Book Review: WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT by Mary Kubica

Title: When the Lights Go Out

Author: Mary Kubica
Publisher: Park Row
Read: July 2018

Expected publication: 4 September 2018

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 all the stars!

Book Description:

Jessie Sloane is on the path to rebuilding her life after years of caring for her ailing mother. She rents a new apartment and applies for college. But when the college informs her that her social security number has raised a red flag, Jessie discovers a shocking detail that causes her to doubt everything she’s ever known.

Finding herself suddenly at the center of a bizarre mystery, Jessie tumbles down a rabbit hole, which is only exacerbated by grief and a relentless lack of sleep. As days pass and the insomnia worsens, it plays with Jessie’s mind. Her judgment is blurred, her thoughts are hampered by fatigue. Jessie begins to see things until she can no longer tell the difference between what’s real and what she’s only imagined.

Meanwhile, twenty years earlier and two hundred and fifty miles away, another woman’s split-second decision may hold the key to Jessie’s secret past. Has Jessie’s whole life been a lie or have her delusions gotten the best of her?

My musings:

A good book is one where the characters leap from the page, effortlessly drawing you into the story. A great book is one where for an instant you BECOME the character, seeing the world through their eyes, the boundary between your reality and theirs blurry and undefined. And even if you may not always totally gel with the characters’ actions and turn of events, the pull of the story is impossible to resist. When the Lights Go Out was such a book for me. Maybe because like Jessie, I lost my mother to cancer and could relate to her feelings of despair and grief as she is watching her mother draw her last breath. Or maybe because Kubica writes so well that I got very quickly drawn into the story, to a point at which I felt Jessie’s grief and slow unravelling almost like a physical pain. As Jessie’s reality blurred through lack of sleep, I also felt as if the story swirled in a kaleidoscope of images that were similarly intriguing as well as disconcerting. Perhaps even more so as I read this book in between night shifts, where my own reality is a bit blurry at best!

The book is told in a dual time frame from Jessie’s and Eden’s POVs, and I am not exaggerating when I say that I empathised with each and every character in this story. Jessie, newly bereaved and finding herself not only an orphan, but also a girl without a known identity. Eden, whose married life starts off so happy, but whose paradise turns into a nightmare when she finds that she is unable to fulfil her one wish that soon becomes her sole obsession – to have a baby. And Aaron, who helplessly watches his young wife fall apart at the seams. Even Liam, who only features briefly, was such an intriguing character. Of course Kubica manages to weave the stories of all characters together in a clever, irresistible mystery that had me totally enthralled. The dark alleys of Chicago, and especially the spooky old carriage home setting, only added to the intrigue, and I could picture them vividly. As Jessie’s life (and mind) unravels with grief and lack of sleep, the house comes into its own, taking own its own menacing personality. Some of the scenes truly made my hair stand on end!

In true Kubica style, the author spun her web slowly and methodically, reeling me in, making me so invested in the story that sleep was out of the question (maybe that was the plan, so I could sympathise even more with poor Jessie?). For me, the trap snapped shut when Jessie found out that there was something wrong with her social security number, which set a whole chain of secrets and questions into motion. I was hooked, I could not put this book down. There were so many questions that bugged me like the infamous pea under the mattress, a flea in my clothes, a stone in my sandals. What? Why? How? I had so many theories about this one, and of course I was totally wrong. You may forgive me my bad detective skills when you realise that the ending is extremely unusual. You may love it, you may hate it, but admit it – you didn’t see that one coming either, did you? 

Summary:

In short, I loved this latest novel by a writer who has become one of my go-to’s when I want a cracking good read, and whose books automatically become must-reads as soon as they come out. Kubica always delivers just what I am looking for in a psychological thriller. Anyone looking for a slow-burning, compelling and character driven psychological thriller with a twist, look no further! The only bad thing about it is that now I have to wait for her next book to come out ;)

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher Park Row for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Book Review: THE ONES YOU TRUST by Caroline Overington

Title: The Ones You Trust

Author: Caroline Overington
Publisher: HarperCollins Australia
Read: August 2018

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2

Book Description:

Emma Cardwell, host of top-rating morning TV show Cuppa, is beloved by audiences and only occasionally stalked by crazy fans. She seems to have it all - fame, money, a gorgeous family - but when her tiny daughter disappears from daycare, Emma is faced with every mother's worst nightmare.

Is this a kidnapping, a product of her high profile, or is somebody out for revenge?

As the hours tick by and the pressure mounts, everything comes under scrutiny, including her own marriage, and Emma is forced to confront a terrifying question: can we trust the ones we love?

