Melody's Reading Corner: 2023

Melody

Bantam | 12 September 2023 | 288 pgs

Source: Library

Most people will avoid buying a haunted or a murder house, but not Sarah Slade. A self-help writer and therapist, she believes that renovating Black Wood House will give it a new life and not to mention that it might help to boost her fame both for her blog and her book. However, her husband thinks otherwise but Sarah's mind is set. This decision further put a strain on their already rocky marriage but Sarah is adamant.

After they've moved into the house and begins the renovations, they start to experience a lot of strange occurrences. Such as, the contractor injured himself while doing the plumbing (an unfortunate accident?) or unexplained footsteps in the attic when no one is around (spooky!). Granted, it's an old house but Sarah couldn't shake the feeling that she's also being watched. On top of that, her neighbours and the community shun her like a plague and Sarah started to feel frightened after finding threatening notes meant only for her. Despite everything, Sarah wants to find out about the murder that happened in her house and if it is connected to the threatening notes she's been receiving lately.

I've to confess I've mixed feelings about this book but let's start off with the things that I liked first. I loved the spooky, atmospheric element. A haunted/murder house usually draw me into the story and all the more with the main character being unreliable and harbour secrets and a dark past. Now onto the things that gave me doubts. I'm not sure if this book is leaning towards the horror genre or the psychological suspense genre; and ultimately a reader who chose either one might be left feeling a tad disappointed, depending on one's expectations. Well, at least this reader was.

Finally, Sarah. I did not understand her behaviours and actions at times and if there's one thing which made me dislike her more, that is she's stolen someone's (who's close to her) boyfriend and made him her husband. That said, the ending was a surprise (which led me to question some issues) but overall I enjoyed the author's writing.

© 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: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 3 comments |

I'm Not Done with You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Melody

Berkley | 22 August 2023 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

Jane is a midlist writer who's not happy with her life - her stagnant writing career, the house mortgage and even her marriage, too. There's only one person on earth who could keep her alive but they've lost touch. Thalia, her best friend and classmate during their Creative Writing days at Oxford, had disappeared from her life since that fateful night a decade ago. Jane thought she's lost Thalia for good, until she sees her name at the top of the New York Times bestselling list.

Jane begins her stalking journey on Thalia from following her social media feeds to attending a book convention in NYC where Thalia will be promoting her book, "A Most Pleasant Death". Jane is sure Thalia is writing about their story after reading the blurb, and she couldn't wait to meet her in person. She goes to great lengths in fulfilling her mission, too. She deceives her husband and even her book agent so that both are convinced that she has a reason to be at the book convention. And when she finally did meet Thalia in person, all the past memories and what happened on that fateful night come flooding back.

I liked reading about the dynamics between Jane and Thalia. Besties or frenemies? They've so much emotional tug of war between them; at times I feel like watching a cat and mouse chase. Jane's narrative was so honest and well descriptive that you're afraid to get into her head sometimes, because they could be dark and disturbing and yet you couldn't tear your attention away. The first half of the story was slow, but it was a good introduction of Jane as well as her friendship with Thalia during the flashbacks; the second part was exciting after they meet and this is where the games really begin. Overall it was a great riveting read and I'd never have thought that this is the same author who wrote the Aunties series and Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. I look forward to reading more of her suspense books in the near future.

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

Two Novellas by Peter Swanson | A Perfect Deal

Melody

MysteriousPress.com/Open Road | 6 December 2022 | 55 pgs (e-book)

Source: Library

This novella by Peter Swanson is part of the Bibliomysteries series. So it begins when Henry and his wife, Alice, go for their honeymoon trip and stay in a New England lake house. Upon their arrival, Henry is immediately struck by a sense of déjà vu. After all, it reminds him of their house with shelves full of midcentury-American crime novels. However, there's one book that's caught his attention. The Honeymoon Trap is the title; and the more he reads it, the more he finds that the story has uncanny similarities with his own situation. Such as, the two characters in the book are newlyweds on a honeymoon after a whirlwind romance, just like Henry and Alice. And like the female character in the story, Alice is seen acting suspiciously and Henry soon become obsessed with their whereabouts both in the fiction world and in reality; eventually leading him to believe that murder might be the only way to get out of the trap which he believes he's in.

