Search

Search only in certain items:

40x40

Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated Envy in Books

May 22, 2019  
Envy
Envy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
She wants your life – and she’ll do anything to get it…
Erica has always wanted to be exactly like her neighbour, Faye: beautiful, thin, and a mother. But Faye’s life isn’t as perfect as it seems – she has a terrible secret, and slowly but surely, it is threatening to destroy her and everything she holds dear.
When Faye’s daughter Tamsin goes missing after school, the police turn to Erica. But is Erica the only one who has been enviously watching Faye? Or is there another threat hiding in the shadows…?

Well this is a right tale of stalking,obsession, fury, longing and ENVY!
This story is very well written and flows easily.
The novel is broken down into several small chapters which makes this an easy fast read.
I really enjoyed the evolution of the characters throughout the book.
Be warned the story is told from 4 different POVs' which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I thought this was as an amazing thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed reading and can wholeheartedly recommend.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
  
Eighteen Below (Fabian Risk, #3)
Eighteen Below (Fabian Risk, #3)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
ON A HOT SUMMER'S DAY.
A car speeds through the streets of Helsingborg. When it reaches the harbour, the driver keeps going, straight into the cold, dark sea.
A BODY IN THE WATER.
But it is not a suicide. The autopsy reveals that this man has been dead for some time. He was murdered two months ago, and his body has been deep frozen.
TURNS EVERTHING COLDER.
As more bodies are discovered, Fabian Risk must hunt a killer with a mission: to preserve his victims, and create the perfect death...

This is a very good action thriller that involves a puzzling story-line and creepy villains.
While it seems that there are 2 completely different, unlinked cases going on in this book, you get the impression that is not the case at all; but how they're linked is what keeps you guessing.
Very action-packed indeed and the more so the further you read. I greatly enjoyed it.
The writing and plot are superb.
If you love Jo Nesbo- this is for you.
Recommend reading!!

Thanks to Head of Zeus and Netgalley for this ARC.
  
The First Mistake
The First Mistake
Sandie Jones | 2019 | Thriller
7
7.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
The publisher has sent me this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Betrayed by a husband, ever learned something about a loved one who's gone and felt betrayed? How about a best friend, brother in law, co-worker? This book has it all. We learn about Alice and Beth two best friends in current day. Then we go back and learn about their lives in the 9 or so years before they meet and how intertwined we can be with someone and not even know. We learn how deceptive even those who are closest to us can be if they feel like they've been wronged or cheated by us.

I feel like in the end the last 100 pages or so this book redeemed itself. In saying that the book was enjoyable to read but I felt like the last 100 pages is where the action and the story was really coming together was. If you like suspense this book is definitely worth the read I have to say I kept trying to fit all the pieces together and just couldn't get it quite right.
  
A Deadly Éclair (A French Bistro Mystery, #1)
A Deadly Éclair (A French Bistro Mystery, #1)
Daryl Wood Gerber | 2017 | Mystery
10
8.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mimi Rousseau is just months into her new venture of a French bistro and hotel in the heart of Napa County. This weekend, she is hosting her first event, the wedding of Angelica Edmonton, noted TV talk show host and the niece of Bryan Baker, Mimi’s benefactor and mentor. However, when tension at the pre-wedding dinner on Friday night leads to a dead body on Saturday morning, Mimi finds herself looking into the murder. What is going on?

It’s fun to find a series set in Napa County that doesn’t focus on wine, although wine is certainly present. The French food will definitely leave your mouth watering as you work your way through this good first mystery. The initial chapter has a bit of a data dump in it, but once beyond that, the mystery picks up and the pace never slows down again. The characters are outstanding, and the relationships between the series regulars is already strong. I’m looking forward to seeing that grow as the series progresses.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-deadly-eclair-by-daryl-wood.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Blackberry Burial (A Berry Basket Mystery #2)
Blackberry Burial (A Berry Basket Mystery #2)
Sharon Farrow | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Marlee Jacob has been roped into helping her friend Piper find a starting location for the upcoming Blackberry Car Rally, but while checking out the newest prospect, they uncover a skeleton. The remains belong to Sienna, a promising art student who vanished 20 years ago from the local art school. With the art school holding a reunion, everyone Sienna knew is back in town. At the time, everyone thought she’s drowned in Lake Michigan, but if that’s what happened, how did she get buried away from the lake?