My musings:

I love it when I come across books that wrap a current affairs topic into a delicious bun of mystery, finishing it off with a dollop of intrigue and a smear of blood to make the perfect fictional hotdog. Okay, so comparing a book to a hotdog may be stretching the friendship, but this book was just as binge-worthy as comfort food when you’re on the go and too tired to steam some broccoli. And being set in Australia, dealing with current Australian topics and featuring characters modelled on real Australian celebrities was a real treat. You don’t often find gems like this, and I felt like a fossicker striking gold when I accidentally stumbled across The Ones You Trust!

Overington has a real knack for plucking some hot topics straight out of news headlines and creating captivating fiction. Even though I was prepared to hate Emma for being the sort of woman who is always in the spotlight, beautifully made up, the centre of everyone’s attention, plus the sort of person who gives her children pretentious names like Seal and Fox-Piper (another character in the book made me laugh when they asked: are they running a zoo here?), I came to adore her in the end. Emma is smart, and she is savvy. She may be presenting herself exactly the way her breakfast show viewers want her to be – the responsible, ever well-presented wife and mother – but she is far from stupid. In her forties, and past her prime as far as television is concerned, Emma is fully aware that her days on “Cuppa” are numbered, and that she is likely going to be replaced soon by some sexy young single woman, like Cassie Clay from their rivalling show “Brew”. Because on TV, ratings are everything, and a lot of scheming and foul play goes on behind the scenes to make sure the stars get headlines – even if it’s negative publicity. Emma has been the target of the paparazzi before and knows the prize she has to pay for stardom – but now that she is a mother, this responsibility rests heavily on her shoulder. When her baby daughter is kidnapped from her daycare centre, Emma finds out how costly this price may be ..... 

If you live in Australia, the parallels of Emma’s world to Australian breakfast television are instantly obvious and relatable. I found it a real eye-opener to hear what goes on behind the scenes of the show, especially the tactics Cuppa’s publicity boss Maven employs to keep the show in the spotlight. When Fox-Piper goes missing, there is a myriad of suspects to choose from that may benefit from the huge media circus that ensues. I certainly had a few theories, but was still unprepared for the way Overington brought together all the strings in the end, and the final reveal. But even if your hunches are right, the power of this novel lies not in the mystery of Fox-Piper’s abduction, but in the events surrounding the event. I loved the everyday feel of the characters’ lives and events, which made this an extremely compelling read for me (I hate making comparisons but the characters and story did remind me a bit of fellow Australian author Liane Moriarty’s books).

Overington’s journalistic skills of tackling current affairs are instantly recognisable in her knowledge about “backstage” happenings, such as the political wheelings and dealings going on in the media world to ensure high viewer ratings. I applaud her for being able to present these in a fictional content without losing their punch – making me feel that I learned a few things along the way. I also appreciated her portrayal of Emma, a woman trying to “make it” in the media, where youth, beauty and the perfect body trump brains and courage, but where smart women like Emma and Maven still find a way to excel. Despite her initial apparent pretentiousness, Emma totally won me over in the end! Emma’s marital problems added an extra layer to the story that highlighted the pressure working mothers with small children are under these days.

Summary:

In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of The Ones You Trust and sat up way too late into the night reading because I could not tear myself away. The characters were so well drawn that I felt instantly transported into their world, even though their realities are worlds apart from mine. A great read – I look forward to reading more from this author in future!

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

Book Review: THE BOOK OF ORDINARY PEOPLE by Claire Varley

Title: The Book of Ordinary People

Author: Claire Varley
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Read: August 2018

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Book Description:

Three things different. Three things the same.

Meet Evangelia, a grieving souvlaki shop owner; Rik, a news hack haunted by his past; Nell, a lawyer who worries over her soul; and Ben, a young father desperate to measure up - four people who have everything and nothing to do with one another.

But each of their lives is about to be changed forever by Aida, a woman who never wanted their help, nor their sympathy. A woman with her own tale to tell...

My musings:

One of the best things about books are the glimpses into other people’s lives, and the more vivid the characters, the better the experience. The Book of Ordinary People is just that – a glimpse into the lives of five ordinary city dwellers living in Melbourne. Except, ask yourself this: what is ordinary? Doesn’t everyone have a unique story to tell, their own trials and tribulations, triumphs and failures, joy and pain?

Here we have Aida, an asylum seeker from Iran, anxiously waiting for her visa to come through; Evangelina, a Greek-Australian, who is still grieving the recent death of her mother; DB and Nell, who are both working for the same law firm but whose lives are just about as different as they can get; and Patrick, an unemployed ex-journalist who is still reeling from a traumatic experience on his last deployment. All five people are connected in some way, even though they are not aware that their paths have crossed, their lives intersected. Each of them is beautifully drawn, the glimpses into their lives so well chosen that we get a feel not only for their current predicament, but also their rich pasts that have led them to this very point in time. Five ordinary people, going about their ordinary lives. But, as Evangelina discovers when digging into her mother’s ordinary past, even the most unassuming person has a unique story to tell and their life will touch that of others and change it in some unfathomable way.

