Book Review - The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves

 

The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves is a thrilling mystery about a detective, Vera Stanhope, who investigates a murder that seems to have darker ties. Early in the morning, a local dog walker discovers a man’s body near the park outside a group home for troubled teens. The home, Rosebank, is located in the coastal village of Longwater, and the victim is a staff member who never showed up for work.

 DI Vera Stanhope is called in to investigate the death. The only clue she has is the disappearance of one of the home’s residents, fourteen-year-old Chloe Spence. Vera doesn’t believe that a teenager is responsible for the murder, but she lacks sufficient evidence to dismiss the possibility. As Vera and her team delve into the case, another body is found by the “Three Dark Wives" monument, which is surrounded by superstition and folklore. Vera knows she needs to find Chloe to uncover the truth, but someone is desperate to prevent her from doing so.

The book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. There are some recurring characters with nuances I might have missed, but I was still able to follow along. The book was entertaining, though it took me a few chapters to feel invested. It felt repetitive, and I felt like not much was happening until the end when everything snowballed. I didn’t appreciate that Vera kept her suspicion about the murderer a secret from her team, but I still liked her character overall. I would be open to reading more books by the author. 

Book Review - The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz

 

The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz follows a former black-ops operative, Evan Smoak, as he confronts his past and decides how to move forward. As a small child, Evan was taken from a group home and trained as an assassin in a secret off-the-books government program. He eventually left the program and went underground, harboring many secrets that the government would do anything to keep hidden.

Now known as The Nowhere Man, he dedicates his life to helping people in their time of need. As Evan’s reputation grows, he finds himself back on the government’s radar. With most of the Orphans eliminated, the government will stop at nothing to take out Evan if he poses a threat. However, Evan has managed to stay several steps ahead of the dangers.

The President offers Evan a deal—he must eliminate a wealthy and powerful man whom she claims is too dangerous to live. In return, she will allow Evan to live and continue as The Nowhere Man. This puts Evan in a dilemma, as he vowed to use his skills only against those who deserve it when he left the Program. He must decide whether to choose life or stick to his principles. 

The novel is the eighth book in the series. While it doesn’t need to be read in order, I missed some character nuances. The book was a fast-paced thriller, but it lacked many unexpected twists or turns. I found the characters enjoyable, and I actively rooted for them. This was my first book in the series, but Evan felt almost invisible, bordering on superhuman. It seemed like he always made the right choices and never got hurt, or no one was better than him. I would be open to reading more books by the author.

Book Review - Caraval by Stephanie Garber

 

Caraval by Stephanie Garber follows two sisters, Scarlett and Tella, who enter a magical, high-stakes game of deception and intrigue in hopes of winning freedom from their abusive father. Scarlett and Tella Dragna have never left the small island where they were born, where they live under the control of their powerful and cruel father. He has arranged a marriage for Scarlett, and she fears she will never get the chance to fulfill her dream of seeing Caraval—a highly exclusive, once-a-year performance where the audience participates, and the winners are granted one wish.

Just before Scarlett is set to marry, she receives a welcome surprise: an invitation arrives for her and Tella to attend the show. The two sisters set off, only for Tella to be kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind, Legend. The game will revolve around Tella, and whoever finds her first will be crowned the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything in Caraval is fake—an elaborate performance. However, as she delves deeper into the game, she begins to suspect that something isn’t right. She realizes that if she wants to see her sister again, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game end and her sister disappears forever.

This novel is the first book in a trilogy, and it should be read in order to fully enjoy the immersive experience. I found the book to be spellbinding. The author does a fantastic job of transporting readers into the magical illusion of Caraval. The story is filled with twists, turns, and lies, which can be difficult to keep track of, especially with the many characters involved. The ending took me by surprise and felt like a perfect setup for the next book in the series.

Book Review - My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen

 

My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen is a haunting story about love, loss, and the emotional trauma that shapes us. Roos Beckman has a spirit companion that only she can see. Ruth is a strange, corpse-like spirit who has been dead for centuries. Ruth is the only positive thing in Roos’s life until a young, wealthy widow, Agnes Knoop, visits one of Roos’s backroom seances. The two form a connection. 

Roos moves into the decaying estate that Agnes inherited after her husband’s death. The house seems haunted by a woman who roams the hallway endlessly, there is a strange smell in the air, and the family chapel is filled with eerie stone statues. Roos senses something dreadful is haunting the manor, yet she feels drawn to Agnes and is reluctant to leave. 

When a murder occurs, Roos becomes the obvious suspect due to her history of hysteria and her impoverished status. She must prove her innocence, or she risks losing everything she loves. 

I found the book to be an interesting read. I appreciated how it explored how and why spirits attach to certain people. However, there were some gross moments that felt a bit off-putting at times. The author’s writing style tended to be long-winded and this made certain parts of the book drag. 

