Melody's Reading Corner: 2022

Melody

William Morrow | 12 July 2022 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

I've enjoyed most of Carol Goodman's books I read thus far. She's excellent in creating atmospheric settings and a cast of intriguing characters and this book is no exception. And as much as I enjoyed the above, I wasn't in love with this book.

To begin with, the premise was good. It was set in several years after the 2020 pandemic but a new virus surfaces (yikes!). Lucy Harper and her husband, Reed, decided to seek refuge on his family’s private island off the coast of Maine together with a few of their close friends. The group of seven understood the threat of the outside world and thought it was a good choice to stay isolated, with minimal Internet and social media if possible (especially the latter since they didn't want to announce their location). As they quarantined themselves in the island, the dark history of the island resurfaced as Lucy found a journal chronicling the island’s history as a quarantine hospital for typhus patients and that the island might be cursed after what happened in the past, involving one of Reed's ancestors. But Reed was reluctant to say more regarding the past, either he was spooked or there's some dark family secrets.

Lucy didn't give up and continued in reading the journal discreetly. It was also at that moment that the dynamics between the group started to change and some members started to badmouth and take sides. It wasn't until an incident happened and the group started to wonder if the island was indeed haunted or if someone amongst them had an agenda including murder.

This book has all the tropes for a locked room mystery. Atmospheric setting, a cast of intriguing characters, a mysterious past surrounding the location and/or characters; and a murder that changed all the dynamics. All these elements sound intriguing but the pace was slow, the characters unlikeable and while the journal entries were interesting, they're long and most of all, I thought the motives in the end felt a bit flat (and ridiculous) to me. That said, Carol Goodman is a good writer and I hope her next book will be better.

I took an unexpected blogging break so this explains my belated post and also my absence in blogs commenting. I can't believe 2022 is coming to an end soon and I hope next year will be a better one in every aspect. Usually this time around, I'd have a post of my favourite reads of the year ready (or posted) but I've not written anything since I've yet to go through my list due to my break. 😅 Still, I'll have it done soon and last but not least, I hope the new year bring you happiness, peace and prosperity!

© 2022 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

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

Insomnia by Sarah Pinborough

Melody

HarperCollins | 31 March 2022 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

I was impressed by Sarah Pinborough's past novel, Behind Her Eyes, as I thought the plot was refreshing and twisty. However, I'd lukewarm feelings about this book and I'll get to that shortly.

Emma Averell is a successful lawyer who balances her career and family life well but is afraid of her 40th birthday approaching. She has her reasons since her mother has gotten mad towards reaching forty and due to this and her estrangement with her mother due to a traumatic past, she's left quite haunted by the emotional turmoil and all these exacerbate her insomnia issue coming her 40th birthday. In addition, her relationship with her sister Phoebe hasn't been good and her sudden arrival leads her wondering if she has an agenda. What follows is Emma's bout of anxiety and in between her paranoia and her insomnia problems you began to wonder if she's really gone mad or if she (or the reader) is being gaslight.

So here are my thoughts about the good and the not-so-good. To begin with, Sarah Pinborough has a way of writing that sucks you in. Her characters are usually complex yet intriguing and even if they aren't reliable, the reader is attracted by their narratives. Also, the subject matter in this book is a common issue in today's society so it makes the reader feel relatable and empathy towards Emma. As for the not-so-good part, it was slow and repetitive at times. Emma could get on one's nerves with her constant whining (about hitting the big 4-0) and truth be told, I found it lacking in the thrill department until the last third of the book; and by then it didn't help with how I felt about the overall story. That said, I still find the premise interesting and that it'd be an even more intriguing read with better execution.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 12 comments |

The Dragon's Promise by Elizabeth Lim

Melody

Knopf | 30 August 2022 | 496 pgs

Source: Purchased

The Dragon's Promise is the final book of a duology and it picks up right after the end from Six Crimson Cranes. Shiori, our heroine, has gone off to Ai'long (the kingdom of the dragons) so that she could save her country and also to return the pearl to its rightful owner, the Wraith. The pearl played an important part in this story since in the previous book she's made a promise to her late stepmother, Raikama, that she'd find the owner and return it to him.

Without telling too much about the plot, all I can say is this duology is about magic, family bonds and a star-crossed love. Princess Shiori was a courageous character who'd never adhere to political rules and would fight her way which she thinks is right. Perhaps with this characteristics, she often finds herself stucked in dangerous situations but fortunately she has a great assistant in the form of a paper bird called Kiki. Her relationship with her brothers was close and that was revealed in the previous book where Shiori tried every means to save them after they'd turned to cranes through a curse.

