Monday (Mini #BookReview) Madness

This week I read:

I loved the idea behind this book – a club of high schoolers who celebrate their love of all things horror by pulling pranks and ‘fear tests’ on their fellow students. But even better than that, I loved the execution of this book! It’s all fun and games until someone takes it too far . . . that’s when things get really interesting. The thrills, the chills, the ‘everybody’s a suspect’ kept me gripped until the very end! My only complaint would be that the ending left so many questions unanswered – I can only assume that means there’s a sequel!

Three 12 year old girls who have been researching the man at the center of a local urban legend sneak out of a slumber party and go to the train yard, where one of them gets severely beaten. But who’s to blame?

It’s certainly a compelling plot, and brings to mind news reports surrounding murky figures such as slender man. Gudenkauf had me hooked! She does a good job of providing plenty of suspects for the reader, and while the twist had occurred to me while reading, it and was the one I had hoped she wouldn’t take, there’s no denying that I couldn’t put this book down!

I just started:

Click the links to friend me on Litsy or Goodreads!

May 17, 2021 0

Monday (Mini #BookReview) Madness

This week I read:

A couple leaves their baby home alone while they’re at a dinner party next door, and even though they check on her every half hour, she’s missing when they return. All the characters are hard to like, but they’re all possibly the culprit. This book was twisty and suspenseful, but some of it was hard to swallow, and while I appreciate a book where nothing is as it seems and everyone’s a suspect, this one might have taken it a touch too far for me. Still, a good, entertaining read.

The mean girl frienemies trope taken to an entirely different level! This thriller bounces back and forth between a 10 year college reunion and the characters’ freshman year, where they’re struggling to make the adjustment to their new lives – and each other. Backstabbing, lies and drama ensue until the unthinkable happens. Now someone wants revenge for what happened all those years ago, and the stakes are higher than ever – because the truth may not come out, but the claws will!

I just started:

Click the links to friend me on Litsy or Goodreads!

May 3, 2021 0

Monday (Mini #BookReview) Madness

This week I read:

There’s so much going on it this book! A teenage boy struggling to reconcile the wild stories his grandfather told him with reality after his loss. A mysterious island where he meets mysterious children that give him a glimpse into his grandfather’s past. And . . . Nazis? Yeah, Nazis. But the author does an excellent job of weaving all the threads together, making the outlandish and impossible seem quite sane and able. I found myself accepting even the paranormal-ish aspects of the book without question. An enjoyable adventure!

I’ve read several of White’s books before, and can usually count on her for a good thrill. This one felt different from the start, though. Usually her books center around the suspense of who will be murdered, but this one starts with the murder and switches between what led to the crime and the trial. Still a compelling read, but it didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat quite as much as I’d hoped. It did, however, wrap up with a nice twist!

I just started:

Click the links to friend me on Litsy or Goodreads and unite our bookish communities!

March 1, 2021 0

Monday (Mini #BookReview) Madness

This week I read:

Two girls alone in a cabin in the middle of the woods waiting for their mom to come home with their sick little sister – this one had me hooked from the start. It switches points of view from one of the girls to a childless woman who hopes to become a foster parent even though she suspects her husband is cheating on her. This one was so good up until the twists, which were a little disappointing. Still a well written and engaging story, just a touch unbelievable at times.

Anthologies are tough because you’re never going to like all the stories – or perhaps I should say almost never. While there were definitely certain stories in this collection that shone brighter than the others, I didn’t dislike any of them. They were all interesting and well written and clever! While the theme was YA horror shorts, these would easily be enjoyed by adult fans of the genre as well.

I just started:

Click the links to friend me on Litsy or Goodreads and unite our bookish communities!

November 23, 2020 0

5 Books Like Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’ To Add To Your Spooktober Reading List

Halloween’s my favorite holiday, but this year it looks like it’s going to be a little . . . different. But that doesn’t mean it has to be disappointing!

And if there’s one author who never disappointed, it’s the Queen of Mystery herself, Agatha Christie! And my personal favorite? You guessed it!

Here are 5 books to add to your Spooktober reading list if you’re looking for something like Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None!

If you’re looking for more spooky books to add to your reading list, check out:

5 Gory Books For Your Spooktober Reading List

5 Atmospheric Books For Your Spooktober Reading List

5 Fun YA Books For Your Spooktober Reading List

Click the links to friend me on Litsy or Goodreads and unite our bookish communities!

October 22, 2020 2

Monday (Mini Book Review) Madness

This week I read:

52225186. sx318 sy475 — This one held my attention, but to be honest, I liked the idea of the plot better than Swanson’s execution of it. The story was fast-paced and enthralling, but parts fell a little flat for me. I didn’t care for any of the characters and was looking for a twist that would knock my socks off, which didn’t happen, and I found the ending underwhelming. Still, I would recommend it, but with the warning that there are spoilers for more books than just those with the 8 ‘perfect murders’.

52383175 — Expected release: August 4, 2020 To read my ARC review, click here.

I just started:

Click the links to friend me on Litsy or Goodreads and unite our bookish communities!

June 29, 2020 0

ARC Review: The First To Lie by Hank Phillippi Ryan

From Goodreads:

Bestselling and award-winning author and investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan delivers another twisty, thrilling cat and mouse novel of suspense that will have you guessing, and second-guessing, and then gasping with surprise.

We all have our reasons for being who we are—but what if being someone else could get you what you want?

After a devastating betrayal, a young woman sets off on an obsessive path to justice, no matter what dark family secrets are revealed. What she doesn’t know—she isn’t the only one plotting her revenge.

An affluent daughter of privilege. A glamorous manipulative wannabe. A determined reporter, in too deep. A grieving widow who must choose her new reality. Who will be the first to lie? And when the stakes are life and death, do a few lies really matter?

My Review:

Wow!!! Hank has done it again! This suspenseful tale is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end! Craftily plotted, oozing with suspense, and with just a touch of sinister intentions, this book will have you asking yourself – “Who isn’t lying?”

Great subject matter with a plausible storyline that kept me engaged and enthralled.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.