"The Plot"

"The Plot" by Jean Hanff Korelitz

There was a time when Jacob Finch Bonner basked in the

spotlight of penning a popular novel that earned him the

honor of being called an up-and-coming, promising, new author. 

But writers are only as good as their next book in progress.

Jacob hit writer's block a long time ago, and now finds himself 

teaching in the MFA program of  a mediocre college in northern

Vermont, living the monotonous life of a has-been, always hoping

inspiration will strike him when he least expects it.  

His job is to guide and mentor students who aspire to excel in his 

creative writing class. He reads and critiques their submissions,

then encourages others to provide honest, constructive advice. 

Most days, Jacob can barely do what his paycheck requires, but he's

good at pretending, and a smiling face pays the rent.

Then arrogant Evan Parker arrives for the requisite meeting with his

once illustrious professor, scoffing at any help Jacob gives him, insisting

that his novel-to-be has a plot that will sell millions and make him

famous. 

When Jacob finally reads the rough draft, he knows Evan is right. How could

an amateur with a lousy attitude and raw talent come up with a winner like this?

And so Jacob waits for the book to be published, but it never happens, spurring

him to find out why. A little research reveals that Evan Parker met an untimely

death, undoubtedly taking that incredible story with him to his grave. 

So, three years later, Jacob takes the story and makes it his own. Crib brings him

a level of success he always dreamed of, with packed book signings, radio

interviews, and adulation from fellow writers. When a silver-haired beauty later 

becomes his wife, life seems to be pretty close to perfection. He justifies what he's

done by telling himself that he, and he alone, took a fascinating story and turned 

it into a tale that millions are flocking to read. 

But then comes the day when Jacob receives a cryptic message saying 

"You are a thief", that suddenly changes everything. He continues to enjoy fame,

and the whirlwind of meeting admiring fans, while experiencing the pressure to 

grind out another hit release. A persisting, nagging feeling that the past is catching 

up to him just won't go away. Secretly, he begins to delve into the tumultuous life 

of Evan Parker in an attempt to learn who is behind what appears to be extortion. 

And as the pieces begin to fall into place, a chilling discovery turns Jacob's 

uneasiness into terrifying fear. 

This gripping thriller takes the reader on a suspense-filled ride that is truly hard

to put down, especially as the "Plot" begins to slowly unravel with its brilliantly

shrewd twists and turns. It's an incredibly good summer read. 

Kirkus Reviews predicts this one will be flying off the shelves, and I couldn't agree

more. 

 

The Guest List

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Dark, dangerous, and brooding, this windswept island
off the coast of Ireland, hardly seems the ideal setting
for a lavish wedding celebration.

But when the bride and groom are dazzlingly beautiful
and famous, even the bleakest venue becomes an exciting
adventure for those lucky enough to be on the exclusive
guest list.

If only the privileged knew, that in just a few, short hours,
the raucous festivities will end with a grizzly, brutal murder.
And anyone could be the killer.

The select group of guests includes the groom's former
schoolmates, who reminisce about ominous secrets from the past,
while partying with reckless abandon. There's the bumbling
best man, who endures ridicule and embarrassment with bottled-up
resentment bubbling deep inside of him. The bride's sister,
a tortured soul who's lost her way, fails miserably trying to put a smile
on her face, and the cool, calm, and capable wedding planner and
her husband, turn ever detail into pure perfection, always watching from afar.

The parents of the happy couple pretend to show their undying support,
while the  bride's best friend struggles to enjoy the frivolity,
hiding a ghastly secret from his wife who's ready to shed her inhibitions.

And the stunning couple themselves, can't help but feel impending
doom, as the wedding of a lifetime begins to unravel.

This fabulous thriller has all the elements for the perfect whodunit.
Fast-paced, with a dizzying array of suspects, the author revels in throwing
the reader off the trail many times over. The setting, with its swirling, black
waters, bogs, and eerie pitfalls, is perfect for late-night reading on a stormy,
summer night.

Agatha Christie, herself, might enjoy this one.

Need To Know

Need To Know by Karen Cleveland


Vivian Miller is a loving mother, devoted wife, and a dedicated
analyst for the CIA counterintelligence. It's a job that
requires long hours away from home, but husband, Matt, is always there to pick up the pieces. The children adore him and so does she.

