The Invited by Jennifer McMahon
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group: 4/30/19
eBook review copy; 368 pages
ISBN-13:
9780385541381
The Invited by Jennifer McMahon is a highly recommended ghost story.
Helen and Nate Wetherell decide to leave city life behind and buy
forty-four acres in rural Vermont where they plan to build their dream
house by themselves. When they discover that the property has a dark
past and a reputation for being haunted, former history teacher Helen
begins to research the life of Hattie
Breckenridge, the woman who lived and died there a century ago. Hattie
is said to haunt the land and surrounding bogs. Helen not only
researches Hattie's life, but that of her descendants too, three
generations of "Breckenridge women." There seems to be more to their
deaths than the locals are admitting... And who is trying to scare them
off? While their neighbor, fourteen-year-old Olive Kissner, admits to some stunts, she is not responsible for all of them.
While this is a ghost story, it is also very much a mystery. And,
while this is a ghost story, it is not a horror story, although horrific
things do happen by the hands of the living. It is also the story of
seeking a treasure, that may or may not be real, and this is also
reflected on several levels in the narrative. There is definitely
tension that slowly builds and the mystery and questions expand
gradually, slowly building to a surprising, shocking conclusion.
McMahon is an exceptional writer and I always look forward to her novels. The characters are all well-developed and you will feel empathy for all
of them. Following Helen's investigations and discoveries is just as
compelling as following Olive's inquiries. The pacing is perfect. The
disclosure of more information is closely tied to the incremental odd
occurrences and new developments. The tension builds, not with
nail-biting horror, but with a subtle feeling someone might be in the
room with you, and what was that noise, and is that what I think it is?
The real story behind the ghost story, is a tragedy and perhaps the
truly frightening part of the tale. While I loved other novels by
McMahon more, this is still a very good novel and a perfect choice for a
rainy day and foggy night.
Disclosure:
My review copy was courtesy of Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
The Innocent Ones by Neil White
Hera Books: 4/24/19
eBook review copy; 404 pages
ISBN-13:
9781912973071
The Innocent Ones by Neil White is a highly recommended investigative legal thriller.
Dan Grant, a criminal defense lawyer, and Jayne Brett, a private
investigator, are teaming up to look into the murder of London
journalist Mark Roberts. Dan is representing Nick Connor, a petty thief
who has been charged with Roberts' murder. When the victim's mother
comes to Dan and claims that Connor is likely innocent because her son
would have been investigating a previous criminal case and the real
killer would be associated with whatever Mark was investigating.
Trying to find out what Mark was investigating will allow Dan to find
the real perpetrator and get his client off the hook, so he calls in
Jayne to help uncover what Mark Roberts was looking for, who he was
talking to and, most importantly, why. The case leads back to a series
of child murders in
Yorkshire over twenty years ago and the man who is in prison for them.
Apparently Roberts has uncovered some secrets that have led him to
believe the convicted man was innocent. The real trouble is that
exposing some secrets can be deadly.
This is a very well written legal thriller with plenty of twists,
turns, danger,
secrets, and surprises. At the start there are two story lines, both of
which
are compelling. These merge in the second half of the narrative and the
tension rises along with the intrigue. This is the third and final book
in the series featuring Dan Grant and Jayne Brett. I haven't read the
previous two in the series, From the Shadows and The Darkness Around Her, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of The Innocent Ones.
The characters are well developed, especially as this is the third
book featuring them. I didn't feel like I was missing much jumping into
book three. The two work well together and have a nice chemistry between
them. The action starts slowly at first, but there is plenty of back
story being shared and inside information given to the reader. There is
evil afoot and it becomes more and more palpable as the investigation
and story unfold. Then the narrative and action take off with the twists
and discoveries.
Disclosure:
My review copy was courtesy of Hera Books.
Strange Tales of World Travel by Gina and Scott Gaille
Travelers' Tales Guides, Inc.: 4/23/19
eBook review copy; 240 pages
ISBN-13:
9781609521691
Strange Tales of World Travel by Gina and Scott Gaille is a highly recommended collection of fifty bizarre, mysterious, horrible and hilarious tales.
“What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever seen or experienced?”
Wherever they go, they Gina and Scott Gaille ask this question. Between
them they have traveled to more than 100 countries,
including many off-the-beaten-path places in Africa, South America, and
Asia. What they have learned is that everyone has a story, and many of
them are unforgettable. This book is a memoir of recollections of their
experiences and fifty of the stories they have heard.
