Penguin Publishing Group | September 2017 | 352 pgs
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
I read Celeste Ng's Everything I Never Told You in 2015 and enjoyed her writing style and most of all the sensitivity and the insightfulness when portraying her characters and crafting her story. This second book is no exception and once again I found myself immersed in Celeste's storytelling and her interesting cast of characters set in Shaker Heights, Cleveland.
The Richardsons is an upper class family consists of six members. William Richardson works as a lawyer and his wife, Eleanor, is a journalist with one of the local papers. Shaker Heights has its own history and for all Eleanor knows her family roots are there. One can say Shaker Heights is a well-planned suburb and the Richardsons are quite happy with the community there until Mia Warren and her teenaged daughter, Pearl, enter into their lives.
Mia, a single mother, is an artist and together with her daughter they travel from places to places until Shaker Heights becomes their latest resting place. They rent a house from the Richardsons and soon the four Richardson children are drawn to this enigmatic mother-daughter pair. Pearl soon quickly adapts to their new environment and has found friendship in Moody, the third child of the Richardsons family. Mia remains quiet and reserved until a coworker at a part-time place where she works confides in her about her baby daughter, May Ling Chow, whom she left at a fire station out of desperation due to her poverty condition, decides to have her baby back but an old friend of the Richardsons, the McCullough couple (the wife had had a few pregnancies but couldn't keep her babies) has decided to adopt the homeless baby and soon Eleanor and Mia find themselves on opposing sides as the custody battle divides the once peaceful community. As if that is not enough, Eleanor is determined to unravel Mia's past but that obsession will soon come with a price.
What made someone a mother? Was it biology alone, or was it love? ~ Pg 280
Once again, Celeste Ng has delivered a taut and an insightful piece of work centering around secrets, identity and the ferocity pull of maternal love. The story begins with a slow start, basically the introduction of the Richardsons and Shaker Heights but towards the middle the reader will embrace the change of direction and momentum as lots of things happened quickly. The characterisation is the huge draw of the story and I found myself invested in Mia's story and why Eleanor Richardson is relentless in pursuing Mia's mysterious past despite of consequences there might be. Celeste Ng has portrayed a multiple aspects of the role of a mother which is both moving and thought-provoking and although I liked her previous novel, I've to say I liked this one better.
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Park Row Books | May 2017 | 352 pgs
Source: Library
The story opens with our protagonist, Amelia Winn, surviving a hit-and-run accident after she had seen one of the patients off to the hospital car park. Stacey was sexually assaulted and had gone for the necessary medical checks and examinations and Amelia, being a nurse, felt Stacey needed some emotional support and that the least she could do is to see her off to the car park. Unfortunately Stacey died and Amelia became deaf after her inner ear nerves were affected.
Two years later Amelia moved on but the death of Gwen Locke shattered her inner peace all over again. Like her, Gwen was a nurse and they were even friends at one time. Amelia found her body in a dense bush by the river which was deep in the woods near her cabin. From Gwen's wounds it was clear that she was murdered but no one knew why. Gwen was well liked by her friends and coworkers so it was hard to even speculate for a reason. As Amelia tried to do some detective work on her own, she realised that there was a motive behind Gwen's death and that she would be the next target of whoever murdered Gwen as she has stumbled upon some secrets she was not supposed to know.
Not a Sound stood out in my opinion not only it was a fast paced whodunit psychological thriller but more of the protagonist who was hearing impaired and her service dog, Stitch. The author has done a great job in detailing Amelia's hearing condition and the challenges she faced in life. Not being able to hear is a sad thing and my heart went out to Amelia while reading all the difficulties she had to go through in her life. It was a good thing that she could lip read and has Stitch by her side, but there are still some things she couldn't be able to tell completely even with the help of technology, such as a person's tone without seeing his expression. I understand from the author's note that Heather was born with a profound unilateral hearing loss so I can imagine her situation while reading about Amelia. The whodunit wasn't hard to guess if you follow through the plot but as mentioned before, what made this book a readable one is Amelia and Stitch. I often marvel at the capabilities and the duties of a service dog so reading about Stitch warmed my heart to an extent. I would highly recommend this book if you want a good suspense with unforgettable characters.
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Penguin Publishing Group | June 2017 | 384 pgs
Source: Library
An old house demolition in London which led to a discovery of a tiny skeleton which is believed to have been buried for years. Journalist Kate Waters first came across the headline "Baby's Body Found" at the bottom of the News section in Evening Standard when she was checking for the bylines of friends. She almost missed that section since the coverage was minimal and the papers was focused more on the London Olympics instead. Intrigued with the news and determined to write something more than a few vague paragraphs, Kate began searching and unravelling the mystery of the baby's death and her tasks led her to three women and how she got sucked into a family drama involving secrets and the lies someone has to cover up over a span of forty years.
