Book Review: A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara

 

Goodreads Summary: Sometimes it takes working with the dead to start living.
Kathy Valence is forty-two, mid-divorce, and pregnant with her ex's baby. She's also a modern-day grim reaper employed by S.C.Y.T.H.E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences), but frankly, that's the easiest part of her life right now. Or at least it was, until her latest client's soul goes missing.

When she finally tracks down seventeen-year-old Conner Ortiz, he angrily denies he died of natural causes, despite what his file says. He insists that someone at S.C.Y.T.H.E. murdered him, and he demands Kathy find out who and why.

Kathy has only forty-five days to figure out what happened to Conner and help him move on before the boy's soul is doomed to roam the Earth as a ghost forever. She’s forced to rely on the help of her retired mentor, her almost ex-husband, and some sneaky moves by Conner himself. This is the wildest case of her career... and one wrong move could cost Kathy her job, not to mention her life.

Goodreads Rating: 3.80 stars with over 8,900 ratings

Genre: Mystery, Fantasy, Paranormal, Fiction, Cozy Mystery 

Goodreads/Storygraph Challenge: 4/48

2026 Reading Challenge: #22 Read a book with a pastel cover (Find the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, Readers! I hope everyone is doing well. It is a rainy evening here in Indiana, which is a perfect night for reading! I'm on vacation for the rest of the week, so I'm hoping I get at least one more book in while I'm off. We'll see, though. I'm at 4 books for the year, which is a solid start. 

Anyway, on to my two cents about A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara. I really liked the concept of being a Grim Reaper being more of a corporation and exploring those avenues. I would have liked to get more into the science of the world Maxie Dara created for S.C.Y.T.H.E., but I get the impression that it's going to come up more in future books. 

Kathy took a while to warm up to, which fit with her background. I did like her dynamic with Conner. Jo was a really fun character, and I hope we get to see more of her in future books. The relationship with Simon felt like page filler, as did the pregnancy. That plot line could have been removed, and I really don't think the story would have changed much.

I thought that Dara provided a decent amount of clues as well as red herrings for the mystery. I didn't predict the culprit correctly, but also didn't feel surprised once they were revealed. I just felt it made sense. I wanted more on the motivation, and I felt like that was a bit rushed. This also ties in with more of the science I was wanting out of the book. I'm really hoping the series explores it more. 

I didn't love the book, but I didn't hate it either. It was cute and entertaining. I'd recommend it for anyone who wants a paranormal/cozy mystery. If I saw more of the series on sale, I'd pick it up and give it a read. 

Book Review: The Rule of Three by Sam Ripley

 

Goodreads Summary: That's the one. That's the girl who's going to die.

I didn't believe in the Rule of Three. Not at first. It was just one of those urban myths you hear about all the time. A story my boyfriend told me about a girl cursed by the number three. A girl whose parents had killed themselves after her sibling had died in an accident. Which meant that she was doomed to die too because that's the Rule of Three.

Bad things always happen in threes, they say, and they are right. Because it's happening again.

But this time the curse is coming for me. And worst of all?

It's coming for you, too.

Goodreads Rating: 3.28 stars with over 700 ratings

Genre Listing: Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Adult, Fiction

Goodreads/StoryGraph Challenge: 11/30

2025 Reading Challenge: #2 Read a book under 350 pages (Read the full here)

Book Review:

Hello, Readers! I hope everyone is doing well as we jump into March. I feel a little bit like I'm cheating by listing this book as the book for under 350 pages, considering I listened to the audiobook version. Whatever, I'm going with it. I'm absolutely exhausted, so I will jump into the review.

The premise for The Rule of Three by Sam Ripley is exciting, and it grabbed my attention when I was looking for something new to listen to. Initially, I found myself really engaged in the story from Amy's perspective. I didn't necessarily agree with her choices, but I understood why she made them. She was easy to feel sorry for, which made it easy to stay interested in her story. Ila's story was spookier, but I don't know if I felt as engaged with her background as Amy's. When it got to Eve's part of the story, I was somewhat checked out but wanted to finish it. I think a lot of it was just the amount of discussion about death. Amy's story was hard on me mentally, just the way she described her feelings about her parents' deaths. I've been in a really melancholy mood the last few days, and I'm wondering if the book has anything to do with it. Either way, I was disconnected from Ila's story and even more disconnected from Eve's.

Despite that, I wanted to finish the story and figure out what was happening. I had my guesses; some were correct, and some were not. There's a nice little twist at the end that really caught me off guard. It saved the book for me. The book wasn't bad by any means; it was just a lot of details about things that felt completely irrelevant. I feel like there were at least 3 chapters on how the old microfiche machines worked in a library. I get it. The book was published in 2024, and it's cool and vintage. But as someone who has used them (oof. That hurts my pride a bit. I'm OLD), they seriously aren't that interesting to need detailed information on how to twist the dials. It was probably just setting the scene, but it was too much.

I really enjoyed the narrators of this audiobook. There are 5 of them. They all had different voices for the characters they were reading. I also appreciated the aspect of investigating urban legends in the story. Having listened to True Crime Podcasts, I know how passionate people can get about mysteries they want to solve. It was a fun inclusion to the story.

Overall, I can't really say if I enjoyed it. I didn't hate it, but so much took me out of the story. I liked the premise and thought some of the mystery aspects were surprising, but I wasn't as engaged with it as I would have liked to have been. I'm giving it a 3-star rating. 

Book Review: The Lines We Leave Behind by Eliza Graham

 

Goodreads Summary: England, 1947: A young woman finds herself under close observation in an insane asylum, charged with a violent crime she has no memory of committing. As she tries to make sense of her recent past, she recalls very little.
But she still remembers wartime in Yugoslavia. There she and her lover risked everything to carry out dangerous work resisting the Germans—a heroic campaign in which many brave comrades were lost. After that, the trail disappears into confusion. How did she come to be trapped in a living nightmare?

