Melody's Reading Corner: 4.5 stars

Showing posts with label 4.5 stars. Show all posts

Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang & LeUyen Pham

Melody

First Second | 9 January 2024 | 352 pgs

Source: Purchased

Gene Luen Yang, together with LeUyen Pham, collaborated on this graphic novel about a story of family, friendship and Iove set in the atmosphere of Lunar New Year.

Valentina Tran lives with her father since young and her favourite holiday used to be Valentine's Day but has given up on love after learning that her family is cursed with love for generations. Despite this, she spent her childhood days bringing love to her classmates by leaving them handmade Valentine's cards and befriending an imaginary friend in the form of Cupid. Sadly, her efforts aren't appreciated and as the time goes her imaginary friend morph from a good-spirited cherub to a ghoulish St. Valentine, taunting her about true love and giving her a year to find it or give up her heart to him so she'll never be hurt again. Then a chance encounter leads her to a pair of lion dancers and one of them sparks something in her. Could this be true love and is she able to break the family curse forever?

I enjoyed reading this graphic novel a lot! There's so much to love about this book, starting with the vivid illustrations and the cast of characters that drew me in. And of course I've to mention about the Lunar New Year setting since I read this during the festive holidays and the spirit and culture of lion dancing further adds a strong atmosphere of the holiday celebrations through the bold illustrations and I could imagine myself hearing the sound of the gongs and drums as I flipped through the pages.

While this is a story about love, there are also a few memorable moments about Valentina's friendship with her bestie as well as Valentina's interactions with her grandmother. Valentina's transformation is perfectly defined as we see her transcend from a phase to another through her growing experience. Overall it was a heartwarming and a moving story which will remain in my mind for some time and I hope to see more collaboration works by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham in the near future.

© 2024 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Graphic Novel, Young Adult 8 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)

© 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 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 |

The Secret Service of Tea and Treason by India Horton

Melody

Penguin | 20 April 2023 | 368 pgs

Source: Library

This is the third book of India Holton's Dangerous Damsels series and each book can be read as a standalone.

Alice Dearlove, known as Agent A, is one of the top operative agents in the Agency of Undercover Note Takers (A.U.N.T.) Alice has worked in many secret assignments in all sorts of roles and so far nothing has fazed her until her latest assignment.

Daniel Bixby, known as Agent B, is another top agent of A.U.N.T. Like Alice, Bixby is competent and he's also most admired by many of his female peers in the Agency. His latest assignment is to infiltrate a pirate house party and to foil their assassination attempt on the Queen. But he's not working alone and A.U.N.T. has come up with a better plan - Agent A and Agent B will pretend as a married couple for this important assignment.

As much as Alice views Bixby as her greatest rival, she has no choice but to grit her teeth and to take the job. Bixby, on the other hand, has always been working solo and he's equally fazed after learning that he has to work with someone who share the same rank and popularity as him. But they are professionals, as Alice often say, so they'll adjust to their role no matter what happens and see that their mission is accomplished towards the end. But as the days go on, they soon find that fighting off the attraction towards each other may prove harder than the mission itself.

Well, I've to say this is the best romcom I've read thus far this year. Hilarious and swoony, the plot never get bored with these two agents' banter, the adventures they went through and the mission they carried out as a team. I don't think I'd ever laughed so much reading a book (and a historical romcom for that) and loved the characters so much like this twosome. The secondary characters are equally interesting and on top of it, there's some fantastical elements like flying houses, magical tools and gadgets that would either make you wonder or cringe with the agents (oh, they malfunctioned at times, ha). So all in all, I loved this book so much that I've made a note to read the other two books at some point. And not to mention that India Holton has now become one of my favourite fantasy romcom authors.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Fantasy, Historical Romance 8 comments |

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Melody

St. Martin's Press | 3 January 2023 | 288 pgs

Source: Library

"Houses remember." With this sentence it begins the story in Rachel Hawkins' latest release set in Orvieto, Italy.

Emily and Chess are good friends since young but their friendship kind of fizzled out as the years go by. Both of them are writers; the former writes cozy mysteries and the latter self-help books. When Chess suggested a trip to Italy one day, Emily knew this would be a chance to reconnect with her and that the trip would reignite her creativity in writing the next installment of her bestselling series.

