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Book Review

The Necklace by Matt Witten [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: The Necklace

Author: Matt Witten

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publish Date: September 7, 2021

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

The Necklace by Matt Witten

BOOK BLURB

The clock ticks down in a heart-pounding crusade for justice

Susan Lentigo’s daughter was murdered twenty years ago—and now, at long last, this small-town waitress sets out on a road trip all the way from Upstate New York to North Dakota to witness the killer’s execution.

On her journey she discovers shocking new evidence that leads her to suspect the condemned man is innocent—and the real killer is still free. Even worse, her prime suspect has a young daughter who’s at terrible risk. With no money and no time to spare, Susan sets out to uncover the truth before an innocent man gets executed and another little girl is killed.

But the FBI refuses to reopen the case. They—and Susan’s own mother—believe she’s just having an emotional breakdown. Reaching deep, Susan finds an inner strength she never knew she had. With the help of two unlikely allies—a cynical, defiant teenage girl and the retired cop who made the original arrest—Susan battles the FBI to put the real killer behind bars. Will she win justice for the condemned man—and her daughter—at last?


The Necklace by Matt Witten

MY REVIEW

Susan’s daughter was murdered years ago, and now it’s time for the killer’s execution. While traveling to the execution, she starts to consider the condemned man was not the killer. Others seem to believe Susan is having an emotional breakdown, so she looks for evidence to prove she’s right.

The Necklace is a mystery thriller. A mother is grieving her daughter, who was murder as a child twenty years earlier. This makes for an emotional read with disturbing subject matter. Susan misses her daughter, and wants the guilty man to suffer for killing her child. However, she starts to realize someone else may have killed her daughter. She’s emotional though, so it’s hard to get anyone to believe her.

A dark and intense mystery. Mystery readers who enjoy Karin Slaughter and Lisa Gardner are likely to enjoy The Necklace.

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

Books by Matt Witten:
  1. The Necklace
  2. Killer Story
Book Review

Mastermind by Andrew Mayne [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: Mastermind

Author: Andrew Mayne

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Publish Date: September 7, 2021

Genre: Technothriller

Series: Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood #1

My Rating: 4/5

Mastermind by Andrew Mayne

BOOK BLURB

A mysterious electrical storm plunges Manhattan into darkness. As a strange, smothering fog rolls in, all communication crashes. In the blink of an eye, the island seems to vanish into a void.

FBI special agent Jessica Blackwood and brilliant scientist Dr. Theo Cray know this isn’t a freak accident. It’s a sinister sleight of hand. Their greatest adversary, a serial killer and cultist known as the Warlock, has escaped during a prison transfer in New York. A depraved master of manipulation, he promised the end of days. He’s making good on it.

One by one, cities across the globe are erupting in chaos as they disappear into the same black holes. Even for two ingenious trackers like Jessica and Theo, there’s still so much to learn about the pattern to the Warlock’s madness. The voids are just a warm-up for something bigger. To discover it—to stop it—Jessica and Theo must descend into the darkest of shadows—and minds.


Mastermind by Andrew Mayne

MY REVIEW

Mastermind brings together two of Andrew Mayne’s popular characters in one novel. An electrical storm in New York City starts a mystery that needs the expertise of Jessica Blackwood and Theo Cray. The storm appears to be the work of the Warlock, a serial killer. Jessica is a FBI agent with a history with the Warlock. Theo is a biologist who specializes in forensic science, and has a great track record for catching serial killers.

Mastermind is told with the alternating points of view of Jessica and Theo. Both characters are intelligent and unique. There is a quite a bit science/technology discussion in this book. The story is wild, and it makes for an entertaining read.

This is the first book that brings Jessica and Theo together. I have read The Naturalist series that features Theo, and have enjoyed all of them. I have not yet read the Jessica Blackwood series. I recommend reading Mayne’s other books, but it’s not necessary to have read any of them before reading Mastermind.

Fast-paced and exciting thriller. A good book for fans of Andrew Mayne’s other books.

