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Storm Child by Michael Robotham [Book Review]

Posted on December 28, 2024December 28, 2024 by Darinda

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BOOK INFO

Title: Storm Child

Author: Michael Robotham

Publisher: Scribner

Publish Date: June 26, 2024

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: Cyrus Haven #4

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

The mystery of Evie Cormac’s background has followed her into adulthood. As a child, she was discovered hiding in a secret room where a man had been tortured to death. Many of her captors and abusers escaped justice, unseen but not forgotten. Now, on a hot summer’s day, the past drags Evie back as she watches the bodies of seventeen migrants wash up on a Lincolnshire beach.

There is only one survivor, a teenage boy, who tells police their small boat was deliberately rammed and sunk. Psychologist Cyrus Haven is recruited by the police to investigate the murders—but recognizes immediately that Evie has some link to the tragedy. By solving this crime, he could finally unlock the secrets of her past. But what dark forces will he set loose? And who will pay the price?

MY REVIEW

Cyrus Haven is called to investigate a case where a boat carrying migrants was deliberately rammed and sunk. Cyrus soon realizes there is a connection between this case and Evie’s past.

Storm Child is the fourth book in Cyrus Haven series. This book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the early books to better understand Cyrus and Evie.

Told with the alternating points of view of Cyrus and Evie. Cyrus is a psychologist. Evie is young woman with a dark past. She and Cyrus are friends, and she is living in his family home.

Storm Child is a dark suspense novel. Flawed characters and an intricate plot.

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

Books in Cyrus Haven series:

Good Girl, Bad Girl
When She Was Good
Lying Beside You
Storm Child

Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell [Book Review]

Posted on December 28, 2024December 28, 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: Love Letters to a Serial Killer

Author: Tasha Coryell

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: June 25, 2024

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell

BOOK BLURB

An aimless young woman starts writing to an accused serial killer while he awaits trial and then, once he’s acquitted, decides to move in with him and take the investigation into her own hands in this dark and irresistibly compelling debut thriller.

Recently ghosted and sick of watching her friends fade into the suburbs, thirty-something Hannah finds community in a true-crime forum that’s on a mission to solve the murders of four women in Atlanta. After William, a handsome lawyer, is arrested for the killings, Hannah begins writing him letters. It’s the perfect outlet for her pent-up frustration and rage. The exercise empowers her, and even feels healthy at first.

Until William writes back.

Hannah’s interest in the case goes from curiosity to obsession, leaving space for nothing else as her life implodes around her. After she loses her job, she heads to Georgia to attend the trial and befriends other true-crime junkies like herself. When a fifth woman is discovered murdered, the jury has no choice but to find William not guilty, and Hannah is the first person he calls upon his release. The two of them quickly fall into a routine of domestic bliss.

Well, as blissful as one can feel while secretly investigating their partner for serial murder…

MY REVIEW

A woman writes letters to an accused serial killer. After he is acquitted, she moves in with him and starts investigating the murders.

An intriguing mystery about a woman obsessed with true crime and a serial killer. She is consumed with the mystery, and driven to solve it.

Love Letters to a Serial Killer is a slow burning mystery. A compelling debut novel.

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

The Launch Party by Lauren A. Forry [Book Review]

Posted on December 27, 2024December 28, 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 Launch Party

Author: Lauren A. Forry

Publisher: Zaffre

Publish Date: October 15, 2024

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

TEN WERE CHOSEN. HOW MANY WILL SURVIVE?

Ten lucky people have won a place at the most exclusive launch event of the century: the grand opening of the Hotel Artemis, the first hotel on the moon. It’s an invitation to die for. As their transport departs for its return to Earth and the doors seal shut behind them, the guests take the next leap for mankind.

However, they soon discover that all is not as it seems. The champagne may be flowing, but there is no one to pour it. Room service is available, but there is no one to deliver it. Besides the ten of them, they are completely alone.

When one of the guests is found murdered, fear spreads through the group. But that death is only the beginning. Being three days’ journey from home and with no way to contact the outside, can any of the guests survive their stay?

MY REVIEW

Ten people are chosen to be the first to visit Hotel Artemis on the moon. When they arrive, they realize they are alone. When one of the ten is killed, fear spread as they all try to survive.

The Launching Party is told using multiple points of view. There are a lot of characters. Unfortunately, for the most part, they felt flat. I found the premise interesting, but I never fully connected with this story.

The Launch Party is a suspenseful locked room mystery.

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

Books by Lauren A. Forry:

They Did Bad Things
The Launch Party

Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart [Book Review]

Posted on December 27, 2024December 27, 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: Assassins Anonymous

Author: Rob Hart

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Publish Date: June 11, 2024

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

In this clever, surprising, page-turner, the world’s most lethal assassin gives up the violent life only to find himself under siege by mysterious assailants. It’s a kill-or-be-killed situation, but the first option is off the table. What’s a reformed hit man to do?

