Book Review: THE OVERNIGHT GUEST by Heather Gudenkauf

 

Title: THE OVERNIGHT GUEST

Author:  Heather Gudenkauf

Read: March 2022

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟1/2

 

Book Description:

 

True crime writer Wylie Lark doesn’t mind being snowed in at the isolated farmhouse where she’s retreated to write her new book. A cozy fire, complete silence. It would be perfect, if not for the fact that decades earlier, at this very house, two people were murdered in cold blood and a girl disappeared without a trace.

As the storm worsens, Wylie finds herself trapped inside the house, haunted by the secrets contained within its walls—haunted by secrets of her own. Then she discovers a small child in the snow just outside. After bringing the child inside for warmth and safety, she begins to search for answers. But soon it becomes clear that the farmhouse isn’t as isolated as she thought, and someone is willing to do anything to find them.

My musings:

 

Claustrophobic, “snowed-in” mysteries make for the best escapes, especially when it’s a heatwave outside! I usually enjoy Gudenkauf’s books, so I was very excited to read THE OVERNIGHT GUEST with our reading group – and we had a lot of fun sharing our wild and wonderful theories along the way.

 

THE OVERNIGHT GUEST plays out in three separate timelines. In the present, true crime writer Wylie Lark has ensconced herself in a remote farmhouse in the snow to finish off her latest book when a blizzard cuts off all electricity, phone reception and roads into town. In the second timeline, a young girl witnesses the abuse of her mother at the hands of her father. And in the third timeline, twenty or so years in the past, teenager Josie Doyle lives through the most horrific night of her life, when her parents are shot and her brother and best friend disappear. Gudenkauf cleverly weaves all these stories together into a tense, suspenseful mystery that only gradually gives up all its secrets. If you love the kind of story in which you can play armchair detective, then this one should definitely appeal – I guessed some elements but was totally in the dark with some of the others.

 

For lovers of atmospheric settings, THE OVERNIGHT GUEST is the type of mystery where the snowy landscape features almost like another character and adds to the suspense. If the thought of being trapped in a blizzard with an unexpected visitor wasn’t terrifying enough, the house itself holds a dark secret that was not for the faint of heart.

 

I’m normally not a huge fan of too many POVs and usually find myself drawn more to one than the others, and one of the threads contained a theme I would not usually choose to read. However, despite initial misgivings I was soon intrigued by the story, and even though Josie’s POV was by far the most compelling for me, the different threads soon came together to make for a compelling mystery. There were a few plotholes and unanswered questions at the end, which bugged me, but overall I enjoyed the story and thought it made for a good buddy read.

 

All in all, THE OVERNIGHT GUEST was a suspenseful, claustrophobic mystery with an atmospheric setting that quickly captured my attention and kept me interested until the end.

Book Review: THE NIGHT SHIFT by Alex Finlay

 

Title: THE NIGHT SHIFT

Author:  Alex Finlay

Publisher:  Head of Zeus

Read: February 2022

Expected publication: out today!

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟1/2

 

Book Description:

 

 

It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Y2K is expected to end in chaos: planes falling from the sky, elevators plunging to earth, world markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse. None of that happens. But at a Blockbuster Video in Linden, New Jersey, four teenage girls working the night shift are attacked. Only one survives. Police quickly identify a suspect who flees and is never seen again.

Fifteen years later, in the same town, four teenage employees working late at an ice cream store are attacked, and again only one makes it out alive.

Both surviving victims recall the killer speaking only a few final words... “Goodnight, pretty girl.”

In the aftermath, three lives intersect: the survivor of the Blockbuster massacre who’s forced to relive her tragedy; the brother of the original suspect, who’s convinced the police have it wrong; and the FBI agent, who’s determined to solve both cases. On a collision course toward the truth, all three lives will forever be changed, and not everyone will make it out alive.