That's why her discovery of Matt's duplicity is so troubling and unfathomable. While secretly attempting to expose a Russian operative on her computer, five faces of sleeper agents living in America, flash before her eyes. It's the break she's been looking for, except for the one all too familiar face staring back at her. Matt. The man she loves, the father of her children, is a Russian spy.

Now Vivian must choose between her sworn solemn oath of allegiance to her country, or turning her husband into the proper authorities for his part in this profound betrayal. Could there be a logical explanation? How can she bear to destroy her precious family? Ultimately, the choice she makes throws her family into
the arms of the enemy.

There's danger and turmoil around every corner. Just like Vivian,
the reader doesn't know who trust, and that's part of  the appeal of this
novel. The chapters of recollection give clues about the beginning of the
Miller relationship, but no defining clarity as to what's true and what's a lie.
Adding to the story is the author's experience as a former CIA analyst.
She knows so well the details of the inner workings of counterintelligence,
and the clandestine nature of this part of government. Fascinating
stuff for those of us who clamor to know more about the CIA.

This one crackles with tension and suspense, a fast read you'll want to finish
in one sitting. And, oh, what a killer ending.

Bonfire

Bonfire by Krysten Ritter

Attorney Abby Williams returns to her dismal hometown
of Barrens, Indiana, with one purpose in mind; to expose
the deceitful environmental practices of Optimal Plastics,
the company that residents worship and adore for restoring
hope and prosperity to a place that was slowly dying.

Things haven't changed that much in ten years. High school football still reigns supreme, gun-toting hunters still love the sport, and some of the girls who taunted Abby in school with their
cruel, callous remarks, still live in town, one even holding a
position of power. Painful, bitter memories haunt Abby, including the disappearance of her friend, Kaycee Mitchell, who loved being the center of attention among her posse of followers. But Abby wonders, what if  Kaycee's leaving years ago is all part of the current investigation of a corporate giant reviving a town in need?

One thing is certain...Abby has outstayed her welcome in Barrens. Colleagues working with her on the Optimal investigation begin to question her mental stability. Lonely and afraid, she trusts no one, not even herself, until one explosive night that proves her gut
instincts may have been right along.

Krysten Ritter, actress turned author, writes a thriller debut that has all
the elements for success. Her storytelling takes a flawed, vulnerable character
on a wild, wickedly suspenseful ride into the sordid darkness of  small-town secrets.
Definitely worth checking out.

The Good Daughter

The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter

Absolutely chilling. Those two words describe the first forty pages of a novel that you will either put aside, unwilling to grasp the frightening details, or one that compels you to continue reading a story of murder, mystery, and revenge.

Twenty-eight years ago, sisters Samantha and Charlotte Quinn witnessed a home invasion by two masked intruders that left their mother dead. But it didn't end there. One girl was brutally shot, the other escaped into the night, bloodied and praying for her survival. Their idealistic, do-gooder attorney father, Rusty, mourns the horrific events, but is he somehow responsible?

Fast forward to the present and a middle school shooting in Pikeville, Georgia where Charlie and her estranged husband practice law. It's the same community where she and Sam grew up and the scars and whispers of that fateful night still linger. Charlie happens to be at the school to retrieve her phone from a regrettable encounter with a history teacher the night before. She finds herself an eyewitness to dead bodies and a young, shivering girl holding a lethal weapon in her hands. Repressed memories of the past mesh with the reality of the moment.

Now the intricate web begins to take shape as the reader learns how all of these happenings relate to one another. It's quite a remarkable task, one that will require the reader to pay close attention. There's all sorts of salacious secrets that combine to make this tale far more than just a typical suspense novel. Amidst the fear and panic, is also a story of empathy and compassion for the survivors.

Karin Slaughter has the ability to make her readers clamor for cold-bloodied terror, putting her latest release on the current New York Times best sellers. Take a look to see if you agree.

Watch Me Disappear

Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown

"Maybe this is why they say love is blind. Who you want people to be makes you blind to who they really are.".

It's been a year since Billie Flanagan presumably died while hiking alone on treacherous Desolation Trail in Northern California. Daughter, Olive, and husband, Jonathan mourn
her passing, but without a body, it's hard to find closure, especially when Olive begins to experience unexplained "visions" of her mother. Is this a result of an overactive imagination, a brain abnormality, a child simply missing her mother, or something far more sinister?