Mark was the most dangerous killer-for-hire in the world. But after learning the hard way that his life’s work made him more monster than man, he left all of that behind, and joined a twelve-step group for reformed killers.

When Mark is viciously attacked by an unknown assailant, he is forced on the run. From New York to Singapore to London, he chases after clues while dodging attacks and trying to solve the puzzle of who’s after him. All without killing anyone. Or getting killed himself. For an assassin, Mark learns, nonviolence is a real hassle.

MY REVIEW

A former assassin has changed his ways, and joined a twelve step program for reformed killers. After he is attacked, he goes on the run and tries to uncover who is responsible for the attack on him.

Assassins Anonymous is a unique thriller. Quirky characters and a fast-paced story. A mystery with a combination of humor and violence.

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

The House That Horror Built by Christina Henry [Book Review]

Posted on December 27, 2024December 27, 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 House That Horror Built

Author: Christina Henry

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: May 14, 2024

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

The House That Horror Built by Christina Henry

BOOK BLURB

A single mother working in the gothic mansion of a reclusive horror director stumbles upon terrifying secrets in the captivating new novel from the national bestselling author of Good Girls Don’t Die and Horseman.

Harry Adams has always loved horror movies, so it’s not a total coincidence that she took the job cleaning house for movie director Javier Castillo. His forbidding graystone Chicago mansion, Bright Horses, is filled from top to bottom with terrifying props and costumes, as well as glittering awards from his career making films that thrilled audiences—until family tragedy and scandal forced him to vanish from the industry.

Javier values discretion, and Harry has always tried to clean the house immaculately, keep her head down, and keep her job safe—she needs the money to support her son. But then she starts hearing noises from behind a locked door. Noises that sound remarkably like a human voice calling for help, even though Javier lives alone and never has visitors. Harry knows that not asking questions is a vital part of working for Javier, but she soon finds that the sinister house may be home to secrets she can’t ignore.

MY REVIEW

A woman accepts a house cleaning job of an eccentric horror movie director. The longer she works in the house, she realizes there are secrets in the house that she is unable to ignore.

The House That Horror Built is told using multiple points of view. The premise is intriguing, but the characters did not pull me into the story.

The House That Horror Built is a gothic and atmospheric novel with horror and mystery.

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

The Hunter’s Daughter by Nicola Solvinic [Book Review]

Posted on December 27, 2024February 26, 2025 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 Hunter’s Daughter

Author: Nicola Solvinic

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: May 14, 2024

Genre: Paranormal Mystery

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

The Hunter's Daughter by Nicola Solvinic

BOOK BLURB

A hypnotic, sinister debut mystery about a seemingly good cop who is secretly the daughter of a notorious serial killer.

Anna Koray escaped her father’s darkness long ago. When she was a girl, her childhood memories were sealed away from her conscious mind by a controversial hypnosis treatment. She’s now a decorated sheriff’s lieutenant serving a rural county, conducting an ordinary life far from her father’s shadow.

When Anna kills a man in the line of duty, her suppressed memories return. She dreams of her beloved father, his hands red with blood, surrounded by flower-decked corpses he had sacrificed to the god of the forest.

To Anna’s horror, a serial killer emerges who is copying her father – and who knows who she really is. Is her father still alive, or is this the work of another? Will the killer expose her, destroying everything she has built for herself? Does she want him to?

But as she haunts the forest, using her father’s tricks to the hunt the killer, will she find what she needs most…or lose herself in the gathering darkness?

MY REVIEW

The daughter of a serial killer is now a police officer. No one is aware of her connection to The Forest Strangler, but a series of new crimes puts her in the center of the mystery.

The Hunter’s Daughter has an intriguing main character. She is flawed, has a complicated past, and is a bit of an unreliable narrator. I enjoyed the police procedural parts, but wasn’t a fan of the paranormal elements.

An intense and atmospheric mystery. The Hunter’s Daughter is an enjoyable debut novel.

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

The Astrology House by Carinn Jade [Book Review]

Posted on December 27, 2024December 27, 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 Astrology House

Author: Carinn Jade

Publisher: Atria Books

Publish Date: July 16, 2024

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

A group of wealthy Manhattanites escape to an astrology-themed retreat, where simmering resentments and long-held secrets lead to a shocking death in this fresh, twisty, and suspenseful debut in the vein of Liane Moriarty and Katy Hays.

Margot needs a minute. She’s been working eighty-hour weeks as a newly minted partner at her law firm. She’s disconnected from her brother, the only family she has left. And she’s still not pregnant after years of trying.

Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat promises rest, relaxation, and wisdom for Margot and her friends. With Instagram-worthy views and nightly astrology readings in an impeccably restored waterfront Victorian house, this getaway should be nothing but idyllic fun.