One only has to read Varley’s own history to see that her life has been far from ordinary, and that she brings with her a rich background of travel and working in different industries that have shaped her understanding of what makes people tick. That, combined with an eye for detail and the ability to create a rich, moving tale out of five ordinary lives, makes for a wonderful reading experience. It was like walking down Melbourne streets and peeking through windows (not that I recommend doing that), watching people go about their day. For me, a reader who usually prefers intricate plots and killer twists, it provided a palate cleanser from a fare of dark mysteries, like a breath of fresh air. Out of the five main characters, Aida most stole my heart. However, there are also many wonderful supporting characters who touched me deeply, like Madeline, who may feature only briefly but whose message lingered – not only for Nell and DB, but also for me.  And of course little “naughty Nikki”, who puts the ongoing issue of the treatment of refugees in Australia into a whole new light. Varley’s work with refugees and asylum seekers, and her advocacy for victims of domestic violence offers a background here that makes this story not only richer, but also very relevant.

Summary:

In summary, The Book of Ordinary people is an extra-ordinarily beautiful and touching book, offering glimpses into the lives of five random strangers. Incorporating many topics relevant in Australian society today, the story gave rare insights into the plights of the people around you, that stranger on the train, the girl serving you coffee in a shop, the woman dropping her kids off at the school gates. I found it both interesting and thought provoking, and thoroughly enjoyed the journey into the hearts and minds of these characters.

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

Book Review: BOOK OF COLOURS by Robyn Cadwallader

Title: Book of Colours

Author: Robyn Cadwallader
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
Read: August 2018

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2

Book Description:

London, 1321: In a small stationer's shop in Paternoster Row, three people are drawn together around the creation of a magnificent book, an illuminated manuscript of prayers, a Book of Hours. Even though the commission seems to answer the aspirations of each one of them, their own desires and ambitions threaten its completion. As each struggles to see the book come into being, it will change everything they have understood about their place in the world. In many ways, this is a story about power - it is also a novel about the place of women in the roiling and turbulent world of the early fourteenth century; what power they have, how they wield it, and just how temporary and conditional it is.

Rich, deep, sensuous and full of life, Book of Colours is also, most movingly, a profoundly beautiful story about creativity and connection, and our instinctive need to understand our world and communicate with others through the pages of a book.

My musings:

I really love a good historical novel but often hesitate picking one up because they can be hit and miss for me. To make it a great read, the author not only needs to be well informed about the era, but also have the skills of creating vivid characters and an atmospheric setting to facilitate the perfect time travel experience. Not an easy task (and I am not picky at all – lol)! I am happy to say that Robyn Cadwallader has those superpowers, which made this book a wonderful reading experience, and I am mad at myself for letting this sit on my shelf for so long!

The medieval times have always held a special fascination for me, and Book of Colours is set in the dark times of 14^th century Britain. At the time, persistently cool and wet weather conditions made crops fail and led to one of the biggest famines in Britain’s history, causing a huge increase in disease and a death toll of up to 25% of the population. On top of the natural hardships, there was crime, war and unrest to contend with, and unemployment was rife.  Whilst some people still believed the church’s claim that it was “the will of God”, others began to question their faith and reliance on a seemingly cruel God. With the creation of her unforgettable characters, Cadwallader manages to not only capture this atmosphere of upheaval, but also the mindset of the people during those difficult times– and yet it remains a story of hope and survival, which left a warm glow in my heart.

Anyone with a love for books and art will appreciate the intricate details Cadwallader shares about the creation of a medieval “book of hours”, a richly illuminated tome of prayers and psalms commissioned by one of the rich landowner’s wives. Cadwallader’s extensive knowledge of the subject becomes obvious as she describes the processes involved in the making of the book: the preparation of the parchment, the mixing of the paints from substances such as bone, plants, urine and precious metals, the processes of carefully constructing the pictures that will do justice to the religious texts. The author’s skill lies in seamlessly weaving these details into a story about the everyday lives of the limners working on the book, each bringing with them their own histories, pasts and secrets that shape their particular style of art. The role of women in medieval society is explored through the character of Gemma, a talented limner from a long line of artists, who – as a female – is not allowed to officially work in her role but must paint under her husband’s name. She rebels against society in her own way, not only by secretly painting in the book of hours but also by writing a book on the art of illumination for her son, an apprentice limner, which was so interesting that I couldn’t get enough of it!

