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Book review: After All I’ve Done by Mina Hardy
Title: After All I’ve Done
Author: Mina Hardy
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publication date: 10th November 2020
My rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Summary:
“She’s lost her best friend, her husband–and possibly, her mind.
Five months ago, an accident left Diana Sparrow badly injured and missing a few months of her memory. As if that’s not enough, she’s started having recurring nightmares about the night of the accident. Dreams that feel so real, she’s left questioning: maybe she didn’t just slide off the road into a ditch. Maybe, just maybe, she hit something. Or someone.
She can’t turn to her former best friend Val, who’s been sleeping with Diana’s husband Jonathan for months, but she might find some comfort in newcomer Cole Pelham. Yet the closer they become, the more Diana begins to wonder what really happened that night–and how Cole might be connected. Worse, it seems everyone else could be involved, too.
Who was with her that night? What really happened? As her life unravels thread by thread and the dreams become too real to ignore, Diana will have to face the unthinkable–and do the unforgivable.“
My review:
After All I’ve Done starts with a lot of promise. Although the memory loss plot has been incorporated many times before in Thrillers, there were extra layers of mystery and doubt right from the first chapter which carried through to the end. The book was always filled with tension and suspicion which led to a very cryptic mystery, forcing the reader to anticipate the characters’ intentions from the little background that is disclosed on the main character, Diana.
Thrillers often feature either too many characters or so few that the plot is watered down however After All I’ve Done stars the right number of characters and a perfect balance between character development and plot. I couldn’t connect with Diana as I felt that she was too untrustworthy and sometimes too dull for a main character. However, the other minor characters such as the mother-in-law and best friend dipped in and out of each chapter with ease and encouraged me to speculate on their motive which I always enjoy.
My main concern with this book at the beginning was the possible predictable twist and ending. I believed that my theory was too farfetched despite the multiple hints throughout the book and especially given how twisted and wrong such an outcome would be but unfortunately my guesses were right. I finished this book feeling somewhat shocked and unsettled however I applaud the author for bravely analysing twisted family relationships and for not being afraid to push boundaries to the extreme. Although I didn’t entirely like the direction it took, the added suspense and mystery surrounding Diana’s accident kept me invested until the end.
After All I’ve Done is out to buy now!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a free advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.
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Book review: The Girls in the Snow by Stacy Green
Title: The Girls in the Snow
Author: Stacy Green
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication date: 19th October 2020
My rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Summary:
“In the remote forests of Stillwater, Minnesota, you can scream for days and no one will hear you. So when the bodies of two fifteen-year-old girls are discovered frozen in the snow, Special Agent Nikki Hunt is sure the killer is local: someone knew where to hide them and thought they’d never be found.
Home for the first time in twenty years, Nikki sees that the whole town had been frantically searching for missing best friends Madison and Kaylee, and when she finds out who Madison’s step-father is, she becomes desperate to lead the case. John was once the person she trusted most in the world, who stood by her when she was just sixteen and her parents were murdered. Who supported her when she identified their killer, Mark Todd.
But when Nikki arrives at the Sheriff’s office, she’s confronted by protesters eager to see Mark freed. With new evidence that could clear his name, Mark has appealed his conviction and his brother Rory begs Nikki to take a look at what they’ve found.
Nikki knows she must focus on the killer at large, but Rory makes her wonder if she put her trust in the right people all those years ago. Are Madison and Kaylee’s deaths connected to her parents’ murders? And can she face up to her past before another life is taken?“
My review:
Madison and Kaylee, two fifteen-year-old girls, are found frozen in the forests of Minnesota and Special Agent Nikki Hunt is called to the case. Nikki’s past quickly catches up to her as she recalls the horrific murders of her parents not too far from where the two girls were murdered. What follows is a race against time to catch the killer as Nikki also battles with her own memories of the day her parents died.
New series in the Mystery/Thriller genre often need a feisty and mysterious main character and I was not disappointed to find that Nikki Hunt fits that criteria perfectly. I was intrigued by her history and her connections to Stillwater. The parallel story line involving her parents’ killer, Mark Todd, was an interesting addition and created further tension and intricacy in the already gripping plot involving the two murders.
The bitter and freezing cold backdrop created an even more intense atmosphere and a remarkable setting for a murder. Although the descriptions are simple and straightforward, the setting was superbly illustrated and a nice touch to complement the plot.
With its impressive setting and interwoven story lines, The Girls in the Snow proved to be a strong start to the Nikki Hunt series. I can already see several directions the series may take and would be interested to to see which direction it follows and what future adventures Nikki will face.
The Girls in the Snow is out to buy now!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a free advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.
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Book review: The Vow by Debbie Howells
Title: The Vow
Author: Debbie Howells
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Publisher: Avon
Publication date: 15th October 2020
My rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Summary:
“Two weeks before her wedding, a stranger stops Amy in the street and warns her she’s in danger. Then that night, Matt, her fiancé, doesn’t come home. Desperate, Amy calls the police – but when Matt fails to emerge, she’s forced to call off her wedding day.
Then another man is reported missing, by a woman called Fiona – a man meeting Matt’s description, who was about to leave his fiancée for her. He was supposed to be moving in with her – but instead, he’s vanished.
