Melody's Reading Corner: 3 stars

Showing posts with label 3 stars. Show all posts

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)

© 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 stars, 4 stars, 4.5 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Korean drama, Mysteries, Psychological Suspense 8 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 |

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 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 |

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 |

Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins

Melody

Atria Books | 11 July 2023 | 320 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Julia and Sienna Larkin are sisters-in-law and business partners as well. To them, Jason (Julia’s husband and Sienna’s brother) is a good and a hardworking man who'd put others before himself. He's also been working diligently for a promotion at work and life is happy for them, until his boss, Gavin, is found brutally murdered.

A few days later, Jason is met in an accident and is in a coma. The police investigation points to Jason as the prime suspect of Gavin's murder, since the murder weapon is found in his car. The news rattled Julia and Sienna, since they didn't believe Jason would hurt anyone. Sienna believes in Jason strongly since he saved her from a sexual assault years ago. With Jason in a coma and he couldn't defend himself, Julia and Sienna decided to take matters into their own hands and investigate themselves, starting with his colleague, Maeve, who claimed that Gavin was acting suspiciously before his death. But as Julia and Sienna dig further, they find their opinions are divided and this put their friendship at risk.

The story is told between Julia’s and Sienna’s POV. Julia's narrative is calm while Sienna’s is full of rage and in a defensive mode. As much as this book was interesting in a way that it captured the relationship between two sisters-in-law, the pace was extremely slow and there wasn't much intensity and thrill as too much was focused on the two sisters-in-law's investigation and their reactions. Perhaps this is the intention by the author to portray their dynamics as the story progresses. While the plot did escalate towards the end, it felt a bit rushed and although there was a twist, it was easy to figure out if you follow through the story. Overall, I enjoyed this more of a domestic suspense than a psychological thriller.

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

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

Melody

HarperCollins | 2 February 2023 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

Isabelle Drake's world has turned upside down ever since her young son, Mason, disappeared from his bedroom a year ago. With no clue and evidence, the police have stopped looking and even her husband, Ben, wants her to move on and keep herself together. Isabelle has a tendency of sleepwalking during her childhood days and while the issue seems to have stopped as she gets older, she couldn't help but to think if she's responsible for Mason's disappearance. After all, she has a traumatic past after the passing of her younger sister and she's not sure if she has fully healed from that unfortunate incident.

Despite everything, she has not given up on searching for Mason so she decided to take things into her own hands by holding talks and eventually allowing herself to be interviewed by a true crime podcaster named Waylon Spencer even though she isn't keen of this idea in the beginning. But Waylon had solved a cold case before and Isabelle is interested to see how he could assist her if they decided to work together. However, Waylon seems to have motives of his own and as Isabelle continues to be troubled by her insomnia in connection to her past, she isn't sure what and who to trust anymore, including herself.

I enjoyed the twisty ending, but the journey to the end was long and a slow one. Don't get me wrong, I love a slowburn thriller, but there wasn't much to hold my attention in the first three quarters of the book and truth be told, I wasn't enamoured by Isabelle’s constant whining and her reckless behaviours (e.g. why did she invite Waylon to stay with her? He may be her working partner, but she's all alone at home and he was still an outsider after all.) The writing was great but too wordy and poetic for a suspense thriller (perhaps it's only me). That said, many Goodread readers loved this book so please do not let my opinions deter you from reading it.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 6 comments |

A Venom Dark and Sweet by Judy I. Lin

Melody

Feiwel & Friends | 23 August 2022 | 352 pgs

Source: Purchased

[May contain spoilers of the first book, A Magic Steeped in Poison]

There are times that you loved the first book of a series so much so that you harbour lots of hope, anticipation and expectations for the next installment. That's how I felt with this duology - I loved the first book but this, not so much.

This book picks up where the first book left off with the return of the Banished Prince to take over the throne of Dàxi through the help of Chancellor Zhou's dark plots and conspiracies, leading to the people living in fear as many are poisoned and the court officials and disciples from the Wulin are being controlled by dark magic.

Although Ning is glad to be able to revive her sister, Shu, out of her deathbed after the tea poisoning, circumstances didn't get any better as they find themselves on the run together with the princess and her bodyguard. A boy Ning once fancied and trust leads to more complexity in their ambiguous relationship, for Kang is the son of the Banished Prince and while there's a sense of righteousness in his blood, the fact that their kinship remains.

