The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak

 

[Synopsis] Frank Szatowski is shocked when his daughter, Maggie, calls him for the first time in three years. He was convinced that their estrangement would become permanent. He’s even more surprised when she invites him to her upcoming wedding in New Hampshire. Frank is ecstatic, and determined to finally make things right. He arrives to find that the wedding is at a private estate—very secluded, very luxurious, very much out of his league. It seems that Maggie failed to mention that she’s marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a famous tech billionaire. Feeling desperately out of place, Frank focuses on reconnecting with Maggie and getting to know her new family. But it’s difficult: Aidan is withdrawn and evasive; Maggie doesn’t seem to have time for him; and he finds that the locals are disturbingly hostile to the Gardners. Frank needs to know more about this family his daughter is marrying into, but if he pushes too hard, he could lose Maggie forever.

[Review] This is the first book I've read by this author, but it won't be the last. I was pulled into the story right away and enjoyed the cast of characters that included Frank's sister and her very sweet foster child. Frank learns alot of things about his daughter during the course of the events of the wedding and realizes that he ignored some important signs of trouble over the years. I really enjoyed this and was glad to see that things worked out in the end, even though it wasn't necessarily a happy ending for Frank and his daughter.

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager

 

[Synopsis]: The worst thing to ever happen on Hemlock Circle occurred in Ethan Marsh’s backyard. One July night, ten-year-old Ethan and his best friend and neighbor, Billy, fell asleep in a tent set up on a manicured lawn in a quiet, quaint New Jersey cul de sac. In the morning, Ethan woke up alone. During the night, someone had sliced the tent open with a knife and taken Billy. He was never seen again.

Thirty years later, Ethan has reluctantly returned to his childhood home. Plagued by bad dreams and insomnia, he begins to notice strange things happening in the middle of the night. Someone seems to be roaming the cul de sac at odd hours, and signs of Billy’s presence keep appearing in Ethan’s backyard. Is someone playing a cruel prank? Or has Billy, long thought to be dead, somehow returned to Hemlock Circle?]

[Review]: This was my favorite read of the last month. It had all the Stephen King vibes in the best way with friendly neighbors who might be predators and a slight supernatural element. It's set in the 90s and the present so we get fun nostalgia from that period including references to Goosebumps books. This is a fun and fast read from a writer at the top of their game. Solid 4 stars from me!

 Look in The Mirror by Catherine Steadman

[Synopsis: Nina, still grieving from the loss of her father, discovers that she has inherited property in the British Virgin Islands—a vacation home she had no idea existed, until now. The house is extraordinary: state-of-the-art, all glass and marble. How did her sensible father come into enough money for this? Why did he keep it from her? And what else was he hiding?

Maria, once an ambitious medical student, is a nanny for the super-rich. The money’s better, and so are the destinations where her work takes her. Just one more gig, and she’ll be set. Finally, she’ll be secure. But when her wards never show, Maria begins to make herself at home, spending her days luxuriating by the pool and in the sauna. There’s just one rule: Don’t go in the basement. That room is off-limits. But her curiosity might just get the better of her. And soon, she’ll wish her only worry was not getting paid.]

Review:

I'm a bit torn on this one because story-wise it was good and what I've come to expect from Steadman. However, I went into it blind and if I had known what was going on I would not have chosen to read this one. I think it's important to note that while there is no over-the-top torture or gory scenes in the escape rooms, this should come with trigger warnings for kidnapping and human trafficking. I did finish it, but thought it wrapped up a bit too neatly given everything that happened. Thanks to NegGalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on July 30, 2024.

Mona of the Manor by Armistead Maupin

Synopsis: When Mona Ramsey married Lord Teddy Roughton to secure his visa—allowing him to remain in San Francisco to fulfil his wildest dreams—she never imagined she would, by age 48, be the sole owner of Easley House, a romantic country manor in the UK. Now, with her adopted son, Wilfred, Mona has opened Easley’s doors to paying guests to keep her inherited English manor afloat.

As they welcome a married American couple to Easley, Mona and Wilfred discover their new guests’ terrible secret. Instead of focussing on the imminent arrival of old friend Michael Tolliver and matriarch Anna Madrigal, Mona will need to use her considerable charm, willpower and wiles to set things right before Easley’s historic Midsummer ceremony.]

