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In the Dark by Loreth Anne White [Book Review]

Posted on December 6, 2019January 16, 2024 by Darinda

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BOOK INFO

Title: In the Dark

Author: Loreth Anne White

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Publish Date: December 1, 2019

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

A secluded mountain lodge. The perfect getaway. So remote no one will ever find you.

The promise of a luxury vacation at a secluded wilderness spa has brought together eight lucky guests. But nothing is what they were led to believe. As a fierce storm barrels down and all contact with the outside is cut off, the guests fear that it’s not a getaway. It’s a trap.

Each one has a secret. Each one has something to hide. And now, as darkness closes in, they all have something to fear—including one another.

Alerted to the vanished party of strangers, homicide cop Mason Deniaud and search and rescue expert Callie Sutton must brave the brutal elements of the mountains to find them. But even Mason and Callie have no idea how precious time is. Because the clock is ticking, and one by one, the guests of Forest Shadow Lodge are being hunted. For them, surviving becomes part of a diabolical game.

MY REVIEW

Eight guests travel to a secluded lodge for a luxury spa vacation. They soon learn everything is not as described. A storm is heading their way, but they are trapped. Not only can they not get away, but one of them is responsible for luring the group there. Meanwhile, a search team is looking for the missing group.

Told with multiple points of view and alternating timelines. The viewpoints include the lodge guests and two members of the search party. The timeline for the search party is set in the “now” and follows the tracks of the lodge guests from days earlier. The writing is well done, and the POVs and timelines are easy to follow.

In the Dark is a fast-paced and intriguing mystery. Recommended for fans of And Then There Were None, which is referenced quite a bit in this book. Suspenseful, atmospheric, and clever.

Reputation by Sara Shepard [Book Review]

Posted on December 5, 2019June 24, 2024 by Darinda

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

BOOK INFO

Title: Reputation

Author: Sara Shepard

Publisher: Dutton

Publish Date: December 3, 2019

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

Aldrich University is rocked to its core when a hacker dumps 40,000 people’s e-mails—the entire faculty, staff, students, alums—onto an easily searchable database. Rumors and affairs immediately leak, but things turn explosive when Kit Manning’s handsome husband, Dr. Greg Strasser, is found murdered. Kit’s sister, Willa, returns for the funeral, setting foot in a hometown she fled fifteen years ago, after a night she wishes she could forget. As an investigative reporter, Willa knows something isn’t right about the night Greg was killed, and she’s determined to find the truth. What she doesn’t expect is that everyone has something to hide. And with a killer on the loose, Willa and Kit must figure out who killed Greg before someone else is murdered.

Told from multiple points of view, Reputation is full of twists, turns, and shocking reveals. It’s a story of intrigue, sabotage, and the secrets we keep—and how far we go to keep them hidden. Number one bestseller Sara Shepard is at the top of her game in this brand-new adult novel.

MY REVIEW

A university’s emails are hacked, and leaked online for all to see. Lives are turned upside down as everyone tries to minimize the fallout of having private emails go public. Things escalate when a man is murdered, and it turns out everyone is keeping secrets.

Told using multiple points of view – Kit, Lynn, Raina, Laura, and Willa. Kit works at the university, is married to Greg, and has two daughters. Lynn works with Kit. Raina is a college student and friend of Kit’s daughter. Laura worked with Greg and is married to a police officer. Willa is Kit’s sister. A large cast of characters, but the various viewpoints are easy to follow.

Reputation is a fun and intriguing thriller. Good for readers who enjoy juicy mysteries. Gossipy, exciting, and twisty.

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

Books by Sara Shepard:

The Last Affair by Margot Hunt [Book Review]

Posted on December 3, 2019January 16, 2024 by Darinda

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 Affair

Author: Margot Hunt

Publisher: MIRA

Publish Date: November 26, 2019

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Love may be blind, but obsession’s a real killer.

Nora Holliday is not that kind of woman. Not the kind who has an illicit affair with a married man. But Josh Landon is everything Nora’s alcoholic husband isn’t. And now she and Josh are so infatuated, they can’t stay away from one another.

Abby Landon, Josh’s daughter, is home from college nursing a broken heart. She’s seeking solace, not more scandal, so when she catches her dad kissing Nora, she vows to take the homewrecker down.

And as for Abby’s mother and Josh’s wife, Gwen? To anyone on the outside looking in, the mother of two appears to be living the ideal suburban life.

Until she winds up dead.

The serene seaside town of Shoreham has always been the perfect place to raise a family—not somewhere housewives are brutally murdered. So who killed Gwen Landon, and how many twisted secrets will be exposed as the vindictive plot comes undone?

