Sunburn  

                    by Laura Lippman         


I am a lover of noir in books and film. When I read a review of Sunburn that said it is a modern noir, I knew that I had to read it and would probably love it. I was right. This is an enjoyable psychological thriller that will keep you interested and guessing till the end.

Polly and Adam meet in a bar in Belleville, Delaware. They are both there for a reason. Polly is running away from something and someone and Dan has his own reason for being there. Both of them are just passing through this small town yet they are strangely drawn to each other. Polly's cool, quiet and aloof demeanor both excites and unnerves Adam.  Instead of moving on, they stay for the summer and are soon engulfed in an intense, steamy, passionate affair. Although Adam doesn't quite trust Polly, he can't stay away from her. As the summer progresses they begin a cat and mouse game that soon turns deadly when someone dies. Was it an accident? Neither Adam nor Polly is who they seem to be. Is Polly a cold blooded killer or a victim?  Why is Adam, an adventure seeking, globe trotting traveler, there in the small town of Belleview?

It has been said that James M. Cain's novella, The Postman Always Rings Twice, was the inspiration for this book. As in some of the Cain books I have read, the man instantly falls for the woman and will do almost anything, even murder, to keep her. Like Postman, this book is set in a diner, the female character is a femme fatale who is irresistible to men and might have been involved in planning a murder.

The twists and turns in Sunburn will keep you guessing and the ending was unexpected. If you like noir and psychological suspense, you will want to read Sunburn.

I listened to Sunburn on audio and Susan Bennett's narration was a perfect fit for the noir tone and feel of Sunburn.

Sunburn  

                    by Laura Lippman         


I am a lover of noir in books and film. When I read a review of Sunburn that said it is a modern noir, I knew that I had to read it and would probably love it. I was right. This is an enjoyable psychological thriller that will keep you interested and guessing till the end.

Polly and Adam meet in a bar in Belleville, Delaware. They are both there for a reason. Polly is running away from something and someone and Dan has his own reason for being there. Both of them are just passing through this small town yet they are strangely drawn to each other. Polly's cool, quiet and aloof demeanor both excites and unnerves Adam.  Instead of moving on, they stay for the summer and are soon engulfed in an intense, steamy, passionate affair. Although Adam doesn't quite trust Polly, he can't stay away from her. As the summer progresses they begin a cat and mouse game that soon turns deadly when someone dies. Was it an accident? Neither Adam nor Polly is who they seem to be. Is Polly a cold blooded killer or a victim?  Why is Adam, an adventure seeking, globe trotting traveler, there in the small town of Belleview?

It has been said that James M. Cain's novella, The Postman Always Rings Twice, was the inspiration for this book. As in some of the Cain books I have read, the man instantly falls for the woman and will do almost anything, even murder, to keep her. Like Postman, this book is set in a diner, the female character is a femme fatale who is irresistible to men and might have been involved in planning a murder.

The twists and turns in Sunburn will keep you guessing and the ending was unexpected. If you like noir and psychological suspense, you will want to read Sunburn.

I listened to Sunburn on audio and Susan Bennett's narration was a perfect fit for the noir tone and feel of Sunburn.

                       Magpie Murders

                                           by Anthony Horowitz                                                      

In Magpie Murders, Anthony Horowitz has crafted a cleverly constructed classic whodunit full of red herrings, puzzles and, of course, murder!

Susan Ryeland is an editor for Cloverleaf Books. This small publishing house is surviving because of their # 1 writer, Alan Conway.  Conway writes a series of mystery novels featuring the super crime solving sleuth Atticus Pünd  They are wildly popular. Unfortunately, Alan no longer wants to write his Atticus Pünd novels, but instead wants to write literary fiction. The problem is that he isn't very good at writing literary fiction. When he turns in his last manuscript, Susan is looking forward to reading it. She doesn't particularly like Alan but she wants to keep her job so she must keep him happy, as well. His latest book, Magpie Murders, has to do with a murder at Pye Hall, a British manor house in a sleepy English village. Soon there is another murder and it seems that almost everyone in the village has a motive for these murders. When Susan gets to the end of the manuscript, she discovers that the last chapter is missing. What happened to it, and why would Alan turn in his manuscript with the last chapter missing?  When Alan is found dead, and his death is ruled a suicide, Susan begins to investigate. The editor becomes the sleuth and things are not as they seem. 

