Melody's Reading Corner: October 2021

Melody

HQ | 19 August 2021 | 320 pgs
Source: Library

This is another domestic suspense which is on my library list lately and I'm glad I didn't have to wait for too long to get ahold of it. Alice Feeney's books have been hit-or-miss to me and while this latest release was intriguing, I got mixed feelings about it.

Amelia has won a weekend stay at Blackwater Inn, a converted chapel located in the Scottish Highlands and she intends to use this getaway to spend more time with her husband, Adam. After all, they've some marriage issues and their counsellor thinks this trip might help them to reconnect and improve their relationship. Adam, on the other hand, isn't very keen on the trip. He's a screenwriter and nowadays his mind is onto putting his own story on screen instead of other authors, though with the exception of Henry Winter's works. He idolise him and will try to get every means to get Winter's attention despite his flaw. Adam is diagnosed with prosopagnosia, which means he cannot see distinguishing features on faces, including his own.

Anyway, the couple eventually goes on with their trip but what they've known about the place is far from their expectations. Amid the creepy atmosphere of the old chapel and a raging snowstorm, they find that their other half is harbouring some secrets and that they aren't alone in that isolated place. Amelia claims she sees someone outside a window; and Adam discovers a crypt in the chapel among other things. What's more frightening? Things that go bump in the night or your other half who's keeping secrets?

Added to the intrigue is a mysterious character called Robin who resides near the old chapel and some letters addressed to Adam from the wife in which they expressed her thoughts about their marriage on each of their anniversaries. Adam never knew about these letters and this is where the story gets more interesting. This book has an interesting concept especially with the execution, but I wasn't so sure about the ending. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the book but I think the ultimatum of this story is more of the twist and while it isn't a bad thing, having read more psychological suspense/thrillers have somewhat change a bit of my expectations from this genre. That said, this book is a good fit for discussions and I'll be curious to hear your thoughts if you've read it.

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Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 10 comments |

Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

Melody

Michael Joseph | 14 September 2021 | 496 pgs

Source: Library

To begin with, I think this is more of a domestic drama than a psychological thriller. That said, it does have a mystery aura though, but there's not much action or intensity but lots of family drama, guessing games and miscommunication.

Joy and Stan Delaney used to coach and run a tennis academy but have sold their business for their retirement. They've four grown-up children (Amy, Logan, Troy and Brooke) and although they're all trained by their parents since young, they aren't good enough to be successful and as the years go by, their interest for tennis waned and each pursue their own success either by getting married or venture into something else.

The Delaney children understand their parents' passion for tennis and Joy's enthusiasm in running the business, but they all knew that they would never forget about their star student, Harry Haddad who once walked away from them years ago at the peak of his performance, leaving the parents feeling despair and betrayed at the same time, especially Stan. But they've somewhat walk out from that gloom and are looking at spending a relaxing life while occasionally fretting about their adult children when a stranger knocks at their door one night. A young woman named Savannah claims she's running away from her abusive boyfriend and of course, Joy and Stan couldn't turn her away. Savannah's overnight stay at the Delaneys soon extends to staying with them like a tenant since Joy and Stan enjoy her company and most of all, she's a good cook. The children, on the other hand, feel their family space being invaded yet they could do nothing about it. Then Joy goes missing one day and Savannah is nowhere to be found. The scratch marks on Stan's face is suspicious to the police so naturally he becomes a suspect. Not all of the Delaneys children believe that their father is guilty; and this is where all the doubts come in as the reader watch the story unfolds between the present and what happened leading to Joy's disappearance.

This story was great for the characters developments and the family dynamics but you'd be disappointed if you're looking for suspense and thrill as they're minimal. Basically it revolves around the relationship among the Delaneys and how Savannah's intrusion is the fuse to their calm (or make-believe) life. It's a great exploration of the connection and the complexity between people; how communications can be easily misinterpreted and that looks may be deceiving. The book was funny at times despite the content and while it was an interesting read, I find it to be a bit long and dragging. I'm not too sure how I felt about the ending though; there was closure but I felt it was somewhat anticlimactic. Perhaps I dived into this book with a different expectation and viewpoint so overall it was an average read to me.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Domestic drama, Fiction, Mystery 16 comments |

The Trawlerman by William Shaw

Melody

Riverrun | 13 May 2021 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

In the previous third installment, DS Alexandra Cupidi solved a case involving a developing site but the outcome (plus some past awful experiences) had left her suffering from post-traumatic stress; thus in this book she is taking her leave and is assigned to a desk job doing data analysing. But of course this doesn't stop Alex from snooping around and observing things especially after her hefty interception between a knife-wielding woman and a newlywed (gay) couple. Alex has no idea about her heightened sense of danger and insecurity ever since her last investigation, but she sure is intrigued by the dynamics between the newlywed couple and the older woman who doesn't seem to be mentally well but is adamant that one of them had killed her son.

On the other end, Alex's colleague, Officer Jill Ferriter is charged with investigating the murders of a couple after a delivery woman discovered their naked corpses in their home. The only clue is a bloody message and most perplexing of all, why would they order some mundane groceries which are less than forty dollars? Based on initial interviews, Jill learned that Aylmer and Mary Younis were both nice and reserved people who have no enemies and only have a handicapped son who stays at a special care facility. Upon further investigation, they learned that the Younises had made investments in a green reforestry scheme in Guatemala but have lost their savings. But that is not all, they've also found a list of other investors, including Alex's ex-colleague and long-time friend, Bill South (There's a history surrounding the dynamics between Alex and Bill over a past case and this resulted a somewhat awkward strain in their friendship but new readers would be able to understand through some scattered snippets and their conversations.)

I've mentioned before that I love William Shaw's writing and his storytelling, but I've to say the settings he created for each of the story is another big draw and most of them revolve around the nature and the wildlife theme. In this book, he takes us to the sea and gives us more than a glimpse about the fishing community of Folkestone, trawling and the dangers alongside the job. I find I've learned something after reading his books.

And despite Alex isn't active in terms of running the investigation in this book, she still prove herself to be proactive and capable of analysing the situation while battling with her own demons and the PTSD. Her relationship and her banter with her teenage daughter, Zoe, felt relatable and again I've to applaud the author for his fleshed out characters, the complexity of human connections and the humanity being portrayed in his books. This is one series I'd recommend to follow and I hope that we'll get to see Alex back on her feet in the next installment.