Tag: Review

REVIEW – The Holdout by Graham Moore

Aimeeeliz

“In the stories, there’s always an answer at the end. Resolution. …But out here – it’s not like that. Out here, maybe somebody goes to jail. Maybe somebody doesn’t. But we never know the truth. The real, whole, definite truth. It’s impossible.”

This one started strong for me, dragged a bit in the middle, and finished with a relative bang.

“What sort of lunatic God would put these people in a room together?”

The Holdout is sure to be a memorable thriller for many due to its unique premise – 10 years after issuing a “not guilty” verdict in what seemed to be one of the biggest trials of the century, members of the jury are brought back together to work on a documentary series with a well-known murder podcast. When one of the jurors is found dead, our main character has to work to clear her own name, find the killer and attempt to solve the original disappearance/murder.

I had some of the plot here pegged from the beginning (I’m hard to surprise, sorry). I enjoyed the reading experience overall – I flew through this book over the course of one afternoon/evening. I think many thriller readers will love this one. It’s twisty and fun.

REVIEW – The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz by Jeremy Dronfield

Aimeeeliz

“The boy is my greatest joy. We strengthen each other. We are one, inseparable.”

This is probably one of the most incredible WWII stories I’ve ever read. I’ll admit, I was hesitant to pick this up – not because I didn’t want to read it, but because life is weird and difficult right now and I wasn’t sure I wanted to dive into something so heartbreaking. This book is nonfiction, but it reads like fiction most of the time – the writing flows easily and the people Dronfield writes about leap off of the page. I loved reading about each family member – while the story is primarily about Gustav and his son Fritz, we do get a glimpse into what life during the war was like for the rest of the family. They all end up on different paths, and some endings are horrific.

“It took strength and character to share and love in a world where selfishness and hate were common currency.”

I was right, this book is incredibly heartbreaking. But it’s also joyful. And hopeful. The love between Gustav and Fritz kept them going. Their resilience is inspiring and, at times, it’s almost unbelievable. Their bravery was just one small factor in their eventual survival – they also experienced incredible luck (which is so hard to say, given the circumstances) and they ended up building a small community of friends within the camps who lifted them up and pushed them through. This book examines the absolute worst of humanity but also highlights some of the best. The sacrifices people made (and were willing to make) for the good of the cause. The danger they put themselves in to save others.

“No matter what occurred in the world, no matter how near danger might be, life went on, and what could one do but live it?”

Something that I feel is glossed over sometimes when it comes to WWII books – nonfiction and fiction alike – is what the survivors experience once they are back home and safe. Even though Gustav and Fritz survived many years in unimaginable, cruel conditions, they still struggled when it came time to rejoin society and get “back to normal.” There truly was no normal after WWII for many survivors, and the trauma and pain of those years in the camps impacted the rest of their lives.

Thank you Harper Perennial/Harper Books for the ARC!

REVIEW – Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

Aimeeeliz

“Life was always easier, reflected Issy, when you were carrying a large Tupperware full of cakes.”

Oh, I read this book at exactly the right time! I was looking for something lovely and snuggly and heartwarming, and this fit the bill perfectly. When Issy is laid off from her job, she decides to purchase a space to start a bakery. She quickly learns that it’s not as easy as just making yummy cakes – but with a little bit of help and a lot of work, it turns into something wonderful.

I loved the characters in this book – although they might be a bit stereotypical (the feisty best friend, the bitchy newcomer with a heart of gold, the “good guy,” the “bad guy”) they fit well into the story. This book made me laugh out loud multiple times, which is always a sign of a great read.

This was my first Jenny Colgan book, and I can’t wait to read more!

REVIEW – A Mother’s Lie by Sarah Zettel

Aimeeeliz

If you’re looking for a quick, heart-racing thriller, this is the book for you! Beth has worked so hard to keep her daughter Dana safe – which has meant keeping her away from Beth’s family. When a woman approaches Dana claiming to be her grandmother, everything unravels.

I read this in less than 24 hours – it’s definitely a page-turner with quick, punchy chapters that kept me wanting (NEEDING!) to know what was going to happen next.

As far as the thriller genre goes, I wouldn’t say this one is particularly memorable, but it is one of those great books that’s perfect when you’re searching for an easy thriller read.

Thank you Bibliofinder and Grand Central Publishing for sending me a copy of this book.

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – Botched Butterscotch and Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flower

Aimeeeliz

I recently read two cozies from the same series – Botched Butterscotch (a novella) is Amish Candy Shop Mystery #4.5, and Marshmallow Malice is #5.

Botched Butterscotch is a novella tucked in the middle of a cozy mystery series – Bailey runs a candy shop with her grandmother. She donates some treats to a local fundraiser, but things quickly turn sour when the box of donated cash and checks is emptied.

This was such a sweet (I couldn’t help myself…) little story! My first experience with the Amish Candy Shop Mysteries certainly won’t be my last. This is pretty short – I read it in one sitting. It was nice to have a short glimpse into a series I haven’t read, and a lot of ground was covered in a short amount of time! I highly recommend this either for fans of the series, or for anyone interested in checking the series out (it’s a nice way to get a feel for the writing and the characters without dedicating time to an entire book).

Marshmallow Malice picks up right where Botched Butterscotch leaves off. Bailey is the maid of honor (and cake expert!) for her boyfriend’s mom’s wedding. There’s some drama at the ceremony when an uninvited guest crashes the wedding and tries to put a stop to things. When the wedding crasher ends up dead the next morning, Bailey works to solve the murder. This has just the right balance of fun and seriousness – I love learning about the Amish community and the writing feels purposeful throughout the entire story.

Thank you Kensington Books for the NetGalley ARCs!

