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Book Review

The Family Game by Catherine Steadman [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: The Family Game

Author: Catherine Steadman

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Publish Date: September 29, 2022

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

The Family Game by Catherine Steadman

BOOK BLURB

THE RULES
1. Listen carefully
2. Do your research
3. Trust no one
4. Run for your life

Harriet Reed, a novelist on the brink of literary stardom, is newly engaged to Edward Holbeck, the heir of an extremely powerful family. And even though Edward has long tried to severe ties with them, news of the couple’s upcoming marital bliss has the Holbecks inching back into their lives.

As Harriet is drawn into their lavish world, the family seems perfectly welcoming. So when Edward’s father, Robert, hands Harriet a tape of a book he’s been working on, she is desperate to listen.

But as she presses play, it’s clear that this isn’t just a novel. It’s a confession.

A confession to a grisly crime. A murder. And, suddenly, the game is in motion.

Feeling isolated and confused, Harriet must work out if this is part of a plan to test her loyalty or something far darker. What is it that Robert sees in her? Why give her the power to destroy everything?

This might be a game to the Holbeck family—but losing could still prove deadly.
 
READY OR NOT, HERE THEY COME . . .


The Family Game by Catherine Steadman

MY REVIEW

A woman meets her soon-to-be in-laws, and gets involved in a dark and mysterious game.

The Family Game is told using the single point of view of Harriet, aka Harry. Soon after meeting her fiancé’s eccentric family, the family patriarch gives her a cassette tape. On the tape is a confession, which puts a dark game into motion.

The Family Game is a slow burning psychological thriller. Atmospheric, creepy, and twisted.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Catherine Steadman:
  1. Something in the Water
  2. Mr. Nobody
  3. The Disappearing Act
  4. The Family Game
  5. Look in the Mirror
Book Review

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: The Writing Retreat

Author: Julia Bartz

Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books

Publish Date: February 21, 2023

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

BOOK BLURB

A book deal to die for.

Five attendees are selected for a month-long writing retreat at the remote estate of Roza Vallo, the controversial high priestess of feminist horror. Alex, a struggling writer, is thrilled.

Upon arrival, they discover they must complete an entire novel from scratch, and the best one will receive a seven-figure publishing deal. Alex’s long-extinguished dream now seems within reach.

But then the women begin to die.

Trapped, terrified yet still desperately writing, it is clear there is more than a publishing deal at stake at Blackbriar Estate. Alex must confront her own demons – and finish her novel – to save herself.


The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

MY REVIEW

A group of writer’s are selected to attend a writer’s retreat at a remote estate. It’s all fun and exciting, until the attendees start dying.

The Writing Retreat is an intriguing and twisty debut novel. This was a fun and wild ride. Looking forward to more from this author.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review

The Other Side of Night by Adam Hamdy [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: The Other Side of Night

Author: Adam Hamdy

Publisher: Atria Books

Publish Date: September 15, 2022

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

The Other Side of Night by Adam Hamdy

BOOK BLURB

The Other Side of Night begins with a man named David Asha writing about his biggest regret: his sudden separation from his son, Elliot. In his grief, David tells a story.

Next, we step into the life of Harriet Kealty, a police officer trying to clear her name after a lapse of judgment. She discovers a curious inscription in a secondhand book—a plea: Help me, he’s trying to kill me. Who wrote this note? Who is “he”?

This note leads Harri to David Asha, who was last seen stepping off a cliff. Police suspect he couldn’t cope after his wife’s sudden death. Still, why would this man jump and leave behind his young son? Quickly, Harri’s attention zeroes in on a person she knows all too well.

Ben Elmys: once the love of her life. A surrogate father to Elliot Asha and trusted friend to the Ashas.

Ben may also be a murderer.​


The Other Side of Night by Adam Hamdy

MY REVIEW

Multiple characters are connected in this unique read. This is a book that is best read going in blind.

The Other Side of Night is a slow-building and complex novel. It took me a while to get into this one, but it was an enjoyable read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review

Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: Thicker Than Water

Author: Megan Collins

Publisher: Atria Books

Publish Date: July 11, 2023

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins

BOOK BLURB

Julia and Sienna Larkin are sisters-in-law, connected by Julia’s husband and Sienna’s brother, Jason. More than that, the two are devoted best friends and business partners, believing that theirs is a uniquely unbreakable bond. To Sienna, her protective brother can do no wrong, and although Julia knows he’s not perfect, they’ve built a comfortable life and family together. Recently, Jason has been putting in long hours to secure a promotion at work, so when his boss is found brutally murdered—his lips sewn shut—the Larkins are shocked and unsettled, especially as local gossip swirls.

