BOOK INFO

Title: The Last Woman in the Forest

Author: Diane Les Becquets

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: March 5, 2019

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Marian Engström has found her true calling: working with rescue dogs to help protect endangered wildlife. Her first assignment takes her to northern Alberta, where she falls in love with her mentor, the daring and brilliant Tate. When they’re separated on another assignment, she’s shattered to learn of his tragic death. Before long, Marian discovers disturbing inconsistencies about Tate’s life, and begins to wonder if the man she loved could have been responsible for the unsolved murders of at least four women.

Hoping to clear Tate’s name, Marian reaches out to a retired forensic profiler who’s haunted by the open cases. But as Marian relives her relationship with Tate and circles ever closer to the truth, evil stalks her every move.…

MY REVIEW

Marian learns about four unsolved murders, and wonders if her recently deceased boyfriend, Tate, could have been involved with them. She finds it difficult to reconcile the man she loved with him also being a murderer. She wants to keep her questioning private, and involves a retired profiler to help her learn more about the unsolved cases.

Told from Marian’s point of view, the story alternates between past and present. The past is about her work in wildlife research and her relationship with Tate. In the present day timeline, she questions everything she knew about Tate. Marian loved Tate, but she is faced with inconsistencies between what he told her and what she learns after his death.

The wilderness is a large part of this story. Personally, I loved that aspect of this novel. As someone with a background in environmental research, I enjoy stories that highlight outdoors and research. The research Marian is involved with uses rescued dogs to track and monitor wildlife populations. The setting is the wilderness of Montana and Canada.

This is a character-driven mystery. Intriguing, atmospheric, and complex. Good for fans of mysteries and thrillers.

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

Other mysteries by Diane Les Becquets:

1. Breaking Wild
2. The Last Woman in the Forest

BOOK INFO

Title: Fireside Chat with a Grammar Nazi Serial Killer

Author: Ryan Suvaal

Publisher: Self-Published

Publish Date: January 14, 2019

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Dexter meets Grammar Nazi in this psychological thriller with a twist.

Seventeen gruesome killings were report across the US, within six months and there was one clear connection among victims. They were all writers.
While media was decorating the murders with sensationalist stories, and law enforcement was playing catch-up, the homicidal maniac remained elusive and secretive.
The situation took an interesting turn when one day she appeared on a dark-net talk show for an honest chat. Though her reason for being there was not a quest for fame but something far more disturbing.

MY REVIEW

A short story about a serial killer. The fireside chat takes place on the darknet, on a show that interviews some of society’s worst people. The latest chat features an interview with a serial killer who targets authors. The killer has murdered seventeen authors for the atrocious and cavalier grammar mistakes in their books. The killer has been dubbed the Grammar Nazi Serial Killer, and believes she has valid reasons for committing the murders.

A clever and twisted short story. The killings are violent and gruesome. The reasons for the killings are hilarious. If you like dark humor and serial killer stories, then this one is for you.

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

BOOK INFO

Title: All These Beautiful Strangers

Author: Elizabeth Klehfoth

Publisher: William Morrow

Publish Date: July 10, 2018

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

A young woman haunted by a family tragedy is caught up in a dangerous web of lies and deception involving a secret society in this highly charged, addictive psychological thriller that combines the dishy gamesmanship of Gossip Girl with the murky atmosphere of The Secret History.

One summer day, Grace Fairchild, the beautiful young wife of real estate mogul Alistair Calloway, vanished from the family’s lake house without a trace, leaving behind her seven-year old daughter, Charlie, and a slew of unanswered questions.

Years later, seventeen-year-old Charlie still struggles with the dark legacy of her family name and the mystery surrounding her mother. Determined to finally let go of the past, she throws herself into life at Knollwood, the prestigious New England school she attends. Charlie quickly becomes friends with Knollwood’s “it” crowd.

Charlie has also been tapped by the A’s—the school’s elite secret society well known for terrorizing the faculty, administration, and their enemies. To become a member of the A’s, Charlie must play The Game, a semester-long, diabolical high-stakes scavenger hunt that will jeopardize her friendships, her reputation, even her place at Knollwood.

