shonami's reviews
501 reviews

Masters of Death by Olivie Blake

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

In Light of All Darkness: Inside the Polly Klaas Kidnapping and the Search for America's Child by Kim Cross

emotional informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

This book!  One other book in the “true crime” genre has brought me to tears.  This one has done it too.  This is brilliantly and respectfully written. 

Kim Cross had unfettered access without ever having to file a FOIA request to the Pollly Klaas investigative files.  What she does with that information i#in this book is chronicle the good, the bad and the ugly that occurred during the investigation  from the minute the crime is reported to years after the resolution.  It’s brilliant. 

It’s a true crime book but more importantly it’s a case study..that chronicles an investigation that has served as a case study for three decades. The lessons learned (the good,the bad and the ugly) has trained investigators across all disciplines. Because of what was learned in the Polly Klaas case many, many missing kids have been found. This book is so good.  I can’t recommend it enough.  

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Killman Creek by Rachel Caine

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This was recommended to me by a trusted book buyer. She did say to give this series a couple books and I’m willing to do this.  I feel like this book really was more about building..building the world this series is set in, building the characters. 

Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice by Bill Browder

informative medium-paced

3.75

This read like a thriller.  I enjoyed insomuch as I love learning about other peoples lives and experiences.  But I got icky feeling with the author in the beginning as he was caught up I. Greed power and money of becoming the largest investor in Russia on the backs of the Russian people.

I softened toward the end as he became an advocate for human rights in memory of his frievd.

Briefer made a lot of high powered enemies including Putin. And I certainly wouldn’t want to be on that list! 

Blood Sisters by Vanessa Lillie

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun

emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Loved this book and the story of found family, and coming of age.  Nice balance of humor with the serious stuff.  It’s definitely love letter to queer teachers who literally save lives every day!