Prior to the trip, Chess has booked themselves into Villa Aestas. Once known as Villa Rosato, the high-end holiday house is also famous by the stay of a notorious rock star and his entourage way back in 1974. Noel Gordon was on the verge of losing his creativity spark, so he planned on a Summer trip at Villa Rosato and invited up-and-coming musician Pierce Sheldon, his girlfriend, Mari, as well as her stepsister, Lara. Alongside was Johnnie, who was Noel's friend-cum-drug dealer. It was supposedly to be a trip of fun and relaxation, but the group’s dynamics took an ugly turn and ended one being dead.

Despite what happened at Villa Aestas, Emily and Chess are intrigued by the past and Emily even think that there might be more to the story and she's keen to find out more. After all, what could motivate her creativity more than this? But as Emily digs further, the tension between her and Chess also rises due to some unforeseen circumstances and a secret one harbours from the other. Will history repeat itself in Villa Rosato?

I enjoyed this story a lot. I loved the alternative storyline between the present and the past. Villa Rosato was atmospheric on its own but regrettably there wasn't much coverage of this rented holiday house but there was sure a lot of tension among Noel's group of friends. It was a treat reading how the story in 1974 unfold; and how intriguing to learn more about the dynamics between Emily and Chess in the present at the same time. I've read comments by some readers that they preferred more of the present story, but in my opinion both are good and equal in terms of intrigue and one wouldn't stand out and/or proceed without the other. If you ask me, I was most intrigued by Mari as a character; not only was she a writer like Emily and Chess but her inner thoughts as well. I think the ending is a love-it or hate-it kind of closure and personally I found it quite fitting to the overall tone of the story.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 8 comments |

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

Melody

Macmillan | 18 August 2022 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

Inspired by Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, this latest release by Alice Feeney was an engaging tale of a dysfunctional family and how their doom was fixed when a family gathering forced them to unravel their secret past.

This was a great psychological thriller which I'd suggest diving in totally blind so I tried my best to keep this minimal. Daisy Darker, our protagonist, was an intriguing character from the start. She was born with a broken heart; and her relationship and the dynamics with her family was the core of this story. The isolation at Daisy's grandmother's estate on a private island in Cornwall provides a claustrophobic feel to the family's tension, further trapping them and forcing them to probe into each member's inner dark thoughts and secrets after someone was found dead overnight.

On top of that, the characterisations and the characters developments are great, too. The author has done a great job in describing their personality but yet not revealing too much at the same time. However I've read that there are some mixed reviews about this book and while I could see their point, I thought the ending was twisty and clever. In fact, this is my favourite amongst all of Alice Feeney's books so that tells how much I enjoyed this book. Have you read this? I'll be curious of your thoughts if you did.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 1 comments |

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

Melody

Feiwel & Friends | 29 March 2022 | 384 pgs

Source: Purchased

A Magic Steeped in Poison is Judy I. Lin's debut and the first in a duology featuring a fantastical world of shennong-shi (Master of Shennong magic) and the art of tea brewing and magic set in the imperial city of Dàxī.

Ning has been living in guilt since the death of her mother and her younger sister seriously sick with poison. It isn't her fault actually; who'd have known that the tea bricks are laced with poison? Nonetheless Ning blames herself for her negligence for not detecting it earlier. To save her sister, Shu, from following their mother's fate, Ning leaves her hometown in Su to the imperial city of Dàxī for a competition that would allow her to receive a favor from the princess should she be the winner.

On her way to the palace, she meets a boy who intrigue and capture her attention at the same time. Little does she know that she'd soon cross path with him again and learn his true identity once she's in the palace. Though winning the competition is Ning's goal, she soon finds herself embroiled in the politics and conspiracies within the palace and all the more with the rise of a revolt led by the General of Kăiláng, who's being exiled and better known as the Banished Prince. Is there a hope for saving her sister now that the kingdom is threatened by the rebellion?