A few days later, Julia and Sienna’s lives are upended when Jason gets into a car accident and is placed in a medically induced coma. Worse, the police arrive with news that he’s the prime suspect in the murder investigation. With Jason unable to respond—and with Julia and Sienna working to clear his name—the two women find their friendship threatened for the first time: Sienna staunchly maintains her brother’s innocence, but as their investigation uncovers a complicated web of secrets, Julia is less sure she’s willing to defend her husband.


Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins

MY REVIEW

Two sisters-in-law are best friends and business partners. When the man that connects them, brother to one and husband to the other, is accused of murder, their friendship is tested.

Thicker Than Water is a slow building novel with complex characters. An atmospheric and intriguing mystery. Recommended read for fans of domestic suspense.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Megan Collins:
  1. The Winter Sister
  2. Behind the Red Door
  3. The Family Plot
  4. Thicker Than Water
  5. Cross My Heart
Book Review

The Blame Game by Sandie Jones [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: The Blame Game

Author: Sandie Jones

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publish Date: August 16, 2022

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

The Blame Game by Sandie Jones

BOOK BLURB

Games can be dangerous. But blame can be deadly.

As a psychologist specializing in domestic abuse, Naomi has found it hard to avoid becoming overly invested in her clients’ lives. But after helping Jacob make the decision to leave his wife, Naomi worries that she’s taken things too far. Then Jacob goes missing, and her files on him vanish. . . .

But as the police start asking questions about Jacob, Naomi’s own dark past emerges. And as the truth comes to light, it seems that it’s not just her clients who are in danger.


The Blame Game by Sandie Jones

MY REVIEW

A psychologist who specializes in domestic violence becomes overly invested in the lives of her clients. Her need to help victims of abuse clouds her judgement. This time, a client is missing, and she is suspected of being involved with his disappearance.

The characters were intriguing and the plot was interesting. With the lying, blaming, and deceit, this one kept me guessing.

The Blame Game is an over-the-top psychological thriller. An engaging and entertaining read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Sandie Jones:
  1. The Other Woman
  2. The First Mistake
  3. The Half Sister
  4. The Guilt Trip
  5. The Blame Game
  6. The Trade Off
  7. I Would Die for You
Book Review

Cold Blooded Liar by Karen Rose [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: Cold Blooded Liar

Author: Karen Rose

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: February 28, 2023

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Series: Romantic Suspense #27, San Diego #1

My Rating: 4/5

Cold Blooded Liar by Karen Rose

BOOK BLURB

Sam Reeves is a kindhearted psychologist who treats court-ordered clients. After one of his patients—a pathological liar—starts revealing plausible new details from a long-unsolved serial murder case, he’s compelled to report anonymously to the SDPD tip line, though his attempts to respect patient confidentiality land him facedown and cuffed by the aggressive (and cute) Detective McKittrick.
 
San Diego homicide detective Kit McKittrick loves the water. She lives on a boat, and when she’s not solving crimes with the SDPD, she’s assisting her foster sister with her charter fishing business or playing with her poodle. But there’s nothing that intrigues Kit more than a cold case, so when an anonymous caller leads her on the path of a wanted killer, she’s determined to end the decade-long manhunt.
 
Sam is soon released but goes home with both a newfound distaste for the SDPD and a resolve—not unlike Kit’s—to uncover the truth. Kit and Sam repeatedly butt heads in their separate investigations but are forced to work together to find one of the deadliest serial killers the city has faced in years.


Cold Blooded Liar by Karen Rose

MY REVIEW

Sam is a psychologist whose client knows details about an unsolved murder. Kit is a detective who wants to solve the cold case Sam may have information about. They both want to solve the case, and have to work together to do so.

Cold Blooded Liar is the 27th book in the Romantic Suspense series by Karen Rose. It is the first book in the San Diego series. I have read and enjoyed other books by Rose, so I was excited to read her latest book.

