Another very engaging, if very dark addition to the Sean Duffy series Sean is not doing too well personally and is frustrated professionally, too. WhiAnother very engaging, if very dark addition to the Sean Duffy series Sean is not doing too well personally and is frustrated professionally, too. While this might sound as though the book would be quite a downer, McKinty is so good at balancing the darkness of the story and setting and the inner turmoil of his protagonist with clever, quick dialogue and humor.
The Whisper Man is my first book by Alex North, but he is definitely an author I will keep an eye on in the future. The story is griping from the firsThe Whisper Man is my first book by Alex North, but he is definitely an author I will keep an eye on in the future. The story is griping from the first page and offers plenty of twists and turns that kept me on my toes. I liked that the characters were multi-dimensional and didn't seem like caricatures (even if the alcoholic police detective was verging on cliche). The writing was taut and though I guessed the ending, I was never bored. Overall, a book deserving of the hype surrounding it and a debut the author should be really proud of!
Thanks to Celadon Books for providing a copy of The Whisper Man in exchange for an honest review.
This is probably my favorite book in the Sean Duffy series so far. Sean is a walking liability, but I have grown quite fond of him. The story was fastThis is probably my favorite book in the Sean Duffy series so far. Sean is a walking liability, but I have grown quite fond of him. The story was fast-paced and well plotted and the writing engaging. The best part of this series, however, is McKinty's ability to make his characters seem very real and the setting of Northern Ireland in the 80s fascinating and shocking at once. Recommended!
What a strange and compulsively readable book! It's a short read, but clever and well plotted. I can't exactly put my finger on what makes it so absorWhat a strange and compulsively readable book! It's a short read, but clever and well plotted. I can't exactly put my finger on what makes it so absorbing, the writing, the characters, the tension, but I couldn't put it down! The ending was a little dissatisfying, though won't give away anything. Still, overall, My Sister the Serial Killer is a very engaging summer read and I am excited to see what this author comes up with next!
I hadn't read a Harlan Coben book in quite a while, because I felt they were a little formulaic. But when I saw this one and read the glowing reviews,I hadn't read a Harlan Coben book in quite a while, because I felt they were a little formulaic. But when I saw this one and read the glowing reviews, I was swayed. Besides, I was traveling and in the mood for something fast paced, which Coben's work reliably is. Run Away is indeed a quick thriller with an engaging plot. It wasn't terribly original, there were cliches galore, and the characters, except for the protagonist, did not feel fleshed out to me. That being said, the book still offered some solid entertainment, which was what I was after. If I had wanted the language of the Brontës or the wit of Austen I would have chosen their books, but I wanted some thrills and for that Run Away ticked the boxes.
I FINALLY finished! I can't even explain why it took me seemingly forever to get through this book. It wasn't boring, but the pace wasn't as fast, norI FINALLY finished! I can't even explain why it took me seemingly forever to get through this book. It wasn't boring, but the pace wasn't as fast, nor the story or characters as absorbing as I had hoped. There were also a number of plot holes, not to mention the implausibility of it, which I didn't mind so much if it had been gripping. I wanted to love this as much as other readers, who say they couldn't put it down. However, I could put it down, as it happens, and so I suspect it will be rather forgettable in the scope of my reading year, I'm sorry to say. Maybe I didn't feel very engaged by this because it comes on the heels of the brilliant The Heart's Invisible Furies and at the moment it feels like nothing can quite measure up:-)
Thanks to Netgalley for supplying me with a copy of The Escape Room in exchange for an honest review!
I really struggled with this one, and I know I'm in minority here, but the story just didn't hook me. It felt a little been-there-done-that, which mayI really struggled with this one, and I know I'm in minority here, but the story just didn't hook me. It felt a little been-there-done-that, which may just be because I read a lot of crime fiction. I felt the face was a little slow and though I liked a number of the characters, I didn't connect with them enough to feel very engaged in the story. It's not a ad book by any means, just not for me.
This was my first book by Sally Hepworth, though I suspect it won't be my last. It took me a while to finish, which is not the fault of the author, buThis was my first book by Sally Hepworth, though I suspect it won't be my last. It took me a while to finish, which is not the fault of the author, but just because I've been a little distracted lately. The tone really reminded me of Liane Moriarty, though a less humorous. Though I guessed a few of the twists beforehand, it was still an engaging domestic mystery and I was definitely surprised by the ending. Recommended!