Ah. I loved this fantasy a lot. I'm a big tea drinker so when I read the blurb and learned that teas play a major part in this story, I knew I've to read it. And I enjoyed the story, too. Ning was a likeable character who's courageous and determined and I loved her fighting spirit and her devotion towards her sister. The tea brewing and the tea concoctions (sounds a little like Traditional Chinese Medicine), together with the various magic cast by the shennong-shi are fun to read, though some of the tasks required for the competition made it so hard to read. But, there's also some heartwarming moments as well, e.g. the friendship between Ning and Lian (fellow participant), and the palace kitchen staff's loyalty and helpfulness when Ning was in danger.

All in all, I enjoyed this book immensely and I'm glad my book buddy, Lark, shared this reading journey with me (visit Lark's blog for her review).

Finally, here's my answers to Lark's questions:

1. What are your favorite tea ingredients, and if they had magical properties, what would they be?

One of my favorite tea ingredients would be chrysanthemum flowers and goji berries (with a few rock sugar). They make a refreshing drink and I read that this concoction is a powerful boost to improve our eyes' health and cool our body heat. If they had magical properties, I wish they could eliminate all the cancerous cells in our bodies.

2. What characters do you hope to see more of in the next book? And which character surprised you most in this book?

I've a few characters in mind, but the one who stands out amongst the rest is the General of Kăiláng. Considering his exile and the uproar of the rebellion towards the end, there's so little information about him and his appearance was minimal (perhaps in the next book, A Venom Dark and Sweet?)

As for the character who surprised me most, she's none other than the princess, Ying-Zhen. She gave me the impression that she's a person who guard her feelings well so it's hard to decipher what kind of a person she is. I suppose it's necessary considering her role as a princess and she couldn't wear her heart on her sleeve.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Fantasy, Young Adult 6 comments |

Bad Kids by Zijin Chen

Melody

Pushkin Vertigo | 4 August 2022 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

Translated from the Chinese by Michelle Deeter

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon

Melody

Scout Press | 26 April 2022 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

"Monsters are real. They're all around us, whether we can see them or not." ~ Pg 31

Jennifer McMahon is a master when it comes to creating atmospheric settings combining with a cast of intriguing characters. This book explores the complexity and perceptions of the human minds. It's also a book about monsters, fear and the darkness that lurks within us all.

In 1978, Dr. Helen Hildreth was the brilliant psychiatrist at her renowned treatment center in Vermont. Helen was devoted to her work and it is no wonder that many mentally challenged patients seemed to deem fit to perform their daily lives through her supervision and special care. For this, she was well-known in the community and many respected her for her works. But back at home, she was simply a grandmother who took care of her grandchildren, Violet and Eric, after the passing of their parents due to an accident. As much as Helen was kind and loving towards them, she'd her rules when it comes to discipline and behaviours. So while Vi and Eric were nice and obedient children, their lives were basically quite reserved and all the more they were homeschooled. Then, their once-mundane lives changed after Helen brought a girl into their home. Iris was quiet and was different from all the children they'd met. But Vi was excited to meet a new friend so in no time she and Iris formed a bond and the three of them would go explore for monsters and the likes (Vi and Eric formed their own club in which they'd go investigate all kinds of supernatural things and urban legends. More like to satisfy their curiosity and to justify their findings rather than hearsay.)

In another timeline in 2019, Lizzy Shelley is the host of the popular podcast, Monsters Among Us. When news of a young girl is abducted and a monster sighting have the neighbourhood worried and scared, Lizzy decided to visit her old hometown in Vermont, hoping to find some answers not only of the missing girl case and also what happened to the once renowned mental facility and the rumours surrounding it.

I was glad to report that I've finally found a book that surpassed (or at least on par with) another McMahon book which remains my favourite - The Winter People. The author's writing is smooth and engaging and this is one reason why I enjoy reading her books so much, alongside with the atmospheric setting (which is her signature) and of course, the characters. What's haunting about this story is; perception can be a tricky thing and there's sometimes a fine line between good and evil, ethical and immorality. Without saying too much, all I could tell you is to read this book and enjoy McMahon's marvellous storytelling. It was an unforgettable journey to me and I hope you feel the same after reading it.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Paranormal, Psychological Thriller 8 comments |

Thief of Souls by Brian Klingborg

Melody

Minotaur Books | 4 May 2021 | 288 pgs

Source: Library

Set in a rural village in Northern China (near Harbin which is well-known for its bitterly cold winters and ice-sculptures festival), a young woman named Yang Fenfang was brutally murdered. Her mouth stuffed with "hell notes" and a few of her organs (heart, lungs and liver) removed, the police had initially speculated it might be a case of organ trafficking and that the stuffed hell notes was more of a religious angle as to make offerings to the dead. Yang was first discovered by her neighbour after her dog couldn't seem to stop barking, leading them to explore her house and thus found her body in the bathroom.