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

Books in the Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood series:
  1. Mastermind
Book Review

Litani by Jess Lourey [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: Litani

Author: Jess Lourey

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Publish Date: October 19, 2021

Genre: YA Mystery

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

Litani by Jess Lourey

BOOK BLURB

In the summer of ’84, fourteen-year-old Frankie Jubilee is shuttled off to Litani, Minnesota, to live with her estranged mother, a county prosecutor she barely knows. From the start, Frankie senses something uneasy going on in the small town. The locals whisper about The Game, and her mother warns her to stay out of the woods and away from adults.

When a bullying gang of girls invites Frankie to The Game, she accepts, determined to find out what’s really going on in Litani. She’s not the only one becoming paranoid. Hysteria burns through the community. Dark secrets emerge. And Frankie fears that, even in the bright light of day, she might be living among monsters.


Litani by Jess Lourey

MY REVIEW

Set in the early 1980s, a teen moves the small town of Litani to live in with her estranged mother. Frankie is fourteen-years-old, recently lost her father, and is not happy to be living in Litani. Her mother is a busy prosecutor, and Frankie has time on her own to learn about her new town. She soon realizes something is off about Litani.

Frankie is a smart girl. She’s a young teen, with a lot going against her, but she knows to listen to her gut. As she learns more about the people in Litani, Frankie knows things are not right. As Frankie meets other teens, she soon learns exactly how disturbing things are in the small community.

An intense story about a satanic cult preying on children. A dark and atmospheric novel inspired by true events.

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

Books by Jess Lourey:
  1. Unspeakable Things
  2. Bloodline
  3. Litani
Book Review

The Secret Staircase by Sheila Connolly [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: The Secret Staircase

Author: Sheila Connolly

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publish Date: August 21, 2021

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Victorian Village #3

My Rating: 4/5

The Secret Staircase by Sheila Connolly

BOOK BLURB

Kate Hamilton is feeling good about her plans to recreate Asheboro, Maryland as the Victorian village it once was. The town is finally on her side, and the finances are coming together.

Kate’s first goal is to renovate the Barton Mansion on the outskirts of town. Luckily, it’s been well maintained in the century since the wealthy Henry Barton lived and died there. The only substantial change she’s planning is to update the original kitchen so that it can be used to cater events in the building. But when the contractor gets started, he discovers a hidden staircase that had been walled in years earlier. And as Kate’s luck would have it, in the stairwell is a body.

After her initial shock wears off, Kate is relieved when the autopsy reveals that the man had died around 1880. Unfortunately, it also reveals that his was not a natural death—he was murdered. And serious questions remain: who was he and what was he doing there?

Kate begins a hunt to identify the man and figure out what he was doing at the Barton Mansion. But when a second body is found—this time from the present day—Kate realizes that real dangers lie in digging up the past…


The Secret Staircase by Sheila Connolly

MY REVIEW

The Secret Staircase is the third book in the Victorian Village mystery series. Kate Hamilton returned to her small hometown to help revitalize it and improve tourism. Along the way, she’s been involved in solving some mysteries.

Kate’s latest project is to renovate the Barton Mansion. During the renovation a secret staircase is found. Unfortunately, there’s a dead body in the stairwell. While the death was not a recent one, it is unknown who the deceased. Kate’s interest is peaked, and she’s on the case.

I have read the first two books this series, and enjoyed them both. The mysteries for each book are standalone stories, but Kate and the other character’s personal story arcs progress through the books. I recommend reading the series in order.

Realistic characters in a charming setting. An enjoyable read for fans of cozy mysteries.

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

Books in the Victorian Village mystery series:
  1. Murder at the Mansion
  2. Killer in the Carriage House
  3. The Secret Staircase
Book Review

How to Kill Your Best Friend by Lexie Elliott [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: How to Kill Your Best Friend

Author: Lexie Elliott

Publisher: Berkley Books

Publish Date: August 17, 2021

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

How to Kill Your Best Friend by Lexie Elliott

BOOK BLURB

If you suspected your best friend, the person you were closest to in the whole world, was a murderer, what would you do? Would you confront her? Would you help keep her secret? Or would you begin to feel afraid? Most importantly, why don’t you feel safe now that she’s dead? From the author of The French Girl comes a novel full of secrets, suspense, and deadly twists.