To be honest, I think the plot was brilliant and that twisty ending totally surprised me. However, what made me plod through this book slowly is the multiple narratives involving four women. I've to admit it took me a while to get used to the style and although it was an emotional read involving a baby, I didn't really feel connected to the characters (well perhaps with the exception of Kate). Kate was an interesting character who shows a great devotion and persistence in her work and that was my impression of her. I understand she was first featured in this author's first book, The Widow, though these two books aren't connected. I'd have to check that out since there are several good reviews of it on Goodreads. I suppose another thing that slowed down my reading is the pace of the story and at times I felt it dragging. Then again, this might be a personal view and that it's more of a character-driven kind of story so this may work well with readers who are into that style. That said, I thought the ending was a good one as I didn't see it coming.
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HarperCollins Publishers | June 2017 | 304 pgs
Source: Library
That creepy cover. No, this isn't a horror novel and although it
has dolls as a theme, this story is actually about a case of a little
girl's disappearance.
Lissie and Janey Woodham were out playing at their yard when the
elder sister, Lissie, left 4-year-old Janey behind to chase after a puppy.
Thinking Janey was back in the house, Lis didn't take notice and by then a few
precious hours were wasted. Their mother, whom others called Miss Sorrell, is a
doll maker and a doll collector herself. Together with her best friend and
neighbour, Evelyn, they make and repair dolls and Miss Sorrell even makes her own
portrait dolls which bear the hallmark of a Sorrell leaf; a special indication
to differentiate her dolls from others. Their mother had made a doll for each daughter; and many speculated that Janey or whoever kidnapped
her took her doll too because it couldn't be found.
The case remains unsolved throughout the years and Lis now has a
college-aged daughter, Vanessa. She continues to live with Miss Sorrell while
Vanessa is in another state working on her grant proposal on sleep-related
research. However, Vanessa's proposal has to take a
backseat as she's received a call from Evelyn that both her grandmother and her
mother are in a hospital due to an accident in their workroom. Before this, she
understood that a woman had turned up at Miss Sorrell's house with a broken
porcelain doll in responding to her ad about Janey's special portrait doll.
Every year on the anniversary of Janey's disappearance, Miss Sorrell will place
a classified ad offering a cash reward and there's been no news until now. Is
that really Janey's doll and is she really alive all these years? As Miss
Sorrell's family tries to find out more about that woman with the doll and its
authenticity, they'll soon learn that there's more than meets the eye and
whoever knows the truth surrounding Janey's disappearance will ensure that the
mystery will never be solved and will do anything to keep it hidden.
I really enjoyed reading this story. Though not entirely a
gothic story, I've to say there's still a little
sense of creepiness surrounding the dolls what with their real-like looks and
their scattered body parts waiting to be assembled (or wigs made from real
hairs). Hallie Ephron succeeded in capturing a reader's attention with her
suspenseful plot and intriguing characters through her writing skills and I've
to say some information about the sleep research on directing dreams is another
interesting aspect of this story. I'm looking forward to reading more by this
author.
© 2017 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.
Penguin Publishing Group | May 2017 | 336 pgs
Source: Library
Eleanor Oliphant is an unusual woman. Living alone and with
no friends, one would've thought her life must be terribly miserable and
lonely. On the contrary, Eleanor doesn't really care what others think of her
and is rather contented with her simple, routine life. Not a natural with
social skills and sweet talking, she is often brushed off as being odd by her
co-workers and even if they do talk to her their intentions are usually
insincere or with motives. Eleanor has a crush on a musician
named Johnnie Lomond and she often envision them being as a couple one day. It
is a wishful thinking on her part, but he keeps her motivated in some
way.
Then her life takes a turn after she's met Raymond
Gibbons. Raymond works in the same company as Eleanor although they are
from different department. Eleanor knew Raymond because she needs his help with
fixing her office computer; and being a new employee and a conversationalist at
heart, Raymond will try to get into conversations with Eleanor whenever he sees
her. Eleanor isn't interested in forming a friendship with Raymond initially, but both of
them saw an elderly man fell and hurt his head on their way out of the office
at the same time one day. While Eleanor isn't the one who accompanied Sammy into the
ambulance, she couldn't help thinking of his condition and when Raymond suggest
they visit Sammy together after work she knew she has no reason to turn him
down. That one visit lead to another visit, and in no time Eleanor finds
herself quite familiarise with Sammy and even Raymond. In the subsequent
events, Eleanor changes bit by bit the more she's out with Raymond and interact
with others. And towards the end, the reader will discover more of Eleanor and what
makes her live in her own world and how she comes out from that abyss of
loneliness and self-blame.