Review: What a treat to revisit these characters in the setting of the English countryside! I have been an avid reader of the Tales of The City books for many years, so this was such a fun summer read for me. As with all of Maupin's stories, there is substance and lessons to be learned from one another amid the goofiness of the characters and their relationships. It's a short book that makes a big impression and brings us moments with beloved characters like Anna Madrigal and Michael Tolliver. My one issue in the storyline is with Michael and his character's behavior toward Wilfred, which isn't necessarily out of line with the Michael of old, but it would have been nice to see he had evolved and matured a bit more in his 50s. Nevertheless, if this was the last Tales book, I'm grateful for it.

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

Synopsis: [It’s the opening night of The Manor, and no expense, small or large, has been spared. The infinity pool sparkles; crystal pouches for guests’ healing have been placed in the Seaside Cottages and Woodland Hutches; the “Manor Mule” cocktail (grapefruit, ginger, vodka, and a dash of CBD oil) is being poured with a heavy hand. Everyone is wearing linen. But under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. Just outside the Manor’s immaculately kept grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. And the Sunday morning of opening weekend, the local police are called. Something’s not right with the guests. There’s been a fire. A body’s been discovered.

It all began with a secret, fifteen years ago. Now the past has crashed the party. And it’ll end in murder at…The Midnight Feast.]

Review: I gave myself a little time to digest this before reviewing because I didn't want to be too harsh, but the bottom line is I didn't enjoy it. Having previously loved the Hunting Party and the Paris Apartment, I was looking forward to this book, particularly because the island retreat setting seemed exciting. Unfortunately, that's the only part that was exciting for me. The characters were dull and some of them were a little too conveniently placed/unbelievable. I skimmed through a good portion of the book and did feel that the ending made up for much of the lackluster plot, but overall it didn't blow me away. Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for allowing me to review this ahead of print.

Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott

 

[Summary: Honey, I just want you to have everything you ever wanted. That’s what Jacy’s mom always told her. And Jacy felt like she finally did. Newly married and with a baby on the way, Jacy and her new husband Jed embark on their first road trip together to visit his father, Doctor Ash, in Michigan’s far-flung Upper Peninsula. The moment they arrive in the cozy cottage in the lush woods, Jacy feels bathed in love by the warm and hospitable Doctor Ash, if less so by his house manager, the enigmatic Mrs. Brandt.

But their Edenic first days take a turn when Jacy has a health scare. Swiftly, vacation activities are scrapped, and all eyes are on Jacy’s condition. At the same time, whispers about Jed’s long-dead mother and complicated family history seem eerily to be impeding upon the present. As the days pass, Jacy begins to feel trapped in the cottage, her every move surveilled, her body under the looking glass. But are her fears founded or is it paranoia, or cabin fever, or—as is suggested to her—a stubborn refusal to take necessary precautions? The dense woods surrounding the cottage are full of dangers, but are the greater ones inside?]

Review: This is an atmospheric slow-burn story peppered with interesting facts about Michigan's Upper Peninsula that I have never heard. Everything from the Cornish history (and pasties!) to the remote beauty of the area is really well described and incorporated into this story. It's twisty, with a sense of dread that I felt long before Jacy did. The ending is a bit crazy, but in a fun way. I enjoyed it alot and would recommend it. 

Such a Lovely Family by Aggie Blum Thompson

 

[Summary: The cherry blossoms are in full bloom in Washington, D.C., and the Calhouns are in the midst of hosting their annual party to celebrate the best of the spring season. With a house full of friends, neighbors, and their beloved three adult children, the Calhouns are expecting another picture-perfect event. But a brutal murder in the middle of the celebration transforms the yearly gathering into a homicide scene, and all the guests into suspects.

Behind their façade of perfection, the Calhoun family has been keeping some very dark secrets. Parents who use money and emotional manipulation to control their children. Two sons, one the black sheep who is desperate to outrun mistakes he’s made, and the other a new father, willing to risk everything to protect his child. And a daughter: an Instagram influencer who refuses to face the truth about the man she married.

As the investigation heats up, family tensions build, and alliances shift. Long-buried resentments surface, forcing the Calhouns to face their darkest secrets before it’s too late.]

Review: [This was a March read and was meant to be my main review for the month but I forgot to post it.] I've read and enjoyed Aggie Blum Thompson's previous books and was excited for this one. I found it a little hard to get into at first and was thrown by how many characters there are to keep track of and how they fit into the family's orbit and the murder. By halfway through the story though, I was hooked and would recommend this to anyone who likes complex domestic suspense. On a fun note: Cookie reminded me of Cam from Modern Family and that's who I pictured as I was reading. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this early review copy. 

