"Not a Happy Family"

 "Not a Happy Family" by Shari Lapena 

Money, Money, Money.

Fred and Sheila Merton have lots of it. Just look at their

magnificent home in the exclusive Brecken Hill estates in

upstate New York. Fred's shrewd acumen for business has

afforded him the life of luxury. 

But behind the scenes, the walls of this splendid home would

tell a story of a dysfunctional family with a vindictive, often cruel

patriarch, and a detached mother who couldn't be bothered with 

the monumental task of raising three very different children,

all longing for unconditional love.

The annual, obligatory Easter dinner this year with Fred, Sheila, their 

grown children and significant others, is especially contentious. And 

that night, after all the angry goodbyes, an unknown intruder bludgeons

Fred and Sheila to death, in what police describe as a vicious and 

brutal crime. Clearly someone hated the Mertons with a passion. 

The grieving children, of course, are overwhelmed with shock and

sorrow. But are they really? As recipients of a sizable inheritance, it

isn't long before investigators target each, or all of them, as prime 

suspects in their parents' violent demise. The millions coming their 

way would certainly solve insurmountable problems, but first the 

police have to prove it. 

The Merton family is about as unhappy as a family can be. And it's

been that way for a long time. Just ask Irena, the loyal housekeeper

and nanny who quietly observes every little thing that goes on.

She knows exactly what each child has endured throughout their 

childhoods. As adults, they're all hiding tawdry, salacious secrets, but who 

actually had the motive and means to carry out such a cold-hearted, 

dastardly deed? Then again, maybe the kids weren't the only ones

about to become filthy rich. 

Expect to be thrown off the trail time and time again, until the last

few pages in this fun, one sitting, whodunit with a divinely, delicious

ending.

"The Last Commandment"

"The Last Commandment" by Scott Shepherd 

 

It's Christmas in London, but the anticipation and sparkle of the season 

escapes Scotland Yard detective, Austin Grant. Unfulfilled dreams and

regrets haunt him every day since his treasured wife, Allison, died of 

cancer. 

After the New Year, the respected Commander will retire from a distinguished 

career that often took him away from his family. What's left, are bittersweet

memories with pride in a job well done. Austin knows he made a difference

with a devoted wife always by his side. But the unexplained, strained 

relationship he now has with his only daughter, Rachel, a shrewd, investigative

reporter living in New York City, continues to puzzle him, considering the 

closeness they once shared.  

Before he leaves a stellar career behind, dire news brings him back to the 

center of a hideous crime spree. An elusive, serial killer has randomly 

murdered three, innocent victims in London. The assassin then crosses the

sea to viciously take the life of a priest inside the magnificent St. Patrick's

Cathedral in Midtown Manhattan. And the details of his demise, just like

the others, are chilling.  

The disturbed killer leaves a distinctive calling card. Each victim has a set

of  Roman numerals gruesomely etched into their foreheads corresponding 

to an offense against one of the Ten Commandments. Four down, six to go. 

It's a race against time to warn potential targets that a devious mind is intent

on eliminating sinners one by one with The Holy Bible as witness to the crimes. 

When travels take Austin to New York City, he meets another capable cop, 

John Frankel, who's introduced to a certain hot-shot reporter close to 

Austin's heart. As Rachel becomes a vital part of the investigation, the wall

of the father/daughter estrangement begins to crumble. An incredulous truth,

lurking behind painful secrets, puts everyone in peril, as a deranged individual 

inches closer to the end goal.  

Accomplished screenwriter, Scott Shepherd, scores a hit with his debut novel,

creating dynamic characters, and heart-pounding scenarios. Centered around

a vulnerable, but likeable cop, the protagonist is someone that fans will 

undoubtedly want to follow in future adventures. Brisk chapters, gory but 

addictive, and an enticing plot (with a touch of romance), make this mystery 

thriller a welcome addition to your reading list. 

Check it out when it's released on July 13th. 

 

 

 

 

"The Sanatorium"

"The Sanatorium" by Sarah Pearse

Austere and intimidating, Le Sommet sits high in the 

majestic Swiss Alps, an imposing hotel surrounded

by thick forests and relentless, swirling snow. Years ago, when

it was a sanatorium, tuberculosis patients sought treatment 

there. Persistent rumors plagued the facility until it was

eventually abandoned, never revealing the truth about what 

atrocities occurred behind closed doors. 

Investors renovated the building into a five-star, luxury, getaway,

much to the chagrin and objections of the locals in the nearby town. 

With its clean, modern, and stark accommodations, the sleek hotel

attracts travelers craving to be pampered and secluded.

After a harrowing trip on ice-covered roads, British detective Elin

Warner and her boyfriend, Will Riley, arrive at this destination to

celebrate the engagement of Elin's brother, Isaac, to Laure Strehl,

Elin's estranged friend from childhood days. The strained 

communication between the siblings dates back to the accidental

death of their little brother, Sam, and  Isaac's failure to show up 

at their mother's funeral, only intensifies the chasm in their

relationship.