Jonathan's best friend is the bottle, as he fights financial woes and struggles to write a memoir about his loving wife; their whirlwind romance, her often unexplained absences, and the highs and lows of a relationship that's always been teetering on the edge of dangerous. He's worried about Olive, the awkward distance developing between them, her detachment from school, and her insistence that Billie is trying to send a message. And then, as he digs deeper into his wife's past, a startling revelation begins to take shape about a woman he thought he knew so well. Is she lurking in the shadows, peppering him with clues, watching him squirm, or is she in trouble, reaching out to the one person who can help her? So many questions that beg to be answered.

This thriller has all the elements to make for a tantalizing movie and that's exactly what The Gotham Group plans to do. There's nothing better than teasing your audience until the end, and this suspense novel, with a touch of the supernatural, does just that. Enticing.......

Never Let You go

Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens


It's been almost twelve years since Lindsey Nash and daughter, Sophie, fled in the night to escape a life filled with domestic abuse. Ex-husband, Andrew, was sent to prison and for a few years, Lindsey dared to dream of a life without him.

But now Andrew has been released, and the familiar cycle of terror begins again. Lindsey feels the presence of anonymous eyes constantly watching her from the shadows. Frightening home invasions make her question everyone around her. She's losing control of her needy daughter, while living in fear. Andrew insists he's a changed man, incapable of hurting her, but Lindsey has heard false promises before from this charismatic charmer she fell in love with as a teenager. Why would she believe him now?

The author captures the trauma, secrecy, and stigma of spousal abuse with pinpoint accuracy. A remote small-town in snow-covered Vancouver is the ideal setting to tell a story of obsession and retaliation. Intense suspense builds chapter by chapter, culminating in an unanticipated ending. As in two of her previously reviewed novels (Those Girls and Always Watching), Chevy Stevens seems to have a knack for writing chilling scenarios guaranteed to keep you reading late into the night.

The Marriage Lie

The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle

A devoted wife discovers the extraordinary, calculated deviousness of the man she married....

It's been seven years since Iris Griffith committed her love and allegiance to husband, Will.  He still makes her heart flutter each time their eyes meet, and if luck is on their side, a child may soon add to their happiness.

The tranquility of life is abruptly shattered when Iris learns that Will has perished in a tragic plane crash outside of Seattle. Distressing, yes, except for the fact that Will couldn't possibly have been on that flight. He was headed to Orlando for a business conference that day. She even has the shiny brochure highlighting his credentials as the keynote speaker, right next to the photo of his handsome face. Panic gives way to fear as Iris is about to learn where the truth ends and the stunning lies begin.

Written with the precision that suspense lovers long for, this thriller's unexpected twists and turns make Belle's newest release a must read. Decipher the clues and enjoy one tantalizing tale.

The Twilight Wife

The Twilight Wife by A.J. Banner

Why can't I remember?

Marine biologist, Kyra Winthrop, asks herself this unsettling question every day after a scuba diving accident results in a rare form of amnesia. It's soothing to know that husband, Jacob, is a constant companion, standing by her side with words of encouragement to help her recall lost details of their lives over the last four years.

But perplexing glints of the past gradually begin to emerge, creating a restless uneasiness in her life on this remote island in the Pacific Northwest. Jacob reassures her it's the perfect place to heal, surrounded by a small circle of friends and subtle reminders of the life they built together. It all sounds logical, so why is she increasingly apprehensive about trusting any of them?

This psychological suspense thriller starts strong, lags in the middle, but finishes with a flourish. Crime fiction aficionados will love the anticipation of paralyzing fear as Kyra's fragile memory returns and her terrifying ordeal begins.

When All the Girls Have Gone

When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz


Charlotte Sawyer's tedious, uneventful life takes a dramatic turn when her vibrant stepsister disappears after a dear friend's murder.