While the first book is filled with the intrigue of the tea magic and the intensity of the competition among the Shénnóng-shi, this book lacks the two i's (intrigue and intensity) and on top of it the first half of the story moved slowly with nothing much happened except more court politics. The interactions among the characters were minimal too and while the alternative narratives between Ning and Kang gave the reader a glimpse of their inner mind, they weren't enough to make the story more engaging. The pace only picked up towards the last third of the story but then it came a bit too late and a bit too fast for wrapping up the whole story. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed this duology. I was entranced by the fantastical world of the tea magic as well as the role and the skills of the shénnóng-shi. I'd definitely want to read more of Judy I. Lin's books in future. Last but not least, I want to thank Lark for reading this book with me. Go visit her blog here and see what she thought about this book.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Fantasy 6 comments |

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

Melody

Berkley | 16 August 2022 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

I chose this book to kick off the new year. After all, nothing could go wrong with a romance and that title sounds cool, isn't it?

Our heroine, Phoebe Walsh, is a PhD candidate studying and analysing true crimes and the writers who write them as part of her dissertation. She's so obsessed with the genre so much so that she could imagine some homicide cases to a mysterious or a bad situation. She's imaginative and a little paranoid like that.

With her father's passing and to clean out his house before reselling, Phoebe returns to her childhood home in Florida where she reacquaint with her younger brother whom she hasn't contacted in a while. Perhaps her late night arrival isn't a good idea given her over imaginative mind as she couldn't help but to think of all the bad scenarios when a guy approaches her and offers to help her move her desk (yes, she attached her desk onto her car's roof). Turns out he's her neighbour, Sam, but that didn't help in her lowering her guard around him.

As cliché as this goes, Phoebe begins to see him in a new light as the time passes and her relationship with her younger brother deepens as they begin to share their thoughts and ideas for his proposal to his girlfriend. For a romcom, it was a fun read but I've to admit I'd a different expectation prior diving into this book as I thought Sam would be featured as a mysterious "dangerous" man and Phoebe would unveil his "mask" through several misunderstanding and "bad" encounters before she finds his true identity, ha. Phoebe wasn't a character whom you'd warm up to easily given her characteristics but once she'd let her guard down, she could be as good-natured like her younger brother, Connor. Overall it was an entertaining read and I quite enjoyed a few occasional true crime references throughout the book.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Romance 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.

© 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 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 12 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 |

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 Maid by Nita Prose

Melody

HarperCollins | 20 January 2022 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

Where shall I even begin? This book has received lots of hype and glowing reviews and while I enjoyed the book, it wasn't my favourite and I'd some issues with it.

So the book opens featuring 25-year-old Molly Gray working as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. She was morally upright given all the advice passed down by her late grandmother; however she'd some difficulties understanding social cues and behaviours at times so she might be autistic, though it was not clearly stated and may be intentionally omitted by the author for the plot directions. Molly was a great worker and she took pride in her job. She cleaned the rooms diligently and given her obsession with cleanliness, it is no wonder the rooms are often left in a state of perfection before the new batch of guests arrived.

Molly had seen all types of people through the nature of her work; and among all is the rich and mighty Blacks couple who's long-term residents of the hotel. Mr Black was a property tycoon so he was always away, leaving his second young wife in the hotel room. Mrs Black became friends with Molly quickly partly due to boredom and Molly's easygoing demeanour, but most of all she finds herself needing someone to talk to. Then one day, Molly found Mr Black dead in his room and ultimately became the prime suspect as she was dragged into all kinds of life complexities - be it her financial woes or her conflicts with her superiors. Added to the plot was her infatuation with a bartender and her acquaintance with a Mexican immigrant who may or may not connected to Mr Black's mysterious death.

I've read several reviews which compare Molly to Eleanor Oliphant but personally I didn't find any similarities there. Molly was an interesting character but there was an inconsistency of her behaviours depending on situations (or the plot?). The secondary characters are one-dimensional and stereotyped; and I didn't know if I should empathise or be annoyed with them. Finally, there's the twist towards the end which come out of nowhere and was featured more as a surprise element in my opinion. This was an interesting case of character study from some aspect, but I felt Molly was wrongfully portrayed to suit the plot directions. Perhaps I was just sensitive but there are some readers who loved this book though, so I'd suggest you give this book a read and find out yourself.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Mystery 10 comments |

Falling by T.J. Newman | Happy 2022!

