Montlake Romance | December 2019 | 411 pgs

Source: Library 

Locked-room mysteries are quite popular among the suspense/thriller genre and no matter how many times I read them I still find them captivating. 

In this book the story was set in the secluded high-end wilderness in mountain lodge at Kluhane Bay. Eight guests, including the private floatplane pilot, are invited to the all-expenses-paid trip at Thunderbird Ridge for the "lodge experience" and to decide if they want to put in tenders for long-term contracts; among these guests' field include services like housekeeping, catering, security and a few other expertise according to their profession. One could say it's a perfect getaway with business opportunities and all but the trip didn't start out smoothly even before they fly. 

First, one of the guests is sick and couldn't take the trip and when the pilot cross checked his name on the list, she realises that his name isn't even listed. Although this seems a little off, they all proceed without giving it much thoughts, thinking it's a mess up. Then there's the bad weather which leads them for an emergency landing and with no coordinates and connections, they're cut off from civilisation but they do manage to find an abandoned lodge which offers them some refuge. 

As they try to settle down and hope that help will be on the way, the pilot has more bad news for the group. It seems someone has tempered with the plane radio and without it, they are all stranded without any way of connecting with the outside world. Fear could induce a person to do something to get out of the unexpected circumstances, but it could also make him brutal and murderous, especially when it appears each of the guest has secrets and something to hide. And when they finally realise that the trip is more of a trap than a getaway, it's a little too late as someone is trying to kill for the things they'd done in the past -- for they're all connected in one way or another. 

When homicide cop Mason Deniaud and search and rescue expert Callie Sutton are alerted to the eight missing persons case, they initially think it is simply a plane tragedy caused by bad weather until they stumbled on a few bodies which make them think otherwise. Based on their initial findings, the bodies they found have injuries that indicate they were being stabbed or mutilated. Something had happened at the isolated lodge and they intend to find out what happened as well as to search for the other missing persons. Most of all, are the remainings still alive and if the killer is among them? 

In the Dark is kind of a reminiscence to Agatha Christie's And Then There Is None; a book which remains one of my favourite locked-room mysteries. That said, this book stands on its own through its plot and the complexity relationship among the characters as they shared their ugly dark past and in return how each individual's act would play a part in their own tragedy thereafter. The suspense and the execution was quite well done in my opinion, but as it was told in multiple narrations and between the past and the present, some readers may find this a distraction but personally I found this style to be effective. I also liked the interactions between Mason and Callie; their background and the things they'd gone through in their personal life have added some depth to the story and have me hoping if there would be a series featuring them in the near future. 

Some information about the author: Loreth Anne White also writes romantic suspense alongside thrillers and mysteries. She's also the recipient of the Overall 2017 Daphne du Maurier Award, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, the National Readers' Choice Award, and the Romantic Crown for Best Romantic Suspense and Best Book Overall. 

Gallery Books | May 2019 | 432 pgs

Source: Library 

Olive and Ami are identical twin sisters but aside from their looks, everything about them is very different from each other. Olive is more reserved and her luck in life equals to zero, whatwith her losing of her job recently and anything else. Ami is the opposite though; she's positive and is always lucky when it comes to winning things. Why, she didn't even have much to worry about her wedding since she'd most of them covered by winning a series of Internet contests, and that includes her honeymoon to Maui. Olive is envious but is happy for Ami and Dane, but she's definitely not pleased to pair up with Dane's older brother, Ethan, who is the best man. Olive knows him briefly on a few occasions but both didn't really leave a good impression on each other. She figured she'd get through the wedding day and get on with her pitiful life once everything is over but it seems like fate has other plans for her. 

What happens to be a wonderful wedding event turns out a nightmare as the buffet has made everyone ill, excluding Olive and Ethan since they've their own food preferences. With Ami and Dane down from food poisoning, it seems their all-expenses-paid honeymoon will go to waste unless they find someone to go in their place. With the new couple's coaxing and encouragement, Olive and Ethan set for their trip to Maui though how they're going to fake as newlyweds, they've no idea except avoiding each other at all costs if possible. But when both of them meet the people they know in the hotel where they're staying, they've no choice but to act lovey-dovey. As the days go by, Olive finds another side of Ethan which leads her into thinking that perhaps being with him isn't that bad after all. 

You know, I could imagine The Unhoneymooners being played on the big screen because it's funny, dramatic and not to mention the chemistry between Olive and Ethan are palpable and I enjoyed their banters. While some scenes may seemed cheesy and unbelievable, I found them entertaining and most of all, they made me laugh and root for them. A great romcom to indulge in if you're looking for something light and an escapism. 

Orion | July 2019 | 368 pgs

Source: Library 

Have you ever received a chain letter before? I did during my primary school days. Someone snail mailed it to me, with the message telling me to follow the same and send it to (10?) other people or otherwise something bad would happen (something like that as I couldn't remember the specifics). I didn't do anything, afterall I didn't want to waste my school allowance on postage stamps on something which seems absurd (truth be told, I was doubtful but I didn't succumb to following it). Reading this book had brought me back to that time as I remember this saga had many of us in school feeling intrigued and fearful at the same time. Is it a curse? Should we carry on the task so we can be free of any bad vibes? So many questions yet no reassuring and affirmative answers. But now we all know that they are basically emotionally manipulative messages, some pyramid schemes or superstitions as a threat to the recipient. Well, this book is nothing like those chain letters. What this chain will ask of you is much more frightening and deadly. 

