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the_joyful_book_club's reviews
82 reviews
The Long Call by Ann Cleeves
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is my third or fourth book from the talented Ann Cleeves, and I finally put my finger on why I adore her work so much. Her work keeps me guessing, but not in a non-stop twists and turns way. It really does feel like a puzzle that you're sorting out along with the investigators, and you have to think outside the box to understand the suspects and their motives.
This story introduces readers to a new investigator, Detective Matthew Venn. I loved where the author took this character. First, he is nothing like Vera Stanhope or Jimmy Perez. Matthew Venn has a quietness about him, and he seems to follow the rule that it is better to listen than to talk. But while Matthew has found some peace in his life, his past is not without strife. When our story starts, he's lingering outside the funeral of his father. He wasn't invited by his mother and he stays removed from the funeral due to the family's strict religious beliefs that cast him out in the past. But Matthew has moved on, and been successful in both his professional and personal life. He's found love with his husband, Jonathan, and his introduction to the reader is partially brought by the job transfer that allowed him to move back to North Devon.
This story starts with the murder of a man down on his luck. When one woman goes missing, the detectives are puzzled. But then another woman disappears in a crowded shopping area. All have a connection to a local community center, The Woodyard. So many secrets and so many suspects send investigators on a wild chase.
This story is a slow burn but does have a good amount of action throughout, and it never veers into feeling outlandish or unbelievable.
If you already enjoy Ann Cleeves, you'll like this book. But if you also enjoy a well-developed cast of characters trying to solve crimes in a small village by the sea, you'll love "The Long Call".
This story introduces readers to a new investigator, Detective Matthew Venn. I loved where the author took this character. First, he is nothing like Vera Stanhope or Jimmy Perez. Matthew Venn has a quietness about him, and he seems to follow the rule that it is better to listen than to talk. But while Matthew has found some peace in his life, his past is not without strife. When our story starts, he's lingering outside the funeral of his father. He wasn't invited by his mother and he stays removed from the funeral due to the family's strict religious beliefs that cast him out in the past. But Matthew has moved on, and been successful in both his professional and personal life. He's found love with his husband, Jonathan, and his introduction to the reader is partially brought by the job transfer that allowed him to move back to North Devon.
This story starts with the murder of a man down on his luck. When one woman goes missing, the detectives are puzzled. But then another woman disappears in a crowded shopping area. All have a connection to a local community center, The Woodyard. So many secrets and so many suspects send investigators on a wild chase.
This story is a slow burn but does have a good amount of action throughout, and it never veers into feeling outlandish or unbelievable.
If you already enjoy Ann Cleeves, you'll like this book. But if you also enjoy a well-developed cast of characters trying to solve crimes in a small village by the sea, you'll love "The Long Call".
The Treasure Hunters Club by Tom Ryan
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
3.5
We first meet Dandy (Danielle) and Grandy (her grandfather) while they're out searching for treasure on the beach in Maple Bay. This is where we first hear about the Obelisk Treasure that is supposedly hidden somewhere in the sand and ocean surrounding Maple Bay.
The book then moves forward and Grandy has passed away. There is a strong level of grief that really comes through Dandy's character and her relationship with her grandfather is one of my favorite aspects of this story. We also then meet Peter and Cass, both of whom are struggling in their own ways and are called to Maple Bay for reasons that seem a little too good to be true, but both arrive in Maple Bay with high hopes.
One aspect I appreciated in this story is the theme of family and atonement. Whether a family by blood or by choice, we all have complex relationships that ebb and flow and this story includes several different types of relationships, the consequences of past actions, and how we try to correct our mistakes and move forward.
The one issue I had with this story was the number of characters. It started to feel overwhelming trying to keep track of everyone, who was related to whom, and how they fell into the story. Even minor characters seemed to pop up frequently, and it felt a bit distracting for me. As a caveat, many of the characters are related but unfortunately, they don't have similar names, so this is where it started to feel a bit chaotic.