What attracted me to this book:

 

I’ve always found it difficult to find pulse-pounding, adrenaline filled, fast paced thrillers that also touch your heart with empathetic characters and emotional depth, but this is exactly what I got with Alex Finlay’s last book EVERY LAST FEAR. I was therefore thrilled to get the opportunity to read his latest book, THE NIGHT SHIFT, especially since it sees the return of FBI agent Sarah Keller to solve another case.

My musings:

 

If you were around in 1999, you may remember the panic as the media storm erupted forecasting the end of the world as all our computer systems would surely crash, launching missiles, making the stock market collapse and generally causing death and destruction.  I was working in a video store in real life in 1999, so Finlay’s Blockbuster store setting brought back some memories! Luckily not as traumatic as for Ella, who is the only survivor of the four teenage girls who were attacked by an unknown assailant in the video store in 1999. Fifteen years later, the scenario repeats itself when three teenage girls are killed in an icecream parlour, again with one girl surviving the attack but unable to remember the event. Ella, whose earlier trauma has motivated her to become a therapist specialising in counselling victims of similar tragedies, is the only person the girl will talk to. It’s not long until Ella finds some similarities between her and the new victim’s account. Could the same killer be back?

 

Enter FBI agent Sarah Keller, who is now heavily pregnant with twins but still as determined as ever to fight crime and solve this new case. Told through several POVs and featuring a large cast of interesting characters, THE NIGHT SHIFT plays out in Finlay’s action-packed style as the hunt for the killer begins. And it’s not just the law enforcement agents who have the motive and the means to chase leads. I did guess the culprit very early on, but this didn’t mar my reading pleasure as this fast-paced tale rolled out.

 

I admit that I enjoyed the later part of the book more than its beginning, which seemed to introduce a lot of characters and took some time to get going. I also found the title and the synopsis a bit misleading, as the events set in 1999 feature only very briefly, as does any mention of the “night shift” – if you are looking for a nostalgic read set in the 90’s you may get disappointed. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the more action packed later part of the book, especially Chris’ POV, with some surprises and heartbreak along the way. Keller was almost a peripheral character in this one, as we have some much more interesting cast members with various agendas also giving chase, whose stories I found more compelling and intriguing than Keller’s.

  

Summary:

 

THE NIGHT SHIFT was the type of action packed book that makes for a great escape and some entertaining weekend or holiday reading. Finlay writes in a way that made the scenes roll out vividly and almost movie-like in my mind (I wouldn’t be surprised if someone snaps this one up for film). Fast paced and entertaining!

 

 

 

Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Book Review: DEVOTION by Hannah Kent

 

Title: DEVOTION

Author:  Hannah Kent

Publisher:  Pan Macmillan Australia

Read: November 2021

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟1/2

 

Book Description:

 

Prussia, 1836

Hanne Nussbaum is a child of nature - she would rather run wild in the forest than conform to the limitations of womanhood. In her village of Kay, Hanne is friendless and considered an oddity...until she meets Thea.

Ocean, 1838

The Nussbaums are Old Lutherans, bound by God's law and at odds with their King's order for reform. Forced to flee religious persecution the families of Kay board a crowded, disease-riddled ship bound for the new colony of South Australia. In the face of brutal hardship, the beauty of whale song enters Hanne's heart, along with the miracle of her love for Thea. Theirs is a bond that nothing can break.

The whale passed. The music faded.

South Australia, 1838

A new start in an old land. God, society and nature itself decree Hanne and Thea cannot be together. But within the impossible...is devotion.

 

My musings:

 

After reading Kent's previous books BURIAL RITES and THE GOOD PEOPLE, I knew that she has a special skill in bringing the past to life with vivid imagery of her words. The story of Hanne and Thea, two young Lutheran girls embarking on a journey to the colonies of South Australia to start a new life, sounded interesting. Little did I realise though that it was not a straightforward, ordinary piece of historical fiction. Though inspired by the real life characters and the origins of the settlement that is now Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills, Kent has a few surprises in store for her readers.