The story goes back and forth between the story in Alan's book, Magpie Murders, and what is going on with Susan's life as she investigates his death. She soon begins to realize that this murder, within a murder, is more complicated than anyone could guess. There are lots of suspects in this little village and just as Alan Conway is writing the last book in his series, his main character is also dealing with his swan song. 

I really dislike book reviews that give away the whole plot, so I'm not going to do that. There is so much going on in this book that it is difficult to review it without spoilers. All I can say is that, if you love a great twisty mystery that has been compared to Agatha Christie, you will love Magpie Murders. I had my suspicions about what was going on but ultimately I didn't figure out the ending. Another good one from Anthony Horowitz.

                       Magpie Murders

                                           by Anthony Horowitz                                                      

In Magpie Murders, Anthony Horowitz has crafted a cleverly constructed classic whodunit full of red herrings, puzzles and, of course, murder!

Susan Ryeland is an editor for Cloverleaf Books. This small publishing house is surviving because of their # 1 writer, Alan Conway.  Conway writes a series of mystery novels featuring the super crime solving sleuth Atticus Pünd  They are wildly popular. Unfortunately, Alan no longer wants to write his Atticus Pünd novels, but instead wants to write literary fiction. The problem is that he isn't very good at writing literary fiction. When he turns in his last manuscript, Susan is looking forward to reading it. She doesn't particularly like Alan but she wants to keep her job so she must keep him happy, as well. His latest book, Magpie Murders, has to do with a murder at Pye Hall, a British manor house in a sleepy English village. Soon there is another murder and it seems that almost everyone in the village has a motive for these murders. When Susan gets to the end of the manuscript, she discovers that the last chapter is missing. What happened to it, and why would Alan turn in his manuscript with the last chapter missing?  When Alan is found dead, and his death is ruled a suicide, Susan begins to investigate. The editor becomes the sleuth and things are not as they seem. 

The story goes back and forth between the story in Alan's book, Magpie Murders, and what is going on with Susan's life as she investigates his death. She soon begins to realize that this murder, within a murder, is more complicated than anyone could guess. There are lots of suspects in this little village and just as Alan Conway is writing the last book in his series, his main character is also dealing with his swan song. 

I really dislike book reviews that give away the whole plot, so I'm not going to do that. There is so much going on in this book that it is difficult to review it without spoilers. All I can say is that, if you love a great twisty mystery that has been compared to Agatha Christie, you will love Magpie Murders. I had my suspicions about what was going on but ultimately I didn't figure out the ending. Another good one from Anthony Horowitz.

Murder At The Brightwell: An Amory Ames Mystery

Murder at the Brightwell   (Amory Ames Mystery #1)

