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tirwinreads17's reviews
141 reviews
214 Palmer Street by Karen McQuestion
3.0
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookoutre, and the author for an advance listener’s audiobook of 214 Palmer Street in exchange for an honest review. I listened on my iPhone from 3/29 - 4/2.
The description of this book interested me so I was a little upset to have been denied from the ebook arc of this title first. I think it worked out for the better, though, because I am not sure my attention would have stuck in physical reading form for this particular title.
At first, the story captivated me. There’s a girl at 214 Palmer where she doesn’t belong. There is a shift to “before” where she was attacked at her own home by an unknown person. And an “after” where she is hiding away from everyone in her friend’s house without permission…. for what reason? What is it about this house? And the attack? I was excited to find out how it all fit together. I enjoy the types of stories that don’t make sense but you stick with it all falls into place. It was a great set-up, but the execution fell a little flat for me when we shifted from “then” vs. “now” to only present term and was unrealistic.
This book left me with so many unanswered questions, and not in a good way. More in a I need to know this for the story to even make sense way. I’m not going to list them here for the sake of spoilers!
I did enjoy the narrator. Often I find it difficult to listen to audiobooks of stories written from multiple perspectives, especially those including male POVs, with one female narrator. But she did a good job without making it weird or confusing.
Overall, I would rate this audiobook 3/5 stars. It was okay, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I might still recommend to some others.
-@tirwinreads
The description of this book interested me so I was a little upset to have been denied from the ebook arc of this title first. I think it worked out for the better, though, because I am not sure my attention would have stuck in physical reading form for this particular title.
At first, the story captivated me. There’s a girl at 214 Palmer where she doesn’t belong. There is a shift to “before” where she was attacked at her own home by an unknown person. And an “after” where she is hiding away from everyone in her friend’s house without permission…. for what reason? What is it about this house? And the attack? I was excited to find out how it all fit together. I enjoy the types of stories that don’t make sense but you stick with it all falls into place. It was a great set-up, but the execution fell a little flat for me when we shifted from “then” vs. “now” to only present term and was unrealistic.
This book left me with so many unanswered questions, and not in a good way. More in a I need to know this for the story to even make sense way. I’m not going to list them here for the sake of spoilers!
I did enjoy the narrator. Often I find it difficult to listen to audiobooks of stories written from multiple perspectives, especially those including male POVs, with one female narrator. But she did a good job without making it weird or confusing.
Overall, I would rate this audiobook 3/5 stars. It was okay, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I might still recommend to some others.
-@tirwinreads
Daughter by Kate McLaughlin
4.0
I really enjoyed this audiobook. It is along the same lines of my familiar go-to genre of serial killers and thrillers in that it is about the daughter of a serial killer. I wouldn’t exactly call it a “thriller” though - more of a suspense, because readers are waiting and wondering what twists will come out of this plot. It is a story about redemption and new starts for a family after the death of an infamous serial killer to whom they are related, one willing to give names of unknown victims only his deathbed to his estranged daughter. Which is a different spin on the child of a serial killer trope, one I haven’t personally read or seen done before. It was well executed, even if I would have liked more unforeseeable twists.
It is categorized as “young adult” I believe because of the age of the MC and her discussions of teenage topics as fillers to the story (like her partying, smoking, and crushes on boys), but the plot is entertaining and suitable for all aged audiences if they’re willing to put that aside.
Also, bonus points to the author for naming one of the supporting characters “Taylor”! For such a common 90s baby name, I haven’t seen my name represented in literature much.
I’m rating this audiobook 4/5 stars - I enjoyed the story and the narrator and would absolutely recommend to others!
I requested this title post-publication. After seeing raving reviews across bookstagram, I was grateful for the opportunity to listen to a free copy and share my thoughts. Thank you to NetGalley, Recorded Books and the author for the ALC!
-@tirwinreads
It is categorized as “young adult” I believe because of the age of the MC and her discussions of teenage topics as fillers to the story (like her partying, smoking, and crushes on boys), but the plot is entertaining and suitable for all aged audiences if they’re willing to put that aside.
Also, bonus points to the author for naming one of the supporting characters “Taylor”! For such a common 90s baby name, I haven’t seen my name represented in literature much.
I’m rating this audiobook 4/5 stars - I enjoyed the story and the narrator and would absolutely recommend to others!
I requested this title post-publication. After seeing raving reviews across bookstagram, I was grateful for the opportunity to listen to a free copy and share my thoughts. Thank you to NetGalley, Recorded Books and the author for the ALC!
-@tirwinreads
The New Neighbor by Carter Wilson
4.0
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and the author for the advance reader’s copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
The story was definitely a unique premise - a recently widowed Irish father of twins figures out he wins the MD lottery on the day he buries his wife. A house across the country in Bury, CT calls to him via the internet. The family that lived in it prior vanished into thin air, and strange things begin to happen when the family moves in. They start to receive anonymous threatening letters. Eventually, through the father’s drunken stupors and psychotic self-harm episodes, we find out the truth about the letters and the folks of Bury, but never about the vanished family (or did I just miss that??).
Gosh, there are so many triggers in this book.
I was a little nervous going in, as I saw a few negative arc reviews prior to my read but I am so glad I committed because I really enjoyed it and devoured it in less than 48 hours! I thought the Irish theme and references were a neat addition to the story.
Overall, I would rate this book 4/5 stars. I enjoyed it and would recommend to others interested in this genre.
