck Mystery #2

Shades of Mercy by Bruce Borgos is a very highly recommended un-put-downable procedural/mystery/thriller set in the high desert of Nevada. This is the second book in the Porter Beck series and is just as excellent as the first, The Bitter Past. Shades of Mercy can most definitely also be read as a standalone novel.

The fentanyl crisis has hit Lincoln County when a childhood friend of Sheriff Porter Beck dies from an overdose. At the same time a hacker takes control of a military drone and explosively disrupts the 17th birthday party of Shiloah Roy, daughter of Jesse Roy, another childhood friend of Beck and a very successful rancher/owner of the Double J Ranch. After the drone hacking, Special Agent Ed Maddox of the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations arrives. Jesse had a prize bull killed by the drone and Maddox is quick to want to compensate him for his loss.

Beck's investigation into the hacking leads him to a juvenile detention center where Shiloah’s friend Mercy resides. Mercy Vaughn is a brilliant 16-year-old hacker who is locked up with no computer access. Brinley (Brin) Cummings, Beck's sister, works at the center and she thinks Mercy is innocent, but Beck has his doubts after meeting her. Then the political intrigue increases when we learn that Dal Cho, a South Korean political consultant, has been ordered to go to Lincoln County and find Mercy.

Shades of Mercy is a lightning-fast-paced intelligent and complex procedural that keeps both the intrigue and the action sustained throughout. The action is truly non-stop as the complex case is investigated. Expect an immersive plot that moves quickly while the reader's engagement remains high. Twists abound in the narrative as discoveries and new information are uncovered. The setting is a major part of the story. Anyone who has lived in or spent time in the high desert of Nevada will understand the fire danger and the dry heat. 

I love all the characters Borgos has created. Beck is an intelligent, astute, and resourceful character. He's nobody's fool and can read people like a book. He also has retinitis pigmentosa which means he has trouble seeing at night and decreasing peripheral vision. Brin and all the other varied supporting characters are portrayed as unique, fully realized individuals. This outing introduces a canine companion, Columbo, who is a perfect addition to the cast of characters.

This is an absolute winner and a wonderful addition to the series. I'll be looking forward to another Porter Beck procedural! Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Lost Story

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
7/16/24; 352 pages
Ballantine Books 

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer is a recommended fairy tale for grown-ups.

As fourteen-year-old friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing in the Red Crow State Forest in West Virginia. The two returned six months later with no explanation of where they were or how they survived. Now, fifteen years later, Rafe is a reclusive artist who still bears scars from that time but has no memory of what happened during those months. Jeremy is an investigator who specializes in finding missing girls. Emilie Wendell approaches Jeremy to find her older sister, Shannon, who went missing in the Red Crow Forest five years before he and Rafe. Jeremy remembers what happened when they were gone, but knows he must talk Rafe into joining them in entering the forest and the secret portal again.

The Lost Story is really a love story between Rafe and Jeremy set in an imaginary fairy tale world. The description saying C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia inspired The Lost Story threw me for a loop on this one. Yes, it applies as far as people enter a portal into an imaginary land, but the allegorical aspects are absent as are the charming details which make the series a classic. The setting is a fairy tale but none of the animals talk and are developed as characters. Sure, there are herds of unicorns but characters are simply seeing mythical creatures not talking to them. 

While I loved Shaffer's The Wishing Game, her current novel, The Lost Story, is entertaining but I'll admit to some disappointment as the plot progressed. I didn't want a love story, I wanted the promised magical adventure. (Or at least Fritz talking.) The narrative also has a Storyteller who jumps in and inserts comments as the plot unfolds. I'm not a fan of this choice. It is explained in the end, but still I was not a fan of it while reading the novel.

Jeremy and Rafe are fully realized characters but Emilie never reaches the same level of development. Her character was a favorite of mine and I would have appreciated a deeper dive into her development. Admittedly, I was also totally expecting Emilie's Fritz the rat to transform into a magical talking animal or at least a talking rat. Thanks to Ballantine Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

One Big Happy Family

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day
7/16/24; 368 pages
St. Martin's Press

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is a highly recommended locked-room mystery featuring an assortment of disagreeable characters.