Shiori's journey to Ai'long might not be smooth but she has the help from Seryu, the heir of the Dragon's King and Takkan, her childhood friend and her betrothed. Seryu was such an intriguing character but alas, his appearance only covered one-third in this story and that left me perplexed over the choice of this title. And if Takkan didn't leave me a deep impression in the previous book, he's definitely grown on me in this installment. His courage, his understanding and his love towards Shiori could melt any girl's heart and he's quickly become one of my favourite characters in this book, aside from Kiki that is.

The battles towards the end with the demons were all too much and convoluted along the way and I wished it was better executed. All in all, it was a fun book but Six Crimson Cranes remains my favourite. If the author read this review, perhaps she could consider writing a spin-off about Seryu in the near future?

Finally, I want to thank my long-time book buddy, Lark, for reading this duology with me (please check out her blog here for her review). This book marked the end of our buddy read for this year but we'll have more coming up in 2023!

Here are the questions from Lark after our read:

1. Out of all the magical elements and different legends in this story, which were your favorite?

Each magical element and legend in this story is special and unique in their own way. While I think Shiori's brothers transformation of the cranes left me a deep impression, Kiki's lively existence (through Shiori's magic) kept me entertained throughout the duology. I loved her loyalty and enjoyed reading her banter with Shiori. I think she's one of the important roles that keep this story going.

2. If the author writes more books set in this world, which characters would you most want her to write about next?

Seryu. Hands down. I most definitely want to hear more about his stories and adventures in Ai'long.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Fantasy, Young Adult 8 comments |

A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong

Melody

Minotaur Books | 31 May 2022 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

In this first book of a new series featuring homicide detective Mallory Atkinson, author Kelly Armstrong takes her readers through time and space to Victorian Scotland in 1869 to solve a murder case - a mystery in which somewhat related to her harrowing encounter that may have led her going back in time.

Mallory was visiting her dying mother and while she was out for a breather, someone attacked her after she thought she heard a woman screamed in distress in a dark alley. When she woke up, she found herself in a foreign land dressed in Victorian housemaid attire. She later learned that she'd woken up in Catriona’s body and she was the woman who was murdered in the same spot where she was assaulted in present time 2019.

As much as Mallory was shocked about the time travel and the body swap, her curiosity and her role as a detective quickly allowed her to adjust to the life as a housemaid to Dr. Gray, her employer. Dr. Gray was an undertaker, but he was also a medical examiner who assisted (discreetly) Detective McCreadie in his cases. McCreadie's recent case was a strangulation of a young man, and Mallory found the attack quite similar to Catriona’s and herself which made her think that the murderer might be of the same person. Without arousing Dr. Gray's curiosity about her true self, Mallory has to learn to adapt to the Victorian lifestyle without the modern gadgets but would she be able to catch the murderer so that she could return to the present world?

Well, I'd had so much fun reading this book! Basically, it has all the elements I love in my reading: time travel, suspense, Victorian setting and most of all, likeable characters such as Mallory and Dr. Gray. Their banter and their differences (in most aspects) entertained me but what I liked most is reading about Mallory's input of the modern investigative theories in Dr. Gray's findings and making sure that they wouldn't disrupt the origin investigation methods. The secondary characters are well-portrayed as well and allowed readers more than a glimpse of their various roles and their interactions with other characters. Overall, this was an engaging read and I can't wait to find out more of Mallory's adventures in the next book.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Fantasy, Suspense, Time travel 8 comments |

Fish Swimming in Dappled Sunlight by Riku Onda

Melody

Bitter Lemon Press | 26 July 2022 | 286 pgs

Source: Library

Translated from the Japanese by Alison Watts

Where to begin? Everything about this story baffled me; starting with the sunny poetic title which has nothing to do as what it suggested (or perhaps I just missed it). In any case the concept was refreshing albeit a bit muddled in my opinion.

The story opens with a couple in their shared flat for a late night conversation before they go on separate ways. Aki and Hiro felt they've to know each other's feelings and thoughts after their mountain trek in which their guide had fallen off the mountain. To begin with, their relationship has somewhat broken down before the trip and looking back, they began to wonder if the other has anything to do with the guide's death.

Set over the course of one night, the reader will soon learn that the mind games between the couple go far beyond from that fateful trekking trip as there's something more about their past which might have start the chains of events leading to what happened on the mountain.

With narratives alternate between Aki and Hiro, this story was draped in an intense, suffocative atmosphere which have you question the characters' inner thoughts and the unravelling truth as a new day began. Truth be told, the strength of the story lies in the taut atmospheric setting and the tension between the characters but the suspense of the guide's death was shadowed by the characters' reminiscence as the story progresses. It was quite a well-crafted story characters-wise but a bit lacking in the thriller department (though I later understand that this isn't the core of the story at all). This book wasn't what I'd expected initially but the author's writing intrigued me. Perhaps I should check out her previous book, The Aosawa Murders (selected by NYT as one of most notable books of 2020.)