One day after arriving at the hotel, Laure disappears, and Elin finds

herself taking over the investigation. Treacherous, dangerous weather 

conditions prevent local police from making the dangerous trek to

the scene. But what Elin has failed to disclose, is that she is on leave

from her job due to an emotional breakdown after a terrifying ordeal 

on a previous case.

When Elin discovers Laure isn't the only woman missing, the eerie

vibe she feels from the sinister hotel takes hold of every waking 

moment. What horrors lie behind the maze of rooms and secret

passages of this ominous building? Stranded and vulnerable after

a deadly avalanche, the guests and staff that remain are at the

mercy of their menacing surroundings. 

The vivid imagery of this debut novel takes the reader into a world

of terror and uncertainty. With no possibility of escape from the frigid 

death trap, every character becomes a possible killer. It's a frightening,

macabre scenario with haunting memories from the past, that will

keep the pages turning until the perplexing ending that won't put

your fears to rest. 

"Three Single Wives"

"Three Single Wives" by Gina LaManna

Eliza Tate knows how to host a book club.

Keep the smooth, vintage wine flowing, invite a

famous, eccentric author, to engage in lively 

conversation, and toy with the notion of what it

would be like to commit murder.

Indeed, that evening does end with a dead body, but

the enticing story actually begins six months earlier,

where the reader is introduced to four individuals 

with a motive to plunge a knife into a victim so 

many wanted eliminated. 

There's Eliza, the poised, aloof, sometimes cold-hearted

literary agent, and Anne, the down-trodden, exhausted 

mother of four, married to a well-respected cop with 

secrets of his own. Penny, the not-so-innocent, wide-eyed

aspiring actress from Iowa, is infatuated with her elusive

professor, while partaking in a nasty little habit. And

Marguerite, the boisterous author herself, is a champion of

women with a clear disdain for men. 

They have more in common with one another than they think, 

and the reader (along with the prosecution) has the painstaking

job of deciphering the clever clues to uncover the real culprit. 

An engaging, easy-to-read mystery that belies the adage

"Never underestimate the power of a woman scorned". 

 

The Death of Mrs. Westaway

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

Hal (Harriet) Westaway has nowhere to turn. Frightened and alone, she looks over her shoulder
every minute of every day, fearful that it's just a matter of time before that slimy loan shark
returns with his menacing threats. And there is simply no one left to help her.

When her mother was killed tragically three years ago by a hit-and-run driver, Hal's
life changed dramatically. Survival now falls squarely on her shoulders. She opens her kiosk on the pier every morning to a parade of people who watch intently as she slowly turns over the tarot cards, and interprets their meaning. Nervous customers hang on her every word, believing the cards have the power to shape their lives. It's a skill Hal learned as a child from her mother, and she's quite the expert in the tricks of the trade.

When a mysterious letter arrives informing Hal that she is one of the recipients of her late grandmother's estate, she is puzzled and confused. Surely this is a case of mistaken
identity because her grandparents died over twenty years ago. But there is a flutter of hope
in Hal's heart when she reads the official words on paper; this could be the chance to
escape from her problems and along the way, deceive people she doesn't even know. Just a little white lie, you see, only claiming enough money to get through this incredibly rough patch in her life.

So she sets out on her journey to Trepassen, the massive estate of her "grandmother" to
answer the summons requesting her presence at the reading of the will.  All the while, her mother's words echo in her ears. "Don't fall into the trap of believing your own lies..."

As the story continues, the reader is drawn into Ruth Ware's lair of mystery, a feat she accomplishes
so well. Her impeccably written words describe the doom and gloom behind the crumbling
walls of Trepassen, the baffling questions about her peculiar "relatives", the uneasy feelings
about the old, decrepit housekeeper who whispers dire words of warning, the desperate words
etched into glass long ago in her attic room, and the unsettling feeling that someone is always watching her. The fact is, nothing here is what it appears to be. These ancient grounds hold some very disturbing secrets, indeed.

Immerse yourself in this eerie tale that is reminiscent of the renowned Agatha Christie.
Ghostly, addictive, and thoroughly entertaining, this may be the author's best work yet.

Little Broken Things

Little Broken Things by Nicole Baart


"I have something for you".

As Quinn reads the cryptic message from her estranged sister, Nora, she's puzzled and confused. And when they meet face to face, her curiosity only deepens.

Cloaked in secrecy, Nora arrives accompanied by a little girl with "cherry-colored curls and stone-colored eyes". She leaves without explanation, asking Quinn to take care of the child until she is able to return. Faced with this overwhelming responsibility, Quinn finds herself drawn to the child she calls Lucy and the circumstances of her birth. Hiding a child proves to be impossible, and it's not long before Lucy's existence becomes known to husband, Walker, and her widowed mother, Liz, who prides herself in being the perfect party hostess in this quiet Minnesota town. Her life as a social icon, however, is about to be change as she faces demons that have haunted her for years.

The reader soon learns about what it was like for two sisters growing up in the Sanford household, the secrets their mother struggles never to reveal, and the high-school friend who goes to any lengths to protect a child from harm. The plot slowly simmers chapter by chapter, page by page, leaving the reader ensconced in an absorbing mystery.