                                                          by Ashley Weaver

Five years ago, Amory Ames probably made the worst mistake of her life when she broke off her engagement to Gil Trent to marry handsome, charming and charismatic Milo.  Despite the fact that they are married, Milo has spent his time in Monte Carlo and other exotic locations being photographed with beautiful women while Amory stays at home wondering when her husband might grace her with his presence. When Gil suddenly shows up at her country estate asking for her help, she is surprised. It seems that Gil's sister, Emmaline, is engaged to an unsavory man named Rupert Howe and Gil wants to stop the engagement. He asks Amory to accompany him on holiday to the Brightwell Hotel where a group of his friends are gathering. Gil thinks that Amory, because of her own seemingly disastrous marriage, might be able to talk some sense into Emmaline.
          At first Amory is hesitant but then decides that if Milo is going to travel all over being photographed by gossip columnists, with beautiful women on his arm, then she should have some fun, too. It is after all 1930's Britain and she is a modern woman.  She agrees to accompany Gil, separate rooms of course, and they board the train for the seaside and the Brightwell Hotel.
         When they arrive, Amory meets the rest of their colorful group and it isn't long before there is a murder! When Milo surprises her with his arrival, Gil is accused of the murder, and then another murder occurs, the plot thickens. When it appears that someone might have tried to kill Amory, too, she takes it upon herself to investigate. Soon she is butting  heads with a detective who is less than thrilled with her interference. Amory grudgingly allows Milo to work with her on trying to solve the murders and the fun begins.
         This book has been compared to The Thin Man series because of the often witty banter between Milo and Amory.  Their relationship is complicated and, although she clearly has some unresolved feelings for Gil, Amory wants to believe that her wealthy, playboy husband loves her.
        Murder at the Brightwell is the debut novel for this author. It was an enjoyable mystery that had enough red herrings to keep me engaged.  I loved the period details, the description of the clothing, the people and the  Brightwell Hotel. Readers of Agatha Christie and other light historical mysteries should enjoy this first book in the series. I am looking forward to reading the next book to see what is going to happen with Milo, Amory and their investigations.

Murder At The Brightwell: An Amory Ames Mystery

Murder at the Brightwell   (Amory Ames Mystery #1)

                                                          by Ashley Weaver

Five years ago, Amory Ames probably made the worst mistake of her life when she broke off her engagement to Gil Trent to marry handsome, charming and charismatic Milo.  Despite the fact that they are married, Milo has spent his time in Monte Carlo and other exotic locations being photographed with beautiful women while Amory stays at home wondering when her husband might grace her with his presence. When Gil suddenly shows up at her country estate asking for her help, she is surprised. It seems that Gil's sister, Emmaline, is engaged to an unsavory man named Rupert Howe and Gil wants to stop the engagement. He asks Amory to accompany him on holiday to the Brightwell Hotel where a group of his friends are gathering. Gil thinks that Amory, because of her own seemingly disastrous marriage, might be able to talk some sense into Emmaline.
          At first Amory is hesitant but then decides that if Milo is going to travel all over being photographed by gossip columnists, with beautiful women on his arm, then she should have some fun, too. It is after all 1930's Britain and she is a modern woman.  She agrees to accompany Gil, separate rooms of course, and they board the train for the seaside and the Brightwell Hotel.
         When they arrive, Amory meets the rest of their colorful group and it isn't long before there is a murder! When Milo surprises her with his arrival, Gil is accused of the murder, and then another murder occurs, the plot thickens. When it appears that someone might have tried to kill Amory, too, she takes it upon herself to investigate. Soon she is butting  heads with a detective who is less than thrilled with her interference. Amory grudgingly allows Milo to work with her on trying to solve the murders and the fun begins.
         This book has been compared to The Thin Man series because of the often witty banter between Milo and Amory.  Their relationship is complicated and, although she clearly has some unresolved feelings for Gil, Amory wants to believe that her wealthy, playboy husband loves her.
        Murder at the Brightwell is the debut novel for this author. It was an enjoyable mystery that had enough red herrings to keep me engaged.  I loved the period details, the description of the clothing, the people and the  Brightwell Hotel. Readers of Agatha Christie and other light historical mysteries should enjoy this first book in the series. I am looking forward to reading the next book to see what is going to happen with Milo, Amory and their investigations.

The Wages of Sin 

by Katie Welsh  

Sarah Gilchrist wants to be a doctor, something that isn't common in 1892. Because of a scandal, she has fled her home in England and ends up in Scotland, living with her aunt and uncle. She is among a small group of female students who  are the first females to study medicine at the University of  Edinburgh. Sarah is smart, resourceful but headstrong and trying to fit in with the other medical students is difficult. The male students don't want females in their school and Sarah's scandal has followed her to Scotland. Her aunt and uncle only want to get her married so that she can put the scandal behind her but Sarah doesn't want to get married. She begins volunteering at a free clinic where she treats the unfortunate people living in poverty, including prostitutes. There she meets a young prostitute named Lucy, who later dies, and Sarah is convinced that she was murdered. She begins investigating and, by doing this, puts her own life in danger. Sarah develops a relationship with one of the professors at the school but he seems suspect too, especially after she sees him visiting the same brothel where Lucy worked. Who can she trust?