I've to say Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is more than a
fine book; it is a moving, uplifting book filled with heart and courage. She is an intriguing character but not one who finds approachable at first sight; she is aloof and it took me some time to warm up to her but I liked her for her guilelessness and her genuine self. This is a heartwarming story that made me laugh, cry and be inspired by Eleanor's courage and determination for walking out of her abyss and be someone different. This book is Gail Honeyman's debut and was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish College Fiction Prize. I'll be sure to follow her next release.
© 2017 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.
I'd been anticipating for this drama after seeing that poster and knowing that this would be a fantasy romance between a water god and a psychiatrist. It sounds intriguing, isn't it? On top of it, it is based on a manhwa of the same title by Yun Mi Kyung and though I haven't read it, I understand there's a slight difference from the original comic based on what I read from the drama forum.
Water god, Habaek (starring Nam Joo Hyuk) is a charismatic yet a narcissistic deity of the Realm of Gods. Before his enthronement to be King of the Water Country, he is being sent to earth in order to locate some sacred stones to help him claim his throne. He finds Yoon So Ah (starring Shin Se Kyung) as there was a pact made between So Ah's past ancestors and the deities and that they will serve the water god for generations. So Ah, on the other hand, is a psychiatrist with her own practice but her life is a misery as she is saddled with debts and an unhappy past surrounding her father. Habaek and So Ah struggle to tolerate each other as expectations and their living lifestyle differ, but soon they'll discover that there's a lot more meaning to life and finally how they've come to a solution with their circumstances after they've fallen in love with each other.
I suppose I'd expected too much from this fantasy because what turns out to be an interesting premise became a huge disappointment. I think the major issue lies with the worldbuilding (of the deities) as not much information or explanations are being made except for little snippets or flashbacks here and there. I thought the deities' world was interesting and it'd be so much better if there are more focus on them but alas, no. And there's also a character who's half-deity, half-human (starring Lim Ju Hwan) disguised as a CEO of a famous resort and I felt his role here are underrated. And then, there're some scenes featuring the disputes between a wind god and this half-deity which left me perplexed because I'd no idea why the wind god is continuously picking on him simply because the latter is a half-blood. Finally, while I found the romance between Habaek and So Ah sweet and romantic, they tend to drag at times. Despite my disappointment, I was perseverant in watching this through and I was glad I did because the final episode was quite a good one even though it was a little too late. My verdict is, if you're expecting a more fantasy theme and a fancy worldbuilding you'd be disappointed, however this will appease to fans of the romance genre so it is all about personal preference and expectations.
© 2017 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.
Park Row Books | June 2017 | 336 pgs
Source: Library
Mary Kubica's latest release, Every Last Lie, is a suspenseful psychological thriller that will make you think of deception and how well you know your significant one when bad things happen.
Clara and Nick Solberg are a happily married couple with a four-year-old Maisie and baby Felix. Unfortunately their happiness is short-lived as Nick was met in an automobile accident and was killed while Maisie miraculously survived. In the subsequent days Maisie seems terrified and keep saying that a bad man was following them. Clara isn't sure if Maisie's statement is simply her imagination, after all she does have her playful moments and on top of that the police has certified that it was an accident caused by Nick's reckless speeding. Clara knew Nick was always careful when their children are concerned, so she finds it hard to believe that Nick was really speeding with Maisie in the car. With this in mind and Maisie's statement she is certain that Nick's death is simply not an accident but something or someone that drove him into it.
Overcome by grief and this obsession that Nick was pursued by someone that led to his death, Clara is determined and desperate to hunt for the truth. As the more she digs, the more she discovers that Nick is hiding something from her. Nick was in a financial crisis as she later found out that the business of his dental clinic went downhill following a client's complaint. To add insult to injury, she also found out a few things which make her in doubt of Nick's credibility. Could Nick committed suicide with all his guilt and depression? What really caused his death and what does Clara believe? Maisie's vivid imagination, suicide or murder?
Told in Clara's perspective and Nick's last month's leading up to the crash alternatively, Every Last Lie was an engrossing read between finding the truth and discovering how grief and obsession could drive a person to the darkest corners of the psyche. Clara's pain and misery was well described but at times it seemed a bit overwhelming. While I wasn't enamoured by the twisty ending, I've to admit the story was intense and suspenseful.
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HarperCollins Publishers | August 2017 | 512 pgs
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
This is my first Karin Slaughter standalone book and wow, what a compelling read!
Twenty-eight years ago, Samantha and Charlotte Quinn witnessed the murder and death of their mother. Zach and Daniel Culpepper, who broke into their house were actually looking for the girls' father, who is also Pikeville's most well-known and notorious defence attorney. His clients involve robbers, rapists and even murderers and for this, Rusty Quinn has often received death threats but nothing is serious until this tragedy. After their mother's death, Sam and Charlie Quinn fled for their life but each meets with a different destiny as one fight back while the other escape. Nevertheless, that fateful day remains a permanent scar for both Sam and Charlie, physically and emotionally as they grown into adults and each goes on her own way. And the Quinn family is never the same, again.
Now twenty-eight years later, like a good daughter Charlie follows Rusty's footsteps as a lawyer. Then a mass shooting incident left Pikeville in shock and in rage. Charlie isn't supposed to be at the scene, but she did and it left her traumatised by the sheer violence of it and worst of all being the first witness of the school tragedy. Kelly Wilson, the seventeen-year-old schoolgirl is found guilty for murdering the principal and an eight-year-old girl. As all evidence points to Kelly, Charlie is left with a bit of doubts as the murder weapon couldn't be found and on top of it Kelly's intellectual mind appears to be slightly lower than her peers. Faced with this tragedy which reminds her of the past, Charlie turns to her estranged elder sister, Sam. And both of them will soon discover that Kelly's case would unleash the shocking truth which destroyed their family many years ago.
Well, let me say The Good Daughter surprised me on many levels. Not only it was a good psychological suspense filled with intrigue and twists but it was also filled with heart, too. I've to confess it wasn't an easy read either, as there was violence and it made me ache reading what happened to the young victims as well as the Quinns sisters. Ms. Slaughter knows how to craft her story well and it shows in her writing, the tone and yes, the character development (of Charlie and Sam) too as this is very much about Charlie's story alongside the mass shooting incident. Reading about the Quinns family also struck a chord of various feelings in me; first empathy followed by a wave of melancholy which left a lump in my throat towards the finishing. It is rare that a crime thriller have that kind of effect in me. I'll have to check out her other stand-alones and her series books as well.
© 2017 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.
Grand Central Publishing | June 2017 | 288 pgs
Source: Library
Small Hours is Jennifer Kitses' debut novel and a compelling domestic drama that explores a couple's search for a new life and how a misstep devastates the family thereafter.
Two years ago, Tom and Helen fled their home in New York to live in Devon; a former mill town and now an exurb. With its quiet community and away from the pressures of the city, they (especially Helen) are hopeful that this new place would give them some bliss and some peace where they could raise their young twin daughters who are three. Before the move, both Tom and Helen struggled to keep their jobs during the economy crisis but failed. Both of them eventually found something but not without a price. For Tom, a 90-minute train ride is essential for his journey to and from work aside from a demanding boss at a newswire firm. While Helen has the flexibility of working at home for her designing projects, her job often requires her to work last minute changes on short notices regardless of the hours. As they juggle between work and family, the stress begins to take a toll on them until Helen snaps over an incident on one fateful September morning. Tom, on the other hand, has been trying to keep his infidelity a few years back under wraps until it comes to a stage whereby he has to make a decision whether or not if he should let his "other family" go or to remain as part of his life.
Small Hours is an addictive domestic drama which tells what many working parents are facing today - to find balance between work and family on top of the financial stress. However, it is also a story about secrets, bad choices and decisions and how they will destroy the fragile equilibrium of a family bliss if one is not careful. Tom and Helen, both in their early 40s which is neither too young nor too old, are stuck in a situation where they don't have many job opportunities that work in their favours. Most of all, there aren't much communications in between their busy life so it is not surprising to see one party succumbs to temptations while the other break under pressure. While there aren't twists and turns (or murder) in this novel, it was interesting (and intriguing) seeing the story unfolds through Tom's and Helen's story alternatively in a span of one fateful September day until the conclusion. It was thought-provoking in a way, and I was glad I picked this up.
© 2017 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.
Harvill Secker | June 2017 | 384 pgs
Source: Purchased
First of all, I want to thank Lark (Lark Writes...on books and life) for reading this book with
me and it's been fun doing this buddy reading and comparing notes with her. (I'm definitely looking forward to our next buddy reading, Lark!) Without further ado, here's my
review of The Lying Game by Ruth Ware.
For seventeen years, Isa, Kate, Thea and Fatima are each occupied with their own
life after leaving Salten in Reach, except for Kate. After all, Kate lives there
all her life with her late father, Ambrose and her stepbrother, Luc.
The old mill house by the marsh once brought these girls, who are now women,
many unforgettable teenage memories. They are close like sisters, and they
enjoyed their countless Lying Games which had fooled so many of their peers and
adults alike but one thing is clear, which is no lying to each other. Their
high school days at Salten House are full of scandals, and people steered clear
of them, knowing they are liars and not to be trusted. The lies they weaved
varies from harmless to shockingly ones, until an incident surrounding a mysterious death had them leave the
school and they never looked back since.
Now Isa, Thea and Fatima have put their days at Salten far behind after they
left Reach, until they received a text that said "I need you" from
Kate. They don't use that three little words except in direness situations, so
they knew in their heart something have happened and they have to go back to
Salten and to Kate to confront their past. It turns out that a human
bone was found, and the police is investigating it. What really happened in
Salten? And why does Kate needs them now after all those years of
silence?
If you are a fan of Ruth Ware, you would know that she has a way of building
the suspense and intensity from the beginning until the truth is revealed. Though The
Lying Game still has that aura of mystery and suspense, the attention here
focuses more on the characters development and the tight-knit relationship and
trust among the four women. It also has a strong sense of parenting love and
this often shows on Isa's fussing over her six-month old baby (which I found to be a bit overwhelming at times.) While the pacing was a tad slow (until towards the last third of the book) and
different from Ware's previous two books (In a Dark, Dark Wood and The Woman in Cabin 10), the surprise at the end still threw
me off and that was a good thing. Overall it was a good read and I can't wait
to hear what the author has in store for her next book.
Before ending this review, Lark and I asked each other two questions and here's
my answers to her questions:
1. What did you think about this Lying Game that the girls played, and would
you have played it when you were their age?
There are two forms of lies - one with an intention to
deceive/harm others while the other with a well-intention purpose. And then
there are some who think lying is fun, to gain attention and to see how a
person would react to their false statement. Our four characters here belong to the
last but they didn't realise that the lies they spun could sometimes hurt a
person's reputation and worse, has led to a huge consequences. And I think they've
gone too far if someone was hurt because of it.
Truth be told, I was quite an introverted person when I was their age. Telling
small lies, such as forgotten to bring our homework etc might have worked at
times but I doubt we could get away if we spread something outrageous and
malicious in school (during our secondary school days, everyone almost "knew" everyone on the same class level and bad news always spread the fastest, not that someone had done something really bad then.) So while telling small lies are inevitable at times (e.g. "inventing" anything to distract my daughters),
I don't have the mind (or guts anyway, present or past) to play something
outrageous or malicious that would hurt a person.
2. And what makes Woman in Cabin 10 your favorite Ruth Ware novel?
I always have a thing for locked-room mystery. Woman in Cabin
10 satisfied all my reading expectations of a psychological suspense thriller.
It has an unreliable character who thinks there's a murderer on board on their
exclusive small cruise liner and that claustrophobic feeling with
nowhere-to-run was such a thrill to read. I felt that the plot was well crafted
too, and it kept me on edge throughout my reading journey.
Please visit Lark's blog to read about her thoughts on this book and her
answers to my questions.
© 2017 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.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | January 2017 | 304 pgs
Source: Library
SFPD homicide detective Gavin Cain is overseeing an exhumation work when he receives a call from his superior, Lieutenant Nagata. The casket they are digging and a cold case will have to wait. Cain has finally found something which might shed some light on the case they have been working on for years, thus he is perplexed why he is being called for until he realised it is a request from San Francisco's mayor, Harry Castelli.
When Cain meets Harry, the latter shows him a short note and four photographs he received. The four photographs offer some depictions of what's happening when they were taken, though the actual event isn't clear and they could only speculate. But that's not all, whoever sent these stuff to Harry wants him to take his own life or worse revelations will come by the end of the week. As Harry races against time with FBI agent Karen Fischer to unravel the truth and hunt for the blackmailer, they would soon realise that there is more than meets the eye and that the casket he is digging may connect with Harry's case.
I read Jonathan Moore's The Poison Artist a while back and was impressed by his storytelling and his writing style. The Dark Room continues his signature of the above and I've to say TDR was more tense and have a multi-layered plot which I didn't see coming from the beginning. Part suspense and part police procedural, I was hooked from the opening featuring a determined homicide detective Cain while he opened up a cold case thirty years ago. With a few pages in, the reader could tell that he is an uncorrupted cop who would not allow himself to waver and crumble under pressure, and certainly not from the powerful mayor Castelli. Aside from that, he is also a considerate and attentive lover when his girlfriend, Lucy, is concerned. One could easily see why considering Lucy was one of the victims and the only adult survivor of a school mass shooting four years ago. That incident led Lucy from a shining talented pianist to a timid woman who hides in her house 24/7. Cain's camaraderie with his two other subordinates and their investigations add intrigue to the story and I found these scenarios are just as intense as the plot as they encounter difficulties and danger as they dig deeper. I'm glad to hear his next release, The Night Market, will be released in January 2018. I'm definitely looking forward to that.
