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shari_russell's reviews
406 reviews
Unfaithful by Natalie Barelli
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
All But Safe by N.L. Hinkens
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
What I Know by Miranda Smith
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
“My brother was thirteen the first time he tried to kill me.”
These first chilling words in Chapter one are really effective in drawing the reader in and teasing of what is to come. This thought from Della provides a good lead in to that also:
“And that’s when I saw him, standing in the doorway. His eyes looked through me and everyone else, as always.”
2 years later Brian tried to drown her.
The entire book is a 1st person narrative as seen through Della’s eyes.
Alternating timelines provide a detailed storyline of Della’s past growing up with her psychopath brother, Brian. The past is seamlessly weaved into the present where Della Mayfair, a school teacher is now triggered with the trauma of that horrible time by Zoey Peterson, a new student who she senses has that same darkness in her that Brian had. The attention to the parallels between the past and the present make for an intense story.
Zoey makes quite the impression on Della on her first day by making ”off the wall” comments about the book they are reading in English class. Della feels that Zoey is challenging her authority and she’s dissecting the story and extracting the goriest parts. She seems to enjoy causing a scene which is the same thing that Brian used to do. When Zoey drops a curse word, Della is quick to give her a warning. Things start happening that continue to set off alarm bells about Zoey. She is caught with a knife but that is blown off as an accident by the principal and other teachers.
Unfortunately, Della is the only one that suspects anything. Apparently, Zoey is the perfect student for the rest of the staff. When another student, Darcy is attacked while passed out, Della knows within her gut that Zoey had to be involved. The attack on Darcy is an obvious trigger that unlocks dormant memories for Della about Brian. Adding to Della’s increasing concern about Zoey, someone turns in an essay explicitly describing the attack on Darcy. Of course, Della is convinced that it came from Zoey. Della starts to unravel and cross the boundaries of her role as a teacher in her mission to get proof to back up her claims about Zoey. She puts her career in jeopardy and her happy marriage with Danny is threatened.
“What I Know” is different than the thrillers that I have been reading lately in that there weren’t any
major twists or big shocking surprises. I started reading the book assuming the pace and level of suspense would be faster and more “edge of your seat” Instead, the plot unfolds with gradual reveals along the way. This makes the direction it’s going fairly obvious but at the same time allows you to focus on the chilling details driving the plot.
Once I realized that this structure of story telling could be effective for the themes involved, I became invested in the plot and characters and the flow of the story. It’s definitely not a fast paced rollercoaster ride type of story but it is structured for escalating tension. The plot keeps moving as things from the past merge into the present to create a dark and entertaining tale filled with apprehension and suspense.
People always return to this debate: nature vs. nurture. Did horrible parenting make the kid do this monstrous thing, or was that evil inside the kid all along? This is a main topic to consider in this book, but it’s an age old question that we may never find the answer to.
Guilt, regret, suspicion, denial, and manipulation are some of the feelings that Della had to experience growing up with a brother who turned out to be a psychopath.
“I knew what Brian had done and dreaded what he was capable of, perhaps, doing again. No one believed me then, or in the years that followed. No one believed me until it was too late.”
Those feelings are still with her and seem to be the reason for her unbalanced decisions. This statement that Della made is very telling of why she is so determined to prove that Zoey is bad.
“ You know what happened last time because I didn’t act fast enough!” I cry hard and fast, realizing all these years later I still haven’t forgiven myself. “How can we live in a world that recognizes danger and does nothing to prevent it? Why do we wait for lives to be ruined? For lives to be taken?”
This is very indicative of the deep guilt that Della has held onto all these years.
All of this trauma that Della is trying to work through combined with the unethical choices she’s making made me question her character over and over again.
At times she seems very competent and sure about everything. However things started to happen that made me wonder if she might be an unreliable narrator. She is very adamant that Zoey is disturbed and dangerous but nobody believes her. The more the others shut her down with a reasonable explanation of Zoey’s behavior, the more Della starts to doubt herself and wonders if she is projecting her thoughts about Brian onto others. She says she’s done that before.
“Is that what I’d done with Zoey? Was this my way of bringing a dose of excitement into my life? ringing back the flutter of the new?”
I realize now that this did give me some of the surprise and cliffhanger moments that I had been looking for. Even though I thought I knew where the plot was going, this doubt in my mind about Della gave me the possibility of things going in a whole new direction.
For the most part I enjoyed this book and thought that the writer did a great job with character development and a well paced plot that was gripping and easy to follow.
There were moments however that seemed to drag a little bit and I really needed something unexpected to happen. I still missed the twists and turns and shock ending that I have come to expect in a psychological thriller but that’s my personal preference. A lot of people really like this kind of story structure which is evident in the highly rated reviews for this book. These few things determined my rating of
4 stars.