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Japanese Literature, Psychological Suspense 8 comments |

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

Melody

Hodder & Stoughton | 7 July 2022 | 368 pgs

Source: Library

Casey Fletcher is an actress but has since pause her career after her husband's passing. Despite her husband's accidental drowning at their family's lake house in Vermont, Casey returns to the place to escape from bad press and also to drown her sorrows with alcohol. Bored with nothing much to do, Casey spends most of her time drinking and watching with her binoculars and that's when she started to watch the couple who live in the house across the lake.

Casey soon learns that the couple is none other than Tom and Katherine; both whom have made their success and fame through their jobs as a tech innovator and a model respectively. Casey later become friends with Katherine after she's saved her from drowning, but her impression on the glamorous couple starts to change after she got to know Katherine more and her spying habits continue. Tom's and Katherine's marriage may not seem as perfect as what she's thought the more she watches them until one day, Katherine goes missing. Curious and bothered by her disappearance, Casey is adamant to find out the truth till she's unravel something darker and more sinister than she's thought.

At first glance the premise gave off the Rear Window and The Woman in the Window vibes. I didn't mind this trope as I think with the trend of the thriller genre goes, most of the tropes have been used in one way or another and it's up to the author's imaginations and writing skills to make the story different and captivating in their own way. This book is a fine example of it; and I've enjoyed most of Riley Sager's books but this story was a letdown despite the intriguing premise. Don't get me wrong, Sager's writing is good and I feel his story settings' descriptions is one of his strengths but this story veered off in another direction which was simply too far-fetched for me to fathom and to appreciate the conclusion as it comes to a closure (I couldn't say why due to spoilers). Another thing that bothered me was Casey's alcoholic obsession; she really did nothing but drank and spied on her neighbour most of the times. There's some twists and turns as expected in this genre, but alas I think the author was trying too hard and this ended flatly in my opinion. I hope his next book will be better and that it'd surpass Final Girls and Home Before Dark, which remain my favourite Sager books.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 10 comments |

The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell

Melody

Century | 21 July 2022 | 448 pgs

Source: Library

Although this title is stated as a standalone sequel to The Family Upstairs, I'd recommend readers to read TFU first to fully understand the story and the background of the characters before diving into this book as their emotions and actions are mostly shaped and impacted from some events happened in TFU.

As the story begins, a bag of human bones is found on the foreshore of the river Thames by someone who's mudlarking there. DCI Samuel Owusu is called to the scene for investigation and forensic examination later reported that the bones are of a young woman who was killed by a blow to the head many years ago. DCI Owusu later traced to a mansion in Chelsea through some seeds of a rare tree found alongside the bones and from the mansion leads to a mystery happened thirty years ago.

While the remaining occupants of the mansion are fully grown now and some has their own family, it seems they're still bothered by the past memories, in particularly Henry, who is adamant to find Phin whom they'd shared some unsettling childhood memories. His obsession leads him on a journey to Chicago, which then prompts his sister Lucy and her two children in pursuing him like cat-and-mouse game. The reader is also introduced to a new character, Rachel, who's in a complicated relationship with her husband, Michael. Michael is Lucy's ex-husband so all the characters are connected and what they're going through would be seen in a bigger picture towards the end.

As compared to TFU, this story may seem a bit bland from the thriller aspect. Then again, this is more of a domestic drama and it focuses more on the characters though there's still some suspense in the air which kept me intrigued. I was most interested in reading Henry's POV. It's clear that he has some issues but strangely his POV stands out the most amongst others (I've to confess I felt a bit bothered about his thoughts towards the end but I'll leave that to you to find out yourself). I'd say I liked TFU more than this book, but Lisa Jewell is a wonderful storyteller and a good writer so while this isn't my favourite, overall I still enjoyed the reading experience.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Domestic drama, Suspense Thriller 9 comments |

The Retreat by Sarah Pearse

Melody

Bantam Press | 21 July 2022 | 368 pgs

Source: Library

We're first introduced to Detective Elin Warner in Sarah Pearse's The Sanatorium and learnt that Elin was taking leave from her job due to PTSD issue. Although she's back in this book to investigate for a new case set at an eco-wellness retreat on an island off the English coast, she's still shaken by the memories at times though she's getting better as the time goes by.

Known locally as Reaper’s Rock, the island has its fair share of horror stories due to a murder which took place years back and the curse surrounding the place. Elin is called to the retreat because a woman's body was found on the rocks below the yoga pavilion. Initial speculation is the woman fell off the pavilion due to a mishap, but she wasn't a guest and wasn't meant to be on the island at all, in which was later rectified that her visit was a surprise by a few guests who knew her. Thereafter, there's another death in the following day when a man drowned in a diving incident. It is probably not a coincidence, considering both victims come from the same circle of family and friends who stay there for some relaxation. As Elin and her partner, DC Steed, begin their investigation around the retreat, they will soon find out the complicated relationship and dynamics within the group of family/friends and also, what really happened on the island years back.