MY REVIEW

Josh and Nora are having an affair. Josh’s daughter is home from college, and she discovers her father’s secret. Josh’s wife Gwen is living what appears an ideal life, but she is not a happy woman. Family drama and suspense combine to make for a gripping read.

Told with alternating points of view of the women – Nora, Abby, and Gwen. Each woman is behaving differently than her usual self. The characters are well-developed and add a different and intriguing layer to the novel.

The Last Affair is a fantastic book for fans of domestic suspense. This is my third novel to read by Margot Hunt, and each one has delivered an addictive story. The Last Affair combines my favorite elements found in domestic suspense – unlikable characters, family drama, and a twisted plot.

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

Books by Margot Hunt:

Best Friends Forever
For Better and Worse
The Last Affair
Lovely Girls
The Guests

Paw of the Jungle by Diane Kelly [Book Review]

Posted on December 2, 2019January 16, 2024 by Darinda

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

BOOK INFO

Title: Paw of the Jungle

Author: Diane Kelly

Publisher: St. Martin

Publish Date: November 26, 2019

Genre: Crime & Detective

Series: Paw Enforcement #8

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner in crime, Brigit, are on all fours as they try to solve their latest Lone Star mystery.

AT THE ZOO
The weather is beautiful, work is slow, and her canine colleague could use a walk. What better day for Megan to take Brigit to the Fort Worth Zoo, where they can let loose and witness the law and order of nature unfold? But what begins as a fun field trip turns serious when a pair of rare hyacinth macaws named Fabiana and Fernando goes missing. Is the new custodian, a gentle soul who happens to be an ex-convict, to blame? Or is something far more sinister afoot?

AND ON THE HUNT
The birds are worth thousands of dollars, and the list of people on the premises who might have stolen them is long. Soon other animals start disappearing. . .and Megan and Brigit have their hands and paws full of suspects. But when a rare black rhino is taken from the zoo, presumably for its black-market-friendly horn, time is of the essence. Can Megan and Brigit find out who’s behind the mystery—before they too become prey?

MY REVIEW

The eighth book in the Paw Enforcement series by Diane Kelly. Officer Megan and her K-9 partner Brigit investigate missing animals from the zoo. In addition to the main crime of finding who stole the animals, Megan is also working a case involving missing jewelry. Plus, her firefighter boyfriend Seth is working with a new paramedic. An attractive woman who causes Megan to worry about her relationship with Seth.

Told using multiple points of view – Megan, Brigit, and the guilty party. Megan is a likable character. She’s hardworking, sensible, and quick witted. Brigit is a delightful dog, and I enjoy her amusing viewpoints. It’s great to read how Megan and Brigit work the case, but also nice to get the viewpoint from the one committing the crimes.

A fun, humorous, and entertaining mystery. An enjoyable addition to the series, and I look forward to reading more books about Megan and Brigit.

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

Books in the Paw Enforcement Series:

Paw Enforcement
Paw and Order
Laying Down the Paw
Against the Paw
Above the Paw
Enforcing the Paw
The Long Paw of the Law
Paw of the Jungle
Bending the Paw

Enforcing the Paw by Diane Kelly [Book Review]

Posted on December 2, 2019January 16, 2024 by Darinda

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

BOOK INFO

Title: Enforcing the Paw

Author: Diane Kelly

Publisher: St. Martin

Publish Date: June 27, 2017

Genre: Crime & Detective

Series: Paw Enforcement #6

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

When a case of he-said/she-said turns criminal, it’s up to Megan Luz and her devoted K-9 to dig for the truth…

A TAIL OF TWO LOVERS
When relationships go south, some people just can’t—or won’t—let go. When Fort Worth Police Officer Megan Luz and her pawed partner Brigit investigate a series of stalking incidents involving a couple who recently broke up, their detective powers are put to the test. Is this a case of a controlling creep who refuses to accept rejection—or one about a woman scorned whose fury has been unleashed?

WHO END UP IN THE DOGHOUSE…
As hostilities escalate between the former lovers, the situation goes from romantically dysfunctional to downright dangerous. He insists his former flame has become a crazy ex-girlfriend intent on vengeance. She alleges that he is a master of manipulation and lays blame entirely at his feet. Who’s the culprit and who’s the victim? Can Megan and Brigit sniff out the truth. . .before somebody ends up dead?

Enforcing the Paw is part of Diane Kelly’s fun and smart Paw Enforcement series.

MY REVIEW

Enforcing the Paw is the sixth book in the Paw Enforcement series by Diane Kelly. Officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit investigate a stalking case. The case involves a former couple. He’s claiming his ex-girlfriend is stalking him. She claims he’s manipulating things, and he’s the stalker.

