Search
The Earth Bleeds Red
4.5
Rate It
Book
Scott Miller has everything he’s ever hoped for. He has a successful marriage to Jessie, a...
Mystery Thriller Suspense
The Fallen (Amos Decker #4)
8.0
Rate It
Book
Amos Decker is the Memory Man. Following a football-related head injury that altered his...
Murder She Wrote: Manuscript for Murder
7.3
Rate It
Book
Jessica Fletcher has had plenty to worry about over her storied career, both as a bestselling...
Don't Lie To Me (Eva Rae Thomas Mystery Book 1)
Book
When twelve-year-old Sophie Williams went on a Girl Scout summer camp, she never returned home. ...
romantic suspense thriller police procedural mystery romance suspense
Death is in the Details
5.0
Rate It
Book
A woman haunted by her past. A killer who won't let her forget. Faith Day's condition curses her...
thriller fiction adult crime mystery small town
Black Hearted (Black Knights Inc: Reloaded #2)
8.0
Rate It
Book
He’s everything she ever wanted. She’s everything he never knew he needed. Can she convince him...
Contemporary Romance Romantic Suspense
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated The Last Thing Claire Wanted in Books
May 21, 2024 (Updated May 21, 2024)
What Happened to Little Danny?
After a divorce and leaving the FBI, Anne McCormack is trying to build her new estate sale business. One of her few clients is Claire Murray, who has just found out she has only a few months to live. Before she dies, Claire wants to find out what happened to her five-year-old son when he was killed twenty-nine years ago. The case was never solved, but Anne teams up with her uncle, a retired cop, to reopen the case. What will they find?
I picked this book up because I grew up in the town where the story is set. I enjoyed that even if many of the places in the story are fictional. The book is definitely darker than I would normally read, and it includes the content you’d expect from that. At the heart of the book is a good mystery, and I was caught up in trying to figure out who did it and how Anne would prove it. The Murray family drama did take over a few times, but most of the time, I enjoyed that story as well. The writing is good and gives us an appropriate melancholy vibe. It does take some of the characters time to develop, but by the end, we’ve gotten to know all of them. If you are looking for a more serious mystery, this is a debut to pick up.
I picked this book up because I grew up in the town where the story is set. I enjoyed that even if many of the places in the story are fictional. The book is definitely darker than I would normally read, and it includes the content you’d expect from that. At the heart of the book is a good mystery, and I was caught up in trying to figure out who did it and how Anne would prove it. The Murray family drama did take over a few times, but most of the time, I enjoyed that story as well. The writing is good and gives us an appropriate melancholy vibe. It does take some of the characters time to develop, but by the end, we’ve gotten to know all of them. If you are looking for a more serious mystery, this is a debut to pick up.
Merissa (13398 KP) rated Pose for Me in Books
Nov 3, 2025
POSE FOR ME is a standalone dark romance with a Daddy/boy relationship. And trust me when I say that's the most normal thing about the book!
What we have here is a book about a serial killer who kidnaps the FBI agent who is hunting for him, and both of them getting more than they thought they would. And when I say serial killer, I mean someone who kills people just because... they're not bad people, or have done bad things. They're just in the wrong place, at the wrong time, catching the eye for whatever reason of the wrong person.
My favourite part of a Daddy/boy romance is the caretaking aspect of it, and this had that in spades, even though you may think it unlikely. I've read others, but none hit the mark as much as caretaking, and this had everything. Possessiveness, neediness, lingerie, c0ckwarming, it's all here and I loved every moment.
I read this book in one sitting and couldn't put it down. I loved every word, and now I need to find the other book mentioned so I can read that too. Absolutely brilliant and definitely recommended by me.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 3, 2025
What we have here is a book about a serial killer who kidnaps the FBI agent who is hunting for him, and both of them getting more than they thought they would. And when I say serial killer, I mean someone who kills people just because... they're not bad people, or have done bad things. They're just in the wrong place, at the wrong time, catching the eye for whatever reason of the wrong person.
My favourite part of a Daddy/boy romance is the caretaking aspect of it, and this had that in spades, even though you may think it unlikely. I've read others, but none hit the mark as much as caretaking, and this had everything. Possessiveness, neediness, lingerie, c0ckwarming, it's all here and I loved every moment.
