Book Review - Promise Boys by Nick Brooks

 

 

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks is about three teenage boys of color accused of murdering their principal.  The Urban Promise Prep School’s goal is to turn disadvantaged youth into men with bright futures. The school utilizes strict rules and rigid disciplinary guidelines, and expects their students to adhere to its policies if they want to continue to have a place there. Principal Moore has changed the trajectory of many students’ lives for the better over the years.

When Principal Moore turns up dead in his office, the police believe they have their suspects. Three students, J.B., Ramón, and Trey, each had their own disagreement with the principal hours before he was murdered.  The three students know of each other but they have never interacted much.  They’re not sure if one of them is hiding something, as the three of them were the closest to the murder scene and each of them has a motive. However, they each maintain that they are innocent and didn’t kill anyone. The trio decides to put their suspicions aside of each other and work together to figure out who might be behind the murder. As they go through the events that occur the day of the crime, they realize someone might be keeping a secret and knows more than they are letting on. Will the boys be able to figure out the mastermind behind the murder before their futures are ruined?

The book is told from multiple points of views along with multiple timeframes.  At first, it was a lot to keep track of the different character testimonials and what happened before and after the murder. However, as the story progressed most of the events started overlapping, and a few details did differ depending on who was narrating. As a reader, I had to decide if one character was lying or if another was lying. It was interesting trying to guess who was telling the truth and who might be the culprit.

The story weaved themes of social injustice, racism, and gang violence. It also highlighted the dreams and hopes of the young men and how they wanted to rise above the life and circumstances they were given. One of the characters wanted to break free from the gang life that his cousin is deeply embedded with, and instead own a restaurant. Another character wanted to prove that he could be something more than a street thug, but he was always afraid to ask for help because of the judgements people made about him due to how he looked.

The mystery behind the murder was predictable but it was fun trying to guess who was being deceitful. I thought the book was a good read as it portrayed the power and influence educators have over their young charges. The book also imparted a few important lessons to readers such as not making judgements based on a person’s looks as well as having empathy. 

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

Book Review - Locust Lane by Stephen Amidon

 

Emerson, Massachusetts is a small suburb town. It's a quiet place where people keep to themselves and follow the rules. When a young women is found dead in the posh part of town, the residents put their guards up and will stop at nothing to protect their own.

When Eden Perry is found dead, investigators feel that the three teenagers she was partying with that night is hiding something. Jack is the son of a prominent lawyer and is from a well liked family. Hannah, Jack's girlfriend, is shy and sweet. Christopher is a newcomer and desperate to fit in with the group. Their parents are desperate to protect them from the investigation and start to complicate matters when they try to push the blame on someone else.

The book started off interesting and then became boring. The book would progress with nothing being added to the story. The story was told from multiple point of views and at first, it was interesting but, then it felt like filler as, none of them actually really knew what happened that night. One of the characters had no purpose and I am not sure why they were included in the story and I had no reaction to their demise other than thinking it was entire pointless. All of the characters were unlikable and frustrating. The ending was disappointing and left me feeling unsettled. I am not sure that I would read another book by the author.

Book Review - Girl, Forgotten (Andrea Oliver, #2) by Karin Slaughter

 

Girl, Forgotten by Karin Slaughter is the second book in the Andrea Oliver series.  The book has a dual timeline with a murder connecting two characters together. In 1892, Longbill Beach, Emily Vaughn was a high school senior who was getting ready for prom.  She is described as beautiful and was well-liked by peers and by her conservative community, until the unthinkable happened. When it becomes evident that she is having a baby out of wed-lock, the community closes ranks and tries to protect its respected members, because they are afraid that Emily may claim that one of their own is the father. 

Emily tries to navigate her life from being a beloved member of the community to an ostracized high school student. She has a few secrets that she is keeping from her friends and family, including who the father is of her baby. Someone is desperate to keep Emily from telling her secrets and they want to silence her. When Emily leaves prom, someone is following her and they will stop at nothing to keep Emily quiet… 

Forty years later, Emily’s murder is still unsolved and no progress has been made. Her close friends keep to themselves and her family has tried to move on. 