Lu Fei was graduated from a top police college but was later exiled to work in the rural village as Deputy Chief of the local Public Security Bureau station after a fallout with his superior from the Harbin headquarters due to a clash of personalities and most of all, their different views on principles and morality. Despite the exile and demotion, Lu Fei has gradually gotten accustomed to the laid-back rural living and the small station under the leadership of Chief Liang. Since there's hardly any major case in the village, Yang's murder is considered a rare and a high profile case so Superintendent Song, Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau in Beijing is assigned to look into the case together with Chief Liang's team. Their initial investigation leads to a local man who works as a butcher and had had an infatuation with Yang, but Lu Fei dismisses him as a suspect due to his simple mindedness and a lack of valid evidence. With political games and an authoritarian system within the governmental bureau hierarchy, Lu Fei realises that he has to dig further into the case on his own even if he has to face old enemies and creating new ones in the form of local Communist Party bosses and corrupt business interests.

Brian Klingborg's Thief of Souls was a refreshing read apart from my usual reads of the psychological suspense genre. With a likeable character like Lu Fei and an intriguing setting with authoritarianism and politics as part of the elements, this book was a compelling read right from the beginning till the end. The characters development was great (there were a few interesting secondary characters too and I hope to see them in the next book, Wild Prey) and most of all, I enjoyed reading about the complicated relationship between Lu Fei and Song from their clashing personalities to their gradual trust and respect of each other as the story progresses. Aside from these, I also liked it that the author input various quotes from the Chinese history, poetry, philosophy, customs and beliefs into narratives (in particularly Lu Fei) which add some depth to the story. The description of the Chinese government bureaucracy was well defined too so overall a very engaging read. Recommended.

© 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: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Police procedural 8 comments |

Grave's End by William Shaw

Melody

Riverrun | 18 March 2021 | 480 pgs

Source: Library

This book is the third installment featuring DS Alexandra Cupidi and the more I read of this series the more I'm liking it.

Alexandra and her colleague, Constable Jill Ferriter, are called to look into a case after a couple discovers a body in a freezer in an empty mansion which is up for sale. Since the owner hardly lives there, no one knows how or why the body was buried there. The body was later identified as a Vincent Gibbons, who was a naturalist and was active in a protest campaign of a housing development and its developer, Whiteland Fields. The campaign is valid to some locals, even Cupidi's teenage daughter, Zoe, think that the developments will threaten the badgers setts which have been around for decades and not to mention would cause a disruption to the wildlife. To complicate matters, Jill has just began to date Harry French, who's the developer and later becomes their suspect after a human bone was found buried within the development site. The discovery of the bone is purely accidental, thanks to the digging of an old badger after his terrority has been compromised.

Cupidi's investigation of the bone led them to a case of a boy who went missing twenty five years ago. These two investigations soon caught the interest of the Housing minister, and Cupidi later find herself being caught in the world of politics and the environmentalism issue specifically the protection given to badgers by the law. As Cupidi digs deeper (pun intended) into these two cases, it becomes clear that there is a connection but there's no evidence and worse still, someone will go to any lengths to stop Cupidi's further investigation, including murder.

Once again, I find myself drawn to William Shaw's writing and the developments between Cupidi and Ferriter as the series go. The countryside setting in Dungeness, Kent, is vividly described and I liked it that the author even feature the perspective of an old male badger in this installment. This endearing creature plays part of an important role in this story and I find it refreshing reading about their habitats and livelihood through his eyes. There are multiple threads to this story, but they're nicely linked and there're also enough red herrings alongside a few issues like class divide, abuse and even civilisation (which is always a thought-provoking topic). This book works fine as a standalone, but it is best to start from the first book as far as characters developments go.