Melody

Simon & Schuster UK | 1 January 2021 | 304 pgs

Source: Library

This was the last second book I read in 2021. I'm late in posting my "favourite books of the year list" so I'll probably do this in the next few days, my apologies to my dear book friends. Now onto the book review.

To begin with, this book was action-packed. A plane with one hundred and forty-three other passengers on board bound for New York. What they and the crew didn't know is that tragedy would strike soon except their pilot, Bill Hoffman, who's received a threat after the plane is in midair that his family is held hostage at their own house. Bill's choice is simple, according to the (Middle Eastern) kidnapper named Sam that all he has to do is to crash his plane or his family will die. Bill not only has to make this tough choice but he's also not allowed to tell anyone including the crew. On top of it, he may have to kill his co-pilot as instructed. However, Bill does has one reliable crew member in his team and she's none other than Jo, a long-time flight attendant who has a nephew working in the FBI. What will be their plan and would they be able to save everyone and not crash the plane in the end?

The story, though not new, was quite an engaging read but unfortunately I found it rather cliché and unbelievable at times. The characters, though interesting, were often stereotyped and are one-dimensional. However, I did like Jo and find some of her actions brave and commendable. Despite my lukewarm reaction to the book I still find it an entertaining read. I think I'd probably enjoy this a bit more if it was put onscreen and it seems like my wishes are answered according to this source.

It's Year 2022 while writing this and I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and may the new year brings you and your family happiness and good health.

© 2021 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 stars, Book Review, Thriller 6 comments |

The Stranger Behind You by Carol Goodman

Melody

William Morrow | 6 July 2021 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

Journalist Joan Lurie's life takes a turn after her article exposing a newspaper tycoon as a sexual predator leads her being assaulted and had her hiding at a highly secure apartment called the Refuge, which was once a Magdalen Laundry (googled and found some info from Wikipedia here). She's had informants who pointed at the tycoon's dirty deeds, but so far none came forward or they'd "vanished into thin air", thus leaving her with information that could end her in a book deal if she's willing to write it. However, her stay at the Refuge doesn't really offer her the peace and security that she wants. She still feels being watched; or perhaps it's the aftermath of the assault which left her with a vision and memory problems.

Enter two women who will either save or wreck havoc in Joan’s life. Lillian Day is Joan’s new 96-year-old neighbor and she has her own story to tell. During the 1940s, troubled and wayward girls are sent to the Magdalen Laundry but the poor atmosphere and treatments had had them attempt escape but unfortunately had led to some death. Lillian also shares a mystery involving her past life which remains unsolved until the end. Melissa Osgood, on the other hand, is the tycoon's wife and she harbours an obsession of stalking Joan as she believes Joan has wrecked their family's life instead of finding the truth about her husband's other life. It is only through his "suicide" that had her find out about his finances problems, but that doesn't stop her from stalking Joan and doing some investigations on her own.

Carol Goodman is a wonderful storyteller and she's always great at setting the scene, be it atmospheric or Gothic. While this story was engaging, I felt it has too many subplots so the focus was a bit lost. The combination between the #MeToo movement and part of Lillian's story serves an awareness of the current social issues we're facing today, but they're bogged down by a few threads and not to mention Joan's anxiety and Melissa's obsession. Then there's Lillian's story which stands on its own and has not much relation to the core of the story though it was intriguing. Overall, I felt the story was all over the place and some parts implausible regarding Melissa's investigations. That said, Carol Goodman's writing is engaging as always and I hope her next book will be better.

It seems like my posts have been sporadic nowadays and I apologise for that. Life plus procrastination is the main culprit and my father-in-law's passing and the wake last week had had me in no mood/time to read, let alone drafting and writing posts. My father-in-law had kidney problem and other underlying medical condition for a while, but he was hit by stroke lately and this led to his condition deteriorated. While it was sad, at least he's not suffering now. I am gradually back to my reading mojo now but I'll be slow in blog hopping and commenting so thanks for your understanding. Anyhoo, what're you reading and what's happening on your side of the world now?