This has a great premise. A story within a story, but what was that ending? It left me confused, and a bit perplexed because it made no sense to me. If you've read it, please let me know what I'd missed.

(3 stars)

William Morrow | 17 October 2023 | 112 pgs

Source: Library

This is another novella by Peter Swanson which I feel works great for a novel too with more in-depth plots and characterisations.

In part one of the story, Ashley Smith is spending her time alone on Christmas Day and stumble upon a diary which she'd written thirty years ago in 1989. She was an American Art student studying in London then and was invited to spend the Christmas holiday with her classmate and her family at Starvewood Hall in Clevemoor. Ashley was impressed by Emma Chapman's manor house but most of all, she was attracted by Emma's twin brother, Adam. But there's something secretive about Adam; and Ashley was quite unsettled when she was told that she resembled a local girl who was murdered.

The second part of the story is the present day in which Ashley reflects on the events happened thirty years ago and this is where the truth unravel and will make you gasp in surprise. I loved that ending; and not to mention the Gothic atmosphere of the English village in Clevemoor. An extraordinary festive read if you don't mind a little thrill to it.

(4 stars)

Recently I watched this K-drama (The Perfect Deal) about a staged kidnapping case that gone wrong. Three friends (starring Yoo Seung Ho, Kim Dong Hwi and Yoo Soo Bin) met up for a drink after having not seen each other for a while. Two of them faced financial problems and after seeing the other drunk, they decided to "kidnap" him for ransom since his family is rich. But things didn't go well for them and their situation become complicated and even dangerous as the case involves more people and the secrets they're all trying to hide. By the time the two friends have realised their mistakes, they've already reached the point of no return.

I couldn't recommend this drama high enough. Though short with only eight episodes, it captured the dynamics between the trio and show how desperation could drive one into choosing an unethical decision. Though what the two friends did are wrong and unforgivable, I felt sorry for them for the difficult (financial) situation they're in. If only they've chosen a better and a wiser route, perhaps their fate would've been different.

(4.5 stars)

Labels: 3 stars, 4 stars, 4.5 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Korean drama, Mysteries, Psychological Suspense 8 comments |

The Passengers by John Marrs

Melody

Del Rey | 30 May 2019 | 416 pgs

Source: Library

After reading John Marrs' phenomenal The One and loving it, I decided to check out his other books and came across this book. The blurb read: "Eight self-drive cars set on a collision course. Who lives, who dies? You decide." Sounds absolutely intriguing, isn't it?

So it begins with the backstory that manual cars would be abolished under the UK laws and replaced by self-driving cars (also known as autonomous cars) that's capable of travelling without human intervention. They could perceive the environment, monitor important systems, and control, including navigation. Drivers are now referred as the passengers; and although accidents still do incur under circumstances, choices made by the autonomous car are often weighted according to the victim's contribution and importance to society (e.g. an ordinary citizen versus a mayor, you get the picture.) This is a grey area and thus has sparked many people questioning about the moral issue though there's no official addressing to it.

It then took someone to hack into the systems of eight self-driving cars and set them on a fatal collision course for worldwide attention. Each of these individuals carries a different role and secrets and it is up to the jurors, amongst them is Libby (who's one of the narratives and is not a believer of autonomous cars) to decide who should die or survive.

This was an intense and a fast-paced read, so to speak. I was in awe of John Marrs' creativity of concocting a different take of autonomous cars in this thriller, although the reading journey was dark and a scary one. While there are thrills and somewhat a cinematic entertainment to the story, there are parts that allow the reader to think deeply about the morality issue and how terrifying that would be if it happened in reality. I find that the decisions/actions driven by keyboard warriors and mob mentality especially in social media was well written and thought-provoking, too. Overall it was a great read; and as much as I was impressed by the technology in every aspect, I think having no manual control of the car is terrifying and I'd think twice about taking a ride.