The DS Alex Cupidi Series:

#1 Salt Lake (my review here)

#2 Deadlane (my review here)

#3 Grave's End

#4 The Trawlerman

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

The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor

Melody

Michael Joseph | 21 January 2021 | 400 pgs

Source: Purchased

If anyone ask me how would I describe C.J. Tudor's books, I'd say they're brooding and foreboding; and that she sure knows how to get her readers invested in the characters she's created.

The Burning Girls started with a bang with an explosive prologue which the reader will soon know it's a flashback. What follows thereafter is our protagonist, Reverend Jack Brooks learning that she has to transfer to a small church in Chapel Croft until they've found a replacement. Jack doesn't want to go, partly of her 15-year-old daughter Flo, but they've given her no choice.

Jack and Flo soon learn that Chapel Croft is far more than a quiet English countryside and it has a dark history surrounding the Sussex Martyrs during the religious persecutions of Queen Mary in 1556; whereby eight villagers were burnt at the stake, including two young girls. Each year on the anniversary of the purge, the residents will set alight of some small twig dolls they called Burning Girls to commemorate and honour the martyrs who died. As much as Jack is intrigued by this age-old tradition, she's more concerned about the suicide of her predecessor, Reverend Fletcher and the disappearance case of two young girls thirty years ago. No one knows what happened to Merry and Joy after all these time, but the residents assume that they'd simply run away from home and have gradually accepted their disappearance.

As Jack and Flo try to adjust to their new life in this close-knit community, bad things start to happen. For starters, someone is sending her mysterious twig dolls, then Flo claims she's seen the apparitions of the burning girls in the chapel. And of course, the question that plagued Jack regarding Reverend Fletcher's suicide and why no one wants to talk about it. As much as Jack wants to find out the truth, she's also concerned about Flo's safety and well-being especially with her interactions with two teenage delinquents and a guy whom Flo just got acquainted with. And then, there's someone from Jack's past whom she tries to avoid has come to Chapel Croft for her.

As you can see, there are multiple layers and subplots to this pacey story and despite the various threads Tudor has laid out, the conclusion was nicely tied up in a bow. The atmospheric setting was well done - from the creepy old chapel to an abandoned old building in the woods filled with graffiti of various evil symbols. The portrayal of the characters are vivid and believable; and I liked how Tudor created Reverend Jack Brooks to be a flawed, complex character with strength and weaknesses, as well as her role as both a (woman) vicar and a mother with different perspectives. Without saying more, this was an intense and a riveting suspense which I'm sure would thrill Tudor's fans and gain new readers as well.

Last but not least, I want to thank Lark for reading this book with me as part of our buddy read "assignments". Please visit her blog for her review and the Q&A. Here's her questions to me:

1. This is the second book by C.J. Tudor that we've read together--which one did you like better, The Chalk Man or The Burning Girls? Why?

I enjoyed both of the books, but I think I loved this one a bit more because of the atmospheric setting, the characters (in particularly Reverend Jack Brooks and Flo) and the various genres/issues implemented into this story. (Click here for Chalk Man review.)

2. How do you feel about the role that the legend of the burning girls played in this novel? (Too much, or not enough?)

I'd expected that there'd be more backstory of the legend of the burning girls, but regrettably there aren't much elaborations about them as I thought the martyrdom might add more intrigue and depth to this story. Then again, this is only a part of Chapel Croft history and not the main core of the story so I'd let this pass. 😉

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Suspense Thriller 16 comments |

Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams

Melody

Joffe Books | 15 June 2021 | 278 pgs

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

"Please forgive me. I couldn't live with it. Hopefully you can, Officer Raycevic."

When Lena Nguyen received the above text message from her estranged twin sister, Cambry, she thought nothing about it until she found out about her suicide much later. Based on the police report, Cambry had driven to Hairpin Bridge; a remote bridge seventy miles outside of Missoula, Montana, and jumped to her death. Lena may not be close with Cambry, but she knew her personality and that she's not the kind who'd give up a fight easily. And the more she read Cambry's last text, the more she find something is amiss so she decided to have a talk with Corporal Raymond Raycevic. After all, he's the highway patrolman who'd allegedly discovered Cambry's body.