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – Proof of Murder by Lauren Elliott

Aimeeeliz

Bookshop owner Addie finds herself helping appraise rare and old books for a local estate sale, in a rumored-to-be-haunted house. When a dead body turns up in a seemingly locked room, Addie has to clear her name and try to track down the killer.

This was such a fun read! Addie’s a great character and I loved how well the murder mystery was tied in with books and literature. There’s a little bit of a ghost element here too, which made it extra fun (and chilling at times!)

Feeling a little like Sherlock Holmes himself, I figured out who the culprit was a bit before the reveal – which, to me, can be the mark of a good mystery. The author gives enough clues that you might be able to solve the mystery along with the main character, but nothing was so obvious that I felt like it was a “no duh.” I had my suspicions, but I wasn’t totally sure until the end.

Thank you Kensington Books for the NetGalley ARC!

CONSTANT READER REVIEW – The Green Mile by Stephen King

Aimeeeliz

“I couldn’t help it. I tried to take it back, but it was too late.”

I don’t think anyone can make you care for prisoners on death row quite like Stephen King. (He also seems to have a thing for the wrongfully accused, which is just another level of heartwrenching.)

It’s bold to say this, given King’s EXTENSIVE body of work, but The Green Mile contains some of his most memorable characters – John Coffey (just rip my heart out, okay?), Percy Wetmore (if anyone deserves a sit down with Old Sparky, it’s this guy), Delacroix (I can’t even begin to talk about this one).

I knew the general plot of this book before reading, given the popularity of the movie adaptation (which, as of this writing, I have yet to see). I knew that I was going to have my heart stomped on. I knew that this would stick with me forever.

The Green Mile is just so well done – it’s beautifully written and it hits every emotion. It’s sad, it’s funny, it’s suspenseful. At times, it’s hopeful. Other times? It’s hopeless. A masterpiece through and through. I know a lot of readers avoid King because he’s the master of horror. But some of his best books aren’t in the horror genre at all (11/22/63 comes to mind). The Green Mile is HORRIFYING, but it isn’t horror.

“Time takes it all, time bears it away, and in the end there is only darkness. Sometimes we find others in that darkness, and sometimes we lose them there again.”

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – Murder in the Storybook Cottage by Ellery Adams

Aimeeeliz

Murder in the Storybook Cottage begins as Storyton Hall resort owner Jane is preparing to host a children’s book conference. When a dead body turns up in the new storybook village on her property, Jane has to work to keep her guests safe (and unaware) and help solve a murder.

This was the first book I’ve read in the Book Retreat series – it was a cute, cozy read. I’m considering going back to the beginning to read the first five books.

EVERYTHING in this town is book-themed. EVERYTHING. It’s a book for book lovers – there are so many cute little literary references and it feels like a bookish Stars Hollow. There’s somewhat of a fantasy-ish element to this book – it’s revealed early on that Jane is the Guardian of a secret library. It seems like many people (both good and bad) have shown interest in what the secret library holds, with some dangerous consequences. Many of Jane’s staff at Storyton Hall serve dual purposes – they might run something at the resort, but they also might be one of her team of security to help protect and defend the secret library.

The murder in this book is pretty dark (for a cozy) and there is an underlying feeling of unease throughout the book – the danger that Jane and her friends and family could be in seems very real.

Thank you Kensington Books for the NetGalley ARC!

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua by Rose Pressey

Aimeeeliz

{Available April 28, 2020} I found myself in need of a quick, light cozy and this fit the bill! Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua had me laughing from the opening of chapter one.

As Celeste is prepping for a weeklong craft fair, she comes across a dead body by the river. What unfolds throughout the next few days is a twisty whodunnit, filled with suspicious characters. There’s also a slight supernatural element in this story.

There were a few repetitive parts – one plot point in particular was revealed twice, but I assume that will be fixed in the final copy.

Thank you Kensington Books for the ARC!

CONSTANT READER REVIEW – Duma Key by Stephen King

Aimeeeliz

“There were some strange things kicking around Duma Key, and I had reason to believe they weren’t all nice things…”

Okay, phew. Duma Key features a slow (slow…SLOW) buildup reminiscent of a rollercoaster. Except the hill is the majority of the book, and the descent is the last third, at 100 miles an hour. The story is good. It’s unique-ish (although, another King book features a painting with “special” properties…) and it still feels very much like a King book although it’s set in Florida. Maybe he figured enough bad stuff has happened in Maine by his hand.

“We checked into hell on different shifts, you and me.”

Edgar, our main character, feels very authentic. His issues with memory and speech following a horrific accident are easily woven throughout the story – they never feel forced. You can’t help but feel bad for him, and I found myself wondering what Edgar was like before his accident. He uses drawing and painting as a way to heal from his injuries and we quickly learn that those pieces of art possess…something. Or, maybe, they’re possessed BY something.

The supporting characters here are memorable – Wireman, of course, stands out due to his tragic backstory and frequent words of wisdom. We don’t get enough of Elizabeth – of the REAL Elizabeth – but our glimpses into her childhood contain some of the most chilling parts of the book. And Jack! Probably the least developed of our “main” characters, but still a delight.

“I told myself there was time. Of course, that’s what we always tell ourselves, isn’t it? We can’t imagine time running out, and God punishes us for what we can’t imagine.”

This book contains some incredible tragedies – both things that have happened in the past, and things that happen in the current timeline. There’s a strong theme of parental love here, too, and the way different people deal with unimaginable grief. It’s underlying, but I think that will be something I remember most about this story.

My final feelings about the story are a bit conflicted – overall it’s not the plot that resonates with me, but the writing. There are some incredible one-liners in this book, and for that, I think it’s worth the read.

“…the only way to go on is to go on. To say I can do this even when you know you can’t.”