Saturday, February 27, 2016

Perfect Days by Raphael Montes

Teo is a medical student who lives with his mother, Patricia. He doesn't have any friends, but is fond of a cadaver in school, whom he has named Gertrude. One evening at a party, he meets an extremely social and free-spirited woman named Clarice and decides that he must make her his. He kidnaps and drugs Clarice, taking her away from Rio to Terseopolis. How will Teo pull off his plan? Won't Clarice's family realize she's disappeared and try and find her? Perfect Days recounts Teo's psychopathic, violent journey to make sure he is Clarice's companion as long as she lives.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

The Fine Art of Murder by Emily Barnes

Police chief Katherine Sullivan has retired to New Mexico from her home state of Minnesota, but she returns north for a visit with her daughter, Lizzie, and teenage grandchildren, Cameron and Chloe. Soon, she finds herself immersed in the case of Stacey Jordan, who was murdered at the local Pierce estate. With her background, Katherine is the perfect person to investigate the crime for her daughter, Lizzie, who has been hired by the police's main suspect, wealthy Randolph Pierce. Will Katherine be able to help her daughter clear her client's name?  The Fine Art of Murder is a delightful cozy debut featuring an interesting main character. I will definitely be seeking out the second book in the series when it's published.

Piece of Mind by Michelle Adelman

When Lucy's father passes away, she has to go and live with her younger brother, Nate, in New York City.  Lucy had a traumatic brain injury at three years old--she was hit by a truck and cannot live on her own. Nate's and Lucy's relationship is further complicated by the fact that Nate has had to leave his university and get a job because their father died without any savings. While Nate is working, Lucy spends her days getting to know her new neighborhood. Soon, Lucy finds herself making friends and learning that she is a stronger and more competent person then she ever realized.

Widowmaker by Paul Doiron

With girlfriend Stacey off on a wildlife study, game warden Mike Bowditch is feeling vulnerable when he encounters waitress Amber Langstrom at his home. Amber wants Mike to help her find her son, Adam, who is missing. She also informs Mike that Adam is his half-brother. Mike doesn't know whether to believe Amber or not, but when he's sidelined for a few days from work because of an injury, he decides to look into Adam's disappearance. In the midst of a Maine winter, Mike's journey leads him to revisit the complicated relationship that he had with his father. It will be published in June.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

The Drifter by Nicholas Petrie

Marine veteran Peter Ash finds himself in Milwaukee repairing a porch for the widow of one of his closest friends from his two tours of duty, Jimmy, who recently committed suicide. Repairing the porch is no easy task with a huge, smelly, and aggressive dog trapped underneath, but Peter finds that the animal is not the biggest problem--he finds a suitcase with almost half a million dollars and plastic explosives inside. Complicating matters even more, Peter is suffering from PTSD and finds it overwhelming to be inside. After notifying Jimmy's widow, Dinah, of his discovery, Peter decides to delve into the issue of where the suitcase came from.  Peter's search leads him to uncover what Jimmy was doing before his death and allows him to form a companionship with the aforementioned dog, Mingus.  The Drifter is a great debut thriller full of action and memorable characters.  A fabulous read-alike for Lee Child, Thomas Perry, and Owen Laukkanen's Kill Fee.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

The Other Child by Lucy Atkins

Tess, a photographer, moves with her American husband, Greg, from England to Boston so he can take a new job. Greg, a pediatric heart surgeon, is away a lot anyway, but Tess finds it particularly stressful to be alone with her nine-year-old son, Joe, and pregnant as well. Greg had made it clear to Tess that he never wanted children of his own, another complication in Tess' life. Soon, threatening messages begin to appear on the family's doorstep and Tess feels like someone is watching them and may have even been inside their house. Tess also begins to wonder how well she knows Greg and if he might not be entirely truthful about his past... The Other Child is a suspenseful page turner in the style of Close My Eyes by Sophie McKenzie and Until You're Mine by Samantha Hayes.

Monday, February 8, 2016

The Forgotten Room by Karen White, Beatriz Williams, and Lauren Willig

During World War II in New York City, Dr. Kate Schulyer works at a hospital housed in a mansion. Kate knows that her mother, Lucy, lived at the property before she was married, when it was a boardinghouse--which the reader sees as Lucy's story is told. A third tale involves a woman named Olive and takes place in 1892, when the residence was the home of the wealthy Pratt family.  How are the stories of Kate, Lucy, and Olive related? In The Forgotten Room, the trio of authors weave tales of secrets, love, and longing.