Charlotte realizes that being jilted by her fiance is trivial compared to the fact that her beautiful sibling, Jocelyn, is missing. Supposedly, she's on a rejuvenating retreat, but this is just another well-calculated deception. In pursuit of the truth, Charlotte teams up with a has-been private investigator to uncover the truth and what they find is puzzling and disturbing. Jocelyn and her inner circle of friends are involved in some dangerous dealings and now they're all in jeopardy. A sinister someone knows they are getting way too close to the truth and will stop at nothing to silence them.

With tangled plot twists and a sprinkling of romance, this new suspense thriller delivers in every way. It's fun, fast-moving, and filled with likable characters who just might find their way into future releases from this talented author.

Behind Closed Doors

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

To friends and family, Jack and Grace are indeed the "perfect" couple. He's an incredibly successful attorney, defending bruised and  battered women who are the victims of domestic abuse. She's the lovely, demure partner by his side, flawless in every way.
Devoted to her mentally disabled younger sister, Millie, Grace appears to have the marital bliss she's dreamed about for years.

Esther and Rufus are new acquaintances that are lucky enough to be invited to one of Jack and Grace's impeccable dinner parties. It's Esther who can't help but notice the vacant look behind Grace's eyes, or the fact that Jack never leaves her side. Why would Grace abandon a successful career, cancel luncheon dates, and spend lonely days by herself in this shrine they call a home?  Could this pretense of happiness be a sophisticated show, designed to fool everyone?

With her debut novel, British writer B.A. Paris tells a terrifyingly frightening story, guaranteed to make you shudder.  As the plot nears the end, she tends to unnecessarily draw out events, but overall, this thriller is a chilling reminder of how easy it is to trust the wrong person, how vulnerable we can be to false promises, and how appearances really can be deceiving.

I Let You Go

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

Savor every chapter of this superbly written suspense novel filled with astonishing twists and turns.

While dodging relentless raindrops, a young mother and her son hurry across the wet pavement, anticipating the warmth that awaits them at home. If only she'd held on a little tighter to his small hand. In an instant, he darts into the path of the recklessly speeding car. Horrified, she hears the screeching tires followed by the deafening crash. As she sobs uncontrollably, holding her lifeless son in her arms, the car speeds away.

Jenna Gray needs to disappear where no one can find her. The remote, rugged coastline of Wales seems as good a place as any. Anguished and alone in a dilapidated cottage, she attempts to heal physically and emotionally from all that she has lost. As she begins to slowly recover in this faraway village, Jenna cautiously opens her heart to romance and friendship. But she soon learns the past has a way of finding you, no matter how hard you try to run away.

Detective Inspector Ray Stevens and protege Kate struggle to solve the tragic case of the hit-and-run driver who killed an innocent child. Pressure from above closes the unsolved file, but it's never truly forgotten. When new leads surface, explosive facts uncover a startling scenario that leaves them scrambling to piece together a complicated puzzle. And time is not on their side.

Not since The Girl on the Train, has a suspense novel earned the title of a true thriller like this one does. As a former UK detective herself, Mackintosh's writing captures the intricacies of a police investigation. She has the ability to write plausible plot twists that will take your breath away.  Along with vividly detailed, descriptive passages, this author's debut book is a delight to read and a scintillating choice for book clubs.

Fool Me Once

Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben


The prying eyes of a hidden nanny cam reveal startling images to a woman who is reeling from her husband's murder. Is he really dead?

Disgraced Special Ops pilot Maya Burkett is back home from the war, facing allegations from a whistle-blower that she ordered an airstrike that killed innocent victims. While overseas, her sister, Claire, was murdered in a home invasion. Now Maya witnesses the demise of husband, Joe, at the hands of a couple of thugs in Central Park. All that's left is precious two-year-old daughter,  Lily. So when a friend suggests installing a concealed camera to secretly watch Lily and nanny Isabella, Maya feels it's the right thing to do, even though she's hesitant to spy on a trustworthy employee.

Astonishingly, camera footage shows her supposedly dead husband lovingly interacting with their daughter. When Maya confronts Isabella with the unbelievable images, her nanny throws pepper spray in her face, and disappears with the evidence. Obviously, Maya's mind is playing tricks on her, conjuring up the possibility that Joe's alive, but why then, did Isabella run?  Is she in on some grand scheme that puts Maya in danger? As the fictional Sherlock Holmes said, "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth". Maya sets out to find out exactly what that truth is.