Nineteen-year-old Charley Kelley lives rent free and works as a chambermaid at The Precipice, a legendary, family-owned hotel on the coast of Maine. All of Charley's money goes toward providing for her grandmother who is in a care home with dementia. At least she has one friend at The Precipice, Rodrigo, the front desk manager. After the owner George Bishop dies, his daughters, Vicki, Iris, and Faith, are set to arrive at the hotel for the reading of his will even though Hurricane Larry is predicted to make landfall during their stay. Before the sisters arrive, Charley agrees to hide a young woman, Bree, in an empty room to keep her safe from her abusive boyfriend. In return Bree has promised to pay Charley to help her take care of her grandmother.

Once Vicki arrives with her husband Todd, it becomes clear that the weekend may be tougher and even more demanding than expected. Faith arrives with her partner Hope, and their son Oliver, a fourteen-year-old who speaks in rhymes. Finally sister and ex-con Iris arrives with Vicki's son, Quinn. The tension-filled and secret-keeping group awaits the arrival of the lawyer, Brenda Black, and the reading of the will, which releases all manner of mayhem - and murder.

The narrative is broken down into four parts. The pace in the first two parts moves rather slowly as the plot is set up and background information is provided, however things really take off in the last two parts. The short chapters help the drama and revelations move along. Many of the secrets the sisters are keeping end up being revealed. The hurricane plays a major role in the narrative as everyone is trapped in the hotel while the electricity keep flickering on and off and cell reception is down.

Charley is a sympathetic character and you will want her to survive her encounter with the sisters. All the sisters are, predictably, disagreeable characters. You know from the backstory the big secret they are hiding and can easily surmise some others. The other characters are a mixed bag.

While most of the secrets are not shocking because you can guess what is going to happen, the animosity and vitriol that accompanies them will keep you reading and immersed in the action. I was entertained throughout. If you enjoy locked-room mysteries, One Big Happy Family is a good choice. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Blind Devotion of Imogene

The Blind Devotion of Imogene by David Putnam
7/9/24; 246 pages
Level Best Books
The Misadventures of Imogene Taylor #1

The Blind Devotion of Imogene by David Putnam is a highly recommended character-driven 70's noir .

It's 1973 and seventy-five year old Imogene Taylor is out of prison and on parole. She works at Dentco, a store that sells dented canned goods, and enjoys her Marlboro Reds, and Schlitz beer. She also tries to avoid her parole officer, Nancy Do-Right. Due to some letters she wrote to the President while in prison, Eugene, a Secret Service agent, takes her to lunch on the government's dime if the president is in the area. The last thing she needs is some gangster called The Cigar trying to extort Dentco for protection money. After her neighbor Suz's father dies, Suz asks for Imogene's help cleaning out the garage and this adds another big problem.

Set your expectations and disbelief aside while reading this entertaining, comedic noir novel set in Southern California. The tone to the novel is rather bleak and forlorn even when comedic elements are added to the narrative. The action and plot twists can feel a bit excessive and could result in eye-rolling, but that seems to be the whole point of the plot. There are some flashbacks which serve to strengthen and round out Imogene's character as well as provide background information about her life.

The Blind Devotion of Imogene features Imogene and a cast of quirky characters. All of them are caricatures of a type of person, which serves to enhance the humor embedded in the narrative. The nicknames Imogene gives to everyone also adds to the amusement as well as a description of them.

The author's notes at the end of the novel should not be skipped as they provide some interesting information pertinent to the story. This is the first novel of a new series so be forewarned: everything is not resolved and wrapped up at the ending. Thanks to Level Best Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Family Experiment

The Family Experiment by John Marrs
7/9/24; 384 pages
Hanover Square Press

The Family Experiment by John Marrs is a very highly recommended speculative thriller which melds the future of AI (artificial intelligence) into the realm of creating a virtual family for a reality TV show. This is a perfect pick for science fiction enthusiasts.

In a not too distant future the UK is under an economic crisis and a growing number of people can no longer afford to start families. However, with the burgeoning field of AI with a monthly subscription fee, people can create a virtual child who they can access via the metaverse and a VR headset. The company introducing this, Awakening Entertainment, has created an interactive reality TV show called "The Family Experiment" using their technological advances. 