As she struggles to piece together the missing years of her life, she will have to confront the harrowing experiences of her special-operations work and peacetime marriage. Only then can she hope to regain the vital memories that will uncover the truth: is she really a violent criminal…or was she betrayed?

Goodreads Rating: 3.96 stars with 9,800 ratings

Genre Listing: Historical Fiction, World War II, War, Mystery

Goodreads/Storygraph Challenge: 10/30 books

2025 Reading Challenge: #14 Read the book that's been on your TBR the longest (Find the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, Readers! I hope everyone is doing well on this frigid Tuesday. I don't have any significant life updates, which is nice. I started reading The Lines We Leave Behind by Eliza Graham to knock out #14 on the reading challenge. It was a Kindle First Read book that I've had forever. I finally finished it last night. 

I'm glad I'm done reading this story. It was a struggle for me. The story follows Maud in a psychiatric hospital after serving in WWII on secret missions. The premise is that she's supposed to remember a crime she committed, but she can't. She goes through and tells her Psychiatrist about her war service as a way to try and remember what happened. The first part of the book was a little hard to get into. The story bounces between her life as Maud and her secret identity, Amber. It wasn't initially clear that she was both Maud and Amber, making it hard to connect with her as a character. Toward the story's beginning, it seems like she understood it was just a persona, but at the end, it feels more like a dissociative identity. It just didn't feel very consistent. 

Once she gets back from her missions, the story moves really quickly. There were some twists and turns I wasn't expecting, which was nice and kept my momentum going for reading it. Without those, I don't know that I would have finished this book. It wasn't holding my interest very well. There was a lot about her treatment and miraculous recoveries that weren't believable or seemed like they didn't fit with the story's time period. For example, her initial Psychiatrist's treatment plan just seemed too modern for the era. I'm not an expert, however, so my limited knowledge could make me feel that way. 

Overall, I mostly wished the book was over. I couldn't connect with the story at all, and I only got through it because it fit #14 on the Reading Challenge. If you want to try it, it also works for the memory prompt. 

Book Review: A Killer's Mind by Mike Omer

 

Goodreads Summary: The New York Times and Washington Post bestselling serial-killer thriller that will leave you wondering, is the past really in the past?
Three Chicago women have been found strangled, embalmed, and posed as if still alive. Doubting the findings of the local PD's profiler, The FBI calls on forensic psychologist Zoe Bentley to investigate.

Zoe quickly gets off on the wrong foot with her new partner, Special Agent Tatum Gray. Zoe's a hunter, intense and focused; Tatum's a smug maverick with little respect for the rules. Together, they must descend into a serial killer's psyche and untangle his twisted fantasies, or more women will die. But when the contents of three inconspicuous envelopes reveal a chilling connection to gruesome murders from Zoe's childhood, suddenly the hunter becomes the hunted.

Goodreads Rating: 4.20 stars with over 55,000 ratings

Genre Listing: Mystery, Thriller Fiction, Crime, Suspense, Detective

Goodreads Challenge: 7/60 

2024 Reading Challenge: #8 Read a book that's been on your "shelf" for over a year (see the entire challenge here)

Review: 

Hello Readers! I hope everyone is doing well. I've been traveling for the last few days, visiting a friend. I got to experience two new states that I had never been to, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Airports and flights are perfect for finishing books. Last night, while on the plane, I finished A Killer's Mind by Mike Omer. 

I don't read thrillers often, and I'm not sure why. I tend to forget they exist since I usually just read Historical Fiction and Fantasy. Picking up A Killer's Mind by Mike Omer was an excellent reminder to read this genre more often. I enjoyed how the story bounced between Zoe and Tatum's investigation, Zoe's past, which prompted her interest in profiling, and the serial killer's perspective. It gave a well-rounded view of all the factors that contributed to the events in the book. It also gave a good distraction from who the killer really was. 

I wouldn't say I was blown away by the book, but it was good and a quick read. I'm intrigued enough that if I see the other books for a reasonable price on Kindle, I might pick them up. I did like how it read a bit like an episode of Criminal Minds. Character-wise, it took me a while to really warm up to Zoe. For the book's first part, she felt flat and one-dimensional. I won't say I loved her as a main character, but she was ok. Overall, I enjoyed the book and recommend it to anyone who wants a light thriller/mystery.

Book Review: The Cheater's Game by C.J. Archer

 

Goodreads Summary: The arrival of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show in London brings trouble. When the sharpshooter who beats Willie at poker is murdered, Matt and India investigate. Willie is convinced the victim cheated, but no one knows how until India discovers his secret - he was a paper magician.
When their list of suspects grows to include a member of the mysterious magic Collector's Club, they uncover a spy. But who is he working for? And what does his employer want?

As danger circles, secrets are revealed, and India struggles to keep her own secret hidden from Matt. But when her grandfather introduces her to a man who can change her life, India must decide if she wants her life to change at all.

Goodreads Ratings: 4.09 stars with over 4,800 ratings

Genre Listing: Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Historical Fiction, Paranormal

Goodreads Challenge: 26/30

2023 Reading Challenge: #7 Read a book with a basic shape on the cover (find the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, Readers! As always, I hope everyone is doing well. I will jump right into the review of The Cheater's Game by C.J. Archer. This is the seventh book in the Glass and Steele series. I thought it'd be a good fit for #7 since it had shapes on the cards. Also, I wanted to read it, and it was the best place it fit since I've burned through my free spaces already.

Reviewing this series is becoming dangerously close to how I've been approaching the Penny Green series by Emily Organ. I enjoy the series so much, but it's long, and I never feel like I have anything new to add to the reviews. I will say with The Cheater's Game, I didn't want to put it down. I forced myself to go to bed around 2 am, and as soon as I got out of work picked it back up and finished it. 