Her investigation is a lonely one. She doesn't know who she can trust. When the police determine that the same gun that killed her sister ten years ago, was also used to murder Joe, she knows that the two slayings are somehow related. As Maya digs deeper, she discovers disturbing facts about Joe's brother, Andrew, who presumably died in a boating accident when both boys attended a prestigious boarding school. Or was it suicide? The wealthy, influential Burkett family that are now her in-laws, are hiding lethal secrets that they desperately want no one to uncover.

Fast-paced and remarkably easy to read, this author once again delights his readers with an elaborate, plot that doesn't come to the stunning conclusion until the very end.  Enjoy untangling the lies and deceit. I have a feeling Harlan Coben will fool you more than once.

The Murder House

The Murder House by James Patterson and David Ellis

It's known as the Murder House, this sprawling, Gothic mansion located at 7 Ocean Drive in the Hamptons. The locals walk by with curious stares and hushed whispers. Years ago, a crippling, uncontrollable fire killed the couple trapped inside, with no reasonable explanation for the blaze. The structure was rebuilt. Now an influential Hollywood producer and his mistress are found murdered in the same cursed location by the sea.

Detective Jenna Murphy is back in the Hamptons, working for her Uncle Langdon, the Chief of Police. It's a big change from her ill-fated law enforcement career in Manhattan. This latest
high-profile crime puts Jenna at the center of a complicated investigation in the land of luxury. As she delves deeper and deeper into the case, she realizes that the police may be accusing the wrong man of the crime. The brutality and horror of the past meets the present. Detective Murphy is getting far too close to unraveling the mystery.  She just may be the next unfortunate victim.

If you need a James Patterson "fix", put this one on reserve. The legendary writer and his partner have created a raw,  heart-pounding, suspense- thriller full of intrigue and uncertainty. So many possible suspects, you'll have lingering doubts about each and every one of them. His trademark easy-to-read chapters make this a wise choice if you are looking for a spicy read on a chilly October night by the fire.

In a Dark, Dark Wood

In a Dark, Dark Wood  by Ruth Ware

Lenora Shaw lies battered and badly bruised in a hospital bed, trying desperately to remember why she's there. She hears the whispers of the police outside her door. With a racing heart, Nora clutches the sheets in her sweaty, trembling hands. They think she's committed murder.

Lenora (some call her Lee, others Nora) is a reclusive crime writer who is quite content living alone. When the email arrives inviting her to attend the hen party for Clare Cavendish, she is taken aback. It's been ten years since she's seen Clare, her former best friend. Ten years in which she's been able to exist without anyone knowing about her secret. But now she's faced with a huge decision; regretfully decline or graciously accept the opportunity to celebrate the upcoming wedding of her once dear friend. She says yes. A weekend of horror is about to begin.

Flo is the effervescent hostess who welcomes five guests into her aunt's home, known as the Glass House. A massive structure of steel and glass, the home seems to beckon anyone fearless enough to enter, if they dare. Uneasy and intimidated, Nora and friend Nina, regret their decision as soon as they walk through the front door. From the beginning, there is an eerie feeling of bad things to come in the days ahead. The strange noises in the night, mysterious footprints in the snow, unexplained ouija board predictions, and an overall unsettling fear that something catastrophic is going to happen. Each guest anxious to leave. But it's not that easy leaving the Glass House as they are all about to learn. The hours tick by, until an explosive event takes place that no one could have imagined. Putting aside grief and terror, Nora must unveil who is plotting to make her look like a calculated murderer.

British writer Ruth Ware shines in her debut novel. Like Agatha Christie, Ware gives the reader all the elements for a great mystery, told with a modern day twist. The hen party (better known here as bachelorette) is an ideal setting to bring together a motley crew of characters harboring petty past grievances. Then add a bizarre house of glass in  the remote English countryside on a snowy, dreary weekend and you have the elements for a great whodunit. Parts are predictable, but the reader will enjoy being a detective and unraveling the puzzle. The author's distinctive descriptive passages add to the overall spookiness of the book; a wise choice as Halloween approaches. You might even hear your own strange noises in the night.

Actress Reese Witherspoon plans to develop Ware's book into a movie. Much like Gone Girl and
The Girl on the Train, It will be interesting to see how another compelling story translates onto the screen.








