With My Little Eye

With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson
4/25/23; 336 pages
William Morrow 

With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson is a very highly recommended, excellent novel of psychological suspense. As expected, I love With My Little Eye just as I have loved every book Jackson has written. This will be one of my top books of the year.

Meribel Mills is in her forties and a single mom raising Honor, her twelve-year-old daughter who is on the spectrum. Her claim to fame was a sitcom, Belinda’s World, she was in twenty years ago. Now she is considered a B-list actress, but she still has acting offers. She also has an obsessive stalker she calls Marker Man because he sends creepy letters written in fruit-scented marker. When she discovers that he has been in her home, she accepts a role in a TV series that requires her to move from Los Angeles to Atlanta.

Now in Atlanta, Meribel should feel safe, but she is still receiving forwarded letters from Marker Man. She also has a sensation that someone is watching her, following her. Could it be Marker Man, someone from her past, or a new stalker? Who can she trust?

Jackson is always an exceptional writer who knows how to tell a detailed, fast-paced story with intelligence and humor that will hold your attention throughout. Meribel narrates most of the novel at the beginning but Honor and other voices are added later. It is compelling to hear these different narrators, which add complexities and depth to the plot, while increasing the tension, suspense, and sense of foreboding. As the  complicated plot unfolds, there are several suspects that emerge.

Both Meribel and Honor are wonderful, fully realized characters who experience growth personally and in their relationships. Jackson excels at portraying the relationship between Meribel and Honor, while also capturing Honor's voice. There are a wide variety of characters and each of them is carefully crafted as unique characters with secrets.

The twists at the ending were heart-stopping and full of tension. I enjoyed the final denouement and felt like it was a smart way to end the novel. With My Little Eye is another exceptional novel by Joshilyn Jackson.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of William Morrow via NetGalley.

In the Orchard

In the Orchard by Eliza Minot
4/25/23; 256 pages
Knopf Doubleday 

In the Orchard by Eliza Minot is a recommended internal monologue of a young mother and wife over the course of one day. Maisie Moore reflects on motherhood when up late at night nursing her newborn and then during a family outing to an apple orchard. This one is for poets and those who love language, especially mothers. Those interested in a plot might want to give it a pass.

Admittedly, I had several passages that I saved for the meticulously, masterfully crafted writing or the profound insight conveyed, but there are also many, many more excessively descriptive passages that felt over-the-top. If you are a mother, you will understand and even sympathize with Maisie. However, you might grow weary of the repetition in her contemplation of motherhood, nursing, other mothers, and the Moore's inexplicable crushing debt. Readers may find themselves talking back to some of Maisie's inner dialogue. Many young families are careful and follow a strict budget rather than spending beyond their means. 3 stars for the passages I highlighted.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Knopf Doubleday via Edelweiss.

 

The Lie

The Lie by Kathryn Croft
4/20/23; 332 pages
Bookouture

The Lie by Kathryn Croft is a highly recommended domestic suspense mystery.

Lucy and Tom and their children Jacob and Ava threw a barbeque for their new neighbors in Surrey signifying their new start. Jacob's girlfriend Rose and her mother Carrie are among the guests. Ava adores Rose and spent much of the evening talking to her. Seemingly, it was a successful evening. Then early the next morning Carrie calls and says Rose is missing. Jacob says he walked Rose home, but there are some questions about his claim. Carrie is certain Jacob had something to do with her daughters disappearance.

The first thing you need to know is that The Lie will hold your attention from start to finish. The second is that the title of the novel is a misnomer as everyone seems to be lying about something. There is plenty of deception swirling around everyone as they are even lying to themselves.

Lucy, Carrie, and Rose narrate the story through chapters told in their alternating points-of-view. This allows insight into their thoughts, personal lives, and eventually their secrets. Honestly, I didn't trust anyone in this novel as they all seemed suspect and sketchy at times. Characters are developed, but slowly as people demonstrating who they really are is part of the plot. The surprising twist in the ending wasn't really shocking because no one is particularly believable. If you like mysteries featuring flawed characters in dysfunctional families, The Lie will entertain you.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Bookouture via NetGalley.

The Double Life of Benson Yu

The Double Life of Benson Yu by Kevin Chong
4/18/23; 224 pages
Atria Books

The Double Life of Benson Yu by Kevin Chong is a highly recommended work of metafiction regarding the Benson Yu's upbringing in 1980s Chinatown.

After his mother dies, twelve-year-old Benny lives with his ailing grandmother in Chinatown. When his grandmother is hospitalized and his aunt is on tour with a band, Benny asks his neighbor Constantine, a man who believes he’s a reincarnated medieval samurai, if he can stay with him after a social worker stops by. The two form a bond and then Benny is taken out of his apartment and eventually goes to stay with his father, Benson, in the future.

Once Benny is in the future, with his father, who is really himself, the novel takes an odd turn and space and time are ignored in order for the narrator to grapple with the abuse he suffered at the hands of his sensei. Benson is famous for creating Iggy Samurai, a comic book which is semi- autobiographical and C., the instructor who abused him is demanding money.

I actually like Benny's voice in the 1980s. Once the novel jumped and the metafiction part of the writing took over, I enjoyed it less, although I liked the character of Benny. Although I wasn't totally engaged with the plot device of jumping forward in time and then Benson's narration, I still liked the character of Benny. Basically, I was there for Benny but no so much for the whole metafiction and therapeutic portion of the plot. I'm not a reader of comic books, but I did appreciate that detail of the story.

