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Merissa (14122 KP) rated The Women in the Shadows in Books
Oct 1, 2025
THE WOMEN IN THE SHADOWS is a standalone story that focuses on Jack the Ripper's crimes, but told from the perspective of women - some of whom he murdered, some investigating.
Bet, Emma, and Maggie are all different - ages, statuses, and relationships - but they are all connected by the horrendous murders that are happening in Whitechapel. Unhappy with the way the police are referring to the victims and the progress being made, they join forces to investigate it themselves. This leads to some events that seemed almost too funny to be in this book. It was pretty obvious who the killer was, but I enjoyed their thought processes and actions as they arrived at the same conclusion.
Evenly paced, with moments of action interspersed with calm, this was an easy read that I enjoyed. I would also be happy to return to these three ladies, just to see what trouble they could find next. 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!
Oct 1, 2025
Bet, Emma, and Maggie are all different - ages, statuses, and relationships - but they are all connected by the horrendous murders that are happening in Whitechapel. Unhappy with the way the police are referring to the victims and the progress being made, they join forces to investigate it themselves. This leads to some events that seemed almost too funny to be in this book. It was pretty obvious who the killer was, but I enjoyed their thought processes and actions as they arrived at the same conclusion.
Evenly paced, with moments of action interspersed with calm, this was an easy read that I enjoyed. I would also be happy to return to these three ladies, just to see what trouble they could find next. 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!
Oct 1, 2025
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2621 KP) rated Murder in the Graveyard in Books
Oct 16, 2025
Watch Out for the Extra Body
Just in time for Halloween, we get this fun collection of murders set in and around graveyards. In addition to the unexpected dead body or two, we also get involved in revenge, teenage parties, amnesia, family feuds, and an escaped convict. Many of these stories are set around Halloween, although a few take place at other times of the year. And yes, a couple lean into the spooky, but it always fits the story, so I didn’t mind.
Many of these authors featured their series stars. I’ve read many of those novels, so it was fun to spend time with them. For those who I haven’t met outside of these short story collections, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything with the stories we got here. Each story was fun, taking me about half an hour to read. With nine stories, we get plenty of content. I was smiling through most of them, even laughing some. And the stories kept me engaged from start to finish.
Whether you read this book now or open it in a different season of the year, you’ll enjoy these stories.
Many of these authors featured their series stars. I’ve read many of those novels, so it was fun to spend time with them. For those who I haven’t met outside of these short story collections, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything with the stories we got here. Each story was fun, taking me about half an hour to read. With nine stories, we get plenty of content. I was smiling through most of them, even laughing some. And the stories kept me engaged from start to finish.
Whether you read this book now or open it in a different season of the year, you’ll enjoy these stories.
Fatal Reunion
10.0
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As Monongahela County's new coroner Zoe Chambers-Adams gears up for a third day searching for a...
The Deception
6.0
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Murders past and present will unite a couple against their enemies—or tear them apart forever—in...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2621 KP) rated The Clairvoyant Countess in Books
Mar 30, 2023 (Updated Mar 30, 2023)
I Saw My Reaction Coming, but Not for the Reasons I Expected
Madame Karitska is a psychic, and when she meets a young woman in danger, Madame Karitska reaches out to Lieutenant Pruden for help. Thus begins their relationships as Madame Karitska helps him on several other case. What really happened with a couple of murders three years ago? And did a young woman die in a car accident?
I don’t normally pick up supernatural themed stories, but since I love this author’s Mrs. Pollifax series, I decided to give it a try. Sadly, it disappointed. I tried, but I couldn’t let go of the supernatural element. I think part of that was because it made the stories a bit easy to solve. I was also expecting a novel instead of a series of short stories. There are a couple of arcs that tie them together, mainly for Lieutenant Pruden, who is as equally an important character as Madame Karitska. Yet I did enjoy some of the stories in this collection, and I really liked the characters, so this wasn’t a completely loss.
I don’t normally pick up supernatural themed stories, but since I love this author’s Mrs. Pollifax series, I decided to give it a try. Sadly, it disappointed. I tried, but I couldn’t let go of the supernatural element. I think part of that was because it made the stories a bit easy to solve. I was also expecting a novel instead of a series of short stories. There are a couple of arcs that tie them together, mainly for Lieutenant Pruden, who is as equally an important character as Madame Karitska. Yet I did enjoy some of the stories in this collection, and I really liked the characters, so this wasn’t a completely loss.
The House in the Woods (Atticus Priest #1)
7.0
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Four murders. Two detectives. One mystifying crime. On Christmas Eve, DCI Mackenzie Jones is...