Recommended for the storyline, subject and
characters that keep the story intriguing and flowing. If like me you really need a rollercoaster ride and twisty turney, shocking surprises, this isn’t that. I still enjoyed the book with it’s captivating theme but just wanted that little bit of extra.
These first chilling words in Chapter one are really effective in drawing the reader in and teasing of what is to come. This thought from Della provides a good lead in to that also:
“And that’s when I saw him, standing in the doorway. His eyes looked through me and everyone else, as always.”
2 years later Brian tried to drown her.
The entire book is a 1st person narrative as seen through Della’s eyes.
Alternating timelines provide a detailed storyline of Della’s past growing up with her psychopath brother, Brian. The past is seamlessly weaved into the present where Della Mayfair, a school teacher is now triggered with the trauma of that horrible time by Zoey Peterson, a new student who she senses has that same darkness in her that Brian had. The attention to the parallels between the past and the present make for an intense story.
Zoey makes quite the impression on Della on her first day by making ”off the wall” comments about the book they are reading in English class. Della feels that Zoey is challenging her authority and she’s dissecting the story and extracting the goriest parts. She seems to enjoy causing a scene which is the same thing that Brian used to do. When Zoey drops a curse word, Della is quick to give her a warning. Things start happening that continue to set off alarm bells about Zoey. She is caught with a knife but that is blown off as an accident by the principal and other teachers.
Unfortunately, Della is the only one that suspects anything. Apparently, Zoey is the perfect student for the rest of the staff. When another student, Darcy is attacked while passed out, Della knows within her gut that Zoey had to be involved. The attack on Darcy is an obvious trigger that unlocks dormant memories for Della about Brian. Adding to Della’s increasing concern about Zoey, someone turns in an essay explicitly describing the attack on Darcy. Of course, Della is convinced that it came from Zoey. Della starts to unravel and cross the boundaries of her role as a teacher in her mission to get proof to back up her claims about Zoey. She puts her career in jeopardy and her happy marriage with Danny is threatened.
“What I Know” is different than the thrillers that I have been reading lately in that there weren’t any
major twists or big shocking surprises. I started reading the book assuming the pace and level of suspense would be faster and more “edge of your seat” Instead, the plot unfolds with gradual reveals along the way. This makes the direction it’s going fairly obvious but at the same time allows you to focus on the chilling details driving the plot.
Once I realized that this structure of story telling could be effective for the themes involved, I became invested in the plot and characters and the flow of the story. It’s definitely not a fast paced rollercoaster ride type of story but it is structured for escalating tension. The plot keeps moving as things from the past merge into the present to create a dark and entertaining tale filled with apprehension and suspense.
People always return to this debate: nature vs. nurture. Did horrible parenting make the kid do this monstrous thing, or was that evil inside the kid all along? This is a main topic to consider in this book, but it’s an age old question that we may never find the answer to.
Guilt, regret, suspicion, denial, and manipulation are some of the feelings that Della had to experience growing up with a brother who turned out to be a psychopath.
“I knew what Brian had done and dreaded what he was capable of, perhaps, doing again. No one believed me then, or in the years that followed. No one believed me until it was too late.”
Those feelings are still with her and seem to be the reason for her unbalanced decisions. This statement that Della made is very telling of why she is so determined to prove that Zoey is bad.
“ You know what happened last time because I didn’t act fast enough!” I cry hard and fast, realizing all these years later I still haven’t forgiven myself. “How can we live in a world that recognizes danger and does nothing to prevent it? Why do we wait for lives to be ruined? For lives to be taken?”
This is very indicative of the deep guilt that Della has held onto all these years.
All of this trauma that Della is trying to work through combined with the unethical choices she’s making made me question her character over and over again.
At times she seems very competent and sure about everything. However things started to happen that made me wonder if she might be an unreliable narrator. She is very adamant that Zoey is disturbed and dangerous but nobody believes her. The more the others shut her down with a reasonable explanation of Zoey’s behavior, the more Della starts to doubt herself and wonders if she is projecting her thoughts about Brian onto others. She says she’s done that before.
“Is that what I’d done with Zoey? Was this my way of bringing a dose of excitement into my life? ringing back the flutter of the new?”
I realize now that this did give me some of the surprise and cliffhanger moments that I had been looking for. Even though I thought I knew where the plot was going, this doubt in my mind about Della gave me the possibility of things going in a whole new direction.
For the most part I enjoyed this book and thought that the writer did a great job with character development and a well paced plot that was gripping and easy to follow.
There were moments however that seemed to drag a little bit and I really needed something unexpected to happen. I still missed the twists and turns and shock ending that I have come to expect in a psychological thriller but that’s my personal preference. A lot of people really like this kind of story structure which is evident in the highly rated reviews for this book. These few things determined my rating of
4 stars.