   

Black-Eyed Susans

Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin

Yellow, orange, and gold wildflowers blanket the open fields, swaying in the summer breeze, their "black eyes" winking at you as you pass by. A lovely sight to see...

Unless you know that hidden below their beauty, are the graves of innocent girls.

Twenty years ago Tessa Cartwright survived a nightmare. Her body was dumped in a deep hole with those of two other girls who weren't so lucky. Wildflowers bloomed over the bodies until Tessa was miraculously discovered. The victims will be forever be known as the "Black-Eyed Susans". Her testimony helped to send the alleged killer to Death Row.

But now she knows the wrong man was sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. The real killer is free, taunting her with disturbing clues, daring her to guess his identity. When she finds these trademark flowers planted outside her bedroom window in the middle of winter, she realizes that this cruel guessing game is real. Tessa fears for her safety and that of her teenaged daughter, Charlie. Slowly and methodically, she begins to work with the innocent man's legal team and a forensic doctor to chip away at suppressed memories that may reveal the true killer's identity. What they don't know is that Tessa fears for her own sanity.The "Black-Eyed Susans" speak to her, encouraging her to keep reaching for the facts, even though the pain of the past is best left untouched. She begins to put names with decomposing faces. Tessa can't stop when she's come so far, even though the shocking truth is hard to accept.

The author weaves a somewhat complicated yet fascinating story about the power of the mind. The alternating chapters between the present and the year 1995 reveal the traumatic memories that a young girl repressed in order to survive. Even more revealing is the healing that comes from allowing those agonizing memories to surface to free the innocent. Not only is this a suspense thriller, it's also a timely reminder about the scientific gains made in the study of crime today.  

Pretty Baby

Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica


A sincere act of kindness goes terribly, terribly wrong......

Chris Wood calls his wife a bleeding heart; "Every neglected, mistreated, overlooked, ignored, abandoned, forgotten, emaciated, abused, derelict creature on God's earth is Heidi's concern". This time, however, she's gone too far...this time she's put her family in grave danger.

Relentless, pounding rain drenches the young teenage girl and the tiny baby cradled in her arms. As Heidi waits for the train at Fullerton Station in Chicago, her eyes are drawn to the girl's thin, bony frame, sallow skin, and vacant expression. Commuters intent on getting home, eye the pair with pity and disgust. But not Heidi. She decides to extend a helping hand, not realizing what's about to enfold.

Chris and self-centered daughter, Zoe, are angry and perplexed to see a homeless, bedraggled teenager and infant taking up residence in their home. Heidi becomes increasingly obsessed with this girl named Willow and baby Ruby. What is supposed to be a  temporary situation, drags on and on. Chris begins to have serious misgivings about this stranger who has invaded their lives. Without Heidi's  knowledge, he begins an investigation of his own. Constant travels related to his job keep him unaware of how bizarre the attachment between his wife and these outsiders has become. When he finally realizes the extent of their involvement, it may be too late to salvage the life they've created.

Kubica presents the reader with three narrators, Chris, Willow, and Heidi, each one telling a part of the story from their own perspective. Even though it may seem complicated, the timelines and characters are easy to follow. After the success of the author's first novel ( The Good Girl, reviewed in July 2014) Mary Kubica is a name that suspense lovers will remember. A graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, she  makes the Buckeye State proud.

A guaranteed pulse-pounding thriller that hooks you from page one with unexpected plot twists and a surprising ending .

Those Girls

Those Girls by Chevy Stevens


As Jess and Dani watch in horror, their drunken, glassy-eyed father attempts to drown their sister Courtney. They listen to his malicious, cruel comments, see his lips curl into a leering smirk on his distorted face. He doesn't realize that the years of abuse and abandonment on his part are about to end. At her breaking point, fourteen-year-old Jess feels the cool metal of the rifle in her hands as she pulls the trigger.

In an instant, she murders "Dad".

