theboundless_bookworm's reviews
188 reviews

You Can Get in the Way: How you can Become a Roadblock to Risk Factors by Dr John W Hodge

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informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

The Good Twin by Diane Saxon

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

CONTENT AND TRIGGER WARNINGS:

Sexual content and rapeMiscarriage/abortion PregnancyMurder and deathAbduction

In this compelling psychological tale, twin sisters Summer and Skye hold contrasting views on how to cope with their mother's recent death. One sister, left behind to keep their remaining family together, expresses her disappointment as her twin ventures off to college. As the good twin, Summer hates the idea of Skye leaving her, but she acknowledges that her twin chose to move on with her life. Then, she meets LJ - a stranger she met online with whom she has shared her frustrations and everything about her family. But what seemed a harmless meet-up took an unexpected and frightening turn. The question looms: Can Summer's family rally to rescue her from captivity, or will her abductor keep her trapped indefinitely?

The story switches between Summer and Sky at different times, hinting at the possibility of an unreliable narrator. The dual perspective may sometimes be confusing, and the reader may need to reread the chapter's first few lines to know which POV it was.

The kidnapping trope isn't new in mystery novels; still, there's an intriguing promise as the plot unfolds. Good aspects are seeing the abductor's point of view and the unique telepathic connection between the twins.

Of course, a mystery novel isn't complete without its twists. This book certainly has its share of twists and turns - some predictable, while a few quite surprising.

Yet, it's not without its faults. The author tends to suspend an engaging scenario by interjecting backstories and lengthy descriptions to develop the characters, which can become dull, causing the reader to lose track of the gripping storyline. While I understand that introducing flashbacks within a present storyline is necessary for insight and backstory, the author had created rather long ones. By the time the flashback ended, I forgot a prior scene was being told - even one meant to create tension. An entire chapter even describes one character's step-by-step makeup application used as successive dialogue tags. I find such execution of procedural descriptions too tedious. Typically, repetition in novels creates resonance, but in this case, it was excessive. This particular writing technique contributed to the book feeling monotonous. It was in the middle that the structure became more polished despite the confusing POVs, yet the narrative detours and repetitions crop up intermittently. It would have been better to build up the other characters to create more vital false leads than utilize recurring lines.

Overall, it was an okay read. I love that the book dealt with themes of Stockholm Syndrome and trauma bonds. A poignancy to the story, particularly on sisterhood, left me hopeful. Once revealed, the "motive" gave a satisfying ending that could have been phenomenal if the writing structure had been better. If you're crazy about plot twists, this book is for you.

"Thank you #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for this complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Content Warnings

The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Before reading this book, consider this friendly caution: skip the blurb if you prefer to be kept in the dark. It's a good thing I always go blind into my reads; otherwise, I would have read it for the details rather than the thrill.

"The Quiet Tenant" opens with the chapter titled "The Woman in the Shed," immediately introducing the reader to an unnamed woman in captivity. I was drawn in hook, line, and sinker, no matter how many times I've read psychological thrillers about serial killers. I knew this book would mess up my brain as my emotions catapulted into a whirlwind of anger, fear, repulsion, and empathy. I've already lost count of how many times I ended up floored by the mental exercise this book gave me.

I also loved the way the author renames the chapters with descriptive phrases, such as "The Woman in Transit," "Number One," The Woman in the House." This unconventional approach adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, giving the readers contextual cues as they begin a chapter. The alternating chapters can be confusing, though it gets better once you've gotten used to the author's narrative structure.

The author's writing style is introspective, and her straightforward language relieves the book of boredom. It didn't escape me that the author has employed a dual writing style. She weaved between choppy and disjointed prose and immersive and sensory writing that sometimes feels overwrought. Specific chapters end with a gripping cliffhanger, whereas others conclude with subtle foreshadowing. The author also tends to write in the future tense, giving the impression that scenes are yet to happen, adding a layer of expectation and disbelief.

As with many novels of the same narrative plot, this book's core is a deep dive into the psychology of manipulation, power dynamics, and vulnerability. I'm often left with fearful thoughts because the narrative is grounded in realism. However, I would have preferred the author to include the antagonist's point of view. While it's great that every character's POV helped build the killer's personality sketch, diving into his stream of consciousness would have added more complexity to his character. His motivations and the reason for keeping the woman in the shed alive were largely unscrutinized, leaving me with more questions than answers.

Emily's and Cecilia's chapters were a conundrum. It's hard to tell what their roles in the story were. Their POVs could be a mix of misdirection, narrative/spatial manipulation, and the unreliable narrator, and yet I failed to establish a connection with these characters.