The last 25% of this story is where the bulk of the thrills are, and if you enjoy a slow burn, you'll enjoy this one. This story has a complete ending, which is great with all of the character development that the author created. It's a lot to pack up but the author does a nice job at making sure no one is forgotten.
If you enjoy a slow-burn, centuries-old mystery, with a diverse cast of characters, you'll enjoy "The Treasure Hunters Club".
The book then moves forward and Grandy has passed away. There is a strong level of grief that really comes through Dandy's character and her relationship with her grandfather is one of my favorite aspects of this story. We also then meet Peter and Cass, both of whom are struggling in their own ways and are called to Maple Bay for reasons that seem a little too good to be true, but both arrive in Maple Bay with high hopes.
One aspect I appreciated in this story is the theme of family and atonement. Whether a family by blood or by choice, we all have complex relationships that ebb and flow and this story includes several different types of relationships, the consequences of past actions, and how we try to correct our mistakes and move forward.
The one issue I had with this story was the number of characters. It started to feel overwhelming trying to keep track of everyone, who was related to whom, and how they fell into the story. Even minor characters seemed to pop up frequently, and it felt a bit distracting for me. As a caveat, many of the characters are related but unfortunately, they don't have similar names, so this is where it started to feel a bit chaotic.
The last 25% of this story is where the bulk of the thrills are, and if you enjoy a slow burn, you'll enjoy this one. This story has a complete ending, which is great with all of the character development that the author created. It's a lot to pack up but the author does a nice job at making sure no one is forgotten.
If you enjoy a slow-burn, centuries-old mystery, with a diverse cast of characters, you'll enjoy "The Treasure Hunters Club".
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The author, Jason Rekulak, wrote an amazing book called "Hidden Pictures" a few years back. I think many readers are expecting this to follow the same suit, but it does not. There is no paranormal aspect and this doesn't have any horror to it either. None of this takes away from the story in any way, and I think it's more of a testament to the author's talent to successfully tell two different stories so well.
John Pirhalla narrates this audiobook. He does an excellent job bringing Frank to life. Frank's character is, above anything else, a dad. Even though he's been estranged from his daughter for a few years, he's still elated when she calls and tells him she's getting married. Maggie is still evasive and somewhat cold with him and Frank desperately wants to apologize and make up for lost time, but he can't help but feel something is a bit off with the wedding and the new family that Maggie is marrying into.
This story seems simple enough: a father and daughter reconnecting over her wedding, but there is a bad history that we never really get the full story of. The author does a nice job at leaving the reader guessing because Frank seems like a great father, but he's constantly trying to appease Maggie and she never wants to have a serious conversation with him. What could Frank have done that was that bad? And why does everyone seem to either love or completely hate the Gardners?
The ending of this story was done well. All aspects of the story receive resolution, and this story would also be great for a book club since it leaves room for discussion.
I could ramble on but then I'd be spoiling the entire book for you. If you enjoy tense and unsettling settings with family secrets all around, you'll enjoy "The Last One At The Wedding".
John Pirhalla narrates this audiobook. He does an excellent job bringing Frank to life. Frank's character is, above anything else, a dad. Even though he's been estranged from his daughter for a few years, he's still elated when she calls and tells him she's getting married. Maggie is still evasive and somewhat cold with him and Frank desperately wants to apologize and make up for lost time, but he can't help but feel something is a bit off with the wedding and the new family that Maggie is marrying into.
This story seems simple enough: a father and daughter reconnecting over her wedding, but there is a bad history that we never really get the full story of. The author does a nice job at leaving the reader guessing because Frank seems like a great father, but he's constantly trying to appease Maggie and she never wants to have a serious conversation with him. What could Frank have done that was that bad? And why does everyone seem to either love or completely hate the Gardners?
The ending of this story was done well. All aspects of the story receive resolution, and this story would also be great for a book club since it leaves room for discussion.
I could ramble on but then I'd be spoiling the entire book for you. If you enjoy tense and unsettling settings with family secrets all around, you'll enjoy "The Last One At The Wedding".
The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It has been a long time since I have truly enjoyed and admired a character as much as I did with Augusta. I have liked other characters and enjoyed their adventures, but Augusta's character made me wish I knew her in real life. Even as a young woman, she's intelligent and is full of spirit. As an 80-year-old woman, Augusta still has all of that and more.
Augusta likes to stay busy, and because of that, she's still working at nearly 80 years old. Her job thinks she's barely 70 since she and her niece did some careful edits to her paperwork, but when the HR department asks her when she plans to retire, she knows she's busted. So she reluctantly retires and moves from Brooklyn, New York to Florida, and her new retirement community of Rallentando Springs. She hasn't fully moved in when she runs into Irving Rifkin, the first boy she ever dated.
This story has a dual timeline of Brooklyn in the 1920s and Rallentando Springs in the 80s. First, I enjoyed seeing both timelines. The author does an excellent job at bringing both places to life and it was easy for me to see everything in my mind, and this book would make a great movie. The visuals that were invoked were that good.
You could technically call this story a second-chance romance, but it's so much more than that. This story explores grief, and heartbreak, and makes you question what you thought you already knew all along. It was also interesting to see how even a minor miscommunication can alter the course of a relationship, whether it be platonic or romantic. This one made me do a lot of thinking, and would likely be great for a book club discussion.
I can confidently say this book is one of the best I've read all year. The writing is beautiful and the story is even better. If you enjoy second chances in life and in love, you'll love this one.
Augusta likes to stay busy, and because of that, she's still working at nearly 80 years old. Her job thinks she's barely 70 since she and her niece did some careful edits to her paperwork, but when the HR department asks her when she plans to retire, she knows she's busted. So she reluctantly retires and moves from Brooklyn, New York to Florida, and her new retirement community of Rallentando Springs. She hasn't fully moved in when she runs into Irving Rifkin, the first boy she ever dated.
This story has a dual timeline of Brooklyn in the 1920s and Rallentando Springs in the 80s. First, I enjoyed seeing both timelines. The author does an excellent job at bringing both places to life and it was easy for me to see everything in my mind, and this book would make a great movie. The visuals that were invoked were that good.
You could technically call this story a second-chance romance, but it's so much more than that. This story explores grief, and heartbreak, and makes you question what you thought you already knew all along. It was also interesting to see how even a minor miscommunication can alter the course of a relationship, whether it be platonic or romantic. This one made me do a lot of thinking, and would likely be great for a book club discussion.
I can confidently say this book is one of the best I've read all year. The writing is beautiful and the story is even better. If you enjoy second chances in life and in love, you'll love this one.
What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
WOW. This story is just...WOW. I devoured this story in one day, and I can't stop thinking about it.
This story starts with a farmer finding a woman's body in his farm field. There is shock, horror, and disgust from nearly everyone in town. No one can believe this happened in Fairhill. Everyone knows everyone in Fairhill. Or do they?
The narrator for this book is primarily January LaVoy, but we also see Jorjeana Marie narrate for Diana, and Bennett Leddy narrate another character in the story. The narration was done well, and kept me engaged in the story. One thing I've struggled with, specifically with Shari Lapena books since they are typically domestic thrillers, is that sometimes the narrators have made me feel neurotic along with the characters. This does not happen in this book. The tension, panic, and fear come through, but it never crosses into annoyance.
There is a wide cast of characters in this story. However, once you're a few chapters in, we are seeing the same repeating characters, and I didn't find it confusing or hard to keep track of anyone. I think part of this also comes from each character being defined fully and having their own voice.
There isn't a ton of character development in this story. And while normally, readers may see that as a bad thing, in this case, it works splendidly. It becomes a cat-and-mouse game of trying to figure out who really could have killed Diana, as everyone is unreliable to an extent because we don't know them. Add in some sketchy behavior and suspects start to look even worse.
I did somewhat guess the ending, but I wasn't confident in my thoughts. This story kept me jumping from character to character because so many acted so guiltily (and stupidly).
If you're looking for a mystery set in a small town, with non-stop sketchy characters that will keep your attention and have you guessing until the end, this one is for you!
This story starts with a farmer finding a woman's body in his farm field. There is shock, horror, and disgust from nearly everyone in town. No one can believe this happened in Fairhill. Everyone knows everyone in Fairhill. Or do they?
The narrator for this book is primarily January LaVoy, but we also see Jorjeana Marie narrate for Diana, and Bennett Leddy narrate another character in the story. The narration was done well, and kept me engaged in the story. One thing I've struggled with, specifically with Shari Lapena books since they are typically domestic thrillers, is that sometimes the narrators have made me feel neurotic along with the characters. This does not happen in this book. The tension, panic, and fear come through, but it never crosses into annoyance.
There is a wide cast of characters in this story. However, once you're a few chapters in, we are seeing the same repeating characters, and I didn't find it confusing or hard to keep track of anyone. I think part of this also comes from each character being defined fully and having their own voice.
There isn't a ton of character development in this story. And while normally, readers may see that as a bad thing, in this case, it works splendidly. It becomes a cat-and-mouse game of trying to figure out who really could have killed Diana, as everyone is unreliable to an extent because we don't know them. Add in some sketchy behavior and suspects start to look even worse.
I did somewhat guess the ending, but I wasn't confident in my thoughts. This story kept me jumping from character to character because so many acted so guiltily (and stupidly).
If you're looking for a mystery set in a small town, with non-stop sketchy characters that will keep your attention and have you guessing until the end, this one is for you!
Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This story starts with what should be a perfect graduation weekend at Princeton University. Except the new graduate, Naomi, isn't at any events and is instead floating, dead, in a nearby river. Her sister, Maya, is devastated and is torn between her grief for her sister, and her flashbacks to her own time at Princeton many years before.
This story is dual told from dual POVs, and also a dual timeline. From my perspective, this made the story hard to follow. You're seeing Naomi, in the months before her death, and Maya in the present day, as well as Maya in her own days at Princeton and the Sterling Club. The characters are sisters and their voices were similar and this added to the convoluted feeling of this story. I feel the author would have been more successful in this if Maya had been reading an old journal vs flashing to another timeline altogether.
Race and past traumatic experiences also come up in this story. Both Maya and Naomi are half-Black and half-Asian. I didn't mind hearing about Maya's past, trying hard to assimilate into the culture at Princeton. But I was struggling to believe Maya wouldn't share some of this with her sister when she decided to go to Princeton. An overall theme is whether Maya's silence gets her sister killed, and that seems major enough to have talked about.
If you enjoy stories that feature dark academia, a slow burn, and family history, you'll enjoy this debut from Lauren Ling Brown.
Whispers at Dusk by Heather Graham
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I was pretty excited to see that Heather Graham had a new series out. I've read over 20 of the Krewe of Hunters books, and I have always enjoyed them.
This story is a spin-off of the Krewe of Hunters, and we immediately jump into the action and meet Della Hamilton and Mason Carter as they catch one serial killer and are asked to join a new, international force to work on a case spanning several different countries. Our new duo travels to Norway, Romania, and more chasing a potential vampire killer.
This story was fun because you still get the enjoyment of seeing some of your usual Krewe of Hunters team members, such as Jackson and Angela. That said, if you've never read this series, this story will still make sense to you and you're able to follow along easily.
I did listen to the audiobook and one thing I did struggle with was the narrator. He was fine for the majority of the story, but something about his narration of the female voices didn't work. Perhaps they sounded too matter-of-fact for me, and it made it hard to be entirely bought into them. The writing and characters themselves were fine, it was just those specific parts of the narration felt off.
This story does get resolution but simultaneously ends with a partial cliffhanger. Essentially, this case is solved in pieces, so in books two and three, they'll still be working on the same overall case, and solving portions as they continue their investigation.
If you've already devoured the Krewe of Hunters series, or are just looking for some paranormal mysteries this season, you'll enjoy this new series from Heather Graham!
This story is a spin-off of the Krewe of Hunters, and we immediately jump into the action and meet Della Hamilton and Mason Carter as they catch one serial killer and are asked to join a new, international force to work on a case spanning several different countries. Our new duo travels to Norway, Romania, and more chasing a potential vampire killer.
This story was fun because you still get the enjoyment of seeing some of your usual Krewe of Hunters team members, such as Jackson and Angela. That said, if you've never read this series, this story will still make sense to you and you're able to follow along easily.
I did listen to the audiobook and one thing I did struggle with was the narrator. He was fine for the majority of the story, but something about his narration of the female voices didn't work. Perhaps they sounded too matter-of-fact for me, and it made it hard to be entirely bought into them. The writing and characters themselves were fine, it was just those specific parts of the narration felt off.
This story does get resolution but simultaneously ends with a partial cliffhanger. Essentially, this case is solved in pieces, so in books two and three, they'll still be working on the same overall case, and solving portions as they continue their investigation.
If you've already devoured the Krewe of Hunters series, or are just looking for some paranormal mysteries this season, you'll enjoy this new series from Heather Graham!
Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
This book is just the cutest ever. The cover itself is already cozy and fall-like, and the story does not disappoint.
Our story starts with Dina, working in her bakery in the U.K. The setting is immediately idyllic, with a cozy cafe with warm drinks on cold, fall days, and scrumptious pastries that will improve any mood. We then meet Scott, when he comes in for a drink, but he also happens to break an evil eye totem. Dina suspects this is a bad omen, and she no more than takes Scott's order and things go haywire.
This story isn't breaking the mold in terms of the overall plot, but I do want to touch on things I really appreciated about this story.
The first is that the cast of characters is so diverse. And not just one character either. We have Robin, who is Dina's employee, and is non-binary and utilizes they/them pronouns. Dina has dated both men and women. There are several different cultures represented. The other reason I enjoyed this was that the author didn't make someone's traits or preferences their entire personality. It's just one aspect of their life, and it's mentioned, but it never becomes the agenda of the story.
The U.K. location setting was another choice I enjoyed. Again, I think we see many fall romances set in quaint, small towns in America. Perhaps I am uncultured in fall romances (which is entirely probable), but seeing a story set in the U.K. was a great way to add freshness to this specific trope. It kept me engaged because I saw fall through the eyes of London, which wasn't my usual experience.
As we see Dina use her magical talents, one thing that stood out was how much she would infuse emotions into her drinks and treats to help others, and give them the boost they might need. There's a scene where she's making a few items for an upcoming wedding and she infuses the pastries with the feelings and memories of love shared between the future bride and groom. It was again another unique take on the "witch" side of the story.
Overall, I enjoyed this story a lot. The characters are easy to root for and the setting brings a new zest to a fall romance. If sweet romance, autumn, pastries, and museums catch your eye, you'll definitely enjoy this one!
Murder at Black Oaks by Phillip Margolin
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
So, first, if you've wondered if you need to read the Robin Lockwood series in order, or if you can jump in wherever, let me ease your mind: you can start wherever you'd like. This was my first one and everything made sense, and I was able to follow the characters and their histories. That said, I'm sure reading the others has some fun easter eggs for loyal readers.
Our story starts with Frank Melville winning a death row conviction for murder. But then he realizes a year or so later that the wrong man is in prison. He's stopped by the attorney-client privilege and cannot legally disclose who the true killer is. But once he can, he enlists Robin Lockwood to help him get the conviction of Jose Alvarez overturned.
This book was frustrating for me. It started off so good. Robin initially travels to Black Oaks Manor to meet Frank and his daughter, Nellie. As she's preparing, her assistant is sharing her findings not only about Frank Melville but also about the curse of Black Oaks itself. This was excellent foreshadowing and helped the manor maintain its creepy vibe.
However, once the story got into the last 25% or so, it just became too convoluted. At one point, a character makes a comment to the effect that they could be in an Agatha Christie novel. This is very true and the story gives off notes of "And Then There Were None". But then it's as if the author wanted to go in another direction altogether and just went overboard with different twists and villains. I think had there been one cohesive plan, it would have made the ending more satisfying.