The three sisters bury their father's body in a pig pen reeking of foul waste and debris. They hide crucial evidence, then begin a journey on the run to Vancouver where they hope to start over. They don't count on their dilapidated truck breaking down in the creepy little town of Cash Creek. Here they meet brothers Brian and Gavin, two locals from a nearby ranch who offer to help them fix the truck in exchange for a hard day's work on the land they call home. But it's all a ploy by a bully and a deviant psychopath. The boys have a sick and twisted plan for the vulnerable teens. After five days of torture, the girls mange to escape from their captors and with the help of an ex-con, finally make it to Vancouver with new identities. Then Jess learns she is pregnant with Brian's child. Determined to never reveal the truth of her daughter's conception, she and her sisters begin a new life, praying no one will ever learn of  their dirty little secrets.

The second half of the story begins eighteen years later, narrated by Skylar, the daughter Jamie (Jess) vows to protect at all costs. The young woman's curiosity about her family's past takes a perilous turn when Crystal (Courtney) decides to avenge the unthinkable deeds of two evil men she and her sisters foolishly trusted years ago. Crystal sets off for Cash Creek with Skylar not far behind. They find themselves in dangerous territory when Brian and Gavin recognize Crystal as one of  "those girls" they victimized years ago. Older, but still callous and ruthless, the men swear to make them disappear once and for all.

Intense, brutal, and graphic, readers will cringe at many of the descriptive passages in this novel, while feeling the gripping fear endured by the characters.  It's a story of ultimate survival, mind over matter, and being "so scared that if I stopped being angry, there'd be nothing left of me".

Another winner from the master of suspense, author Chevy Stevens.









   

Every Fifteen Minutes

Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline

A cunning, conniving sociopath is out to destroy the life of Dr. Eric Parrish, Chief of Psychiatry at Havemeyer General Hospital. It will take time, but all carefully planned scenarios do. Slowly and methodically, the esteemed Dr. Parrish will lose everything dear to him. The individual responsible will feel no remorse, basking in the glory of it all.

Eric has a lot on his mind these days at home and on the job. With his marriage in shambles, he worries about being a single parent to seven-year-old daughter, Hannah. He worries about every patient at the psychiatric treatment facility, too, especially a troubled adolescent boy. The young suicidal man confides deep secrets to Eric; secrets that involve a fixation on an innocent girl. As a physician, Eric struggles to maintain confidentiality while preventing harm to someone he barely knows.

One act of terror suddenly makes the good doctor an active participant in a game he never agreed to play. It's a game with potentially deadly consequences. Slowly he begins to realize that his opponent is dangerous and calculating with only one goal in mind; to ruin his life.

The author's novels always reflect her knowledge as a former practicing attorney. This time she has done extensive research in the complex field of psychiatry. The devious mind of a sociopath is described with chilling accuracy. This is not only a gripping thriller, but also a look into the human psyche. The plot is tangled and intricate, leaving the reader unsettled, chapter after chapter, until the very end.

And what an ending it is.



 

Someone Is Watching

Someone Is Watching by Joy Fielding

"I hear the sound of twigs snapping behind me......I taste the gloved hand that covers my mouth....and feel the flurry of fists at my stomach and face, overpowering my resistance and bringing me to the brink of unconsciousness."

Private eye Bailey Carpenter knows the meaning of fear. Ever since her brutal attack, she finds herself unable to function. Instead, she hides behind closed doors knowing that the ghoulish nightmares will awaken her again just like they do every night. Still reeling from her parents' deaths, Bailey is a woman living on the edge. And she can't shake the feeling that someone is watching her every move.

Before her attack, Bailey's life was complicated but manageable. Now it's become overwhelming. Along with her playboy brother, Bailey is independently wealthy, the heirs to their father's fortune. But five half-brothers and sisters are not rich and they've vowed to get what rightfully belongs to them. Her sordid affair with a married man has lost its appeal. The one thing that takes her mind off of everything is the pair of binoculars her mother left to her. It's become a tawdry addiction to spy on the gentleman living in a high rise across the street. That is, until she gets the uneasy feeling he is watching her, too. Could he possibly be her attacker?

The story is now set in motion as Bailey must overcome her fragile state of mind to uncover the truth behind the jumbled pieces of her vicious assault before he strikes again. There are so many suspects. Is there anyone she can trust? Before she loses her sanity, she must find the answers.

Joy Fielding writes a raw heart-pounding thriller. It's a constant guessing game with red herrings galore that will keep the reader thoroughly glued to each and every page. Bailey Carpenter will return in another Fielding novel, and she's a character I look forward to meeting again.