Newly minted U.S. Marshal Andrea Oliver arrives at Longbill Beach with her first assignment. She and her partner, Bible, are to protect a judge who is getting death threats. Andrea knows she should be focusing on her assignment, but she feels a special connection to Emily. She is determined to find what happened to Emily forty years ago. As Andrea digs into the death of Emily, she realizes that not everyone in Longbill Beach is as friendly and forthcoming as they pretend to be. When a new body is discovered and it is eerily similar to Emily, will Andrea be able to figure out who the killer is before they strike again?

The novel is the second book in the series but it can be read as a standalone. However, I do recommend reading the books in order as it will help explain Andrea’s relationship with her mother, and also will give context to her motives for wanting to solve Emily’s murder. I felt that Andrea has grown so much from the first novel. She went from being a useless character who came across like a fish out of water to a strong and smart Marshal.  She progressed into a surer version of herself and she was able to stand on her own two feet. Her keen instincts allowed her to piece together clues before others even more senior to her.

The book was a highly engaging read and kept me on my toes. There were a few unexpected twists that were delightful, but also a few predictable ones. The characters were well developed and complex. The character dialogues were realistic and immersive as Bible and Andrea were trying to put together the clues.  I enjoyed following the dual timelines and trying to figure out how Emily’s story interplayed with the present murder.  I found the book to be an engrossing read and I can’t wait to read more books by the author. I would recommend the novel to any crime or thriller fans.

Book Review - We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds

 

We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds is a debut novel about a young girl and her mother trying to connect with their dying estranged grandmother. Avery Anderson is a seventeen year old girl who was looking forward to spending her senior year with her friends and touring colleges.  Instead, her parents take her out of school and move down to the deep South (Georgia) to spend time with her grandmother. Avery tries to connect with her grandmother, Mama Letty, but it’s hard when Avery’s mother and Mama Letty are always down each other’s throats. Avery tries to dig deeper and connect with the two women to figure out what drove the two of them apart.

When tempers flare and tantrums are thrown by her avoidant family, Avery is desperate to escape and find her own place to belong. Avery connects with the girl next door, Simone Cole, and also Jade Oliver, the daughter of a prominent family. The trio connect over their own grief and sadness while quickly forming a bond with each other that Avery never had with anyone else. Simone is dealing with the unexpected death of her brother and her sister leaving her family behind. Simone feels trapped because her mother has no one else but her. Jade’s mother was brutally murdered and the case has remained unsolved. 

As Simone and Avery start to spend more time with each other clandestinely, they feel that their friendship is blossoming into something more. However, not everyone in the small Georgia town is open and friendly as Avery wants to believe. The small town of Bardell, Georgia is steep and tainted with a dark history of racism that still ripples through the community.

The novel was a tearjerker read on how people with broken pieces are trying to find a way to amend the damage done by time and hatred. The book was filled with well-developed and flawed characters who were trying their best to navigate life with the cards they were dealt with. However, there were times I felt that Avery was being unreasonable. When she found out the reason behind her family’s disagreement, she took out her anger on her friend without even trying to apologize for lashing out at them. I understand that she was feeling hurt and betrayed but her friend didn’t do anything to her personally and her friend constantly went out of her way to help Avery.

Mama Letty was a vibrant character but I found it hard to like her at times. As she is nearing the end of her life, she still refuses to acknowledge some of the pain and trauma she has caused others until the very last moment. She, like Avery, were both filled with hate about things that were done to their family and instead of moving forward, they lashed out and hurt others which continues the vicious cycle of pain. The novel does have a redemption part but, will the characters be able to heal from the trauma or will it stick to their soul?

I felt that the story dragged on for a while without any plot progression. The story hinted that someone Avery knew might have murdered Jade’s mother but it was hinted at and left to the readers to infer who the killer was. The murderer was never really ousted and it didn’t really have an impact on any of the characters or the story.  I felt like this arc was just thrown in there to try and tie up loose ends, while it could have been developed more. This young adult novel does have LGBT characters and if you love reading about dysfunctional families with past trauma, you might enjoy this slow burn novel.