Amy refuses to believe Fiona’s lover can be her Matt – but photos prove otherwise, and it soon becomes clear that Matt has been leading a double life. As the police dig deeper, two conflicting, yet equally plausible stories emerge from two women who allegedly have never met.“
My review:
Amy is convinced that she has found the love of her life and is excited for her wedding, soon to take place. Her world is turned upside down when her fiancé, Matt, disappears mysteriously with no trace. The investigation ultimately brings the police full circle when they suspect that Amy is involved in Matt’s disappearance. This is a common plot line in thrillers and has been done many times before so I was glad to see some other characters, such as Fiona, introduced to break up the stereotype and create a sense of unease.
One of the strongest features in The Vow is the never ending mystery the author weaves into the story line. Matt is painted as a secretive and possibly manipulative character however it is clear from the start that both Amy and Fiona have a dark side which they are trying to hide. It was impossible to understand who the victim was in these circumstances and I thoroughly enjoyed the ping pong approach of deceit and lies as the plot progressed.
Unfortunately the characters were too mediocre and uninteresting to fully grab my attention. I could empathise with both Amy and Fiona and I found Amy’s daughter, Jess, a nice addition however none of these women had any unique attributes to keep me invested in their development.
Although I wasn’t fully invested in this book, there were some interesting writing techniques, such as changing POVs and an unknown narrator from 1996 which stood out and created a never ending sense of mystery. Full of suspense and tension, The Vow promises to be a hit for thrill seeking readers.
The Vow is out to buy today!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a free advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.
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Book review: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Title: Dark Matter
Author: Blake Crouch
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Pan
Publication date: 11th August 2016
My rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Summary:
“‘Are you happy in your life?’
Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious.
Before he wakes to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits.
Before the man he’s never met smiles down at him and says, ‘Welcome back, my friend.’
In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.
Is it this world or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined – one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.“
My review:
Jason Dessen wakes up after being taken by masked abductors and his life changes drastically as he begins to question who he is and if the home and family he knew really existed. Was he ever just a physics professor or is his research revolutionary, changing the course of human history? Before he knows it he is thrown into a confusing and terrifying race against time as he struggles to battle an unknown enemy. I was immediately captivated by the intense story line and was intrigued to see how the plot would develop.
It is difficult to explore the backbone of Dark Matter without giving too much away as this is the kind of book that readers must go in without any expectations to avoid spoiling too much. Not only is the writing exceptional but the story line included the perfect mix of romance, dystopia and mystery. I was always kept guessing, eager to find out more about the theory of dark matter and conscious of the villain like characters trying to stand in Jason’s way. There were plenty of surprises along the way as new developments in the plot were introduced and characters’ intentions revealed.
As with Blake Crouch’s other novel, Recursion, there was a lot of confusion as Jason’s journey through time and space progressed and I often had to stop and recall the events in previous chapters as the pace was too fast and the space and time concept too complex. Although I enjoyed the complexity and chaos I would have preferred some more clarity and simple explanations in some of the ideas of parallel universes and I felt that this was lacking at times.
Dark Matter pushes the boundaries of the almost impossible in a brilliant attempt to explore humanity and highlight the existence of other worlds with endless possibilities. I enjoyed the ride despite several moments of confusion and am excited to read any future books by this author. Readers who enjoy deep reflections into humankind and identity will find a lot to love about Dark Matter.
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Book review: The Skylark’s Secret by Fiona Valpy
Title: The Skylark’s Secret
Author: Fiona Valpy
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Publication date: 29th September 2020
My rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Summary:
“Loch Ewe, 1940. When gamekeeper’s daughter Flora’s remote highland village finds itself the base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys, life in her close-knit community changes forever. In defiance of his disapproving father, the laird’s son falls in love with Flora, and as tensions build in their disrupted home, any chance of their happiness seems doomed.
Decades later, Flora’s daughter, singer Lexie Gordon, is forced to return to the village and to the tiny cottage where she grew up. Having long ago escaped to the bright lights of the West End, London still never truly felt like home. Now back, with a daughter of her own, Lexie learns that her mother—and the hostile-seeming village itself—have long been hiding secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew.
As she pieces together the fragments of her parents’ story, Lexie discovers the courageous, devastating sacrifices made in her name. It’s too late to rekindle her relationship with her mother, but can Lexie find it in her heart to forgive the past, to grieve for all that’s lost, and finally find her place in the world?“
My review:
Told in dual timelines and spanning several decades, The Skylark’s Secret explores what it means to be a mother and to find one’s place in the world. Family relationships are tested are friendships are formed with issues such as class and background forming the backbone of this story.
As with other books by this author, setting plays a huge role in shaping the essence of the plot and story line. Scotland, and in particular the village and sea, were an interesting choice and it was fascinating to see the changes between Flora’s story line in the WW2 setting and Lexie’s in the 70s. I skimmed over a lot of the marine language however thoroughly enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the Scottish Highlands.
Historical Fiction told in dual timelines is often hard to follow however the two storylines were beautifully intertwined with a lot of similarities in the two characters’ paths. Unfortunately I couldn’t connect with either of the two main characters in the same way that I usually do with other previous books by this author. Some of the minor characters were quirky and interesting but could not hold my attention and I ultimately left and came back to the book several times.
This is a beautiful story of resilience and compassion with impressive storytelling and a fantastic setting. Despite several slow parts and a set of average characters I finished it with a smile on my face and sense that it will be a pleasurable read for many fans of the genre.
The Skylark’s Secret is out to buy today!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a free advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.