 

As Hanne and Thea's friendship blossoms into a forbidden romance, I was wondering about what the future would hold for these two young women, considering the ultra religious and conservative environment that entraps them. I could never have guessed the turn the story took at its half way mark, and I admit that I was a bit taken aback initially. However, Kent's lyrical prose lent the story an almost dreamlike quality that fitted in well with this "twist", for the lack of a better term without giving too much away. It also allowed for a broader perspective of the lives of the new community established in the colony, and a resolution that was unusual to say the least.

 

This turn of events probably won't be for everyone but I urge you to give it a chance, because the rest of the journey was worth it. I particularly enjoyed Kent's descriptions of nature and the slightly supernatural air that marked the later part of the book. Kent also doesn't shy away from exposing the darker side of European settlement and the treatment of the Peramangk people, the original custodians of the land. Overall, the story turned out to be less of a historical account, but an emotionally charged tale of love, longing and grief that rapidly got me under its spell. It was both beautiful and sad, with many topics to reflect on. DEVOTION is one of those books that will stick in my mind with its timeless quality and characters.

 

 

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan Australia for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Book Review: THE WAY IT IS NOW by Garry Disher

 

Title: THE WAY IT IS NOW

Author:  Garry Disher

Publisher:  Text Publishing

Read: October 2021

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟1/2

 

Book Description:

 

Set in a beach-shack town an hour from Melbourne, The Way It Is Now tells the story of a burnt-out cop named Charlie Deravin.

Charlie is living in his family’s holiday house, on forced leave since he made a mess of things at work.

Things have never been easy for Charlie. Twenty years earlier his mother went missing in the area, believed murdered. His father has always been the main suspect, though her body was never found.

Until now: the foundations are being dug for a new house on a vacant block. The skeletal remains of a child and an adult are found—and Charlie’s past comes crashing in on him.

The Way It Is Now is the enthralling new novel by Garry Disher, one of Australia’s most loved and celebrated crime writers.

My musings:

 

I’ve always enjoyed Garry Disher’s writing style, so I was very excited to get my hands on his latest book. THE WAY IT IS NOW is a standalone crime novel featuring Detective Senior Constable Charlie Deravin, who returns to his old childhood home to spend some downtime whilst he is suspended from duty. Returning to the small coastal town brings back painful memories for Charlie. Twenty years earlier, his mother vanished without a trace, believed a victim of foul play. Charlie’s father, a senior sergeant on the police force, has always been the prime subject, even though nobody could ever prove anything and Rose’s body was never found. With time on his hands and old memories assaulting him, Charlie starts digging into the past ...

 

Disher is a seasoned, accomplished writer, which shows in the way he brings both his setting as well as his characters to life. This is a slow-burning, character driven story with an atmospheric small town Australian setting that appears almost languid in the beginning. But don’t be fooled, because it is  full of scarred and damaged characters, family secrets, regret and disillusionment, and coming to terms with past mistakes. Whilst the mystery surrounding Rose Deravin’s disappearance intrigued me and soon reeled me in, the story was about so much more than a cold case. Disher’s description of life in a small Australian coastal town are spot on and made this tale seem authentic, as did Charlie’s growing disillusionment with his career, which has left him suspecting he worst of his fellow men. There is a rich cast of supporting characters who provide background and red herrings and fleshed the story out nicely. I particularly enjoyed the ethical dilemma of Charlie digging into the past, knowing that his father could be a killer, feeling torn between the love for the man and his suspicions. Set in early 2020, Disher incorporates the historical landmarks that defined that terrible year, from the bushfire crisis to the first appearance of covid cases around the world. 

 

Summary:

 

If you are a reader who enjoys a slower, character driven mystery with an authentic small town Australian setting, then Disher is a writer you should definitely turn to. Even though I found the ending a bit rushed, I enjoyed getting caught up in the intrigue and the slow unravelling of secrets that Disher does so well.