Operation Pinpoint (Space Force Rejects, #1)
8.0
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This alien tracker has finally found his mate, but how can he claim her when she loves another? ...
Science Fiction Romance Aliens
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Follow You in Books
Dec 3, 2023
184 of 235
Kindle
Follow You
By Richard Parker
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You set the trap. Now you can't escape.
When an online prank goes viral and triggers a spate of gruesome murders, documentary maker Hazel Salter watches in horror. But then Hazel's childhood friend, Meredith Hickman, is the next victim, Hazel knows she has to find out what happened to her.
Is it one killer or more? Random acts of violence or part of a bigger, twisted plan?
The police have no leads, but Hazel has a theory - one she'll stop at nothing to prove - and she also has a film crew. She'll make a documentary, catch the killer, and give Meredith justice.
Her stage is the abandoned amusement park where Meredith was found.
Her cast are the family and friends the killer left behind.
And her crew? They keep disappearing, one by one...
I absolutely loved this! It’s the sort of horror movie I’d watch! It all played out in my head and it was brutal. I didn’t want to put it down. So so good fast paced and well written.
Kindle
Follow You
By Richard Parker
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You set the trap. Now you can't escape.
When an online prank goes viral and triggers a spate of gruesome murders, documentary maker Hazel Salter watches in horror. But then Hazel's childhood friend, Meredith Hickman, is the next victim, Hazel knows she has to find out what happened to her.
Is it one killer or more? Random acts of violence or part of a bigger, twisted plan?
The police have no leads, but Hazel has a theory - one she'll stop at nothing to prove - and she also has a film crew. She'll make a documentary, catch the killer, and give Meredith justice.
Her stage is the abandoned amusement park where Meredith was found.
Her cast are the family and friends the killer left behind.
And her crew? They keep disappearing, one by one...
I absolutely loved this! It’s the sort of horror movie I’d watch! It all played out in my head and it was brutal. I didn’t want to put it down. So so good fast paced and well written.
ClareR (6256 KP) rated Killing Jericho in Books
May 28, 2023
Killing Jericho was a thrilling, suspenseful ride!
Scott Jericho is back living with his traveller fairground family after a prison sentence that saw the end of his career as a CID Police Officer. He had violently attacked a Knight of Saint George - a far right thug he had been interviewing about the death of three Polish children. This also meant that he couldn’t be charged for the crime.
There’s some history of fairground travellers in this - all true, and both interesting and nice to know that we don’t call those more unusual fairground acts “freaks” anymore.
Believe it or not, Jericho has more problems than being an ex-con: he’s using drugs, has boyfriend trouble, and the man he was charged with attacking can’t seem to keep himself away.
Jericho’s life is complicated.
The murders are gruesome and really rather inventive!
And no one is as they seem, either. It’s a dark read.
There are a lot of surprises, and I enjoyed them all!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and to William Hussey for reading along too. This is the first of a new series, and I’ll be interested to know what happens to Scott Jericho next!
Scott Jericho is back living with his traveller fairground family after a prison sentence that saw the end of his career as a CID Police Officer. He had violently attacked a Knight of Saint George - a far right thug he had been interviewing about the death of three Polish children. This also meant that he couldn’t be charged for the crime.
There’s some history of fairground travellers in this - all true, and both interesting and nice to know that we don’t call those more unusual fairground acts “freaks” anymore.
Believe it or not, Jericho has more problems than being an ex-con: he’s using drugs, has boyfriend trouble, and the man he was charged with attacking can’t seem to keep himself away.
Jericho’s life is complicated.
The murders are gruesome and really rather inventive!
And no one is as they seem, either. It’s a dark read.
There are a lot of surprises, and I enjoyed them all!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and to William Hussey for reading along too. This is the first of a new series, and I’ll be interested to know what happens to Scott Jericho next!
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Never Look Back in Books
Sep 2, 2019
For Quentin Garrison, his podcast, entitled Closure, is truly about just that--closure. It centers on a series of murders in the 1970s committed by teens Gabriel LeRoy and April Cooper. The victims included Quentin's mother's little sister and his grandmother. As a result, Quentin has spent most of his life raised by a neglectful, drug addict mom. For Robin Diamond, a columnist, the podcast causes only confusion. When Quentin contacts her about it, asking specifically about April Cooper and tying her to Robin's own mother, Robin is bewildered. But the more she delves into the murders, the more she starts to wonder. Then there's a terrible home invasion at her parent's house, killing her father and leaving her mom unconscious. What exactly happened back in the '70s--and, now, in the home invasion?
