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Murder in the Air
Murder in the Air
Various Authors | 2024 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
High Flying Murder
This year, the Destination Murders authors are taking to the air. Yes, we get some murders on planes, but we also have a zipline, hot air balloon, blimp, and a couple of fun ones I’m going to let you discover for yourself. We travel to Costa Rica, Las Vegas, Vermont, and Tennessee in these stories that find murder an unwelcomed traveling companion.

As always with these collections, the author lineup has changed slightly. For the authors who are returning, I look forward to catching up with their sleuths whether I’ve read books with these characters or not. I do have to remind myself these are short stories, so the stories aren’t quite as complex. They’re still fun, overall (one ended abruptly), and I’m glad I took the time to read them. These eight stories combine for the equivalent of a full novel, so you are getting your money’s worth. Pack this for your next vacation, but maybe read it when you are on the ground.
  
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Invited in Books

Jun 21, 2019  
The Invited
The Invited
Jennifer McMahon | 2019 | Horror, Mystery, Paranormal
9
7.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Helen and Nate have a nice, settled life as teachers at a private school in Connecticut. But they also have aspirations for a simpler life. So using their savings and an inheritance, they buy 40+ acres in the tiny village of Hartsboro, Vermont and decide to build their own dream house themselves. Helen, a history teacher, wants a house and land with history--and she gets her wish when she discovers the story of Hattie Breckenridge, a woman who apparently lived (and died) on their property over a hundred years ago. Marked by the villagers as a witch, Hattie was killed, leaving behind her young daughter, Jane. Helen becomes fascinated with Hattie's past and begins trying to find out what happened to her--and her family members. But a series of more and more weird events start happening once they move in. Is it just the people of Hartsboro, who don't like outsiders? Or is it Hattie? And are Helen and Nate in danger?

I just love Jennifer McMahon's books and she's someone whom I will read anything they write. This was such a good book that drew me from the very beginning. I started it while on vacation in Vermont, so I was really excited that it happened to take place in Vermont--a place I'd never been until this year. McMahon's descriptive language makes it so easy to visualize her (often eerie) settings, as well as her characters.

Along with Helen and Nate, our slightly hippyish couple, we have Olive, a teenage girl from Hartsboro, and her dad and aunt, plus various Hartsboro townsfolk. Olive was a very compelling character; she's been abandoned by her mother and is teased and bullied terribly by her schoolmates, since the town all believes her mom ran off with another man. Her bereft father isn't much help, leaving her to raise herself or rely on her aunt. She has one friend, Mike, who is a good guy, but annoys our feisty heroine with his wimpy-ness. It's hard not to fall for Olive, believe me. Even Helen will grow on you, too. And no matter what, they are so easy to picture.

The novel is told from a variety of points of view, but mainly Olive and Helen. We learn a lot about each of them. As I said, it drew me in from the beginning and kept me reading. As with most of McMahon's books, it's layered with that creepy, mysterious edge. In many ways, it's a proper ghost story. But she always manages to write it so that instead of rolling your eyes, you feel a little creeped out, or find yourself looking over your shoulder at night. Hattie herself plays a really strong role in this book, and I liked how well the story set up the idea of how much people (and small towns) fear what they don't know.


"What people don't understand, they destroy."


It's funny, I could guess where a lot of this book was leading, yet it in no way diminished my enjoyment of it. I could see how that might annoy some, but it didn't bother me in the least. I was completely immersed in the characters, the eerie ghost story, and trying to piece together all the plot pieces. Hattie's story--and that of her descendants--is fascinating. There was just something about this book that I loved: that intangible piece that makes you a part of the story, keeps you flipping the pages, and makes you feel both sad and amazed when you finish the book. 4.5 stars.
  
MG
Malevolent Gateway (S.P.I.R.I.T., #2)
Dawn Gray | 2012
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

People going missing/dying on a stretch of road next to a marsh. Main characters with connections to the supernatural realm. A special military team trained to fight the paranormal. All in happy little Vermont.

Malevolent Gateway is the second in the S.P.I.R.I.T. series. I read the first one for a book club, and I absolutely loved it, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. And I was definitely not disappointed! The main characters are great, the story behind the town and strange happenings (and the happenings themselves) are just plain creepy but awesome, and I love that Zander Smith from the first book found his way into this one. =)

Paranormal/supernatural stories are my favorite, and this one is just bursting at the seams with interesting stuff. Whether it's a woman who can "see dead people," a man who has astral projections, or a military LT who can latch on to them and do what they do, it was all so captivating I couldn't put it down. Really hope she keeps the series going!!

5 stars