 

 

Thank you to Netgalley and Text Publishing for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Book Review: THE WITCH HUNTER by Max Seeck

 

Title: THE WITCH HUNTER

Author:  Max Seeck

Read: November 2021

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟1/2

 

Book Description:

 

A bestselling author’s wife has been found dead in a gorgeous black evening gown, sitting at the head of a formally set dinner table. Her most chilling feature—her face is frozen in a ghastly smile.

At first it seems as though a deranged psychopath is reenacting the gruesome murders from The Witch Hunter, the bestseller written by the victim’s husband. But investigator Jessica Niemi soon realizes she’s not looking for a single killer but rather for dozens of believers in a sinister form of witchcraft.

They know her every move and are always one step ahead. As the bodies start piling up, Jessica knows they won’t stop until they get what they want. And when her dark past comes to light, Jessica finds herself battling her own demons while desperately trying to catch a coven of killers before they claim their next victim. 

 

My musings:

 

Nordic Noir is my favourite genre, so when I stumbled across Max Seeck’s latest novel, THE ICE COVEN, it appealed to me straight away. But seeing it is part two of a series, I thought I should probably read the first book to get a better background on the characters – and I am glad I did! THE WITCH HUNTER sports a rich cast of characters, from multiple murder victims and perpetrators to a whole squad of detectives, which at times had me frantically scouring previous pages to keep track of who was who. Luckily the puzzle to solve was intriguing enough to keep me glued to the pages. By the end of the book, I finally felt that I had a good grasp of all the members of the detective squad, which should set me up nicely for Book 2 and made this a worthwhile endeavour.

 

With many of the dark elements that make the genre so appealing to me, the story captured me very quickly and I wanted to know the answers. The icy atmospheric setting and the theme of witchcraft inspired murders in a Finnish seaside suburb made this book extra intriguing. I did feel at times that a few details and nuances got lost in translation, though, and I am still not sure if I totally understood the final unravelling of all the threads. However, the character of Jessica Niemi and the delicious armchair travel setting in Finland will definitely make me come back for more and I can see that this is a series I can easily get addicted to.

Book Review: ROCK PAPER SCISSORS by Alice Feeney

 

Title: ROCK PAPER SCISSORS

Author:  Alice Feeney

Read: November 2021

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟1/2

 

Book Description:

 

Things have been wrong with Mr and Mrs Wright for a long time. When Adam and Amelia win a weekend away to Scotland, it might be just what their marriage needs. Self-confessed workaholic and screenwriter Adam Wright has lived with face blindness his whole life. He can’t recognize friends or family, or even his own wife.

Every anniversary the couple exchange traditional gifts – paper, cotton, pottery, tin – and each year Adam’s wife writes him a letter that she never lets him read. Until now. They both know this weekend will make or break their marriage, but they didn’t randomly win this trip. One of them is lying, and someone doesn’t want them to live happily ever after.

My musings:

 

If you have read any books by Alice Feeney before, you will know that she usually slots in a major twist or two, and this book was no exception. The only problem with this concept is that when you expect a twist, it is nowhere nearly as satisfying as being totally taken by surprise. I’m no super sleuth, but being forewarned, and having read a lot of thrillers, I was suspicious of EVERYTHING and ended up seeing through a lot of the author’s carefully laid traps very early on. That said, it was still fun to see all the threads slot into place, and thankfully there was one twist that I hadn’t seen coming!

 

It’s difficult to review a mystery that relies so heavily on the breadcrumb trail of clues left for us by the author, so I am not going to say much about the story here. Basically, it’s the sad tale of an unravelling marriage and a trip to a remote location in Scotland as a last ditch effort to connect. Soon things are starting to go wrong ...