Lena is all prepared before meeting Officer Raycevic for the interview at Hairpin Bridge. She's even carried a cassette recorder along so she could have Raycevic's statement as a record. Raycevic has been sympathetic and professional towards Lena as he told her that he'd stopped Cambry for speeding before discovering her mangled body an hour later on that fateful day. Based from Raycevic's report, Cambry had leapt to her death although the motive was unclear. Lena knew Cambry had been living a wild life but to choose a death path doesn't seemed her style. On top of it, Raycevic's statement seemed a bit off, too. How'd he discover Cambry's body and right after he'd stopped her car an hour ago? And most of all, her unexplainable sixteen attempted 911 calls dialled from a dead zone. Did Cambry call before her so-called suicide? Or is it Raycevic who's responsible for her death?

I've enjoyed Taylor Adams' previous psychological thriller, No Exit. It was an intense wild ride filled with twists and turns and this book is no exception. Adams' writing has that cinematic style that hook you easily and never let your attention go until the final page. I especially loved how he created his female characters to be courageous and feisty; showing their strengths as they're faced with challenges amid their vulnerable situations. I think I enjoyed this book a bit more than No Exit as it captured the complicated relationship between the twin sisters as well as Lena's side of Cambry's story. As the story slowly unravels, we see some parallels and the truth and personally this storytelling works for me. And I'm glad to say Taylor Adams has now become one of my favourite authors.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 16 comments |

He Started It by Samantha Downing

Melody

Berkley | 21 July 2020 | 400 pgs

Source: Library

Road trips are supposed to be fun, right? Well, not the case in this book.

Beth, Portia and Eddie Morgan are siblings and they haven't contact one another in years. When their grandfather passed, the three siblings come together not to grief but to go on a cross-country road trip to fulfill his final wish before securing their inheritance. There are some "rules" to follow stated on the will; and one of them is not losing their grandfather's ashes as they go on the trip. Beth and Eddie brought their spouses along while Portia is single.

Now family ties and relationships can be complicated; and the reader soon learned about this three siblings' childhood and their memories and secrets surrounding their missing elder sister. Most of all, it also tells about their road trip with their grandfather when they were young; along with the family dynamics and how it'd implicate the current situation they're all in now.

As they begin their road trip, they soon learn that trust could be easily diminished by a simple act and it'd be hard to earn back that trust especially if that person happens to be your spouse. Secrets aside, the group of five also faces the threat of a black car following them and finding ways to disrupt their journey, although they couldn't find any proof and the driver is good at playing cat-and-mouse game with them. It's no surprise that this trip get them all on edge and agitated, but they'll strive on since money is a powerful motivator and nothing could get in their way, not even murder.

This book wowed me on so many levels. First, there's the plot which I find it so refreshing. The dynamics between this group of dysfunctional siblings and their spouses add some drama and intrigue to the story, but most of all, Beth's voice and her inner thoughts really got to me. She's sharp, snarky and she knows how to hide her feelings well. She has a dark side, but then so do her other siblings so no one is likeable or trustful here. Aside from Beth's narrative, I was also drawn by the anonymous journal entries written during the past and they definitely add some mystery and depth to the story. Overall, this was a highly addicting read albeit some craziness to it (the ending left me stumped, though); and I bet once you've closed this book you'll be thinking of this story whenever you go on a road trip.

Note: The author stated that all of the attractions, tourist sites, and museums in this book are real (e.g. Helen Keller's House in Alabama to Codger Pole in Washington, just to name a few).

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 10 comments |

Crush the King by Jennifer Estep

Melody

Harper Voyager | 17 March 2020 | 432 pgs

Source: Library

Crush the King is the last installment of Crown of Shards series and not surprisingly it was packed with more actions, more magic, and of course more murderous machinations and courtly intrigue surrounding rival kingdoms, Bellona and Morta.

In the previous two installments (Kill the Queen and Protect the Prince), the reader read about how gladiator Everleigh Blair had took the throne of Bellona after the mass murder of the royal family, leaving her the last Blair to continue with the legacy and to lead the kingdom despite her role and her lack of experience. While Everleigh may be lacking in some courtly matters, she is after all a warrior trained gladiator but she has immunity to magic, which is her strength considering she also could "smell" magic and destroy them if necessary. Everleigh has never forgotten about the Seven Spire massacre and has vowed to take revenge and that time has finally come with the arrival of the Regalia Games, whereby the warriors, nobles and royals from all the kingdoms will come together to compete in various sporting events.