This book starts out well, but it only gets better when the reunion starts and Sienna’s friends arrive. From that point on, I didn’t want to set the book down due to the twists and the strong suspects. When I hit the climax, I was racing to find out what would happen next. Marlee and her friends are a pleasure to be around, and the setting is a summer vacation paradise it is a pleasure to visit on the page.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-blackberry-burial-by-sharon.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Best friends Krissy and Vickie have moved to Pine Hills and opened a bookstore and coffee shop. They’ve even named it Death by Coffee after one of Krissy’s dad’s bestselling mystery novels. But they find themselves in a real life mystery on their first day in business when a customer buys a cup of coffee, takes it to his office across the street, and dies. Krissy will have to act fast to clear their shop of any wrong doing in the crime.

The book sounded like fun, and I really wanted to like it, but the truth it is turned out to be average. The plot was a little uneven at times, but it still advanced to a great and logical climax. The suspects were good, but most of the series regular characters were a bit flat. Krissy did some embarrassing things that made me cringe, and her cat was annoying. Here’s hoping the series gets better as it goes along.

NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-death-by-coffee-by-alex.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Liz McCall is helping her father run Well Played, a vintage toy shop. One day, a man walks in with a box of toys he wants appraised. However, a couple of days later, the man is dead in their shop, killed by a lawn dart, and the box of toys is missing. Liz’s father is a retired police man, and he begins to investigate the case unofficially with Liz helping him. Will they be able to figure out what happened?

Toys and nostalgia as a setting for a new cozy series? Sign me up! And I was as delighted with his debut as I thought I would be. The mystery is strong with some nice red herrings before we reach an ending that wraps everything up. The characters are strong and so much fun. If the store were real, I’d love to hang out for vintage board game night, but as it is, I’ll gladly return for the sequel.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-review-death-of-toy-soldier-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
CA
Cat About Town (Cat Cafe Mystery, #1)
Cate Conte | 2017
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Maddie James has returned to Daybreak Island as a result of her grandmother’s death. While there, she learns that Frank O’Malley, head of the local chamber of commerce, wants to buy her grandfather’s house, a house that has been in the family for generations. Frank is used to getting his way and is trying to scare Maddie’s grandfather into selling. So when Frank turns up dead, Maddie and her grandfather find themselves as suspects. Can Maddie clear their name?

I’ve been looking forward to this debut ever since I heard about it, and I wasn’t disappointed. The tension starts early, and once Frank’s body is found, we are off and running. I didn’t have things figured out until Maddie then, but then everything fell into place. The characters, including Maddie’s new cat, are completely charming. And the setting, a resort island off the coast of Massachusetts, is absolutely wonderful. I can’t wait for the next in the series.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-review-cat-about-town-by-cate.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
With the covered bridge festival under way, Charlotte has talked Francine and her husband into a photo shoot to help knock an item off Charlotte’s bucket list. However, when they are almost done, they hear gunshots and see a man run out of a field, slide down under the bridge, and collapse. The man turns out to be Francine’s cousin, and she begins poking around to find out what happened. Can she figure it out?

I loved the first book in this series and I was anxious to revisit the characters. It’s nice to have a group of 60-something women who are still full of life and pursuing their dreams. The murder, while good, does take an interesting twist near the end, and I’m very curious to see just how this factors in to later books in the series. If you are looking for a fun, light cozy that isn’t in the normal mold, this book is definitely for you.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-review-murder-under-covered-bridge.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
When Edwina’s funds get low enough, she starts advertising for a boarder. Fortunately for her, Beryl sees it. The two women, though very different, are boarding school friends, and this new living arrangement suits them both. But Beryl’s presence in Edwina’s small village creates some gossip, which Beryl fuels by hinting that the two women are actually employed by His Majesty. When someone tries to kill Edwina, the two realize there is a secret to uncover. What might it be?

This book perfectly transports us back to 1920 and the English countryside. The repercussions of World War I are still there, and it is a fascinating look at how the war affected the rest of life. The British Edwina and American Beryl are very different, and their differences can be fun, yet they make a good detecting pair, and we feel the depth of their friendship. The plot is strong, keeping us surprised until the end.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-murder-in-english-village.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.