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, General, Miscellaneous, Psychological Suspense 7 comments |

Six Weeks to Live by Catherine McKenzie

Melody

Atria Books | 4 May 2021 | 384 pgs

Source: Library

48-year-old Jennifer Barnes receives the most shocking news when she goes for her doctor’s appointment after a series of symptoms that's plagued her for months. She has glioblastoma - a brain cancer and that she has only six weeks left to live. The test result reported that there's a high dose of lead in her blood and that this may have already started a year ago as the tumor started to spread gradually.

While Jennifer is reeling from the news, she's also curious about how the lead got into her body in the first place. She knew that plumbing that contains lead can contaminate water, or they could be leached into food or drinks as well. Jennifer could only suspect her husband because he's been pestering her for a divorce for a while and she didn't give in to his request. It isn't that she still has feelings for him, she's just angry that he has had an affair and he's leaving her for a much younger woman.

Her adult triplets, on the other hand, took the news differently. Emily is the eldest and a fraternal triplet unlike Aline and Miranda. Emily has her own family and issues but she's willing to stand by her mother's side physically and emotionally. Aline and Miranda aren't close with their mother, but Aline agrees to look into the lead issue (she's in bio research field) and even the imprudent Miranda moves into Jennifer's house although one might wonder about her reason and think of her financial difficulties. But despite everything, the daughters feel that Jennifer is being paranoid in doubting their father, and this leads Jennifer wondering if her condition has worsened as she starts imagining things. Or is it not?

I've read and enjoyed a few of Catherine McKenzie's previous novels so I was excited to read this latest book but regrettably I didn't feel the same thrill and excitement I'd had with her other books. To begin with, I didn't feel any connection with the characters. Perhaps they're all unlikeable characters, but still Jennifer's sensitive role didn't allow me to fully empathise with her either and I think it might be more or less to do with her voice in this story. While I understand this is more of a domestic drama than a psychological thriller, I was fazed as well as saddened by the dynamics of this (dysfunctional) family. Unfortunately, I couldn't discuss the issue without spoiling the story but nevertheless, this still made an interesting read based on the identities and characteristics of the characters. Although this book isn't a favourite, I'd still look out for McKenzie's future releases.

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

A Dark and Secret Place by Jen Williams

Melody

Crooked Lane Books | 8 June 2021 | 304 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Heather Evans returns to her old home after her mother's baffling suicide. While clearing the stuff she's discovered something alarming about her late mother and the things she'd kept - stacks of letters from the notorious serial killer, Michael Reave (a.k.a. The "Red Wolf"). Reave has been in prison for over twenty years and it seems that her late mother had been secretly corresponding with him for decades. Reave is known of his gruesome and ritualistic murders of several women although he's always protested his innocence.

When a young woman's body is found and the modus operandi is similar to Reave's, Heather decided that she needs to find out about her mother's past and her communications with Reave. Her info sharing of her mother's correspondence with Reave with the police lands her a visit to the prison as everyone hopes that Reave will talk and hopefully shed some light on the recent murder. While Reave remains vague about his past and doesn't seem to offer anything useful relevant to the recent case, he does speak in riddles about some Grimm's fairy tales, in particularly the Red Riding Hood. As Heather communicates more with Reave, she learns that her late mother and Reave do know each other way back when they were living in Fiddler's Mill, a hippy commune in the 70s. Now Heather's biggest question is: what is the relationship between her late mother and Reave and what's her role in all these mayhem?

This story was incredibly dark and broody in some ways which suits the serial killer theme. There was a part about animal cruelty which I quickly skimmed over; and the rest was quite an atmospheric read especially some references to the Red Riding Hood and Reave's past as a boy and his relationship with a mysterious man. Despite an intriguing opening, the story was a slow burn and Heather sometimes made poor, dubious decisions that frustrate the reader. I also feel some characters are not fleshed out enough but the portrayal of Reave as a boy and how he tells his story to Heather in a mythological way was rather fascinating. I may have dived into this book with a high expectation so I was a bit disappointed with the execution and some of the characterisations which I feel would make a better read should they are more well elaborated. That said, if you're into atmospheric books then this one may be of interest to you.