If you're already a fan of the Robin Lockwood series, I'm sure you'll enjoy "Murder at Black Oaks"!
Our story starts with Frank Melville winning a death row conviction for murder. But then he realizes a year or so later that the wrong man is in prison. He's stopped by the attorney-client privilege and cannot legally disclose who the true killer is. But once he can, he enlists Robin Lockwood to help him get the conviction of Jose Alvarez overturned.
This book was frustrating for me. It started off so good. Robin initially travels to Black Oaks Manor to meet Frank and his daughter, Nellie. As she's preparing, her assistant is sharing her findings not only about Frank Melville but also about the curse of Black Oaks itself. This was excellent foreshadowing and helped the manor maintain its creepy vibe.
However, once the story got into the last 25% or so, it just became too convoluted. At one point, a character makes a comment to the effect that they could be in an Agatha Christie novel. This is very true and the story gives off notes of "And Then There Were None". But then it's as if the author wanted to go in another direction altogether and just went overboard with different twists and villains. I think had there been one cohesive plan, it would have made the ending more satisfying.
If you're already a fan of the Robin Lockwood series, I'm sure you'll enjoy "Murder at Black Oaks"!
Confessions of the Dead by James Patterson
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was my first book from James Patterson and I was blown away. I am familiar with the Alex Cross novels but haven't read them. And I honestly expected this to be more of an investigative style of book (again, thinking in the vein of Alex Cross). I could not have been more wrong.
When the strange girl shows up at the local diner, she's naked and doesn't speak a word. Then the crows arrive. And slowly, everyone becomes more and more unhinged. With zero crime and only three members of law enforcement, mayhem ensues almost immediately.
This story does have alternating POVs. Partially, we read an interview transcript, and then we also see the events of this horrifying day through different characters and their experiences. The authors do an excellent job of conveying the panic and chaos that everyone is experiencing. The story is full of tension and it maintains that throughout the book.
This story isn't necessarily classified as horror, but there is violence and gore here. This story also unnerved me quite a bit. The chapters aren't super long, and this kept me feeling like I could get through just one more chapter, which would suck me into more of the madness.
I was trying to figure out why this book spooked me so much. I narrowed it down to how quickly they changed, even with their friends, kids, and spouses. One minute, everything was okay, and the next, they weren't even the same person anymore. Their irritations, rage, and true feelings came exploding out with dire consequences.
The twist at the end of this was completely unexpected. The idea of it never even crossed my mind. I always have a lot of respect if an author can "trick" me, and I was caught off-guard on this.
If you enjoy stories with a scary fall atmosphere, unexpected twists, and betrayals at every turn, you will enjoy this one from James Patterson and J.D. Barker.
When the strange girl shows up at the local diner, she's naked and doesn't speak a word. Then the crows arrive. And slowly, everyone becomes more and more unhinged. With zero crime and only three members of law enforcement, mayhem ensues almost immediately.
This story does have alternating POVs. Partially, we read an interview transcript, and then we also see the events of this horrifying day through different characters and their experiences. The authors do an excellent job of conveying the panic and chaos that everyone is experiencing. The story is full of tension and it maintains that throughout the book.
This story isn't necessarily classified as horror, but there is violence and gore here. This story also unnerved me quite a bit. The chapters aren't super long, and this kept me feeling like I could get through just one more chapter, which would suck me into more of the madness.
I was trying to figure out why this book spooked me so much. I narrowed it down to how quickly they changed, even with their friends, kids, and spouses. One minute, everything was okay, and the next, they weren't even the same person anymore. Their irritations, rage, and true feelings came exploding out with dire consequences.
The twist at the end of this was completely unexpected. The idea of it never even crossed my mind. I always have a lot of respect if an author can "trick" me, and I was caught off-guard on this.
If you enjoy stories with a scary fall atmosphere, unexpected twists, and betrayals at every turn, you will enjoy this one from James Patterson and J.D. Barker.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Blood