Murder in Covent Garden by Anita Davison

 

[Review] This book was alot of fun, especially since I read it while visiting London. It is part of a series but I hadn't read any of the prior books and had no problem jumping right in. This is sort of a period cozy, set in 1917 amid WWI. I enjoyed the relationship between the main character Hannah and her aunt Violet, who owns a bookshop, drives her own car, and is juggling two romantic interests. It had me stumped nearly until the end when the killer was revealed. Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this advanced copy.

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 But it’s difficult: Aidan is withdrawn and evasive; Maggie doesn’t seem to have time for him; and he finds that the locals are disturbingly hostile to the Gardners.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.