This was an excellent thriller that had me hooked from the first page. It's dark, gritty, and utterly mesmerizing. When I started it, I was thinking to myself, not another podcast mystery, but little did I know... this book is totally addictive and brings in the podcast element in a seamless, fresh way.
It's told from the perspective of several of our main characters--particularly Robin and Quentin. We also get excerpts from a school assignment of April's when she was fifteen: letters to her future child. These slowly reveal what happened during the killings, and they are told in a spot-on voice of a fifteen-year-old girl. The way everything is woven together is perfect: I found myself completely captivated and read basically the last half of the book in one breathless setting, staying up past my bedtime to finish it.
We learn that both Gabriel and April died in a fire at the site of their last attempted murder. So when Quentin receives a tip claiming that April Cooper is still alive, it changes everything, including the focus of his podcast. When he starts to believe that Robin's mother is April, things get even more interesting. I loved the suspense--constantly wondering if April was alive and if she was, who she could be. And then, there's the aspect of was April "good" or "bad" during the killings. So many people blamed her for the deaths of their loved ones, and nothing is black or white in this book.
Even Quentin. Since his past is strongly affected by the murders, we find ourselves wondering if we can trust him, too. Quentin's grandfather basically gave up raising his daughter, Kate--Quentin's mother--after the death of his wife and young daughter. As such, Quentin's own mother wasn't much of a parent to him. Quentin's own bitterness and anger shines through--a strong theme in the book. Can we rely on someone so angry, we wonder? I felt for him, and his devoted husband and loving best friend and podcast partner. So many of the characters are intense, and each is so well-crafted and unique. Each flew off the page.
This is often a dark book, and there are many scenes of violence. But, for me, it was the emotional scenes that were the toughest to read. There are many touching moments, too, and I found myself attached to several of the characters. Reading young April's letters was quite a feat. Gaylin is such an excellent writer, and she just pulls you into the story so effortlessly--you feel as if you are there with her characters. Throw in some great twists and turns and this is an excellent and suspenseful novel.
The ending was a tough one, but I get it. Overall, I really enjoyed this dark psychological thriller. I am just loving Gaylin's recent books and need to go back and read some of her previous works (there's a little Brenna Spector shoutout in this one for those of you who are fans). Definitely recommend! 4.5 stars.
This was an excellent thriller that had me hooked from the first page. It's dark, gritty, and utterly mesmerizing. When I started it, I was thinking to myself, not another podcast mystery, but little did I know... this book is totally addictive and brings in the podcast element in a seamless, fresh way.
It's told from the perspective of several of our main characters--particularly Robin and Quentin. We also get excerpts from a school assignment of April's when she was fifteen: letters to her future child. These slowly reveal what happened during the killings, and they are told in a spot-on voice of a fifteen-year-old girl. The way everything is woven together is perfect: I found myself completely captivated and read basically the last half of the book in one breathless setting, staying up past my bedtime to finish it.
We learn that both Gabriel and April died in a fire at the site of their last attempted murder. So when Quentin receives a tip claiming that April Cooper is still alive, it changes everything, including the focus of his podcast. When he starts to believe that Robin's mother is April, things get even more interesting. I loved the suspense--constantly wondering if April was alive and if she was, who she could be. And then, there's the aspect of was April "good" or "bad" during the killings. So many people blamed her for the deaths of their loved ones, and nothing is black or white in this book.
Even Quentin. Since his past is strongly affected by the murders, we find ourselves wondering if we can trust him, too. Quentin's grandfather basically gave up raising his daughter, Kate--Quentin's mother--after the death of his wife and young daughter. As such, Quentin's own mother wasn't much of a parent to him. Quentin's own bitterness and anger shines through--a strong theme in the book. Can we rely on someone so angry, we wonder? I felt for him, and his devoted husband and loving best friend and podcast partner. So many of the characters are intense, and each is so well-crafted and unique. Each flew off the page.
This is often a dark book, and there are many scenes of violence. But, for me, it was the emotional scenes that were the toughest to read. There are many touching moments, too, and I found myself attached to several of the characters. Reading young April's letters was quite a feat. Gaylin is such an excellent writer, and she just pulls you into the story so effortlessly--you feel as if you are there with her characters. Throw in some great twists and turns and this is an excellent and suspenseful novel.
The ending was a tough one, but I get it. Overall, I really enjoyed this dark psychological thriller. I am just loving Gaylin's recent books and need to go back and read some of her previous works (there's a little Brenna Spector shoutout in this one for those of you who are fans). Definitely recommend! 4.5 stars.