First off, the atmospheric setting was a draw and the author knows how to capture her readers' attention through this setup as a locked-room mystery, just like the same as The Sanatorium. Her cast of characters are usually intriguing though not all are likeable, but I'm fine with this as this bring out the characteristics in them. However, it took this reader a while to get familiarise with the characters in the beginning and the pace was slow, with nothing much going on except reading about the bickering and gossips among the characters. It's clear that some of them have secrets and are not honest with one another. As the story progresses, it was interesting to learn that the past murder was connected to the present so that leave readers the questions why and how?

Overall I found it to be an average read but I've to say I enjoyed reading about Elin more in this book as compared to the previous book. She's shown resilience and put aside her insecurities at times in dealing with some tough situations, though not all are wise move and could be considered reckless sometimes but it's a start away from her old self. After the sanatorium and the retreat, I wonder what setup the author has in mind for her next book.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 6 comments |

Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson

Melody

Raven Books | 4 August 2022 (Reprint) | 336 pgs

Source: Library

At its core, this is a story about power, deceptions, revenge and how far a mother would go to protect her child.

Bree Cabbat has everything what a woman would wish for: a loving husband with a successful career, two lovely young girls and an adorable baby boy. Until the day she wakes up and finds a witch peering into her bedroom window. Convinced that it might be a trick of the light, she dismiss the bad feeling and go on with her day. Everything seems normal until she spies the witch again at her daughter's school's parking lot. Turns out that she's an old woman who kidnapped her baby thereafter. Bree is then instructed to fulfill a few tasks with no questions asked in order to get her baby back, but alongside the tasks she'd soon find out a few things that will tear her family apart.

I've mixed feelings about this book but I'd start off with the things I liked. The beginning was intriguing and compelling; the characters are flesh-out and the author has done a great job in portraying Bree's emotions and her role as a mother. Onto the parts which gave me mixed feelings are the surrealism of the tasks Bree had to accomplish and the motives behind the kidnapping. I get it that the kidnapper wanted justice on her end, but I didn't agree with her acts and her choice of victim(s) considering she herself as a mother, too. The pacing was great in the beginning, but it was slowed down by another character's POV and some flashbacks, thus leading to the inconsistency of narratives and the intensity momentum. Overall it was a decent read but it wasn't enough for me in the thriller aspect.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 7 comments |

The Heights by Louise Candlish

Melody

Simon & Schuster UK | 5 August 2021 | 448 pgs

Source: Library

Ellen Saint is meeting a client at her house in an apartment building, The Heights, when she sees Kieran Watts standing on the rooftop terrace. Seeing Kieran has sent a wave of shock and rage in her; afterall he was dead and she's responsible in his death.

Two years ago, Ellen was living a peaceful life until Kieran waltzed into her son's life and thereafter, there was nothing but troubles and frustrations as she sees Kieran was a bad influence to her son, Lucas. Considering him a catalyst that leads to the family's misery, Ellen decided to take matters into her own hands with some help from her ex-husband, Vic. We all know from the start that things didn't go as planned, and this is where I should refrain from saying more as the highlight of the story is finding out the dynamics between Ellen and Kieran, her interactions with Vic and where the direction will go after Ellen learnt about Kieran's existence and his whereabouts.

As the title suggests, it is about the apartment building where Kieran resides but it is also about Ellen's acrophobia and her other weakness - 'The call of the void' (also known as 'high place phenomenon' characterised by a sudden compulsion to jump). Ellen wasn't a character whom you'd like or read easily; she's flawed and full of hatred and vengeance that would lead the reader wondering if her actions are justified or is she just being obsessive and vengeful. Yet, from another perspective, her role and her emotions as a mother feel real and raw and I couldn't help but to feel sorry for her during those moments. The pace wasn't fast for a thriller, though it did pick up towards the last quarter but it's readable for the character developments and not to mention the explosive ending which would surprise the reader. Overall, I think this book was good but not my favourite. I'd recommend Our House, though, if you want to give this author a try.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 6 comments |

Bad Kids by Zijin Chen

Melody

Pushkin Vertigo | 4 August 2022 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

Translated from the Chinese by Michelle Deeter

To begin with, this book was surprisingly a good read despite the darkness surrounding it. Set in Ningbo, China, this story revolves around three children and how a chance incident set a chain of events that would alter their lives thereafter.

The book opens with Zhang Dongsheng bringing his in-laws to a sightseeing site where he pushes them off the mountain. His relationship with them has always been somewhat strained considering of the difference of their background. His marriage has also turned rocky due to accumulated negative emotions (and his wife as well) and his purpose of staying civil to his in-laws is because they're wealthy, until the idea of murder struck his mind. He thought he's got off scot-free, but little did he know that his actions have been caught on camera by a trio of friends who just happened to take pictures nearby.