With the series, I like the sarcasm and wit sprinkled into the story. The Cheater's Game was a fun mystery. I was surprised at how that part of the story concluded. C.J. Archer did a great job of making multiple people look like plausible suspects. The biggest reason I like these stories is the chemistry between India and Matt. All I can say without giving too many spoilers is FINALLY.

If you like murder mysteries and historical fiction, I highly recommend the series. I would definitely read it in order. The books are short and not overly complicated. They're good if you don't want a massive commitment with one book, even though it is a longer series. Also, if these things are important to you as a reader, the language is pretty clean and not graphic. 

Book Review: The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse

 

Goodreads Summary: You won't want to leave...until you can't.
Half hidden by forest and overshadowed by threatening peaks, Le Sommet has always been a sinister place. Long plagued by troubling rumors, the former abandoned sanatorium has since been renovated into a five-star minimalist hotel.

An imposing, isolated getaway spot high up in the Swiss Alps is the last place Elin Warner wants to be. But Elin's taken time off from her job as a detective, so when her estranged brother, Isaac, and his fiancée, Laure, invite her to celebrate their engagement at the hotel, Elin really has no reason not to accept.

Arriving in the midst of a threatening storm, Elin immediately feels on edge--there's something about the hotel that makes her nervous. And when they wake the following morning to discover Laure is missing, Elin must trust her instincts if they hope to find her. With the storm closing off all access to the hotel, the longer Laure stays missing, the more the remaining guests start to panic.

Elin is under pressure to find Laure, but no one has realized yet that another woman has gone missing. And she's the only one who could have warned them just how much danger they are all in...

Genre Listing: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Horror, Crime

Goodreads Rating: 3.37 stars with over 145,000 ratings

Goodreads Challenge: 25/30 ( I will likely update it from 30 at some point.)

2023 Reading Challenge: #27 Read a book by an author who shares a first or last name with one of your friends (the entire challenge can be found here)

Book Review:

Hello, Readers! Please do not get used to me doing two posts in a day. I read a lot while I was off work/traveling and am trying to catch up before I forget things. This post will catch me up. I picked up The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse a while ago and just now got around to reading it. It was a great fit for #27, as I have a lot of Sarah (or Sara) in my life. 

I set myself up for disappointment with this book. Somehow I went into this book thinking it would be more of a haunted situation, and it was definitely not. I spent the entire book wondering when the ghosts would appear, only to learn there were no ghosts. There were only some angry Europeans with an agenda.

I found Elin, Will, and Issac hard to relate to as characters. They all seemed emotionless, given the situation they found themselves in at the hotel. When deaths start happening, it's up to Elin to solve them as the only pseudo-law enforcement still there when the storm hits. I felt like her "solving" the case was just accusing everyone still left at the hotel by jumping to conclusions. The motive also really didn't make sense. While it was a horrible situation, it was a bunch of loose connections forced into a hidden agenda that didn't fit the rest of the story. There was no natural build-up to it that allowed for it to make sense. It just felt like an afterthought to the rest of the story.

This definitely wasn't my cup of tea for horror/mystery. It may be because I got myself too psyched up for it to be a haunted sanatorium, but it all just felt forced together and wasn't that entertaining. I'm sure some will like it since it has over 3 stars, but I prefer a little more story than just solving by accusing everyone.

Book Review: Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

 

Goodreads Summary: Christopher is seven years old. Christopher is the new kid in town. Christopher has an imaginary friend. The epic work of literary horror from the #1 bestselling author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

We can swallow our fear or let our fear swallow us. Single mother Kate Reese is on the run. Determined to improve life for her and her son, she flees an abusive relationship in the middle of the night with Christopher at her side. Together, they find themselves drawn to the tight-knit community of Mill Grove, Pennsylvania. It's as far off the beaten track as they can get. Just one highway in, one highway out.

At first, it seems like the perfect place to finally settle down. Then Christopher vanishes. For six awful days, no one can find him. Until Christopher emerges from the woods at the edge of town, unharmed but not unchanged. He returns with a voice in his head only he can hear, with a mission only he can complete: Build a tree house in the woods by Christmas, or his mother and everyone in the town will never be the same again.

Soon Kate and Christopher find themselves in the fight of their lives, caught in the middle of a war playing out between good and evil, with their small town as the battleground.

Goodreads Ratings: 3.54 stars with over 44,000 ratings

Genre Listing: Horror, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Fantasy, Adult Fiction, Paranormal

Goodreads Challenge: 15/30

2023 Reading Challenge: #37 Read a book over 600 pages (find the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, Readers! I'm going to just jump right into it with this review. No life changes since my last review two days ago, except that I probably had some snacks and a nap like the giant toddler I am. Sometime last year, I saw the book Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky being discussed in the various book groups I follow, and I decided to pick it up when it was on sale. I like horror; I just don't read nearly enough of it. This seemed like it might have the potential to be somewhat scary. Unfortunately, I don't get scared that easily when it comes to reading.

This review is going to need a disclaimer. If you have any triggers while reading, I do not recommend reading this book. The list of trigger warnings is way too long to list. If you have specific ones you are concerned about, by all means, comment or reach out to the other contact options on the blog. I'm more than happy to assist. 

Going into this book, I did not know it was 700 pages long. I probably wouldn't have read it if I had known that. I have to mentally prepare myself to read anything over 500 pages. The story was interesting enough to make me want to find out what happened, but through most of it, I was just ready to be done with it. It became very close to being a 'Did not finish' for me. The only reason it wasn't is that I was already around 400 pages in when thinking about it. 

I try to be constructive in my reviews when I don't care for a book. I know that authors work hard on their stories, and I don't want it to appear like I am attacking them. That is one hundred percent, not my intent. I also try not to spoil a book, but I can't make any guarantees about that with this book.