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

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse

Melody

Bantam Press | 1 January 2021 | 387 pgs

Source: Purchased

There's been some hype surrounding this book when it was first released. Chosen as a Reese's bookclub read and a story centers around an abandoned sanatorium turned five-star luxury hotel set in the Swiss Alps, I just knew I've to read it.

Elin Warner is taking her leave from her job as a detective due to PTSD issue when she receives an invitation from her estranged brother, Isaac, to celebrate his engagement with his fiancée, Laure. Laure is their long-time friend and Elin knew she has no reason not to accept; and most importantly she has something to ask Isaac regarding their younger brother's death which has plagued her for years. She's suspected Isaac was responsible for Sam's death, but she isn't sure given the time and her young age when the incident happened.

Together with Elin’s boyfriend, Will, they arrive at the isolated getaway and straightaway Elin feels unease with the atmospheric building and it gets worsen with the threatening snowstorm. Elin also learned that the hotel is owned by the Caron siblings, Lucas and Cécile and the former is friends with architect Daniel Lemaitre, who'd gone missing after the hotel project went on with much protests from the locals. When Laure goes missing the following day, Elin's investigative instincts kick in and the situation got worse after they find an employee is murdered. With the storm and the avalanche, they are left on their own and Elin has to overcome her anxiety and her demons of the past in order to continue with the investigation.

The atmospheric and claustrophobic setting both make a wonderful plot for this locked-room mystery. Sarah Pearse scored a perfect score in this department as she brings her setting to life through her vivid descriptions right from the old sanatorium to the modern luxurious hotel. Her cast of characters is intriguing though not all are likeable. The intrigue and the intensity are another draw but alas, the setup is weakened by the execution, the lack of connection between the sanatorium and the hotel and regrettably, the motive and the ending also leave much to be desired. That said, this is a debut novel and there's potential in the author's writing so I'll still check out her next release.

Finally, I want to thank Lark for reading this book with me as part of our buddy read 'assignments' and please do check out Lark's blog for her review, too! 😊 Here's her questions to me regarding the book:

1) That isolated snowy setting is always a favorite of mine (and yours, too), what are some of your other favorite settings to read about in books?

Aside from the isolated snowy setting, I also love reading about the wilderness and the oceanic world. In short, anything to do with the beauty and the unpredictables of nature and I'm in.

2) The cover classifies The Sanatorium as a "Gothic thriller" but it felt less Gothic thriller and more regular mystery to me. What do you think? How would you classify this book?

I totally agree with Lark on this. It was atmospheric but doesn't really classifies as a Gothic thriller (not much focus on the sanatorium in my opinion and some parts aren't fully explained, too). Personally, I'd think a suspense thriller is more suitable to this book.

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

The Open House by Sam Carrington

Melody

Avon Books UK | 10 December 2020 | 384 pgs

Source: NetGalley

Amber and her husband, Nick, are preparing for a divorce and they are trying to sell their house quickly so they can move on with their lives. Amber has already found a new relationship and she's looking forward to staying with her new man once the house is sold. Amber's mother-in-law, Barb, isn't pleased with all the arrangements and thinks Amber is a mistake in Nick's life. Needless to say, Amber and Barb couldn't get along although they try to act civilly to each other.

As much as Amber's real estate agent's efforts in putting Amber's house up for viewing and so forth, there isn't any potential buyers so he's suggested an open house to try and attract more interest. Amber grudgingly agrees seeing there isn't any choice and although she's not comfortable overseeing some strangers walking about her house, she could at least know how many of these potential buyers are going into her house through her doorbell camera app. Amber has counted thirteen people entering her house, but then only twelve leave. Thinking she must have counted or seen wrongly, she dismiss the thought until her two young sons told her they've seen a man in their house. Could it be real or did her anxiety has rubbed off onto them, thus planting this seed of doubt into their young minds?

The Open House immediately grabbed the reader's attention with the suspense of the missing thirteenth person and whether if we should doubt Amber's belief that there's indeed an intruder in her house. The reader is also introduced to a few unreliable characters surrounding Amber's life; each of them either has an agenda or a secret to hide. There are also subplots and red herrings which are linked to the main mystery but unfortunately the ending fell flat and it was a disappointment as I thought the storyline was grabbing until each twist seems more like a shock value than a plausible outcome. Overall I liked the idea and the suspense of this story but the ending was a bit too much in my opinion.

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