This book has wonderful descriptions of the Victorian time period and the role that women were forced to play.  Sarah is a strong character who suffered the scorn of society, even though she didn't do anything wrong. There is a mystery and a twist that I didn't see coming.  I felt that the ending was rushed so, I am wondering if there will be a sequel to this book. Enjoyable, if not fully developed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book to review.

The Wages of Sin 

by Katie Welsh  

Sarah Gilchrist wants to be a doctor, something that isn't common in 1892. Because of a scandal, she has fled her home in England and ends up in Scotland, living with her aunt and uncle. She is among a small group of female students who  are the first females to study medicine at the University of  Edinburgh. Sarah is smart, resourceful but headstrong and trying to fit in with the other medical students is difficult. The male students don't want females in their school and Sarah's scandal has followed her to Scotland. Her aunt and uncle only want to get her married so that she can put the scandal behind her but Sarah doesn't want to get married. She begins volunteering at a free clinic where she treats the unfortunate people living in poverty, including prostitutes. There she meets a young prostitute named Lucy, who later dies, and Sarah is convinced that she was murdered. She begins investigating and, by doing this, puts her own life in danger. Sarah develops a relationship with one of the professors at the school but he seems suspect too, especially after she sees him visiting the same brothel where Lucy worked. Who can she trust?

This book has wonderful descriptions of the Victorian time period and the role that women were forced to play.  Sarah is a strong character who suffered the scorn of society, even though she didn't do anything wrong. There is a mystery and a twist that I didn't see coming.  I felt that the ending was rushed so, I am wondering if there will be a sequel to this book. Enjoyable, if not fully developed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book to review.

With Malice    

by Eileen Cook  

Jill and Simone have been best friends since fourth grade but Jill might have killed her. Or maybe she didn’t. She isn’t sure because she can’t remember anything about the last six weeks. She woke up in the hospital with equipment beeping, her leg in a cast and searing pain in her head. She is told that she was driving a car in Italy when it crashed, killing Simone. Jill was planning a senior year trip to Italy but now her parents are saying that she has already been there. She also learns that she was involved with an Italian man while she was there and was planning to move to Italy to go to college instead of going to Yale. Jill has never really had a boyfriend and she has wanted to go to Yale, since she was little, so why can’t she remember these things?

  Because of the head injuries she suffered in the crash, Jill has lapses in her memory.  Her doctor calls it aphasia and tells her that she should regain most of her memory but she might not remember everything. She also cautions Jill that it will be difficult to tell what is a true memory from a dream or something that she has been told. As Jill continues her therapy in the hospital, and struggles to remember, the accident makes national headlines and she becomes part of a murder investigation. Her wealthy father brought her back to the US, immediately after the accident, for treatment but the Italian authorities want her returned to Italy for a trial.  Soon social media is involved and everyone is portraying Jill as a cold blooded killer who was jealous of her more popular friend. One thing she knows is that she would never intentionally hurt Simone. But as the evidence against her begins to mount, Jill isn’t sure what really happened in Italy. As bits and pieces of her memory begin to return, she is even more confused about what is real and what is not. Is she a heartless killer or was it just a terrible accident?

With Maliceis a fast paced mystery with twists and turns that will keep you reading.  The story unfolds from Jill’s point of view, police interviews, emails, newspaper articles and social media posts. This plot device works well to pull the reader into the story. You won’t believe the chilling ending!  