The tales open with the setting which begins with a brief description
of the place and any needed background information needed to lead into
the story. Stories come from across the globe: Bora Bora, the Sahara
Desert, Botswana, the Galápagos Islands, the United Arab Emirates,
Nigeria, Kenya, Qatar, Equatorial Guinea, Caribbean, India, Lithuania,
South Africa, Angola, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Madagascar, Seychelles
Islands, Rwanda, the Arctic Ocean, the Serengeti Plains, Australia,
Mount Kilimanjaro, Guatemala - and that is only some of the settings.
All of the stories are brief, but memorable - as one would expect
from the question being asked all of these various people is vastly
different places. The first story is hilarious and will immediately grab
your attention and propel you forward to read the rest of the tales.
After that the content varies greatly depending upon the person asked
the question and the place they are located. This is a book that you can
read in short bursts or binge read all at once. Either technique will
still result in some vastly different stories and amazing tales.
Disclosure:
My review copy was courtesy of Travelers' Tales Guides, Inc.
A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C. A. Fletcher
Orbit: 4/23/19
eBook review copy; 384 pages
ISBN-13:
9780316449458
A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C. A. Fletcher is a very highly recommended story of a quest set in a dystopian world. Great novel!
Griz and family live on an island off the west coast of Scotland.
They are part of only a few thousand people left in the world. The world
has suffered a soft apocalypse that is called the Gelding, a global epidemic of infertility
that left the vast
majority of the world's population unable to have children. Griz's
family sees no one else, so it is just them and their beloved dogs.
Griz's dog are are Jip and Jess. When a red haired stranger shows up,
saying he is a trader, he seems friendly, but when he leaves, he steals
food and Griz's dog, Jess. Griz jumps into a boat along with Jip and
they give chase, because you can't steal a person's dog and if you
aren't loyal to those you love, what's the point?
A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World is an excellent,
compelling,
un-put-down-able story and I know this will be a contender for one of
the best books of the year. It is written through Griz's voice via
journal entries written after the fact. There is foreshadowing expertly
interwoven in the tale of survival and courage in a strange world full
of ruins. Griz is devoted to Jip and Jess and will do anything to rescue
Jess from the stranger. The suspense and tension is palatable as danger
abounds everywhere.
No spoilers, as I want to respect Fletcher's wishes to allow readers
to experience the journey as it unfolds, so I'm not going to say too
much more. The writing, though, is exceptional, and the tension and
suspense is kept high. This is a classic story of an epic quest. Griz is
a great character, well-developed and believable in this very different
world. There are some plot twists that you will not see coming and they
will shock and astound you.
Disclosure:
My review copy was courtesy of Orbit.
Quote:
"...when liars say they’re going to tell you the truth, it’s time to
listen extra carefully to their stories–not because they’re going
to try and hide the truth inside them, but because the truth’s not
going to be there at all. The real truth is going to be in the
things they don’t mention. So if you listen to the shape of their
lie, you can see the room it takes up, and then you look for the
truth in the empty spaces in between."
Earthbound by Paul Falk
BooksGoSocial: 3/10/19
eBook review copy; 205 pages
ISBN-13: 9781090256638
Earthbound by Paul Falk is a so-so science fiction novel.
An asteroid of unbelieveable size (20 miles!) is found to be hurling
on a collision course toward the Earth. The impact and the end of life
as we know it is going to occur in 32 days and the world falls into
chaos. Set in San Diego, California, our protagonist, Jim Stone is
ex-Navy and sets out to prepare. He manages to get the last cart load of
groceries out of the local store, arms himself, and then coordinates
getting his son, girlfriend, and best friend all ensconced at his house.
Setting aside the rather stilted writing and somewhat awkward dialogue, the start to the plot in Earthbound
is strong, The chaos brings violence and Jim is ready to meet it head
on, gun at the ready, protecting those he loves and what they have.
There are several narrow escapes from death for all of them. The
impending disaster looms large and the violence threatening them is
palpable. The narrative is gripping at this point and you will be
wondering if they can survive.
Then it all takes a side-track, running off the rails of a great
start and heads down the allegorical trail. The juxtaposition of concern
over the survival, protection, and safety of those you love being
suddenly banished for a greater concern that can be made to directly
compare to a current political situation was a story-killer.