14-year-old Zhu Chaoyang is a quiet boy and a whiz at math. Being the only son in a single parent family, he's grown up to be independent and sensible. An outcast in school, he's recently find some joy in his life after Ding Hao, a former schoolmate, reacquainted with him alongside with an orphaned girl, Pupu, whom Ding Hao knew from the same children's home. Both of them are runaways and Chaoyang allow them to stay with him since his mother's working place is far and she's rarely at home. Their simple life becomes complicated and harrowing after they witnessed a murder which they'd captured on camera. What follows is a no return path which no one, including the reader, would ever imagine until the finale that will lead you questioning the outcome.

This is a multilayered suspense that is best read without knowing too much from the beginning. My above summary only covers half of the story as so many things have changed and transpired after these characters meet and their exchanges develop to something dark and sinister. The prose was simple and read easily; and there's a good balance between the characters developments and the plot so it was a fast-paced read to me (This would definitely make a good fit for bookclubs and buddy read discussions.) Also, I always find pleasure in reading translated works not only for the diversity but also the exploration of new-to-me authors, which is the case for me with this book. I hope there'll be more translated works of this author in future.

Note: There's a TV series of this book and it has received rave reviews from audience in China and abroad as well.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Suspense 8 comments |

Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay

Melody

Minotaur Books | 2 March 2021 | 368 pgs

Source: Library

Having read Alex Finlay's The Night Shift and enjoyed it, I was eager to pick up Every Last Fear in which Goodreads listed this as one of the most anticipated books of 2021.

The story begins with the discovery of four bodies of the Pine family at a rented house in Tulum, Mexico. The local police didn't find any evidence of foul play and later proclaimed it as a freak accident after checking the gas line, which they believed was a gas leak that caused the deaths. The only survivors of the Pine family are the two older sons, Danny and Matt, who weren't at the scene when it happened.

Before tragedy struck, the Pine family had been in the spotlight after a true-crime Netflix documentary had made them infamous. Danny, the oldest son, is currently serving a life sentence for murdering his teenage girlfriend, Charlotte. The true-crime documentary, however, suggesting that he may be wrongfully convicted (which aligns with the Pine family's belief) and the producers behind are trying ways to unravel the truth. The FBI, on the other hand, has their own theory and speculations so they assign the case to Special Agent Sarah Keller to look into it and to liase with Matt for some questioning as well as to inform the news to Danny. Prior to leaving home and arriving in Tulum to recover his family members' bodies, Matt encountered some harrowing incidents that made him wonder if the death of his family members are linked to Danny's case. Despite the danger and limited information, Matt is determined to uncover the truth even if means confronting his every last fear.

Told in multiple narratives between the present and the past, this was a riveting read about secrets, deceptions, conspiracies and family drama. I was hooked throughout not only by the plot but with the characters, too. They're all fleshed out and well developed and I even liked a few characters, in particularly Matt's younger sister, Maggie. Her intelligence and her determination in piecing some of the clues left me both in awe and with admiration. FBI Agent Sarah Keller first caught my attention in Finlay's second book, The Night Shift, so I was glad to see her feature in this debut (hopefully there's a series in future?). Overall, I enjoyed this suspense thriller and all the more reading it with my book buddy, Lark (check out her review and the Q&A here.)

Last but not least, here's my answers to Lark's questions:

1. What were your favorite and least favorite things about this novel (characters, writing style, twists, etc.)?

My favourites will be the characters and the twists (it's hard to choose just one). Although likeable characters aren't a must to me, in this case they made this story much more easier to read if you've some characters to root for. My least favourite would be the last few chapters towards the ending. It felt a bit rushed to me but nonetheless still a satisfying wrap-up.

2. If you had to describe this novel in just three adjectives, what would they be?

Riveting, compelling and addictive.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Suspense Thriller 6 comments |

Verity by Colleen Hoover

Melody

Grand Central Publishing | 26 October 2021 (Reprint Edition) | 336 pgs

Source: Library

I'm sure many readers of the YA and romance genre would be familiar with Colleen Hoover's books. Her books are usually emotionally charged and although I haven't read all of her books, I've enjoyed those that I'd read. Verity, however, is a suspense thriller and while it was intriguing, it has a disturbing and unsettling vibe so readers would either love or hate this book depending on one's reading preference.

Lowen Ashleigh is a writer but her fame is mediocre considering she has anxiety of dealing with social media and people. Her current life is stagnant with her mother's passing and dealing with financial issues until an opportunity arises. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, wants her to write the remaining of Verity’s bestselling series as his wife is unable to write due to an unfortunate accident. It is actually not a bad deal in Lowen’s opinion; afterall she gets to write and "hide" behind Verity’s fame, and the offer is attractive, too.