  

Grades 9-up

Recommended Read-a-Likes: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

                                                The Darkest Cornersby Kara Thomas

With Malice    

by Eileen Cook  

Jill and Simone have been best friends since fourth grade but Jill might have killed her. Or maybe she didn’t. She isn’t sure because she can’t remember anything about the last six weeks. She woke up in the hospital with equipment beeping, her leg in a cast and searing pain in her head. She is told that she was driving a car in Italy when it crashed, killing Simone. Jill was planning a senior year trip to Italy but now her parents are saying that she has already been there. She also learns that she was involved with an Italian man while she was there and was planning to move to Italy to go to college instead of going to Yale. Jill has never really had a boyfriend and she has wanted to go to Yale, since she was little, so why can’t she remember these things?

  Because of the head injuries she suffered in the crash, Jill has lapses in her memory.  Her doctor calls it aphasia and tells her that she should regain most of her memory but she might not remember everything. She also cautions Jill that it will be difficult to tell what is a true memory from a dream or something that she has been told. As Jill continues her therapy in the hospital, and struggles to remember, the accident makes national headlines and she becomes part of a murder investigation. Her wealthy father brought her back to the US, immediately after the accident, for treatment but the Italian authorities want her returned to Italy for a trial.  Soon social media is involved and everyone is portraying Jill as a cold blooded killer who was jealous of her more popular friend. One thing she knows is that she would never intentionally hurt Simone. But as the evidence against her begins to mount, Jill isn’t sure what really happened in Italy. As bits and pieces of her memory begin to return, she is even more confused about what is real and what is not. Is she a heartless killer or was it just a terrible accident?

With Malice is a fast paced mystery with twists and turns that will keep you reading.  The story unfolds from Jill’s point of view, police interviews, emails, newspaper articles and social media posts. This plot device works well to pull the reader into the story. You won’t believe the chilling ending!  

  

Grades 9-up

Recommended Read-a-Likes: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

                                                The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas

The Big Sleep

   by Raymond Chandler              

I have always loved the old black and white noir movies but had never read one until my book club decided to read The Big Sleep. I lead the discussion and in preparation for my "big night" as the leader of this discussion, I did some research into the author and the book. Hey, there's a reason why I am a librarian :)

Chandler had a big stylistic influence on American literature. He, Dashiell Hammett (The Maltese Falcon)  and a few other writers created the "hard boiled detective novel"  as we know it.

Raymond Chandler was an oil executive who lost his job during the depression and, at the age of forty-four, started writing hard boiled detective novels. He wrote short stories for various crime magazines of the time and in 1939 published The Big Sleep.  His protagonist, Philip Marlowe  is a tough private eye with a stoic demeanor and a sharp tongue, who loves  liquor and  has a strict moral compass that saves him in many situations, especially where women are involved. There are seven Philip Marlowe books, but the last few were written after Chandler died.

The opening paragraph sets the scene: “It was about eleven o'clock in the morning, mid October, with the sun not shining and a look of hard wet rain in the clearness of the foothills. I was wearing my powder-blue suit, with dark blue shirt, tie and display handkerchief, black brogues, black wool socks with dark little clocks on them. I was neat, clean, shaved and sober, and I didn't care who knew it. I was everything the well-dressed private detective ought to be. I was calling on four million dollars.”

What a wonderful opening paragraph!

The story begins when  Marlowe is called to the mansion owned by General Sternwood. The General wants to hire him to see who is behind the blackmail threats he has been receiving about his younger daughter, Carmen. The general is very ill, wheel chaired bound and spends his time in a steamy orchid greenhouse because of his health.  The General has two grown daughters, Vivian and Carmen and they are both out of control. The General mentions that his son-in-law, Rusty  Regan, who is married to his older daughter, Vivian,  has gone missing.  He has supposedly run off with the wife of Eddie Mars who owns a casino where Vivian can frequently be found. The General  is fond of Rusty and wants to find him but he does not hire Marlowe to look for him.

Vivian is a femme fatale with a gambling problem who doesn't like "masterful" men.  Marlowe has a great observation when he meets her. He said  “I sat down on the edge of a deep soft chair and looked at Mrs Regan. She was worth a stare. She was trouble.”  She wants to know if her father has hired him to find her husband, Rusty Regen. Throughout the book everyone wants to know if Marlowe is looking for Rusty Regen.

