Book Review: Watch Me by Jody Gehrman-Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Hello dear Readers,

Below my book review of Watch Me by Jody Gehrman.

Title: Watch Me 

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Author: Jody Gehrman

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: January 23, 2018

Language: English

Hardcover: 320 pages
Meet the Author: Jody Gehrman
Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

"Riveting, chilling, and page-turning. Be prepared to stay up all night." -- New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline.

For fans of dark and twisty psychological thrillers, Watch Me is a riveting novel of suspense about how far obsession can go.

Kate Youngblood is disappearing. Muddling through her late 30s as a creative writing professor at Blackwood college, she’s dangerously close to never being noticed again. The follow-up novel to her successful debut tanked. Her husband left her for a woman ten years younger. She’s always been bright, beautiful, independent and a little wild, but now her glow is starting to vanish. She’s heading into an age where her eyes are less blue, her charm worn out, and soon no one will ever truly look at her, want to know her, again.

My Thoughts

What a disturbing but great read this was. One of the creepiest psychological thrillers I have ever read. There were times even though I just wanted to keep reading but I had to stop, take a little break just to be able to handle what was coming next. 

A lot of unexpected twists and breathtaking moments which is what makes the story this good and the characters. After reading You by Caroline Kepnes I never thought I was going to come across more characters like Joe Goldberg, so obsessed, possessive and with such sick minds but then you read this book and you are introduced to Sam and Kate and oh God, what a ride. 

Liked the writing, a very interesting plot and also liked how the story is told from dual points of view, alternating between Sam and Kate. Watch Me, a great psychological thriller which I totally recommend. 

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wendy

Book Review: The Wife Between Us: A Novel by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen-Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Hello dear Readers,

Below my book review of The Wife Between Us: A Novel by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen.

Title: The Wife Between Us: A Novel 

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Author: Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: January 9, 2018

Language: English

Hardcover: 352 pages
Meet the Author: Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

"A jaw-dropping psychological thriller." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review 

"Fiendishly clever...in the vein of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. This one will keep you guessing." –Anita Shreve, New York Times bestselling author of The Stars are Fire

When you read this book, you will make many assumptions.

You will assume you are reading about a jealous ex-wife.

You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement – a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love. 

You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle.

Assume nothing.

Twisted and deliciously chilling, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's The Wife Between Us exposes the secret complexities of an enviable marriage - and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love.

Read between the lies.

My Thoughts

What a way to start the New Year. This book is already one of my favorites of 2018. 

Lots of unexpected and jaw-dropping twists. I could not put it down, so addictive. For a lover of this genre as I am this was the perfect book to kick off my reading year.

At the end of the book description it says Read between the lies. After you finish it that statement becomes so so real that is almost impossible not to feel blown away. These are a few of the feelings I had while reading the book. I was shocked, surprised, hate and love at the same time for the characters, trying to make sense of all the things happening. When I thought I had it figured out there it was, the twist I was not expecting at all. Fast paced, full of suspense, complex characters, a very clever plot. This book has it all and more. One of the best books I have read on this genre which I recommend a 100%.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wendy

Best Books I Read In 2017

Hello dear Readers,

Another year came to an end and with it a lot of great books.

Here are my favorite books or the best books I read in 2017. No particular order, and not all of them were published in 2017 but I read them in 2017.

You can click on each Title to read my Review.

• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

• Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

• Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

• Emotions by Arnie Cantarero

• The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas

• In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park

• Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

• To Nurture and Kill by E.M. Markoff

Wendy

Book Review: The Final Girls: A Novel by Riley Sager-Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Hello dear Readers,

My book review of Final Girls: A Novel by Riley Sager.

Title: Final Girls: A Novel 

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Author: Riley Sager

Publisher: Dutton

Publication Date: July 11, 2017

Language: English

Hardcover: 352 pages
Meet the Author: Riley Sager
Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

“The first great thriller of 2017 is here: Final Girls, by Riley Sager. If you liked Gone Girl, you’ll like this.”—Stephen King

Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie–scale massacre. In an instant, she became a member of a club no one wants to belong to—a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls. Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout's knife; Sam, who went up against the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape Pine Cottage and the man she refers to only as Him. The three girls are all attempting to put their nightmares behind them, and, with that, one another. Despite the media's attempts, they never meet.

Now, Quincy is doing well—maybe even great, thanks to her Xanax prescription. She has a caring almost-fiancé, Jeff; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life all those years ago. Her memory won’t even allow her to recall the events of that night; the past is in the past. 

That is, until Lisa, the first Final Girl, is found dead in her bathtub, wrists slit, and Sam, the second, appears on Quincy's doorstep. Blowing through Quincy's life like a whirlwind, Sam seems intent on making Quincy relive the past, with increasingly dire consequences, all of which makes Quincy question why Sam is really seeking her out. And when new details about Lisa's death come to light, Quincy's life becomes a race against time as she tries to unravel Sam's truths from her lies, evade the police and hungry reporters, and, most crucially, remember what really happened at Pine Cottage, before what was started ten years ago is finished.

My Thoughts

Don't want to spoil this book. I will only say all that hype and everybody talking about the book, all that was worth it. One of the best Thrillers I have read this year. I recommend it 100%.