Book Review - Exiles (Aaron Falk, #3) by Jane Harper

Aaron Falk is a federal investigator, on his way to a small town deep in Southern Australia for a christening of a friend's baby. Aaron is hoping for a relaxing vacation but, his hopes are dashed when he realizes it's the one year anniversary of Kim Gillespie's disappearance.

A year ago, at a busy town festival, Kim tucked her sleeping baby into her stroller and left the stroller in the parking lot and then disappeared. No one has heard or seen her since. Kim's older daughter is desperate to find out what happened to her mother and makes a plea for anyone who has information to come forward. Falk decide to help with the case since, his old friend, Raco, can't seem to leave the case alone. As Falk enjoys his vacation, he notices that things has changed since Kim had disappeared. Will Falk be able to discover the truth behind Kim's disappearance?

The novel had an interesting premise but, it moved very slowly for my liking. The book was filled with boring filler after filler that I almost lost interest in the novel. I didn't connect with or liked any of the characters to be invested in the story. When the truth was revealed, it was a surprise but, it felt like it came out of nowhere especially, since there were two mysterious deaths and almost no details were revealed. I felt that there were a lot of characters at times and not all of them needed to be included as they added nothing to the story. I am not sure if I  would be interested in reading any of her other books after reading this book. This book is the final book in the series but, I was able to read it as a standalone. 

Book Review - The 12th Commandment by Daniel Torday

 

A group of Jewish Islamic people, known as the Donme, live in an isolation community in Mt. Izmir, Ohio.The people are religious and self-sustaining, who followed their prophet, Natan of Flatbush, from Brooklyn to Ohio. When Natan's teenage son is brutally murdered, the entire community is in turmoil and begins to arm themselves.

Zeke Leger, is a thirty year old writer, who arrives to Ohio for a friend's funeral. He becomes interested in the case and decides to report on the murder. His ex-girlfriend, Johanna Franklin, prosecuted the case and believes Natan is guilty. As Zeke investigates the murder, he finds himself drawn to the Donme and becomes interested in their ways. Will Zeke be able to solve the murder before he endangers himself?

I thought the cover and the premise was interesting. Unfortunately, the book fell flat to me. The writing style didn't flow smoothly for me and there was tons of vernacular that I was unsure of. I wish the author included a section explaining the culture and norms. I feel like it would have made the novel easier to follow along if you are not familiar with the culture. I also felt that the story moved very slowly and nothing really happened for extended amount of time. I feel like readers who are familiar with the culture might enjoy this novel more than I did.

Book Review - The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Older

 

In Jupiter, a man goes missing on a remote station leaving behind a bunch of unanswered questions. Investigator Mossa is assigned to the case to help find clues to his disappearance. As Mossa investigates his disappearance, she decides to enlist her ex-girlfriend, Pleiti, to help.

I thought the book was an okay read. I normally don't really sci-fi novels as either they spend too much time world building or not enough time world building. I feel like this book had a good amount of world building at times but, I found concepts confusing like the station coordinates and hard to follow. I felt like the story dragged on for a bit and it wasn't very interesting. The characters and their impending romance felt stilted and robotic. Unfortunately, while the book had an interesting premise, it wasn't for me.

Book Review - The Haunting of Leigh Harker by Darcy Coates

 

Leigh Harker considers her suburban home to be her sanctuary for more than a decade, until she starts to notice things. Things around her house keeps moving around and then there is a dark figure looming around in the dark. The figure is watching her sleep at night. Leigh refuses to abandoned her home to the mysterious figure even if she unable to sleep or feel comfortable in her own home. As Leigh tries to investigate the dark figure, she realizes that she is trapped within the walls of her home.

I usually love reading Darcy Coates' novels but, this one was a huge disappointment. The entire first half of the novel was boring, repetitive, and felt disjointed. It felt like the author spent majority of time building the mood and ambience. The entire novel was so boring and just dragged on. It was only towards the end did the novel pick up but, the ending seemed so unbelievable and far-fetched to me. After reading this lackluster book, I think I might take a break from the author's books for awhile.

Book Review - Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly

 

For most people. life is what you make of it. For Dixie Wheeler, her story was chosen for her when her father murdered her family before taking slashing a knife across his own throat. Dixie was the only one spared from the family massacre. She became infamously known as Baby Blue because of the song that was left playing during the aftermath of the murders.