Told with multiple points of view – Megan, Brigit, and the guilty party. I enjoy the humorous parts involving Brigit’s viewpoint. The mystery is entertaining, and Megan has to do a little work to discover what is really going on with the former couple and their problems.

A delightful mystery. Likable characters in a fun story. This is an entertaining series, and I look forward to reading more of these books.

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

Books in the Paw Enforcement Series:

Paw Enforcement
Paw and Order
Laying Down the Paw
Against the Paw
Above the Paw
Enforcing the Paw
The Long Paw of the Law
Paw of the Jungle
Bending the Paw

In Her Eyes by Sarah Alderson [Book Review]

Posted on November 14, 2019January 16, 2024 by Darinda

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

BOOK INFO

Title: In Her Eyes

Author: Sarah Alderson

Publisher: Mulholland Books

Publish Date: November 14, 2019

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

You’re at home with your family.
You think you’re safe.
You’re wrong . . .

Ava’s life is the kind other people envy: loving husband; great kids; beautiful house. Until a violent home invasion turns the dream into a nightmare and leaves her daughter fighting to survive.

This wasn’t a random attack and Ava is reeling from the knowledge that someone is targeting her family. Who could hate them enough to kill?

To save those she loves from even greater danger Ava must find out what really happened that night. But when everyone around her has been lying, how will she decide who to trust? And with her own secrets threatening to come to light, can she even trust herself?

For fans of The Silent Patient, The Wife Between Us and Perfect Child, In Her Eyes is a dark and twisty thriller. You’re about to find out that home is where the hate is.

MY REVIEW

Ava, her husband, and her teen daughter are home one night during a home invasion. The burglary turns violent, leaving Ava’s daughter fighting for survival in the hospital. Ava soon realizes the attack was not random. She delves into her family’s lives to find out who the attackers were. It seems everyone in the family has been keeping secrets, including Ava.

A fast-paced and exciting mystery. What started as a night out, ended with a violent home invasion. Ava soon realizes she needs to find out what has been going on with her family to solve the mystery of why they were targeted. Everyone is lying and keeping secrets, including Ava. As more secrets are revealed, the story gets more complex and intriguing.

In Her Eyes is a well-written and twisty thriller. I enjoy books that keep me turning the pages, and this one was so gripping I stayed up late to finish reading it. Addictive, suspenseful, and clever.

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

Tracking Game by Margaret Mizushima [Book Review]

Posted on November 11, 2019January 16, 2024 by Darinda

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

BOOK INFO

Title: Tracking Game

Author: Margaret Mizushima

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Publish Date: November 12, 2019

Genre: Crime & Detective

Series: Timber Creek K-9 Mystery #5

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Two brutal murders, a menacing band of poachers, and a fearsome creature on the loose in the mountains plunge Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo into a sinister vortex.

An explosion outside a community dance sends Mattie Cobb and Cole Walker reeling into the night, where they discover a burning van and beside it the body of outfitter Nate Fletcher. But the explosion didn’t kill Nate–it was two gunshots to the heart.

The investigation leads them to the home of rancher Doyle Redman, whose daughter is Nate’s widow, and the object of one of their suspect’s affection. But before they can make an arrest, they receive an emergency call from a man who’s been shot in the mountains. Mattie and Robo rush to the scene, only to be confronted by the ominous growl of a wild predator.

As new players emerge on the scene, Mattie begins to understand the true danger that’s enveloping Timber Creek. They journey into the cold, misty mountains to track the animal–but discover something even more deadly in Tracking Game, the fifth installment in Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 mysteries.

MY REVIEW

Tracking Game is the fifth book in the Timber Creek K-9 mystery series by Margaret Mizushima. Mattie is a police officer in a small Colorado town. Her partner is police dog Robo. In this book, Mattie and Robo investigate two murders.

The novel starts with a bang when an explosion leads to a burning van containing the body of a local outfitter. The police are led to the deceased man’s wife and her family, who are local ranchers. When another local man is killed, the list of suspects grows. In addition to the dead bodies, there is a dangerous wild animal on the loose.

Tracking Game is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone. I’ve read one other book in this series, but plan on going back and reading the others. The books I’ve read have been solid mysteries with engaging characters.

An exciting mystery with a little adventure and romance. Good for fans of crime fiction and books featuring dogs as characters.

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

Books in the Timber Creek K-9 series:

Killing Trail
Stalking Ground
Hunting Hour
Burning Ridge
Tracking Game
Hanging Falls
Striking Range
Standing Dead

Under Lying by Janelle Harris [Book Review]

Posted on November 4, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

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

BOOK INFO

Title: Under Lying

Author: Janelle Harris

Publisher: Lake Union

Publish Date: November 1, 2019

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

In this gripping novel of suspense, the disappearance of a couple’s baby daughter leaves everyone a suspect.

