🟣 :::READING THREAD::: Week of August 20th

I finished Falling by TJ Newman.
You just boarded a flight to New York.

There are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard.

What you don’t know is that thirty minutes before the flight your pilot’s family was kidnapped.

For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die.

The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane.

Enjoy the flight.

Review: I first read Drowning and liked it a little better than this book. I would give it a strong 4 stars though.

I read:

Night Flowers by Sarah Herchenroecher. 1980s hikers find the bodies of a woman and two children in barrels in the wilds of New Mexico; now, decades later, their identities and the reason for their deaths remains unknown. At the same time, a police officer from the cold case squad and a woman recovering from breast cancer decide to try to resolve both mysteries, and end up working together. I really liked the writing style and the characters; I wasn't a huge fan of the short chapters where the victim was talking, nor of the sort of confusing resolution.

Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams. Hated it. I have liked some of his other books, although all of them get a little chase-y for me; this one was basically all chase and improbable back story.

The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard A woman whose sister goes missing tries to find the person who took her sister by setting up situations in which she can be abducted by the same person; other local women are missing as well, and it's unclear if the cases are all connected. I didn't buy the premise, nor did I really care for the book.

Not my best reading week! It happens.

Two this week. First was The Company We Keep by Frances Itani. It was okay but not as good as other books I have read written by her.

From Goodreads: "Hazzley is at loose ends, even three years after the death of her husband. When her longtime friend Cassandra, café owner and occasional dance-class partner, suggests that she start up a conversation group. Hazzley posts a notice on the community board at the local grocery store.

Four people turn up for the first meeting: Gwen, a recently retiree in her early 60s, who finds herself pet-sitting a cantankerous parrot; Chiyo, a 40-year-old fitness instructor who cared for her unyielding but gossip-loving mother through the final days of her life; Addie, a woman preemptively grieving a close friend who is seriously ill; and Tom, an antiques dealer and amateur poet who, deprived of home baking since becoming a widower, comes to the first meeting hoping cake will be served. Before long, they are joined by Allam, a Syrian refugee with his own story to tell.

These six strangers are learning that beginnings can be possible at any stage of life. but as they tell their stories, they must navigate what is shared and what is withheld. Which version of the truth will be revealed? Who is prepared to step up when help is needed?"


The second was Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson. I am pretty sure a lot of folks here have read it already as it has been out since 2010. I enjoyed it - the Major's dry humour was quite fun. A silly little aside and nothing to do with the book - I buy a lot of my books at used book stores and thrift shops, including this one. This book takes place in England and the Major, unsurprisingly, belongs to the Church of England and his friend, Mrs Ali is Muslim. Inside the book was a book mark printed on very nice paper with a picture of a Pope (a fairly recent one I think but I don't know the Popes) and a prayer to Mary - maybe someone felt Catholics were being neglected.

From Goodreads "The Major leads a quiet life valuing the proper things that Englishmen have lived by for generations: honor, duty, decorum, and a properly brewed cup of tea. But then his brother's death sparks an unexpected friendship with Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper from the village. Drawn together by their shared love of literature and the loss of their respective spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali soon find their friendship blossoming into something more. But village society insists on embracing him as the quintessential local and her as the permanent foreigner. Can their relationship survive the risks one takes when pursuing happiness in the face of culture and tradition?"

A couple more towards the month of children’s books that I’ve embarked on this month.



Tom’s Midnight Garden by Phillipa Pearce. Mid-century time-travel book for children. It reminds you of how recent the Victorian era was in the middle of the 20th century. 3/5 stars.



Anne of the Island by LM Montgomery. I was raised by a mom who loved Montgomery’s books (she’s a big fan of Jane of Lantern Hill,) but never read past the first Anne book as a kid. I have read them as an adult, but not often. The writing is absolutely beautiful and the story good - though there are some plot contrivances that you just have to accept. I do admit that I do not enjoy Davy. Rather than being charming he's just obnoxious. 4/5 stars.

Just the one for me this week The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson
A bit of a Dickensian novel, with orphans, rich benefactors, conmen and card readers, as well as kidnappings, murders and illicit love affairs.
Set in 1730 England Red is left orphaned after her father dies. Red has always been able to "read the cards" in a particular way her father taught her, known as 'the square of sevens'...it is that skill which makes her sought after and gradually she starts to put the pieces of her (very complicated) life together on the quest to find out who her mother was.
A long book, rich in detailed charters, and you never really know who the good or the bad guys are.

I have about 10% left to listen to, but it will be 4 stars for me.

