Book Review – The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen

 

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen follows Georgia Cartwright, a woman accused of murdering the biological daughter of her adoptive family. It is a case that has been dubbed the “Crime of the Decade.” Georgia is beautiful, glamorous, and comes from a wealthy Southern family. She was adopted as a newborn, but not long after, her parents had a biological daughter of their own.

After being found covered in the victim’s blood, Georgia is taken to a psychiatric institution, where she is held among violent offenders while awaiting trial. Despite the overwhelming evidence against her, Georgia insists she is innocent.

Desperate, she reaches out to her estranged twin sister, Amanda, pleading for help. Amanda is hesitant. She doesn’t fully trust Georgia and suspects she isn’t telling the whole truth. Still, she feels unable to abandon her sister. As Amanda becomes more involved, she must determine whether Georgia is truly innocent or if she’s being manipulated by her.

I’ve read a few books by this author and enjoyed them, so I had high hopes for this one. The novel is a quick read, with short, fast-paced chapters that alternate between Amanda’s and Georgia’s perspectives. However, it didn’t grip me the way the author’s other books have. It felt like it was missing a level of tension and excitement that I’ve come to expect from her work.

Some parts of the story also felt unrealistic. For example, when Amanda visits Georgia’s apartment, it has been thoroughly trashed by the police, cushions overturned, flowers knocked over, and clothes scattered everywhere. Yet somehow, Amanda finds a large amount of cash sitting untouched in a drawer. It’s hard to believe that the police would overlook something like that during their search.

While this wasn’t my favorite book by the author, I would still be open to reading more of her work in the future.

Book Review – My Fair Frauds by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Marie Thorne

 

 

My Fair Frauds by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Marie Thorne follows two women, Alice and Cora, who team up to defraud members of high society. The Grand Duchess Marie Charlotte Antonine of Linsbourg is supposedly from a war-torn country known for its emerald mines. The Grand Duchess has become a sensation among the upper crust. However, not everything is as it seems. The duchess is actually Alice, a con artist posing as royalty to carry out an elaborate revenge plan.

Years earlier, Alice’s family had been wealthy and well-respected, but five ruthless robber barons destroyed their livelihood and ruined her father, leaving them with nothing. When Alice meets Cora, a quick-handed drifter with ambition, she realizes Cora could be the perfect partner. With some guidance, Cora can pass as a debutante and help lure in Alice’s final target.

With the help of real-life social figure Ward McAllister and others, Alice and Cora begin their long con during the social season of 1883. They scheme their way through balls, private dinners, and opera nights, all while gaining the trust and attention of their marks. But as their plan unfolds, it becomes clear that someone close to them may be planning a betrayal. Will Alice and Cora succeed, or will their con ultimately destroy them?

I thought the novel was an interesting read. It felt like a cozier version of Ocean’s Eleven (or even a female-led take like Ocean’s Eight). The story was easy to follow and engaging, though mostly predictable, aside from one surprising moment toward the end. I found the main characters well-written and easy to root for. I also liked that the authors incorporated real historical figures and included a note at the end explaining which characters were based on real people. Overall, I would be open to reading more books by these authors.

 

Book Review – The Raven by Mike Nappa

 

 

"The Raven" by Mike Nappa centers on a street performer, The Raven, who steals from a local politician and tries to blackmail him. The Raven is a skilled street performer. He performs tricks while pickpocketing his audience. He thinks it’s harmless until he decides to steal a spare wallet from a local city councilman.

Raven believed he would make a few extra bucks from the wallet. However, he finds no money, only compromising photos of the politician with personal assistants. Realizing he might have hit the jackpot, Raven decides to blackmail him. Unfortunately, he quickly realizes he’s in over his head, and now the Ukrainian Mafia is after him. Raven then hires private investigators Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill to help him untangle the mess.

The book is the second in the series. It can be read as a standalone, but there were nuances and references to Trudi’s and Samuel’s relationship that didn’t make sense without the background. The book was a quick read with a few predictable twists. I enjoyed the characters and would be interested in reading more books by the author.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion** 

 

Book Review – First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

 

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston follows a woman known as Evie Porter, who is sent on a mysterious assignment by her boss, Mr. Smith, but nothing goes according to plan. On the surface, Evie appears to be living the perfect life: she has a loving boyfriend, a charming home with a white picket fence, and a close-knit group of friends. However, Evie Porter isn’t real.

Each time Evie receives a new assignment, she’s given a new identity. Along with an alias, she receives the name and location of her target. From there, it’s her job to learn everything she can about the person, the town, and the people around them. While she’s given basic details, she’s rarely told why the target has been chosen, leaving her to piece together her boss’s motives as she gathers information.

Evie knows very little about Mr. Smith. She doesn’t even know his real name or the full extent of his organization. The only thing she’s certain of is that this latest assignment feels different. Her new target, Ryan Sumner, makes her imagine a life beyond the job, a chance to settle down and start over. But Mr. Smith isn’t willing to let one of his most valuable assets walk away, especially after she made a costly mistake on her previous assignment. As Evie struggles to secure a future for herself, one wrong move could cost her everything.

I thought the book was an interesting read with several twists and surprises. It was easy to get into, and the writing style made it a quick, engaging read. The pacing was fast, with plenty of suspenseful moments that kept me turning the pages. At first, I found the shifts between past and present a bit frustrating, but by the end, everything came together in a satisfying way. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would be open to reading more from this author.

Book Review - All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim

 

 

All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim follows two childhood friends, Quito Cruz and Emmett Aoki, as they cross paths again as adults. Quito is a gifted pianist and composer who performs at a piano bar in New York City. He dreams of writing a Broadway show, but he’s stuck in a creative slump. He believes his lack of inspiration stems from a significant interaction he had with Emmett back in college.

Out of the blue, Quito receives a call from his father, who asks him to organize a charity performance in their hometown to benefit their old music program. His father also suggests inviting Emmett, now a movie star and Hollywood heartthrob, to help draw attention to the event.

Quito isn’t sure how to reach out, since he and Emmett have lost touch. However, when they unexpectedly run into each other, Quito takes the chance to ask and is surprised when Emmett agrees. As they begin preparing for the performance, Quito feels their old connection returning, but he’s unsure if Emmett feels the same way.

I thought the book was an okay read. It was fairly straightforward, without many twists or surprises. One aspect that really bothered me was how the female characters were portrayed. They felt poorly written and often came across as being judged harshly or portrayed in a catty, negative way. It gave the impression that the narrative didn’t treat female characters with much care or depth, especially in comparison to other characters.

I did enjoy the food descriptions, particularly the scenes where the characters were cooking, but that wasn’t enough to elevate the overall experience for me. In the end, I didn’t connect much with the story, and I probably wouldn’t pick up another book by this author.