Melody's Reading Corner: July 2021

Melody

Hello my dear readers! To begin with, I'm so sorry that my posts have been sparse lately. This applies the same to my blog hopping and commenting and for these I want to say sorry, too. Life has been hectic and it seems like this has somewhat affected my reading momentum in some way. Of course, there're also some personal stuff that was taking away my attention and I just want to say, never underestimate the small mundane things that we're taking for granted. No, there's nothing wrong with my health although I'd be thankful if my usual old problems will just go away, ha. Now that I've got these off my plate, let me share with you what I've been reading lately.

I'd finished reading Ling Jing's (笭菁) first installment of her new series (林投劫) featuring a variety of supernatural characters. I loved her two urban legends series and although I was sad to see they'd come to an end, it was good to see Ling Jing has quickly started on a new series; this time around surrounding a family of supernatural characters (humans included) helping to solve some mysterious cases. Like the urban legends series, the author would base from the origins and have the story twisted accordingly to her imaginations. This first installment revolves around a woman who was murdered but was led to believe as a suicidal hanging case. The fiction then extend its plot by recreating her character as a ghost seeking for truth and revenge. And that's where the family will come in as they'll help to solve the case, but they'd not meddle with fate and any karmic forces which may link to the victim and the perpetrator. I like the idea of this new series and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more.

I'm currently reading The Push by Ashley Audrain and it's an absorbing read about the exploration of motherhood. While there's psychological and family drama, I'd say this is more of a case of characters study as well as the values, expectations and challenges of women becoming mothers. I can't say more as I'm only into half of the book, but it's definitely a powerful and a thought-provoking book that fits for discussions.

My library visits have become an irregular routine since the safety regulations often change as and when accordingly to current situation, thus I'm currently turning my attention more to my TBR pile and book acquisitions although I'll still borrow books whenever I can. Here are some of my recent book buys: Hostage by Clare Mackintosh, The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon, Beneath Devil's Bridge by Loreth Anne White and The Boys' Club by Erica Katz.

Hope you've a great day and happy reading!

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Labels: General, Musing, Reading 14 comments |

Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams

Melody

Joffe Books | 15 June 2021 | 278 pgs

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

"Please forgive me. I couldn't live with it. Hopefully you can, Officer Raycevic."

When Lena Nguyen received the above text message from her estranged twin sister, Cambry, she thought nothing about it until she found out about her suicide much later. Based on the police report, Cambry had driven to Hairpin Bridge; a remote bridge seventy miles outside of Missoula, Montana, and jumped to her death. Lena may not be close with Cambry, but she knew her personality and that she's not the kind who'd give up a fight easily. And the more she read Cambry's last text, the more she find something is amiss so she decided to have a talk with Corporal Raymond Raycevic. After all, he's the highway patrolman who'd allegedly discovered Cambry's body.

Lena is all prepared before meeting Officer Raycevic for the interview at Hairpin Bridge. She's even carried a cassette recorder along so she could have Raycevic's statement as a record. Raycevic has been sympathetic and professional towards Lena as he told her that he'd stopped Cambry for speeding before discovering her mangled body an hour later on that fateful day. Based from Raycevic's report, Cambry had leapt to her death although the motive was unclear. Lena knew Cambry had been living a wild life but to choose a death path doesn't seemed her style. On top of it, Raycevic's statement seemed a bit off, too. How'd he discover Cambry's body and right after he'd stopped her car an hour ago? And most of all, her unexplainable sixteen attempted 911 calls dialled from a dead zone. Did Cambry call before her so-called suicide? Or is it Raycevic who's responsible for her death?

I've enjoyed Taylor Adams' previous psychological thriller, No Exit. It was an intense wild ride filled with twists and turns and this book is no exception. Adams' writing has that cinematic style that hook you easily and never let your attention go until the final page. I especially loved how he created his female characters to be courageous and feisty; showing their strengths as they're faced with challenges amid their vulnerable situations. I think I enjoyed this book a bit more than No Exit as it captured the complicated relationship between the twin sisters as well as Lena's side of Cambry's story. As the story slowly unravels, we see some parallels and the truth and personally this storytelling works for me. And I'm glad to say Taylor Adams has now become one of my favourite authors.