In "The Family Experiment," which will stream 24/7, five couples and one single father will compete as they raise a virtual child from birth to the age of eighteen but in a condensed nine-month time period. There are monthly challenges and constant feedback from viewers via red or black hearts on the screen. The prize is the right to keep their virtual child or terminate it and use the prize money to start a family in the real world. Contestants include: Rufus Green and Kitty Carter; Dimitri and Zoe Taylor-Georgiou; Woody and Tina Finn; Cadman N’Yu and Gabriel Macmillan; Selena and Jaden Wilson; and Hudson Wright.

This is a brilliant, compelling, contemplative, twisty, and slightly terrifying (with the AI) thriller. I would say it is science fiction, but not with the current advances in artificial intelligence. It will hold your complete attention throughout. Readers will soon realize that someone seems to be interfering with the contestants and that there may be more behind Awakening Entertainment than great programming. One of the thought provoking questions raised, which seems simple, but could soon be timely, is: are the virtual children real?

Most of the characters are complicated and not likeable, but they are fully realized characters who have problems and secrets. It is easy to follow the plot and keep all the characters straight because they are all depicted as unique, intriguing individuals. As the narrative unfolds, many of their secrets are revealed along the way.

The final denouement is surprising and excellent in this fast paced cautionary tale. This is set in the same universe as Marrs' novel The One (2016), The Passengers (2019), and The Marriage Act (2023), however I feel like works well as a standalone novel too. Thanks to Hanover Square Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

 

The Day He Never Came Home

The Day He Never Came Home by Andrew DeYoung
7/9/24; 368 pages
Poisoned Pen Press

The Day He Never Came Home by Andrew DeYoung is a highly recommended domestic mystery.

Regan Peters' husband John may not talk about his past, but Regan knows he loves her and their two children, after all he just bought her a lake house. John is a financial advisor who works long hours to provide for them, so it is a shocking surprise when the FBI shows up at their home and Regan learns he has been running a Ponzi scheme. Then the real dilemma begins. Does Regan tell the FBI everything or would it be more prudent to hold back some information to protect her and the children since she may have a clue or two about what is happening, especially after she discovers the money and then receives a threat.

The Day He Never Came Home is a well-written novel that does hold your attention throughout while the plot moves along at a good pace. The narrative is broken into three parts. Part one is from Regan's point-of-view, part two is from John's perspective, and part three joins the two narratives. Regan's perspective is perhaps the most compelling of the two, although John's does provide background information for his character before it covers some of the same ground as Regan's point-of-view. There are a few interesting twists along the way.

Both Regan and John are interesting characters. Neither one is completely virtuous as they are both are guilty in various degrees of morally ambiguous actions. Regan will obviously act to protect her children. They can both con and both have reasons they would do so. This makes the novel more compelling than one that follows a standard story arc. Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

All This and More

All This and More by Peng Shepherd
7/9/24; 512 pages
William Morrow

All This and More by Peng Shepherd is a very highly recommended unique version of a Choose Your Own Adventure story, only this time it is to choose, or rather revise, your life.

Marsh has just turned forty-five and feels as if she has missed her chance at fulfillment in every area of her life. She can't believe it when she is selected to be a contestant on season 3 of the show All This and More. The show uses quantum technology, a time bubble, to allow contestants the chance to revise their pasts and change their present lives. This is Marsh's chance to seize her chance to get it all right and have the life she always wanted. As she tries on being successful in different occupations Marsh begins to realize that something is not quite right with All This and More.

This is a very creative, imaginative novel and the writing is incredible, characteristics I expect from any novel Peng Shepherd writes. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I am good with the reality TV show plot mixed with science fiction. My only hesitation is the Choose Your Own Adventure aspect. My kids were fans of these kind of novels years ago, however I never grew up with them so the idea has no nostalgia for me. The plot had to stand on what I choose.

The different realities Marsh encounters were well done and the glitches she begins to notice are seamlessly incorporated into the various narrative choices. I liked the science fiction aspect to the narrative, the idea of jumps to different realities is clever, but maybe not so much the choose what to do next while reading. 