Recommended for the storyline, subject and
characters that keep the story intriguing and flowing. If like me you really need a rollercoaster ride and twisty turney, shocking surprises, this isn’t that. I still enjoyed the book with it’s captivating theme but just wanted that little bit of extra.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia, Murder, and Mental illness
Minor: Child death
Lie by the Pool by Susan Walter
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was my first time reading a book by Susan Walter so I didn’t really know what to expect. Not only did I find it fast-paced and riveting, I was consumed by the story from the first page.
The chapters alternate between the perspectives of Bree, Luke, Carter and Sophie in 1st person narratives. Multiple timelines weave the past together with the current situation for an eye-opening account of what transpired to get to where it tragically ended up.
The story takes place In Beverly Hills, California. The detail and vivid description of the upscale community give the reader a perfect visual to put them right in the middle of the story.
“I found it amusing how Beverly Hills people built whatever they wanted—an ultramodern house of glass next to a buttoned-up Colonial next to an English castle. The neighborhoods In the flats of Beverly Hills were serviced by alleys that were as wide as streets, because Rodeo Drive is for Louis Vuitton and Montblanc, not wheelie bins and garbage trucks”
The twisty tale is filled with complex and intriguing characters. They are made memorable and realistic through authentic dialogue and well designed thoughts. Each character is unique with quirks and personalities that make it easy to become part of their lives and overlook any faults or transgressions they might have. Then there’s the House which is so central to the story I feel like it’s a character all it’s own. Sophie referred to It as the “house on fancy-schmancy Rodeo Drive.” And for some unexplained reason, Bree is drawn to it after spending a night in the pool house.
The plot is structured where the timelines from the beginning of the present to the story of the past come full circle in a way that is unexpected and at times shocking. With so many different perspectives the plot goes in directions that keep you guessing as the puzzle gradually reveals how the characters are intertwined. The author does an excellent job in keeping the readers attention with surprises and cliffhangers throughout the entire book.
I hated for the story to end because I was so invested in the characters stories that I just wanted more. Also, the book was so engrossing and a definite page-turner that even though the rollercoaster ended in resolution, I wasn’t ready to get off the ride. I think that is what you call an addictive must-read. For these reasons and more, I gave Lie By The Pool a well-deserved 5-star rating.
Recommendation
Lie by the Pool by Susan Walter is a good fit for those seeking a gripping and suspenseful mystery that explores the darker sides of human nature, with a focus on organized crime, murder, and a protagonist on the run. It’s an unputdownable crime/thriller/romance that you don’t want to end yet.
There are 3 things that stand out to me of what I liked best about the book. I’m including quotes from the book to explain my thoughts.
1. Bree’s passion for music and the piano. This really resonated with me and may be why I am so drawn to this book and characters, especially Bree. I too had childhood dreams of being a concert pianist and would practice for hours hoping to make it happen. I grew up and those dreams were swept under the rug as real life started. These are Bree’s words from the book that touch on her passion of music:
“I didn’t know who I was without Luke or music, or why I was trying to survive a world that brought me nothing but pain.”
“Was I playing for millions, or just myself? And what’s the difference when music is all there is”
“I didn’t realize how starved for music I was until the night of that party, and I didn’t want the night to end.”
“I didn’t have a plan for my future, but I knew there would be music—lots and lots of music.”
2. The beautiful love story between Bree and Luke. What an inspiring romance! Their feelings for each other are captured in these excerpts from the book:
Bree about Luke:
“I read in some scientific journal that the brain doesn’t know the difference between a fantasy and a memory, that they both leave the same signature. Luke wasn’t here, but that gold band on my finger told me the memory was real.”
“I dreamed of him like I always did. In my waking hours, I agonized over why the universe would give me such a great big love only to take it away.”
“ The sound of my husband’s voice was like a dam breaking. When his eyes met mine, everything in the room fell away, like the whole world had been swallowed by quicksand and he was the only thing still standing.”
“ His face was both the most exotic thing I’d ever seen and as familiar as seeing my own. I opened my mouth to say his name, but before I could speak, his arms were around me and we fell into that quicksand. And in that moment, I didn’t care if we ever came out.”
Luke about Bree:
“She was both the most angelic and down-to-earth person I had ever met. She made me see things in new ways—a pool cabana was a playhouse, a song was a way for strangers to hold hands without touching.”
“I married her because every day I was with her was the greatest day of my life.”
“A traffic jam is a thousand souls trying to reconnect with their loved ones at once,” she’d said, because wasn’t it just like her to see something beautiful while the rest of us saw something inconvenient or annoying”
3. The beautiful writing style of the author. The language used to describe a scene, thought or narrative was touching and poetic. Here are some more examples from the book of the stylistic prose:
“ I will never understand why people lie, cheat, and kill for money they don’t need. If humanity has an incurable plague, it’s our endless appetite for riches and our numbness to the suffering of others.”