I read this book in one sitting and couldn't put it down. I loved every word, and now I need to find the other book mentioned so I can read that too. Absolutely brilliant and definitely recommended by me.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 3, 2025
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murder and the Birth of the FBI in Books
Nov 24, 2017 (Updated Nov 24, 2017)
Mind-blowing and a disconcerting read
I can say without a doubt, this is one of the best novels I've read this year. It is a disturbing and excellent real-life account of the plight of Native Americans who found themselves the unwitting beneficiaries of a financial boom in the 1920's after oil was discovered under the previously barren and worthless reservation they were moved to.
This fantastic book relates to a story covered in blood, racism and greed. Oil, black gold, made the Plains Osage tribe incredibly wealthy. By the 1890's, the remnants of this great people were in the scrub lands of Northern Oklahoma.
Their life was continually harsh, the soil poor. In the late 1890's, by chance, oil was struck in Osage County, flowing in abundance and in great demand. From 1918 to 1928, $202 million was paid to the tribe which by then numbered around 3000, transforming their lives. 680 barrels were obtained in a day in 1920 from a strike at Burbank, angering the whites and thus began the "Reign of Terror" in which hundreds of the Osage tribe members were subsequently killed in the most horrendous display of corruption.
The book itself begins in 1921 with an Osage woman who had a share of the mineral riches to be found under the Osage land. Mollie like others was subject to a law that treated her tribe as juveniles whose estates had to be administered by white guardians, that is local lawyers and businessmen, appointed by local courts.
Guardianship was unpoliced and few records were kept. Fraud was therefore prevalent and many of the local white community participated in corruption - murder was widespread as a result. Mollie's sister, Anna, was the first noticeable murder in which she was shot and killed, launching a major probe into similar killings in the area. Many other murders were committed over the following years, with poisoning as the most common method of killing. Essentially it was a covert form of genocide.
The locals refused to act, partly due to fear or involvement in this heinous plot, so J. Edgar Hoover, who was the first president of the FBI, became involved in the investigation. He sent a tall Texas Ranger called Tom White to scrutinise an epic series of murders in which even investigators were targets.
What follows is not only history but a riveting detective story and the book demonstrates yet again the enormous cost of American nationhood. It provides some fascinating insight into the early workings of the FBI (not least Hoover's nascent megalomania) for whom this was a celebrated case and a valuable reminder for folk who thought the persecution of American Indians ended in the late 19th century. Author and journalist David Grann does a superb job in collating all of the information with dozens of pages solely highlighting attributions and references - it is thorough and well-researched. Therefore it is hardly surprising that Hollywood has snapped up this book to turn it into a major motion picture - let's hope they don't whitewash history once again.
This fantastic book relates to a story covered in blood, racism and greed. Oil, black gold, made the Plains Osage tribe incredibly wealthy. By the 1890's, the remnants of this great people were in the scrub lands of Northern Oklahoma.
Their life was continually harsh, the soil poor. In the late 1890's, by chance, oil was struck in Osage County, flowing in abundance and in great demand. From 1918 to 1928, $202 million was paid to the tribe which by then numbered around 3000, transforming their lives. 680 barrels were obtained in a day in 1920 from a strike at Burbank, angering the whites and thus began the "Reign of Terror" in which hundreds of the Osage tribe members were subsequently killed in the most horrendous display of corruption.
The book itself begins in 1921 with an Osage woman who had a share of the mineral riches to be found under the Osage land. Mollie like others was subject to a law that treated her tribe as juveniles whose estates had to be administered by white guardians, that is local lawyers and businessmen, appointed by local courts.
Guardianship was unpoliced and few records were kept. Fraud was therefore prevalent and many of the local white community participated in corruption - murder was widespread as a result. Mollie's sister, Anna, was the first noticeable murder in which she was shot and killed, launching a major probe into similar killings in the area. Many other murders were committed over the following years, with poisoning as the most common method of killing. Essentially it was a covert form of genocide.
The locals refused to act, partly due to fear or involvement in this heinous plot, so J. Edgar Hoover, who was the first president of the FBI, became involved in the investigation. He sent a tall Texas Ranger called Tom White to scrutinise an epic series of murders in which even investigators were targets.
What follows is not only history but a riveting detective story and the book demonstrates yet again the enormous cost of American nationhood. It provides some fascinating insight into the early workings of the FBI (not least Hoover's nascent megalomania) for whom this was a celebrated case and a valuable reminder for folk who thought the persecution of American Indians ended in the late 19th century. Author and journalist David Grann does a superb job in collating all of the information with dozens of pages solely highlighting attributions and references - it is thorough and well-researched. Therefore it is hardly surprising that Hollywood has snapped up this book to turn it into a major motion picture - let's hope they don't whitewash history once again.