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

With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson

Melody

Berkley | 1 August 2023 | 400 pgs

Source: Purchased

Lauren Fox and Asa Williamson work at Cold World - a winter wonderland located in Orlando, Florida. Lauren is a bookkeeper while Asa's work range from managing the gift shop to helping out at the skating rink. He's been working at Cold World for ten years and although the career advancement seems a bit stagnant, he doesn't really mind because he just enjoy working there. He's also easygoing, friendly and helpful so it's no surprise that everyone working at Cold World likes him, well except for Lauren who thinks he's a bit of a goof.

Lauren, on the other hand, is practical and an organised person. She's also quiet and reserved and doesn't have many friends, but that may be her coping mechanism after she was abandoned by her mother when young. While Asa is easygoing, he finds it difficult to get along with Lauren. He has the notion that she's a loner and she's too uptight. So what are the odds that these polar opposites work together? Possibly none until their boss ask them to propose ideas of raising more revenue for the park. As if this isn't enough, their boss's son, Daniel, is also tasked to brainstorm any ideas and his involvement creates quite a havoc between Asa and Lauren. Lauren has a secret crush on him while Asa thinks he's simply a charmer who could get anything done through his authority.

As Asa and Lauren try to think of ideas to beat each other, unexpected circumstances arise along the way that make them get to know each other better and gradually change the perspective they've of each other. But there are also obstacles that come between them, such as self-doubt and miscommunication and of course, the fact that Cold World may have to go if there's no solution of saving it.

Ah, I loved how this romance gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling despite the cold setting (never mind if it's artificial). I enjoyed reading everything about the two lead characters; from their differences to their interactions and watching their relationship grow as the story progresses. There's also a topic about parental abandonment which I thought written with sensitivity without being too heavy. And the secondary characters about Asa's roommates and their interactions added some entertainment to this story. Overall, it was a great and a heartfelt rom-com fit for holiday reads. Last but not least, I want to thank Lark (read her review here) for reading this book with me for our buddy read. 😊

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Buddy Read, Contemporary Romance 6 comments |

Now You See Us by Balli Kaur Jaswal

Melody

HarperCollins | 25 May 2023 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

Corazon, Angel and Donita are Filipino domestic workers who work in Singapore. Generally, domestic workers have a wide range of job responsibilities and they could range from cleaners, maids or even caregivers. Corazon and Donita work as maids to wealthy families, while Angel is a caregiver to a family member who's a wheelchair user.

Each of them has their own backstory - Corazon is an experienced worker who's returning to Singapore under mysterious circumstances and her purpose will soon shed to light as the story unravels. Donita, on the other hand, is her first time being in Singapore and as fate would have it, she's hired by a fussy Mrs Fann who has nothing but complaints about her. Donita longed for a relationship but it seems that her Indian construction worker boyfriend thinks otherwise, especially his family wants a daughter-in-law who comes from their own countryside. Angel is satisfied with her job as a caregiver, until her employer's son starts eyeing her and hire a new Filipino nurse, leading her to wonder if she'd be her friend or a threat to replace her.

As these three women carry on their life with their own worries, one of their acquaintances is accused of murder of her employer. While they may not know Flordeliza Martinez well, they do know about their status and how they're often deemed as liars or even thieves in others' eyes, but to be accused as a murderer is another matter. Either out of loyalty or a sense of justice to clear their friend's name, they decided to do a bit of their own investigation to find out what went wrong within Flordeliza's employer's family and if Flordeliza is indeed the murderer.

