Month: May 2018

Something In The Water – Catherine Steadman

Erin & Mark have been a couple for years – finally marrying and honeymooning in Bora Bora. As the novel opens, Erin is digging a grave deep in the woods, and the grave is for her husband Mark. As she labors over the dig, she opts to let the reader decide whether she’s a good or bad person – and then the story begins.

Mask is an investment banker, and Erin is a novice filmmaker, presently working on a documentary about three individuals who are preparing to leave prison to resume normal lives, one of whom is a crime boss. As they celebrate their anniversary of meeting, and planning a wedding, Mark unexpectedly loses his job. With financial pressures now looming, they modify their wedding plans, and opt for a shortened honeymoon to Bora Bora. While enjoying the idyllic atmosphere, they spend time boating and diving – it is on one of those excursions that they find a locked duffle bag floating in the ocean – they retrieve it, intending to turn it in, but giving into temptation they open it… changing their lives completely…

There’s not much more to say without spoilers…I really, really enjoyed this book – the character development and the nuances of personality change exhibited over time by the findings, are totally believable and make for a great read. I read this book in one sitting – highly recommend!!

I’ve had a GREAT run of reads from Netgalley lately – if you’re an avid reader, but not familiar with the site, head on over to http://www.netgalley.com

The Girl Who Lived – Christopher Greyson

I was fortunate to receive this novel as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.

Faith is a survivor – if you can call her that. On the weekend of her tenth birthday, she watched helplessly as her father, sister, best friend, and best friend’s mother were murdered at their lake cabin, before running away to avoid death herself. Despite her claims of an unknown man as the killer, (whom she has nicknamed Rat Face), her father is presumed by police to have committed the crimes before killing himself and the case is closed. As the girl who lived, Faith has since been in and out of psychiatric care, developed a substance abuse problem, and has displayed violent tendencies. As the book opens, Faith is hospitalized, but is about to be released back into the community w/ outpatient psychiatric care and parole visits.

Despite warnings to the contrary by her therapist mother, one of Faiths first visits is to a bar, where she downs several shots of whiskey. As she’s leaving the establishment, she sees Rat Face drive by – and he sees Faith as well. But her reports are met with skepticism by the local police. Only Henryka, an FBI agent, appears to take her seriously.

And so begins a novel with so many serpentine twists and turns, you will be racing through the pages just to see what happened next. Every character carries out actions leading you to wonder if they are friend or foe – all racing up to a dramatic conclusion that you can’t even conceive of… Un-put-downable!! I’m still reeling… This is the second novel I’ve read by Christopher Greyson, and it will not be my last! A MUST READ! Fabulous!!

Bring Me Back – B. A. Paris

I was fortunate to receive this novel as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.

Finn McQuaid is an investment financier of sorts with a prestigous company in London, run by his good friend Harry. He is in a relationship a woman named Ellen, who is actually the sister of a girl he loved and lost long ago, named Layla. 12 years ago, he and Layla were returning home to their cottage after an evening out, and Layla disappeared from a rest area while Finn was using the rest room. No trace of her was ever found.

Now, 12 years later, strange things begin happening that make Finn believe that not only is Layla alive, but that she wants to see Finn. Fist, an elderly former neighbor is convinced that he’s seen her standing in front of their old cottage – empty since the night she went missing, and a memory Finn has not been able to bring himself to sell. Then Ellen thinks she catches a glimpse of her sister in a nearby village. Then the miniature dolls begin to appear.

The story vacillates between past and present, and is told from the point of view of the various characters – Layla reveals the truth about what happened that night, and Finn begins to feel as if he is being forced to choose between the two sisters.

Then, Ellen disappears and Finn rages a frantic search to find her – only to discover that nothing is as it seems, and everyone is a suspect…
This is a novel that sucks you in, and keeps you turning page after pages far into the night, because it’s too good to put down – culminating in a twist you’ll not expect and never see coming! My first read from B. A. Paris, but certainly not my last!!

Desperate Girls – Laura Griffin

I was fortunate to receive this novel as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.

Brynn Holloran is a top-notch attorney, who, once a prosecutor, now makes her living as a defense attorney. She is busy preparing the defense of a young man who is accused of murder, when she learns of the death of a judge and former colleague of hers, Jen Ballard. Coincidentally, she learns of the escape of a serial rapist and killer that she and Jen had once worked hard to convict. And another police officer who worked the case is found dead.

Alarmed by the escape of James Corby, Brynn’s boss hires the security services of the elite Wolfe Security Services to keep his team safe. Brynn feels the around-the-clock protection is intrusive and unnecessary; yet finds herself unwillingly attracted to one of her body guards, Eric Morgan.

Then another team member is ambushed and severely injured and the security team goes on high alert. Tensions and passions run high as Brynn and Eric are forced to spend even more time together. As they review the case against James Colby, the question arises of planted evidence… Is Colby avenging a set up? And can Wolfe Security keep Brynn safe?

I first discovered Laura Griffin a few years ago, when I read several novels of her Tracers series. But with so many authors to read and so little time, she somehow fell off my ‘reading radar’. Thanks to Netgalley, she is right back on top, and well within my sights again! A great read!! I’m looking forward to more of the Wolfe Security series!! I love stories like this!!

Release date 07 Aug 2018