We'll start with the good: I thought it was a unique concept, and Christopher and his mother were likable characters. I also liked how descriptive it was with the setting and scenery.

What almost made this a DNF for me was that it drug on for what felt like forever. I was curious to see what would happen but was bored waiting to get there. The descriptions were somewhat creepy, but I never felt scared or creeped out while reading. Reading a few more chapters and finishing the book almost became a chore. 

In addition to the story dragging on and on, the book switched gears from this creepy thriller to a super preachy religious tale about halfway through. It felt really out of place and led to some big philosophical epiphany that was trying too hard to be clever. I will fully admit to being a religionless heathen. I don't mind reading about it; however, I actually find the history of religions interesting. However, had I known I was getting a half-baked sermon on acid, I probably wouldn't have picked the book up. 

For me, this is a one-star. I'm sure others may love it and think it's great. If this sounds like your thing, by all means, read it. It has a lot of positive reviews on Goodreads. This is just not for me, and I genuinely feel like I wasted almost a month having it open on my kindle. 

Book Review: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

 

Goodreads Summary: Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.

An instant #1 New York Times Bestseller in its very first week! Presented by James Patterson's children's imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion...

Goodreads Ratings: 3.97 stars with over 127,000 ratings

Genre Listings: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Young Adult, Romance, Horror

Goodreads Challenge: 14/30

2023 Reading Challenge: #32 Read a book about a famous criminal(s) (find the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, readers! As always, I hope everyone is doing well. Not much of note has been happening that requires any personal updates, so let's jump into my thoughts on Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco. I picked this up with one of the gift cards I got for Christmas. A Historical Fiction novel about a serial killer seemed right up my alley. For whatever reason, I've been obsessed with death, the paranormal, and murder since I was a kid. I don't really know why. But this seemed like a great book selection for the famous criminal prompt.

I expected it to be cheesy and was skeptical. However, I loved it from the very first sentence. I got a gruesome tale with an exciting twist to the brutal story of Jack the Ripper. Kerri Maniscalco kept pretty close to the known facts of the Ripper murders. Because it's one of the biggest (if not the biggest) unsolved mysteries gives authors much free range to create their own ending. There were some fabrications because it's Fiction, but after the story ends, the author provides an excellent description of what she changed and why. I always appreciate this with Historical Fiction because I'm a giant nerd who likes to do a high-level skim of articles to see how much was accurate. 

I really liked Aubrey Rose a lot. I felt like she became a champion for Jack the Ripper's victims. She was brilliant, stayed true to herself, and didn't cave to the restrictive societal standards of her time. She showed some of the different layers that a person can have. She liked girly things like getting dressed up and going to tea, but she was also intelligent and interested in science. I also really liked Thomas as a character. He was arrogant and full of himself, but I found it charming. I also really liked how he encouraged Aubrey to think for herself, use her brain, and not conform to society's expectations. They tempered each other well. Also, his flirting for the time was super inappropriate, and it just made me laugh.

I really like the literary nods in Stalking Jack the Ripper. The way Aubrey Rose and Thomas worked together made me think of  Sherlock Holmes and Watson. I don't know if that was intentional, and admittedly this one for me is more of a film reference as I haven't read Sherlock Holmes yet. There are also a lot of mentions of Frankenstein in this book. Those combined with the titles of the rest of the series make my brain think of the series as a Female-led YA version of The League of Extraordinary Gentleman. So I'm here for it. 

Overall, I loved this book. I told a friend I was discussing it with that it was trying hard to replace my favorite book. It has yet to, but we'll see how long I dwell on it or if I end up rereading it. I recommend it if you like Historical Fiction, YA, Mystery, and are intrigued by Jack The Ripper. 

Book Review: The First Prophet by Kay Hooper

 

Goodreads Summary: Within the FBI, there exists a team of psychics whose powers cannot be denied. But these agents are feared—by a cabal of conspirators with only one weapon: to blind the psychics to the evils all around them.

Months ago Sarah Gallagher woke from a coma with psychic abilities she couldn't control. They changed her life and cost her the man she loved. And now, someone is playing games with Sarah's mind.

It begins with Sarah's home being destroyed by fire—an act of arson that draws novelist Tucker Mackenzie into Sarah's confidence. But he has other reasons for pursuing a woman who can see what others can't. So does a mysterious enemy intent on eliminating Sarah and everyone she cares about. Because it's only a matter of time before her visions lead her and Tucker to a secret many will kill to hide. Only then will they begin to discover the scope of a terrifying conspiracy so deep and complex that they can trust almost no one.

Good Reads Ratings: 3.86 stars with over 4,500 ratings

Genre listing: Paranormal, Mystery, Suspense, Fiction, Romance, Thriller, Crime

Goodreads Challenge: #47 Read a book that involves a conspiracy (find the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, readers! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the start of the weekend. I'm going to keep this review relatively short. I'm exhausted, and after I write this, I plan to just play on my phone until I pass out for the night. Exciting plans, I know. This is what happens when you're secretly an elderly person disguised as a 30-something.

I was going to initially use The First Prophet by Kay Hooper as my book that was recommended by a friend. However, the more I got into it, the more it became apparent it was about a conspiracy (I had forgotten initially), so I decided to slot it for #47 since that would be harder for me to find than a recommendation from someone. 

It took me a bit to get into the book. I don't really blame the story for that, however. I started it when I was reading Time's Convert, and given that both books switch points of view a lot, it made it hard for me to pay attention. Once I got into it, I enjoyed it. I liked reading about Sarah and watching her figure out her psychic abilities. I liked Tucker, but I felt like he needed more faults. He was too weirdly good at everything. Having him around made the conflicts seem too easy and predictable. The twist at the end did surprise me a bit, however.