Under Jeremy's request, Lowen moves in to their house temporarily as she sort through Verity’s notes and familiarise with her works. In the midst of sorting through her notes, Lowen stumbles upon Verity’s autobiography, in which she chronicled her relationship with Jeremy from the moment they met right to their marriage, as well as her feelings and struggles with their young children. And judging from Jeremy's behaviours, it seems like he doesn't know anything about Verity’s autobiography and Lowen intends to keep it that way as her feelings towards Jeremy intensifies the more they live under the same roof.

This book is marketed as a romantic thriller (my library copy labelled this a romance with a heart logo), but personally I didn't see anything romantic about this complicated relationship. The author's writing was engaging and the intensity was great, but I didn't feel anything for the characters except a heavy sense of foreboding and . . . disturbing. The premise was dark yet refreshing from a different perspective, but I didn't love this story despite it was a page-turner. And that ending just blew my mind and left me quite flabbergasted. This book will stay in my mind for a long time, but I hope Colleen Hoover will write something different for her next attempt.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Suspense Thriller 8 comments |

The Murder Rule by Dervla McTiernan

Melody

William Morrow | 10 May 2022 | 304 pgs

Source: Library

The story starts off with a bang with our protagonist, Hannah Rokeby, gaining an interview with Professor Rob Parekh through her manipulative/blackmailing email. Prof Parekh is heading The Innocence Project at the University of Virginia and his team (consisted of some law students volunteers) are trying on a case to free Michael Dandridge, who is convicted of rape and murder of Sarah Fitzhugh. Hannah has an agenda alright, but it has nothing to do with righting the justice or freeing Dandridge. In fact, she's doing the opposite - she's going to make sure that Dandridge will never walk out from the prison, ever.

This is simply one side of the story. On the other end, the reader get to know the backstory of Hannah’s mother, Laura, through her diary entries as she chronicled about her past, her romance and the death of her lover. The police had closed the case of his death as accidental, but Laura suspected murder although she has no proof. All these have hit her hard and eventually Laura become depressed and drink to drown her sorrows. The relationship between Hannah and Laura is complicated; there are times that Hannah finds Laura too much of an emotional burden, yet she couldn't turn her back to her. As the story progresses and the two stories intertwine, you'll soon realise that things are not what you've expected initially.

What made this a compelling read in my opinion is the balance/combination between suspense and the character-driven aspect of the story. All the characters are intriguing in their own ways; and the slowburn of the suspense worked well in this case for that big reveal in the end. Hannah may be bold and determined in many cases, but she's also manipulative and a cheater to get her ways so that made her an unpopular protagonist. I don't want to say too much so suffice it to say it was a twisty suspense thriller that had me hooked throughout.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Suspense Thriller 12 comments |

Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen

Melody

The Borough Press | 9 June 2022 | 288 pgs

Source: Purchased

I'd so much fun reading this book; despite it was more of a women's fiction (which revolves around the friendship and "entrepreneurship" between two women) set in a world of luxurious bags and their fake counterparts.

Ava Wong is married to a successful surgeon and is taking an indefinite career break from her profession as a lawyer to take care of her young son, Henri. What seems like a picture-perfect life is actually a facade as Ava is in fact having difficulties in taking care of Henri (who has some developmental issues) and her husband is working far too much to take notice of her struggles and the family as a whole.

Enter Winnie Fang, who is Ava’s old college roommate but left Stanford in a shroud of scandal. Ava has lost contact with Winnie, but they met one day and Ava is instantly fascinated by Winnie’s new self and her wealth. Winnie used to be quiet and awkward but now she's exudes confidence and charm and most of all, she's dripping in designer accessories so life must be more than great for her. Either out of boredom or desperation, Ava soon finds herself confiding in Winnie and what's more, the latter seems to know how to make little Henri happy. As they get closer and Winnie needs a favour surrounding her handbags business, Ava couldn't say no and before she knew it, she's wading deeper into Winnie’s shady business (of making and selling counterfeit luxurious handbags) and she has to make the ultimate decision to cut and run or risk it all.

Luxurious handbags are many women's favourite fashion accessories, so while it was fun reading from that angle, counterfeiting is not and all the more so when these factories are making them and hiring illegal, (and sometimes) underage employees in which these features take up a minor part of the story. And I've to say I learned a lot about the world of counterfeit handbags and their manufacturing after reading this. Also, Ava and Winnie are both intriguing and interesting characters. Their friendship and entrepreneurship are the highlights alongside Ava's coping with cranky little Henri and her life. Overall the prose was light, darkly comic and entertaining; my only complaint was there's not a single quotation marks for dialogues and while they're not hard to distinguish, it isn't my favourite writing style. I'll be curious to find out what's in store for the author's next book.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Women's Fiction 11 comments |

The Power of Regret by Daniel H. Pink

Melody

Random House| 1 March 2022 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

I'm sure everyone has their regrets at some point and in this book, Daniel H. Pink stated that they're universal and are fundamental part of our lives. He also mentioned that if we reckon with our regrets in some fresh and imaginative ways, we can enlist them to make smarter decisions and deepen our sense of meaning and purpose.