“If this weekend had been a test of my self-discipline and judgment, I failed. I had to do better.”
“ I was alone with myself but connected to something bigger. Something unknowable. Something mine but not of me.”
“They say that the divine purpose of difficult things is to bring people together. And maybe in some cases that’s true. But I had needed the opposite—to be OK with myself, without a mate or a cocoon of music or a fancy home to disappear in. I didn’t know what the future would bring, only that I would be fine because I had me.”
The chapters alternate between the perspectives of Bree, Luke, Carter and Sophie in 1st person narratives. Multiple timelines weave the past together with the current situation for an eye-opening account of what transpired to get to where it tragically ended up.
The story takes place In Beverly Hills, California. The detail and vivid description of the upscale community give the reader a perfect visual to put them right in the middle of the story.
“I found it amusing how Beverly Hills people built whatever they wanted—an ultramodern house of glass next to a buttoned-up Colonial next to an English castle. The neighborhoods In the flats of Beverly Hills were serviced by alleys that were as wide as streets, because Rodeo Drive is for Louis Vuitton and Montblanc, not wheelie bins and garbage trucks”
The twisty tale is filled with complex and intriguing characters. They are made memorable and realistic through authentic dialogue and well designed thoughts. Each character is unique with quirks and personalities that make it easy to become part of their lives and overlook any faults or transgressions they might have. Then there’s the House which is so central to the story I feel like it’s a character all it’s own. Sophie referred to It as the “house on fancy-schmancy Rodeo Drive.” And for some unexplained reason, Bree is drawn to it after spending a night in the pool house.
The plot is structured where the timelines from the beginning of the present to the story of the past come full circle in a way that is unexpected and at times shocking. With so many different perspectives the plot goes in directions that keep you guessing as the puzzle gradually reveals how the characters are intertwined. The author does an excellent job in keeping the readers attention with surprises and cliffhangers throughout the entire book.
I hated for the story to end because I was so invested in the characters stories that I just wanted more. Also, the book was so engrossing and a definite page-turner that even though the rollercoaster ended in resolution, I wasn’t ready to get off the ride. I think that is what you call an addictive must-read. For these reasons and more, I gave Lie By The Pool a well-deserved 5-star rating.
Recommendation
Lie by the Pool by Susan Walter is a good fit for those seeking a gripping and suspenseful mystery that explores the darker sides of human nature, with a focus on organized crime, murder, and a protagonist on the run. It’s an unputdownable crime/thriller/romance that you don’t want to end yet.
There are 3 things that stand out to me of what I liked best about the book. I’m including quotes from the book to explain my thoughts.
1. Bree’s passion for music and the piano. This really resonated with me and may be why I am so drawn to this book and characters, especially Bree. I too had childhood dreams of being a concert pianist and would practice for hours hoping to make it happen. I grew up and those dreams were swept under the rug as real life started. These are Bree’s words from the book that touch on her passion of music:
“I didn’t know who I was without Luke or music, or why I was trying to survive a world that brought me nothing but pain.”
“Was I playing for millions, or just myself? And what’s the difference when music is all there is”
“I didn’t realize how starved for music I was until the night of that party, and I didn’t want the night to end.”
“I didn’t have a plan for my future, but I knew there would be music—lots and lots of music.”
2. The beautiful love story between Bree and Luke. What an inspiring romance! Their feelings for each other are captured in these excerpts from the book:
Bree about Luke:
“I read in some scientific journal that the brain doesn’t know the difference between a fantasy and a memory, that they both leave the same signature. Luke wasn’t here, but that gold band on my finger told me the memory was real.”
“I dreamed of him like I always did. In my waking hours, I agonized over why the universe would give me such a great big love only to take it away.”
“ The sound of my husband’s voice was like a dam breaking. When his eyes met mine, everything in the room fell away, like the whole world had been swallowed by quicksand and he was the only thing still standing.”
“ His face was both the most exotic thing I’d ever seen and as familiar as seeing my own. I opened my mouth to say his name, but before I could speak, his arms were around me and we fell into that quicksand. And in that moment, I didn’t care if we ever came out.”
Luke about Bree:
“She was both the most angelic and down-to-earth person I had ever met. She made me see things in new ways—a pool cabana was a playhouse, a song was a way for strangers to hold hands without touching.”
“I married her because every day I was with her was the greatest day of my life.”
“A traffic jam is a thousand souls trying to reconnect with their loved ones at once,” she’d said, because wasn’t it just like her to see something beautiful while the rest of us saw something inconvenient or annoying”
3. The beautiful writing style of the author. The language used to describe a scene, thought or narrative was touching and poetic. Here are some more examples from the book of the stylistic prose:
“ I will never understand why people lie, cheat, and kill for money they don’t need. If humanity has an incurable plague, it’s our endless appetite for riches and our numbness to the suffering of others.”