Happy publishing week!!
The story was definitely a unique premise - a recently widowed Irish father of twins figures out he wins the MD lottery on the day he buries his wife. A house across the country in Bury, CT calls to him via the internet. The family that lived in it prior vanished into thin air, and strange things begin to happen when the family moves in. They start to receive anonymous threatening letters. Eventually, through the father’s drunken stupors and psychotic self-harm episodes, we find out the truth about the letters and the folks of Bury, but never about the vanished family (or did I just miss that??).
Gosh, there are so many triggers in this book.
I was a little nervous going in, as I saw a few negative arc reviews prior to my read but I am so glad I committed because I really enjoyed it and devoured it in less than 48 hours! I thought the Irish theme and references were a neat addition to the story.
Overall, I would rate this book 4/5 stars. I enjoyed it and would recommend to others interested in this genre.
Happy publishing week!!
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
5.0
This felt like listening to a really intense sermon. I see other folks didn’t quite enjoy the biography/memoir riddled with life lessons and bumper sticker quotes, but I thought it was unique and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I hadn’t realized how funny and crazy his life was. I own a physical copy of this book I picked up in a D.C. airport, but I am really glad I rented the audiobook version from Libby as read by himself. Do yourself a favor and go that route if you plan to read this.
This is hands down my favorite nonfiction ever now!
-@tirwinreads
I hadn’t realized how funny and crazy his life was. I own a physical copy of this book I picked up in a D.C. airport, but I am really glad I rented the audiobook version from Libby as read by himself. Do yourself a favor and go that route if you plan to read this.
This is hands down my favorite nonfiction ever now!
-@tirwinreads
Tell Me the Truth by Kiersten Modglin
3.0
Edith is Joe’s second wife. Their marriage isn’t perfect and he’s shown his true colors by having an affair before, but she stayed - out of loyalty? out of hope he could change? out of fear? So when Edith begins to find hints his behavior is repeating itself, or never stopped at all, Edith becomes obsessed with finding out the truth at all costs. Once a cheater always a cheater, right?
I flew through this one in a few days. It was easy to follow from one POV with minimal characters and scenes and a short, linear timeline. I enjoyed the narrator’s accent. However, it was unrealistic and nothing special.. just a short story about a poor mentally damaged wife that decides to stay on the sinking ship of an abusive marriage to a cheating dirtbag. I think I am beginning to realize domestic suspense is not really my thing. This is my first Kiersten Modglin and I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about her novels so I’ll still give some of her other works a shot but this one just missed the mark for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author for an advance listener’s copy in exchange for an honest review! -@tirwinreads
I flew through this one in a few days. It was easy to follow from one POV with minimal characters and scenes and a short, linear timeline. I enjoyed the narrator’s accent. However, it was unrealistic and nothing special.. just a short story about a poor mentally damaged wife that decides to stay on the sinking ship of an abusive marriage to a cheating dirtbag. I think I am beginning to realize domestic suspense is not really my thing. This is my first Kiersten Modglin and I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about her novels so I’ll still give some of her other works a shot but this one just missed the mark for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author for an advance listener’s copy in exchange for an honest review! -@tirwinreads
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
3.0
Mallory Quinn is a twenty-something recovering opioid addict from Philly who is hired to nanny for a well-to-do family’s young child in New Jersey. Shortly after Mallory moves to the property to see after the child, paranormal things begin to happen and Mallory feels like she is being watched. Over the course of the summer, she learns more about the property and the family she has agreed to work for. The family chalks up the weird things Mallory is experiencing to use relapse, but Mallory is clean and telling the truth, or so she thinks??
This was an entertaining, twisty story I was able to finish on audio within 48 hours. The narrator was great.
Even though I was entertained and invested in the outcome and I did not see the main twists coming, the story just felt very unrealistic to me and the ending, a little rushed and incomplete. I was left with so many questions. I kinda dig the creepy paranormal vibe theme, but it could have been executed better in my opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Jason Rekulak for an advance listener’s copy in exchange for an honest review. -@tirwinreads
This was an entertaining, twisty story I was able to finish on audio within 48 hours. The narrator was great.
Even though I was entertained and invested in the outcome and I did not see the main twists coming, the story just felt very unrealistic to me and the ending, a little rushed and incomplete. I was left with so many questions. I kinda dig the creepy paranormal vibe theme, but it could have been executed better in my opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Jason Rekulak for an advance listener’s copy in exchange for an honest review. -@tirwinreads
Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases by Paul Holes
3.0
Sorry guys, it’s unpopular opinion time! I’m a federal criminal prosecutor who loves true crime content. I was thrilled to receive this arc and had extremely high hopes. I just watched a documentary on Nightstalker prior to reading so I was amped up with the serial killer theme and ready to dive in. However, the execution just didn’t hit the mark for me. First what I didn’t enjoy about this book was that there were a lot of dead ends, just recaps of gruesome and serious cases and no end result - not exactly in line with the theme of “solving cold cases.” I also did not enjoy the sort of style/tone/demeanor the book was written in. It just read to me like a long-winded apology and explanation piece to his first wife and everyone in his life that he put second after his job. By all means, if someone wants to spin their own memoir/biography in this way, they absolutely can. It just wasn’t the exhilarating story of cracking cold cases and bringing overdue justice to grieving families I thought I was signing up for, more of a negative and depressing vibe like his life was wasted away to catch GSK and he’s sorry but also not sorry.