Melody's Reading Corner: August 2023

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Melody

Berkley | 14 March 2023 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

Vera Wong is a 60-year-old woman who lives alone above her tea shop at Chinatown in San Francisco. One would think Vera would be lonely and vulnerable at her age, but she's none of that. On the contrary, she's full of zest and given her curiosity and her snooping habits, she's know a lot of other things which some people may overlook. Plus, she's warm and easygoing so it's hard not to like her; well except her only son Tilbert who thinks she's a bit naggish and making a fuss out of nothing but that's what many Asian mothers would do. So aside from brewing various Chinese teas and chatting up with a few friends while struggling to hold on to her declining business, basically her life is uninteresting until one early morning she finds a dead body in her tea shop, his hand tightly clenched over a flash drive.

Under this circumstances, anyone would be too terrified to do anything but to call the police. Well, Vera did call the police but before that, she swipes the flash drive out of the dead man's hand and put it in her apron, thinking that she could do a much better job than the police with her snooping habits and some extra time on her hands. She figures that the killer would return to the crime scene and all she has to do is to be observant of the customers who visit her tea house. Before long Vera quickly forge a close friendship with a few of her customers; and what she's to do if one of them happens to be the killer?

Vera was one character who'll grow on you the more you get to know her. She has a vigorous personality and combined with her vigilant and inquisitive demeanour, she's unstoppable once she put her sleuthlike skills to work. Her interactions/banter with a few of her customers and friends were fun to read, though she could be a bit overbearing at times but her intentions are good. I'd say this is more of a character-driven cozy mystery and though I rarely read this genre, I enjoyed this book a lot.

© 2023 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: 4 stars, Book Review, Cozy Mystery 6 comments |

The One by John Marrs

Melody

Hanover Square Press | 20 February 2018 | 416 pgs

Source: Library

If there's such a medical/scientific technology that allows you to find your perfect partner through matched DNA, would you do it? This book revolves around that topic and how far one would go to find their perfect partner.

Although Match Your DNA, a company which has matched many couples is gaining recognition with their program, they also face a backlash from some that the test results have led to the upending of the traditional ideas of love and romancing, not to mention the breakup of countless relationships and marriages. Despite this, the idea of finding your genetically matched partner outrun the downsides.

Jade, Mandy, Nick, Christopher and Ellie are some of the few millions who signed up and have their test results matched with their designated partner. While these five characters are different on many levels, they've one thing in common - secrets. Despite they're a perfect match, will they find their happily-ever-after despite who they really are?

This book was a wild ride. Fast-paced, unputdownable and filled with entertainment and intrigue, I couldn't flip the pages fast enough. This is one book which I'd called a perfect read in a psychological thriller - it has a cast of intriguing characters, multilayered plots, twists and turns and then of course, there's that refreshing and original premise. And this is so much I can tell you because to say more will spoil the fun for you. Last but not least, I want to thank Lark for putting this book on our buddy read list. Both of us had so much fun discussing this book throughout our reading journey. Visit Lark's blog here for her review.

Here are some questions from Lark to me:

What do you think about the whole idea of soulmates? And if you had the chance to find your 'perfect Match' through a simple DNA test, would you do it? Why or why not?

Soulmate is defined as a person with whom one has a strong affinity, shared values and tastes and while I think they can enhance a couple's relationship with many shared similarities, I feel that communication, understanding and mutual respect remain the core of a strong and loving relationship. As for if I'd find my perfect match through a DNA test, I think I've no intention of finding that out. After all, it's not like a genetically matched relationship would guarantee a perfect relationship. Humans aren't perfect; and also I've seen couples who are opposite each other are staying happily together, too.

Labels: 5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 6 comments |

Have You Seen Her by Catherine McKenzie

Melody

Atria Books | 27 June 2023 | 334 pgs

Source: Library

At its core, this book revolves around secrets, deceptions and missing persons mainly set in Yosemite National Park.

Cassie Peters is leaving her past and shedding her old identity as she made her escape to her old hometown in Mammoth Lakes, California. Who she's running away from is a mystery in the beginning but that'd unravel as the story progresses. Cassie used to work with Yosemite Search and Rescue many years ago but left due to an incident which still haunt her today. Given this circumstances she'd have avoided going down to that route but desperation could drive a person into making hasty decisions so she's back to join a group of fellow seasonal workers and making new friends as well.

During her work on different occasions she meets two young women, Petal and Jada. Petal lives in a trailer with her partner; an older woman who keeps things to herself and remains aloof to others. Petal, on the other hand, is more vocal though she only write her inner thoughts and the daily occurrences on a journal (part of a narrative which I enjoyed reading aside from Cassie's between now and then). Jada is a college graduate who goes on a cross-country trip with her boyfriend while documenting their journey on Instagram but later both go missing. This turn of events set the story in momentum, as the reader will learn that these three women harbour secrets of their own and any one could have a hidden agenda.

I loved the atmospheric backdrop of Yosemite National Park; through the author's descriptive writing I could imagine the beauty and the adventurous trail it entails for the hikers. I also enjoyed reading more about the role of the Search and Research team and how perilous their job can be. The characters are well-portrayed and flawed; and the dynamics between these three characters are explosive as the story unravels. The ending was a good twist, though it left some threads hanging in my opinion but I suppose that'd be at the disclosure of each reader's imagination. I'm a fan of Catherine McKenzie and though this isn't my favourite, I love her writing style and her crafty suspense that always left me intrigue.