Georgie, Lissa, and Bronwyn have been inseparable since dominating their college swim team; swimming has always been an escape from their own problems, but now their shared passion has turned deadly. How can it be true that Lissa, the strongest swimmer they know, drowned? Granted, there is something strange about Kanu Cove, where Lissa was last seen, swimming off the coast of the fabulous island resort she owned with her husband.

Lissa’s closest friends gather at the resort to honor her life, but Georgie and Bron can’t seem to stop looking over their shoulders. Danger lurks beneath the surface of the crystal-clear water, and even their luxurious private villas can’t help them feel safe. As the weather turns ominous, trapping the funeral guests together on the island, nobody knows who they can trust. Lissa’s death was only the beginning….


How to Kill Your Best Friend by Lexie Elliott

MY REVIEW

Georgie, Lissa, and Bronwyn have been friends since college. They were on the swim team together, with Lissa being the best. So, it’s quite a shock when Lissa drowns off the coast of the island resort she owned with her husband. Georgie and Bronwyn are among the guests who gather at the resort for Lissa’s funeral. However, Georgie and Bronwyn feel unsafe and don’t know who to trust.

How to Kill Your Best Friend is told using the alternating points of view of Georgie and Bronwyn. Both women have secrets, and start receiving ominous messages at the resort.

A slow-burning, atmospheric, and suspenseful thriller. Fans of Lexie Elliott’s other books are sure to enjoy this one too.

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

Books by Lexie Elliott:
  1. The French Girl
  2. The Missing Years
  3. How to Kill Your Best Friend
Book Review

Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: Cajun Kiss of Death

Author: Ellen Byron

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Publish Date: August 10, 2021

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Cajun Country #7

My Rating: 4/5

Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron

BOOK BLURB

In Pelican, Louisiana, Valentine’s Day has a way of warming the heart, despite the February chill. But the air at Crozat Plantation B&B turns decidedly frigid when celebrity chef Phillippe Chanson checks in. And when the arrogant Phillippe–in town to open his newest Cajun-themed restaurant–perishes in a fiery boat crash, Maggie Crozat’s dear friend JJ lands in very cold water.

Did JJ, proprietor of Junie’s Oyster Bar and Dance Hall, murder Phillippe because he feared the competition? Might Maggie’s mother, Ninette, have bumped off the chef for stealing one of her cherished recipes? Or was the culprit a local seafood vendor, miffed because Phillippe was somehow able to sell oysters for a remarkably reasonable price, despite an oyster shortage?

Maggie had planned to devote her February to art lessons in New Orleans, a present from her sweetheart, Bo. But now she has to focus on helping her friend and her mother cross a murder charge off the menu. Meanwhile, Maggie receives a series of anonymous gifts that begin as charming but grow increasingly disturbing. Does Maggie have an admirer–or a stalker? And are these mysterious gifts somehow related to Phillippe’s murder?

Blood may be thicker than water, but this case is thicker than gumbo. And solving it will determine whether Maggie gets hearts and roses–or hearse and lilies–this Valentine’s Day.


Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron

MY REVIEW

Cajun Kiss of Death is the seventh book in the Cajun Country Mystery series by Ellen Byron. Maggie Crozat and her family and friends in Pelican, LA, are back in another delightful book. Maggie, a B&B owner in Cajun Country, has a new mystery to investigate.

In Cajun Kiss of Death, a new chef is in town to open a restaurant. He immediately starts making enemies, and ends up dead. Since the chef was not a likable man, there is no shortage of suspects. Maggie wants to find the killer to help clear her mother and friend from the suspect list.

I have read all of the books in this series, and have enjoyed each one. The mysteries for each book are standalone stories.

Southern charm with quirky characters in an inviting setting. An entertaining read for fans of cozy mysteries.

