Beating About the Bush by M.C. Beaton

Synopsis: When private detective Agatha Raisin comes across a severed leg in a roadside hedge, it looks like she is about to become involved in a particularly gruesome murder. Looks, however, can be deceiving, as Agatha discovers when she is employed to investigate a case of industrial espionage at a factory where nothing is quite what it seems.

Agatha is back! I've been a fan of this series since the beginning, but in recent years some of the books have been difficult to get through. The last one in particular was the first time I ever gave up and didn't finish an Agatha Raisin book. I'm happy to report that Beating About the Bush is quintessential Agatha and a joy for her fans. In this one she's working on a case about industrial espionage that becomes more complicated when a woman turns up dead and Wizz-Wass the donkey is blamed. Agatha's young employee Toni, Sir Charles, Mrs. Bloxby, and my favorite, Roy Silver, are all on the case too, with lots of laughs and G&Ts at the pub thrown in for good measure. If you are an Agatha fan, you will likely enjoy this 30th (!!!) installment of the beloved series. 

My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Synopsis: When Korede's dinner is interrupted one night by a distress call from her sister, Ayoola, she knows what's expected of her: bleach, rubber gloves, nerves of steel and a strong stomach. This'll be the third boyfriend Ayoola's dispatched in, quote, self-defence and the third mess that her lethal little sibling has left Korede to clear away. She should probably go to the police for the good of the menfolk of Nigeria, but she loves her sister and, as they say, family always comes first. Until, that is, Ayoola starts dating the doctor where Korede works as a nurse. Korede's long been in love with him, and isn't prepared to see him wind up with a knife in his back: but to save one would mean sacrificing the other.

Why in the name of god did I wait so long to read this??? Saying it's fantastic doesn't seem like enough. I was laughing out loud and yelling "No!" at other parts. If for any reason you have put it on your TBR pile and let it languish there like I did, go get it and read it now. You won't be sorry. All the stars! A+++

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.