“If this weekend had been a test of my self-discipline and judgment, I failed. I had to do better.”
“ I was alone with myself but connected to something bigger. Something unknowable. Something mine but not of me.”
“They say that the divine purpose of difficult things is to bring people together. And maybe in some cases that’s true. But I had needed the opposite—to be OK with myself, without a mate or a cocoon of music or a fancy home to disappear in. I didn’t know what the future would bring, only that I would be fine because I had me.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Murder
Minor: Kidnapping
Keep Your Friends Close by Lucinda Berry
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Keep YourFriends Close by Lucinda Berry
The West Hollywood Moms Club is complete with NDAs and “invite only” inclusion for membership. Very exclusive! The first big party without their babies is held at the gorgeous home of the club president Kiersten McCann. Drinks are flowing and it seems to be a great time for everyone there. Until a horrifying scream comes from outside and they are dismayed to find a dead body floating face down in the pool. Even more shocking is to find out that it is Kiersten, the host and life of the party, popular and liked by everyone. The friend group of Whitney Gilmore, Jade Porter and Brooke Lyons quickly become suspects in what is deemed a homicide, not an accident. Each one of them has secrets that could give them a motive for murder. They are quick to point fingers hoping to take the focus off of themselves. The Detective in charge of solving Kiersten’s murder is ruthless, exploring every angle and will stop at nothing to get to the truth. With the relentless digging for answers she uncovers more secrets, betrayals and lies then the women could ever imagine. The illusion of privileged Hollywood wives living a perfect life is soon destroyed as the race is on to catch a killer.
“Keep Your Friends Close” is a delightful fusion of domestic suspense with a touch of police procedural. It explores how delicate the thread that binds friendship and love really is when faced with secrets and lies. Once trust is broken can it ever be the same?
The story is told from multiple points of view with dual timelines alternating between Whitney, Brooke and Jade after the murder of their friend Kiersten. The different perspectives and unreliable narrators make for so much drama and suspense that the reader is drawn in from the first chapter.
The characters are well developed with distinctive personalities, but mostly unlikeable with an array of distressing problems. You’ve got women that are trying to maintain that illusion of a perfect life in spite of the darkness that is threatening that. Then there are the husband’s that are as uniquely developed as the wives and equally important. The husband/wife dynamic plays a key role in the lengths one will go to when faced with deceit and adversity. To be clear, the negative aspects of the characters were a good thing and really added to the dark and edgy tale.
The plot unfolds at a perfect pace through cleverly placed clues and unexpected twists. There seemed to be no shortage of surprises and crazy antics in every chapter. The number of cliffhangers throughout did not even come close to the final twist at the end. Oh, wait, make that twists as in plural, as in many. And twists is too tame of a word to describe this conclusion. The finale was full of shocking explosions that were not only unexpected but begged the question “if you can’t trust your friends, who can you trust?”
I love reading about the quirks and mentality of the privileged crowd or those that portray to be. Throw in the backdrop of Hollywood and it’s even better. It makes for such a dramatic story and puts you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what they’ll do next. Readers may find the characters a little exaggerated or “over the top” but having spent a lot of time in Hollywood and the nightlife there, I can tell you that people are really like that.
I have never read a disappointing book from Lucinda Berry. I always know that I can expect a fast-paced page-turner with twists galore and an ending that’s sure to shock me and have me thinking “wth did I just read?” for days after. “Keep Your Friends Close” lived up to all expectations and I gave it a well-deserved 5-star rating.
“Keep Your Friends Close” by Lucinda Berry is a good fit for those seeking a gripping and intense mystery that delves into the darker side of human relationships, where secrets, lies, and deceit threaten to shatter the illusions of a perfect life. I highly recommend it to readers that in addition to enjoying a dark domestic thriller also like to see scenes that have shock value and subject matter that you don’t see everyday.
The West Hollywood Moms Club is complete with NDAs and “invite only” inclusion for membership. Very exclusive! The first big party without their babies is held at the gorgeous home of the club president Kiersten McCann. Drinks are flowing and it seems to be a great time for everyone there. Until a horrifying scream comes from outside and they are dismayed to find a dead body floating face down in the pool. Even more shocking is to find out that it is Kiersten, the host and life of the party, popular and liked by everyone. The friend group of Whitney Gilmore, Jade Porter and Brooke Lyons quickly become suspects in what is deemed a homicide, not an accident. Each one of them has secrets that could give them a motive for murder. They are quick to point fingers hoping to take the focus off of themselves. The Detective in charge of solving Kiersten’s murder is ruthless, exploring every angle and will stop at nothing to get to the truth. With the relentless digging for answers she uncovers more secrets, betrayals and lies then the women could ever imagine. The illusion of privileged Hollywood wives living a perfect life is soon destroyed as the race is on to catch a killer.