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

Books in the Cajun Country Mystery series:
  1. Plantation Shudders
  2. Body on the Bayou
  3. A Cajun Christmas Killing
  4. Mardi Gras Murder
  5. Fatal Cajun Festival
  6. Murder in the Bayou Boneyard
  7. Cajun Kiss of Death
Book Review

The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: The Perfect Family

Author: Robyn Harding

Publisher: Gallery Books

Publish Date: August 10, 2021

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding

BOOK BLURB

Thomas and Viv Adler are the envy of their neighbors: attractive, successful, with well-mannered children and a beautifully restored home.

Until one morning, when they wake up to find their porch has been pelted with eggs. It’s a prank, Thomas insists; the work of a few out-of-control kids. But when a smoke bomb is tossed on their front lawn, and their car’s tires are punctured, the family begins to worry. Surveillance cameras show nothing but grainy images of shadowy figures in hoodies. And the police dismiss the attacks, insisting they’re just the work of bored teenagers. Unable to identify the perpetrators, the Adlers are helpless as the assaults escalate into violence, and worse. And each new violation brings with it a growing fear. Because everyone in the Adler family is keeping a secret—not just from the outside world, but from each other. And secrets can be very dangerous….

This twisty, addictively page-turning suspense novel about a perfect family’s perfect façade will keep you turning pages until its explosive ending.


The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding

MY REVIEW

The Adler’s home is egged one night. At first it appears to be a prank, but more attacks occur, and they become more frightening. The Adler family seem to have everything anyone could want. Unfortunately, not all is as it appears. The Adlers are all all hiding something.

The Perfect Family is told using multiple points of view – mother, father, son, and daughter. Each family member has something happening in their life of which their family is unaware.

An intriguing mystery with drama and suspense. Fans of Robyn Harding’s other books are sure to enjoy this novel.

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

Books by Robyn Harding:
  1. The Party
  2. Her Pretty Face
  3. The Arrangement
  4. The Swap
  5. The Perfect Family
  6. The Drowning Woman
  7. The Haters
Book Review

Where the Truth Lies by Anna Bailey [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: Where the Truth Lies

Author: Anna Bailey

Publisher: Atria Books

Publish Date: August 3, 2021

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

Where the Truth Lies by Anna Bailey

BOOK BLURB

When a teenaged girl disappears from an insular small town, all of the community’s most devastating secrets come to light in this stunningly atmospheric and slow-burning suspense novel—perfect for fans of Megan Miranda and Celeste Ng.

The town of Whistling Ridge guards its secrets.

When seventeen-year-old Abigail goes missing, her best friend Emma, compelled by the guilt of leaving her alone at a party in the woods, sets out to discover the truth about what happened. The police initially believe Abi ran away, but Emma doesn’t believe that her friend would leave without her, and when officers find disturbing evidence in the nearby woods, the festering secrets and longstanding resentment of both Abigail’s family and the people of Whistling Ridge, Colorado begin to surface with devastating consequences.

Among those secrets: Abi’​s older brother Noah’s passionate, dangerous love for the handsome Rat, a recently arrived Romanian immigrant who has recently made his home in the trailer park in town; her younger brother Jude’s feeling that he knows information he should tell the police, if only he could put it into words; Abi’​s father’s mercurial, unpredictable rages and her mother’s silence. Then there is the rest of Whistling Ridge, where a charismatic preacher advocates for God’s love in language that mirrors violence, under the sway of the powerful businessman who rules the town, insular and wary of outsiders.

But Abi had secrets, too, and the closer Emma grows to unraveling the past, the farther she feels from her friend. And in a tinder box of small-town rage, and all it will take is just one spark—the truth of what really happened that night—to change their community forever.


Where the Truth Lies by Anna Bailey

MY REVIEW

A missing teen, a friend who wants to find out what happened, and a town full of dark secrets.

Where the Truth Lies is told using multiple points of view and alternating timelines (past and present). The transitions between narrators and timelines was not as smooth as I would have liked. Still, the story was intriguing and kept my interest.

An atmospheric mystery with unlikable characters. Recommended for fans of dark and disturbing stories.