Admittedly, I did choose what I sincerely wanted to see next, so my experience was a mix of the two options. It might be interesting to read it straight through without choices to see if it changes my feelings. 4.5 rounded up. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne
7/9/24; 352 pages
St. Martin's Press

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne follows a woman whose personality has been formed by repressed childhood trauma. This character driven debut novel is very highly recommended.

Lenny Marks, 37 years-old and single, is a fifth grade teacher at Selby South Primary School who is excels at not having a life. She keeps to herself and her routines. She eats the same things every week. She plays scrabble "with" Monica while watching Friends reruns. Lenny owns thirty-six copies of The Hobbit. Lenny may have difficulties reading people, but she is excellent with words. One of her coping mechanisms is rearranging the letters of words into as many anagrams as possible. Lenny Marks is also very good at not remembering what happened the day her mother and stepfather disappeared when she was still a child - until she is forced to remember.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a well-written debut novel that kept me totally immersed in Lenny's story throughout. This character driven novel truly is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. It is written in the same vein of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. The narrative starts out at an even pace and then, once readers are introduced to Lenny and her idiosyncrasies, it begins to pick up the pace and reveal what really happened in Lenny's past and how she got the scar on her leg.

Lenny is a memorable, intelligent, complicated, neurodivergent character. She survived incredible trauma as a child and found a way to keep living while repressing many of those memories. Her inner thoughts and reactions are written in a believable manner. Readers will love to see her trying to connect with people and her rescue of an abuse dog. 

Once her past is revealed, it is heartbreaking and all of Lenny's coping mechanisms make perfect sense. There are a few times you need to suspend some disbelief, but it is something you will gladly do in order to see Lenny through to the final denouement. Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder would be an excellent choice for book clubs! Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Whoever You Are, Honey

Whoever You Are, Honey by Olivia Gatwood
7/9/24; 320 pages
Dial Press

Whoever You Are, Honey by Olivia Gatwood is a measured character study that explores the relationships between women. This is a recommended debut novel that flirts with being a thriller and science fiction dystopian.

After some incident when she was eighteen, Mitty left Arizona for to stay with an old friend of her mother's, Bethel in her dilapidated oceanfront home in Santa Cruz. She hasn't been home since. Mitty is now in her late twenties while Bethel is in her late seventies. A new couple has just moved into the house next door, Lena and Sebastian. Sebastian is a renowned tech founder and Lena is his perfect girlfriend. Mitty observed the couple after they moved in and soon she and Lena meet and begin to spend time together, forming a friendship. 

The narrative revolves around Mitty and Lena, their friendship and the secrets they both have. Mitty is hiding a secret and is hesitant to make friends because of it. Lena is uncomfortable with her uneven memory and the control Sebastian has over her. The plot is rather slow paced, basic, and Lena's secret is very predictable early on. I kept reading because the quality of the writing is excellent. I was expecting the pace, tension and action to increase and wanted to know Mitty's secret.

Whoever You Are, Honey would have benefited from more action, progression in the plot and the inclusion of more science fiction elements to build up tension while keeping the poetic language. What we have is beautiful, lyrical language about loneliness, friendship, memories, and seeking perfection. The inclusion of AI is very basic has been done before and with much more intensity, credibility, and caution. This wasn't a good fit for me. Thanks to Dial Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley . My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Night the River Wept

The Night the River Wept by Lo Patrick
7/2/24; 400 pages
Sourcebooks Landmark

The Night the River Wept by Lo Patrick is a very highly recommended small town Southern murder mystery with a very unlikely investigator.

Arlene, 24, is married to her high school sweetheart, Tommy, and longs to be a mother. The two live in Faber, a small town in Georgia, where Tommy, is in commercial real estate, but does well enough that he is often called a real estate tycoon in town. Tommy loves Arlene and wants the best for her but he also has a drinking problem. After a miscarriage she needs to find a way to keep busy so she applies for a job at the police station and is offered a part time position bagging evidence. Since the job only takes about 20 minutes of work a day, Arlene begins to read the old case files.

One case in particular, the murder of three young brothers on Deck River, an area populated by those with little hope, captures her attention. The murder was followed by the suicide of the main suspect, Mitchell Wright. Arlene gets permission to look into the case and soon believes she could solve the case. Tommy is getting on her nerves with his drinking anyway and the cold case becomes an obsession. She sets out to discover the truth with help from Allaina, who was on the police force at that time, and Ronna, the police department's receptionist.