Twenty-five years later, Dixie yearns for a connection with the family she can't remember. When Dixie sees that her childhood home goes on sale, Dixie feels herself drawn to the house. When Dixie moves in against her better judgment, she sees the ghosts of her family taken up residence in the house too. Dixie begins to question her sanity as strange things start happening. She wonders if her father is haunting her or if its an demon of her own making.

Dixie decides to reach out to the original detective who investigated the murders to unravel the truth. As she investigates the murders she realizes that someone else might have committed the murders. Dixie will need to find  a way to prove the truth behind her family's murder and save her loved ones before it's too late.

I thought the premise of the book was interest but, towards the middle of the book I lost interesting. I felt like the story was plodding along. I felt like the story was very unrealistic and the writing was chopping. I didn't find any of the characters and didn't really care what happened to any of them. It was an okay book but, I won't be in a rush to read anymore books by the author.

Book Review - And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling

 

Two teenagers decide to break into a house on a remote lake in search of prescription drugs. It started out as a simple burglary but, instead turns into a nightmare to everyone involved. Emmett Burr has a secret he has been keeping in his basement for over two decades and he will stop at nothing to keep it hidden from others. When Emmett gets an upper hand on the burglars, the lines between victim and abuser becomes blurred.

Police officer Ben Packard returns back to the small Minnesota town of Sandy Lake for a fresh start after a personal tragedy. Packard is leading the investigation into the missing teens because he is related to one of them. Packard is struggling to find a clue to the teens' whereabouts as time is running out. Will Packard be able to find them before it's too late?

I thought this was an okay read. I found the book to be predictable and boring at times. The title of the book gave away most of the story and the bad guy was revealed very early on. I didn't really connect with any of the characters except, the few bits of humor that Gary, the dog trainer, provided. I didn't like that the author teased about Ben's past but, didn't really delve into it. I assumed that the book would be made into a series but, I wasn't really that interested in this novel to read more books by the author.

Book Review - Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar

 

In the summer of 1988, a small Maryland town community is shaken to it's core when the mutilated bodies of several young girls begin to show up. The police believe that there is a serial killer terrorizing the quiet suburban town. Local residents believe that there is an evil presence stalking young girls and that's its not entirely human. Law enforcement, however, is certain that the killer is human and that he is playing a game with the police. The once peaceful community is on edge because the police is no closer to find the killer and more bodies keep showing up.

Richard Chizmar is a recent college graduate who returns home right around the time of the murders. As Richard tries to focus on his upcoming wedding and his budding writing career, he finds himself entwined with the murders. Inspired by real events, Richard documents his personal account of the serial killer's reign of terror in his small community.

This was my first book by, the author and I am surprised on how much I enjoyed it. At first, I was kind of annoyed by all the small personal details about Richard's life as I wanted to know all the nitty gritty of the murders. However, after reading the author's note at the end, it added whole new layer to this book. The author seamlessly blended true crime and fiction in a book that was hard to put down once the murders started happening. I thought the novel was going to have some scary elements but, a scary house was mentioned and nothing came out it. There were some parts of the story that didn't get resolved in the end. The story ended with the author waiting for the second interview with the murderer but, I wish the author could have included more details about the numbers behind the murders. I feel like the story was a bit unresolved because we didn't know the entire story behind the murders. Overall, it was an interesting read but, I could have done without some of the extra details.

Book Review - Never Come Back by David Bell

 

Leslie Hampton assumed that her daughter Elizabeth would care for her son, Ronnie, who has special needs when the time came. Elizabeth doesn't want to be responsible for taking care of Ronnie as she wouldn't be able to live the life she wants. When Leslie dies unexpectedly, Elizabeth is consumed by grief and guilt. 

The police determined that Leslie was strangled to death, and they suspect that Ronnie had a violent outburst. Elizabeth can't believe that her brother is capable of murder. However, when a stranger is named in Leslie's will, Elizabeth feels that her mother might be keeping secrets from her. As more secrets start to unravel, a dangerous stranger from Leslie's past claims to have answers but, not without a price.