Wendy

Book Review: It's Always the Husband: A Novel by Michele Campbell-Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Hello dear Readers,

My book review of It's Always the Husband by Michele Campbell.

Title: It's Always the Husband: A Novel

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Author: Michele Campbell

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: May 16, 2017

Language: English

Hardcover: 336 pages
Meet the Author: Michele Campbell
Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

"This book is perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies." –Redbook Magazine

"Fans of Ruth Ware and Gillian Flynn meet your next obsession." ―BuzzFeed

"In the tradition of Big Little Lies comes the excellently titled It's Always the Husband, a thriller about three friends–frenemies, really–who met as college roommates." –New York Post

*Named one of "50 Best Books for the Beach" by Coastal Living

*Named one of "7 Books You Won't Be Able to Put Down This Month" by InStyle

*Named one of "6 Books to Cure Your Little Big Lies Withdrawal" by Elle.com

*Named one of "20 Must-Read Books for Spring 2017" by Redbook

*Named one of "8 Thrillers You Will Devour This Summer" by BuzzFeed

“A page-turning whodunnit that will speak to anyone who’s ever had a frenemy.” –Ruth Ware, bestselling author of The Woman in Cabin Ten

Kate, Aubrey, and Jenny first met as college roommates and soon became inseparable, despite being as different as three women can be. Kate was beautiful, wild, wealthy, and damaged. Aubrey, on financial aid, came from a broken home, and wanted more than anything to distance herself from her past. And Jenny was a striver―brilliant, ambitious, and determined to succeed. As an unlikely friendship formed, the three of them swore they would always be there for each other.

But twenty years later, one of them is standing at the edge of a bridge, and someone is urging her to jump.

How did it come to this?

Kate married the gorgeous party boy, Aubrey married up, and Jenny married the boy next door. But how can these three women love and hate each other? Can feelings this strong lead to murder? When one of them dies under mysterious circumstances, will everyone assume, as is often the case, that it’s always the husband?

A suspenseful, absorbing novel that examines the complexities of friendship, It’s Always the Husband will keep readers guessing right up to its shocking conclusion.

My Thoughts

Another mystery- thriller I could not put down. Kept me guessing and wanting to know what was going to happen next and the ending unexpected but very satisfying. Full of twists, intriguing and unique characters and a great plot. I totally recommend this book and will be definitely reading more books of this author.

Wendy

Book Review: The Good Widow: A Novel by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke-Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Hello dear Readers,

My book review of The Good Widow: A Novel by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke.

Title: The Good Widow: A Novel

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Author: Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Publication Date: June 1, 2017

Language: English

Paperback: 300 pages
Meet the Author: Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke
Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

Bestselling authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke make their suspense debut in this twisty, emotional thriller.

Elementary school teacher Jacqueline “Jacks” Morales’s marriage was far from perfect, but even in its ups and downs it was predictable, familiar. Or at least she thought it was…until two police officers showed up at her door with devastating news. Her husband of eight years, the one who should have been on a business trip to Kansas, had suffered a fatal car accident in Hawaii. And he wasn’t alone.

For Jacks, laying her husband to rest was hard. But it was even harder to think that his final moments belonged to another woman—one who had left behind her own grieving and bewildered fiance. Nick, just as blindsided by the affair, wants answers. So he suggests that he and Jacks search for the truth together, retracing the doomed lovers’ last days in paradise.

Now, following the twisting path of that fateful road, Jacks is learning that nothing is ever as it seems. Not her marriage. Not her husband. And most certainly not his death…

My Thoughts

I was beyond excited when I found out Liz and Lisa were publishing a book on this genre, one of my favorites, their suspense debut novel, another gem by the Authors, a Must-Read. One of my best reads this year.

In the Good Widow we meet Jacqueline "Jacks", and all the events following the news that her husband, James had a car accident in Hawaii. Devastating news for Jacks of course and not a very pleasant ones giving the fact that James was supposed to be on a work trip in another city and not in Hawaii and accompanied by another woman. We also get to know Jacks's husband James, the mysterious woman, Dylan, and her fiance Nick and how their lives come together throughout the pages. 

This read was a total emotional roller coaster for me, I couldn't put it down. Full of suspense, twists and with very interesting characters. My favorite, Jacks, a wife, a teacher, a woman who even though does not have the perfect marriage, the perfect life, she is determined to find the answers she needs to understand what happened to her marriage, to her husband, his death. For me Jacks is a brave character, she tries to make sense of everything happening to her, how her life changes in a matter of minutes, all that she thought was the truth no longer is, all the lies, all the questions, she desperately needs answers and she decides to go to Hawaii to find them.

In terms of the story, I enjoyed it a lot, I liked that it kept me engaged, interested, all the twists, and the ending, unexpected and satisfying. A very good job by the Authors, you can see they took the time to do their research, how we not only get to know the characters but also the places, how they describe those. I love Liz and Lisa's writing style, the way they present the story, something about the way they write, makes this book a different one from all the others I have read on the same genre. Different in a very good way.

I loved the book, one I totally recommend. Thank you to the Authors for sharing this story, for exploring this genre and I can hardly wait for more new books to be published.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union for sending an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Wendy