I read One of Us is Dead and didn't really care for it. Didn't like any of the characters.

Meet the women of Buckhead—a place of expensive cars, huge houses, and competitive friendships.

Shannon was once the queen bee of Buckhead. But she’s been unceremoniously dumped by Bryce, her politician husband. When Bryce replaces her with a much younger woman, Shannon sets out to take revenge …

Crystal has stepped into Shannon’s old shoes. A young, innocent Texan girl, she simply has no idea what she’s up against …

Olivia has waited years to take Shannon’s crown as the unofficial queen of Buckhead. Finally, her moment has come. But to take her rightful place, she will need to use every backstabbing, manipulative, underhand trick in the book …

Jenny owns Glow, the most exclusive salon in town. Jenny knows all her clients’ secrets and darkest desires. But will she ever tell?

Who amongst these women will be clever enough to survive Buckhead—and who will wind up dead? They say that friendships can be complex, but no one said it could ever be this deadly.

I bought this last week, I've read three of her books so far and really enjoyed them.

Razor blade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland are both excellent. Definitely give them a read. I hope All Sinners Bleed doesn’t have a long waitlist at my library.

THANKS !  I’ll be looking at her other books and putting them on my TBR List.  Good to hear she’s a consistent author.  

I was on a quick staycation Sunday and Monday and am back today.

I read Beneath a Scarlet Sky and gave it 4.4 stars. This is an older book that most of us have read, so I won't say much more.

Lisa

KINDLE UNLIMITED USERS - ALERT !

I’m hearing from a number of Facebook sites that some Kindle Unlimited authors are removing their books from Kindle Unlimited.  It seems, even though Amazon has increased the monthly fee to users, they have lowered the price that the authors are being paid.  

The only author that I know of who has verified removing her books is Kiersten Modglin.  All her books will be gone by the end of November.  

I don’t subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, but I have read 4 of Kiersten’s book and have enjoyed them.  If anyone’s interested here are the 4 books I have read by her…………..
Don’t Go Down There (‘23 - 4 Stars even though very short @169 pages)
The Family Secret (‘23 - 4 Stars even though a slightly shorter book @282 pages)
Widow Falls (‘21 - Read ‘23 - 4 Stars)
The Reunion (‘21 - Read’23 - 4 Stars)

KINDLE BOOK ALERT - SALE !  An oldie, but goodie for anyone who hasn’t read it yet !

THE SILENT PATIENT BY ALEX MICHAELIDES (‘19) SALE $2.99; reg 13.99 



Here’s my review from a few years ago………….

DESCRIPTION:  Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.  Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.
Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him....

REVIEW : 

Multiple friends (Unstoppeable, lynnek, gottapeanow & disneyer) highly recommended this book. The sample alone drew me in with the mesmerizing writing. People say psychotherapists & psychiatrists are all a little crazy and it was interesting to see Theo's personal struggles while trying to help Alicia. True psychological mystery trying to figure-out the doctor and the patient's minds. WOW what a shocker ! I didn't see THAT coming. Then just when you lead me to the finish line, TWIST !!! Very original plot. Awesome book !

Mr. Michaelides, I saw your appearance on the Strahan & Sara Show. I was so impressed with YOU, I just had to buy your book. The way you connected with the audience and your encouragement to them to never give-up their dreams was simply beautiful. I could tell how much you wanted to get that message out there ! I was hoping your moving interview was a preview of your book and, I was right !!! Glad you didn't give-up on your dream Mr. Michaelides !

One of my favorites is Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris.

I read Judgement Day, Mali Waugh (2023). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When family law judge Kaye Bailey is found murdered in her Melbourne chambers just hours after the announcement of her appointment as Chief Judge, and on the eve before she is expected to deliver a landmark judgement, Detective Senior Sergeant Jillian Basset is asked to return early from maternity leave to lead the investigation.

With thoughts of Sydney's family court bomber still fresh in people's minds, and a host of possible suspects including jealous colleagues and disgruntled complainants, Jillian and her team are facing a difficult task.

Meanwhile, on the home front, Jillian's husband Aaron has stepped up to be full-time caregiver to their eight month old son Ollie but is left feeling like a single parent with Jillian afraid to be anywhere near the infant.

As a whodunnit, this wasn't too bad. There were a couple of plot holes, and I struggled to engage with the protagonist, but overall it felt like an ambitious piece of work by an intelligent author who shows promise.

Apparently Mali Waugh, who is herself a family lawyer based in Melbourne, has some ideas for a second book with the same character. Personally, I'd much rather she fleshed out more of Judge Bailey 's story.