I liked the book. However, I don't know how quickly I will pick up the series. I'm apprehensive because I still have unanswered questions, but I get the feeling that they aren't going to be answered as it pertains to Sarah's storyline specifically. I hope I'm wrong, though, as I did enjoy it, and I'm curious to see where the story goes with Sarah and Tucker. There are a lot of secrets that will be interesting to see how they unravel.

It was a fun read, and I'd buy the next book if I came across it in a bookstore.

Book Review: Hunted by Darcy Coates

 

Goodreads Summary: 22-year-old Eileen goes missing while hiking in the remote Ashlough Forest. Five days later, her camera is discovered washed downriver, containing bizarre photos taken after her disappearance.

Chris wants to believe Eileen is still alive. When the police search is abandoned, he and four of his friends create their own search party to scour the mountain range. As they stray further from the hiking trails and the unsettling discoveries mount, they begin to believe they’re not alone in the forest… and that Eileen’s disappearance wasn’t an accident.

By that point, it’s too late to escape.

Goodreads Ratings: 4.08 stars with over 8,000 reviews

Genre Listing: Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Crime, Survival

Goodreads Challenge: 18/36

2022 Reading Challenge: #33 Read a book that does not have a person (or people) on the cover (Find the entire challenge here)

 

Book Review:

Hello, Readers! As I write this, Reading Challenge Co-Conspirator is at the airport and preparing to make her way to Minnesota. It has been several years since we have seen each other, but I am so excited that she is spending our birthday week in Minnesota. We have some plans, including an Alice in Wonderland-themed escape room and tickets to  Wicked. We mostly plan to sit on my couch, binge a lot of TV, and read books. There will most definitely be snacks. Stay tuned; we have some fun Birthday blog fun coming.

 

So, on to Hunted by Darcy Coates. This book was a bit of a different read for me as I do not typically gravitate towards the survival suspense genres. Lately, I have wanted to read something that had the potential to be scary. I do not know that I found this scary. Some parts made me think, "oh, that is creepy," but that was about it. 

 

The book follows Chris and four of his friends as they form a search party to find Chris's missing sister, Eileen. The challenges they face are primarily psychological, which I found interesting. I thought Darcy Coates did a great job explaining how disorienting this forest would be, especially if there are additional threats to consider. The story also alternates between a few friends, their different perspectives, and the lead investigator on the disappearance case. I thought Delgado was the more interesting of the characters and had an interesting back story. With the book ending, I would read a crime thriller series where she is the main character.

 

I enjoyed the book, but I think the last 20-30% fell flat for me. I wanted to read about what was happening to Chris and his friends and see if they survived the forest. I also wanted to see if Delgado pieced the evidence together, but I figured out who was behind the disappearance early in the book. I think it was supposed to be a big reveal, but I was not all that surprised. Once the book got closer to the end, the story felt more tell than show, and it seemed like a packaged ending. I would still recommend it to anyone who wants a shorter survival thriller.

 

 

 

Book Review: The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker

 

Goodreads Summary: For over five years, the Four Monkey Killer has terrorized the residents of Chicago. When his body is found, the police quickly realize he was on his way to deliver one final message, one which proves he has taken another victim who may still be alive.

As the lead investigator on the 4MK task force, Detective Sam Porter knows even in death, the killer is far from finished. When he discovers a personal diary in the jacket pocket of the body, Porter finds himself caught up in the mind of a psychopath, unraveling a twisted history in hopes of finding one last girl, all while struggling with personal demons of his own.

With only a handful of clues, the elusive killer’s identity remains a mystery. Time is running out and the Four Monkey Killer taunts from beyond the grave in this masterfully written fast-paced thriller.

Goodreads Ratings: 4.16 stars with over 26,000 ratings

Genre Listing: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Detective, Crime

Goodreads Challenge: 10/48

2022 Reading Challenge: #35 Read a Psychological Thriller (find the entire challenge here)

Book Review: 

I'm not really sure how this book wound up on my radar. I think I was digging through Kindle Unlimited trying to find something dark and twisted. This book definitely fits this requirement. I was drawn in pretty quickly to the case and what was going on. 

I don't really read a lot of Psychological/Crime thrillers, but the plot felt unique to me. I thought it was interesting that we not only got the present-day solving of the case but also information about the serial killer's past in his own words via his diary. I thought 4MK's diary entries were fascinatingly twisted. It was interesting to see how he was raised and groomed for what he became. He was also eerily polite. The entire time I was reading the book I felt like the serial killer was some hybrid of Ned Flanders from the Simpsons and Ted Bundy. 

I really liked the red herrings in this book. It wasn't super straightforward forward and it kept me guessing. Not only just with the case, but 4MK's past, and personal things going on with Detective Porter. I will say that while I enjoyed the book, I think I was more invested in 4MK's background than Porter's. There was a bit that tried to make him feel relatable, but mostly he just felt like a placeholder because somebody had to solve the case. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the story and will probably read more of J.D. Barker's books in the future. I don't think I'll jump right into another one, however. Mainly because I still have a ton of spots to fill on this challenge. I would not read this book if you're easily triggered. This one deals with domestic abuse, torture, workplace harassment, etc. However, if you are looking for a gory, twisted detective story, I would definitely recommend this one.

Book Review: Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris

 

Goodreads Summary; 2 CHILDREN FOR SALE
The scrawled sign, peddling young siblings on a farmhouse porch, captures the desperation sweeping the country in 1931. It's an era of breadlines, bank runs, and impossible choices.

For struggling reporter Ellis Reed, the gut-wrenching scene evokes memories of his family's dark past. He snaps a photograph of the children, not meant for publication. But when the image leads to his big break, the consequences are devastating in ways he never imagined.

Haunted by secrets of her own, secretary Lillian Palmer sees more in the picture than a good story and is soon drawn into the fray. Together, the two set out to right a wrongdoing and mend a fractured family, at the risk of everything they value.