 

There are some aspects of the books I really enjoyed, like the remote location and its spooky vibes – an old derelict chapel during a blizzard in Scotland, it doesn’t get much better than that! Whilst most of the book was pure entertainment, if you can suspend disbelief long enough, I did find it a bit slow going in places, as the couple lament their unhappy relationship, over and over and over again! The writing style, which was initially quite endearing with its odd little one-liner words of wisdom (one reviewer called them “fortune cookie wisdom”, which was an apt term) but grated on me after a while. Nearly every paragraph had one of these, and they made the writing feel choppy and cocky, as if it was trying too hard to be clever. I also thought that the voice of one particular character could have been eliminated to increase the tension, which was frankly lacking a bit, despite the deliciously isolated setting.

 

All in all, this was a mixed bag for me, saved by the excellent audio narration, which kept cajoling me along to the end and provided some good entertainment on my daily commute to work. But seeing that I had picked up the book knowing I was a bit tired of stories relying on that “killer twist” to shock its audience, I hadn’t set my expectations too high. This story will appeal to readers who love a few unexpected twists and blind corners and don’t mind sacrificing a bit of credibility for the sake of entertainment value. If you are a bit jaded with this genre, then it may not be the right book for you.

Book Review: A SLOW FIRE BURNING by Paula Hawkins

 

Title: A SLOW FIRE BURNING

Author:  Paula Hawkins

Read: October 2021

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟1/2

 

Book Description:

 

When a young man is found gruesomely murdered in a London houseboat, it triggers questions about three women who knew him. Laura is the troubled one-night-stand last seen in the victim’s home. Carla is his grief-stricken aunt, already mourning the recent death of yet another family member. And Miriam is the nosy neighbor clearly keeping secrets from the police.

 

Three women with separate connections to the victim. Three women who are – for different reasons – simmering with resentment. Who are, whether they know it or not, burning to right the wrongs done to them. When it comes to revenge, even good people might be capable of terrible deeds. How far might any one of them go to find peace? How long can secrets smoulder before they explode into flame?

My musings:

 

I love a good character study and with A SLOW FIRE BURNING that is exactly what I got! If you are looking for a fast paced mystery, take a hint from the “slow fire” in the title and keep walking. Firstly, the kindling takes a little while to take, and secondly, it never fully takes off into a raging inferno but slowly smoulders away in an undercurrent of hurt, anger and resentment. Even the murder is not a focal point of the novel, but merely another log added to the flames to be gradually consumed, leaving just the dark ash of despair.

 

Hawkins is a master at portraying damaged characters, and she has set the stage with this cast. Each and every character is scarred by some form of trauma: a terrible car accident, the death of a loved one, an encounter with a serial killer, neglect, abuse, ridicule, addiction, hopelessness. I would not recommend reading this book if you are feeling depressed, because the deep sadness hidden in its pages will most likely throw you into a pit of despair. Hawkins writes her characters well, which made this an even more painful experience as each and every one of them stumbles into disaster.

 

Personally, I admired the author’s skill in making me suffer along with her characters, but it was also a bit of a hindrance. None of the characters are particularly likeable (apart from Irene, but she only plays a peripheral role), and yet I also couldn’t hate any of them, on account of their tragic pasts. This probably mired me even more in depression, as I was longing for the intense fire of fierce love or hate for any of the characters. A slow fire burning, indeed!

 

Whilst the mystery surrounding the murder of a young man on a houseboat forms a central theme, it was not the most interesting aspect of the story for me. Here we also have a “book within a book” theme as some chapters are featuring Theo Myerson’s bestselling novel The One Who Got Away, which rolls out in a reverse time-frame, offering an interesting side story (which was just as tragic as the rest of the tale). With all these elements going off in different directions, it took me a little while to get fully immersed in the story, but once I had a grasp of where it was headed, I was fully hooked!

 

So, now to the rating. This was really a masterful dark character study that kept me turning the pages despite almost having to make a doctor’s appointment to get a script for anti-depressants as this sad tale unravelled. There were a variety of themes and a lot of threads which all came together in a surprising finale that was cleverly done. After turning the last page, I sat for a while in a state of silent grieving for the poor souls in the story. So I am settling for 3.5 stars simply for enjoyment value even though the writing was top notch. I think I will need to read something light and funny next!

