For Better and Worse by Margot Hunt

Synopsis: On their first date back in law school, Natalie and Will Clarke bonded over drinks, dinner and whether they could get away with murder. Now married, they’ll put the latter to the test when an unchecked danger in their community places their son in jeopardy. Working as a criminal defense attorney, Nat refuses to rely on the broken legal system to keep her family safe. She knows that if you want justice…you have to get it yourself.

I had previously read Margot Hunt's Best Friends Forever and enjoyed it so I was eager to read this book. It tackles the difficult subject of child molestation without getting too graphic, all the while maintaining a fast pace as Nat and Will must deal with the fall out of what they have done to protect their son. I had to suspend my disbelief more than usual while reading this, although that isn't necessarily a bad thing. As a parent, surely many will relate to why they do what they do, but the aftermath and the ending were a little too perfectly wrapped up for me. Still, this is a fun, nail-biting thriller and I look forward to more of the same from Margot Hunt.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Synopsis: Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. 

Oh, I loved this one! Eleanor is rude and weird and probably someone I would cross the street to avoid, if I'm being honest. But holy moley she's hiding some big secrets and they all start surfacing when she meets Raymond, a guy from work, and together they help an old man who has collapsed in the street. Even though Eleanor is about as reluctant as one can be to help the old guy, he ultimately plays a big role in the story and in her life. There are so many enjoyable moments in this book along with some sad ones as well. Two big thumbs up for Eleanor Oliphant!

Miracle Creek by Angie Kim

Synopsis: In rural Miracle Creek, Virginia, Young and Pak Yoo run an experimental medical treatment device known as the Miracle Submarine. A pressurized oxygen chamber that patients enter for therapeutic “dives,” it's also a repository of hopes and dreams: the dream of a mom that her child can be like other kids; the dream of a young doctor desperate to cure his infertility and save his marriage; the dream of the Yoos themselves, Korean immigrants who have come to the United States so their teenage daughter can have a better life. When the oxygen chamber mysteriously explodes, killing two people, all these dreams shatter with it, and the ensuing murder trial uncovers imaginable secrets and lies.

I was really blown away by this book and it gets 5 stars from me. Initially I was drawn in the hyperbaric oxygen therapy angle of the story and then became completely wrapped up in Angie Kim's beautiful, heartbreaking writing. This is a story about the love of parents for their children and also a legal thriller with some great courtroom tension. I highly recommend it and I hope to read more of this author's work in the future.

The Couple on Cedar Close by Anna-Lou Weatherley

Synopsis: One sunny August afternoon, the residents of Cedar Close throw their annual summer barbecue. Children play in the cherry-tree lined street, tables are laden with food, and the wine is flowing. For Laurie Mills, it’s her first time meeting the neighbours. And it’s the first time she discovers her husband Robert is having an affair.

Overall this is a good thriller with some twists, but I saw most of them coming very early on in the story.  There are quite a few one-dimensional characters that don't add much and some situations that are far-fetched even if you allow yourself to suspend belief. It's a 3.5 stars for me. Didn't love it, but didn't hate it either. It's part two of a series about Detective Dan Riley, which I didn't know going into it, but you don't need to read part one to jump into this. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Stranger Inside by Laura Benedict

Wowsa! I read this awhile ago and somehow forgot to post my review. This book and its characters stayed with me for days after I finished it. They're all horrible and equally suspicious, including the main character  Kimber, but the author really kept me wanting to find out who had taken over her home and why. Lots of fun twists and turns, some of which are pretty nutty. Sadly, I've been reading lots of duds lately but this stands out as something I definitely would recommend. Thanks to Netgalley and Mulholland for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Case of the Hidden Daemon by Lucy Banks

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series! The merging of Ribero and "the Higgins" agencies worked even better than I expected. The characters all have endearing quirks and a few definitely have room to expand and let us learn more about them. This book focused primarily on Kester's relationship with Anya, as well as his father's less than clandestine arrangement with Miss Wellbeloved. I suspect that more about their relationship and about Kester's mother will be revealed in subsequent books. I'm totally hooked and eagerly await the next one! Thank you to Netgalley and Amberjack for granting my request for this book.

The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths

This is a really great story! I've read all of Elly Griffiths books about forensics expert Ruth Galloway and honestly it's hard not to compare Clare, the main character of the Stranger Diaries, to Ruth. They're around the same age and both are raising a daughter on their own. This book revolves around a real-life murder mystery mirroring a gothic novel. Great setting and interesting characters. I highly recommend it!