This was a slow-burn read which in my opinion leaning more towards a cozy mystery and focus a lot more on the general aspect of Filipino domestic workers' working and navigating life in Singapore. While we may have read many stories about the domestic workers from the employers' perspective, rarely do we hear about the former's stories and their voices so this offers an interesting insight with a mystery to boot.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Literary Fiction, Mystery 4 comments |

The Bones of the Story by Carol Goodman

Melody

William Morrow| 11 July 2023 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

Twenty-five years ago, a female student went missing within the compound of Briarwood College. Thereafter, the death of a Creative Writing professor shocked the college community after he was found dead while searching for that missing student. Back to the present, a college President is bringing together the faculty, the donors, and alumni to honor the victims that happened from all those years ago.

But it isn't an ideal proposal, as Nell Portman, the Dean, thought. Aside from the weather forecast about the upcoming winter storm, Nell isn't comfortable about the thought of the alumni gathering. After all, bad memories linger in her mind as she thought of the recriminations and the competitiveness amongst the group of alumni; in which many of them were assigned to write about their fears for their writing projects and then bad things happened. And as the winter storm descends and it's a bit too late for the guests to leave, the group soon find themselves trapped on their ex-college campus and as an alumna died in a similar way as her story she had written for the writing projects years ago, followed by another alumna, and another; the group begin to question themselves if someone has decided to break the silence and to avenge the crimes of the past.

Alternating between Then and Now, this was an atmospheric story about secrets and rivalries within the old college. I've enjoyed many Carol Goodman's books in the past, and this book sounded wonderful with the locked-room element set amid a winter storm but alas, I'd had a hard time following the story because it was slow-paced and there're too many characters to keep straight and on top of it, most of them are unlikeable. While there're still some good twists and turns, I think one has to suspend disbelief at some point. Although my reaction to this book was lukewarm, overall I did like the academia and the atmospheric setting.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 4 comments |

When You Are Mine by Michael Robotham

Melody

Sphere | 24 June 2021 | 416 pgs

Source: Library

Philomena McCarthy has a complicated dark background. Being the daughter of a notorious London gangster and her uncles are ex-prisoners, one would think that her characteristics and her upbringing would be as bad, but ironically Phil's job is the polar opposite of her family's doings. She works as a police officer with the Metropolitan Police and it's actually a childhood incident which prompted her to follow this career path. A female police officer saved Phil from a bus bombing and from there onwards her life changes.

Given her family background, it's no surprise that Phil is often judged by her peers and superiors, but this doesn't deter her until a domestic assault case landed her job in jeopardy. Phil and her partner are called in to assist a woman who's believed to be abused by her boyfriend. The abuser turns out to be a decorated police detective and is widely known for his heroic act in a saving attempt years ago. Once again, Phil finds herself being discriminated and worst of all, being threatened to drop the case and eventually the incident is hushed up and put away. Phil didn't just let this go; she befriends Tempe Brown, the victim, so that she could find out more about DS Darren Goodall. Tempe and Phil soon become good friends, but the former keeps interfering into Phil's personal life. Phil's once peaceful life becomes chaotic ever since her involvement of the domestic assault case; it is apparent that Darren Goodall has several powerful friends within the police force and as more sinister incidents crop up, Phil has no one to turn to except her estranged family.

This book was a page-turner and the author has captured the tension and the atmosphere well, especially the male-dominated police force, its hierarchy and how a "clique" within the police force could be quite menacing once any one of their authorities is being questioned. And then, there's the toxic relationship between Tempe and Darren, and the obsessive friendship between Tempe and Phil which overall made this a compelling read. Phil was an interesting character, but I wasn't enamoured by her reckless behaviours and how gullible she could be at times, but I understand this is part of the portrait of who she is. This is my first Michael Robotham book and definitely not my last.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Psychological Thriller 9 comments |

The Couples Trip by Ulf Kvensler

Melody

Hanover Square Press | 6 June 2023 | 400 pgs

Source: Library

This book is named "Shortlisted for the Crimetime Award 2022" and "Swedish Academy of Crime Writers' Award Best Debut of the Year". And with the story set in the wilderness of Sarek National Park in Sweden, I knew I've to read it.

