Confessions On The 7:45 by Lisa Unger

 My Rating: 4.6

Selena and Martha don't know each other but they both have sordid secrets. They are commuting home on the same train and both confess - Martha that she is sleeping with her married boss and Selena that she has seen her husband on the nanny cam having sex with their nanny. They part ways, presumably to never meet again. Then the nanny disappears and Martha starts texting Selena saying they should meet.

This is a quick paced fun thriller / whodunit. Like most of Unger's thrillers, I find you need to suspend logic and reality and just enjoy the ride.

Should We Stay Or Should We Go By Lionel Shriver

 My Rating 2.5

When Kay's father dies of Alzheimers she makes a pack with her husband Cyril that they will both commit suicide when they are 80. 

What started off as depressing got MUCH worse and made me feel the first option was best. It claims "hilarity" - but I must have missed that part. I hated each of the alternate endings worse than the last. Combine that with the constant bombardment of political opinions on COVID, healthcare, immigrants and many other topics, I couldn't wait to be done with this horrible book.

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

 My Rating: 5.0

Rosie and Penn have 4 boys and she decides to roll the dice to see if they can have a girl. This is about raising their children, how parenting doesn't have a manual and trying to deal with the difficulties along the way. They have a unique family that comes alive and will make you feel like you are part of their clan.

Wow! The writing pulled me in and swept me away. So much love radiated off of the pages. Do yourself a favor and don't read anything but just jump in. WARNING: a definite controversial story line but I think it was handled extremely adeptly in a way that made it so relatable. 

Girl Last Seen by Nina Laurin

 My Rating: 2.5

Two girls, Lainey and Olivia, go missing 13 years apart. Lainey is now 26 years old and struggling to keep her life on the tracks. When Olivia goes missing, the police want to talk to Lainey to see if she can remember anything about those dark times from 13 years ago. 

This was fast paced and felt a bit like a television show in how it unfolded. I enjoyed the beginning of it but then it got so wild and dysfunctional with no likable characters that it completely lost me. 

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

 My Rating: 3.5

Twenty years of correspondence between Helene Hanff, a freelance writer living in New York City, and Frank Doel, an employee at used-book dealer Marks & Co. Booksellers in London. Through the years, though they never meet and are separated both geographically and culturally, their relationship comes to life through common love for books. 

This book won't be for everyone. I don't think I would have enjoyed it at all had it not been on audio and quite short. I did enjoy how it included so many post-war facts (the rations etc) although I didn't feel any connection whatsoever to Helene with her very New York humor. . 

A Twist of the Knife #3 by Becky Masterman

 My Rating: 4.8

Our ex-fbi agent Brigid Quinn is visiting sick family in Floria when Laura Coleman, from the first book in this series, makes a reappearance. Laura wants Brigid's help in proving the innocence of a man on death row. 

As usual, Masterman is a master at combining some very grizzly gruesome scenes with some fun light humor - masterfully blended together. I loved the rehashing of the crime and timelines. This waqs thoroughly enjoyable and I will be definitely be reading the fourth and final book in this series.

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

 My Rating: 4.8

1930's the Lincoln Indian Boys School is a horrible place where Native American children are forcibly removed from their parents. It is also where Odie and his brother Albert, the only white children at the school, are sent after their father dies. Mose is a mute Indian boy at the school and Emmy is the sweet little girl of a teacher at the school. This is about the journey of the four children over one summer where they cross paths with others who are adrift.

This was so well told with each of the characters coming to life on the pages including the struggling farmers, faith healers and vagabonds struggling to make their way. Definite recommend.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

 My Rating: 4.6

"Protect her". When Owen Michaels goes missing he sends his wife a note with these two words. Hannah instantly knows that he is referring to his 16 yo daughter Bailey.

Another fun thriller where you have to suspend reality and just go along for the ride. Despite a few implausible bits in the story line, I did enjoy the relationship between Hannah and Bailey.