I thought the book was an interesting read. I was able to guess some of the twists but, overall, the book kept me entertained. I didn't really care for Elizabeth at times because I felt like she kept herself closed off from others. The story did move slowly but, I would still be opened to reading other books by the author.

Book Review - Death on Ocean Boulevard by Caitlin Rother

 

On the morning of July 13, 2011 a call came in that someone is hanging from the lavish historic Spreckels Mansion. The beachfront property is owned by pharmaceutical tycoon and multimillionaire Jonah Shacknai.When police arrive to the scene, they find the naked body of Jonah's girlfriend, Rebecca Zahau, gagged and bonded by her ankles and wrists behind her. Jonah's brother, Adam, claims to have found her body hanging by a rope from the second floor balcony. On the bedroom door in black paint they find an ominous message "she saved him can you save her".

The authorities are not sure if the message was a suicide note or if it was left by the killer. Rebecca's death came two days after Jonah's son, Max, took a fatal fall while in her care. The police believe Rebecca took her own life because of the guilt. Authorities and the nation is stumped on who would commit suicide or murder in such a bizarre and elaborate way.

This is my first true crime novel by this author and I thought she did a good job. I felt like she objectively presented the case in a straightforward and consistent manner. I like that towards the end that she explains her feelings and background while writing the book. There was a few times I did get confused by the different people and how they related to that point in the story though. Overall, I thought it was an interesting case and I look forward to reading more books by the author.

Book Review - Honor by Thrity Umrigar

 

Smita is an Indian American journalist who is reluctant to return back to India after she and her family left years ago. She returns after a close friend had requested her help with a story. She follows the case of Meena, a Hindu woman who was attacked by her village and family because she married a Muslim man. 

Smita struggles to deal with a society where traditions are held to the highest regard. As she reports on Meena's story, Smita's own story that she kept buried for years is revealed. Smita tries to help Meena while she finds herself attracted to Mohan, an Indian man she met through a friend.

I actually didn't read the blurb before getting this book because I would have been tempted to skip over the novel. I am very glad I didn't because it was an enlightening and poignant read. I find myself agreeing with Smita on her views of Indian culture and traditions. When I was reading the novel, I found the same ideas and thoughts I had was shared by Smita. However, I can't say I loved her as a person as she could be annoying at times. For example, she wanted others to trust and open up to her but, she was very hesitant to share even the most basic information about herself. Then she would complain how she didn't have any close connections with anyone. Overall, the book was endearing and heart wrenching read. I can't wait to read more books by the author.

 

Book Review - Elysium Tide by James R. Hannibal

 

Dr. Peter Chesterfield is one of the top neurosurgeons at the Royal London Hospital. He is a workaholic and his boss orders him that he takes the week off to attend a medical conference at a luxurious hotel on Maui. While in Maui, Peter pulls a woman out of the ocean who suffered a skull fracture. He was able to revive her in the ambulance, only for her to eventually die in his arms. Before she died, she whisper one clue to explained what happened to her.

Peter finds himself obsesses over his patient's death. He decides to investigate her murder and finds himself entangled in an ongoing investigation.  The lead detective, Lisa Kealoha, on the case is annoyed that Peter keeps sticking his nose in her investigation. As the two team up to solve the case, they realize that there are more destructive forces at work than they ever imagined.

If you are a fan of "Castle" or "Hawaii 5 O" (the remake), then you will love this book. The book is action packed and filled with twists. I thought the book was an interesting read but, I didn't really care for the characters. I found Lisa to be a dull character as she seem to be mean and bossy but, people seem to love her. I am yet to see what she does for them to make them like her. She is blunt and straightforward and doesn't really seem to engage in friendly behaviors towards them. I also found Peter to be annoying at times and  found his snipes about "lazy Americans" unwanted. However, my favorite characters are the supporting characters who were entertaining.

Book Review - The Kingdoms of Savannah by George Dawes Green

 

The story begins on a quiet balmy Southern night near Bo Peep's. It's the local's favorite watering hole. A man is murdered and his companion goes missing. Morgana Musgrove is a well known elite of Savannah society and is called on to solve the mystery behind these crimes. Morgana is known for being manipulative, cunning, and demanding that even her four grown kids are weary of her presence. She tries to rope them into her investigation and they soon discover dark secrets that will crumble everything they held true.