Book Review: HOW TO DISAPPEAR by Gillian McAllister

 

Title: HOW TO DISAPPEAR

Author:  Gillian McAllister

Read: September 2021

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟1/2

 

Book Description:

 

Lauren's daughter Zara witnessed a terrible crime. But speaking up comes with a price, and when Zara's identity is revealed online, it puts a target on her back.

The only choice is to disappear.

From their family, their friends, even from Lauren's husband.

No goodbyes. Just new names, new home, new lives.

One mistake - a text, an Instagram like - could bring their old lives crashing into the new.

As Lauren will learn, disappearing is easy.

Staying hidden is much harder . . .

 

My musings:

 

How would you feel if you had to pack a bag right now and leave your old life behind forever to save your daughter’s life? Knowing that you could never get in touch with your loved ones again without putting yourself in danger. Having to watch that no picture of your face ever makes it onto the web or the people chasing you will be able to hunt you down.

 

This is the situation Lauren finds herself in after her teenage daughter Zara witnesses the coldblooded murder of a homeless man and agrees to give evidence in court against two popular football stars. Now both Lauren and Zara are in witness protection, with new identities and strict instructions to leave their old lives behind. Laura’s husband Aiden, who has a daughter from his first marriage, has to stay behind. Will they ever see one another again?

 

In HOW TO DISAPPEAR, Gillian McAllister explores the heartbreaking topic of people on the run after having been caught up in a situation that now threatens their own lives. I tried to imagine how it would feel to be in Lauren’s place, but it was difficult to fathom the implications of leaving behind everyone and everything you love and live like a fugitive. Would you do this for your child? Of course you would, but what a terrible price to pay!

 

In the author’s notes, McAllister writes how difficult it was to get any information about witness protection, which meant that she had to use a huge amount of artistic license to make up most of it. And whilst she did an excellent job and the book works well as a work of fiction that revolves primarily about the sacrifices the characters are having to make, this was probably my only disappointment with the story. A few things seemed quite farfetched and unlikely to me, but for obvious reasons little is known about the true processes of witness protection, so who knows? I enjoyed the way the author includes not only the POVs of her characters in hiding but also those of the people left behind, which added depth to the story. However, I did struggle with some of the characters’ decision making processes, especially those in a professional capacity, whose actions did not always ring true to me.

 

 

Summary:

 

All in all, HOW TO DISAPPEAR is a novel about the sacrifices we make for our children, and how the life we take for granted can be taken away in a heartbeat. It was interesting to reflect on how our social media and online presence can put us in danger and how difficult it is to ever truly stay hidden in our modern world. Despite some inconsistencies in the plot and characters’ actions, this was an intriguing and well written mystery that kept me turning the pages.

Book Review: GOODNIGHT BEAUTIFUL by Aimee Molloy

 

Title: GOODNIGHT BEAUTIFUL

Author:  Aimee Molloy

Read: September 2021

Expected publication: out now

 

Book Description:

 

Newlyweds Sam Statler and Annie Potter are head over heels, and excited to say good-bye to New York and start a life together in Sam's sleepy hometown in upstate New York. Or, it turns out, a life where Annie spends most of her time alone while Sam, her therapist husband, works long hours in his downstairs office, tending to the egos of his (mostly female) clientele.

Little does Sam know that through a vent in his ceiling, every word of his sessions can be heard from the room upstairs. The pharmacist's wife, contemplating a divorce. The well-known painter whose boyfriend doesn’t satisfy her in bed. Who could resist listening? Everything is fine until the French girl in the green mini Cooper shows up, and Sam decides to go to work and not come home, throwing a wrench into Sam and Annie's happily ever after.