Flawed characters, exquisitely defined by love, ultimately find truth in a story so many mothers will embrace.

The Blackbird Season

The Blackbird Season by Kate Moretti

There's no explanation for the thousands of dead birds that rain
down from the sky on the baseball field in Mt. Oanoke,
Pennsylvania, a depressed little town still reeling from the
paper mill closing that cost so many people their livelihoods.

Nate Winters is the revered high school baseball coach in Mt. Oanoke.  He and wife, Alecia, seem to be perfectly matched, the ideal couple. Behind closed doors, however, the cracks in the foundation of their marriage are growing deeper. She struggles with the daily needs of their autistic son, Gabe, as her husband spends more and more time away from home. Rumors swirl that Nate is involved with student Lucia Hamm, that white-haired teenager with the ruby red lips. Many believe she's a "witch", responsible for that deluge of blackbirds on this unsuspecting town. When Lucia disappears, colleagues and residents turn on Nate, choosing to believe the gossip and innuendos that paint him as a prime suspect. Bridget, Lucia's creative writing teacher and Alecia's good friend, begins her own investigation, deciphering telltale words in a journal that point to a complicated maze of deception and secrets. What she finds is nothing short of astounding.

This gripping drama has so many layers; a wife consumed with
obligations and insecurities who doesn't quite trust her husband, a teacher overstepping his bounds, teenagers bent on destroying reputations, the ugliness of  social media, and a town on edge, quick to believe the worst about one of their own.

The ending isn't all tied up in a tidy little package. Yes, there's closure, or is there?  Lingering doubts remain about the future of this troubled place with the hypnotic spell.

And that's what makes this novel so very, very good.

The Dry

The Dry by Jane Harper

Sweltering Heat. Drought. Despair. Murder.

Federal agent Aaron Falk returns to his Australian childhood home with apprehension. Times are bad here. Parched land, withering crops, vicious gossip. He and his father were run out of Kiewarra twenty years ago, suspects in the gruesome drowning death of sixteen-year-old Ellie Deacon. Aaron thought those dark, shameful memories were safely tucked away, until that cryptic message arrived from the father of a boy he once called his best friend. He dreads what awaits him in a place best forgotten.

 Now he stares at three cold caskets, trying to wrap his mind around the thought that Luke Hadler, the mate he once idolized, may have murdered his wife and young son before turning the gun on himself. There's a nagging uneasiness in this town, impossible to shake, and somehow,  Aaron knows the past is rearing its ugly head once again, with danger and hostility around every corner.

Immerse yourself in the rich imagery and complex characters so artfully created by a skilled author the U.S. will soon embrace. Visualize this novel coming to life on the screen; actress Reese Witherspoon has already acquired the film rights for an intensely riveting story about small-town people teetering on the brink of losing it all. Readers may meet Aaron again in a second book, already in progress.

Mystery, thrills, and suspense in a dazzling debut.

The Night Sister

The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon

Alfred Hitchcock was known as the "master of suspense". He had the uncanny ability to put movie goers on the "edge of their seats" in so many of his acclaimed films.

References to Hitchcock are throughout Jennifer McMahon's latest novel; a riveting, eerie tale flavored with fantasy. Much like her popular The Winter People (reviewed March, 2014) she writes about the paranormal, leaving the reader with unanswered questions.

The year is 2013. Policeman Jason Hawke is summoned to the Tower Motel to investigate a grizzly murder scene. A difficult job under any circumstances, but even more so tonight. He stares down at the long blond hair covered in a massive pool of sticky blood. Even with her face turned away from him, he knows it's Amy, his childhood friend. Now she is an accused murderer. A rifle lies next to her body. A scrawled piece of paper with the words "29 rooms" flutters on the floor. A clue from the dead? Upstairs, he finds the bodies of her husband and son. Then Jason hears a soft whimper outside the bedroom window on the roof. The mirror image of Amy huddles against the chimney, soft moonlight shining on frightened eyes. Miraculously, Amy's daughter has somehow survived.

The Tower Motel was once a successful tourist spot in rural London,Vermont in the 1950s. Now it's a crumbling mass of broken windows, rotting boards, and overgrown weeds. As children in the 1980s, Amy, her friend, Piper, and Piper's little sister, Margot, used to spend their summers exploring the abandoned grounds and solving mysteries like the disappearance of Amy's Aunt Sylvie. She was an aspiring actress who told her family she was leaving for the lights and fame of Hollywood. She was never heard from again  When the girls unearth her packed suitcase, they realize Sylvie may never have left at all. After another appalling discovery, Amy decides to break all ties with her friends. They must never reveal to anyone what they know.

Until today, twenty-five years later, when Margot tells Piper Amy is dead.  Childhood  memories return.....

Like a good old-fashioned horror movie, this is one of those books best read with the lights on. Outlandish, ghoulish, and scary, it's a page turner in every sense of the word. Pay attention to the span of years, as it changes from chapter to chapter. I found myself reading passages over again to establish the relationship between characters. From there, it was hard to put down...

Sometimes "it's easier to pretend the things that frighten us the most don't exist at all".