On the other hand, it's hard not to gravitate towards the protagonist. She is one of the best-written mystery-genre characters I've had the stressful pleasure of reading. Her chapters were darkly intriguing, and glimpses of her backstory were enough to establish an "unreliable narrator." There were moments of reversals of expectations wherein the victim tried to assert dominance, yet there were hints of early stages of Stockholm syndrome, too. I wasn't kidding when I mentioned this book is a mind game.

This slow-burn, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller boasts an alarming examination of the human psyche. Apart from the suspense, the narrative reveals a compelling truth - a serial killer is not exempt from making mistakes. No matter how precise his M.O. is, he is not immune to missteps. The killer may expose himself once he faces no alternative course of action when his primary weakness is on the line. Interestingly, the finale was anticlimactic during my initial read, causing me to reread the final chapters for this review. As soon as I revisited the last pages, I realized it delivered a more authentic ending. If you love a challenge, this book proves to be a tricky opponent.

Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates

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dark 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? Yes

5.0

An Agatha Christie-style mystery, set during the dead of winter (pun fully intended), nails the vibe of a classic “whodunit.” The story follows Christa and a group of eclectic tourists set to explore the Rocky Mountains despite the inclement weather. It was supposed to be an exciting two-week holiday that Christa’s boyfriend was so giddy about, but it felt like a cautionary tale to her. And she was right. They have yet to reach their designated lodge, but bad things have begun. Picking them off one by one, no one is safe from a killer left undone.

The book contains all the elements of a good mystery. The conflict undoubtedly sets the tension, while the emotional atmosphere adds to the inescapable scenario. Coates knows how to interweave sensory details, creating a somber backdrop (secluded lodge, an abandoned cabin, a fallen tree, stormy weather, etc.) that contributes to the depth of the plot’s stakes.

The author also used internal monologues that set the unreliable trope without overdoing it. It provides readers with the exhilarating experience of identifying the “red herrings” and juxtaposing them with any doubts regarding the narrator. Like a patchwork quilt, every character is a puzzle piece cut from a different material, asserting that each is a potential suspect. But when you think you’ve finally figured out the culprit, this book throws you for a loop. It puts you into a flap, making you question your guesses and gut feelings.

“Dead by Winter” is that kind of thriller that lets you in on the act to find out the “who” and the” why.” Though the author may have overdone the long sequences to assert the narrative’s gripping tension, it never derailed me from leafing through at the end. The open-ended finale may have left you in the lurch to demand you to crave more, but the author may want to leave the rest to your imagination. If you see yourself as a Hercule Poirot, this book is for you.

The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza

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emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

As soon as the book’s final words appeared, I bothered to read the Author’s note and learned how her great-grandmother inspired the story. From deep within the confines of my heart came an envious longing to rummage through my family history for a remarkable story that would one day set me off writing the foundation of my novel. Undoubtedly, the book becomes more exciting and magical when creativity meets historical accuracy.

The story follows Sara Marsala, whose life seemingly crumbles around her – a failed restaurant, the mess surrounding her divorce, and her fight for her child’s custody. When Sara’s late great-aunt sets her off to Sicily to discover the truth about her great-grandmother, Serafina, she has no choice but to grant that final wish. But she did not suspect the plight that awaited her in the village of Caltabellessa – one that endangers her as she uncovers the truth about her matriarch’s murder.

“The Sicilian Inheritance” weaves a tale with a well-researched account of the migration of Sicilian men to America in the 1900s, the influence of the Cosa Nostra, particularly its impact on the lives of the ordinary Sicilians, all while shedding light on the resilience of the alleged “white widows of Sicily.” How the author depicts historical details with parallel timelines and dual narration, with an expert interweaving of vivid imagery, adds to the novel’s depth and comprehensive understanding of the characters.

The juxtaposition of Sara’s pursuit of the truth against the backdrop of a foreign land rich in history is more than enough to persuade the readers. It doesn’t just tell a fictional story; it lays down bits and pieces of Sicilian history meant to be shared. The result is a powerful testament to the indomitable spirits of the women of Sicily who stood in solidarity against the socio-economic circumstances that befell them when left to their own devices.

Historical fiction will always be the genre I will keep digesting for emotional connection. “The Sicilian Inheritance” is a much-needed emotional serotonin that humanizes one aspect of Sicilian history. Its “mystery arc” inclusion is a reminder that behind the beauty of a landscape, it is not without its dark secrets. This book is, without a doubt, a celebration of women in a patriarchal society. It evokes anger, remorse, and, at times, a moral assessment of certain unethical decisions, yet not without its justifiable reasons.

Overall, this book changed how I see things, and I hope it does the same for you. It made me understand specific nuances and complexities in a culture unlike mine, weighing the circumstances women face in a society that is rife with discrimination. One thing is evident with every page turn: women’s part in history does not begin and end with fulfilling societal-dictated roles; it is a call for change.

Thank you #NetGalley and #Dutton for the opportunity to read this book in advance in exchange for my own, and unbiased opinion.

The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced