The Divide

 

Author: Morgan Richter

Publisher: Knopf

Release date: August 20,2024

📖 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 📖

Thank you Knopf and NetGalley for the digital review copy. 

Jenny St. John is a washed up actress with one movie credit. She was the lead in an independent movie years ago called The Divide. Serge Grumet, the director, went on to become a big time Hollywood director, while Jenny’s career went nowhere. Twenty years later, Jenny’s barely keeping her head above water working as a psychic life coach, trying to kid herself that she not just a grifter. When Serge is murdered, Jenny’s life is turned upside down. Jenny discovers that Serge’s ex wife Gena bares more than a striking resemblance to Jenny. Gena, who’s told people for years that she was the star of the long ago movie, is now missing. Is she a murderer on the lam or a victim too? Jenny sets out to find Gena, reclaim her one & only movie credit, and discover who killed Serge. Hollywood can be a killer business, can Jenny survive? 

This was a fun one! I loved the LA setting. Author Morgan Richter definitely knows the ins and outs of the entertainment industry. Jenny’s character was very likable, and there were a ton of suspects. While I was able to figure out who the killer was, there was a twist at the end I never would have guessed in a million years. This is an enjoyable whodunnit with a breezy California vibe. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Divide publishes August 20. 

QOTD: have you watched any good movies lately? My husband & I watched The Beekeeper recently. It had an outlandish plot and over the top action, but was entertaining. 

#thedivide #morganrichter #knopf #crimefiction #mysteryfiction #thrillerbooks #hollywoodfiction #hollywoodcrimefiction #whodunnit #bookstagram #publishingsoon

The Queen City Detective Agency

 

Author: Snowden Wright

Publisher: William Morrow Books

Release date: August 13, 2024

📖 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 📖

Thank you William Morrow books and NetGalley for the digital review copy.

Randall Hubbard, a wealthy white real estate developer in Mississippi in the 1980s, is murdered in his home. His business mostly centered on building strip malls in low income Black neighborhoods. Hubbard’s wife is accused of hiring Turnip Coogan to set up the hit on Hubbard. Coogan, who allegedly has ties to the Dixie Mafia, dies under suspicion circumstances while in jail for the murder. Clementine Baldwin, a former cop turned private investigator, is hired to investigate Coogan’s death. Being a Black female PI in Mississippi isn’t an easy job. When Clem’s investigation keeps leading her to the Dixie Mafia, the job quickly becomes deadly. 

I loved the 80’s vibe of this Southern noir mystery. Race plays a big part in this story-not only in Clem’s investigation, but also her personal life and family dynamic. Her search for answers forces her to confront painful truths and pits her against powerful and dangerous men. The setting is atmospheric filled with a myriad of characters. The pace flows at a brisk and steady pace. I liked the relationship Clem has with her investigative partner Dixon. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me on my toes. I hope we see Clem again in the near future. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Put The Queen City Detective Agency  on your tbr list now so you don’t miss it when it publishes on August 13th. 

QOTD: what’s for dinner tonight? 

I think I’m going to grill some beef kabobs. 

#thequeencitydetectiveagency #snowdenwright #williammorrowbooks #netgalley #crimefiction #thrillerfiction #mysteryfiction #historicalfiction #mississippifiction #femaledetective #femaleprivateinvestigator #bookstagram #thrillerthursday #southernnoir #publishingsoon

Under Your Spell

 

Author: Laura Wood

Narrator: Ellie Heydon

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Year: 2024

🎧𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄🎧

Many thanks to @simon.audio for the gifted audiobook!

Poor Clemmie has been just been dumped by her cheating boyfriend, lost her job, and is about to lose her apartment. As the daughter of an aging rock and roll star, she definitely does not want to date a celebrity- especially a rock star. But she finds herself spending six weeks alone with the gorgeous Theo Eliott while he works on his new album. What will Clemmie do when the sparks fly? 

This was such a fun book! I loved everything about it. The characters are wonderful. Clemmie is in dire straits and her sisters are there for her. I loved the dynamic and bond Clemmie and her sisters had. Theo isn’t a cliche of a major rock star. He’s down to earth and a genuinely nice guy. Kudos to author Laura Wood for being able to infuse humor throughout the story, along with some spicy romance. I thought the pacing was fairly fast and Ellie Heydon’s narration was excellent. If you’re looking the perfect beach or pool read, pick this one up. It’ll make you laugh, cry, and swoon! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD: Who’s your favorite rock star? 

My favorite is Springsteen. Taylor Swift has been growing on me the last few year. 

#underyourspell #laurawood #simonaudio  #ellieheydon #romancebooks #audiobook #audiobookreview #audiobookstagram #bookstagram #fivestarbook #romcombookstagram #romcombooks #rockandroll 

Middletide

 

Author: Sarah Crouch

Narrator: Kaleo Griffith

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Year: 2024

🎧𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄🎧

Thank you @simon.audio for the gifted audiobook!

A small town on Puget Sound is rocked when the body of a beautiful and popular doctor is found dead. The sheriff’s investigation points to a murder staged as a suicide. The body was found on Elijah Leith’s property. As a young man, Elijah fled his small hometown to become a writer. After his first book received a bad review, Elijah returned home believing his writing career was over. Now there’s been a murder that is eerily similar to one in Elijah’s book. Is it a coincidence? 

I thought this was as going to be a straight up mystery or police procedural. It is, but it isn’t. It’s more literary mystery or character study than I had anticipated. Author Sarah Crouch created a very atmospheric story in this debut novel. Kaleo Griffith provides an engaging narration. I’m a more action oriented reader, but I know plenty of readers will love this slow burning, moody novel. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

#middletide #middletidebook #sarahcrouch #simonaudio #crimefiction #literaryfiction #pacificnorthwest #audiobook #audiobookreview #audiobookstagram #bookstagram #debutnovel #2024debut 

We Used to Live Here

Author: Marcus Kliewer

Narrators: Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Corey Brilk

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Year: 2024

 🎧𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄🎧

Thank you @simon.audio for the gifted audiobook! 

We Used to Live Here is a heck of a debut novel from Marcus Kliewer! It’s an atmospheric psychological horror story. Eve and Charlie flip houses. Their latest project is an old house in a rural area. One snowy night while Eve is home alone, a family shows up at her door. Thomas, the creepy dad, explains that the house was his childhood home. They’re passing through the area and he wanted to show his family where he grew up. Eve invites them in for a quick tour and soon regrets her decision. 

This is an edge of your seat read. I had no idea where the story was going and I was hooked from the start. Kliewer does a great job pacing the novel, jacking up the suspense and dread as the plot progresses. This is great storytelling and the narration Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Corey Brill is outstanding. 

Trust me. You won’t be able to put this one down. I’m looking forward to whatever comes next from Kliewer. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#weusedtolivehere #marcuskliewer #simonaudio #horrorfiction #psycologicalhorror #hauntedhouse #ltbqreprsentation #debutnovel #audiobook #audiobookreview #audiobookstgram #booksbooksbooks bookstagram #debutbook #debutnovel #2024debut

The Deep

 

Author: Alma Katsu

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Year: 2024

🚢 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 🚢

Thank you @putnambooks for the #gifted book! 

The Titanic has certainly cemented its place in our pop culture conscious. Author Alma Katsu has crafted a creepy Titanic ghost story as only she can.

There is something wrong aboard the Titanic. Passengers have been troubled by a series of misfortunes ever since the luxury liner set sail. A few of the ships most celebrated guests, including Madeline Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim, and maid Annie Hebbkey are convinced something from the spirit world might be the cause. 

Annie is one of the lucky ones to survive the sinking. Six years later she’s a nurse aboard the Titanic’s sister ship the Britannic, which is serving as a naval hospital during WWI. Annie is plagued by the demons of the fateful Titanic crossing. Annie soon recognizes an unconscious soldier brought onboard Britannia. It’s Mark Fletcher, a man Annie was immediately attracted to on the Titanic. But how could he have survived the sinking of the Titanic?

This is an atmospheric ghost story that has alternating timelines and multiple POVs. The story moves at a fast and steady pace-like the Titanic sailing to its doom. Katsu knows how to bring out the eerie and ominous to make this a spine-tingling ghost story. This was an absorbing and entertaining spooky read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD: why do you think we’re still fascinated by the sinking of the Titanic 112 years later? 

#thedeep #almakatsu #putnambooks #thetitanic #titanic #horrorfiction #ghoststories #ghoststory #spookybooks #thebritannic #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks 

In My Time of Dying

 

Author: Sebastian Junger

Narrator: Sebastian Junger

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Year: 2024

🎧𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄🎧

Thank you @simon.audio for the gifted audiobook! 

Reading nonfiction is a departure from my usually thrillers & mysteries. When I saw that Sebastian Junger was the author, I couldn’t pass it up. Junger has had a distinguished career as a reporter and author. His work has taken him around the globe and into many hotspots. But his closest brush with death was on a quiet day at home in rural New England. Junger had been experiencing abdominal pain on and off for several months when he was incapacitated by excruciating pain. When he arrives at the hospital, his life begins to slip away. Junger sees his deceased father in the room. His father invites Junger to join him and reassures Junger that “It’s okay. There’s nothing to be scared of. I’ll take care of you.” Junger wakes up the next day to learn that he had a ruptured aneurysm and he shouldn’t have survived. Junger details the extraordinary measures all members of his care team took to save his life - from the ambulance crew to all the nurses and doctors who treated him. Junger’s gratitude and admiration for their professionalism, expertise, and dedication is palpable. 