Susan has everything she ever wanted. A loving husband, an angelic daughter and the cottage of her dreams in County Cork. Her picture-perfect life seems too good to be true. And it is.

At a housewarming party with their new neighbours, her daughter Amelia goes missing. As friends become suspects, Susan’s life spirals out of control. And when Amelia’s yellow cardigan is dredged from the lake, every parent’s worst nightmare suddenly seems horribly real.

In the aftermath of Amelia’s disappearance Susan and her husband Paul are not themselves. Someone is hiding something. What if Susan and Paul’s entire relationship was built on lies stretching back years?

Some secrets may be best left buried in the past, but uncovering the truth could be the only way to find Amelia – before it’s too late.

MY REVIEW

Susan and Paul are hosting a party when their young daughter goes missing. After searching the area and not finding the girl, everyone starts to assume the worst. In the days following the disappearance, Susan and Paul are both acting differently… and they are both keeping secrets.

Under Lying is told from Susan’s point of view using alternate timelines (now and then). Susan is not exactly who she seems to be, and her story is slowly revealed as the novel progresses. Susan is not a likable character. She is obsessed, vengeful, and deranged. That combination makes for an entertaining read.

Under Lying is an intriguing thriller with some twists and turns along the way. Good for fans of revenge plots. Suspenseful, crazy, and shocking.

Books by Janelle Harris:

No Kiss Goodbye
See Me Not
Under Lying
Keep Your Friends Close

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell [Book Review]

Posted on October 28, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

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 Family Upstairs

Author: Lisa Jewell

Publisher: Atria Books

Publish Date: November 5, 2019

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Then She Was Gone comes another page-turning look inside one family’s past as buried secrets threaten to come to light.

Be careful who you let in.

Soon after her twenty-fifth birthday, Libby Jones returns home from work to find the letter she’s been waiting for her entire life. She rips it open with one driving thought: I am finally going to know who I am.

She soon learns not only the identity of her birth parents, but also that she is the sole inheritor of their abandoned mansion on the banks of the Thames in London’s fashionable Chelsea neighborhood, worth millions. Everything in Libby’s life is about to change. But what she can’t possibly know is that others have been waiting for this day as well—and she is on a collision course to meet them.

Twenty-five years ago, police were called to 16 Cheyne Walk with reports of a baby crying. When they arrived, they found a healthy ten-month-old happily cooing in her crib in the bedroom. Downstairs in the kitchen lay three dead bodies, all dressed in black, next to a hastily scrawled note. And the four other children reported to live at Cheyne Walk were gone.

MY REVIEW

After turning 25 years old, Libby inherits a valuable property and learns who her biological parents were. Libby was unaware of her biological family, but there are a couple of people who have been waiting for her to discover where she came from.

Told using multiple points of view (Libby, Lucy, and Henry) and alternating timelines. Libby and Lucy’s stories are present day, while Henry’s story takes place in the early to mid-1990s. At first, I found the alternating POVs to be confusing, but I soon got into the flow. The stories do all meet up, and it’s not all that surprising how people and events are connected.

The Family Upstairs is a domestic suspense with some crazy people and plenty of drama. Dark, chaotic, and twisted.

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

Books by Lisa Jewell:

The Third Wife
The Girls in the Garden
I Found You
Then She Was Gone
Watching You
The Family Upstairs
Invisible Girl
The Night She Disappeared

A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson [Book Review]

Posted on October 23, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

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

BOOK INFO

Title: A Nearly Normal Family

Author: M.T. Edvardsson

Publisher: Celadon Books

Publish Date: June 29, 2019

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson

BOOK BLURB

M.T. Edvardsson’s A Nearly Normal Family is a gripping legal thriller that forces the reader to consider: How far would you go to protect the ones you love? In this twisted narrative of love and murder, a horrific crime makes a seemingly normal family question everything they thought they knew about their life—and one another.

Eighteen-year-old Stella Sandell stands accused of the brutal murder of a man almost fifteen years her senior. She is an ordinary teenager from an upstanding local family. What reason could she have to know a shady businessman, let alone to kill him?

Stella’s father, a pastor, and mother, a criminal defense attorney, find their moral compasses tested as they defend their daughter, while struggling to understand why she is a suspect. Told in an unusual three-part structure, A Nearly Normal Family asks the questions: How well do you know your own children? How far would you go to protect them?