© 2017 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.
Orion | November 2016 | 368 pgs
Source: Library
Lovemurder is the second book of the Valerie Hart Series and though I haven't read the first book I found myself engaged in this compelling thriller featuring San Francisco Homicide detective Valerie Hart.
When Valerie got called to a crime scene the last thing she expect is to find herself seeing Katherine Glass again. Known for her beauty, intelligence and ruthlessness in crimes, Katherine is being convicted for six counts of assault and murder. While Katherine is put behind bars, her other accomplice known as The Man in the Mask (or 'Lucien Chastain' if that is what he is named) is still at large. The latest murder case bears all the hallmarks of the previous six victims; and as if that is not enough there is a note from Katherine's ex-accomplice addressing to Valerie with implications that sent shivers down her spine. Valerie had seen the footages of their previous crimes six years ago and till today it still haunts her. But she is a cop and to stop more killings she has no choice but to confront Katherine, again, and get her to decipher the messages which the killer has sent her.
Lovemurder is one compelling serial killer thriller. Each character is flawed and that nothing here is all black and white. Valerie and Katherine are two interesting women who will make the reader wonder about their inner world, their personal demons and their state of mind. Valerie is a devoted detective and despite after six years Katherine still get under her skin. Katherine is an intelligent and a manipulative woman who seems to understand the fragility of a person's mind and one who knows how to make good use of it.
Lovemurder is not only a dark, riveting thriller but also an exploration of Valerie's and Katherine's mind. Their exchanges is one of the engaging parts of this story, alongside the killer's murder attempts. Katherine's ex-accomplice, however, is more of a shadow and his identity is a mystery; and although I understand his real self would be revealed towards the end it didn't come off as a surprise to me. The plot and the characterisation are well balance so overall this book kept me on edge. I'll be interested to read the The Killing Lessons, which is the first book of the Valerie Hart Series (these two books can be read out of order since the cases are standalone).
© 2017 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.
Imprint | May 2017 | 352 pgs
Source: Library
This is the first book of The Traitor's Trilogy and it's a tale revolving around secret identities, espionage, lies, wars and of course some romance what with that title.
16-year-old Sage Fowler is unlike any other young ladies in Demoran. Raised by her uncle after her parents' pass, she is often viewed as a courageous yet an obstinate girl who would not be married. With her unruly temper and wit, she is then apprenticed to a matchmaker, Mistress Rodelle, and their current task is to wrangler other young ladies to be married off for political alliances on their way to the quinquennial Concordium.
With a treason to overthrow the king and a kingdom on the brink of war, Captain Alexander Quinn and his army are assigned to escort these brides-to-be across the borders alongside a spy mission as they make their long journey towards the capital city of Tennegol. Although not a beauty like the other young ladies, Sage caught the attention of the captain through her intelligence and her quick response to matters. Already disguised as one of the "brides" for mingling and observing the other girls for the matchmaking assignments, Sage is glad to help their escorts on a spy mission and as fate could have it, she finds herself attracted to a soldier and vice versa. But with so many uncertainties and dangers lurking around, Sage doesn't know who to trust the more she finds herself deep into the infiltration. And most of all, would she even come out of the mission alive?
The Traitor's Kiss fulfilled my fantasy fix and I was so glad to discover this new trilogy series featuring a brave heroine (yay, girl power!) and an unforgettable love story that have me anticipating for the next book. Right from the beginning I knew this story would keep me engaged not only with the world building (Demoran is one of the many nations which is divided by class and very often connections are established through matched marriages within and outside Demoran) and the characters but also there are enough espionage and twist that had me on edge alongside the action. I liked a few characters here, and I found myself rooted for Sage and her brave soldier. Though the end read like a standalone without an intense cliffhanger, still I couldn't get enough of this story. I hope the second book will release quickly.
© 2017 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.
Quercus | January 2017 | 416 pgs
Source: Purchased
Nowadays I'm a bit skeptical with titles that have "The Girl" on them, especially psychological thrillers. It isn't a bad thing, really, just that I feel they are overused and that very often they have unreliable characters and this book is no exceptional, although I felt the cold setting of the house at One Folgate Street more frightening.
Told from the past and present between Emma and Jane, this story revolves around these two women and their stay at the beautiful house at One Folgate Street. Built by a minimalist architect by the name of Edward Monkford, the projects he designs and develops always bear his signature of high quality and are built with intelligent, high technology systems. His works has won him numerous awards but to property agents and clients he could comes off a bit... austere.