Inspired by an actual newspaper photo that stunned readers across the nation, this touching novel explores the tale within the frame and behind the lens—a journey of ambition, love, and the far-reaching effects of our actions.
Goodreads Rating: 3.88 stars with 55,000 ratings

Genre Listing: Historical Fiction, Book Club, Romance, Mystery

Goodreads Challenge: 39/50

2021 Reading Challenge: #55 Read a book (fiction or Nonfiction) about a topic that's always interested you, but you haven't read about it yet (Find the entire challenge here) 

Book Review:

Happy Halloween, Readers! I hope everyone had a safe and fun holiday.  I apologize in advance. I'm going to phone this review in a bit. I finished the book a couple days ago, but have not been feeling well since Thursday. I kind of feel like if I don't put a review out tonight, I won't because I'll lose my thoughts on what I read. Mostly, right now, I just want to go to bed.

I put Sold on a Monday by Kristin McMorris at #55 for the challenge because, to the best of my knowledge, I have never read a fiction story about the Great Depression. Obviously, I learned about it in school, but I feel like that doesn't count. I've always been curious about the Great Depression. My maternal grandparents were born during the Great Depression, and my Grandpa would always tell me about growing up back then. I've always been really grateful that he passed on that information to me. I feel it gave me a greater appreciation for the world we live in now. So when I saw Sold on a Monday, I knew I had to read it. 

I thought the story was interesting. I knew that the book was inspired by an actual picture where children of the era were being sold. I felt like it evolved beyond the photo and was a story about taking responsibility and the consequences of one's actions. There were a variety of things that happened because of the decisions the two main characters made. The main focus was what those decisions spiraled into and how the characters had to deal with the repercussion.

I don't really feel like the characters themselves were that noteworthy. They more felt like placeholders and really lacked a lot of personalities. The chapters rotated between Ellis and Lillian, but it wasn't obvious who's point of view was presented most of the time. The same goes for the romance in the story. It seemed like it was just there to fill more pages. The main reason the kids were sold felt like a plot on Law and Order SVU.

Overall, I liked the premise but am indifferent to the characters. It was a quick read that entertained me for a couple of days, so I can't really complain too much. I'd put this firmly in the "it was ok" bucket.

Book Review: The Haunting of Leigh Harker by Darcy Coates

 

Goodreads Summary: Sometimes, the dead reach back...
Leigh Harker’s quiet suburban home was her sanctuary for more than a decade until things abruptly changed. Curtains open by themselves. Radios turn off and on. And a dark figure looms in the shadows of her bedroom door at night, watching her, waiting for her to finally let down her guard enough to fall asleep.

Pushed to her limits but unwilling to abandon her home, Leigh struggles to find answers. But each step forces her towards something more terrifying than she ever imagined.

A poisonous shadow seeps from the locked door beneath the stairs. The handle rattles through the night, and fingernails scratch at the wood. Her home harbors dangerous secrets, and now that Leigh is trapped within its walls, she fears she may never escape.

Do you think you’re safe?

You’re wrong.

Goodreads Rating: 4.06 stars with about 200 ratings

Genre Listing: Horror, Fantasy, Paranormal, Adult, Mystery, Fiction, Ghosts, Thriller, Gothic, Supernatural

Goodreads Challenge: 35/50 

2021 Reading Challenge: #41 Read a book where the main character is elderly (find the complete challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello readers! I hope everyone is doing well. I'm off for the next few days while we deal with our move. Yay! I'm super ready both to be done packing and to be in the new house. I'm also super excited to not have to work for two days.

I've wanted to read more horror for a while, and I recently discovered Darcy Coates on Kindle Unlimited. The Haunting of Leigh Harker seemed pretty interesting, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I managed to pry it out of my hands the first night, and then the following night, I was up until 4 am reading it because "I've only got eighty more pages left." Man, that was stupid. I was so tired the next day! It was definitely worth the read, though. 

I really liked how this book started out creepy. There wasn't a slow build to gain suspense. From the first page, I was curious as to what was happening to Leigh, who she was, and why she was in the situation, she was in. Given that I stayed up until 4am reading it, I think it's safe to say that I never lost interest either. 

I cheated a little bit on where I put this on the challenge. Leigh is very much the main character, and she's not elderly. However, an elderly woman in the story is very much a pivotal character in the book. This story very much couldn't happen without her, and thus this book landed on #41. Plus, I didn't want to burn one of my last two free spaces. 

I really enjoyed the story, and I liked figuring out with Leigh what was going on and more about her. If you need all of the character's backstory upfront, this is not a book for you. Most of Leigh's story isn't fully explained until the end of the book. It is, however, under 300 pages, so it's not that long of a wait. I'm actually really impressed that this story was able to be told in so few pages. 

I felt like a lot of the ending was pretty predictable, but I still felt engaged with the story. If it had been anything else, it just wouldn't have made sense with how the book played out. There were some surprises mixed in, but the overall went how I expected. Sorry for being so vague. I'm trying really hard not to spoil everything. Many of the themes within this book were reminiscent of a very famous thriller movie from the late 90s.  I still think it's worth the read and would recommend it to someone who likes Horror and wants to be a little creeped out but not outright terrified. It's also good if you don't want to dedicate a lot of time to a book but still get a good story. 

Blog Post: Murder in Ratcliffe by Emily Organ

 

Goodreads Summary: A Victorian wife has obligations to her husband and home. But Penny Blakely is no ordinary Victorian wife.
When a house in Penny’s neighborhood is gutted by fire, she learns of a connection to an unsolved murder. Penny will always be a news reporter at heart, and the mystery is impossible to ignore.

How did a young, middle-class lady fall from grace? And who killed her? Penny’s search for the truth takes her to London’s East End and a notorious street once known as the Ratcliffe Highway.

