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This story was heartbreaking and maddening, horrific and unbelievable, sad and disturbing. I don't usually read books that are based on real events - something about knowing it's true turns me off, but I wanted to give this a try. It's still not something I found particularly enthralling, but it was definitely an interesting read.
Honestly, I can't decide who I despise more, Shelly or Dave! Both did horrendous things, but Dave's obvious disregard for what happened, turning a blind eye to what he witnessed and *still* insisting that there was no abuse, denying that there could have been anything wrong happening while being a partial participant, his refusal to face the facts seriously pissed me off. As for Shelly, how a person can do such things to another human being, let alone her own children, baffles me and makes me sick. Spout off as much as you want about her having a mental illness, I don't care, what she did was disgusting and I don't think she'll spend nearly enough years in prison. My heart goes out to the sisters. I dealt with abuse from my mother when I was young, but certainly not to this degree, and I can't imagine how painful it was for them (not just physically, but mentally and emotionally). The ending, knowing that each woman was healing and moving on, creating their own happiness, put a big smile on my face!
  
The Fog Ladies
The Fog Ladies
Susan McCormick | 2019 | Mystery
3
3.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Plot Got Fogged In
When Sarah James moves to San Francisco to do her medical residency, she moves into a building in Pacific Heights and begins making friend with her older neighbors. One she struggles to like is Mrs. Bridge, her neighbor who lives directly across the hall, since Mrs. Bridge is always complaining about something. When Mrs. Bridge dies unexpectedly, Sarah thinks it is a sad accident. However, some of the other residents begin to see a pattern with other deaths in the building. Was Mrs. Bridge’s death an accident? Or will Sarah find something more sinister going on?

I was excited about this book and looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, it failed to deliver. I was a bit overwhelmed by the characters at first, but as we got to know them, I was able to keep them straight. Sadly, that was because some of them never rose above their initial stereotypical caricatures, and they were annoying caricatures at that. The plot was slow to start with then all but vanishes in the middle third before coming back for a descent resolution. Too many sub-plots really detracted. A couple parts of the book seemed off to me, including a sub-plot involving a character discovering Starbucks thanks to countless coupons in the paper. It’s a shame because I did really enjoy a few of the characters, but the rest was bad enough that I will give the rest of the series a pass.
  
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ClareR (6230 KP) rated Coffin Moon in Books

May 17, 2026  
Coffin Moon
Coffin Moon
Keith Rosson | 2026 | Horror
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Coffin Moon isn’t your run of the mill vampire story, and is a new take on a genre that there has been a lot of books about over the years. It never came across as gratuitously violent, although by it’s nature, there is a lot of violence, and these are people fighting for their lives: it’s a vampire novel after all. Coffin Moon is about grief, revenge, regret and survival.

The story is told through three characters, and almost entirely by Duane Minor, a Vietnam vet, who is still struggling with the horrors that he saw on his tour. Duane embarks on his journey of revenge with his niece, Julia, who has also experienced trauma before her aunt adopted her. They are both searching for John Vadey, the vampire who is to blame for the death of their loved ones. All of these main characters are flawed, and this makes for a sad, melancholy story. Their backstories are well-developed and their actions are believable (within the context of the story, because I would be at home, hiding behind the sofa!). The narrator, Pete Cross, brought these people to life and made it seem all too real, especially the devastating finale. This is a masterclass in the vampire genre.

Keith Rosson is an author I haven’t come across before, and looking at his backlist, it looks as though I have a bit of catching up to do!
  
The House of Ashes
The House of Ashes
Stuart Neville | 2022 | Crime, Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I am ashamed to say that I haven't read anything by Stuart Neville for years ... I have no excuse other than I must have had my head stuck in the sand or developed short-term amnesia because I forgot how much I enjoyed reading his words.

This is a sad and tragic story told from the perspective of two women, Sara and Mary, and from two timelines, the present and sixty years ago, with all 'action' taking place on an isolated farm in Northern Ireland.

This is not a story full of joy or happiness but rather there is an overwhelming sense of darkness and sadness with a foreboding undertone from start to finish that is intense and certainly keeps you on edge. Having said that, it is also a story of strength, survival and hope amidst a backdrop of abuse, control and gaslighting.

I admit this isn't a story for everyone and I can't say I enjoyed it given the nature of its content, however, it was an excellent read that had me hooked and took me through so many emotions that many books don't do nowadays that I can only recommend it to others who enjoy dark, psychological thrillers with a little of the supernatural thrown in to enhance the overall feel of the book.

Thank you to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.