Agent Zigzag is my first book by Ben Macintyre, but I am curious to read more by him. He has the ability to make a nonfiction account read like an engAgent Zigzag is my first book by Ben Macintyre, but I am curious to read more by him. He has the ability to make a nonfiction account read like an engaging novel. The story of Eddie Chapman, spy and double agent during the Second World War was new to me, and it held my attention from start to finish. Recommended!
I don't want to give away any details to spoil the twists and turns this story takes, but it's gripping from start to finish and I did not see the endI don't want to give away any details to spoil the twists and turns this story takes, but it's gripping from start to finish and I did not see the ending coming! I liked the different POVs and time jumps, and though in some ways the story moves slowly, it is very engaging. Alex Michaelides is an author to watch!
Thanks to Celadon Books for supplying me with a copy of The Silent Patient in exchange for an honest review. Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com...more
I think, to be fair, I need to mention that maybe reading this book was a case of "it's not you, it's me". It's not a bad book nor very long, yet it tI think, to be fair, I need to mention that maybe reading this book was a case of "it's not you, it's me". It's not a bad book nor very long, yet it took me AGES to finish. I think my mind wasn't in the right place for this one. I had read The Blackhouse before and it was so atmospheric and engaging, I think I was still mentally there instead of fully into The Diary. That being said, if it had been phenomenally gripping, I am sure I would have been turning those pages more quickly. I did guess at the ending, and found it fairly unspectacular, I'm sorry to say. I also thought the characters were not fully fleshed out, as they should have been, given the premise of the book. Nonetheless, I don't feel right giving it less than three stars, because I think, had this one not followed a book I would put of my "best of 2018" list, I probably would have liked it better.
Thanks to Netgalley for supplying me with a copy of The Diary in exchange for an honest review.
This is my third book by Jane Harper, and it might just be my favorite so far! The story takes place in the Australian outback, which acts almost likeThis is my third book by Jane Harper, and it might just be my favorite so far! The story takes place in the Australian outback, which acts almost like a character (albeit a harsh one) in itself. The book is well written, cleverly plotted and atmospheric, with multi-dimensional characters and a mystery that kept me guessing until the end!
The Night Before is an engaging, psychological mystery, though to be honest, I feel it will be quite forgettable for me as well. I was intrigued as I The Night Before is an engaging, psychological mystery, though to be honest, I feel it will be quite forgettable for me as well. I was intrigued as I read it, but even as I write this review, details have grown hazy. I didn't really connect with the characters and the ending didn't surprise me as much as I hoped it would. That being said, it was well written and not boring. I would definitely read this author again int he future.
Thanks to Netgalley for supplying me with a copy of The Night Before in exchange for an honest review.
This series and especially its compelling protagonist are really beginning to grow on me. The stories are engaging, though not the real draw for me wh This series and especially its compelling protagonist are really beginning to grow on me. The stories are engaging, though not the real draw for me when reading these. No, the star of the show is the detective, Sean Duffy and the setting of the book, which McKinty illustrates so perfectly, it is almost like another character in itself. Looking forward to reading more in this series!
This was my second book by Mukherjee and the second in this series, but I am already looking forward to reading the next one. I like Sam, the detectivThis was my second book by Mukherjee and the second in this series, but I am already looking forward to reading the next one. I like Sam, the detective and the way the author describes the setting makes 1920s India feel like a character in itself. The story was engaging and I was guessing until the end. I also like the relationship between Sam and his sidekick, Banerjee and the way Sam's experiences in the First World War carry over into his "new" life in India. Recommended!
An excellent conclusion to this series! Though it's long, I was not bored for a minute. A truly talented author!An excellent conclusion to this series! Though it's long, I was not bored for a minute. A truly talented author!...more
This was a really clever and compelling story, that had me always eager for the next episode. I think it would definitely appeal to fans of Serial or This was a really clever and compelling story, that had me always eager for the next episode. I think it would definitely appeal to fans of Serial or books like Six Stories by Matt Wesolowski. Recommended!
The Perfect Family is another enjoyable and well-plotted mystery by Shalini Boland, I'm happy to report. The pace is quick and the plot engaging from The Perfect Family is another enjoyable and well-plotted mystery by Shalini Boland, I'm happy to report. The pace is quick and the plot engaging from start to finish. I always like Boland's books because she is good at writing characters who seem real, and she did so again here. Gemma's life, which appears quite perfect to begin with, starts slowly to unravel and she is forced to confront who around her would wish her any harm. I thought Gemma was an interesting, likable character and I could feel her growing unease as the story progressed. I did guess the solution, but that didn't detract from my reading pleasure. I would recommend this book and this author to fans of clever domestic suspense!
Thanks to Netgalley for supplying me with a copy of The Perfect Family in exchange for an honest review.
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