Tag: Mystery

REVIEW – The Tenant by Katrine Engberg

Aimeeeliz

{AVAILABLE January 14, 2020} The Tenant examines the murder of Julie Stender and her connection to her landlady, Esther. The most interesting part of the synopsis? Julie’s murder has already been outlined in the murder mystery Esther has been writing.

The good? This book is a well-paced mystery/thriller with an interesting premise. The plot is complex and keeps the reader guessing (mostly) until the end. It’s definitely a page-turner; I read over the course of about 15 hours.

The not so good? The characters are so unlikable! I found the detectives to be immature and downright rude at times. The plot might be a bit TOO complex, because I felt like some ends were a bit too loose, and others just left hanging. There were also a few connections that seemed a bit too convenient.

And the wtf? There were a few lines that stood out to me, for being absurd (especially for a book being released in 2020, and especially for a book written by a woman). There were little snarky side comments about the appearance of multiple characters (mostly women). There were also a few times when OxyContin is mentioned and it seems way too casual given the issues so many are having with opioids (but this might be more of an American thing, and not as big of a crisis in Denmark?)

Thank you Gallery/Scout Press for providing me with a NetGalley ARC.

REVIEW – Eventide by Mae Clair

Aimeeeliz

Eventide starts off super creepy and then somewhat plateaus for a bit – with bursts of horrifying and gruesome action in some spots.

Third in a series, Eventide does reference some earlier events which I assume took place in the other books, but this doesn’t negatively affect the reading experience. You could easily read this book without having read the others.

The book includes dual timelines which are interesting at first, but the older timeline lost my attention a bit in the middle. The pay off is decent though, and there are some great reveals if you don’t figure them out first (but realizing what’s coming doesn’t ruin the overall story!)

Thank you Kensington Books for the digital review copy.

REVIEW – The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup

Aimeeeliz

If this book isn’t on your radar, it needs to be. From the absolutely brutal beginning to the chilling last chapter, The Chestnut Man holds on and does not let go.

The investigative part of the story is compelling, and keeps you guessing until all of the answers are revealed.

The story explores the worst of humanity, the depths of grief (and the different ways people cope), and the ripple effect that lies and secrets can have.

This book is DARK. It’s incredibly gruesome and can be jarring at times. It is not for the faint of heart. There is also a deep sadness that runs underneath the story (there’s a reveal that’s an absolute gut punch).

Although the book clocks in at just over 500 pages, it’s a relatively quick read with short chapters.

REVIEW – A Deadly Deception by Tessa Harris

Aimeeeliz

This one was a little lukewarm for me. It’s a slower-paced mystery, set in 1880s Whitechapel. After a dormant period of about eight months, a murder occurs and residents fear that Jack the Ripper is back.

I ended up liking two secondary characters the best (I won’t say who, major spoilers!)

The writing is good and the book does pick up speed towards the end, with some fun little reveals and twists.

Thank you to the folks at Kensington for sending me an advanced copy of this book!

REVIEW – Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

Aimeeeliz

“This place isn’t kind to gentle souls. It chews them up and spits them out.”

If you haven’t read any of his books yet, you need to know that Riley Sager is basically the new king of the fun, twisty, popcorn thriller.

Lock Every Door is no exception. I would put it more firmly into the mystery bucket (except in the last 80 pages where it flips to a major horror movie vibe with some Twilight Zone-ish elements).

The cast of characters almost reminds me of an Agatha Christie novel. Everyone is unique and everyone is…a little off. I had fun trying to figure out what was going on (I was right about some things and pretty wrong about some others!)

REVIEW – The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal

Aimeeeliz

The Doll Factory is an incredible book, meant for the patient reader. The buildup is slow, but oh boy does it pay off at the end.

Macneal does an amazing job of placing the reader right in the middle of gloomy, grimy 1850s London. Each chapter flawlessly leads into the next (seriously. When you start a chapter, go back and read the last sentence from the previous one.)

There are subtle, but terrifying, details that suggest not all is right with Silas “the Cadaver” Reed, but you have no idea the depths of his depravity until it all comes together at the end. There’s a revelation in the last few chapters that made me audibly gasp. It’s THAT good (and THAT horrible).

It’s almost impossible to believe that this is a debut. The way Macneal slowly builds to certain reveals is absolutely masterful.

Also, Guinevere is clearly the best character 😉

Thank you Atria for providing me with a copy of this book.

REVIEW – A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson

Aimeeeliz

“People are prepared to put aside everything in the way of ethics and morals to protect their families.”

A Nearly Normal Family is a slow-burning thriller/crime drama. Told from three perspectives (the father, the daughter, the mother), the book takes its time leading you to what really happened. (And I was dying to find out!)

It’s a great read for those who love thrillers/mysteries but either aren’t fans of gore or maybe need a break from heavier, more disturbing novels.

REVIEW – Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney

Aimeeeliz

This was a fun read that kept me guessing until the very end.

I did find it to be a little confusing, and I kept reading primarily just because I wanted to know what the heck was going on.

All in all, it’s a good middle ground thriller. Good enough to keep you interested, but it didn’t blow me away.

Feeney’s writing is good and I look forward to reading more of her work!

REVIEW – The Summer We Lost Her by Tish Cohen

Aimeeeliz

The Summer We Lost Her is an absolute gut punch. Tish Cohen has written amazing, complex and, in some cases, despicable characters.

This book is incredibly atmospheric – I could vividly picture Lake Placid and imagine myself right alongside Elise and Matt. Even though I knew Gracie was going to go missing, the moment in the book where it happens was still incredibly emotional.

I absolutely hated two characters in particular, to the point that my husband had to ask if I was okay because I scoffed so loudly after reading a chapter. Cohen’s writing is THAT good.

An amazing read for anyone who likes deep domestic fiction with just a dash of thriller/suspense.

Thank you Scout Press for providing me with a review copy of this book!

REVIEW – Inspection by Josh Malerman

Aimeeeliz

My middle-ish rating is not indicative of Malerman’s writing. Malerman is a fantastic writer. However, I think this book was maybe 80 pages too long, or may have been more impactful as a short story.

It does start to get a bit slow and repetitive at times, but the ending is fast and insane and…brutal.

Inspection has elements reminiscent of 1984, Never Let Me Go and The Giver.

It’s an incredibly unique story, and although not quite as memorable as Bird Box, still enjoyable for those who like some sci-fi/light horror.