The characters are well-developed and realistic. The story is fast paced and intriguing. Cold Blooded Liar is an intense and thrilling novel.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Karen Rose:
  1. Don’t Tell (Chicago #1)
  2. Have You Seen Her?
  3. I’m Watching You (Chicago #2)
  4. Nothing to Fear (Chicago #3)
  5. You Can’t Hide (Chicago #4)
  6. Count to Ten (Chicago #5)
  7. Die for Me (Daniel Vartanian #1)
  8. Scream for Me (Daniel Vartanian #2)
  9. Kill for Me (Daniel Vartanian #3)
  10. I Can See You (Minneapolis #1)
  11. Silent Scream (Minneapolis #2)
  12. You Belong to Me (Baltimore #1)
  13. No One Left to Tell (Baltimore #2)
  14. Did You Miss Me? (Baltimore #3)
  15. Watch Your Back (Baltimore #4)
  16. Closer Than You Think (Cincinnati #1)
  17. Alone in the Dark (Cincinnati #2)
  18. Every Dark Corner (Cincinnati #3)
  19. Monster in the Closet (Baltimore #5)
  20. Edge of Darkness (Cincinnati #4)
  21. Death Is Not Enough (Baltimore #6)
  22. Say You’re Sorry (Sacramento #1)
  23. Into the Dark (Cincinnati #5)
  24. Say No More (Sacramento #2)
  25. Say Goodbye (Sacramento #3)
  26. Quarter to Midnight (New Orleans #1)
  27. Cold Blooded Liar (San Diego #1)
  28. Beneath Dark Waters (New Orleans #2)
  29. Cheater (San Diego #2)
  30. Buried Too Deep (New Orleans #3)
  31. Dead Man’s List (San Diego #3)
  32. Knife in the Back (New Orleans #4)
Book Review

A Trip With Trouble by Diane Kelly [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: A Trip With Trouble

Author: Diane Kelly

Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Publish Date: October 25, 2022

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Mountain Lodge #2

My Rating: 4/5

A Trip With Trouble by Diane Kelly

BOOK BLURB

When the ladies of the Dangerous Curves Motorcycle Club take over the Mountaintop Lodge for their annual autumn ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Misty Murphy couldn’t be more thrilled. Every room is full and the adventurous women even invite Misty and her assistant Brynn to join them on a ride to admire the colorful fall foliage. Hotel handyman Rocky Crowder is happy to keep an eye on the lodge for the day, and the ladies set out for a fun ride on the scenic road.

The skies are clear, the air is crisp, and the leaves are gorgeous. But what starts as a perfect ride turns worrisome when the tail gunner – the last rider in their group – fails to show up at the Craggy Gardens overlook. Cell phone service is spotty in the remote, mountainous area, and the group is unable to connect with their friend. Might the missing woman have simply run out of gas? Or is something far more sinister afoot?

The ladies are determined to locate their ride or die, and Misty is equally determined to help them. But will they be able to solve the mystery when the scenic route seems intent on hiding its secrets?


A Trip with Trouble by Diane Kelly

MY REVIEW

Misty Murphy runs the Mountain Top Lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her latest booking is a women’s biker club. They invite Misty and her assistant Brynn to ride along with them as they go on a ride to enjoy the Fall foliage. When the rider at the tail end fails to arrive at the overlook, Misty has a new case to solve.

A Trip With Trouble is the second book in Mountain Lodge mystery series. This is a charming series, and I suggest starting with the first book in the series, Getaway With Murder.

A Trip With Trouble is a delightful cozy mystery with likable characters and a lovely setting. I look forward to reading more of this series.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Mountain Lodge series:
  1. Getaway With Murder
  2. A Trip With Trouble
  3. Snow Place for Murder
Book Review

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney [Book Review]

Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.


BOOK INFO

Title: Daisy Darker

Author: Alice Feeney

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Publish Date: August 30, 2022

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

BOOK BLURB

Daisy Darker was born with a broken heart. Now after years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker’s entire family is assembling for Nana’s 80th birthday party in her crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. The family arrives, each of them harboring secrets. When the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours.

But at the stroke of midnight, as a storm rages, Nana is found dead. And an hour later, the next family member follows…

Trapped on an island where someone is killing them one by one, the Darkers must reckon with their present mystery as well as their past secrets, before the tide goes out and all is revealed.


Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

MY REVIEW

The Darker family reunites on a small island to celebrate their family matriarch’s birthday. The island is only accessible during low tide, cutting them off the rest of the time. After they all arrive, and as a storm brews outside, they are isolated on the island. At midnight, their matriarch dies, and another death is to follow every hour.

Daisy Darker is told from Daisy’s point of view, in past and present. The Darker family is dysfunctional and eccentric, making for an entertaining read. The story unfolds in a slow burning and suspenseful way. Good for readers who enjoy family drama and slow building mysteries.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Alice Feeney:
  1. Sometimes I Lie
  2. I Know Who You Are
  3. His & Hers
  4. Rock Paper Scissors
  5. Daisy Darker
  6. Good Bad Girl
Book Review

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn [Book Review]

Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.


BOOK INFO

Title: Killers of a Certain Age

Author: Deanna Raybourn

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Publish Date: September 6, 2022

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

BOOK BLURB

Older women often feel invisible, but sometimes that’s their secret weapon.