As the dark events of past and present converge, Charlie begins to fear that she may not survive the terrible truth about her family, her school, and her own life.

MY REVIEW

Ten years ago, when Charlie was seven years old, her mother disappeared. Charlie is now seventeen, and away at boarding school. When she is tapped to join the A’s, the school’s secret society, she’s excited, but a little concerned about the initiation process. As she plays the game the A’s ask of her, she learns they may not be as great as she originally thought. In addition to school life, Charlie starts to think there is more to the story of her mother’s disappearance, and looks into the past to uncover the secrets.

Told using alternating points of view – Charlie, Grace, and Alistair. Charlie is the main character. She’s popular, rich, smart, and pretty. She seems to have it all, but she is haunted by her mother’s disappearance. From Charlie’s viewpoint, the reader learns about the present and the past. Grace and Alistair are Charlie’s parents. Their chapters are mostly about the past. The alternating timelines and POVs were handled well, and easily distinguished from one another.

A large portion of the book is about Charlie’s school life, friendships, and initiation into the A’s. The initiation process involves an elaborate scavenger hunt, that often has risks. The mystery part comes from Charlie learning something new about her mother, which reignites Charlie’s interest in her mother’s disappearance. She decides to look into the past, and attempt to uncover what happened.

This is listed under adult fiction, but it reads like a YA mystery. I was fine with that, but if you don’t like YA books, then this might not be a good fit for you. If you enjoy young adult, mysteries, and books that involve elite boarding schools, then this is perfect for you.

All These Beautiful Strangers compelling debut novel. Captivating, mysterious, and clever. I look forward to reading more by this author.

BOOK INFO

Title: Camouflage

Author: Ivy Keating and Scott Spotson

Publisher: Champagne Book Group

Publish Date: September 23, 2018

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

A missing man, a new police chief and an unexpected New England town mystery.

When Sean Dermott, the newly appointed police chief, sees the report that a popular local high school coach is missing, his growing fascination with the alluring Vanessa Strauss, who reported the disappearance, makes him determined to solve the case.

The investigation leads him and his team deep into Quarry Head Park, a local scenic preserve with nature trails and expansive views. There is no sign of the missing man, but what he does find terrifies him to the core.

From the depths of the park, a deadly prehistoric looking creature emerges, attacks swiftly and silently, leaving devastation in its wake. In the chaos which follows, it is up to Chief Dermott and a team of scientists to fight for balance by ensuring the safety of his town and preserving this remarkable discovery.

He will risk his career, his reputation and even his own life to stand by what he believes to be right. The question is, will he succeed, or will all be lost?

MY REVIEW

A man is reported missing in a small New England town. While investigating the case, the police become aware of an unusual creature living in the nearby nature preserve. The police chief contacts a local scientist/researcher to identify the animal. As the case unfolds, the police and scientists try to find balance between preserving a prehistoric animal and protecting public safety.

Camouflage has characters that are realistic and likable. The police chief is a little on the young side, and feels he needs to prove himself in his new job. Besides working hard on the two cases – missing man and prehistoric animal – he finds himself attracted to the woman who reported the missing man. A romance develops.

I especially liked the researchers. They were the right amount of excited and academic about a new, or rather, old, species being discovered. The scientists want to help, and the story does a good job with them explaining things to the police as they learn new information.

The scientists want to discover where the creature came from and what happened to its environment that caused it to move near the town. If they can figure that out, maybe they can return the animal back to its natural habitat.The police and scientists are working hard, but there are opposing sides. There are those who want to protect the animal and those who want to destroy it.

Camouflage is a sci-fi mystery with adventure and romance. Entertaining, thrilling, and fast-paced.