Both Emma and Jane are looking at houses for rental; the former told from the past and the latter at present time. They decided the house on One Folgate Street after been through many house sightings. For starters, the house is bare with minimal furniture and there are rules and regulations to follow (i.e. no books, no throw pillows, no photos or personal effects of any kind) and the oddest of all, their applications have to be approved by Edward and those forms come with a set of questions ranging from anything house related to their personal opinions on various matters and if these "requirements" don't set off any alarms I don't know what would. So that begins the story of Emma and Jane, and the eccentric Edward. Emma and Jane came off as unreliable due to their traumatic past and both of them find Edward charming but cold. As the story progresses, their personality start to change too as they try to adapt to their new environment and all that requirements.
I got the feeling that The Girl Before wouldn't be a fit for all readers (it features some sexually suggestive scenarios and there are also issues on control and submission). At times I wondered if the characters are experiencing Stockholm Syndrome under some circumstances and it was all very perplexing, considering the decisions they made. Then again, who did I really believe considering many of the characters here are unreliable? The twist wasn't what I expected (I confessed I was too invested in the dynamics between the two women and what they have gone through instead), but I figured if one pay enough attention it wouldn't come off as a great surprise. Overall it was a riveting, suspenseful psychological thriller but disturbing at some point.
© 2017 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.
Flatiron Books | April 2017 | 320 pgs
Source: Library
This book is a romance about romances. With a romance plot set side-by-side with another fictional romance, this story tells a tale about a bond between two sisters and their dreams set during the 1930s in a small town of Lynn, Massachusetts and another in Romancelandia, featuring a charismatic privateer (or a pirate) and a proper young woman on her way into entering the society.
Since young, Neave Terhune knew she doesn't fit anywhere; she's not as sociable and glamorous like her twin sister, Lilly. Despite their characteristics differences they are each other's confidante, playmate and business partner when they first launched their cosmetic business during their teenage years (never mind if it's small and most of their clients are the neighbourhood housewives and school girls). Neave may live in Lilly's shadow but she is smart whereas Lilly has a sharp eye when it comes to makeup and fashion. They have an older brother, Snyder, who's into comics books and a younger sister, Janey.
Neave loves reading but her books are limited, let alone choices thus she is glad to take up the job of reading to old Mrs Daniels because she has a lot of books. Neave isn't allowed to read romance due to her age, hence she is excited to find a copy of The Pirate Lover when Mrs Daniels is not looking. She is fascinated by the world of Romancelandia, and most of all she is fascinated by the gutsy Electra Gates as she met her equal, the infamous privateer Basil Le Cherche. All the way throughout Neave's adulthood, that romance copy continues to stay with her even after Mrs Daniels's passing. The two sisters are still as close after Lilly remarried for the second time and that's when the trouble starts when Lilly's husband starts to get violent.
With Electra's story parallels to Neave's, the reader will see the similarities between these two women as they met their own dangers and challenges. There's even a bit of the supernatural element as there are parts narrated by Lilly from the afterlife (this is not a spoiler as it begins right from the start), including Neave's protector, Mr Boppit the dog. It was an unusual story but yet a wildly original and an entertaining one and I loved it (I even enjoyed Electra's story and reading it has inspired me to look out for more pirate romance books.)
© 2017 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.
St Martin's Press | May 2017 | 336 pgs
Source: Library
Although there are some underlying tone of domestic issues and unhappy marriages what with that title, this book actually revolves around the friendship of three women - Kate, Aubrey and Jenny. Kate is beautiful, wealthy and wild; Aubrey comes from a poor broken family and through financial aid she arrives at Carlisle hoping that it'd change her path thereafter; and finally there's Jenny who is intelligent and ambitious. Despite the clash of personalities, the trio are roommates and friendship blossoms quickly until they are inseparable.
Right from the start, we know something bad is going to happen as the author takes her reader immediately to a scene twenty years later that portrays two nameless characters locked in a tense situation with one urging the other to jump off a bridge. As in most cases with problematic couples, it's always the husband who comes to mind first whenever his partner dies under mysterious circumstances.
The story was told in two parts with a different timeline. The first was focused on the three young women and their college life at Carlisle. Here we read about their busy life as they juggle between their studies and their personal life. Wild parties, flirting with boys, drinking and drugs taking seem to be the norm when Kate is concerned. Aubrey is her follower and while Jenny doesn't always approve of their behaviours, she loves her two friends dearly. Unfortunately, a terrible accident happened to an innocent young man during a squabble and that guilt hangs onto the three women till their adult life. The case is closed with the conclusion that the young man was suicidal after he was being forced to stop playing hockey due to his leg injury but of course Kate, Aubrey and Jenny knew better.