Benny was an interesting, resilient character who invited readers to support him and wish the best for his future. I liked the ending. I liked the beginning, and the middle part of the novel was a bit frustrating although it did eventually result in an ending that was satisfying for me. This is a coming-of-age story that follows an unusual trajectory to the conclusion. It is an interesting idea for a plot, but isn't entirely successful, however, where it succeeds, it excels.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Atria via Edelweiss.

The Best Minds

The Best Minds by Jonathan Rosen
4/18/23; 576 pages
Penguin Publishing Group

The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions by Jonathan Rosen is a very highly recommended account of the life of Michael Laudor, his schizophrenia, and an exploration of the history of how we treat mental illness.

Michael Laudor and Jonathan Rosen became best friends almost immediately after they met in 1973 when the Rosens moved to New Rochelle, New York. Rosen shares stories of their childhood and Michael's brilliant mind and commanding presence even when young. By the time the two both got into Yale, they were no longer as close as they were as children, but still kept in touch. Michael graduated in three years and moved on to a consulting job. After a year the stress became too much and Michael was beginning to struggle with his mental health. He moved home and this is where he was when he had his first psychotic break. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in the locked ward of a psychiatric hospital.

Michael learned he was accepted into Yale Law School while he was hospitalized. A year and a half later while still experiencing delusions, he attended Yale Law and graduated with a whole lot of help from others. Later his story was featured in The New York Times and he sold his memoir. A film on his life was being planned. But then Michael had another psychotic break and stabbed his girlfriend Carrie to death with a kitchen knife, the act that grabbed headlines and national attention.

The history of the shifting views on mental illness and treatment is also address, including the 1980s deinstitutionalization. The history did feel a bit long, but is perhaps provided as a beneficial account for those who are not familiar with changing views and treatments over the years. Certainly it influenced the treatment Michael did or didn't receive, even while he was an activist for accommodating the mentally ill.

Rosen follows Michael's life, as well as his own, thoughtfully, with honesty and self reflection. Many details are included to help establish a complete portrait of a man, family, and community. This well-written narrative carefully explores friendship, family, and the nature of mental illness and how we have failed people who need intervention and help. Honestly, it wasn't a five until I reached the end and everything was brought to the heartbreaking conclusion.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Penguin via NetGalley.

Where They Lie

Where They Lie by Joe Hart
5/1/23; 240 pages
Thomas & Mercer
Nora McTavish #1

Where They Lie by Joe Hart is a highly recommended domestic mystery.

Kaylee Volk is a vlogger and influencer whose focus is family life. She is unable to conceive so Kaylee and her husband, Justin, have three foster children Bethany, Mason, and Andrea. The children are a focus of her content. When the family's private plane crashes into the ocean only Kaylee survives. She claims Andrea caused the plane crash.

Nora McTavish is a child protective services (CPS) agent who had a troubled childhood herself. She is also familiar with the Volk family from an earlier call she had to investigate a fight between Andrea and Mason. The police are satisfied with the answers they have for the plane crash, but Nora suspects there is more going on and begins her own investigation.

Since this is the first novel in what will be a series featuring Nora, the trauma from her troubling childhood experiences are covered to help establish her personality and reactions. There is plenty of room left to further develop her character in future novels. She is a sympathetic but damaged character and readers will trust her judgment as she investigates what happened with the Volk family. There are also some fine clues to how much Nora really cares about the people she is helping.

The mystery within the novel is interesting and Nora uncovers secrets within the Volk family. There are threatening incidents to Nora personally and a break-in at her home after she brought home a broken iPad from the Volk's home. The iPad wasn't taken, and her dog wasn't hurt, but the threat of violence increases the tension. As she uncovers clues it becomes clear that the iPad may contain information about the case that someone is trying to hide, but first she will have to find a way to get the information off the broken device.  A quick, satisfying mystery.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley.

The Atonement Murders

The Atonement Murders by Jenifer Ruff
4/14/23; 289 pages
Greyt Companion Press
Agent Victoria Heslin #7

The Atonement Murders by Jenifer Ruff is a very highly recommended mystery/procedural and the seventh novel in the series featuring FBI Special Agent Victoria Heslin.

When  NBA player Jerome Smith is found murdered in Boston with the words "This Is Your Atonement" written in lipstick on the wall, FBI Special Agent Victoria Heslin is assigned to the case. But this was not the first murder. Two months before this in Charlotte Todd Eckstrom was found murdered with the same message written on the wall. The two men knew each other and were friends since high school, so it seems perhaps the murders were related to some event in their shared past. Then two sisters are murdered with the same message written on the wall but seemingly no connection to the first two.

The Atonement Murders is a well written mystery/procedural that intelligently follows the investigation and sets a fast pace that will hold your attention throughout. The narrative is mainly set in the present day following Victoria and the evidence uncovered, with some chapters set twelve years ago when Todd and Jerome were teens. There are also occasionally shorts excerpts from the killer's journal. The motivation and identity of the murderer is not clear until the end. All the clues and connections are logical and compelling in the investigation. There are no improbably twists.

I really enjoyed The Atonement Murders and as described, it truly is a standalone investigation which concludes at the end. This was my first book in the series and I enjoyed it so much that I now I need to read the previous books. Victoria Heslin is a wonderful, appealing, insightful character. She approaches her investigation with logic, intelligence, and care, plus she loves animals. It was really a pleasure being introduced to her.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Greyt Companion Press via NetGalley.