I received a digital copy of this book from Caffeinated PR Services in exchange for an honest review.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Line That Held Us

Author: David Joy

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Publish Date: August 14, 2018

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

When Darl Moody went hunting after a monster buck he’s chased for years, he never expected he’d accidentally shoot a man digging ginseng. Worse yet, he’s killed a Brewer, a family notorious for vengeance and violence. With nowhere to turn, Darl calls on the help of the only man he knows will answer, his best friend, Calvin Hooper. But when Dwayne Brewer comes looking for his missing brother and stumbles onto a blood trail leading straight back to Darl and Calvin, a nightmare of revenge rips apart their world. The Line That Held Us is a story of friendship and family, a tale balanced between destruction and redemption, where the only hope is to hold on tight, clenching to those you love. What will you do for the people who mean the most, and what will you grasp to when all that you have is gone? The only certainty in a place so shredded is that no one will get away unscathed.

MY REVIEW

Darl goes deer hunting and accidentally shoots a man. When he realizes who the man is, and that he is the brother of a very violent man, Darl enlists the help of his best friend Calvin to dispose of the body. The dead man’s brother, Dwayne, starts looking for him and finds the path leads to Darl.

The Line That Held Us is a story about revenge. This novel starts with Darl doing something bad – hunting in the off season – and gets much, much worse. Dwayne’s grief leads him down a brutal path of vengeance.

The characters are compelling, but a little stereotypical. Darl isn’t really likable. He’s the kind of guy who breaks the rules and makes poor decisions, but isn’t necessarily a bad person. Calvin is a stand-up guy though, and I liked him. He’s a hard-working man who is loyal to his family and friends. Dwayne’s got a reputation for violence, but he’s also kind of creepy. He’s a cruel man with a bad temper.

A gritty and intense novel about love and vengeance. Dark, gruesome, and suspenseful.

BOOK INFO

Title: Final Girls

Author: Riley Sager

Publisher: Dutton

Publish Date: July 11, 2017

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Ten years ago, six friends went on vacation. One made it out alive….

In that instant, college student Quincy Carpenter became a member of a very exclusive club—a group of survivors the press dubbed “The Final Girls”: Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout’s knife; Sam, who endured the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape the massacre at Pine Cottage. Despite the media’s attempts, the three girls have never met.

Now, Quincy is doing well—maybe even great, thanks to her Xanax prescription. She has a caring almost-fiancé; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life. Her mind won’t let her recall the events of that night; the past is in the past…until the first Final Girl is found dead in her bathtub and the second Final Girl appears on Quincy’s doorstep.

Blowing through Quincy’s life like a hurricane, Sam seems intent on making her relive the trauma of her ordeal. When disturbing details about Lisa’s death emerge, Quincy desperately tries to unravel Sam’s truths from her lies while evading both the police and bloodthirsty reporters. Quincy knows that in order to survive she has to remember what really happened at Pine Cottage.

Because the only thing worse than being a Final Girl is being a dead one.

MY REVIEW

The Final Girls is a moniker used to label survivors of horror movie style attacks. While in college, Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with some friends. During their trip, the group was attacked and everyone was killed, except for Quincy. Being the lone survivor of the massacre made Quincy a Final Girl. There are only two other Final Girls, Lisa and Sam. Fast forward ten years… Quincy learns that Lisa, the first Final Girl, has died. Lisa’s death hits Quincy hard. Even though they had never met, the Final Girls have something in common that no one else can understand. Soon, Sam shows up on Quincy’s doorstep. As Sam inserts herself into Quincy’s life, she also pressures Quincy to remember the night of the attack. Quincy starts to realize that something is not right with her memories, Sam’s behavior, and Lisa’s death.

The story is told from Quincy’s point of view in the present day, but also contains flashbacks to the night she and her friends were attacked. Quincy had a very difficult time coping with the massacre, and between self-medicating and her desire to forget, she has managed to suppress her memories of the attack. A big part of the story deals with Lisa accepting her Final Girl status and remembering what happened.

Final Girls is a fun and exciting thriller. Unreliable characters. Twisty plot. Good for fans of thrillers who enjoy the final girl trope. Entertaining and suspenseful.

Books by Riley Sager:

1. Final Girls
2. The Last Time I Lied
3. Lock Every Door
4. Home Before Dark
5. Survive the Night
6. The House Across the Lake
7. The Only One Left
8. Middle of the Night