Carmen, the  younger sister, has become involved with a pornographer who has taken naked pictures of her and is blackmailing the General. Something isn't right with Carmen and Marlowe is trying to figure her out.   Marlowe begins investigating and he finds more than he expected.

The plot is complicated with lots of characters  but the writing is unforgettable. Chandler makes you feel like you are in 1939 Hollywood with the bootleggers, pornographers and steamy rain soaked streets. Some of the dialog is no longer politically correct and some of the words might be difficult to understand in our current time but  this is one terrific book.

Descriptions like this abound in The Big Sleep:  “I walked to the windows and pulled the shades up and opened the windows wide. The night air came drifting in with a kind of stale sweetness that still remembered automobile exhausts and the streets of the city. I reached for my drink and drank it slowly. The apartment house door closed itself down below me. Steps tinkled on the quiet sidewalk. A car started up not far away. It rushed off into the night with a rough clashing of gears. I went back to the bed and looked down at it. The imprint of her head was still in the pillow, of her small corrupt body still on the sheets. I put my empty glass down and tore the bed to pieces savagely.”

There is so much more to this book than just a simple crime story. The symbolism and motifs in the book are amazing. Marlowe is loyal and has a strict code of ethics even when it might impact him negatively. He is a great character and I cannot wait to read the next Philip Marlowe book, Farewell My Lovely.

Adult Mystery
Grade: A

The Big Sleep

   by Raymond Chandler              

I have always loved the old black and white noir movies but had never read one until my book club decided to read The Big Sleep. I lead the discussion and in preparation for my "big night" as the leader of this discussion, I did some research into the author and the book. Hey, there's a reason why I am a librarian :)

Chandler had a big stylistic influence on American literature. He, Dashiell Hammett (The Maltese Falcon)  and a few other writers created the "hard boiled detective novel"  as we know it.

Raymond Chandler was an oil executive who lost his job during the depression and, at the age of forty-four, started writing hard boiled detective novels. He wrote short stories for various crime magazines of the time and in 1939 published The Big Sleep.  His protagonist, Philip Marlowe  is a tough private eye with a stoic demeanor and a sharp tongue, who loves  liquor and  has a strict moral compass that saves him in many situations, especially where women are involved. There are seven Philip Marlowe books, but the last few were written after Chandler died.

The opening paragraph sets the scene: “It was about eleven o'clock in the morning, mid October, with the sun not shining and a look of hard wet rain in the clearness of the foothills. I was wearing my powder-blue suit, with dark blue shirt, tie and display handkerchief, black brogues, black wool socks with dark little clocks on them. I was neat, clean, shaved and sober, and I didn't care who knew it. I was everything the well-dressed private detective ought to be. I was calling on four million dollars.”

What a wonderful opening paragraph!

The story begins when  Marlowe is called to the mansion owned by General Sternwood. The General wants to hire him to see who is behind the blackmail threats he has been receiving about his younger daughter, Carmen. The general is very ill, wheel chaired bound and spends his time in a steamy orchid greenhouse because of his health.  The General has two grown daughters, Vivian and Carmen and they are both out of control. The General mentions that his son-in-law, Rusty  Regan, who is married to his older daughter, Vivian,  has gone missing.  He has supposedly run off with the wife of Eddie Mars who owns a casino where Vivian can frequently be found. The General  is fond of Rusty and wants to find him but he does not hire Marlowe to look for him.

Vivian is a femme fatale with a gambling problem who doesn't like "masterful" men.  Marlowe has a great observation when he meets her. He said  “I sat down on the edge of a deep soft chair and looked at Mrs Regan. She was worth a stare. She was trouble.”  She wants to know if her father has hired him to find her husband, Rusty Regen. Throughout the book everyone wants to know if Marlowe is looking for Rusty Regen.

Carmen, the  younger sister, has become involved with a pornographer who has taken naked pictures of her and is blackmailing the General. Something isn't right with Carmen and Marlowe is trying to figure her out.   Marlowe begins investigating and he finds more than he expected.