Additionally, the amount of discussion between characters relating to
this was, well, kinda preachy and long-winded. Less time was spent
discussing the neighbor demanding food and trying to break into your
house so you had to kill him. (For those who read Earthbound,
ponder this and the other shooting in comparison to the later lecture.)
Then the ending abruptly arrives with no conclusion. This is part one of
a series.
Disclosure:
My review copy was courtesy of the publisher/author.
The Better Sister by Alafair Burke
HarperCollins: 4/16/19
eBook review copy; 336 pages
ISBN-13: 9780062853370
The Better Sister by Alafair Burke is a highly recommended domestic thriller.
Chloe Taylor is married to Adam Macintosh. Adam is the ex-husband of
her estranged sister, Nicky. The two are raising Nicky and Adam's,
Ethan, and Ethan calls Chloe "Mom." Fourteen years ago Chloe helped Adam
get custody of two-year-old Ethan, proving Nicky as an unfit parent.
Although the two weren't involved at that time and had no plans to do
so, things happened and they ended up getting married and raising Ethan
together.
Of the two, Chloe is the more successful. She has always been
ambitious and driven to succeed. Currently she is the very successful
editor-in-chief of Eve magazine in NYC and
has recently gained significant recognition and fame. When Adam is
murdered by an intruder in their second home in East Hampton,
Nicky comes back into their lives. Then Ethan is arrested for Adam's
murder and the two work together to get him exonerated, even as family
secrets are exposed and several hard truths need to be confronted.
Although partly a courtroom drama, The Better Sister is mainly
a domestic thriller. It is not fast-paced, which allows time for a slow
disclosure of some secrets and hidden drama. This is not necessarily a
complicated thriller, rather it is a character driven domestic mystery
where secrets are exposed and everyone is looking for the truth of who
really murdered Adam and what really happened in the past.
The writing is very good, in a pretty straightforward style. The
novel has a strong start and the courtroom scenes were well-done. The
ending isn't surprising, but the narrative is really about the journey
to get there and the secrets that are exposed. Since this novel is
strongly character driven, the characters are all well developed, albeit
keeping all manner of secrets from each other. The negative comments
Chloe reads about herself on social media were a realistic touch that
maybe subliminally could be social commentary, but in this case is tied
into the plot. The Better Sister is a good pick for a summer
vacation read or an airplane book. It will keep you entertained and help
pass the time. 3.5 rounded up.
Disclosure:
My review copy was courtesy of HarperCollins.
Alice's Island by Daniel Sánchez Arévalo
Atria Books: 4/16/19
eBook review copy; 400 pages
ISBN-13:
9781501171956
Alice's Island by Daniel Sánchez Arévalo is a so-so domestic mystery.
Alice Dupont's husband dies of natural causes, a brain aneurysm, in
his car miles away from where he said he was. Alice, soon to be the
mother of two, undertakes an investigation of her own to find out why
her husband was on the road where his car was found and where he had
been coming from before that, as he was clearly on his way home from
somewhere else. She retraces her husband's trip and finds clues that
lead her to Robin Island, a small island located near Nantucket and
Martha's Vineyard. Alice moves to the island, using her maiden name,
with her two daughters, six-year-old Olivia and infant Ruby. She then
sets out to spy on the residents of the small island in an attempt to
find out what her husband was doing and if he was cheating on her.
This is Arévalo's first novel to appear in English, so perhaps
something was lost in the translation, as far as the actual writing
goes, so I'm giving a pass to any quibbles with the writing and the
dialogue. I can say that the novel felt padded and I was losing patience
with it and Alice. The search was interminable and, well, stupid and
pointless. She wanted to know where he had been, so why not tell the
truth to people? Why make up a lie? Why move to the island and continue
lying? Why not simply tell people who you are and what you want to know?
All the bribing people, clandestine spying on people, and supposition
about what could have happened was pointless and especially trying on
this reader.
Alice herself starts out as a sympathetic character. Her husband has
just died, she is close to having their second daughter, and she doesn't
know why he was in that part of the country. Then she starts to lose
credibility as her weird search for "the truth" begins along with her
needless lying. She loses all sympathy when she begins spending large
sums of money (at a conveniently placed spy store) to actively spy and
snoop on people and begins an affair with a married man. A novel with an
interesting start, tedious overly-padded middle, and uninteresting,
albeit happy, ending.
Disclosure:
My review copy was courtesy of Atria Books.