They’ve spent their lives as the deadliest assassins in a clandestine international organization, but now that they’re sixty years old, four women friends can’t just retire – it’s kill or be killed in this action-packed thriller by New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-nominated author Deanna Raybourn.


Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked for the Museum, an elite network of assassins, for forty years. Now their talents are considered old-school and no one appreciates what they have to offer in an age that relies more on technology than people skills.

When the foursome is sent on an all-expenses paid vacation to mark their retirement, they are targeted by one of their own. Only the Board, the top-level members of the Museum, can order the termination of field agents, and the women realize they’ve been marked for death.

Now to get out alive they have to turn against their own organization, relying on experience and each other to get the job done, knowing that working together is the secret to their survival. They’re about to teach the Board what it really means to be a woman—and a killer—of a certain age.


Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

MY REVIEW

Four female assassins are faced with retirement when they turn 60 years old. While on their retirement vacation, they realize their own organization has turned against them.

I was drawn to this book because of the “of a certain age” element. It’s a fun twist on a story of assassins. While the story is mostly told from one woman’s point of view, we get the backstory on all four of the women. When they are supposed to be retiring, they are forced back into work when they become the targets.

Killers of a Certain Age is an entertaining and unique story.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Killers of a Certain Age series:
  1. Killers of a Certain Age
  2. Kills Well with Others
Book Review

Quarter to Midnight by Karen Rose [Book Review]

Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.


BOOK INFO

Title: Quarter to Midnight

Author: Karen Rose

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: August 2, 2022

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Series: Romantic Suspense #26, New Orleans #1

My Rating: 4/5

Quarter to Midnight by Karen Rose

BOOK BLURB

Good cops. Bad cops. Only one will win.
 
After completing her tours with the Marines in Iraq, Molly Sutton knew she could take down any bad guy she met. But when a family tragedy exposes the dark side of her local police, she joined up with her former CO Burke Broussard, who left New Orleans PD to set up a private investigative service for people who couldn’t find justice elsewhere.
 
Gabe Hebert saw the toll that working for the NOPD took on his dad and decided instead to make a name for himself as one of the best young chefs in the French Quarter. But when his father’s death is ruled a suicide after a deliberately botched investigation by his former captain, Gabe knows his dad stumbled onto a truth that someone wants silenced.
 
Gabe goes to his father’s best friend, Burke, for help. Burke assigns the toughest member of his team, Molly, to the case. Molly can’t believe she’s being asked to work with the smoking hot chef whose chocolate cake is not the only thing that makes her mouth water. Sparks fly as they follow the leads Gabe’s dad left them, unraveling a web of crimes, corruption, and murder that runs all the way to the top.


Quarter to Midnight by Karen Rose

MY REVIEW

Molly moves to New Orleans and works as a private investigator. Gabe, a chef, hires her agency to investigate his father’s death.

Quarter to Midnight is the 26th book in the Romantic Suspense series by Karen Rose. It is the first book in the New Orleans series. I have read other books by Rose, and was excited to read a new one set in New Orleans.

The characters are well-developed and realistic. The attraction between Molly and Gabe is strong and happens quickly. The story is fast paced and intriguing. Quarter to Midnight is an atmospheric and intense thriller.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Karen Rose:
  1. Don’t Tell (Chicago #1)
  2. Have You Seen Her?
  3. I’m Watching You (Chicago #2)
  4. Nothing to Fear (Chicago #3)
  5. You Can’t Hide (Chicago #4)
  6. Count to Ten (Chicago #5)
  7. Die for Me (Daniel Vartanian #1)
  8. Scream for Me (Daniel Vartanian #2)
  9. Kill for Me (Daniel Vartanian #3)
  10. I Can See You (Minneapolis #1)
  11. Silent Scream (Minneapolis #2)
  12. You Belong to Me (Baltimore #1)
  13. No One Left to Tell (Baltimore #2)
  14. Did You Miss Me? (Baltimore #3)
  15. Watch Your Back (Baltimore #4)
  16. Closer Than You Think (Cincinnati #1)
  17. Alone in the Dark (Cincinnati #2)
  18. Every Dark Corner (Cincinnati #3)
  19. Monster in the Closet (Baltimore #5)
  20. Edge of Darkness (Cincinnati #4)
  21. Death Is Not Enough (Baltimore #6)
  22. Say You’re Sorry (Sacramento #1)
  23. Into the Dark (Cincinnati #5)
  24. Say No More (Sacramento #2)
  25. Say Goodbye (Sacramento #3)
  26. Quarter to Midnight (New Orleans #1)
  27. Cold Blooded Liar (San Diego #1)
  28. Beneath Dark Waters (New Orleans #2)
  29. Cheater (San Diego #2)
  30. Buried Too Deep (New Orleans #3)
  31. Dead Man’s List (San Diego #3)
  32. Knife in the Back (New Orleans #4)
Book Review

The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda [Book Review]

Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.