The author conducted the World Regret Survey in which he collected the answers from more than 16,000 people in 105 countries and identifies the four core regrets that most people have - foundation regrets (e.g. "If only I'd done the work") , boldness regrets (e.g. "If only I'd taken that risk"), moral regrets (e.g. "If only I'd done the right thing") and connection regrets (e.g. "If only I'd reached out"). He went on to explore these deep structure regrets and also show the reader a few of each examples through his interviewees' answers alongside his research in other areas such as psychology, neuroscience, economics and biology to challenge widely held assumptions about emotions and behaviour.

He also explained about counterfactual thinking (our ability to mentally travel through time and to conjure incidents and outcomes that never happened) and also compare the two counterfactuals - "At Leasts" and "If Onlys". Opportunity and obligation also sit at the center of regret though the former has the more prominent seat and why we're more likely to regret what we didn't do than what we did.

Well, there are more findings and guides from what I've learned as stated above, but I'll end this post with a few quotes from the book which I find useful and something to think about.

"The four core regrets operate as a photographic negative of the good life. If we know what people regret the most, we can reverse that image to reveal what they value the most."

"Don't dodge emotions. Don't wallow in them either. Confront them. Use them as a catalyst for future behaviour. If thinking is for doing, feeling can help us think."

"Live as if you were living already for the second time and as if you had acted the first time as wrongly as you are about to act now!" ~ Viktor Frankl, 1946

"When we've completed a difficult and important task - we sometimes slack off and assume our work is done. But it's usually not. Don't just relish the goal you've achieved. Review the steps that got you there. Spend less time celebrating the destination and more time contemplating the journey."

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Non-fiction, Self-improvement 10 comments |

The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian

Melody

Doubleday | 10 May 2022 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

This story was set in Tanzania in 1964 surrounding an A-list actress, Katie Barstow, and her entourage visiting the Serengeti for her honeymoon. The cast of characters was huge and consisted of thirteen members, including Katie's brother and his pregnant wife, a few of Katie's working colleagues and the local Tanzanian guides.

The lush setting of the wilderness and the plains of Serengeti National Park was a great armchair experience as the reader followed the group of their safari adventure; from watching the giraffes eating leaves from the acacia trees to seeing great swarms of wildebeests crossing the Mara River. It was a joy ride until the group encountered a team of Russian mercenaries midway through their adventure and held them hostage. In the mid of chaos, a few of the guides died under their gunshots and the rest of the entourage was separated and kidnapped by their respective captors. Katie may have the world at her feet, but at that moment she wished for nothing but she and her entourage would come out of the Serengeti alive.

Chris Bohjalian is a good storyteller. He managed to capture the scenes vividly and his characters are flesh-out and well-developed. However, with a huge cast and the introduction and the flashbacks of some of these characters, I found it was a slowburn and the flow of the story didn't go quite as smoothly as I expected. The thrill and the excitement of the present time was often paused at the end of a chapter and begins with the introductions of a character and/or his or her backstory before it switched back to the present time, again. I understand this was a style intentionally written by the author, but it disrupted the flow especially when the reader expected something to happen at the present time.

Also, there are too many topics addressed here - fame, race, cultural differences, some politics in general as well as the main story. While I enjoyed reading them at some point, I felt the story got convoluted and it didn't help with the multiple narratives and the switching of the present and the past as well. Don't get me wrong, the author writing was great but I felt the execution could've been better for a smoother read (or perhaps it's only me). Nevertheless, The Lioness was very much a good character-driven story and I'd recommend it if you like reading a safari adventure.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Thriller 10 comments |

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay

Melody

Head of Zeus | 3 March 2022 | 320 pgs

Source: Library

New Year's Eve, 1999. Four teenagers working late are attacked at a Blockbuster video store in New Jersey. Ella Monroe is the lone survivor among the other four victims (including the store manager) and while the police is quick to identity the perpetrator, he is later released due to a lack of evidence. No one knows his whereabouts thereafter and the case remains unsolved.

Fifteen years later, a murder case occurred in the same town as four teenagers are attacked at an ice cream store. Like the tragedy at the video store, only one survived from the brutal attack. Jessica Duvall, the survivor, wouldn't speak to anyone except Ella, who has now become a therapist though she's not fully walked out from that horrific past. FBI agent Sarah Keller and Officer Atticus Singh are assigned to investigate the case and I've to say they made a terrific team despite their differences. Sarah is heavily pregnant with twins but that doesn't deter her from her investigations. While Atticus may not be as experienced as Sarah, he's keen and supportive and I liked him right from the start. Added to the intrigue is Chris Ford, the brother of the perpetrator fifteen years ago and is now a public defender. Those passing years have not stopped him from searching for his brother, and he still harbours the faith that his brother is innocent despite everything.