Anna, Henrik and Milena always make it a point to go for their hiking trip once a year. Anna and Henrik are a couple and the three of them have known one another for some time. This year, however, is different from their annual hiking trip as Milena is bringing her new boyfriend, Jacob, along. Anna and Henrik have had some disagreements amongst themselves since they hardly know Jacob but in the end Henrik gave in.

Jacob happened to be a seasoned hiker and while this comes as a relief to the others, Henrik isn't pleased that Jacob suggested a different hiking route; one which they haven't hike before - Sarek. On top of it, Jacob made a few arrangements beforehand and this adds tension to the group. But it is a bit too late to reverse their trip so they could only move forward to their destination. But uneasiness begin to set in as they wander deeper into the vast wilderness and further away from civilization, as Anna begin to question herself if bringing Jacob along might be a mistake after several circumstances that put their safety at risk. Jacob seems like a person who couldn't take no for an answer and his attitude annoys both Anna and Henrik. Milena, on the other hand, is too meek to point out anything probably she doesn't want to make matters worse. But, the situation gets worse as they progress and things start to go terribly wrong.

This was a wild ride and I enjoyed the thrill and intensity throughout my reading journey. The dynamics among the four characters and their hiking journey are the highlight of the story alongside the various challenges imposed by Mother Nature; but the biggest surprise of all is learning that things aren't as straightforward as what they're seemed to be. I like twisty ending and while this book has it, I felt that there are still some knots left untied and it took away that reading satisfaction and the perfection I'd had in mind initially (perhaps there's a sequel? Please say yes, Mr Kvensler! Otherwise that ending was a bit of a letdown.) That said, I'll read all future works by this author as his writing is captivating.

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

Everything’s Fine by Cecilia Rabess

Melody

Simon & Schuster | 6 June 2023 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

Jess first met Josh at their college. They are completely opposites in every sense. Both of them are opinionated and it's no surprise that their views often clash during most of the talks and discussions in classes together. Jess thought she'd never meet Josh again after graduation, until her first day at work as an analyst at Goldman Sachs.

Being the only Black woman on the floor, Jess is often overlooked and underestimated. She gets all the mundane work despite her qualifications, and her diligence unrecognised as well. Josh, on the other hand, is like a rising star. Given their speech sparring in college, one would've thought that they'd remain solely as working colleagues but surprisingly, Josh shows up for her in his own ways, although he could be direct and insensitive at times. It doesn't take long for them to move from being colleagues to friends, and as an undeniable chemistry slowly formed between them and becomes an attraction, it leave them both in surprise and a bit of exhilaration.

But then the year is 2016, and their relationship is challenged by the cultural and political aspect and added the forthcoming presidential election, Josh and Jess find themselves caught between their political views differences; especially Jess who question herself if it's more important to be happy than right. After all, she's brought up by her father who has a strong belief in equality and their heritage after her mother's death when she was a girl. Jess doesn't want to shun away his belief, but she finds herself in a dilemma as she's just beginning to discover who she is and who she has the right to be; and asking herself if she should choose happiness and if it's indeed everything’s fine as she dare herself to hope for the better. Unlike her, Josh is an empiricist. What the future holds for them?

This was a difficult review to write as there's sexism, racism and political elements alongside the interactions/dynamics between Josh and Jess. It isn't a book one would love for the contents, but the author's prose was clear and engaging and I find myself hooked by this story. Regarding the relationship between Josh and Jess, I just couldn't think of what to describe it. I think Josh loved Jess in a way (was it the strawberries scenario that had Jess landed in the hospital due to allergies and thereafter, Josh had stopped eating them?) but he was so full of his own ideas and theories that he couldn't allow himself to see others from their perspectives and that's his weakness. I liked Jess when she's not afraid to voice out her thoughts at times, but there are also occasions that she self-doubt about things and telling herself that everything’s fine, which in fact isn't. There's so much to talk about on this book but I think it's best that you read it yourself. Suffice it to say that this was a powerful and a thought-provoking debut which had me thinking long after I closed the book.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Literary Fiction, Political Fiction 6 comments |