The second part moves on to their marriage life and the continuation of their dynamics and each woman now harbours a deep secret and not even their husbands knew what happened on that fateful night which involved their wives (whether directly or indirectly). As one of them dies under a mysterious circumstances, a new police chief in town is asked to look into the case and the past of these women's life is being looked into once again and this time around, it's even more complicated as there are marital woes and deceptions and it's no longer the women's affair alone anymore. Did one of their husbands get murderous?
This was an average read to me although the premise kept me on edge and I was curious to see how it all played out in the end. And of course I wouldn't turn down on a story filled with secrets and betrayals with an Ivy League setting. Most of the characters are unlikeable and unreliable; I didn't feel any connection to any of them though I felt pity to one or two of them under some circumstances. Overall it was an engaging read and I'd say it's more of a case of characters study and behaviours.
© 2017 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.
St. Martin's Press | June 2017 | 400 pgs
Source: Library
As the title indicates, this is a psychological thriller about the different implications of each individual the way they see things and how far one would go to save oneself and to make others believe his/her side of the story.
Summer, 1999. Kit is an avid eclipse chaser. He is the kind of person who would travel to anywhere to witness and capture that phenomenon of nature; and his girlfriend Laura follows him to a festival in Cornwall for this purpose. This is Laura's first and Kit shares her excitement as well. However, after they've witnessed that grand moment Laura stumbles upon an act which would lead her and Kit as witnesses in a trial. While Kit only sees what happened after what Laura has witnessed, it is a matter of trust and then it's Laura's words against the perpetrator during the trial since the statement of the accuser isn't clear. The battle rages on and finally a sentence is announced.
Fifteen years after that unforgettable aftermath, Laura and Kit continues their life as a married couple but that fear of being stalked and having the past catches up on them never cease. As the story progresses, their fear intensifies and thereafter there is a change of the dynamics and momentum which would result in a twisty conclusion.
He Said/She Said is an outstanding literary psychological thriller I've read thus far this year. The author sure knows how to build the intensity/suspense gradually and that shows in this book because it was a slow read from the beginning (I almost gave up at some point but now looking back I was so, SO glad I didn't!) and when the real excitement begins there's no stopping it and you couldn't help but to follow that ride. And the characters are well developed and is narrated by Laura and Kit between the present and the past alternatively. Aside from the suspense we also see the dynamic between Laura and Kit and how they cope under some circumstances. I've not read anything like this (that excitement and that tension!) in a while and this deserves a 5-star for the well-drawn characters, the plot and not to mention that killer twist which really took me by surprise (a really good twist and not just because.) Highly recommended!
© 2017 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.
HarperCollins Publishers | February 2017 | 368 pgs
Source: Library
The Possessions is an extraordinary story of a woman named Eurydice
"Edie" who has an even extraordinary profession that allows her to
reconnect with her clients' lost loved ones. Known as "bodies" among
their profession, they wear discarded belongings of the dead and swallow pills
they called "lotuses" to summon the spirits. Edie has been with the
Elysian Society for five years, which is an unusual record for her. In this
field, she finds success with her careful detachment and avoidance of personal
contact with her clients while she seeks refuge in the lotuses' anesthetic
effects. She has had no problem channelling into the dead world until Sylvia
Braddock.
Sylvia is believed to be drowned in a lake and her grieving
husband, Patrick, goes to the Elysian Society hoping to find a "body"
so as he could reconnect with his deceased wife. Edie should be aware of the
rules set by the society, but for some reason she is drawn to the mystery
surrounding Sylvia and then there is that tube of lipstick passed on to her by
Patrick; an object belonging to Sylvia and that it might help to bring her
closer in channelling Sylvia. As the days go by and the more Edie knows Patrick
through the sessions they have had, she finds herself drawn to him and his
history with Sylvia. What happened to the Braddocks couple and is there more to
Sylvia's death?
Part mystery, part supernatural and part love story, at its core
of this story it is about one's desire and obsession and how it changes not one
but several people's life as the situations arise. Sara Flannery Murphy has
written a very unusual tale in The Possessions; I find her writing and the
premise absorbing and most of all, the profession of being a "body",
in which one could communicate with the dead and this reminds me so much of one
of the Chinese beliefs that it is possible to contact the spirits of the
deceased through a medium among others.
Although I found it to be a little creepy beneath the premise,
surprisingly there are also moments which are filled with hearts and melancholy
despite the darkness/morbidness of death. The Possessions was an original and
an unforgettable tale indeed and I look forward to this author's future release.
© 2017 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.
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