I really enjoyed The Night the River Wept and I realize I'm a bit of an outlier in how much I enjoyed it. It is a beautifully written novel and captures both a unique, charming Southern setting as the characters deal with personal struggles,loss, growth and redemption while uncovering the truth. The narrative unfolds through the point-of-view of Arlene, diary entries written by Mitchell's sister, and the murderer. Arlene is the main, dominant voice.

I appreciated the humorous dialog and observations throughout the novel. The bulk of the novel is full of grim  insightful and poignant moments in the narrative, but interspersed are gems that left me laughing several times while reading. Patrick captured the dialect of her characters in the dialogue and I could hear them talking as I read. And the stories... like the daughter who left the lineman she was married to, which disappointed her mother because she is a Glen Campbell fan.

Arlene is certainly a flawed character, but, bless her heart, I like her. She's young and she's blaming herself for her miscarriage. Her dream of being a mother has been shattered and seems unobtainable. Arlene is insecure and searching for an adult role model/friend. It is funny and a bit heartbreaking when she attaches herself to Ronna, a woman who has her own issues, and closely follows her behavior in an attempt to be an adult. This includes bringing leftover meatloaf for lunch. She's also dealing with a husband who's frequently drunk by noon. Looking into the cold case gives her a purpose and confidence in herself.

The novel is populated with unique, memorable characters. Arlene is earnest in her role as detective as she looks into the cold case. The investigation into the murder mystery is serious. The small town never really dug deep and tried to truly solve the case. People kept secrets.Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The World After Alice

The World After Alice by Lauren Aliza Green
7/2/24; 320 pages
Viking

The World After Alice by Lauren Aliza Green is a recommended family drama following two families brought together to celebrate an unexpected marriage.

Morgan Helmsley and Benji Weil surprise their families with a wedding invitation to Maine. The two kept their relationship a secret up until now. Their wedding will be the first time the two families have been together since the tragic death of sixteen-year-old Alice and the fallout that followed twelve years ago. Alice was the sister of Benji and best friends with Morgan and no one has been the same since her death. Now the guests arrive in Maine but with them also arrive with their own agendas. It is a miasma of old wounds, secrets, and hurt.

This is a character driven novel and it closely follows the relationships and interactions between them. All of the characters have depth and are fully realized individuals. None of them are particularly likable, but they are depicted with a raw, emotional honesty. They are all flawed people. It becomes clear how intertwined these family members are and how terribly wrong everything could go for Morgan and Benji.

The pace is slow and the relationships are complicated, which results in furthering slowing the pace. The overall tone is rather sad and depressing. The narrative is told in alternating timelines, before and after the suicide and then the present day. This didn't work as smoothly as I would have preferred. This also served to further slow the pace. The language is

Personally, the overall premise that Morgan and Benji must invite family to their wedding rather than simply inviting who they wanted and announcing it to the rest, was one that I thought was ridiculous. Thanks to Viking for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Ladykiller

Ladykiller Katherine Wood
7/9/24; 368 pages
Random House/Bantam

 
Ladykiller Katherine Wood is a highly recommended debut mystery that has strong melodramatic soap opera sensibilities.

Gia and Abby became friends as children, along with Gia's younger brother Benny, because Abby's mother worked for Gia's very wealthy family. The family accepted Abby as one of their own, paid for her schooling including college, and opened up new experiences and opportunities for her. The two became even more bonded together after a tragic incident that happened when they were 18 on the family's beachfront estate on a Greek island. Gia's father, Hugo Torres, recently passed away, and left the Greek island estate to Gia.

Abby and Gia have become estranged recently, when Gia, undeterred by Abby's suggestion of caution, married Garrett after knowing him for just three months. Gia and Garrett are living on the island estate now, preparing it for sale. Abby is working fourteen-hour days as an attorney. When Gia invites Abby and Benny on an all-expenses-paid trip to Sweden to see the Northern lights and celebrate her 30th birthday, the two arrive, but Gia doesn't, texting excuses that leave them suspicious. The two set off to Greece to find Gia.