“Keep Your Friends Close” is a delightful fusion of domestic suspense with a touch of police procedural. It explores how delicate the thread that binds friendship and love really is when faced with secrets and lies. Once trust is broken can it ever be the same?
The story is told from multiple points of view with dual timelines alternating between Whitney, Brooke and Jade after the murder of their friend Kiersten. The different perspectives and unreliable narrators make for so much drama and suspense that the reader is drawn in from the first chapter.
The characters are well developed with distinctive personalities, but mostly unlikeable with an array of distressing problems. You’ve got women that are trying to maintain that illusion of a perfect life in spite of the darkness that is threatening that. Then there are the husband’s that are as uniquely developed as the wives and equally important. The husband/wife dynamic plays a key role in the lengths one will go to when faced with deceit and adversity. To be clear, the negative aspects of the characters were a good thing and really added to the dark and edgy tale.
The plot unfolds at a perfect pace through cleverly placed clues and unexpected twists. There seemed to be no shortage of surprises and crazy antics in every chapter. The number of cliffhangers throughout did not even come close to the final twist at the end. Oh, wait, make that twists as in plural, as in many. And twists is too tame of a word to describe this conclusion. The finale was full of shocking explosions that were not only unexpected but begged the question “if you can’t trust your friends, who can you trust?”
I love reading about the quirks and mentality of the privileged crowd or those that portray to be. Throw in the backdrop of Hollywood and it’s even better. It makes for such a dramatic story and puts you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what they’ll do next. Readers may find the characters a little exaggerated or “over the top” but having spent a lot of time in Hollywood and the nightlife there, I can tell you that people are really like that.
I have never read a disappointing book from Lucinda Berry. I always know that I can expect a fast-paced page-turner with twists galore and an ending that’s sure to shock me and have me thinking “wth did I just read?” for days after. “Keep Your Friends Close” lived up to all expectations and I gave it a well-deserved 5-star rating.
“Keep Your Friends Close” by Lucinda Berry is a good fit for those seeking a gripping and intense mystery that delves into the darker side of human relationships, where secrets, lies, and deceit threaten to shatter the illusions of a perfect life. I highly recommend it to readers that in addition to enjoying a dark domestic thriller also like to see scenes that have shock value and subject matter that you don’t see everyday.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Murder, Stalking, and Alcoholism
The Fake Date by L.H. Stacey
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
28 year old reporter Ella Hope was attacked violently and left for dead in the cold muddy fields of the North Yorkshire Moors. She was there for 10 hours before she was finally found. Her first thought was that someone would pay for hurting her so badly. She spent 6 weeks in the hospital and then 7 months rehabilitating at her parents house. She is home all these months later dealing with the aftermath of the violent attack. She has a new neighbor Will Taylor who just happens to be the editor for the Star, a rival newspaper of the Chronicle, where she works. However, Will does not let her know at first that he is a reporter because Ella expresses a strong dislike for reporters after her ordeal with them in her highly publicized case. The chemistry between Ella and Will is apparent when they first meet. Their banter is easy going and comfortable with comedic moments thrown in. As Will and Ella get to know each other, Ella is challenged with the fear and insecurity that she was left with from the brutal attack. She is a fighter though and her strong determination to survive is what kept her alive that night. She had been convinced that her attacker was Rick Greaves, the man she had a date with that same night. He had 2 previous wives that both died within a year of marrying him. Ella had foolishly gone undercover alone to get the scoop on Rick. However, Ella starts to doubt that it was Rick and is afraid her killer is still out there. As Will becomes more and more drawn to Ella, he makes it his mission to figure out who did this.
The Fake Date Is a page-turning psychological thriller with a side of romantic suspense.
The descriptive detail in the opening chapter where Ella has been left for dead is poignant and heart wrenching. You feel her deep pain and emotion as she struggles to deal with possibly dying there terrified and alone. The reader is pulled in to the story quickly and becomes invested in wanting Ella to be found alive and rescued.
The writer has created atmospheric scenes through vivid descriptions of the surroundings. The story is set in Yorkshire around the beauty of the moors surrounded by heather and hedgerows. Ella’s cottage is charming with blossoming trees and a garden of roses, peonies, geraniums and lilacs at the start of Summer.
I loved the rich and strongly developed characters. They were complex and real with fun and dynamic personalities that you are drawn to immediately. The chemistry between them is undeniable, especially with Ella and Will. The strong friendships between Ella and Sarah, who’ve known each other since preschool and even Will with his assistant Josh are written so that you are immersed in the beauty of developing bonds.