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

Melody

St. Martin's Press | 4 April 2023 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

Gabe and Pippa Gerard, together with their two young daughters, live in a lovely cottage on a cliff in a sleepy coastal town. It's a perfect setting, or so they thought, but they didn't expect that it's also a popular spot for people who want to end their lives. On several occasions, Gabe had coaxed and saved them from ending their lives, thus earning himself a name for his heroic acts within their community. However there's a day that Gabe didn't manage to coax a woman and she fell to her death. The police eventually determined her death as suicide, but Pippa couldn't shake off the feeling that Gabe seems to be hiding some facts and acted strangely on that fateful day. Pippa later learns that Gabe knew that woman; and she begins to wonder about their connection and what if he didn't save her but had pushed her to her death?

This book was a riveting read and it has many elements aside from the suspense aspect. It gives us more than a glimpse of the intricacy of marriage and relationship, a case of characters study as well as how far one would go in keeping secrets and maintaining a facade.

The story was told in two POVs between the present and the past; but what makes this such an interesting read is the voice of a deceased character. While this narrative is not common in books, I think it works in this domestic thriller given it a fresh perspective from the others of the same genre. The secondary characters are equally compelling and added depth to the story. The twist towards the end was a great one, though it left me a hollow feeling. Overall it was an engrossing read and I'd recommend this book if you love a good domestic suspense.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 6 comments |

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.

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.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Contemporary Romance 6 comments |

The Dark by Emma Haughton

Melody

Hodder & Stoughton | 19 August 2021 | 384 pgs

Source: Library

Dr. Kate North is trying to gather herself after a tragedy that took her lover, Ben, away. So when she's given an opportunity to be an emergency replacement at the UN research station in Antarctica, she said yes to the offer without much thinking. At that point, she's only glad that no one around will ask about her past and that she'll have all the freedom in an isolated place like the Antarctica, in spite of the harsh weather condition and any other risk factors associated with it. Furthermore, there's only thirteen staff there, including herself.

Upon her arrival, she's shocked to learn that no one is there to guide her regarding her job scope. The previous doctor, Jean-Luc, died in a tragic accident while out on the ice and when Kate tries to ask more about his accident, no one offers more information or they just simply brush it off. As the days go on, Kate soon find that the group’s dynamic has become more strained and there's a sense of mistrust lingering among them. She has a feeling it has got to do with Jean-Luc's death and she's set to find out on her own whether if Jean-Luc was murdered and who's the murderer living among them.

I was intrigued by the claustrophobic atmosphere in this book. After all, Antarctica isn't a tourist destination for that matter and we could only experience it through armchair travel. To begin with, Kate's narrative was engaging but I couldn't connect with her as a character. For a medical professional, I felt that she was rather impulsive and overreacting in some circumstances. She relies too much on pills (given her mental state over the past tragedy) and this made her vulnerable. Also, since there are other twelve characters, I didn't feel they were flesh-out enough although a few stood out due to their (loud) personality. Pacing- and intensity-wise, it was slow until the last third of the story and thereafter things started to escalate and it ended quickly. Overall it had a good premise but I think it'd make a propulsive thriller with better execution.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 5 comments |

A Death at the Party by Amy Stuart

Melody

Simon & Schuster | 7 March 2023 | 304 pgs

Source: Library

The story begins with a dead body at a birthday party. His identity is a mystery and Nadine Walsh, our lead character, was found standing over his body in her basement while a birthday party is still in full swing.