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead by Jenny Hollander

 

[Summary: Nine years ago, with the world's eyes on her, Charlie Colbert fled. The press and the police called Charlie a "witness" to the nightmarish events at her elite graduate school on Christmas Eve―events known to the public as "Scarlet Christmas"―though Charlie knows she was much more than that.

Now, Charlie has meticulously rebuilt her life: She's the editor-in-chief of a major magazine, engaged to the golden child of the publishing industry, and hell-bent on never, ever letting her guard down again. But when a buzzy film made by one of Charlie's former classmates threatens to shatter everything she's worked for, Charlie realizes how much she's changed in nine years. Now, she's not going to let anything―not even the people she once loved most―get in her way.]

Review:

So many influencers were touting this one over the last few months that I was really looking forward to reading it. Although I liked the premise, it didn't quite live up to the hype in my opinion. I found myself skipping around a bit and wanting more. I also didn't connect with Charlie, which made it hard for me to love this book. I also personally think it would connect better with readers if the school was real, like NYU, with local color that people recognize. I went to school in NY and didn't get the feeling that these people were in the city at all. Overall, 3.5 stars.

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

 

[Summary: After Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, everyone thinks she is a murderer. Lucy and Savvy were the golden girls of their small Texas town: pretty, smart, and enviable. Lucy married a dream guy with a big ring and an even bigger new home. Savvy was the social butterfly loved by all, and if you believe the rumors, especially popular with the men in town. It’s been years since that horrible night, a night Lucy can’t remember anything about, and she has since moved to LA and started a new life.

But now the phenomenally huge hit true crime podcast "Listen for the Lie," and its too-good looking host Ben Owens, have decided to investigate Savvy’s murder for the show’s second season. Lucy is forced to return to the place she vowed never to set foot in again to solve her friend’s murder, even if she is the one that did it.]

Review:

I've read several books recently that have a podcast angle and not all of them have pulled it off successfully. Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is a good example of a story that uses this element successfully to propel the story rather than just supplement it. It kept me guessing, too, and the murderer of Savvy came as a surprise. My one complaint is that Ben was the only person who seemed to realize that Lucy had some sort of PTSD/brain injury, but even he didn't encourage her to get medical help for it, he just kept her talking to fuel his podcast. I doubt something like that just disappears because she remembered the night of Savvy's murder. If you like small-town gossip, lots of sleeping around (WTH Lucy's mom!!?), a cool grandma, and a juicy murder mystery, this one's for you. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett

 

Summary: Everyone knows the story of the Alperton Angels: the cult who brainwashed a teenage girl into believing her baby was the anti-Christ. When the girl came to her senses and called the police, the Angels committed suicide and mother and baby disappeared. 
Now, true crime author Amanda Bailey is looking to revive her career by writing a book on the case. The Alperton baby has turned eighteen; finding them will be the scoop of the year. But rival author Oliver Menzies is just as smart, better connected, and also on the baby’s trail. 

As Amanda and Oliver are forced to collaborate, they realize that the truth about the Angels is much darker and stranger than they’d ever imagined, and in pursuit of the story they risk becoming part of it.

I have mixed feelings about this one and will try to explain why. First of all, I dislike the format immensely. Reading this on an e-reader made it impossible to see the emojis that were used in the texts, and there were alot of them. The story is interesting and kept me invested in it, but the long list of characters became difficult to keep straight in my mind. I also felt like most characters were one-dimensional, including many of the important ones. My other main issue of contention here is that we were told how things happened rather than shown and that felt contrived at times and not very satisfying. All that being said, I appreciate that Hallett was trying to do something different and experiment with format while delivering a complex story. Final verdict 3.5 stars.

 

Well, I've finished up my holiday reading with two really fun books. First up was the Christmas Guest, a novella by Peter Swanson. I read most of this on the bus on my commute into work and didn't want to put it down. The story pulls you in quick with an American teenager being invited to spend the Christmas holidays with a British school friend she doesn't know that well at the girls' family home in the Cotswolds. From there things go insane quickly as most Peter Swanson stories do. Lots of twists and turns that I did not see coming. I really enjoyed this one.

Next up was a book I saw recommended by some bookstagramers although I had never heard of it. The Christmas Murder Game also involves a country house in England where family members are locked away together from before Christmas to after New Years to play a scavenger hunt game and the winner gets the keys to the house. Lots of family secrets and backstabbing ensue. Another really fun book that was perfect for my holiday reading.

Enjoy!