Her investigations stir long-buried secrets, and she soon makes some unpleasant enemies. But will her new husband approve of her exploits and lend his support?

Goodreads Ratings: 4.36 stars with just over 500 ratings

Genre Listing: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Victorian, British Literature

Previous Reviews on the Series: Limelight, The Rookery, The Maid's Secret, The Inventor, The Curse of the Poppy, The Bermondsey Poisoner, An Unwelcome Guest, Death at a Workhouse, The Gang of St. Bride's

Goodreads Challenge: 31/50

2021 Reading Challenge: #14 Read a Murder Mystery (Find the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, readers! Now that I finished The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan, we return to our regularly scheduled one to two books a week. Although, that may change here for the next few weeks because big things are happening! My husband and I bought a townhouse, and we're getting ready to close and move in. I am so excited and can not wait to get away from noisy upstairs neighbors and having to share a laundry room. I fully plan to set up a library even though I mostly just gravitate to Kindle.

Anyways, after I finished the tome that is a Wheel of Time book, I decided I needed something light and quick that I knew I'd enjoy. Queue a Penny Green mystery by Emily Organ. I love this series so much if you can't tell by the number of books in the series I've read. I try to read them when they first come out, but this one escaped my notice. For those of you unfamiliar with the series, it follows Penny Green in Victorian London. Penny's a female journalist who has a knack for getting herself into trouble as she investigates stories. I wouldn't quite call this a cozy mystery. It's reasonably clean, but the explanations of the deaths can get a little descriptive. The books are all around 300-350 pages and go pretty quickly. They're action-packed and get to the point. I absolutely adore this series. It's one of my favorite that I've found on Kindle Unlimited. If you read it, I highly recommend reading it in order (my list above is in order.)

Murder in Ratcliffe was no exception to the above. I wasn't sure how I would like it with Penny and James being married now, but it still kept up with the same pace of them solving some of the crimes together. It was interesting to somewhat see them fall into the comfort of married life and adjusting. I'm curious to see how Penny's life evolves now that she's not working for the Morning Express. I have a couple of theories on where she'll use her crime-solving experiences, but I'll have to wait and see how they play out. I don't think she'll sit quietly at home while James works as an inspector. 

One of the sub-plots in the previous books got some finality in this book. Previously the books paid a lot of attention to the mystery behind Penny's father and what happened to him when he was exploring South America. With Mr. Green's disappearance solved, this aspect of the story felt a little flat. I'm hoping there's a little more that hasn't been divulged yet, as the current ending of the story was a little unsatisfactory.

As far as the mystery goes, I always appreciate that Emily Organ provides a handful of potential suspects in each book. They all have the merit to be the culprit, and it's always fun to see how the evidence unfolds. I'm always entertained by trying to figure out if I'm right on who was guilty. I was not this time. I just glanced through my reviews on the series. I never know who the murder is. I would have thought after ten books I might get one right, but I guess not. 

Anyway, if you like the murder mystery genre and/or historical fiction, this may be a good choice for you. It's easy to get into. There are many books in the series, with a new one dropping around Halloween this year. It's an excellent series to binge without having to dedicate a considerable time commitment to it. 

Book Review: The Deep by Alma Katsu

 

Goodreads Summary: Someone, or something, must be haunting the ship. Between mysterious disappearances and sudden deaths, the guests of the Titanic have found themselves suspended in an eerie, unsettling twilight zone from the moment they set sail. Several of them, including maid Annie Hebley, guest Mark Fletcher, and millionaires Madeleine Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim, are convinced there's something sinister--almost otherwordly--afoot. But before they can locate the source of the danger, as the world knows, disaster strikes.
Years later, Annie, having survived that fateful night, is working as a nurse on the sixth voyage of the Titanic's sister ship, the Britannic, newly refitted as a hospital ship. When she happens across an unconscious Mark, now a soldier fighting in World War I. At first, Annie is thrilled and relieved to see he survived the sinking. But soon, Mark's presence awakens deep-buried feelings and secrets, forcing Annie to reckon with the demons of her past--as they both discover that the terror may not yet be over.

Brilliantly combining the supernatural with the height of the historical disaster, The Deep is an exploration of love and destiny, desire and innocence, and, above all, a quest to understand how our choices can lead us inexorably toward our doom.

Goodreads Ratings: 3.37 stars with over 5,000 ratings

Genre Listing: Horror, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal, Fantasy, Adult, Thriller, Ghosts

Goodreads Challenge: 29/50 (Oh hey, I'm finally ahead of schedule. Which is good because Shadow Rising will probably set me back) 

2021 Reading Challenge: #24 Free Space, Pick any book! (Find the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, readers! I hope everyone is having a delightful Saturday. Monday is my birthday, so I took yesterday off work and was actually productive. I cleared out my desk at work since I'm going full-time remote (Yay, no more commute! Not that I've had one for a year and a half.) I also did a bunch of laundry and some homework. For dinner, the husband and I tried a new-to-us place. It was a bistro in a bowling alley and surprisingly upscale (luckily only in looks, not in price.) Chris had the ribs, and I had some of the best gluten-free pizza I've had in seven years of having to eat gluten-free. We were going to go to the zoo today, but it's scorching and humid, so no. I imagine we'll probably just go walk around the mall like cool kids to get out of the apartment for a bit. Also, Reading Challenge Co-Conspirator, Tress, has a birthday on Tuesday. Go give her some love on her blog. Tress's blog can be found here. 

Okay, so book review time. If you recall, a few weeks ago, the husband let me loose in Barnes and Noble. The Deep was one of the two books that I picked up while I was unsupervised. I've wanted to read more fiction about the Titanic, and so I saw the cover realized that The Deep was about both the Titanic and its sister ship, the Brittanic. Fair warning, this review is going to be kind of full of spoilers because I can't really discuss my thoughts on this one otherwise. I'll try to keep them to a minimum.