 

My musings:

 

GOODNIGHT BEAUTIFUL was recommended to me by one of my reading buddies, and it’s exactly the sort of twisty psychological thriller I adore! I just wish that I hadn’t chosen the audiobook version for this one. Don’t get me wrong, you all know how much I love my audio books, but by the sheer nature of the narration, it inadvertently gave away a major twist that was vital to the story. I can’t say any more without spoiling it even more, but please choose the print version of this one and let it take you by the hand and lead you down its slippery path to deception.

 

Unreliable narrators – check. Red herrings – check. Interesting characters – check. Let the reader stumble into a trap of their own making – check. I love a psychological thriller that plays mindgames with the reader and uses their own assumptions as a major plot device. It’s very cleverly done, Aimee Molloy!

 

Pick this one up if you love a good twisty thriller. But for the ultimate experience, choose the print version of this one and not the audio.

Book Review: THE MAIDENS by Alex Michaelidis

 

Title: THE MAIDENS

Author:  Alex Michaelidis

Read: September 2021

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟1/2

 

Book Description:

 

Edward Fosca is a murderer. Of this Mariana is certain. But Fosca is untouchable. A handsome and charismatic Greek Tragedy professor at Cambridge University, Fosca is adored by staff and students alike—particularly by the members of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens.

Mariana Andros is a brilliant but troubled group therapist who becomes fixated on The Maidens when one member, a friend of Mariana’s niece Zoe, is found murdered in Cambridge.

Mariana, who was once herself a student at the university, quickly suspects that behind the idyllic beauty of the spires and turrets, and beneath the ancient traditions, lies something sinister. And she becomes convinced that, despite his alibi, Edward Fosca is guilty of the murder. But why would the professor target one of his students? And why does he keep returning to the rites of Persephone, the maiden, and her journey to the underworld?

When another body is found, Mariana’s obsession with proving Fosca’s guilt spirals out of control, threatening to destroy her credibility as well as her closest relationships. But Mariana is determined to stop this killer, even if it costs her everything—including her own life.

What attracted me to this book:

 

If I had any doubts as to whether I should read Alex Michaelides’ new book, then they were dispelled as soon as I found out that it contained some of my favourite themes: an atmospheric college setting, a mysterious cult-like group, a psychologist main protagonist / investigator. I was intrigued!

My musings:

 

I will say one thing for Michaelides – he sure knows how to deliver an unexpected twist! Even though, knowing this, I wasn’t fooled as much by the red herrings as I would normally be, and the final reveal didn’t pack as much punch as in THE SILENT PATIENT. If you were a fan of his earlier book, then you will be happy to know that the author links both books together very cleverly by including scenes and characters of THE SILENT PATIENT in the later part of THE MAIDENS. I have only seen this done a handful of times in other thrillers and loved the way he achieved this. If you have read THE SILENT PATIENT, then you will understand how this created an extra sense of foreboding to this story.

 

If you asked me what I loved most about this story, I would immediately mention the atmospheric setting in Cambridge (it was armchair travel of the best kind!). I had the privilege of visiting this ancient city in my wee youth, and Michaelides’ descriptions transported me straight back there. This was aided by the short, extremely readable chapters which made me read late into the night. The inclusion of Greek mythology into the tale also added extra depth and intrigue for me. Even though pitching an amateur sleuth like Mariana against a police investigative team who seemed to miss every single clue and piece of evidence was a bit farfetched to say the least, it did make for a unique angle an ordinary police procedural could not offer as easily, and I was happy to overlook the plot holes for the sake of entertainment.

 

My biggest gripe with the story was that a lot of time was spent on red herrings rather than the “Maidens”, which was a bit of a missed opportunity to further explore the dynamics of this strange group and their narcissistic leader. I felt that the characters of the girls remained flat and stereotypical and wanted more of Mariana’s insights into groups and cults to really delve into their psyches. I also didn’t care much for the ending and would have preferred a less shocking twist for the sake of a more believable finale (I may be in the minority here because other readers have loved this element especially, which just goes to show how diverse we are as readers). I think that up to the final chapters this could have been a five star read for me, because I was so utterly hooked to the story.