What made this an engaging read is not only about the mysteries of the two cases but also the various cast of characters. Ella and Jessica shared a connection through their traumatic experiences; Sarah's and Atticus' great teamwork and the childhood relationship between Chris and his brother are all well defined alongside the webs of mysteries. Another aspect that interest me is the Y2K time period and we all remember the excitement and the worry about what the future may bring, don't we?

Overall this book was a fast-paced read with the short chapters and the multiple narratives that switch between the present and the past. While the relevation wasn't entirely shocking if you read the story carefully, I still enjoyed the ride and Finlay's writing. His previous novel, Every Last Fear, is on my to-read list and I'll be watching for his future releases as well.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller 10 comments |

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Melody

HarperCollins | 3 March 2022 | 416 pgs

Source: Purchased

Lucy Foley is a master when it comes to creating suspense in her stories. This is what I've learned after reading The Guest List and The Hunting Party; and this book is no exception.

Right from the beginning, you feel there's something off about the old building at No. 12 Rue des Amants, set in Paris. At the heart of this story is Benjamin and Jess, in which the former has disappeared from his apartment from the above-mentioned building after inviting his half-sister to stay with him for the time being. Jess isn't happy with her job at a bar and her life in London, so she thought it'd be good to leave the city and look for Benjamin instead. After all, it's been a while since they've met each other.

But upon Jess's arrival, Benjamin didn't answer to her calls. With no one to turn to and with limited financials, she's no choice but to break into the apartment building. But, she's left with an unsettling feeling after letting herself into Benjamin's unit for there is still no sight of Benjamin. Jess, however, did get to know a few residents (even the old concierge who seems to be watching everything) after a few nights there. As much as they're polite to Jess, they're not forthcoming with any info when it comes to Benjamin. Their sometimes aloof and secretive demeanour further leave Jess in jittery on top of Benjamin's disappearance and the reader would soon find out the secrets at No. 12 Rue des Amants through Jess's eyes.

I've to say this was a compelling read despite there wasn't many actions surrounding the story. That said, the suspense and the foreboding atmosphere was great. The cast of characters are intriguing and for once, I was glad to note that there's at least someone I could root for in a suspense genre like this - Jess. She's determined and courageous, yet her recklessness at times had left me quite worried for her safety (yes, she's a survivor and I liked her for that). Her interactions with the residents are the highlights of this story; and despite Benjamin's minimal existence in this story, he did project an unforgettable impression of his wits and charms through the residents' account. The ending was a surprise, but not to an extent that wowed me. Still, it made an enjoyable, engaging read and all the more I read this together with my bookblogger friend, Lark. Go check out her review here and read what she thought about this book.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 12 comments |

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins

Melody

St. Martin's Press | 4 January 2022 | 320 pgs

Source: Library

In a nutshell, Reckless Girls is a locked-room mystery set in an isolated island. I've always been a fan of locked-room mysteries and having read the author's previous novel, The Wife Upstairs, I've high expectations of this book but regrettably, it left me feeling a bit disappointed.

Meroe Island is located in the middle of Pacific Ocean with a sad history of a mysterious shipwreck that had happened so long ago. Rumours have it that the island is haunted; and that cannibalism is part of the mystery, too. Not many people dare to explore that island, until time has kind of diminished the rumours but the history of the shipwrecks remain.

The journey begins when Lux and Nico decided to have a little sea adventure on Nico's boat, alongside with two other women who hired Nico to bring them to Meroe Island. Nico has been a free spirited guy who loves sailing and exploring the world. Lux, on the other hand, is tired of her job as a hotel maid and since she's devoted to her relationship with Nico, she decides that sailing with some strangers shouldn't be a bad thing considering the two female travellers, Brittany and Amma, paid a hefty sum for the ferrying.

When the four of them reached Meroe Island, they found they're not alone as they saw a luxurious boat docked before them. Eliza and Jack are a couple and the others could tell they're rich by their demeanour and of course, their boat and its facilities they seem to offer. The six of them become friends quickly; and they've a fun time having the island to themselves until an interloper disrupt their (make-believe happy) equilibrium and turn their dynamics into something dark and sinister. But then, it's not entirely the interloper's fault as each of them harbour a secret and they're about to unleash under their own fear and threats in an isolated island.

For a thriller, there isn't many actions in the first three-quarter of the book as it mostly focus on the interactions between the six characters who remind me a lot about the participants in reality TV show reminiscent of Survivor, Lost and the likes. The setting has a claustrophobic feeling and the cast of characters are intriguing so I think this is the strength of the story. However, the ending came off as abrupt and over-the-top, thus it seemed a little unhinged from the first half of the book. Apart from this, the characters aren't likeable and while this isn't an issue, it didn't help with my outlook on the story though I've to say it kept me entertained. All in all I'd still recommend this if you want a fun read and a brief break from reality.