For Margot’s brother, Adam, it’s the perfect opportunity to rekindle the romance that fuels his writing. But his wife, Aimee, hides the darkness of her past with a beautiful social media feed. Their friend, Farah, is a successful doctor who cannot admit that she’s losing control.

Yet no one holds a greater secret than their astrologer host, Rini. She has a plan for all of her guests, and one of them won’t be leaving Stars Harbor alive.

MY REVIEW

A group of wealthy adults attend an astrology retreat to relax. Everyone is hiding secrets.

This book is told using multiple points of view. There are a lot of characters, and their different viewpoints present an intriguing story. Since the characters are attending an astrology retreat, there is a fair amount of astrology in this book. I found it interesting, but this story could also be told without the astrology aspect.

The Astrology House is an atmospheric mystery. A suspenseful, dramatic, and entertaining thriller.

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

Liar’s Point by Laura Griffin [Book Review]

Posted on June 28, 2024June 28, 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: Liar’s Point

Author: Laura Griffin

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: May 21, 2024

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Series: The Texas Murder Files #5

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Two homicide detectives must separate the puzzling truth from a growing web of lies while investigating a murder victim’s friends and lovers in Lost Beach, Texas.

Detective Nicole Lawson is fed up with her job and nonexistent love life. Her first date in months gets cut short by an urgent call from the chief of police. A body has been discovered at Lighthouse Point, and the medical examiner finds an array of strange clues. When the death is ruled a homicide, the news quickly reverberates through Nicole’s beachside hometown.

The Lost Beach police department swings into high gear. Leading the investigation is Emmet Davis, a veteran detective who is Nicole’s fiercest rival at work and also the man she has secretly harbored feelings toward for years. With Emmet calling the shots, Nicole sets out to search for leads, starting with the enigmatic yoga instructor who first discovered the body. Nicole is certain the witness knows more than she’s revealing and may even hold the key to unlocking the case.

When another person turns up dead under suspicious circumstances, Nicole sees a bizarre pattern, but no one believes her theory. Under the gun to solve the case, Nicole must put aside her tumultuous feelings and work closely with Emmet to figure out who is targeting her beloved hometown . . . before she becomes a target herself.

MY REVIEW

Nicole is a detective in a small town. While out one night, she is called to a crime scene. When another crime is later committed, Nicole believes everything is connected.

Liar’s Point is the fifth book in The Texas Murder Files series. While this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.

This book is told using multiple points of view. One of the viewpoints is Nicole. She wants more in her love life and work life. She has a competitive relationship with Emmett, another detective. He is another POV, and is working the case with Nicole.

Liar’s Point is a combination of mystery and romance. A fun and entertaining romantic suspense.

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

Books in The Texas Murder Files series:

Hidden
Flight
Midnight Dunes
Deep Tide
Liar’s Point

Under the Palms by Kaira Rouda [Book Review]

Posted on June 28, 2024June 28, 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 the Palms

Author: Kaira Rouda

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Publish Date: May 21, 2024

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: The Kingsleys #2

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Under the direction of the Kingsleys’ new president, Paige, the family has gathered for a weekend retreat at a luxurious Laguna Beach resort.

Still clinging to the hope of succession are the sons of Richard Kingsley, the family patriarch and CEO: John, the oldest, who’s clawed his way back from a dark tragedy, and Paige’s estranged husband, Ted, the golden boy. When Richard’s ex and his wayward daughter join the fray, Paige finds herself with two fast allies. They know a secret that could shatter the family legacy. Call it leverage, call it revenge, the Kingsley women believe they have the upper hand.

But as the power games begin, greater threats than the howling Santa Ana winds are coming. Because this weekend, amid so much greed and betrayal, no Kingsley is safe. It’s family. Watch your back.

MY REVIEW

The Kingsley family is back!

Under the Palms is the second book with The Kingsleys series. While Under the Palms can be read as a standalone, I recommend starting with the first book in the series, Beneath the Surface.

This book is told using multiple points of view with short chapters. Devious characters in a fast-paced and wild story.

Under the Palms is a fun read with twists and turns. The pages are filled with secrets, scandals, and betrayals.

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

Books in The Kingsleys series:

Beneath the Surface
Under the Palms

You Know What You Did by K. T. Nguyen [Book Review]

Posted on June 28, 2024June 28, 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: You Know What You Did

Author: K. T. Nguyen

Publisher: Dutton

Publish Date: April 16, 2024

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

Annie “Anh Le” Shaw grew up poor, but seems to have it all now: a dream career, a stunning home, and a devoted husband and daughter. When Annie’s mother, a Vietnam War refugee, dies suddenly one night, Annie’s carefully curated life begins to unravel. Her obsessive-compulsive disorder, which she thought she’d vanquished years ago, comes roaring back—but this time, the disturbing fixations swirling around in Annie’s brain might actually be coming true.