 

 

Summary:

 

All in all, THE MAIDENS was an intriguing murder mystery featuring a deliciously atmospheric Cambridge setting that made for the best armchair travel. Even though I felt that too much time and effort was spent on red herrings and the “killer twist”, I still felt that this was an extremely readable story. With a clever link to THE SILENT PATIENT, I am curious to see if there will be a Book 3 to follow on from here? In any case, I certainly will be standing in line to get my hands on the author’s next book!

Book Review: FOR YOUR OWN GOOD by Samantha Downing

 

Title: FOR YOUR OWN GOOD

Author:  Samantha Downing

Read: August 2021

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟1/2

 

Book Description:

 

Teddy Crutcher has won Teacher of the Year at the esteemed Belmont Academy, home to the best and brightest.

He says his wife couldn't be more proud—though no one has seen her in a while.

Teddy really can’t be bothered with the death of a school parent that’s looking more and more like murder or the student digging a little too deep into Teddy’s personal life. His main focus is on pushing these kids to their full academic potential.

All he wants is for his colleagues—and the endlessly meddlesome parents—to stay out of his way.

It's really too bad that sometimes excellence can come at such a high cost.

What attracted me to this book:

 

Sometimes I just feel like an easy, wicked story to read for relaxation, and I thought this book might just fit the bill. It certainly did!

My musings:

 

Downing knows how to write characters who are sarcastic, twisted and devoid of a normal moral compass. Her stories usually move along at a good pace as the characters are pitched against one another, and rather than building up to one massive killer twist to blindside you there are plenty of dark alleys and corners that propel the story into some unexpected directions along the way. This is pure entertainment, like watching a train on fire rush towards the abyss unable to stop it, so you might as well settle in and enjoy the voyeurism.

 

If you like snarky characters, then Teddy Crutcher, “teacher of the year” at an elite prep school full of kids of rich and privileged backgrounds, is your perfect candidate. Teddy has his own unique moral compass, and he likes to teach his students and colleagues how to fit this bill, dishing out his special brand of justice “for their own good”. Sometimes this includes murder – oopsies!

 

Whilst reading it, I vacillated between opposing feelings regarding the story. It was like having two little devils sitting on my shoulders, whispering in my ear:

 

Reader 1(just wants to be entertained, happy to suspend disbelief): “The multiple POVs without too much in-depth character development allowed me to just flow with the story without having to analyse or understand their actions. This was just pure entertainment.”

vs Reader 2 (wants depth and emotional engagement): “The lack of character development made it difficult to form any real connection to any of the cast members.”

 

R1: “All characters are snarky and despicable, in varying degrees, which made for a wickedly entertaining story of evil minds pitched against one another.”

Vs R2: “All characters are so snarky and despicable that it was difficult to root for any of them.”

 

R1: “The chapters are short and snappy, moving the story along at a good pace.”

Vs R2: “The chapters are short and snappy, with various POVs, which made it difficult to deeply connect with any of the characters.”

 

R1: “Some of the character’s actions and motives are so wicked and devoid of moral compass that they’re almost caricatures, making for a fantastically sarcastic and original story.”

Vs R2: “Some of the character’s actions and motives are so wicked and devoid of moral compass that it was a bit farfetched and unbelievable.”

 

Both of these voices agreed however that they would have loved to get the POV of Teddy’s wife Allison, who remained a bit of an enigma but was one smart lady to get out when she could! 

 

Summary:

 

All in all, this was pure wicked fun and entertainment with a lot of dark humour sprinkled in, so if you are not looking for anything to deep and emotionally taxing, then this book is perfect. I can see why other readers have recommended it as the perfect holiday read, because once you start it’s easy just to go with the flow, like bingeing on a Netflix series.