Everleigh may have a grudge against Maeven who had murdered the last queen, but she is more wary of her half brother, Maximus, the conniving king of Morta who doesn't take humanity kindly and will dispose anyone who gets in his way. Although Maeven is his half sister, she's also considered a bastard sister to Maximus so he often give her a cold treatment, which in turn leads to another interesting segment to the already complicated courtly machinations.

This installment may be the last of the series, but I felt the ending leaves some possibility of a future book featuring the world of Crown of Shards and true enough, the author will have an all-new trilogy coming out in July 2021 featuring a new heroine (well, not new if you read this series). Truth be told, I was actually sad to see this trilogy has come to an end. It was like reading an adventurous coming-of-age story although this isn't categorised as YA genre. It was great to see how Everleigh has matured over the time and see her ambition changes for the sake of Bellona and the people. Her relationship with her friends was one of the fun things to read alongside the battles and they definitely deserve some attention considering they're Everleigh's entourage when plotting and fighting are concerned. I also find the worldbuilding fascinating; and not to mention the magic elements and the Strix creatures which give magical power to anyone who drinks their blood. I'd recommend this series if you like an extraordinary fantasy.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Fantasy 8 comments |

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood

Melody

HQ | 7 January 2021 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

77-year-old Judith Potts is single and lives alone in a mansion inherited from her late aunt, Betty. Judith is happy with her life; after all she doesn't have to report to anyone and she can drink whisky anyhow or anytime she likes. She passes her time setting crosswords for the national newspapers and life doesn't get much better until one evening changes her life thereafter.

On that fateful evening, she is out swimming in the Thames and she hears shouting from her neighbour's garden, followed by the sound of a gunshot. She then reports what she's heard to the police, hoping they'd send someone to investigate but they don't believe her and thought she might have heard wrongly. Afterall, Marlow has a low crime rate and it is not often they'd come across a serious crime, let alone a murder case. But Judith trusts her instincts and decides to investigate for herself. Her determination has paid off as she eventually finds her neighbour's body but the police thinks there's a possibility between the case of an accident and a suicide attempt.

Judith didn't want to argue with the police and their disbelief has further fueled her determination in solving the case more. She is soon joined by the neighbourhood's dog walker, Suzie, and the prim and proper Vicar's wife, Becks. Together they formed "The Marlow Murder Club". What begins as a simple sleuthing soon becomes their "full-time job" as they realise they may be dealing with a serial killer when another body is found. Together with DS Tanika Malik (who's come to acknowledge their individual abilities eventually), they'll soon learn that some residents aren't who they seem to be and that one day the past would return to haunt no matter how one keeps it quietly.

This book was a delight to read. Perhaps that's a wrong word to use considering this is a book about murders, but I loved the author's prose (serious yet humorous at times) and most of all, the various cast of characters that make this mystery so much intriguing through their dialogues and their characteristics. Judith was a remarkable character; she was a true hero (yes, she does wear a cape sometimes) and I liked it that she's feisty and opinionated and doesn't allow anything (or anyone) to bring her down. Her friendship with Suzie and Becks made me smile; and then there's DS Malik who brings in some conflicts to the story through her own issues and how she and the trio work together to crack the case. I also liked it that the mystery was multi-layered and like Judith's crossword puzzles, you need to think from various angles and other possibilities, too. As you can tell, I enjoyed this book and I'm glad to note that a sequel will be published in December 2021 (source).

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Mystery 10 comments |

The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré

Melody

Sceptre | 5 March 2020 | 320 pgs

Source: Library

In a rural Nigerian village, there lives a 14-year-old girl named Adunni. Despite poor and being the oldest in school, Adunni remembers her late mother's words on the importance of having an education so that she can find her "louding voice" and be a teacher - a job she has always dreamed of. But life is tough and cruel and being the only girl in the family, her father decides that it's best for her to stop schooling and to marry off to an old man as his third wife.