BOOK INFO

Title: The Last to Vanish

Author: Megan Miranda

Publisher: Scribner / Marysue Rucci Books

Publish Date: July 26, 2022

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda

BOOK BLURB

Ten years ago, Abigail Lovett fell into a job she loves, managing The Passage Inn, a cozy, upscale resort nestled in the North Carolina mountain town of Cutter’s Pass. Cutter’s Pass is best known for its outdoor offerings—rafting and hiking, with access to the Appalachian trail by way of a gorgeous waterfall—and its mysterious history. As the book begins, the string of unsolved disappearances that has haunted the town is once again thrust into the spotlight when journalist Landon West, who was staying at the inn to investigate the story of the vanishing trail, then disappears himself.

Abby has sometimes felt like an outsider within the community, but she’s come to view Cutter’s Pass as her home. When Landon’s brother Trey shows up looking for answers, Abby can’t help but feel the town closing ranks. And she’s still on the outside. When she finds incriminating evidence that may bring them closer to the truth, Abby soon discovers how little she knows about her coworkers, neighbors, and even those closest to her.


The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda

MY REVIEW

Abby manages a mountain resort in North Carolina. The resort is known for the wonderful nearby outdoor adventures. Unfortunately, there are also a few mysterious missing persons cases associated with the resort.

The Last to Vanish is told from Abby’s point of view. She has lived in the area for 10 years, but is still considered an outsider by the locals. When the brother of one of the missing shows up looking for answers, Abby wants to discover what happened to the missing tourists. This does not help her standing with the locals, and it also puts her in danger. It seems everyone is keeping secrets, making for a suspenseful novel.

The Last to Vanish is a slow burning and atmospheric mystery.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Megan Miranda:
  1. All the Missing Girls
  2. The Perfect Stranger
  3. The Last House Guest
  4. The Girl from Widow Hills
  5. Such a Quiet Place
  6. The Last to Vanish
  7. The Only Survivors
  8. Daughter of Mine
Book Review

The Finalists by David Bell [Book Review]

Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.


BOOK INFO

Title: The Finalists

Author: David Bell

Publisher: Berkley Books

Publish Date: July 5, 2022

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

The Finalists by David Bell

BOOK BLURB

On a beautiful spring day, six college students with nothing in common besides a desperate inability to pay for school gather to compete for the prestigious Hyde Fellowship.
 
Milo—The front-runner
Natalia—The brain
James—The rule follower
Sydney—The athlete
Duffy—The cowboy
Emily—The social justice warrior
 
The six of them must surrender their devices when they enter Hyde House, an aging Victorian structure that sits in a secluded part of campus.
 
Once inside, the doors lock behind them. The students are not allowed to leave until they spend eight hours with a college administrator who will do almost anything to keep the school afloat, and Nicholas Hyde, the privileged and notoriously irresponsible heir to the Hyde family fortune. If the students leave before time is up, they’ll be immediately disqualified.
 
But when one of the six finalists drops dead, the other students fear they’re being picked off one by one. With a violent protest raging outside, and no way to escape, the survivors viciously turn on each other.


The Finalists by David Bell

MY REVIEW

Six college students compete for a fellowship. The students arrive at Hyde House, an old building on the campus, to be interviewed. They are locked inside and cannot leave until the interview process is completed. Unfortunately, one of the finalists dies. The others must figure out if there is a murderer among them, and how they will survive.

An interesting idea, but this book fell a little flat for me. I liked the setting of an old Victorian building on a small college campus. Unfortunately, the story moved along too slowly for my liking. The characters are all unlikable… everyone has secrets and is desperate for the scholarship. Unlikable characters aren’t necessarily a bad thing, but I do like to have someone to root for while reading a novel like this.

The Finalists was an entertaining locked room mystery. Good for fans of David Bell and locked room mysteries.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by David Bell:
  1. Cemetery Girl
  2. The Hiding Place
  3. Never Come Back
  4. The Forgotten Girl
  5. Somebody I Used to Know
  6. Since She Went Away
  7. Bring Her Home
  8. Somebody’s Daughter
  9. Layover
  10. The Request
  11. Kill All Your Darlings
  12. The Finalists
  13. She’s Gone
  14. Try Not to Breathe