The Deep by Alma Katsu takes on an interesting perspective and combines the sinking of the two ships with the paranormal. I think this book is a perfect example of an interesting premise, poor execution. It really needed to be scaled down by a content editor. The book is just over 400 pages, and there are somewhere around ten (maybe more) perspectives that are shown in the book. Off the top of my head, I think there were perspectives from Annie, Caroline, Mark, the Astors, The Astor's servant, Violet, Dai, Les, Mr. Stead, Charlie, a doctor, and Annie's Mother. It made it really hard to stay into the story, mainly because most of these points of view felt like nothing more than filler. They didn't really add to the story. Their primary purpose was to provide additional experiences as to why the ship was haunted, but it mostly just felt like I was reading the perspective of all 2,230 people on the Titanic.

A lot was going on in this book. I felt like I was reading Girl Interrupted if it were set on the Titanic and influenced by Irish folklore. The haunting and ghosts felt understated. As I mentioned before, there were many people's stories told to explain how it was haunted. However, it mostly boiled down to ominous feelings other than one seance where the paranormal activity was easily explained away. What little it did touch on beyond that seemed easily forgotten. I didn't find the horror aspects of this scary, and honestly, a lot of it felt predictable where Annie was concerned. The main "thriller" aspects were surrounding secrets that Caroline and Mark were hiding. After 300ish pages of a discombobulated story, is fully explained in 30 pages towards the end of the book. The entire book essentially boiled down to the sinking of the two ships was because a pissed-off ghost regretted choices they made while alive and had to deal with the consequences.

I really wanted to like this book. I love history, and I've always been fascinated by the unfortunate happenings of the Titanic.  However, there were just too many characters' perspectives that felt like they didn't need to be there. The hauntings were lackluster, and for being labeled as horror, it wasn't scary at all. I've been debating giving it a two or three rating, and I will give it a two. Honestly, there just wasn't enough there that I did like to warrant the higher rating. I was incredibly frustrated most of the book because of how disjointed it was. I hardly ever read more than one book at a time, and I think I've read a few while struggling to get through this one. I will, however, give credit where credit is due. This book did actually take the time to include LGBTQ+ relationships. There's one included that felt genuinely real to me, and I thought it was well done. It didn't feel like it was included just to be trendy. I felt like the characters did love each other, and honestly, if they had their own prequel of before they got on the Titanic, I'd read it. I just didn't feel like they had a lot to do with the specific story at hand. I also think that the author hinted towards a polyamorous relationship. I don't know if the three characters involved were in a true relationship with one another, but it definitely seems like they could have been if their circumstances had been different. I definitely applaud Alma Katsu for including that in the story.

Book Review: Haunting Charlie by Wendy Wang

 

Goodreads Summary: Ignoring the dead can get you killed...

All Charlie Payne wants is to lead a normal life and to be a good mom. But Charlie’s not exactly normal. She's from a long line of witches, and she can see the dead.

Susan Tate has inherited a beautiful old southern mansion on the coast. Unfortunately, the property came with a million necessary repairs. And ghosts.

When Charlie meets Susan, the woman is desperate for help. Taking on a spirit who doesn’t want to see the light can be dangerous but ignoring it? Ignoring the dead can get you killed.

Haunting Charlie is the first in a spine-tingling new Supernatural Suspense that will have you clinging to the edge of your seat. If you like Darcy Coates, Shani Struthers, or JL Bryan, then you will love the Witches of Palmetto Point Series by Wendy Wang!

Goodreads Rating: 4.13 stars with over 6,000 ratings

Genre Listing: Fantasy, Paranormal, Fantasy, Horror, Ghosts, Fiction, Witches, Urban, Supernatural, Mystery

Goodreads Challenge: 17/50

2021 Reading Challenge: #25 Read a book by a Self Published Author (find the full challenge here)

Book Review:

Happy Weekend, readers!  I hope everyone is doing well. I picked up Haunting Charlie by Wendy Wang on Kindle Unlimited. I wasn't really sure where I would put this on the challenge, but it sounded interesting and had me curious. It worked out that it's self-published. 

The first scene really drew me into Charlie's story. It takes place with her working in a call center. I actually took a screenshot of the first page and sent it to Tress because it was so dead-on, and we had a good laugh about it. If Wendy didn't have call center experience, she really did her research. 

Because the book is so short, it got into the paranormal pretty quickly. I was impressed because it still gave quite a bit of backstory into Charlie's life. She was really relatable, and I felt sorry for her with everything going on with her jerk of an ex-husband, Scott. Her affinity for ghosts was interesting, and it reminded me of the show Dead Files. There was definitely a lot of thought about how Charlie would interact with the spirits and what the ghosts could do. 

Charlie ends up using her ability to try and help solve a series of girls going missing from their town. The story behind what's happening to them goes back to the 1800s and continues today. When I do the genre listing, I just copy what's on Goodreads, which I think is just people's bookshelves, so it may not always be accurate. This one got considered a mystery, but I didn't really feel like there were any surprises to it. It made it pretty clear who was at fault for the girls going missing and why. It was creepy, but I don't really think it had a lot of mystery to it. 

So this next piece, I generally don't care about, but I know it will bother a few people. There are a handful of places where there are commas in the middle of words. Stuff like this use to really put me off on some books, but now the closer I get to publishing my own book, I realize it's just part of the process, and it happens. 

Overall, I really enjoyed Haunting Charlie. I'll probably read a bit more of the series since it's on Kindle Unlimited, but I'm trying to be good and not get completely sucked into my typical binge of series for now. This book was a quick and interesting read, and I'd recommend it if you're looking for a mix of paranormal meets True Crime.