I was very excited to read the book because the cover looked so interesting. However, the writing style wasn't for me. I had a hard time following along and keeping track of things. I also felt that the story moved along so slowly that I lost interest in the novel. I didn't like that there were so many characters being introduced at once and the POVs switched so often that it was hard to keep track of. Unfortunately, I realized this book required more effort than I was willing to give it and I stopped reading about half way in.

Book Review - Billy Summers by Stephen King

 

Billy Summer is the best for hire killer in the business. He will only take a job if the target is a bad guy. Billy wants out of the business but, he needs to complete one last job. Billy is a decorated war veteran who is known for his sniper skills. He is also a pro at vanishing after the job is completed. Will Billy be able to complete his last job?

This was my first time reading any of King's books but, I am familiar with his writing from movies and made for TV series. I thought the book was an okay read as I was expecting the novel to be a horror book since, I usually think of him as the "king of horror". The book was thought-provoking read providing a lot of "what ifs" but, I also felt like the book dragged on for a bit.  When all the fluff was removed, the story line was pretty straight-forward and predictable and almost ripped straight from the headlines. Personally, I do not care for Donald Trump as a person but, I felt like King's constant reference to him was like a dog with a bone to pick. While I am in no rush to run out and read another one of his books, I might pick up one of his horror books in the future.

Book Review - Broken Harbor (Dublin Murder Squad, #4) by Tana French

Mick Kennedy is the star detective on the Dublin Murder Squad. He is known for playing by the books and for being reliable. When the gruesome homicide occurs, Mick is the man for the case.

Patrick Spain and his two young children have been murdered and his wife, Jenny, is the sole survivor. Mick thinks at first the case will be an easy solve but, there are little things that can't be explained away. The neighborhood also hold dark memories for Mick and his family. Will Mick be able to put his old memories aside and solve the case?

I had such high hopes for this novel instead, it was a lackluster and boring novel. The novel was long winded and had too many pointless details. The plot itself was unbelievable and left me with more questions than answers. I wasn't sure why Mick's sister, Dina, was even mentioned in the story. Her character was annoying and grating on the nerves. If you are looking for a thrill, I would look elsewhere.

Book Review - Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby

 

Beauregard “Bug” Montage is a devoted husband, a doting father, a patient son, a loving cousin, and a fledgling business owner, who is also the best getaway driver in town. Bug knows that he has no future in driving getaway cars and tries to focus on his business. 

Bug worked hard to build his business and focus on his family. However, he finds himself struggling to maintain his lifestyle and finds himself drawn to his dangerous past. Especially, when someone from his past shows up and offers him an opportunity to join the crew for a jewelry store heist.  Bug feels that he has no choice but to get involved if he wants to keep his family safe but, he finds that he likes being in the driver seat for dangerous situations more than he should.

I enjoyed this fast paced action packed novel even though it was a bit predictable at times. I thought the characters were well fleshed out and interesting. I didn't really care for the ending because it felt like a non-ending to me. Overall, it was an interesting read and I look forward to reading more books by the author.

Book Review - The House of Ashes by Stuart Neville

 

Sara Keane and her husband, Damien moved from England to Damien's native Northern Island for a fresh start after Sara suffered from a nervous breakdown. Sara feels isolated in Ireland because she has no job, no friends, and no car. She feels like she is a prisoner in her own home.

One night, a blood-soaked old woman turns up at Sara's door insisting the house is hers. After the incident with the older woman, Sara finds out that the house has a terrible history that her husband was keeping a secret from her. As the two woman bond over their shared traumas, they both will need to find their own voice.

I thought this book would have more twists and thrills than it had. I felt like the story line was very straight forward and predictable albeit depressing. At times, I felt like the story was just muddling along. I can't say that I cared much about Sara's story line and was a bit annoyed that she put other people in danger. I felt that Sara's story wasn't as developed as Mary's and I struggled to understand why she stayed with Damien. I believe Sara hinted that she had an iffy relationship with her mother but, I wish they went into more details.