Junger was shocked it was his father he saw during his near death experience. He believed it would have been totally out of character for his father, a man of science and not religious, to be there to escort his son from life to death. Seeing his father when he was so close to death spurred Junger to take a deep dive into what happens after we die. He examines other people’s near death experiences and looks at the physics of reality as he grapples with trying to understand the unknowable. 

Junger narrates this emotional and intriguing audiobook. I found listening this story in the author’s own voice all the more impactful. It is a fascinating and thought provoking journey. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD: do you know anyone who has had a near death experience? I don’t. 

#inmytimeofdying #sebastianjunger #simonaudio #audiobook #audiobookreview #audiobookstagram #neardeathexperiences #neardeathexperience #nonfiction #rupturedaneurysm #medicalnonfiction 

The Best Lies

 

Author: David Ellis

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Release date: July 23, 2024

📖 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 📖

Thank you @putnambooks and @netgalley for the digital review copy! 

I loved David Ellis’s previous book Look Closer. I was really excited to read this one.

The Best Lies has a complex plot with lots of characters and moving parts to keep track of. The timeline also shifts between past and present and there are multiple points of view. The bare bones story is Leo, a lawyer with questionable ethics, gets caught up in an FBI sting operation. He has a choice between testifying against a viscous monster or going to jail for murder. Leo’s character was a little too smarmy for my taste. He’s like the smartest kid in the class who knows it and likes to show it off. 

The first half of the story felt like a lot of loose threads, but they eventually all come together. The twists and turns are plentiful and will keep readers guessing. I found this to be an entertaining and engaging read. The Best Lies publishes July 23. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Let’s play predictive text: The biggest lie I ever told ________. 

The biggest lie I ever told was that I was going to be a millionaire. 😀 Too bad that was a lie! 

#thebestlies #davidellis #putnambooks #netgalley #crinefiction #thrillerbooks #publishingsoon #mysteryfiction #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram 

The Return of Ellie Black

 

Title: The Return of Ellie Black

Author: Emiko Jean

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Narrator: Full Cast

🎧 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 🎧 

Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio for the gifted audiobook! I love a police procedural and this was a good one! 

When Ellie Black, a girl who had been missing for two years, turns up in the woods in Washington state, Det. Chelsea Calhoun has more questions than answers. This should be a joyous time for Ellie and her family. But Ellie doesn’t want to cooperate with the police investigation. As Chelsea works the case, she’s unprepared for the answers she finds. 

This is a complex story that pulled me right in. I liked the alternating timelines and multiple points of view. Chelsea is a complex character. She carries the weight of her own sister’s disappearance some twenty years before Ellie Black. There were a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing. This is best selling author Emiko Jean’s debut thriller. She’s crafted an intense and intricate thriller. The full cast audiobook was fabulous. I really enjoyed this gripping thriller. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD: what format is most of your reading-print or audio? I get dry eyes when reading print or looking at a screen. I’ve been listening to more audiobooks than reading either traditional print or kindle books. 

#thereturnofellieblack #simonaudio #emikojean #policeprocedural #thrillerbooks #mysteryfiction #crimefiction #audiobookstagram #audiobookreview #audiobook 

June Wrap Up

 

📚𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗪𝗿𝗮𝗽 𝗨𝗽📚

Hard to imagine June is over. I’ve continued my trend of listening to more audiobooks than reading print. But it was a good reading month filled with a variety of genres. Here’s the breakdown. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved

🎧 We Used To Live Here - this is a heck of a debut novel! Creepy, fast moving, and well plotted. Thank you Simon Audio for the gifted copy! 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - really liked

📖 The Deep - creepy Titanic ghost story. Thank you Putnam Books for the gifted copy! 

📖 Long Time Gone - can’t go wrong with anything Charlie Donlea writes. 

🎧 Middletide-a slow burning mystery set in the Pacific Northwest. Also a debut novel. Thank you Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook! 

🎧 Hide- first book in the Det. Harriet Foster series. Engaging police procedural. 

🎧 A Talent for Murder - Lily Kitner is back to help an old college friend. Twisty and entertaining. 

🎧 Murder Book - thoroughly enjoyed this one. 

🎧 No Strangers Here - a veterinarian returns to her rural Irish hometown & discovers her family is implicated in a murder. 

🎧 Ararat - an expedition to find Noah’s Ark turns deadly. Spine-tingling spooky. 

🎧 Love, Theoretically- really enjoyed this science themed romance. 

🎧 Finally Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead - fun and fast paced thriller. 

🎧 Death of a Bookseller - an interesting twist on true crime obsession. 

🎧 Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand - a touching drama/romance featuring older characters. 

QOTD: what was your favorite June read or what book are you starting off July with? 

#readingwrapup #monthlywrapup #thrillerbooks #crimefiction #horrorfiction #romancebooks #policeprocedural #audiobooks #bookstagram #audiobookstagram #debutnovels