I was so fascinated by Cadwallader’s descriptions that I spent hours googling images of books of hours, remembering seeing them on visits to museums in Europe, where they still offer valuable glimpses into this distant past. The artwork in some of them is incredible, and I could appreciate the many months the fictional limners spent on illustrating Lady Mathilda’s book. With the beauty of the artwork offset against the harsh environment and living conditions, I felt instantly transported back into history – not only immensely enjoying this virtual time travel, but also learning so much along the way. I am so infinitely grateful that owning books is no longer just a privilege of the rich! I also loved the despair of those tumultuous times reflected in small details Cadwallader includes in her story, such as the supernatural element of the gargoyle following Will’s every footstep as a symbol of his demons.

Summary:

In summary, if you appreciate a well-written historical novel brimming with fascinating detail of the era, then I strongly recommend this book! Personally, I loved every step of the journey and I feel that I have learned a lot about medieval art that has given me a whole new appreciation for the courage of our ancestors finding beauty despite hardship, and gratitude for all the privileges we take for granted today – especially books. 

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

You may also enjoy:

 The Hours, by Minette Walters

Audiobook Review: THE THINNEST AIR by Minka Kent

Title: The Thinnest Air

Author: Minka Kent
Read: August 2018

Expected publication: out now

My Rating: 🌟🌟

Book Description:

Meredith Price is the luckiest woman alive. Her husband, Andrew, is a charming and successful financial broker. She has two lovely stepchildren and is living in affluence in a mountain resort town. After three years of marriage, Meredith’s life has become predictable. Until the day she disappears.

Her car has been discovered in a grocery store parking lot—purse and phone undisturbed on the passenger seat, keys in the ignition, no sign of struggle, and no evidence of foul play. It’s as if she vanished into thin air.

It’s not like Meredith to simply abandon her loved ones. And no one in this town would have reason to harm her. When her desperate sister, Greer, arrives, she must face a disturbing question: What if no one really knows Meredith at all? For Greer, finding her sister isn’t going to be easy…because where she’s looking is going to get very, very dark.

My musings:

I recently read The Memory Watcher by Minka Kent and was totally blown away by it. It contained all the elements I hope to find in a twisty psychological thriller, and I couldn’t wait to read Kent’s latest novel, The Thinnest Air, settling in for another breath-taking experience.

Initially, Kent fully pandered to my wishes. I really enjoyed the dual POV: the elder sister, Greer, narrating the present, in which she is looking for her missing sibling; and Meredith, the younger sister, telling us about the last 3 years leading up to her disappearance. As in The Memory Watcher, all characters are flawed, some more unlikeable than others, and even though I did not feel warm and fuzzy about any of them they were all somehow relatable in our screwed up society. As the story unravels, some dark secrets come to light that had me construct all sorts of wild and wonderful theories about Meredith’s fate, remembering how Kent had totally blindsided me in the past. The author has a way of setting the scene that allowed me to vividly picture all characters and settings, which created an irresistible sense of tension and quickly drew me into the story.

Picture my jaw-dropping disappointment when the story made an unexpected turn about ¾ into the book, totally surprising me – unfortunately not in a good way. Really, that was it? None of my theories were even remotely in the ballpark, seeing how I had expected the unexpected (if that makes sense). Instead, the story followed the lead of thousands of other been-there-done-thats in the genre, predictable, boring, unoriginal. If I did not know what Kent is capable of in terms of delivering a well-constructed plot and a great twist, I could have seen this one a mile off! What happened? Where did it get bogged down so badly in clichés and stereotypes? I admit that I am feeling extremely let down right now and had to force myself to read to the end just in case there was a surprise lurking there. But no, it all meandered along the well-trodden path of same-old and fell totally flat for me. There was one element in the ending (which I can’t give away because of spoilers) that irked me so much that it knocked another star off my rating!

Summary:

In summary, the ending was a major let-down in what could otherwise have been a fast and entertaining read. Not only was it predictable, boring and unoriginal, but it also left some questions unanswered and hinged on some questionable actions by some of the characters. Some threads led nowhere at all and I was left wondering what the point had been to include them at all. I guess that part of my disappointment is related to the fact that I know what a brilliant writer Kent is, and how much I loved her earlier novel. That said, if you are new to the author and a reader who prefers a fairly straight forward and predictable story to a crazy twist that messes with your mind, then this will probably be a good read for you. I love my stories dark and unpredictable, with complex characters, so it didn’t live up to my expectations this time. However, I am looking forward to the author’s next novel, hoping she will return to her habit of delivering a well thought out plot with a gob-smacking finale!