The plot is complicated with lots of characters  but the writing is unforgettable. Chandler makes you feel like you are in 1939 Hollywood with the bootleggers, pornographers and steamy rain soaked streets. Some of the dialog is no longer politically correct and some of the words might be difficult to understand in our current time but  this is one terrific book.

Descriptions like this abound in The Big Sleep:  “I walked to the windows and pulled the shades up and opened the windows wide. The night air came drifting in with a kind of stale sweetness that still remembered automobile exhausts and the streets of the city. I reached for my drink and drank it slowly. The apartment house door closed itself down below me. Steps tinkled on the quiet sidewalk. A car started up not far away. It rushed off into the night with a rough clashing of gears. I went back to the bed and looked down at it. The imprint of her head was still in the pillow, of her small corrupt body still on the sheets. I put my empty glass down and tore the bed to pieces savagely.”

There is so much more to this book than just a simple crime story. The symbolism and motifs in the book are amazing. Marlowe is loyal and has a strict code of ethics even when it might impact him negatively. He is a great character and I cannot wait to read the next Philip Marlowe book, Farewell My Lovely.

Adult Mystery
Grade: A

All The Missing Girls

by Megan Miranda

Ten years ago, Nicollette (Nic) Farrell's  best friend, Corinne, disappeared from Cooley Ridge after leaving an amusement park. Nic and her friends were under suspicion and investigated. After that, Nic fled the town to start a new life in Philadelphia.  Now Nic is a counselor and engaged to Everett, a wealthy attorney.  When Nic receives an urgent call from her brother, Daniel, she returns home to Cooley Ridge to help him. They must fix up and sell the family home to raise money to  help pay for the medical expenses of their father who is in an assisted care facility.  Their father is losing his grip on reality and keeps saying that "he saw the girl on the porch" and "Nic is in danger".  Cooley Ridge is like a lot of small southern towns where everyone know you and rumors circulate freely.  Nic thought that she had left that life behind her but when she arrives home, another girl, Annaleise, goes missing.  Annaleise was the alibi for Nic and her group the night that Corinne disappeared. Suddenly history is repeating itself and Nic, Tyler, her high school boyfriend, and Jackson, Corinne's boyfriend are once again under scrutiny. Nic and Daniel's father might also be involved.

All The Missing Girls was written in a unique way.  It is told backward from Day 15 to Day 1 from the time that Annaleise went missing.  There is a lot going on in this book with twists and turns and  secrets revealed. This book is billed as a "psychological thriller" but I didn't find it to be that thrilling.  I often found that I was getting confused with the plot and had to keep going back to see if I had missed something. I still have questions about a couple of things in it. Maybe if I had been able to sit down and read it all at once, I would have liked it more. While the mystery was good and I wanted to find out what happened to the girls, the plot lost momentum for me with the writing style. 

Adult Fiction/ Mystery /Thrillers

Grade: B

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

All The Missing Girls

by Megan Miranda

Ten years ago, Nicollette (Nic) Farrell's  best friend, Corinne, disappeared from Cooley Ridge after leaving an amusement park. Nic and her friends were under suspicion and investigated. After that, Nic fled the town to start a new life in Philadelphia.  Now Nic is a counselor and engaged to Everett, a wealthy attorney.  When Nic receives an urgent call from her brother, Daniel, she returns home to Cooley Ridge to help him. They must fix up and sell the family home to raise money to  help pay for the medical expenses of their father who is in an assisted care facility.  Their father is losing his grip on reality and keeps saying that "he saw the girl on the porch" and "Nic is in danger".  Cooley Ridge is like a lot of small southern towns where everyone know you and rumors circulate freely.  Nic thought that she had left that life behind her but when she arrives home, another girl, Annaleise, goes missing.  Annaleise was the alibi for Nic and her group the night that Corinne disappeared. Suddenly history is repeating itself and Nic, Tyler, her high school boyfriend, and Jackson, Corinne's boyfriend are once again under scrutiny. Nic and Daniel's father might also be involved.