Between chapters there are first person accounts from an unknown person that has killed at least 3 times before and is very disappointed that Ella is still alive. This person is a very angry and seemingly unhinged character. These bits of narrative keep the story fast paced and suspenseful by giving the reader tense filled moments that keep them engaged in getting the questions to the mystery answered.
The writing was so descriptive that the characters and storyline seemed to come to life through vivid imagery and addictive narratives. The writer was able to capture the reader’s attention from the first page and hold onto it to the end. This is why I was able to read the book in a day and could barely put it down.
I did guess the murderer before they were revealed but I probably suspected every other person before finally figuring it out. Even then, additional surprises and twists were there that kept me hooked until the very last page.
What I liked best about this book were the moments that focused on the developing interactions between Ella and Will. There was humor and playful sarcasm in their conversations, and some funny moments when Will made Ella laugh with some of his crazy antics. It was refreshing to watch Will so mesmerized by Ella and Ella starting to trust Will and give in to her growing attraction. Since I tend to stick with Thriller and Suspense novels, it’s been a long time since I read a romance novel. The great thing about this book is the infusion of the suspense thriller and romance genres. I didn’t know going in that I was reading a romance book, and it ended up being a nice change of pace and something different than what I have been reading.
This was the first book that I’ve read from L.H. Stacey. Based on my enjoyment of this one, I look forward to reading more from her. I loved reading something that was a change of pace to what I’m used to and expect. It was a refreshing surprise. I am rating The Fake Date a solid 4 stars. If you are a reader that likes the idea of a thriller and romance together, I highly recommend this. I feel that the romance added a layer to the story that made it even more interesting. It definitely kept my full attention all the way through.
The Fake Date Is a page-turning psychological thriller with a side of romantic suspense.
The descriptive detail in the opening chapter where Ella has been left for dead is poignant and heart wrenching. You feel her deep pain and emotion as she struggles to deal with possibly dying there terrified and alone. The reader is pulled in to the story quickly and becomes invested in wanting Ella to be found alive and rescued.
The writer has created atmospheric scenes through vivid descriptions of the surroundings. The story is set in Yorkshire around the beauty of the moors surrounded by heather and hedgerows. Ella’s cottage is charming with blossoming trees and a garden of roses, peonies, geraniums and lilacs at the start of Summer.
I loved the rich and strongly developed characters. They were complex and real with fun and dynamic personalities that you are drawn to immediately. The chemistry between them is undeniable, especially with Ella and Will. The strong friendships between Ella and Sarah, who’ve known each other since preschool and even Will with his assistant Josh are written so that you are immersed in the beauty of developing bonds.
Between chapters there are first person accounts from an unknown person that has killed at least 3 times before and is very disappointed that Ella is still alive. This person is a very angry and seemingly unhinged character. These bits of narrative keep the story fast paced and suspenseful by giving the reader tense filled moments that keep them engaged in getting the questions to the mystery answered.
The writing was so descriptive that the characters and storyline seemed to come to life through vivid imagery and addictive narratives. The writer was able to capture the reader’s attention from the first page and hold onto it to the end. This is why I was able to read the book in a day and could barely put it down.
I did guess the murderer before they were revealed but I probably suspected every other person before finally figuring it out. Even then, additional surprises and twists were there that kept me hooked until the very last page.
What I liked best about this book were the moments that focused on the developing interactions between Ella and Will. There was humor and playful sarcasm in their conversations, and some funny moments when Will made Ella laugh with some of his crazy antics. It was refreshing to watch Will so mesmerized by Ella and Ella starting to trust Will and give in to her growing attraction. Since I tend to stick with Thriller and Suspense novels, it’s been a long time since I read a romance novel. The great thing about this book is the infusion of the suspense thriller and romance genres. I didn’t know going in that I was reading a romance book, and it ended up being a nice change of pace and something different than what I have been reading.
This was the first book that I’ve read from L.H. Stacey. Based on my enjoyment of this one, I look forward to reading more from her. I loved reading something that was a change of pace to what I’m used to and expect. It was a refreshing surprise. I am rating The Fake Date a solid 4 stars. If you are a reader that likes the idea of a thriller and romance together, I highly recommend this. I feel that the romance added a layer to the story that made it even more interesting. It definitely kept my full attention all the way through.
Such a Loving Couple by Haley Smith
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
My first thought was “Scandalous!” At first I was thinking this would be a “typical girl gets amnesia and led into a life she can’t remember “ story. However, I was so wrong. Every chapter introduces more and more layers to the story that keep you intrigued and on the edge of your seat. There are 3 parts in the book. Part one is told in first person narrative through Becka’s eyes. Focus is on Becka having amnesia with no memory of the past whatsoever. It begins with her in the hospital after a serious accident, and her introduction to her husband, Freddie, and going home with him to a home she can’t remember. The nurses had tried to assure her that she had a loving husband who had been there for days and days waiting for her to wake from an induced coma. For some reason she feels unsettled by him.