Rachel is a divorced single mother with a 13-year-old daughter, Kylie. Rachel has breast cancer a while back and she thought she has it controlled with the treatments until the doctor told her that the cancer cells might be coming back. As if the news isn't bad enough, she received a call from a stranger that Kylie has been kidnapped. However, this is no ordinary ransom case. The caller told her that their child has also been kidnapped by someone else and that the only way to get your child back is to kidnap another child within 24 hours. The chain, they explained, is simple and only when Rachel kidnaps another child should their child be released; and Rachel will have to kidnap another child to have Kylie back. But breaking the chain by calling the police, failing the task or having the next victim's parents not completing the task would have your child murdered. There seems to be no resolution but to follow the instructions because whoever is behind this chain has everything monitored and scrutinised. Could Rachel find a way to break away from the chain? 

This book was intense but it wasn't an easy read as it involves child kidnapping. However, I've to say the idea was refreshing since I don't think I've read anything like this. Rachel was an intriguing character on many levels - she's a strong and determined woman. She's definitely a survivor based from her outlook on her cancer and her treatment journey. And she works hard to make ends meet so she is definitely not a quitter. Pete, who is Rachel's brother-in-law, also played an important role in this story as he was the one who helped and supported Rachel throughout the horrendous event. Unlike Rachel, Pete is a flawed character who is an opiate addict and suffered from PTSD after his military assignments in Afghanistan. 

The story was split into two parts in which the first was mostly on the kidnapping and Rachel's task and all the challenges she's facing. The second part is more on the mastermind behind the chain and their background; and of course not to mention Rachel's plan in overturning the chain. All in all it was an intense read and it explores how a person would react or break under pressured circumstances with your loved ones at stake. 

Raven Books | August 2019 | 352 pgs

Source: Library 

Amy Whey's life is a good one. She has a devoted husband, a spirited fifteen-year-old stepdaughter and her adorable infant son. She has a job teaching scuba diving lessons and when she's free, she'll mingle with her neighbours and help her best friend, Charlotte, run their local book club at Charlotte's house. Everything is going on well until Angelica Roux arrives uninvited into their book club one night. Roux has moved into their neighbourhood recently and of course Charlotte didn't have any reason to send her away. 

The introduction is harmless initially when everyone introduces themselves before starting their book discussion. But Roux is a charming woman and in no time she has steered away the other women's attention from their book talk, much to Charlotte's and Amy's dismay. And that is only the beginning as Roux starts to keep the wine flowing and lures them into a game of spilling secrets. Charlotte by then has left the spot for something else, leaving Amy with Roux and their drunk neighbours. Amy doesn't want to play Roux's game, after all she has a secret past which she intends to keep it solely for herself. But Roux seems to know about her past, and she is relentless and warns Amy that if she doesn't give her what she asks for, she's going to make her pay for her sins, one way or another. Amy isn't proud of her teenage past. She has admitted to herself that she'd done something terrible, but it was a foolish mistake she'd made unintentionally. Now it seems she has to find ways to outwit Roux's games in order to protect herself and her family. After all, everyone has secrets, no matter how big or small it is. 

Never Have I Ever was an intriguing tale of secrets and deceptions and it explores one's acts and consequences when his peace and security is comprised. I've to say the premise is an interesting one, but I'm definitely not a fan of any characters, although ultimately I did root for Amy given her past predicament. While the plot and execution was a good one, the pace was slow and there are many interactions and "cat-and-mouse games" between Amy and Roux (which is understandable) before the intensity and excitement really begin. Overall the book was an average read to me and I think it definitely makes a great choice for a book club read and discussion (pun intended).

Penguin Publishing Group | July 2019 | 288 pgs

Source: Library 

FBI Agent Nell Flynn returns to her childhood home in Suffolk County after receiving news that her estranged father had died in a motorbike accident. Nell has never been close to Martin Flynn since young. Her mother was brutally murdered when she was seven and despite Martin being a homicide detective, the case remains unsolved. The death of Marisol Flynn has further drove their relationship apart, and Nell doesn't want to have anything to do with her father until his death hit her. 

Now back at her childhood's home, Nell is once again awash with memories of the past. Thinking that she'd return her life back to normalcy after spreading her father's ashes and closing his estate, she is then approached by Detective Lee Davis as a consult for the investigation of two young women who were found murdered in separate occasions. Before Martin's death, Lee was working with him together on the investigations and he thought perhaps Nell might shed some light given her profession. Nell is actually on administration leave and she knew her superior might hit the roof once he finds out she's involved in any case unofficially, but Nell is intrigued so she accepted his offer. 

As Nell digs deeper, she learns that her late father had been keeping some secrets from her and the things that she has found out made her wonder if her father should be the prime suspect. Nell doesn't want to jump to conclusions without solid evidence, but she also couldn't help thinking about her mother's murder and her role in exonerating her father in that case. Is her father a murderer? What really happened to her mother and the two young women? And most of all, what are the motives? 

Girls Like Us was a compelling thriller and police procedural that consisted of a well executed plot and well developed characters. Nell was an intriguing character from the start and I found it was easy to connect with her quickly despite her outwardly tough demeanour but in fact she was an introvert and a loner. I actually enjoyed her interactions with Lee, whom I felt was the only person she could trust among all although it took a while for Nell to really open up and shared her thoughts with him, which was no surprise knowing her characteristics. The suspense was a slow-burn, but it was effective with the overall style and atmosphere as the reader follow Nell's investigations through her perspective. I'd had an idea where the route to the ending goes, but the identity of the perpetrator still threw me off. I'm hoping the author will write a series featuring Nell in the near future as she'd left an impression on me.