My Rating: 4.8
When a woman is murdered in a quaint British village, beautiful newsreader Anna Andrews is dispatched to the scene to report on the case. Detective Jack Harper is in charge of the investigation and suspicious of why Anna is there.
Told from various perspectives and in a series of flashbacks, you soon realize that everyone is a suspect and everyone seems to have a motive. A very creepy fast-paced psychological thriller.
It is always the highlight of my week when I get my Bookmarks magazine in the mail. I almost drool in anticipation of being able to curl up with the magazine and add books to my queue. Their descriptions are great where I get a good sense of whether or not the books will appeal to me. Here are the ones that I added to my queue from this month. I think this is a nice selection and makes me so happy about carving out time for reading.
Although I don't like short stories, I love Jhumpa Lahiri so had to add this to my queue
Let me know if I missed any that you picked out. Also, let me know any good books you are reading that I should add to my queue!
My Rating: 4.9
In the Industrial 1860's, Irish Immigrant Clara Kelly is sent by her family from Ireland to try to make her way in America. She ends up securing a job as Lady's Maid in the home of the up and coming Andrew Carnegie.
Again, Benedict hits it out of the park. This is fiction that reads like Historical Fiction in the capturing of that time period. I thoroughly enjoyed everything on this audio book - the Irish accents, the various voices, the story and the characters. Picture "Downton Abbey" told in 1860's America.
Ms. Benedict, I have only recently discovered you but with reading one book of yours a month, am quickly exhausting your wonderful books....please write faster
My Rating: 4.8
Sisters, Mickey and Kacey were raised by their grandmother and were once inseparable. Now, their lives have taken very different paths. Mickey is a cop and Kacey lives on the streets. With an unfolding string of murders, Mickey gets increasingly concerned as to why she hasn't seen her sister in far too long.
This is told in a series of flashbacks to the sisters childhood and adolescence and then flashes forward to present day. It has a sense of foreboding where you want to rush ahead and yet the writing slows you down to absorb the beautiful flow. Loved the pacing and story.
My Rating: 4.7
In 1931 has so much desperation everywhere. Ellis is a struggling reporter who csptures a photo of two children and their mother with a "For Sale" sign. This photo wasn't meant for publication but leads not only to his big break, but to so many other unintended consequences.
This story was inspired by an actual newspaper photo. It captures the wholesomeness and the sadness of that era. The stories of Lillian, Ellis and the young mother and her children unfold showing how so many things are intertwined. There was a bit too much convenient drama but, it was a well written very readable story.
My Rating: 4.7
Unlike with her own mother, Blythe wants to be a loving warm mother. She has trouble bonding with her daughter and believes that she is very manipulative and something is 'off'. Her husband continually sides with their daughter and doesn't see things the same way. Then when their second child Sam is born, Blythe feels that warm loving connection with her son.
This is a very suspenseful novel as, from the beginning, you know that things have turned out very bad. This was a page turner that was a fast engrossing read. It was very twisted and I loved it!
My Rating: 3.0
A couple, Nuri and Afra, leave war torn Syria in search of a better life. Mustafa, Nuri's cousin, has already made it to London and is waiting for them there. This is about their journey of past, present and the hope for their future.
I know that I am going to be in the minority on this book but, despite the fabulous writing, I did not find this enjoyable. The author's attempt at mixing timelines and dreams with reality made the story hard to follow to the point of being incoherent. I didn't feel that the characters were well developed. The story was sad, depressing and dragged to the point I was very glad when it was over.