A prominent art patron disappears, and the investigation zeroes in on Annie. Spiraling with self-doubt, she distances herself from her family and friends, only to wake up in a hotel room—naked, next to a lifeless body. The police have more questions, but with her mind increasingly fractured, Annie doesn’t have answers. All she knows is this: She will do anything to protect her daughter—even if it means losing herself.

MY REVIEW

Annie’s life unravels after the death of her mother. Her OCD and PTSD return, and the police suspect her in a crime. Her self-doubt forces her to distance herself from family and friends. Unsure of what is real and what is not, she struggles to uncover the truth.

You Know What You Did is told from Annie’s point of view. Annie seems to have a great life, but things really unravel after her mother’s death. Annie is an intriguing unreliable narrator.

You Know What You Did is intense and suspenseful. Recommended for fans of slow-burning psychological thrillers.

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

Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson [Book Review]

Posted on June 28, 2024June 28, 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: Nosy Neighbors

Author: Freya Sampson

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: April 2, 2024

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

Nothing brings neighbors together like someone else’s secrets… At Shelley House, the walls have ears, and they’re attached to a ragtag duo of busybodies ready to pry, snoop, and generally annoy their neighbors into solving a crime.

Seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling has lived in Shelley House longer than any of the other residents, and if you take their word for it, she’s as cantankerous as they come. But Dorothy has her reasons for spying. And none of them require justifying herself to Kat Bennett.

Twenty-five-year-old Kat has never known a place where she felt truly at home, and crumbling Shelley House is no different. Her neighbors find her prickly and unapproachable, but beneath her tough exterior, Kat’s plagued by a guilty secret from her past.

When their apartments face demolition, sworn enemies Kat and Dorothy agree on just one thing: they must save their historic building. But when someone plays dirty—and one of the residents is viciously taken down—Dorothy and Kat seek justice. The police close the investigation too soon, leaving it up to the unlikely amateur sleuths—with a playful Jack Russell terrier at their side—to restore peace in their community.

MY REVIEW

An unlikely duo work together to discover who is behind the break-ins in their apartment building, and attempt to save their apartment building from demolition.

Nosy Neighbors is told using the alternating points of view of Dorothy and Kat. Dorothy is a 77 year old woman who has lived in Shelly House for over 30 years. She is viewed as a nosy, cranky neighbor. She has a routine of walking the grounds and knows what is happening at Shelly House. Kat is 25 years old and new to Shelly House. She is reluctant to get to know her neighbors.

A quirky cast of characters in a charming setting. Nosy Neighbors is both heartbreaking yet hopeful.

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

An Enchanting Case of Spirits by Melissa Holtz [Book Review]

Posted on June 28, 2024November 11, 2025 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: An Enchanting Case of Spirits

Author: Melissa Holtz

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: April 9, 2024

Genre: Paranormal Mystery

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

An Enchanting Case of Spirits by Melissa Holtz

BOOK BLURB

When a fortieth birthday celebration leads to a ghostly visitor, four friends find themselves navigating surprising mysteries and spiritual hijinks, in this clever debut from Melissa Holtz.

Alyssa Mann isn’t adventurous, not since her husband died and she found herself the single mom of a teenage daughter. But there’s no way to avoid celebrating the big 4-0, so when her best friends drag her out for drinks and a tarot reading, she throws caution to the wind and decides to see what the spirits have to say. It’s all fun and games, until she wakes up the next morning with a wicked hangover—and a ghost perched on the edge of her bed.

Sheer panic sends her running to get help from Nick West, the (very attractive) detective who lives next door. When he finds no one inside, Alyssa has to accept that she really did see a ghost. As the dearly departed keep appearing, Alyssa and her friends do their best to learn how to control her newfound power. Trading insults with ghosts, tracking down family heirlooms, and getting closer to the skeptical but helpful Nick is more fun than Alyssa imagined. But when looking into one ghost’s past reveals unexpected—and unwelcome—facts about Alyssa’s late husband’s death, she discovers she just may be in over her head.

MY REVIEW

Alyssa and her friends celebrate her 40th birthday with drinks and a tarot reading. The next morning, Alyssa wakes up with a stranger in her house. She asks her neighbor, Nick, who is a detective, for help. Nick doesn’t find anyone in the house, and Alyssa is faced with the fact she saw a ghost.

An Enchanting Case of Spirits is told from Alyssa and Nick’s points of view. An enjoyable cast of characters. An entertaining story with mystery and romance.

An Enchanting Case of Spirits was lighthearted and fun. Recommended for fans of paranormal cozy mysteries and romance.

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

Books in The Gin & Tarot Club series:

An Enchanting Case of Spirits
A Charming Touch of Tarot