All The Missing Girls was written in a unique way.  It is told backward from Day 15 to Day 1 from the time that Annaleise went missing.  There is a lot going on in this book with twists and turns and  secrets revealed. This book is billed as a "psychological thriller" but I didn't find it to be that thrilling.  I often found that I was getting confused with the plot and had to keep going back to see if I had missed something. I still have questions about a couple of things in it. Maybe if I had been able to sit down and read it all at once, I would have liked it more. While the mystery was good and I wanted to find out what happened to the girls, the plot lost momentum for me with the writing style. 

Adult Fiction/ Mystery /Thrillers

Grade: B

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

What  I Saw and How I Lied

                              by Judy Blundell         

Evie is excited when her stepfather, Joe, returns home from World War II.  It is 1947 and Evie and her beautiful mother, Bev, have been living with Joe’s mother while he was in the army. Now that he is home, the family is trying to get back to normal. Suddenly Joe decides that they should leave Brooklyn and head to Florida for a vacation, even though it is the off season and most of the hotels are closed. Once there, they meet Arlene and Tom Grayson who are staying at their hotel. They convince Joe and Bev to come in with them on a possibly shady business deal. Arlene lavishes attention on fifteen year old Evie by taking her shopping and helping her develop a sense of style. Evie is desperate to grow up but her overly protective mother doesn’t seem to want her to grow up. When twenty-three year old Peter, an army buddy of Joe’s, shows up at the hotel, Evie is smitten with his good looks and charm. However, Joe isn’t happy to see him. Will Peter reveal secrets that Joe doesn’t want revealed?  Peter’s appearance at the hotel is no accident and what happens will change their lives, forever. As a hurricane descends on them, there is a murder, or was it murder? 

This coming of age story has lies, betrayals, courtroom drama and a mystery with twists and turns. There is a lot going on in this book and the author deftly weaves the plot threads together.  Evie is a wonderful character who slowly begins to realize that growing up is harder than she thought it would be, that adults can have flaws, even your own parents, and things aren’t always as they seem.  What I Saw and How I Lied is the 2008 winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Filled with period detail, well defined characters and an ending that is open to discussion, this book will keep you reading!

Grade: A

Teen/Young Adult Fiction

Recommended for Grades 9-up           

What  I Saw and How I Lied

                              by Judy Blundell         

Evie is excited when her stepfather, Joe, returns home from World War II.  It is 1947 and Evie and her beautiful mother, Bev, have been living with Joe’s mother while he was in the army. Now that he is home, the family is trying to get back to normal. Suddenly Joe decides that they should leave Brooklyn and head to Florida for a vacation, even though it is the off season and most of the hotels are closed. Once there, they meet Arlene and Tom Grayson who are staying at their hotel. They convince Joe and Bev to come in with them on a possibly shady business deal. Arlene lavishes attention on fifteen year old Evie by taking her shopping and helping her develop a sense of style. Evie is desperate to grow up but her overly protective mother doesn’t seem to want her to grow up. When twenty-three year old Peter, an army buddy of Joe’s, shows up at the hotel, Evie is smitten with his good looks and charm. However, Joe isn’t happy to see him. Will Peter reveal secrets that Joe doesn’t want revealed?  Peter’s appearance at the hotel is no accident and what happens will change their lives, forever. As a hurricane descends on them, there is a murder, or was it murder? 

This coming of age story has lies, betrayals, courtroom drama and a mystery with twists and turns. There is a lot going on in this book and the author deftly weaves the plot threads together.  Evie is a wonderful character who slowly begins to realize that growing up is harder than she thought it would be, that adults can have flaws, even your own parents, and things aren’t always as they seem.  What I Saw and How I Lied is the 2008 winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Filled with period detail, well defined characters and an ending that is open to discussion, this book will keep you reading!

Grade: A

Teen/Young Adult Fiction

Recommended for Grades 9-up