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

Don't You Dare by Jessica Hamilton

Melody

Crooked Lane Books | 16 May 2023 | 272 pgs

Source: Library

Hannah and Scarlett are best friends in college, until they met Thomas and he created a ripple in their friendship. While Scarlett makes sure that their friendship remains platonic, it doesn't take long for Hannah and Thomas to fall for each other. The trio's dynamic becomes more tense and complicated after they play the Daring Games and eventually lead to a tragedy, resulting Thomas being expelled from the college. No one heard from him thereafter.

Sixteen years later, Hannah receives a note about the Daring Game from Thomas. Hannah is married and have a young daughter, but her life isn't happy. She and Scarlett still contact with each other via texts occasionally, but their close friendship is no longer the same since that tragedy. With her unhappy marriage and without Scarlett around, Hannah rekindle her friendship with Thomas, or to be exact, their love relationship behind her husband's back as well as resuming the Daring Games. Until a day they both receive a note telling them to meet at their secret meeting place of the Daring Games, daring them to "tell the truth".

This was an additive and compelling read. I found it unputdownable but the characters are unlikeable, to say the least. The dynamics between Hannah, Scarlett and Thomas are the draw and strength of the story, but at times I find their behaviours juvenile and full of angst. Most of all, I think it's a bit unbelievable seeing two adults continuing the Daring Games as if they were teenagers, but I suppose I'd accept it for the entertainment, the intensity and the story developments. I also find the ending a bit mediocre but I did enjoy the author's writing and her ability to capture the reader's interest. I'm definitely curious to know what she has in store for her next book.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 2 comments |

The Magistrate by Brian Klingborg

Melody

Minotaur Books | 2 May 2023 | 320 pgs

Source: Library

This last installment of Lu Fei Mystery series was the best among all and I was so sad to see it end! (I'm hoping it's not the end of the series but the last I checked on Amazon, it listed this as "Book 3 of 3".) As mentioned in my previous post on Book Two, this series can read as a standalone but it's recommended to read them in order for the flow of characters developments and connected story plots.

Onto the review. Lu Fei is a meticulous and diligent inspector who couldn't tolerate corruption and the injustice of the law. He's one who'd pursue the cases relentlessly and there are times that even Chief Liang, his immediate superior, couldn't do anything about his impulsiveness and his enthusiasm in the investigations once he's set his eyes on them. Although his impulsive actions sometimes got him into trouble, such as offended the higher-ranked officials or get himself suspended, he's also lucky that he has a few trustful colleagues and friends whom he could count on.

This book focus a lot on sex trafficking and the corruption of various officials who have the power and authority to bend the law. Lu Fei has gone through a tough mission as an undercover filled with various action-packed scenes in Book Two and while this installment features him back to his inspector role, his investigations are filled with obstacles as he suspected the sex trafficking ring is run by someone who's well protected by the officials. How could Lu Fei override that authority without compromising his role while trying to catch the perpetrator(s)? His investigations are further complicated by someone who called the Magistrate; as it seems that they've their own ways of punishing the sex traffickers through torturous methods (similarly to the Five Punishments in ancient Chinese legal system) and even murder.

This book was dark and brutal in some ways, but it gives the readers more than a glimpse of the reality where the girls and the women are duped/forced into selling their bodies in which they've no idea of initially. Many of them live in intolerable living conditions (in this case North Korea) and they wish to escape or simply to find a job which might lead them to somewhere better, only to find themselves jump out of the frying pan into the fire. As always, I'd great faith in Lu Fei and he didn't disappoint in each of the cases he solved. I really hope that the author will continue to write this series because Lu Fei is a great character and it'd be a pity to see this series come to an end.

Labels: 5 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Police procedural 4 comments |

Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay

Melody

Berkley | 16 May 2023 | 480 pgs

Source: Library

Samantha Gale travels back to her hometown in Martha's Vineyard to chaperon her 14-year-old half-brother, Tyler, while their parents go on a vacation. Samantha has nothing to lose considering she left her job as a chef over a promotion pass and she thinks this temporary break might help her resurrect her career. On the ferry ride to Martha’s Vineyard, Sam accidentally knocks a good-looking stranger's book into the ocean. Sam is mortified but what're the chances that they might meet again?

Turns out that Sam does meet that good-looking stranger against all odds, when she's bringing Tyler to the local library for the robotics competition. After learning that the hot-reader stranger is called Bennett Reynolds and that he's the library's interim director, Sam knows that she couldn't tell him that she has dyslexia, for she feels that people are judging her because of it (she lost her promotion due to this, which I find it ridiculous and unreasonable).

But Ben is unlike other people, he doesn't judge or feel sorry for Sam after learning that she has dyslexia over an incident, on the contrary he encourages Sam and makes an effort to read stories to her. Although Ben tells himself he isn't interested in a relationship right now with his quest on finding his father (whose identity he's never known), yet he can't stop thinking about Sam the more they spend time together.

Summer Reading has all the tropes that I love - friends or enemies-to-lovers, bookish theme, family bonding moments and most of all, the representation of dyslexia and/or neurodivergence which I rarely come across in fiction. I loved it that the author has chosen a font that is reading-friendly to the readers who have dyslexia, and to bold the words that's meant for italics. However, I didn't like it that Sam seemed to belittle herself for having dyslexia; using this as a reason for thinking her faults and not doing much to improve herself. This thing aside, I did enjoy her banter and her bonding with Tyler, as well as her blossoming relationship with Ben. Overall it was a heartwarming story which I think is perfect for Summer Reading.