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ClareR (6129 KP) rated Sundial in Books

Mar 26, 2022  
Sundial
Sundial
Catriona Ward | 2022 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Horror
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book just blew my mind.

I read Sundial with my heart in my mouth, horrified, not knowing what could possibly happen next. Honestly, I thought I knew what type of story would be coming my way after reading The Last House on Needless Street, but this is nothing like that, yet at the same time, it’s still totally Catriona Ward! Everything seems a little off kilter, a bit strange. People don’t behave in quite the same way as ‘normal’ people would.

I mean, a bonding experience in the Mojave desert between a mother and her daughter, in the childhood home where her parents experimented on dogs (this is a horror book. Horrible things happen to not just the people, but the animals as well). How could anything possibly go wrong, I ask you!

I hadn’t read horror in quite a while before I read Needless Street, and now I seem to be on a roll. This book reminds me why I read a lot of this genre as a teenager. It’s that feeling of being transfixed, unable to turn away whilst horrific things happen. The mind games as well!

Love, love, loved this.

And now I need to go and read Ward’s backlist, and make sure I read whatever comes next!

Thanks to the marvellous Pigeonhole yet again for an amazing serialisation!! Keep it up please!
  
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Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Collective in Books

Jul 31, 2022  
The Collective
The Collective
Alison Gaylin | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry
7
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
A very satisfying tale of revenge that I raced through in quick time.

Unfortunately, we have all heard of cases where a child is abused or found dead, murdered or killed by someone else and the person thought to have committed that atrocity walks free. We all feel for the parents but what would you do if that parent was you? Would you want revenge and how far would you go?

Camille is that parent; her only child is gone and her marriage has ended.

Grief has no time scale and after five years, the pain is still as raw, if not more so as the person she believed murdered her beautiful daughter is walking free and getting on with their lives. She has to do something but what?

Enter the collective ... a secret online group of mainly mothers who will help you get the justice you feel you deserve by working together.

Camille now has purpose but how far will she go?

With a great plot and interesting characters written at a pace that was quite slow at first but increased as the story developed, this book is a great thriller and certainly had me gripped from the start waiting to see how it all turned out.

Thank you must go to The Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for enabling me to read The Collective and share my views.
  
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Merissa (13942 KP) rated Second Wind in Books

Nov 4, 2022  
Second Wind
Second Wind
A.L. Lester | 2022 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
SECOND WIND is a standalone novella set in Llanbaruc, with some of the crew of Theatre Fawr too. Gethin (I love that name) is a bi-divorcee, being pushed into being social by his older sister. Martin is trans with a daughter. They meet at orchestra practice and follow on from there.

This is a novella and, as such, I don't usually give them 5-stars. This one, though, I have no choice BUT to do so. It has so much to it, you get the full story. Yes, it could be fleshed out in parts but if there's no need, why do it?

I loved how Martin and Gethin communicated from the start, their relationship built on openness and trust. You see it grow and change as things happen between them.

Fading to black doesn't take away any of the intensity between these two. And I loved how Luke showed up (from another standalone in the same world). I am loving this world and am always drawn in by A.L. Lester's writing style.

Absolutely loved it and highly recommend it. And grab Out of Focus too, while you're at it!

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2530 KP) rated Murder in Morningside Heights in Books

Feb 16, 2022 (Updated Feb 16, 2022)  
Murder in Morningside Heights
Murder in Morningside Heights
Victoria Thompson | 2016 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder at a Women’s College
Frank Malloy’s new private investigation business has only been open a few months, but it hasn’t gotten him any interesting cases until the Northrups walk in. Their daughter Abigail has just been murdered on the campus of the women’s college where she taught. Her parents want to know what happened without the press getting wind of a scandal to ruin her reputation. Soon, Frank’s new wife, Sarah, is helping him figure out what happened to Abigail. With several competing motives, will they figure out the truth?

As always, this was an excellent trip back to 1890’s New York City. The story was fast paced, so even when I was ahead of the characters, it wasn’t for that long. And I still wasn’t sure about who the killer was until we reached the logical conclusion. Of course, it’s always great to spend time with the characters, and I love how Frank and Sarah’s world continues to evolve. I also enjoy the humor that the characters and their relationships provide. It’s a nice balance to some of the more serious themes the series tackles. This book will please fans of the series. Believe me, it is worth the time invested in catching up if you are still behind on the series like I am.
  
The Drop (Harry Bosch #17)
The Drop (Harry Bosch #17)
Michael Connelly | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry
10
9.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Bosch Has Two Cases Dropped on Him
LAPD Detective Harry Bosch is excited when he and his partner get handed a hot lead on a cold case from 1989. DNA from a blood sample has identified a suspect. The problem? He was eight-years-old when the murder happened. Before they can figure out what is really going on, they are handed a fresh case. Councilman Irvin Irving’s son died when he fell out of a hotel balcony. The question is, did he jump or was he pushed. Despite their previous history, Irving specifically requested Bosch work the case. Can he avoid the politics and solve both cases?

I was immediately intrigued with both of the cases presented here. Between the two, the story was always moving forward, and I had a hard time stopping before I reached the logical climax. One aspect was left opened, but it was small. One of the storylines goes pretty dark, and overall this is a darker book than I typically read, but as long as you know that, you’ll be fine. I do like Bosch, but some of his behavior to his partner was frustrating here. On the other hand, I enjoy watching his relationship with his daughter continue to grow. This is another strong entry that will please fans of the series.