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Flawless Witness
Flawless Witness
Merida Johns | 2023 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Oh, the feels

Trigger warning for this short, powerful book. There's abuse, emotional trauma, mention of suicide and stalking.

Flawless Witness is eye opening for both victims of a narcissist and people who have managed to avoid this kind of relationship. It opens the reader's mind to looking a little deeper when talking to people.
    It reminded me of a short relationship I had with a man like that, controlling, always playing the victim and self-centred......just like Jonathan.
    Suzanna is great, she's relatable and down to earth. The questions she asks herself and how she works her way through things shows the strength of character she has. Also how important a good support network is.

A thought provoking read that I'd recommend for daytime reading so there's plenty of thinking time. Also, book group worthy, would make for fantastic conversations.
  
A House of Lies: The Darkest Lies Hurt the Most
A House of Lies: The Darkest Lies Hurt the Most
Barbara Sales | 2019 | Horror
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Considering the topic I found it interesting that the story was told from both the male and female perspective, usually, these types of stories are one-sided. (0 more)
On occasion I found myself getting Charlotte, Margaret, and Annabelle confused though I am not sure why (0 more)
Honest Review for Free Copy of Book
A House of Lies: The Darkest Lies Hurt the Most by Barbara Sales is an extremely hard read because of the subject matter. Secrets, lies, and domestic abuse take center stage in this heart-wrenching book. I was unable to put it down and ended up finishing it in one day.

 This book primarily focuses on Izzy, her mother Charlotte, and her father Harry. Harry loves his little princess more than anyone else but is extremely mean to her mother. He can’t seem to understand why Izzy is cold to him after seeing him beat her mother and even blames her mother for turning Izzy against him. Both Charlotte and Harry have their secrets though and one day after one of their fights everyone’s lives change forever.

 Harry ends up dying in the hospital after crashing his car and it is a bittersweet time for Charlotte. While she is happy to be free from his abuse she still has their daughter to worry about. On top of all that Charlotte finds that Harry had more secrets than she originally thought and now has to get the family out of the financial mess that Harry has left them in. However, Charlotte is not without her own secrets and one day the biggest one will be her undoing.

 Considering the topic I found it interesting that the story was told from both the male and female perspective, usually, these types of stories are one-sided. I also really enjoyed the backstories into each character and the surprise twist at the end really caught me off guard. On occasion I found myself getting Charlotte, Margaret, and Annabelle confused though I am not sure why. It may have just been because of how closely their lives lined up. Now that I have finished the book I know exactly who each person is or was.

 Adults and mature readers are the only ones who should open this book. Containing everything from foul language to abuse and rape this book touches on some very tough subjects. Readers have been warned, there are many triggers in these pages. I rate this book a 3 out of 4. It is a well-written story of secrets and lies that one family hides for many generations. Once I started reading this one I did not want to stop and was once again able to finish an entire book in one day.

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Tethered
Tethered
Amy MacKinnon | 2008 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Plot, characters, imagery (0 more)
Longtime Favorite
Where to start? First let me say that this book is probably only going to resonate with a certain audience. The author, Amy MacKinnon, explores some dark subjects but manages to do it in a beautiful way. The book follows a main character, Clara Marsh, who works as a mortician in a funeral home and struggles with events in her past. These events are brought to light through flashback chapters that don't distract from the main plot of the story. It is a thrilling read that will have you hanging onto every word as Clara deals with past abuse and loss and the struggle to help a young girl who keeps making appearances in her life. This beaitifully haunting crime novel is definetely worth the read for anyone who enjoys the thrill of a good mystery and suspense filled novel.