Nightcap Books

BOOK INFO

Title: The Last Time I Saw You

Author: Liv Constantine

Publisher: Harper

Publish Date: May 7, 2019

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

In a world of wealth and privilege, a killer is hiding . . .

The internationally bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish follows that success with an addictive novel filled with shocking twists about the aftermath of a brutal high-society murder.

Dr. Kate English has it all. Not only is she the heiress to a large fortune; she has a gorgeous husband and daughter, a high-flying career, and a beautiful home anyone would envy.

But all that changes the night Kate’s mother, Lily, is found dead, brutally murdered in her own home. Heartbroken and distraught, Kate reaches out to her estranged best friend, Blaire Barrington, who rushes to her side for the funeral, where the years of distance between them are forgotten in a moment.

That evening, Kate’s grief turns to horror when she receives an anonymous text: You think you’re sad now, just wait. By the time I’m finished with you, you’ll wish you had been buried today. More than ever, Kate needs her old friend’s help.

Once Blaire decides to take the investigation into her own hands, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems in Baltimore high society. As infidelity, lies, and betrayals come to light, and tensions rise to a boiling point, she begins to alienate Kate’s friends and relatives with her relentless, accusatory questions, as she tries to find Lily’s killer. The murderer could be anyone—friend, neighbor, loved one. But whoever it is, it’s clear that Kate is next on their list. . .

In The Last Time I Saw You, Liv Constantine takes the lightning pace of The Last Mrs. Parrish and raises the stakes, creating an exquisitely tension-filled and absorbing tale of psychological suspense in which innocent lives—and one woman’s sanity—hang in the balance.

MY REVIEW

When Kate’s mother, Lily, is found murdered, Kate turns to her former best friend, Blaire, for support. Kate soon receives an ominous text, and it seems she may be the next victim. Blaire decides to investigate and find who killed Lily.

Kate and Blaire had been best friends as teens, but grew apart as they got older. Kate married, had a child, and became a doctor. She has a perfect life. Blaire is divorced, childless, and her career is suffering. Her life is not so perfect. Still, when they reconnect after Lily’s death, their friendship picks right back up. As someone targets Kate with disturbing texts, Kate’s paranoia about those around her increases. In addition, Blaire’s investigation into the murder has some people upset.

Secrets, lies, and betrayal. The Last Time I Saw You is an entertaining, though somewhat ridiculous, thriller. Unreliable characters, murder mystery, friendship, and family drama. Some intriguing things happening, but it wasn’t pulled together as well as I was hoping for. My main complaint was the lackluster ending. Readers who devour psychological thrillers may find this one to be a disappointment. However, it would make a good choice for those looking for a melodramatic thriller to read at the beach/pool this summer.

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

Books by Liv Constantine:

1. The Last Mrs. Parrish
2. The Last Time I Saw You
3. The Wife Stalker
4. The Stranger in the Mirror

BOOK INFO

Title: Cold Waters

Author: Debbie Herbert

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Publish Date: May 1, 2019

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: Normal, Alabama #1

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

Everyone thinks fourteen-year-old Violet is a murderer. After a summer-night swim with her best friend, Ainsley, Violet is found confused, wandering in the forest—and Ainsley’s never seen again. But without a body, murder charges won’t stick, so Violet is sent away.

After more than a decade in a psychiatric ward, Violet returns to her broken-down hometown of Normal, Alabama, to claim her dead mother’s inheritance and help her overworked sister care for their unstable, alcoholic father. Violet, still haunted by that night eleven years ago, endures horrific flashbacks and twisted hallucinations while townsfolk spit accusations—and for all she knows, they’re right.

As the summer heats up, details of Ainsley’s fate appear like a beast’s wild eyes, watching in the darkness, and grim revelations about Violet’s family threaten to devour her. Already on the edge of madness, Violet must fight to keep her sanity long enough for the terrible truth to burst from the cold, dark waters.

MY REVIEW

Violet returns to Normal, Alabama after 11 years away. She returns to claim her inheritance from her deceased mother’s estate and help her sister take care of their ailing father. Violet left town after her friend Ainsley went missing. The locals believe Violet killed Ainsley, and now with Violet’s return home, they believe the truth will finally be revealed.

When Violet was 14 years old, she and Ainsley met up for a late night swim. That night, Violet was found confused and wandering the woods. Ainsley was never found. Violet has been in a psychiatric facility ever since. Violet doesn’t remember the events of that night, but the locals believe she got away with murder. Coinciding with Violet’s return home is the draining of the lake where Ainsley went missing. With speculation being that Ainsley’s body may finally be found, Violet is haunted by her past and the occasional flashback of what happened that night.

Cold Waters is partly mystery about what happened to Ainsley and partly family drama. There is a lot of drama happening in Violet’s life. She and her sister are not on good terms. Her father health is failing and his behavior is odd. Violet was close to her mother, but her mother’s death has left her feeling alone. Also, Violet is not welcomed back into town with open arms.

Cold Waters started off as a good story, but I was not feeling it by the end. It starts with a protagonist with no memory of the night that forever changed her life and a small community ready to turn on her. An unreliable narrator and a cast of unlikable characters always peaks my interest. Unfortunately, it didn’t hold my interest at the end of the book. In the end, everything is wrapped up, but I was let down in how it was handled.

Books in the Normal, Alabama series:

1. Cold Waters
2. Scorched Grounds

BOOK INFO

Title: The Missing Years

Author: Lexie Elliott

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: April 23, 2019

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

A woman’s unsolved family history comes back to haunt her in an eerie, old, isolated manor in the Scottish Highlands.

Ailsa Calder has inherited half of a house. The other half belongs to a man who disappeared from her life without a trace twenty-seven years ago—her father.

Leaving London behind to settle the inheritance, Ailsa returns to her childhood home, nestled amongst the craggy peaks of the Scottish Highlands, joined by the half-sister who’s almost a stranger to her.

Ailsa can’t escape the claustrophobic feeling that the house itself is watching her—as if her past hungers to consume her. She also can’t ignore how the neighborhood animals refuse to set one foot within the gates of the garden.

When the first nighttime intruder shows up and the locals in the isolated community pry into her plans for the manor, Ailsa becomes terrified that the mysteries surrounding the beautiful old home will cost her everything.

MY REVIEW

Alisa Calder inherited an old Scottish manor from her mother’s estate, but she really only owns half of it. Her father, who disappeared 27 years earlier, owns the other half. With no way to sell or rent the manor, Alisa moves in. She doesn’t relocate alone though, her half-sister, who she doesn’t know well, moves with her.

During her childhood, Alisa lived in the home with her parents, but it’s been so long, she doesn’t feel much of a connection to the local village or the people. The locals remember the Calder family, though not all memories are that favorable. Alisa deals with her present situation, but is also faced with memories from her past… specifically, her father’s disappearance.

While staying in the manor, Alisa encounters a few strange things. In addition, Alisa sometimes questions herself on what is real. This combination makes for a suspenseful and somewhat eerie read.

The Missing Years is slow-building story with intriguing characters. In fact, the home itself is developed as a character rather than a setting. An interesting and complex novel.

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