Dr. Sayer Altair is a neuroscientist, investigating the brains of serial killers for the FBI. But when the police find a young girl, dead, after being locked in a cage and left to starve, Sayer is called on to lead the murder investigation. The case intensifies when it turns out she's the daughter of a famous Senator. Soon another girl is missing and Sayer feels the pressure of the case surrounding her. Can she find this next victim before it's too late? And can she find the horrible person who is doing this--before they strike again?
This one had been on my shelf for a bit, and I picked it up as part of my self-imposed #readwhatyouown challenge. I also have the second book, Buried, coming up soon and wanted to read the first Sayer Altair book in the series.
I found Caged to be a quick, compelling read, and I warmed to Sayer immediately. She's a smart, complicated protagonist with her own set of issues, but also an endearing love of hot dogs, actual dogs, and a deep desire to solve her cases and help her victims. I had a slight sense of deja vu starting this one as I'd just recently read a book about another Ph.D. who was studying the brains of serial killers (The Killer on the Wall). What are the odds, right? (Fairly small, I suppose, when you read a ton of thrillers.)
This was a fast read--a race against time aided by short, quick chapters. I actually had a pretty good feeling about who our sicko killer was, but it didn't stop me from finding the entire book very compelling. The novel is a dark read, with the idea of a killer conducting experiments on caged girls very creepy. There's a lot going on--ties to mythology, Sayer's research, some mentions of Sayer's past (she's lost a loved one), office politics, Sayer's (wonderfully feisty) grandmother popping up, and more. At times, it's a bit much and some of the pieces don't feel fully explored, but overall, I enjoyed all the various plot lines.
Sayer is assisted by a great supporting cast (Ezra, one of her researchers, was my favorite, along with her FBI partner). Her grandmother, as mentioned, is also pretty fun. The thread of strong women in this one is interesting, and it's nice to have a main character whom--while obviously flawed--is still really tough and really smart. I'll read about them any day.
"'I think you might just be a badass, Sayer Altair.'"
I sometimes found the writing to be a little simplistic, especially when depicting Sayer's thoughts and feelings (along the lines of a little more telling versus showing). Still, it was well-written for a debut novel and well-done from a forensic and crime perspective--the author's background (Ph.D., murder investigator, and more) shows.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. I'm always up for a good mystery that holds my interest, especially one featuring a strong female protagonist. I'm looking forward to reading Buried soon. 3.5+ stars.
This one had been on my shelf for a bit, and I picked it up as part of my self-imposed #readwhatyouown challenge. I also have the second book, Buried, coming up soon and wanted to read the first Sayer Altair book in the series.
I found Caged to be a quick, compelling read, and I warmed to Sayer immediately. She's a smart, complicated protagonist with her own set of issues, but also an endearing love of hot dogs, actual dogs, and a deep desire to solve her cases and help her victims. I had a slight sense of deja vu starting this one as I'd just recently read a book about another Ph.D. who was studying the brains of serial killers (The Killer on the Wall). What are the odds, right? (Fairly small, I suppose, when you read a ton of thrillers.)
This was a fast read--a race against time aided by short, quick chapters. I actually had a pretty good feeling about who our sicko killer was, but it didn't stop me from finding the entire book very compelling. The novel is a dark read, with the idea of a killer conducting experiments on caged girls very creepy. There's a lot going on--ties to mythology, Sayer's research, some mentions of Sayer's past (she's lost a loved one), office politics, Sayer's (wonderfully feisty) grandmother popping up, and more. At times, it's a bit much and some of the pieces don't feel fully explored, but overall, I enjoyed all the various plot lines.
Sayer is assisted by a great supporting cast (Ezra, one of her researchers, was my favorite, along with her FBI partner). Her grandmother, as mentioned, is also pretty fun. The thread of strong women in this one is interesting, and it's nice to have a main character whom--while obviously flawed--is still really tough and really smart. I'll read about them any day.
"'I think you might just be a badass, Sayer Altair.'"
I sometimes found the writing to be a little simplistic, especially when depicting Sayer's thoughts and feelings (along the lines of a little more telling versus showing). Still, it was well-written for a debut novel and well-done from a forensic and crime perspective--the author's background (Ph.D., murder investigator, and more) shows.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. I'm always up for a good mystery that holds my interest, especially one featuring a strong female protagonist. I'm looking forward to reading Buried soon. 3.5+ stars.