Tag: Review

REVIEW – The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

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“The boys could have been many things had they not been ruined by that place. Doctors who cure diseases or perform brain surgery, inventing shit that saves lives. Run for president. …but they had been denied even the simple pleasure of being ordinary.”

As you can imagine from the synopsis, this is a difficult book to read. But it’s an IMPORTANT book. So many victims of our nation’s twisted, sordid, racist past (and present) are forgotten or overlooked. The Nickel Boys is fiction, but it’s based on a real place. This book should make you uncomfortable and it should make you angry.

Whitehead’s writing is simple and direct – not flowery or elaborate – but packed with emotion, wisdom and vivid imagery.

“You can change the law but you can’t change people and how they treat each other.”

CONSTANT READER REVIEW – The Shining by Stephen King

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“This inhuman place makes human monsters.”

Somehow The Shining is simultaneously a slow burning horror novel and a fast-paced thriller that spooks you from the beginning. There’s an overwhelming sense of dread that rapidly increases the closer you get to the book’s finale.

King is a master (but you already know that). The writing in this book is some of his most beautiful and vivid that I’ve read so far, while also making the reader feel isolated and claustrophobic.

I’ve spent some time in hotels that have been closed for the season, which likely made this that much more familiar – and that much more terrifying – for me to read.

“Your daddy…sometimes he does things he’s sorry for later. Sometimes he doesn’t think the way he should.”

Warning: Jack is an unlikable character. His descent into madness was easy to believe, simply because he seemed close to the edge to begin with. I felt a bit of sympathy for him during one brief moment towards the end, but overall it wasn’t a stretch to imagine him being so easily influenced by The Overlook.

I’ve only read a handful of King’s books, but this one has creeped me out the most!

REVIEW – Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay

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Elevator Pitch is a solid suspenseful story about elevator rides gone wrong in NYC. Barclay does a great job of setting the scene and making you feel safe until, suddenly, you’re not.

The story is fast paced and, honestly, a little fun. The premise is horrifying but the execution is very reminiscent of a good summer blockbuster.

I’ve never been afraid of elevators, but I might opt to take the stairs from now on.

Thank you William Morrow for providing me with a copy of this book!

REVIEW – The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff

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Graff does an incredible job of providing a complete account of what happened on 9/11. Just about every perspective you could imagine from the day’s events is covered. It’s a devastating read, but it’s an essential piece of our nation’s history and the documentation of first-hand accounts is so incredibly important.

Thank you Avid Reader Press for sending me an ARC of this book.

REVIEW – City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

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“My friends! My oldest friends in the world! My oldest friends in the world whom I’d only met two weeks ago.”

City of Girls starts off as the literary equivalent of a fizzy, fruity cocktail. It’s fun, it’s funny, it’s lighthearted. The characters are great friends – the theatre crew is an interesting mix of personalities, but they all get along so well. Just when you think you’ve settled in to an easy breezy story, it delivers a gut punch.

“The sooner you get flattened to the ground, the sooner you can begin to rebuild your life again.”

There are some brutally real and crushing moments in this book – which deviates completely from the tone set early on. What starts as a tale of a frivolous, stupid 19 year old girl (weren’t we all idiots at that age?) turns into an epic about one woman’s fascinating journey through life.

It’s racy and shocking at times. It’s set during WWII but unlike any historical fiction I’ve read from the same era. The pacing is incredible and the writing is exquisite. The examination of relationships, mostly of the different types of female friendships, is very real and honest.

The last few chapters are the most emotional. They make up such a brief – but powerful – part of the book.

“Anyway, at some point in a woman’s life, she just gets tired of being ashamed all the time. After that, she is free to become whoever she truly is.”

REVIEW – The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup

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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.

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – Mulberry Mischief by Sharon Farrow

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Mulberry Mischief is a delightful little cozy mystery. As someone who is half Ohioan and half Michigander (and 100% a Great Lakes enthusiast), the setting couldn’t be more perfect. Oriole Point is an adorable little resort town right on Lake Michigan.

Marlee is a great main character – and I loved her group of friends! I found myself wishing The Berry Basket was a real shop, and that I could somehow join the cast of characters in this book.

The mystery kept me guessing until the end (and the last few chapters are pretty fast paced!)

Thank you Kensington Books for the free book!

TRUE CRIME REVIEW – Chase Darkness With Me by Billy Jensen

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”The murders in the shadows add up to a hell of a lot more than the murders in the spotlight. The blood of the forgotten was just as red as the “famous” victims.”

Chase Darkness with Me is an absolute must have for true crime fans. Billy Jensen is an incredible writer. He pours so much of himself into this book – from explaining why he’s interested in helping solve crimes, to his honesty about the sacrifices he’s made to be 110% dedicated to seeking justice. (Spoiler: being a citizen detective is HARD. It’s an enormous commitment and not for the faint of heart.)

The sections about Jensen’s dad are some of my favorites. He was an interesting man (with a somewhat checkered past) and it sounds like he was a dedicated, loving father. If he were alive today, I’m pretty sure he’d be a Murderino.

There are so many emotional ups and downs in this book – from catching the bad guys, to frustration over dead ends. But the lowest and highest points are definitely the loss of Michelle McNamara and the eventual capture of the Golden State Killer.

Jensen’s chapter about learning of Michelle’s death is a tough one – he’s an expert at transferring his grief to the page. (Sidebar: if you have not yet read I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, I would recommend picking it up before you read Chase Darkness with Me. It will make the chapters about Michelle and GSK all the better.)

We think of superheroes as vigilantes in flashy costumes that shove the law out of the way and take matters into their own hands – that’s not true here. Jensen is compassionate, driven and dedicated to seeking justice and helping grieving friends and family find closure. He doesn’t step on toes. He works with local authorities. He asks for permission from the families before he takes on a case.

In a world that sometimes feels full of bad guys, Jensen is a good one.

“It’s chaos. Be kind.”

REVIEW – The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

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“Life will throw you major curveballs, but it’s rare you can do much more than duck.”

What an amazingly delightful book! The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is full of lovable characters, fun pop culture references and little bits of wisdom about life.

It’s cozy, it’s hilarious and it’s heartfelt. I’m so sad that Nina is fictional – we’d be great friends (I love to plan, I love to read, I love silence. I’m also full of useless facts.)

This is the perfect read for book lovers; you’ll likely find a kindred spirit in Nina.

“It didn’t matter what hit the fan; as long as there were unread books in the world, she would be fine. Being surrounded by books was the closest she’d ever gotten to feeling like the member of a gang.”

REVIEW – A Deadly Deception by Tessa Harris

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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!