The narrative unfolds in alternating chapters that present the perspectives of both Abby and Gia. Abby's perspective is told through chapters set in the present and past. Gia's story is presented through a manuscript she is writing which purportedly describes events on the island estate leading up to her disappearance. Gia's story is of an entitled heiress living a lascivious life style. The real question becomes clear early on: Is Gia, as depicted in her manuscript, a trustworthy character or reliable narrator?

Ladykiller is a well-written debut novel that held my attention throughout. There are plenty of secrets and scandals unfolding throughout the plot. Expect some twists that may stretch credibility but should not deter you from reading. The ending, which doesn't offer a complete conclusion, will either offer readers an entertaining  opportunity to form their own opinions, or, alternately, slightly disappoint those who like closure. That, in itself, could start a lively book club discussion. Thanks to Bantam Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

 

The Same Bright Stars

The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella
7/2/24; 304 pages

Scribner

The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella is a very highly recommended feel-good literary domestic drama following Jack Schmidt and his family's beachfront restaurant, Schmidts, in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. This one hits all the right notes and tugs on every heart string.

Jack, 52, spends all his time, every day, running the family restaurant. Ever since he took over after the death of his father, the demands of Schmidts always come first, before relationships or leisure time. He is the third generation to run the restaurant. Now he has before him a generous offer from the DelDine group to buy Schmidts. The corporation has been buying up restaurants along the coast. The stress the holidays put any restaurant under makes Thanksgiving a natural time to seriously consider the DelDine offer. They claim they will continue to employ his staff and honor his family's legacy, but can he trust them? And is it too late for Jack to make a life for himself apart from the restaurant?

The Same Bright Stars shines as a character driven drama and character study focused around Jack. Jack's life, struggles, family, compassion, and loses are all perfectly portrayed. He is a wonderful, fully realized, sympathetic character, as are the supporting cast of characters. They all come to life.  Jack also has regrets from his past and desires a relationship but feels like it's perhaps too late for him.

While following the present day drama, the narrative also includes excerpts from a guidebook describing Rehoboth Beach and chapters flashing back into events from the past. Joella does an exceptional job realistically describing restaurant work. (I respect mentioning Crocs. Seriously, Crocs for work are a huge thing and this is a wonderful, realistic addition to the story.) The people who work for Jack are like family and many have a long-time relationship with him.

The Same Bright Stars is such an incredible, eloquent story of legacy, family, loss, and love. Joella handles the well-written narrative with his deft touch showing compassion and empathy for his characters and their struggles. Once you start reading you will not be able to set this novel down and it will leave an emotional impact on you. Thanks to Scribner for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Haters

The Haters by Robyn Harding
7/2/24; 352 pages
Grand Central Publishing 

The Haters by Robyn Harding is a very highly recommended thriller following an author who is being attacked by internet trolls.

Camryn Lane has just had her debut novel, Burnt Orchid, published and the initial reviews are great. Liza, her 17-year-old daughter, boyfriend Theo, her editor, and friends are all thrilled for her. Then she receives a disturbing message from an unknown sender accusing her of exploiting her student's private lives for material in the book. Camryn is a high school guidance counselor and would never do such a thing. Following the scathing message, her book begins to receive one star ratings full of unwarranted attacks on a popular review site. Camryn is advised to not engage with the trolls, but the attacks are becoming increasingly personal and threatening. Who is behind this and why do they want to destroy her?

The Haters is a well-written thriller along with a cautionary tale of engaging with online trolls. While following the main plot, the narrative includes excerpts from Camryn's novel Burnt Orchid. The excerpts make it clear that her novel is not exploiting her students lives.

Camryn is a fully-realized but flawed character. It is true that Camryn didn't listen to the advice to ignore and don't engage. She made it very personal. On the other hand, it was very personal. That fact made it clear that the list of potential suspects may need to include someone close to her. It is said that authors can feel like their books are like their children and this is how Camryn is reacting to the attacks.

The premise was so gripping and realistic I was immersed in the plot from beginning to end. Part of my high rating is how the premise of the novel is so realistic and compelling. It would be very difficult to not engage with the unwarranted harassment. If you've ever witness one of these canceling troll events on a book review site you'll understand how hateful the comments can be and obvious it is that none of them have actually read the book. Some of them will even attack other reviewers. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.