Flashback to that fateful morning, Nadine is checking her to-do list for her mother's birthday party. She has made sure that nothing will be left out and that everything will go according to plans; after all her mother is bestselling author, Marilyn Millay, and she's turning 60. Nadine didn't invite a lot of guests, they're all merely her and her husband's closest friends and colleagues, as well as their neighbours. But, what the others didn't know is that the birthday party isn't entirely a celebration for Marilyn, it also marks the day of another anniversary. As the time begins to count down towards the party as Nadine prepares for the party, she'll come to reflect on the past events that still haunt her till today, as well as the whole truth she's been looking for.

This was a slowburn domestic suspense, but then it was necessary given the story was set over the course of one day and there were the emotions and reactions from Nadine towards the present and the past, as well as her interactions with the few neighbours around her whom they play a huge part to the story. Nadine's character was well described though I couldn't say I liked her; she was too much of a complicated woman with secrets and it didn't help that a past event had kind of traumatised her in a way. There were enough red herrings throughout the story; and it was satisfactory to see the past and the present kind of connected towards the end as the truth unveiled. I loved this author's writing so I'll be sure to check out her other books.

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

The Last One by Will Dean

Melody

Atria/Emily Bestler Books | 8 August 2023 | 448 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Caz is excited to be on board the exclusive cruise liner RMS Atlantica with her new love, Pete. Well, who would want to turn down a vacation and do nothing but eat, dance and make some new friends on board the ship, right?

But when Caz wakes up the next morning to find Pete is missing, she thought he's just wander off to explore the cruise without her. However, as Caz walks out into the corridor and find all the cabin doors are open and the cabins empty, she has a bad feeling that something has gone terribly wrong. As she goes from floors to floors and from cabins to other various places, she's horrified to find that there's no one out there, not even the crew except herself! Their cruise liner is steaming into the mid-Atlantic and Caz is trapped alone out in the sea. What happened and what'd she do?

At first glance, the blurb sounds like an intriguing locked-room mystery but there's much more to the story. Unfortunately, I couldn't divulge more from that point and let's just say this novel may polarise readers into two groups. You either love it or hate it. From my point, I don't hate it but I don't love it either. Initially I'd the notion that this story might gear towards the direction of "Mary Celeste mystery" given the blurb but it was anything but. After going through a few chapters as lost as Caz, something came up and from there the story started to go downhill for me. To be fair, the story was good from another angle and there were even some very intense moments, but the direction and the motive are lost to me. I think I'd have loved it if it was a straightforward locked-room thriller. I enjoyed Will Dean's previous novel, First Born, but this novel just didn't work for me.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 8 comments |

Ghost 19 by Simone St. James

Melody

Berkley | 3 January 2023 | 146 pgs (Ebook)

Source: Library

This novella was set in Meritville, New York in 1959. A woman named Ginette Cox moves into a rented house at 19 Howard Avenue. Used to be a Broadway actress, she left her job and took her doctor's advice to stay away from cigarettes, alcohol and with minimal social visits and stimulation of any kind, mainly due to her agoraphobia condition.

With no entertainment and alone at home, Ginette watches her neighbors from her window, making up names and stories for them since she couldn't step out of her house with her condition. She named a little girl Trixie who's carrying her doll all the time, a married couple by the surname "Lowell" and Mr Elias who seems to be typing most of the time and figures he must be a writer. You'd think that Ginette would find comfort in watching her neighbours going about their life, but in truth she's too terrified to sleep in her bedroom and she thinks there are strange noises coming from the basement.

At some point, she sees a mysterious man in black making appearances outside her window, following the old Mrs Lowell (the mother-in-law) and she's worried that something bad might happen. But she couldn't leave the house, because she feels something in the basement is trying to stop her from escaping.

Ginette is the typical unreliable character because one wouldn't know if her thoughts and her behaviours are due to her mental condition so it was an engaging read as the story is one sided according to Ginette's narrative. Her interactions with the two detectives makes one wonder if there's truly a murder has taken place; so perhaps she's not mad after all and maybe something dark and sinister is at work? As in Simone St. James's signature style, this novella was atmospheric, suspenseful and a bit spooky. I wished that this story would be longer.

[The novella is only available in ebook and audio format.]