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

Book Review

The Family Plot by Megan Collins [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: The Family Plot

Author: Megan Collins

Publisher: Atria Books

Publish Date: August 17, 2021

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

The Family Plot by Megan Collins

BOOK BLURB

At twenty-six, Dahlia Lighthouse is haunted by her upbringing. Raised in a secluded island mansion deep in the woods and kept isolated by her true crime-obsessed parents, she is unable to move beyond the disappearance of her twin brother, Andy, when they were sixteen.

After several years away and following her father’s death, Dahlia returns to the house, where the family makes a gruesome discovery: buried in their father’s plot is another body—Andy’s, his skull split open with an ax.

Dahlia is quick to blame Andy’s murder on the serial killer who terrorized the island for decades, while the rest of her family reacts to the revelation in unsettling ways. Her brother, Charlie, pours his energy into creating a family memorial museum, highlighting their research into the lives of famous murder victims; her sister, Tate, forges ahead with her popular dioramas portraying crime scenes; and their mother affects a cheerfully domestic facade, becoming unrecognizable as the woman who performed murder reenactments for her children. As Dahlia grapples with her own grief and horror, she realizes that her eccentric family, and the mansion itself, may hold the answers to what happened to her twin.


The Family Plot by Megan Collins

MY REVIEW

Dahlia and her siblings return to their childhood home after their father’s death. Dahlia has never recovered from the disappearance of her twin brother when they were sixteen. Soon after their arrival back home, the mystery of their brother’s disappearance starts to unravel.

The Family Plot has an eccentric family at the center of a murder mystery. The kids had a unique upbringing with parents obsessed with serial killers. Their unusual childhood created adults haunted by their pasts. Once back together, they have to face what happened in the past, and move forward with their futures.

An atmospheric and twisted mystery. Good read for fans of true crime and suspenseful mysteries.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley 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

Final Table by Dan Schorr [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: Final Table

Author: Dan Schorr

Publisher: SparkPress

Publish Date: October 5, 2021

Genre: Political Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

Final Table by Dan Schorr

BOOK BLURB

Former White House staffer Maggie Raster is struggling to build her own consulting firm and overcome a recent sexual assault by an ex-boss. Kyler Dawson, a broke former poker champion, desperately needs to gain entry into a controversial but potentially very lucrative international poker tournament. The host nation faces widespread condemnation for the recent murder of a prominent female US journalist, and a pending presidential executive order threatens to prohibit him and others from participating.

Maggie’s chaotic first attempt to promote her new business as a television political analyst brings her to Kyler’s attention, and convinces him that her political smarts and connections can provide the help he needs. When he approaches her for assistance, she must decide whether to agree—in return for a portion of the potential $20 million prize. To succeed, she will have to confront numerous challenges—personal and political, foreign and domestic—including mounting pressure to publicly address the misconduct of her former boss. Kyler also has his own obstacles and upsetting past to overcome, but if they each can outmaneuver their daunting challenges, he might win the tournament—and earn them both a fortune.


Final Table by Dan Schorr

MY REVIEW

Poker and politics come together in Final Table to create an intriguing novel.

Final Table is told using the alternating points of view of Maggie and Kyler. Maggie is a former White House staffer trying to start her own consulting business. Kyler is a down on his luck professional poker player. They come together due to a unique situation involving a high stakes poker game hosted in a country under fire for the recent murder of a US journalist. The host country is being called out for the recent murder, plus the unjust treatment of its citizens. Meanwhile, Maggie and Kyler are both fighting battles in their personal lives. It’s not a safe time to travel, but Maggie and Kyler both have a lot to gain if they can work together.

With multiple storylines, a lot happens in this book to keep the reader interested. At times, I felt too much was happening, but still found it to be an entertaining read.

A great debut novel. Good for readers who enjoy poker and political thrillers.

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

Book Review

Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens [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: Dark Roads

Author: Chevy Stevens

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publish Date: August 3, 2021

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens

BOOK BLURB

The Cold Creek Highway stretches close to five hundred miles through British Columbia’s rugged wilderness to the west coast. Isolated and vast, it has become a prime hunting ground for predators. For decades, young women traveling the road have gone missing. Motorists and hitchhikers, those passing through or living in one of the small towns scattered along the region, have fallen prey time and again. And no killer or abductor who has stalked the highway has ever been brought to justice.