MY REVIEW

Stella is an 18-year-old young woman arrested for murder. Her parents, Adam and Ulrika, are shocked to find their daughter accused of murder, and question their decisions about how to help Stella. Stella and her parents have kept secrets from one another, but just how far they will go to protect the ones they love is uncertain.

A Nearly Normal Family is told in three parts: the father (Adam), the daughter (Stella), and the mother (Ulrika). Each part adds more insight to the story, especially since everyone has regrets and secrets. The first part, Adam’s POV, seemed a little slower moving than the other two parts. It was still engaging, and had me wanting to know more about the family. The characters are intriguing and flawed, but not particularly likable.

A Nearly Normal Family is a character driven domestic thriller. Slow-burning, intense, and thought-provoking.

Passport to Death by Yigal Zur [Book Review]

Posted on October 21, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

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

BOOK INFO

Title: Passport to Death

Author: Yigal Zur

Publisher: Oceanview

Publish Date: November 5, 2019

Genre: Crime & Detective

Series: Dotan Naor Thriller #2

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

In a world of shadows, it is easy to get lost

Dotan Naor, an Israeli private investigator, ousted from Shin Bet—Israel’s internal security service—goes to Thailand to find Sigal Bardon, a beautiful young girl from a wealthy Israeli family. Sigal has disappeared in Bangkok—completely.

Dotan has connections in Thailand and he’s familiar with Bangkok’s dark side—the narrow alleys with bars and hookers, trenches of stagnant water, hotel rooms with illicit activity. This is where he intends to start his search. But when the passport of the missing Israeli girl ends up in his hands during his first taxi ride in the city, he’s suspicious that someone is playing him. But who? And why?

As Dotan searches for Sigal, police corruption blocks his every path while he delves deeper. Every lead he pursues draws him closer and closer to a black hole in his “own” past—one intertwined with his pursuit of Sigal—one that leads him to Reuven—and the haunting failure that led to the dismissal of both of them from Shin Bet. The wound between Dotan and Reuven is raw and deep, but Dotan realizes it must be healed in order to save Sigal.

MY REVIEW

Passport to Death is the second book in the Dotan Naor series by Yigal Zur. Dotan Naor is a former Israeli agent turned private investigator. In this book, Dotan travels to Thailand to locate a missing young woman.

A captivating mystery involving the dark side of Bangkok. Dotan’s investigation into the missing woman takes some turns and becomes more complex than he expected. Dotan is an interesting character, and more things from his past are revealed in this novel.

An enjoyable read with intriguing characters and a vivid setting. Dark, gritty, and fast-paced.

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

Books in the Dotan Naor Thriller series:

Death in Shangri-La
Passport to Death

The Chain by Adrian McKinty [Book Review]

Posted on October 10, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

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 Chain

Author: Adrian McKinty

Publisher: Mulholland Books

Publish Date: July 9, 2019

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

It’s something parents do every morning: Rachel Klein drops her daughter at the bus stop and heads into her day. But a cell phone call from an unknown number changes everything: it’s a woman on the line, informing her that she has Kylie bound and gagged in her back seat, and the only way Rachel will see her again is to follow her instructions exactly: pay a ransom, and find another child to abduct. This is no ordinary kidnapping: the caller is a mother herself, whose son has been taken, and if Rachel doesn’t do as she’s told, the boy will die.

“You are not the first. And you will certainly not be the last.” Rachel is now part of The Chain, an unending and ingenious scheme that turns victims into criminals — and is making someone else very rich in the process. The rules are simple, the moral challenges impossible; find the money fast, find your victim , and then commit a horrible act you’d have thought yourself incapable of just twenty-four hours ago.

But what the masterminds behind The Chain know is that parents will do anything for their children. It turns out that kidnapping is only the beginning.

MY REVIEW

Rachel is on her way to a doctor’s appointment when she receives a phone call. On the phone is someone who has kidnapped her daughter Kylie. To get Kylie back, Rachel must obey the rules of The Chain.

A fantastic, yet horrifying, plot. The Chain is a kidnapping for ransom scheme. It starts with parents receiving a phone call that their child has been kidnapped. In addition to paying a ransom, they must also kidnap another child to keep The Chain going. As long as the parents follow the rules, The Chain stays active and everyone stays alive. Of course, once someone is in The Chain, they are forever watching over their shoulder, afraid someone will kill them or their child.

Told in two parts. The novel starts off exciting, and the entire first part is thrilling to read. The second part wasn’t as strong for me, but it stayed entertaining. Most of the novel is told from Rachel’s point of view, but other viewpoints are also included.

The Chain is a fast-paced and action-packed thriller. Gripping, addictive, and intense.