As if being a third wife isn't bad enough, Adunni has to endure the abusive behaviours of the first wife as well as her demanding husband, Morufu. It is only through Khadija, the second wife, that Adunni manages to find some solace but Khadija's understanding and her limited assistance is not enough to ease Adunni's misery from the household until something bad had fallen onto Khadija, leading Adunni on the run.

Adunni thought she's found someone along the way who could help her in her dire situation, but it turns out that she's being secretly sold into a wealthy family as a domestic servant in Lagos. Once again, Adunni finds herself being bullied and abused by Big Madam and Big Daddy, the couple who's so preoccupied by their own issues (narcissism, greed, lust... you name it). As Adunni struggles to get by, she is also intrigued by the disappearance of her predecessor, Rebecca; and wonder why no one wants to mention about her. As Adunni tries to find out about Rebecca's disappearance, it is also at this time that she comes to know Tia Dada, a woman who would help her through the obstacles in her path as Adunni continues to find ways in pursuing her dreams. And this time around, she won't be silenced as she'll make sure her voice is loud and crystal clear.

This book wasn't an easy read. Through Adunni's narrative, the author depicts the harsh reality of life and how poverty, gender and class differences as well as superstitions in certain countries (in this case, Nigeria) often lead to discriminations and mistreatments. However, this story triumph over the despair of humanity and show the reader that that rugged course of path could be overcome through determination, courage and of course, having your (louding) voice heard!

As always, I want to thank Lark for all our fun buddy reading journeys and please check out Lark's blog for her review/Q&A of this book. Below are my answers to her questions:

1) Why do you think Big Madam, who started from nothing and had to work so hard for her own success, was so unsupportive of and mean to Adunni?

In short, Big Madam was simply a calculative woman and lacks of empathy towards her subordinates. Her narrow-mindedness as well as her relationship with her husband also play a part in her behaviorism, although this isn't an excuse for her unfair treatments towards Adunni.

2) And what does having a 'louding voice' mean to you?

To me, having a 'louding voice' means not afraid of being yourself and voicing your opinions despite knowing that judgemental minds are everywhere.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Buddy Read, Literary Fiction 10 comments |

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

Melody

Dutton | 30 June 2020 | 400 pgs

Source: Library

"Every house has a story to tell and a secret to share."

I'm a huge fan of Riley Sager's books and I've to say each of his book has a different feel and vibes and you would never know what you'll be anticipating until you crack open that book and immerse yourself in the story. This book is no exception. I've thought that Final Girls is my favourite Sager book but it looks like this book has taken over that slot.

The book opens with our protagonist, Maggie Holt, returning to Baneberry Hall after she's inherited the rambling Victorian estate after her father passed. As an interior designer, Maggie is set to restore the house but what really drives her to it is the history and finding out what happened that had had she and her parents fleeing in the dead of night twenty-five years ago. Maggie knew she could always refer to her late father's phenomenal book, House of Horrors, in which he'd recounted his tale of ghostly experiences living in Baneberry Hall but she also knew half of them was either lies or she'd no recollections of the events that had happened considering she was only five.

As Maggie returns to Baneberry Hall to begin the restoration, she is intrigued to find the old estate is filled with relics and old antiques of the past but what chills her to the bone is learning of the murder committed by the estate's predecessor, Curtis Carver. But that is not all, Maggie also begins to experience the strange occurrences as mentioned in House of Horrors and like her, the reader will start questioning if she's reliving her childhood fears or if there's indeed some dark secrets lingering behind.

Reading this book was a delightful treat not only it's Riley Sager's but it's a combination of a ghost story and mystery. But what most appealing is the reader get to read House of Horrors alongside the story so you get two POVs and a double dose of intensity and suspense. And then there's the atmospheric Baneberry Hall and its history, the predecessors who stayed there (especially the first owner, William Garson, who built the estate in 1875, and the mystery surrounding his daughter, Indigo) and why no one seemed to stay long. This story plays with your mind and lead you into wondering if paranormal activities are at work in Baneberry Hall, or are they simply unreliable narratives? Or perhaps, both? I don't wish to indulge more so now it's your turn to find out.

© 2020 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.