Hailey McBride calls Cold Creek home. Her father taught her to respect nature, how to live and survive off the land, and to never travel the highway alone. Now he’s gone, leaving her a teenage orphan in the care of her aunt whose police officer husband uses his badge as a means to bully and control Hailey. Overwhelmed by grief and forbidden to work, socialize, or date, Hailey vanishes into the mountainous terrain, hoping everyone will believe she’s left town. Rumors spread that she was taken by the highway killer—who’s claimed another victim over the summer.

One year later, Beth Chevalier arrives in Cold Creek, where her sister Amber lived—and where she was murdered. Estranged from her parents and seeking closure, Beth takes a waitressing job at the local diner, just as Amber did, desperate to understand what happened to her and why. But Beth’s search for answers puts a target on her back—and threatens to reveal the truth behind Hailey’s disappearance…


Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens

MY REVIEW

Young women in Cold Creek know to not travel the highway alone. A killer finds his victims there, and he has never been caught. Hailey knows to avoid the highway, but she also knows how to survive on her own. After her father’s death leaves her living with her aunt and uncle, who restrict her social and work life, she decides to take off. Her disappearance is assumed to be connected to the highway killer. Meanwhile, another young woman, Beth, arrives in town to learn more about her sister’s murder. She gets the same job her sister had, and starts searching for answers. Unfortunately, this draws some unwanted attention to the newcomer, and brings more attention to Hailey’s disappearance.

Dark Roads is told using the alternating points of view of Hailey and Beth. Hailey knows the town and all the locals. Beth is new to Cold Creek, and she’s on a mission to find out what happened to her sister. The characters are complex and relatable. The story is slow-burning and suspenseful. A page-turner for sure.

Dark Roads is a dark and atmospheric thriller. Recommended for fans of Chevy Stevens and crime fiction.

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

Books by Chevy Stevens:
  1. Still Missing
  2. Never Knowing
  3. Always Watching
  4. That Night
  5. Those Girls
  6. Never Let You Go
  7. Dark Roads
Book Review

Suffer Little Children by Freda Hansburg [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: Suffer Little Children

Author: Freda Hansburg

Publisher: Red Adept Publishing

Publish Date: January 26, 2021

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

Suffer Little Children by Freda Hansburg

BOOK BLURB

Robin Perry’s life is finally on track with her dream job and a promising relationship with Ben Martin, even if his two spoiled children, Amber and Jaden, hate her. But things take a downhill turn when Gloria Reyes, an acquaintance of Ben’s, asks her to admit her young son to a cancer study meant for adults and Robin, heartbroken, must turn her down. But Gloria won’t take no for an answer and begins an insidious crusade to force the issue.

Amber Martin hates living with her crazy mother since her parents’ divorce, but she can hardly live with her dad, who’s too busy with “Miss Perfect” these days. When Amber runs into her mother’s friend Gloria, she’s glad to finally meet an adult who seems to be on her side. But as Amber becomes friends with Gloria’s sickly son, Alex, she begins to think Gloria is not as nice as she first thought, and Alex may be in trouble.

As Gloria’s threatening behavior escalates, Robin must protect the children while finding a way to save her career and her relationship with Ben. But Gloria always manages to stay one step ahead. When a secret comes to light, Robin discovers the stakes are even higher than she imagined.


Suffer Little Children by Freda Hansburg

MY REVIEW

Robin has a new job working on a cancer research project. She’s also in a new relationship with Ben, which is great except for his spoiled kids hating her. Gloria, an acquaintance of Ben, asks Robin to get her son Alex into the cancer study. Unfortunately, the project is not for kids, so Robin has to say no. Meanwhile, Amber, Ben’s daughter, befriends Gloria and her son. Robin and Amber both start to realize Gloria is not as wonderful as she appears.

Suffer Little Children is told with alternating points of view. The characters are not all that likable, but are relatable. The story is captivating and kept me turning the pages.

Suffer Little Children is an intriguing novel. A dramatic and emotional read recommended for fans of psychological thrillers.

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