When the book first opened, the author mentioned it was a love story. Initially, it was hard to see it as that, but as I continued reading and reached the conclusion, it felt like an accurate description of the story. Even though the genre is horror, the novel depicts many forms of love, including the most base and vile, showcasing what people will do for love. I would be open to reading more by this author.

 

Book Review - The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry by Anna Rose Johnson

  

The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry by Anna Rose Johnson follows a young girl named Lucy, who is sent to live with strangers. Selena Lucy Landry was named after a ship. Ironically she has been afraid of the water ever since she lost her father at sea. Her current caretaker, who watches over Lucy while her father is at sea, becomes indisposed, and Lucy is sent to live with a family in a lighthouse amidst the stormy Lake Superior. 

The Martins are a close-knit and hardworking family from the Anishinaabe tribe. They are quite different from Lucy, a dreamer who struggles to fit in with others. Will Lucy be able to connect with her foster family? 

The book offers a quick and heartwarming read. At times, I found it challenging to like Lucy, as she seemed bossy or annoying, but then I tried to understand her perspective. She grew up with caregivers since her father was at sea and her mother had passed, leaving her with little experience of interacting with children her age. Young readers might appreciate the mystery of the treasure hunt that the Martin children and Lucy embark on.

 

Book Review - Not the Worst Friend in the World by Anne Relliha

 

Not the Worst Friend in the World by Anne Relliha centers on a young girl named Lou, who wants to prove that she is a good friend. Eleven-year-old Lou wishes she could go back in time, as she misses being with her old friend, Francie. Lou and Francie used to be best friends until they had a fight, during which Lou said terrible things to Francie that she now regrets. Lou longs for the way things used to be before they started sixth grade. 

Everything changes when the new girl, Cece Clark-Duncan, passes Lou a note during class. It says that she has been kidnapped, and Cece asks Lou for help. Lou decides that by helping Cece, she can prove to Francie that she is not a terrible friend.

The book was an okay read. It was straightforward with no twists and turns, offering a heartwarming story about friendship, forgiveness, and trusting oneself. It was nice to see Lou, Cece, and Francie lean on each other and grow. I would recommend the book for young readers who might enjoy the characters and their stories.

Book Review - No Easy Prey by Iris Johansen

 

No Easy Prey by Iris Johansen tells the story of Margaret Douglas, a woman on the run from a man who wants to control her. After escaping a painful past, Margaret is determined to focus on her future. Raised in an abusive, off-the-grid home, she spent much of her time seeking solace and refuge in a nearby forest.

While in the woods, Margaret discovered she has a unique ability: she can understand and communicate with animals. She dreams of living a peaceful life, surrounded by nature and wildlife. However, her gift has caught the attention of a dangerous individual who wants to exploit her abilities for his own nefarious purposes. Determined not to be used as a pawn, Margaret decides to flee.

CIA operative John Lassiter is on the hunt for Margaret. Someone has kidnapped one of his men, and in exchange for his release, they demand Margaret. Desperate to save his friend, John plans to use Margaret as bait—but Margaret has other plans. She will need to outwit John, who is determined to get what he wants.

Unfortunately, this novel was not what I expected. I initially thought it would be a gripping thriller, but it felt more like a steamy romance with elements of an adult novel. The sudden attraction between John and Margaret felt forced, and the intensity of their connection was off-putting. The author inserts graphic sex scenes that seem out of place and add little to the story. The characters felt flat and unrealistic, and I didn’t find myself rooting for them. The plot seemed contrived, with random elements of what could make a good story, but they were poorly executed and didn’t flow cohesively.

* The book title was changed from No Easy Prey to No Easy Target. 

Book Review - Daughter of Eden: Eve's Story by Jill Eileen Smith

 

 Daughter of Eden: Eve's Story by Jill Eileen Smith reimagines the biblical tale of Eve from her perspective, exploring her life in the Garden of Eden, the temptation, and the profound consequences of her choices on humanity's fate. When Eve first opens her eyes, she is captivated by the sight of her Creator, whose beauty nearly blinds her and whose breath fills her lungs. The Creator takes her hand and introduces her to a creature similar to her, yet different. 

She and Adam experience the joy and delights of Eden while spending their days exploring. Their favorite part of the day is when the Creator comes to walk with them and spend time with them daily. Everything goes well until one act of disobedience leads to their exile from Eden. Together, they realize that the world is far crueler than they had imagined. Filled with remorse, Eden must come to terms with the consequences of their actions.

The novel was an okay read. I thought it presented an interesting, fictionalized version of the Bible story. At times, I felt the novel dragged, and there wasn’t much happening. I felt it was longer than necessary. The book is told from multiple perspectives, but Eve’s perspective is the most dominant. It was fascinating to read the thoughts of the other characters. While I would read more books by the author, I wouldn’t necessarily seek out more of her works.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.