“‘Home.’ I don’t know why the word conveys such trepidation Am I being stupid? What woman wouldn’t want a gorgeous, kind and caring man like Freddie? I realize that I am just being irrational.” Becka’s thoughts
Once she’s home, she starts to learn who she is and about her past. She is 40 years old and she and Freddie were high school sweethearts. He even shows her pictures of them back then. Her name is Mrs. Rebecca Anthony. According to Freddie, they have been married for 17 years and never had children. She was not a maternal person. Strange things keep happening that make Becka question everything that Freddie is telling her about her life before the accident. She meets the neighbor, Grace, across the street who tells her things that don’t make sense with what she knows from Freddie.
“Sometimes it’s as if you’re keeping things back, as if you’re not telling me the proper story. Like there’s a whole layer of my life hidden, covered up, and you don’t want me to know about it. But… Well, I keep discovering things.” Becka to Freddie about what he’s telling her
With Becka uncovering secrets and lies it quickly becomes a cat- and- mouse game between Becka and Freddie when neither one of them knows what the other knows.
When part two starts, a total shift to what you had been reading happens. The plot thickens and the story is fast-paced and draws you in with the developments and twists that occur. New characters are introduced that play a big part in where things are now. You get a bigger picture as the points of view change from only one to several separate first person accounts. The timeline alternates between the past and now which makes for an exciting read because you are finally getting pieces of the puzzle.
By the time you get to part three a lot of things start to make sense so you are unprepared for the final twist that leaves you wondering.
I found the characters unlikeable and unreliable. Of course Becka is unreliable. She has amnesia and everything she knows is being fed to her from Freddie, a character that is full of red flags from the beginning. While I did think Grace, the neighbor, was a sweet elderly lady, she kept saying she had memory issues so you take what she says with a grain of salt. Additional important characters are deceitful and secretive so even though they are hard to like they make for an addictive plot that’s hard to put down.
I found the writing style perfectly skilled in creating suspense that hooks the reader from page one and keeps the momentum going to the end. A well developed plot and balanced pacing add to making this an unputdownable read.
I found this book easy to read with enough suspense and intriguing characters that I read it in a manner of hours. I give it 4 stars and hope the author releases more thrilling and suspenseful novels in the near future. I recommend this one to readers that enjoy the amnesia trope in a well-paced psychological and domestic thriller.
“‘Home.’ I don’t know why the word conveys such trepidation Am I being stupid? What woman wouldn’t want a gorgeous, kind and caring man like Freddie? I realize that I am just being irrational.” Becka’s thoughts
Once she’s home, she starts to learn who she is and about her past. She is 40 years old and she and Freddie were high school sweethearts. He even shows her pictures of them back then. Her name is Mrs. Rebecca Anthony. According to Freddie, they have been married for 17 years and never had children. She was not a maternal person. Strange things keep happening that make Becka question everything that Freddie is telling her about her life before the accident. She meets the neighbor, Grace, across the street who tells her things that don’t make sense with what she knows from Freddie.
“Sometimes it’s as if you’re keeping things back, as if you’re not telling me the proper story. Like there’s a whole layer of my life hidden, covered up, and you don’t want me to know about it. But… Well, I keep discovering things.” Becka to Freddie about what he’s telling her
With Becka uncovering secrets and lies it quickly becomes a cat- and- mouse game between Becka and Freddie when neither one of them knows what the other knows.
When part two starts, a total shift to what you had been reading happens. The plot thickens and the story is fast-paced and draws you in with the developments and twists that occur. New characters are introduced that play a big part in where things are now. You get a bigger picture as the points of view change from only one to several separate first person accounts. The timeline alternates between the past and now which makes for an exciting read because you are finally getting pieces of the puzzle.
By the time you get to part three a lot of things start to make sense so you are unprepared for the final twist that leaves you wondering.
I found the characters unlikeable and unreliable. Of course Becka is unreliable. She has amnesia and everything she knows is being fed to her from Freddie, a character that is full of red flags from the beginning. While I did think Grace, the neighbor, was a sweet elderly lady, she kept saying she had memory issues so you take what she says with a grain of salt. Additional important characters are deceitful and secretive so even though they are hard to like they make for an addictive plot that’s hard to put down.
I found the writing style perfectly skilled in creating suspense that hooks the reader from page one and keeps the momentum going to the end. A well developed plot and balanced pacing add to making this an unputdownable read.
I found this book easy to read with enough suspense and intriguing characters that I read it in a manner of hours. I give it 4 stars and hope the author releases more thrilling and suspenseful novels in the near future. I recommend this one to readers that enjoy the amnesia trope in a well-paced psychological and domestic thriller.
Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
I couldn't get into it and I'm surprised because I am a huge Lisa Jewell fan. I was bored.