Lie Down With Lions by Ken Follett

 My Rating: 4.7

Two men on opposite sides of the Cold War with a woman torn between them. This starts in France and then goes to Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is a typical Follett with intrigue, passion and betrayal.

If you are like me, you will have to skip over the gratuitous sex scene - UGH! I don't consider myself a prude but those pages and pages of descriptive sex  were not only completely unnecessary to the plot line but detracted from the book. I had to let the book marinate a few days after I finished it to realize that as horrible as that sex scene was, the rest of the book was worth recommending.

Fear The Darkness #2 by Becky Masterman

 My Rating: 4.3

Ex-FBI agent Brigid Quinn wants to settle down with her hubby in Tucson and enjoy life. When her sister-in-law dies, she takes in her 17 year old niece Gemma Kate. Gemma Kate is not your ordinary teenager and soon, disturbing things start to happen. Brigid is also helping a couple investigate the death of their son. It seems that her serene life is not to be in the near future.

This wasn't as good for me as her first book in this series but, I do love Brigid and that this takes place in Tucson. I will definitely be reading the next books in this series as I love a good strong female lead character and the setting and writing style are so enjoyable.

Bookmarks Magazine Sept/Oct 2021

One of my absolute favorite ways to spend an afternoon is curled up with a Bookmarks Magazine. So much anticipation and this one didn't disappoint! I have loaded up my book queue with the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let me know any books that I missed or any that you have read that you think I should add to my queue.

The Shadows by Alex North

 My Rating: 5.0

Charlie Crabtree is the sinister edgy ringleader of the four boy pack. Charlie has them going further and further until it divides the group and ends in a murder so shocking that it goes down in infamy. There are internet groups that recount the horrors as well as copycat killers. It was so jarring that Paul Adams moved away and hasn't been back, until now. It is 25 years later and his mother is old and senile so he returns to his childhood town only to be reliving so much of what transpired.

       

If you aren't grounded in a strong positive place, this may not be the book for you right now. It WILL disturb your peace. Yikies is it well told and so creepy. I can't wait for Mr. North to write more!

Who Is Maud Dixon by Alexandra Andrews

 My Rating: 4.8

Florence is a low level employee at a publishing house. Florend stumbles into a job the assistant to the brilliant, enigmatic novelist who writes under the pseudonym Maud Dixon (real name Helen). Although Helen isn't an easy employer, it appears that the universe is finally providing Florence’s big chance.

Do NOT read the description of this book as it will spoil it. The first half of the book is building to what is in the book description so it is a definite spoiler. All of the critical reviews say that it shouldn't have taken 50% of the book to get to that part and it should have been edited down....but if you don't know what "it" is, it is written perfectly giving you the background and build up to the event. A twisted fun thriller with a creative plot line.

Rage Against The Dying #1 by Becky Masterman

 My Rating: 4.8

Brigid Quinn's experiences in hunting sexual predators for the FBI have left her with memories she wishes she didn't have and lethal skills she hopes never to need again. Having been pushed into early retirement by events she thinks she's put firmly behind her, Brigid keeps telling herself she is settling down nicely in Tucson with a wonderful new husband, Carlo, and their dogs.

I love a strong female character and combine that with her living in my State (ok, Tucson, Arizona but close enough!) and this is fabulous. Such a delightful blend of light and comedic and gruesome. It makes it flow like a light read but has some serious thriller and grittiness to it. Can't wait to read more in this series.

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

 My Rating: 2.7

1934 Texas. Millions are out of work and a drought has broken the Great Plains. It is not an ideal time for Elsa to find herself pregnant.

Again, I am in the minority on my thoughts on this book. I enjoyed the first half although it did drag and was so depressing (ok, I know it was the Great Depression lol!) It did a great job of capturing the drought and the dust. Despite the characters being simplistic and stereotypical, I did really enjoy the relationship between Elsa and her Martinelli in-laws. The second half of the book completely lost me. Loreda's epiphany of their life and suddenly 'happening' into a New Deal meeting, Elsa connecting with the group leader, blah blah blah. It took everything I could to finish this and wasn't worth it.